I don't want....

We've entered another phase with Trent.  He's starting to express things that make him mad, happy, or confusing us with contradictory statements.

''I don't want cheesy noodles, I want FOOD!''  This statement happens a lot.  Apparently, the category of food is subject to interpretation.  

He was asking me what my eyebrows and eyelashes were at bedtime.  When I made him feel his own eyelashes he went nuts, '''EHHHHHHH!   I don't want eyelashes!!!  Take them off!''

The hubby was presented with this confusing statement at breakfast, ''I don't want that bagel, I didn't get it''  Interpretation, he didn't pick the bagel out himself and therefore, it is inferior and not worthy of being eaten.

Continue that into the epic ridiculousness of toddler logic, ''I don't want Nora to go out my door.  No!  NO Nora!  No use my door!''  Trent melted down, like on the garage floor choking sobs because sister got out his car door.  I can't even come up with something rational to calm him down.  One of those moments when I just shook my head, walked away and let him get over his irrational argument. 

There are times when the ''I don't wants'' are purely fueled by exhaustion.  ''Mommy, I don't want to go night night, I want a nap.''   Ok.  He can call it a nap, but it better last at least 10 hrs.

Time seems to confuse him.  We will tell him, Trent '5 minutes then we go home.'  We often get the response, ''I don't want to go yet.  No not yet, two minutes ok?''  Once again, this toddler logic works to our advantage.  We know one day he will be smart enough to know better.

The InBetween

These are the times you will look back on.  It is rare that you will remember the 'perfect' days, but rather that five minutes or less when your child opens the lens of the world a little wider.  

A little brother sister love on a Saturday morning.  I'm sure the hubby is happy he's sleeping through this one.  And now mommy will break for yet another cup of coffee.

 ''Buddy get off my part of the couch! Mommy he's touching me!!!'' ''Norwahhh! Stop it Norwahhhh. My pillow, my blanket, my cartoon. Stop!!!!!''  


Nothing like torturing your kids with a quest in southern California to find a recycling place.  And point out all the beautiful sites.

*listened to this dreamy thought from the back seat, ''Look it's Paris!'' Ummm, no no it's not. That is a ridiculously large powerline tower, if only we were in Paris instead. Maybe a little too much Gaspard and Lisa.

Getting so caught up in housework for ummm, the first time in a long time that this one happened.....

had a moment. OMGosh, the back door is open, Trent are you outside? Trent? Trent, buddy where are you! Proceed to me running in and out of the house.....giggle under my bed after being a mad woman for what seemed like eternity. Never been so relieved and wanting to throttle child at same time. Oh, those baby blues never looked so precious tearing up because mommy scared us. Never again buddy, OK?

Then your heart skips a beat out of pure joy.

''Norwah, don't cry, I sing you a song.  Don't cry, I sing you a song.  La la lah.''  My little man putting words to a made up melody of his own to cheer up sister.  

It doesn't really get better on most days.  All the fluffy edited pictures you take can not capture this, only your heart can.

Trent

Trent pointing at a picture of mommy in her wedding dress and saying, ''Princess!''  Awesomeness.

We were in Walmart yesterday, and a newborn was crying that strangled whine.  Trent, says, ''Baby sad. Baby a cryin', needs a covers in the bed.  A nap.  Baby really tired mommy, need a nap.  Is sad.''  This so reminded me of a conversation with Nora at this age.  There was a baby crying and she said, ''Baby crying, baby need a byes.''  ''Byes'' being her name for a pacifier.  So odd to see them mimicking the same reactions to another childs' sadness.

5am!

There are nights as a mom that you are sooooo deep in sleep the calls from down the hall seem like a dream. This was me last night.

Somewhere in my head I was attending a really odd wedding involving people I didn't even socialize with in high school. There we flag people doing a routine outside the church and the guests were asked to guess the weight of the couples first child...yeah, yeah...WEIRD.

Then, Trent was calling from somewhere....mommy? nommy? Nope....NUMMMIES! Nummmies!

Groggy-brained mommy slowly filtered this information.

1. Open eye-ball and assess daylight: NONE

2. Turn head and look at clock: 5am!

3. Listen again to truly determine what he is saying: Nummmmmmies!

OMG! He woke up at 5am and is hungry? He is SO going back to sleep. This is unacceptable.

Wake up Rich and inform him of his progeny's crazy request. Go get him milk please.

Stagger to nursery. Arrive to find one happy bouncing child. 'Mak?!'

In a minute buddy, daddy is getting it.

Find that he had a primary reason for waking up....soaked in pee. Sighhh, stupid diaper leak. Change diaper. Change pajama pants. Sit in glider and wait for 'Mak' to show up.

Daddy arrives, ''Here you go buddy. Are you hungry?''

Trent, 'Nummies. Da doo''

At least he remembered to be polite at 5am.

Just for Girls

Saying a shocking hello to the birds and bees conversation, at least a very edited version!

Nora discovered her vagina about two years ago while we were potty training. At the time, she went on a diatribe about it but we didn't need to go beyond 'God made you that way.' Rich and I were dying with laughter at the time because of her normal toddler curiosity. The why? Why it's big?

Tonight, I had to go further in the explanation.

Nora: Mommy, I have a hole right there, why? (At this point she is sitting in a not so lady-like position inspecting herself)

Me: Because girls are made that way.

Nora: Not boys? Daddy doesn't have a hole?

Me: No. God made girls special so we could be mommy's. (Me begging in my head that she doesn't ask me to elaborate on that!)

Nora: Ms. Bev and Ms. Jenni are girls and mommies. (these are her preschool teachers)

Me: Yes.

Nora: All girls have holes, boys don't have holes. That's so silly!

At this point, I'm imagining her going to preschool and announcing. ''Girls have holes and boys have peanuts'' akin to the kid in 'Kindergarten Cop'. Peanuts is her name for brother's penis.

Oh my! Didn't realize I would be faced with questions like this at four!

Inside Her Head.

Sometime you wonder, what's going on in that head. The craziness you find ends up be hysterical interpretations and insights.

''Daddy, my brain is hungry! It wants to learn'' Good to hear because you are going back to preschool in three days! In truth, it's been a rough month with mommy weaning off some meds and finding her mental balance. We both need a long break from the submersion of summer vacation.

*****

Me commenting on Trent becoming a crazy walker....''Buddy! Did the light bulb finally go off in there?'' I rubbed his fuzzy head and he just giggled and kept trucking...left, right, left whooooooa, whew, right, left, right....

Nora, ''Mommy the 'keleton and brain are in his head. The brain does not light up, only at night it glows.''

huh?

*****

''I can't find my scissors, I think the white monster took them. He's the sneaky one.''

*****

''Mommy on Nonni's side of the garage there is a car, on Dome's side is lots of stuff.'' A true observation of my mildly hoarding father in law.

*****

''I am getting bigger?''

''Yes''

''Eeeeee! My cheeks are getting bigger?!!!''

''You are excited about that?''

''Yes.''

*****

''I had a bad dream. The aliens. They come and get me and little buddy. The poke us with owies.''

(?????? I promise we are not watching an Alien abduction shows in this house!)