Saraquarium

 I read about a toddler bike Europeans use to help their babies learn to ride bikes, never using training wheels.  I researched it online and ordered one for our Girl.  It came last night!  We put it together and Evy was on it riding immediately. 

There are no pedals; it’s a “run” or “balance” bike.  The concept is that the baby walks with it, then runs with it, and eventually balances on it to glide along.  NEVER USING TRAINING WHEELS.  They learn to balance before training wheels mess up their balance and coordination, so they NEED them for years…

Evy walked it all around the house, then on the driveway, and then up the street.  Then she got tired of it and left it in the neighbor’s yard.  And then she got tired of walking, so Mommy had to carry home baby, helmet, and bike.

Once Daddy got home, though, she jumped back on it to show it off and she had already improved, rolling a little faster!

Want to see something hilarious?  Check out these videos of babies riding balance bikes:

http://www.kickboardusa.com/g-bike.html

http://www.stridersports.com/video.html

 At least she’s honest.  “Evy did it” is what we hear when we ask about the biting incident!  Yesterday Evy was sent home from school.  For biting.  Four times.

We don’t know if it was one child four times or four children, but we do know the reasons.  Here are the details pulled straight from her teacher’s notes:

1. Evy wanted a chair her friend was sitting in so she bit her friend.
2. Evy and a friend were in the book center.  Evy put a book down.  A friend picked it up and Evy bit the friend.
3. Evy and a friend were cleaning up blocks.  The friend took a block from Evy to put it away and Evy bit the friend.
4. Evy and a friend were playing with blocks and trucks.  The friend took a block from Evy.  When Evy went to get the block back she bit her friend.

Here are my thoughts:

1. Sounds like Evy is just standing up for herself
2. Sounds like they’re not REALLY friends.

So, Evy and I had a talk about controlling herself when she is mad, and then we had a wonderful afternoon shopping at Lowe’s!  A big storm blew in while we were inside, trapping us for an hour or so, just long enough for us to spot an amazing deal on a new washer!!  We got a 50% discount on a floor model Whirpool washer and it will be delivered Saturday.  YAY! Funny how things work out!

 Today Evy came into bed with us at 6am, burning up with a fever.  She was a sweetheart, all cuddly and sleepy, but we could tell she wasn’t feeling herself.  Of course I couldn’t take her to school and head to work, so we lounged around in bed watching cartoons until 9.

We finally made our way downstairs to share a poptart picnic in the living room floor.  Evy saw a commercial for a kids’ music cd, and told me, “I want some of that.” So we put on our raincoats and headed to Wal-Mart.  I had been wanting to buy her a boom box for her room, since she loves music and dancing so much, anyway.

Of course, 5 minutes into our car ride she passed out, exhausted.  I persevered, and woke her up with a loud “We’re here!” as we parked at the store.  She woke up SO HAPPY to go shopping, and this attitude lasted ALMOST the entire time we were inside.  We picked up a little boombox, and a cd of 150 toddler songs, the movie Bolt, and some other random items that jumped into our cart as we walked around.  (i.e. tiny yellow velcro baseball glove and ball…you know, necessities.)    I was still looking for a little step stool when the meltdown began.  I decided to leave immediately. 

The incident began with her request to get down and walk, followed by my denial of her request, and then things spiraled.  She stood up in the seat and leaned toward me and certainly would have jumped had I not grabbed her and put her on my hip, still pushing the cart with one hand.  You can imagine how 3-Stooges-like it must have looked.  So, I convinced her to get back in the cart so I could pay, and we left without incident.  Other than trying to get out of the cart in the rainy parking lot.

So we came home with visions of assembling the boombox and playing some toddler tunes and having fun fun fun.  Instead, we had meltdown after meltdown about everything from her jacket zipper to her shoes to her juicebox.  She wanted nothing, she didn’t want to be held nor left alone.  She didn’t want to eat or nap or play or sit together or color or dance or practice letters or A N Y T H I N G.  She just cried and cried and threw herself on the floor. 

Finally I made myself some cheese nachos and ate them in front of her, trying to tempt her without actually asking her if she wanted any, which would have certainly insulted her and initiated a huge tantrum.  She cried about it for about 20 minutes while I ate, then she grabbed a chip, dipped it in the queso, sat back, took a bite, and said, “I like it.”  WHEW.  We had a nice time after that, with only a few touchy moments for the rest of the evening. 

Her fever never came back, and we shared some quality time, which really was awesome.  I will blame the rest on the “TWO’s.”

I’ve used Dream Matte Mousse before, and liked it, so when I saw ads for a completely poreless, flawless, airbrush finish foundation, Dream Liquid Mousse, I picked some up.  I’m a fan.

