Toddler Talk

One of my favorite parts of each day with Caroline right now is the first few moments after she arrives home from preschool and begins to recount every good and bad detail of the day with the most animation. She must stand to tell the stories as she is usually too excited to sit, her tiny hands waving around wildly, her dramatic facial expressions rapidly changing and she talks a mile a minute in the sweetest little voice. She is seriously so much fun. Oh, how I love this age and wish I could bottle it up! Anyway, some really funny things Caroline has said lately...

After noticing the pages were torn out of a library book in Caroline's room...
Daddy: Hey, where are all the pages to this book?
Caroline: Oh, they are in the toilet.
Daddy: Why are they in the toilet?!
Caroline. The trash can was full. 


Running into the living room with a cookie to find Thomas...
Caroline: Hey Thomas! Daddy has a surprise...for not you! (laughs and runs away)


While standing by as I reprimand Thomas for digging through the trash can...
Caroline: Yep! That's a "no ma'am," Thomas!


While exiting Caroline's room after scolding her to go to sleep for the 2387234 time...
Caroline: (sobbing) You are NOT being my best friend right now!!!


While buckling Caroline into her car seat and realizing she didn't brush her teeth...
Mommy: Hey, did you brush your teeth this morning?
Caroline: Yes!
Mommy: It doesn't smell like it. I don't think you did.
Caroline: OK, I didn't. But I brushed them yesterday!

Oh, and I'll just leave you with this snapshot from Caroline's recent productive nap ripping up dollar bills she was collecting in her wallet from Grandma...

Find more Toddler Talk here.

Toddler Talk

Time for another edition of Toddler Talk...

My Dress | Wedges | Caroline's Dress (on sale)

While selling our home Caroline was very concerned when we'd leave the house for a showing:
Caroline: Mommy, are the peoples going to play with our toys?
Mommy: No, they are just looking at stuff in the house.
Caroline: Oh. So they are going to watch Caillou on our TB?

While applying an entire box of band aids to her legs...

Mommy: Let's not waste all the band-aids. Caroline: But mommy, my leg is ouching!

During an attempt to have a conversation with Matt in the car...

Caroline: Excuse me mommy! Mommy + Daddy:...talking... Caroline: Excuse me daddy! Mommy + Daddy:...talking... Caroline: LISTEN TO MY WORDS!!!

While destroying the kitchen at Grandma's house...
Grandma: You are making a big mess!
Caroline: It's OK! My daddy will clean it up!

Toddler Talk

The things that come out of Caroline's mouth these days are so unpredictable and hilarious. A few things I want to catalog...

While handing my camera to me...
Caroline: Mommy? Can you take a smile with me?

In the car on the way to school while listening to our favorite CD...
Caroline: Mommy, can you please turn up the singing?

Caroline teaching Thomas how to make "soup"

Because even a lunch of just french fries is a win these days...
Mommy: Thomas, eat your french fries and you can have your rice krispy treat.
Caroline: Thomas, eat your french fries and you can have your rice krispy treat.
 
While chaperoning me using the potty (because all moms know you can't pee alone once you have kids!)...
Caroline: (Hands me one square of toilet paper and rubs my back) Great job mommy! You get a sticker! 

The newest night-night routine addition is Caroline reads Thomas a book. This activity was established by Caroline so her rule is she gets to pick the book and only she gets to read and only she gets to sit in the reading chair...(bossy big sister? yep)

Caroline: Come on, Thomas! I am going to read to you!

Thomas: ....

Caroline: (turns first page)

Thomas: nope!

Toddler Milestones & Recent Funnies

So much has been going on in our little toddlers' lives recently that I wanted to make sure to catalog the highlights before I forget.

Caroline transitioned to a toddler bed! I had absolutely no intention of making this move until Caroline was either climbing out of her crib regularly or she was leaving for college. Matt on the other hand has been so anxious and excited to make this move. Anyway, I finally caved to Matt's regular requests to make the transition!

CGM at 27 months

In preparation for the first night of freedom Matt and Caroline unscrewed the front of the crib together while he explained the sticker reward system for staying in bed all night and not getting out until we come and get her. He also slipped a pool noodle under the sheet to prevent her from rolling out of bed. And added a door lock in the event she decided to roam the house at 2 am. Oh, and he secured all of her furniture to the wall.

I am shocked to report that Caroline has done pretty well with the transition and is obsessed with adding a sticker to the calendar each morning. Over the past six'ish weeks we've averaged one adventurous night per week that definitely does not end with a sticker. One morning we opened her door to an entire collection of Dr. Seuss books completely shredded. She even attempted to hide the scraps of evidence behind the crib. We also had to lock up all her drawers after the night she pulled our every diaper, every wipe and had a field day with the diaper cream. Oh, and she fell out of bed while sleeping once. But other than a few naughty nights here and there she has been sleeping soundly and is so proud of her bed and sticker chart!

Another huge milestone - Tom Tom is officially walking! Hallelujah! Caroline is so dang obsessed with him walking now too. She pulls him around everywhere like he is her baby doll.

TDM at 14 months

Also, can we please stop and reflect for one second that THIS is the exact age Caroline was when we brought Tom Tom home? HOLY MOLY.

Lastly, we said farewell to my beloved Snap & Go Stroller. We had been waiting to ditch Thomas's infant car seat until he began walking to upgrade him to the next car seat. Then unexpectedly the computer system went out in my car so my stroller is stuck in my trunk and I can't get to it. It only took me two days of trying to haul a 20+ pound baby in an infant carrier up a hill at daycare while also trying to hold on to Caroline, diapers and two backpacks before I said NOPE and rush shipped two Graco Contender 65 Car Seats to replace the infant system in both cars. Thomas loves his new seat!

And now, for some recent funnies...

After smuggling a pantiliner out of my bathroom drawer (and into the car)...

Caroline: Mommy I got a band-aid!

 

Why we can't buy nice things for our home. Or eat mashed sweet potatoes anymore.

House parties.

Trash pick up mornings are always such a highlight for the kids. Last week as the garbage truck drove by Caroline exclaimed "mommy! they picking up all the poopies [diapers]!"

Toddler Talk

Cataloging a few funny things heard around our house lately...

While recapping how she got her shiner...

Mommy: What happened to your eye at school?

Caroline: I bumped my head in the wall.

Mommy: Does it hurt?

Caroline: Yeaaaaaaahhh.

Mommy: Do you need me to kiss your boo boo?

Caroline: No, I need a bitamin.

Running to find me in the kitchen...

Caroline: Mooooooooommmyyyyyy!!!

Mommy: Yes?

Caroline: Thomas naughty in bafroom.

Thomas: (giggling and shredding a roll of toilet paper)

After stealing my chapstick out of my purse...

Mommy: NO! We do NOT color the floor with mommy's chapstick!

Caroline: (starts rubbing chapstick on lips instead)

Mommy: Please go put that back in mommy's purse.

Caroline: (turns and walks towards purse...drags chapstick along the wall on the way)

While helping me pour brownie mix into the mixer...
Caroline: Ew. Mommy. Dirt! 

Mommy: Can you color a thank you card?
Caroline: YES!
Left unattended for 5 minutes with markers...

After letting the kiddos stay up late to open Thomas' last birthday present - a firetruck.
Caroline: Oh! Caroline's!
Thomas: (excitedly reaching for firetruck fresh out of the package)
Caroline: NO! Mommy! Thomas go night night!!!

Previous Toddler Talk (CGM at 16 mo)