Why I Love Hailey Bug

One of the many reasons I love my little Hailey Bug has got to be that she listens. She really takes in what Daddy and I say.

She may not always have the appropriate response, but she hears me...and at least that's a start.

Evidence that she is listening was displayed tonight when the following situation ensued:

Maddie finished up her lunch and was headed to the couch where Hailey and I were watching a little TV before we all headed upstairs for a nap when she tripped over a blanket on the floor and landed on the carpet. She didn't get hurt, it was a soft fall. Hailey looked over in Maddie's direction and said in her sweet little three year old voice, "Been walkin' long?"

I'm always teasing the girls with things like this or "How was your trip?" or "See you next fall."

We all had a good laugh, but I'll have to remember...Hailey is listening!!

Not toys...nope, not my child!

The kids and I were in the livingroom and I had HGTV on the television. I keep that on for a couple of reasons 1) the kids won't watch too much TV 2) most of the programming on this channel is kid-safe. Now, I know that a better idea would be to just turn off the TV, but sometimes I like the background noise. Besides, it drowns the noises outside and helps keep the dog from barking.



Anyway....Maddie looked over at the TV and said, "Mommy, THAT is the floor I want!"



me: "Wood floors?"



Maddie: "Yes!"



Hailey: "But, where would we put the toys?"



me: "Uh, in the gameroom where they are now...?"



First, I'll have to investigate why wood floors means bye-bye toys. Second, I knew Maddie was a lot like me. She even has my excellent taste in flooring choices. Third, maybe she is watching more TV than I thought. Which brings me to the next Maddie story.



Maddie: "Mommy, I saw on TV that there is a blanket that you can stick your arms through and keep warm!"



me: "You mean the Snuggie?!"



Maddie: "YES! Can I get one of those?"



And I wonder...why is my child asking for such bizarre things?

She's the Best of Both Worlds

Maddie LOVES Hannah Montana! I mean LOVES her!! For Christmas, she got the Hannah Montana guitar, which she plays ALL THE TIME while she dances around and sings along. (She even carries the Hannah Montana doll around in her backpack wherever she goes.)

For her birthday, she got several Hannah Montana themed items including socks, underwear, a purse, a magic coloring book, trading cards and a music player. Oh, and one of the gift bags and one of the birthday cards even play a Hannah Montana tune!

Between the guitar, the music player, the gift bag and the birthday card, I get my fill of her music. In fact, I find myself singing it everywhere! In the shower, cooking dinner, changing diapers, when I'm settled in for bed at night...and many, many more places.

If I were to be completely honest, I'd have to admit, it's really starting to get to me.

Yesterday, I was explaining to Maddie that I was quickly growing tired of the few Hannah Montana songs that were continually being played over and over again.

Her response to my comment: "Mommy, you CAN'T be tired of Hannah Montana! She's the best of both worlds!"

And there you have it!

I Have NO Idea Where She Comes Up With This Stuff.

The girls sat down to play with their Loving Family Dollhouse for a little while earlier today. Maddie decided to load the "Loving Family" into the minivan at which time I heard the following conversation ensue:


Loving Daddy (in her best deep voice): "Why do I always have to drive?"

Loving Mommy: "Because I always do the laundry!"


I can honestly say this very conversation has never occurred between the hubs and me.

Do you think that's what she sees? I mean, he does always drive...and I always do the laundry.


(Now that I think about it......I might just be getting the raw end of the deal here! **HUMPH!**)

How Many Rooms do you Have?

In Maddie's attempt to reclaim dessert lost due to poor behavior, she came up with the following rationale.

Mommy, I have two rooms for dessert. One for today and one for tomorrow.

Right now, I really need to fill the one for today.

She's creative, I'll give her that, but I am NOT giving her dessert!

Well...They ARE Both Green!!

Hot Rod was helping Maddie get ready to go to the reception for Dad and Tanya a little over a week ago. She had begged to wear the new dress that they had given her for Christmas. So when he pulled the shirt over her head, the collar was up.

In a slight whine, she asked him, "Oh, Daddy...is this one of those frog neck shirts?!"

"No, baby...it's not a frog neck...but it IS a turtle neck."