TODAY AT LUNCH a woman said to me, “I have to ask, are you wearing any foundation at all?”  *GASP!*  No one has ever asked that before.  She said my skin looked completely naturally young and peaches & cream. 

I want to add here that today is my 38th birthday, so this was a particularly welcome compliment!

The makeup goes on smoothly and easily.  It covers without looking over done.  I can’t say it helps with wrinkles, but I don’t really have any, phppptt, haha!

The one minor issue is that is doesn’t seem to help with shine.  Stick with the matte mousse you if have oily skin.

 Over the past two weeks, our sweet princess has been exploring alternative ways of expressing herself.  Mostly demanding, screaming, and crying.  For example:

She only wants to wear certain clothes, and NOT the clothes you have chosen, but you don’t know that you’ve chosen the wrong clothes until you make an attempt at dressing her.  Sometimes you have indeed chosen the correct clothes but you haven’t offered them correctly, or in the right order, or hey, she just doesn’t like your attitude or the look in your eye.  So, you still get a hard time, before the clothes are ultimately accepted. 

Of course she loves to wear what is too small or too big or weather innappropriate.  I try to stash those items out of sight,but you never know what she’ll go after.  She wants to wear her glow in the dark skeleton pajamas to school, and she wants to wear her summertime cupcake pajamas shopping in the freezing weather.  She hates her winter coat but loves her winter hat.  She wants to wear her clogs all the time, even though she can barely stand up in them. 

Apply this challenging behavior to all aspects of our life, from meals to toys, to cartoons, to activities.

All that said, Evy was THE SWEETEST PRINCESS EVER THIS WEEKEND!   She charmed us into overdrive and made us adore her in excess.  She was kissy and huggy and bright eye’d and beautiful.  She knew all her flashcards and let us sleep late.

• Dinner time:

I’m hungry, are you ready to eat?  Want to help Mommy make dinner?

NOOO, noo, Mommy, DON’T, NOOO!

ok.  Want some chocolate milk?

NOOO, noo, Mommy, DON’T, NOOO!

ok, I’ll put the milk away.

NOOO, noo, Mommy, DON’T, NOOO! Shocklet muk! Shocklet muck!

• Morning:

Let’s get dressed.

NOOO, noo, Mommy, DON’T, NOOO!

Want to wear your pink shoes?

NOOO, noo, Mommy, DON’T, NOOO!

ok, then, want to wear your silver shoes?

NOOO, noo, Mommy, DON’T, NOOO!  Pink shoes!  Pink shoes!

I am a complete sucker for mascara.  I believe all advertising campaigns and rush out to purchase each new product.   Been there, done that.  And that.  And this, too.

Here’s my all time favorite.  Don’t be afraid.

Tuesday started with a Doctor’s appointment for the two-year checkup and one dreaded SHOT.   When we pulled into the medical offices Evy asked hopefully, “Going shopping?”  She was fine playing in the waiting room, and even warmed up to her nurse who asked her to do certain tasks.  (Stick out your tongue, lay down, squeeze my fingers, look at the light…)  She was in great spirits as we measured and weighed her.  Evy is in the 25% in height now, an improvement over the prior 15%.  What a button!

When the nurse left the room to gather the shot supplies, Evy asked, “Ready to go?”  and then Mommy had to break it to her gently: “We’re going to get one little stick on your leg.”  The dark cloud lowered over her eyes.  But, it was over real quick; the tears only lasted a minute.  Then Evy was rewarded with a purple band-aid, two stickers and a toy camera!  Jackpot!!

Then we went to Wal-Mart for some fooling around and Evy got another sticker!  This time a happy face, which she put on her hand and kissed repeatedly.

Late that night, we had an awful surprise.  The hot water heater tank in our garage exploded!  60 gallons of water whooshed out of our garage (thank goodness not inside the house!)  Daddy is in Florida this week, so the nieghbor came over to shut off the water and gas.  Luckily it was all covered in our home warranty and the plumber fixed us up by the next afternoon. 

ps.  Evy started asking “Why?” this week. It is so cute; she cocks her head to the side and lilts her little sweet voice: “wHYyy?” 

“Daddy go?”

“He is working in Florida.”

“Florida?”

“Yes”

“Wokking?”

“Yes.”

“wHYyy?”

Three new ones from our girl:When Evy needs help, she asks, “Help you?”

When she wants to be held, she asks “Hold you?”

And when things don’t go her way, she declares, “Aw, Man!”

You must post a video online of the SNL Sexy Shanna skit.

I am dying to see this skit again.  It was the funniest thing I have seen on SNL in forever.  Kristen Wiig is brilliant.

The premise is a sexy new girl in the office, who cannot do anything sexy.  We DIED laughing as she blew out candles, sang, picked up a pen, and ate a banana. 

I can’t find it posted anywhere online.