Here's Looking at 2

I'm taking a short break from writing about The Mandy Project, however it should be noted that I am still going strong.

In honor of my daughters 2 year birthday, I thought it would be nice to have a real look at what 2 years old means. So without further ado, our interview about being 2:



Mom: So, how old are you now?
Baby Girl: Dis many. (holds up both hands and wiggles fingers.)

I have often thought 2 would be a difficult year. How are you handling it so far?
(Silence.)

That bad, huh?
Bad. (Puts hands to mouth and giggles.)

If you could go back to one, would you?
NOOOOOO!

I see. What was your favorite birthday gift?
Frog! A Pig! A Bear!

So many you can't narrow it down, wow! Sounds like a great birthday.
Sit on potty chair, and pee pee or poop. Kutch goes pee pee and poop.

Interesting. Can you elaborate on that?
Potty chair... potty chair... and elmo and books.

I gather that you enjoy your Elmo's Potty Time movie you received. You also mentioned books. Can we assume that you have potty books on your nightstand?
Yes!

Excellent. So earlier you spoke about a "frog" would this be Kermit the Frog? Do you feel that the Muppets are out of style nowadays?
(jumps up runs to the TV and points) A frog! A pig! A bear!

Well put. What song does Kermit sing?
Let it goooooo! Let it gooooo! Can't take it any mooooooore!

Apparently I haven't seen that particular Muppet movie.

So, life has changed a lot for you this past year. Would you say the addition of Ketcher has changed the attention you receive?
Kutch! Mwuah! Hug!

You seem to really enjoy his company. If there is one piece of advice you could tell him, what would it be?
(animatedly speaking lots of gibberish...) and fruit snacks.

He is lucky to have a wise older sister. Can you describe what it's like to have 3 dogs living with you?
One, two, three, four, five, six, seben, eight, nine, ten, eleben, twel, firteen, fifeen, sebeneen, nineen, twenee.

I imagine it does feel more like living with 20. With that said do you know your alphabet?
Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z now know abcs next won't sing me.

 As a final question, I think we would all like your opinion on the news about Cosby. Thoughts?
Cobee? What that?

Probably what most people under 30 are thinking. Well thanks for the interview, it has been fun.
(Jumps off chair and runs into the living room. Proceeds to spin in circles until she bounces off the ottoman and lands on her face.)

Great interview Mom! Let's do it again!

Our 15 Month Old Ski Bunny!

On Sunday we took Kenzie to Copper Mountain to ski for the first time. She is 15 months old and is a pretty sturdy walker and has just started running. Her very favorite activities are walks outside, being tossed around by daddy and pulled in anything... mostly a diaper box cut up to look like an airplane.

With her need for speed, we figured it was an ideal time to try putting her in skis.

We bought a toddler helmet from walmart for $5, because the ones at the ski rental were WAY too big, even with a thick hat underneath. We had a set of plastic skis, but since our friends were in town with their 20 month old, they rented a set with boots.

The weather was perfect! 50 degrees and bluebird skies.

She didn't protest when we put her in the ski boots attached to the skis. Dan had a set of skis on as well and would ski her over to the magic carpet, which was a conveyor belt that takes you to the top. When she was on the belt she would laugh and at the top she would clap and cheer.

Dan kept her in a tight grip between his legs and set off down the hill. 

I don't think she has ever had that much fun. I lost count of how many runs she did. After we would put her back in her boots, she would run over to the magic carpet for another ride up.  Dan was exhausted but she wasn't! 


The only time she cried was when it was over and we were taking her out of her skis.

For a video click on the videos tab above.

Emotions of the young and pregnant.

The worst part of pregnancy for me is the uncontrollable emotions of the 3rd trimester. I don't consider myself an emotional person, although my mother would beg to differ, because if you can't share your emotions with your mother who can you share them with? 

This brings up a good point: How different are the emotions of a pregnant mom and a toddler?  I cried yesterday because one of my dogs got out of the yard. I cried this morning because of my crazy work load. I cried 10 minutes ago because I read a heartwarming article.

That being said, my daughter cried yesterday because there was a stranger in the house. She cried this morning because I walked upstairs to take up a load of laundry. She cried 10 minutes ago because she couldn't reach something in her crib.

I try my best to be patient and be the serene nothing-gets-to-me parent that all the books request of you. The constant whining, and all time high separation anxiety, grate on my nerves and before I know it, my perm-a-grin fades and I say things like "Ok now, that's enough" or "Kenzie stop."  Her emotions are just as crazy and valid as mine, right?!

If you can't share your emotions with your mother who can you share them with?  

She wants to share her emotions with me. She runs to me when there is a stranger. She cries for me when I leave the room. She grabs my hand and points to what she wants. I want her to be able to share her emotions with me for the rest of her life.

Although it might be easy to blow it off now, there will be a day when she resents the fact that I am blowing off her emotions. That day turns into years of not speaking to me, running to her room as soon as she gets home, and looking to her friends for support because she doesn't get it from her mom.

From here on out, I will do my best to be supportive of all her emotions, even if I don't agree with them. I will acknowledge them and give them a name, so in the future when she starts talking she can tell me how she feels.

I know I won't be perfect at keeping my cool, but I will try and remember that even though we are 32 years apart, my emotions are just as crazy as hers... at least while pregnant.