Piles of Lumps

I'm not quite sure what to call this. It's something that Alyssa does quite often and rather enjoys doing it. It involves taking every single stuffed toy and doll that she has and telling each one to take a nap. The catch is that they all have to have their own blankie. So, she completely empties the bottom drawer of her dresser and puts all of her animals and dollies to sleep. In this picture, she decided to join them, but she's faking sleep with sound effects (aaahhh choooo ...snoring). I'm quite amused by the entire process until it comes time to put all of the blankies away. It's not as fun to fold them all up as it is to watch. She has so much fun doing this. I love listening to her talk to her dollies and tell them that they have to take a nap if they want nummies (our word for something yummy). If they don't listen to her, she'll tell them that if they don't take a nap they'll get a time out. It's so cute! If all I have to do is fold blankets...it's totally worth it!

Making Bunnies

A Breakfast Conversation between Alyssa and Daddy...

Alyssa:  "Where you going?"

Daddy:  "To work."

Alyssa:  "Why you go to work?"

Daddy:  "To make money."

Alyssa:  "To make a bunny?"

Daddy:  (Laughing) "No, to make money."

Alyssa:  (Giggles)

That's what Mommy and Daddy do all day.  We make bunnies.  

I love it!

Going Commando

It started happening a few weeks ago.  We'd go check on Alyssa and she'd be sitting there on her couch watching Dora almost naked wearing just her shirt.  I'd ask what's going on and she'd say her pull-up was hurting.  So, when we're at home, she wears panties in the house.  Twice she's removed her pull-up after I've put her to bed and I've found her in the morning naked on the bottom.  Luckily, she didn't pee in her bed.  Last night, that all changed.  She slept commando and woke up at 1:00 a.m.  She wet her bed and it was everywhere.  I asked her what happened and she said she went pee in her bed.  When I asked what happened to her pull-up, she said she took it off like it wasn't a big deal.  Nevertheless, she got to spend the rest of the night with mommy and daddy while her bedding was in the wash.  I told her that she has to leave her pull-ups on at night.  We'll see how that goes.  If all else fails, there's always duct tape, right?

"Don't Make Me Cry..."

I was tucking Alyssa in bed tonight and she didn't want me to leave.  Lately, she gets up about three times.  First time, she has a booger on her finger and needs me to put it in a tissue.  Second time, she needs to go potty.  She hardly ever goes, but we have to listen because we're potty training.  It's so frustrating!  Third time, she needs a drink of water.  Then, she's off to sleep.  The bedtime routine that used to last an hour now takes 30 minutes longer.  Anyway, she skipped the three stallers tonight and said, "Don't make me cry..." in a sad little voice.  I repeated back, "Don't make you cry?"  Her face cracked a smile and she said, "Don't go.  Let's snuggle."  Is this how it's going to be?  Has she already figured out how to lay on the guilt trips?  It worked because I gave in.  I have a weakness for snuggles, but kept it short.  Crazy kid!

Cuz Why?

My daughter is turning "3" on August 11th.  If the past month is a glimpse of what is to come, I will need lots of patience to survive the 3's.  We have entered into the "What's that?" and "Cuz why?" phase of parenting where everything requires an explanation.  A wise friend told me to play along for a few questions and then return the questions, "What do you think it is?" or "Why do you think?"  So far, it's working!  She answers the question and the game is over...until the next question.

Last week, I heard a little voice say, "Mommy, look at me!"  As I turned my head, I saw my darling daughter standing in the center of the glass coffee table.  When she noticed I was looking, she started jumping up and down.  I would not like to see a video replay of what I looked like running, shouting, and swooping her off the table.  The visions of glass breaking took over and it she was quickly removed from her platform.

I thought it would be fun spending the next year blogging about little things like these that give insight into what it's like to be a three-year-old and to see if I can survive "3" without losing my sanity.