Things She Says

We are getting into the part of parenting that I have been waiting for....the things kids say. Yay!

I know, I know...they won't always be funny things. I anticipate some embarrasing moments for mommy or daddy, but these are the things that make life interesting and fun.

And give me stuff to put on the blog.

On our way home from daycare I'm teaching Brooklyn about the things around us, the river, the trucks, cars, train and trees. Naturally she thinks all these things are hers.

Me: Brooklyn, do you see the water?
Her: Brook-a-lyn's water.
Me: We are driving over a bridge now.
Her: Brook-a-lyn's bidge. (That's how she says is...bidge.)

Well, yes there is a Brooklyn bridge but I hope she isn't sad when she learns that neither it or the city are actually hers.

Shall we dance?

So last night we happen to flip to the channel showing Dancing with the People You May Have Heard of a Long Time Ago Stars. Brooklyn was fascinated with the dancing.

She stretched her arm out toward me, beckoning me to come dance with her. So I got on my knees and put my hand in hers. She then shimmied and twirled around, as best a toddler can do, and then tried to "dip" herself by throwing her upper body backward.

As you can imagine, John and I were cracking right up.

Easter-y Cuteness

Daddy's Birthday

Happy Birthday Sweetie! I hope you had a great weekend!

Somehow, no matter what the occassion in life, our celebrations seem to always be about the Bean.

The fruit of our labor

The other night we were all sitting on the couch having some sherbet. I was sharing mine with baby girl. She took the spoon from me and said "I do it." Then she dipped her spoon into my bowl and, rather than feed herself, she put the spoon in *my* mouth. As I ate from her spoon, she said "Good girl, Mommy." After every spoon full I would hear her praise my job well done in the sweetest little voice God ever made.

I guess all the celebrating we do over HER jobs well done is really catching on. Yay us!

The Intracacies of Discipline: a Story of Frustration

I don't even know how to tell this story.

Okay, I ask Brooklyn to do simple things, like "Please come here so we can put on your shoes." I get ignored. So I go pick her up, bring her over and put on her shoes. Frustrating but nothing to go postal over.

"Brooklyn, lets walk to the car...no, don't play with the water fountain. We have to leave." I'm ignored as she stops at every water fountain to push the button and will not follow me even though I walk to the end of the hall and pretend to leave without her. So I back track, pick her up (even though I am already carrying a ton of crap) and carry her to the car. Now I'm getting irritated.

"Brooklyn, you HAVE to hold mommy's hand in the parking lot." She pulls away and refuses to hold my hand. At this point I throw every blessed thing I'm carrying down right in the road and have to grab her before she runs around the car thinking this is some immensely fun game of chase. I force myself to be gentle even though I want to snatch her bald-headed.

What is the deal??

She listens to daddy. She listens to her teachers at daycare.

I'm told I need to be more firm. To get down on her level and look her in the eye. It's true...I do need to be more firm. I don't know how to be firm without getting angry. I don't know how to be patient without letting stuff slide.

Firm and loving. It has to be possible. God is firm and unwaveringly loving.

"Lord, show me how to be both of these and not lose my ever loving mind. Okay, just show me how to be both of these. I'm certain that parenting is going to make me lose my mind anyway. Amen."

KSC Family Day Picnic

We went because I'm not so sure there will be another Kennedy Space Center Family Day picnic.

The weather was nice but it was warm. Brooklyn seemed to have fun:

Playing (falling) in the bouncy area.





And petting/riding her first horsie!! My mom was walking beside Brooklyn the whole time though you can't see her in the pic.





It was a lot of work but totally worth it to be outside in the beautiful weather all afternoon. God I love living in Florida!

Two Cheese Monkies