I know it was wrong...and I'd do it again!

Riding in the car with my kids can get a little crazy.

We were on our way to meet Daddy at work last night to eat dinner and do a little shopping when this conversation began...


Maddie: Mommy, Hailey said Toot-toot. (It's something that I don't like them to say. It is not said to be funny, but unkind or rather disgusting.)


Hailey: I did not!


Me: Girls! Hailey, don't say that. Maddie, stop tattling.


Me, again: You know who knows whether you did it or not - for sure?

----------------GOD!

----------------and Santa Claus!


Hailey: Sorry, Sissy!


I know it was wrong, but it worked, so I'd do it again! Don't judge me...

Take a Breath, Child!

This morning Maddie was explaining why I needed to wash her purple blanket.

"Mommy, I need you to wash my purple blankie. Remember when we went to the park with Daddy and Hailey and Carter to that park where we went with Princess TD and Little TD, but not the same day that we were there with Princess TD and Little TD, but after we went and had our pictures taken before we went to Poppy's house and then to Grammy and Paw-Paw's house and I got all sweaty and used my purple blankie to wipe my sweat? It's dirty!"

A mother's work is never done.

She said, He said...and he did it AGAIN!

While I was getting dinner ready yesterday for the girls and me, Carter was sitting in the kitchen just hanging out. He started to get upset and was jabbering a bit and then, he said his first word!

MA-MA!

I know - fluke, right? That's what I thought, but still I got excited and scooped him up. He was looking right at me when he said it! Did you say Momma? Totally made my day!

But, it wasn't a fluke. Nope, he said it again. After dinner, I had him sitting in the living room playing while I cleaned up the table and kitchen. The girls were playing around him and when he decided he had enough...

MA-MA, MA-MA!

Sorry, Daddy, but I won this one!!

It's awesome...except I didn't get to revel in it long.

Here's where the story takes the unfair twist.

Daddy stayed home with us a little while this morning since he had just returned from being offshore. Carter was sitting in the bed with me while Hot Rod was standing beside us talking waiting for the shower to warm up. Carter looked up at his Daddy and...

DA-DA!

Yep, and he said it again. Oh well...at least I can say he said Momma first.

We Do Love Our Friends!

Yesterday, we spent some time with our good friends, the TD Family. (well, 3/4's of the TD Family - Mr. TD was @ work)

What's so great about this family for us is all the things we have in common.

Maddie and Princess TD are about 6 months apart (although, to see them, you'd think that Princess TD was a couple years older - she's actually the younger of the two) and Hailey and Little TD are only two weeks apart in age. We have the best play dates!

Hot Rod, Mr. TD and Mrs. TD are all Engineers. I'll admit, the three of them are the most organized, detail-oriented people I know - I like to think I'm somewhat organized, but I know that if I forget something, one of them for sure has remembered it. (Especially Mrs. TD, she thinks of everything!!) And sometimes, these Engineers actually let me win at cards!

Hot Rod and Mr. TD both enjoy fishing, grilling and frankly, I don't really know what else since I lose interest (sorry Honey!) don't always pay close attention.

Mrs. TD and I, well...I think we just "get" each other. We're night owls - apparently, neither one of us enjoys getting up early. We're not your typical girly-girls. Don't get me wrong, we'd both jump at the opportunity for a full day at the spa, but we can survive an extra month without getting our hair done.

Which leads me to my story: I was putting the girls to bed last night when I asked which one of them was going to say the prayer. Both girls jumped at the opportunity - which was bizarre because usually, only Hailey will do that. I'm not sure what happened, because Maddie had gotten so good at saying them. I told the girls that Maddie would go first since she's the oldest and then Hailey could say her prayer.

It was too cute, Maddie's prayer went something like this, "Dear God, thank you for today...(and on and on)... Please help 'Princess TD's' bo-bo on her forehead to get better...Thank you for Mommy, Daddy, Maddie, Hailey, Carter and most of all Jesus. In Jesus name, Amen."

Wow! We do hope you heal soon, Princess TD!

(proud Mommy!)

I's a Dood Mommy!

Yep, that's right!! According to my 2-year old, I'm awesome!

