Wilderness-style

Though it has been awhile since I've posted, it is most certainly not due to a lack of material. I guess I just have to be in a creative mindset... and most of my creativity seems to be getting sucked up by Sophia!
Since potty-training, Sophia and I have experienced our share of interesting potty runs. From the nasty porta-potty at the park ("Sophia don't touch ANYTHING") to Wal-Mart ("EEew, she just bent over and touched her forehead to the toilet seat. She needs a bath NOW!") I have joined the ranks of moms who can share gross and funny toilet stories.
Here's a new one.
We were walking a long paved nature trail with my friend Marissa and her 3 yr-old son Joseph, when Sophia decided she needed to go. It wasn't a busy trail, and there was no sign of nearby facilities... so I thought we'd try going potty wilderness-style. Marissa watched Matthew as Sophia and I trekked out into the clearing and behind some brush. We were all set to "go" but Sophia suddenly decided "Momma, I go potty at HOME."
So our walk resumed with no more talk of needing to go. Until we got to the parking lot. Joseph and Sophia were running around the picnic area as Marissa and I chatted for a few more minutes. Suddenly, I look over, and Sophia is struggling to pull her jeans down over her hips. "Momma, I go potty in the grass" she says.
I definitely felt it was a slo-mo worthy moment. "N-o-o-0!" as I lunged across the lawn, fixated on her every tug. Would it be the one to de-pants her?
I reached her just in time. Thank goodness for the fact she can't un-snap her fly button. I informed her that we "only go pottty in the grass when Mommy helps you." Whew.

Spring Update

"They have TAILS! Little tails, Mommy!" Sophia says of her newly sprouted seedlings. We have planted sunflowers, snap peas and green beans. She loves to check her seeds about as frequently as I have the urge to go online. Which is several times a day. I'm trying to encourage her habit while discouraging mine!
This year we are creating a patio container garden using tips from this A&M booklet for container gardening in Texas. So far, I've started seedlings for lettuce, spinach, cherry tomatoes and radishes, in addition to Sophia's seeds.
Yesterday Sophia and I mixed dirt and filled pots. Finally, she got to plant two of her sunflower seedlings... it was the highlight of her day! That and playing with the pink plastic yard flamingo which she calls Humpty Dumpty.
In other news, Matthew has started talking on the phone. He puts Sophia's play phone up to his ear and makes grunting noises and ooohs. He's so deliberate about it and you can totally tell he's been watching Sophia because he also holds it flat and talks into the end (like Sophia does when Daddy is on speaker-phone). Hillarious! Also, for your enjoyment, below you'll also find a video of him dancing.... it's laugh-out-loud funny!!

Pictures

Until I can figure out how to sync Picasa and iPhoto, I shall just post my couple of cute pics here instead of creating a spiffy slideshow.

This is Matthew's favorite place in the kitchen. He digs around for scraps and dust bunnies under the dishwasher. Yummy. Makes me crazy, but it's pretty funny to watch!

A Quiet Moment. (Wait! Get the camera!!!)

The Sandwich Snitch

In case you have ever wondered what kids dream about, I have the answer!
Matthew and I have speculated when we hear Sophia crying in the middle of the night what she could possibly be upset about. She doesn't watch scary movies or shows (though for awhile she was afraid of "Swiper," the masked fox on Dora). Good grief! We don't even let her watch commercials during football... what in the world could she be crying about? Maybe we shouldn't have let her watch football... maybe she's dreaming of her friends throwing balls at her when she can't catch, running after her when she can't run because her shoes are on the wrong feet or something equally horrible and scary.
Maybe we've scarred her by not providing a night light in her room. Or perhaps she's crying because she can't find her blankie... it's lost in the sheets.
Well, this morning I decided to go in and ask Sophia why she was crying.
"Mommaaaa!" she sobbed, pointing toward MattMatt sleeping in his crib. "Matt-Matt took my sandwich!"

Literal-isms

Kids are so literal. Really, there must be something wonderful about being that simple!

Sophia knows that her daddy goes to work to "make-a money" and I just know that she envisions Daddy sitting there, painstakingly coloring and cutting out dollar bills. No wonder he's tired at the end of the day!
Another literal-ism that Sophia has taken up is the rule about screaming. No screaming in the house. When she does she finds herself in timeout like lightning. Yes, she knows screaming is for outside.
So, we were walking out the front door, and all of a sudden "AAAhhhh-EEEEEE!!!" I jump a few inches and drop my keys. "WHAT happened, Sophia?" I gasped. "I scream outside," she informs me very matter-of-factly. I told her that that was a good one and that she doesn't need to do it anymore as my neighbor's front door opens a crack.
That's my silly Sophia!

Snowday and Snippets

I giggled and danced like a school-kid who just found out school had been canceled. Weatherman 0: God 1. So much for rain... there was actually SNOW on the ground and coming down hard when I looked out the window at 6am this morning. And it's still piling up at noon!
A perfect day to stay in and have hot chocolate, tomato soup, grilled cheese, and muffins.
I gave Sophia a haircut this morning... despite Matthew's hesitation about my competence in that department. No special scissors, no bowl on the head, and only a few hairs I missed. I'm pretty pleased with the results.




Matt-Matt began saying uh-oh yesterday. Just wandering along the edge of the couch talking to himself: "uhh. uhhh. oh. oh. uh-oh. uh-oh." Signs of what's to come.
In the cute department... Sophia has been getting cabin fever lately and has taken to dashing from the front door to the back door yelling "Look at all the bubbles!" and enjoying hundreds of invisible bubbles floating around my living room. Front door. Back door. Front door.... you get the idea. Well yesterday she yelled "Momma. Look my hair is running!" as her hair flew out behind her.
So that's all for now. I need some hot cocoa...

It's Good To be Two (Part 1. The A.M.)

Remember when they woke you up with cries?
Now she wakes me up with ridiculously bright eyes...
It's time for "Playtime! Playtime!" all day long.
"Dance with me Mommy. I like this song!"
"You sit there. Drink your tea."
"You want sugar? PLAY with me!"
Then we go "swimming" on the rug.
"I love you, Mommy. I want a hug!"
Read Curious George for the twenty-fifth time.
"Sophia, please... let's try Madeline."
Max and Ruby she will devour.
Sadly it only lasts one half-hour...
Then its drums with my pans;
About five minutes is all I can stand.
"Pee-pee comin!" Run! Run! Run!
Dora panties sure are fun.
While MattMatt naps it's time for "school":
Letters, colors and crafts are COOL!
Then it's lunch till the timer goes ding.
Naptime is bliss. Definitely Mommy's thing.

To be continued...