While helping me give little brother a bath this evening, she proclaimed, "You's a dood Mommy!"

And you know what? I really needed to hear that! I've been having one of those weeks where I'm feeling a little like a failure...Not really a good Mommy at all.

I've always appreciated my sweet Hubby for all he does. I hope he realizes how much help it is to me even when he just plops down on the floor with the kids and gives Mommy a little break. When he's not around, I struggle to get even the simplest things done.

I salute you single moms out there! I don't know how you do it, but God bless you!!

Supercali-WHAT?!

At bed time, Maddie has decided that she wants me to sing new songs to her that she doesn't know.

I can remember when I was younger, I had my own record player and records (does that make me old?) with tons of songs on both sides that I would play over and over in my room. That was always so much fun for me.

I have tried to recall these songs, but I just can't remember all of them. Plus, most of them are the songs that kids are still taught in school today. (i.e. "The Hole in the Bottom of the Sea" & "There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly", etc...)

So, I've resorted to the fabulous Mary Poppins. Maddie's two favorites are:
"A Spoon Full of Sugar" and
(as sung by Maddie herself) "Superfralicagilisticgetmeoutofdocious"
In Maddie's own words, "I am NOT kidding"

While bathing the girls this evening, the conversation went down like this:

Me: Maddie, repeat after me. Brother is sleeping.
Maddie: Brother is sleeping.
Me: What does that mean?
Maddie: What does that mean?
Me: Funny...now what does it mean?
Maddie (smiling and with a giggle): Be quiet...?

She gets it AND she's funny. Oh, how I love her...I must not be doing too bad at this Mommy thing.

Who needs sleep? Not me!

So, the saga continues another day. It didn't start out so easy today.

At about 3:30 AM, I hear the creak of my bedroom door and it's Maddie...

Maddie: Mommy, I need to go to the bathroom
Me: So, go!
(back again)
Maddie: I don't want to flush it because I don't want to wake up Daddy.
Me: Go flush the potty!
(truth is, she does not like the sound of the toilet - any toilet - flushing)
Maddie: Can you take me back to bed now.
Me: Sure (In my mind I'm thinking: Hey, why not, I'm only half asleep now - who needs sleep? Obviously not me! I don't work...)

So, I take her back to her room - thought I saw something on the floor, but in my state of mind, I thought I was just seeing shadows - and back to bed for me - YAY, 3 more hours of sleep!

Maddie: Mommy, it smells in my room. I can't sleep in there.
(Again, in my mind, I'm thinking: Clean sheets, she's got clean sheets - how can they smell and at this point, Carter is awake, so I'm feeding him and I'm just too tired to deal with a stinky room)
Me: Just sleep in Hailey's bed. (Hailey had already joined us in our bed - because she woke up disoriented - 3 hours in her own bed, not bad - we're getting there!)
Maddie: Can you cover me, I can't cover myself very well.
WHY NOT, remember: I don't need sleep anymore...

...I slept in.

Don't get me wrong, I got up dressed the girls, loaded them into the Expedition and sent them on their way with Daddy to Aunt Stephie's house for the day. Then, I went back to bed. Turns out, I DO need sleep...Who'd have thought?

The girls had a great time today. They went to the mall and played, they rode the carousel and had lunch at Chick-fil-A (I'll never forget Maddie called it Chicken Yay for the longest time - so cute!) After lunch, they all went to the pool for a swim. Boy were they tired. Both girls were in bed an hour early. Nice! Hailey asked if she could go back again tomorrow. Sounds like a plan to me. What do you say, Steph?

Today I turned my attention to the kitchen. And one more load of laundry - Maddie's sheets, again! Some time in the middle of the night - lets just call it 3:30 AM, she got sick. Which would explain the spot I thought I saw on the floor and the "smell" she reported that was keeping her from her sleep.

What did I accomplish today while my little man slept? 1/2 of the Kitchen and Maddie's room...we'll do pictures tomorrow.

I'm really enjoying myself. It feels so nice to have so much energy to clean. I never knew sitting behind a desk/computer could drain me so much.

I am loving this SAHM thing...

10 things I'm thinking on the 10th

1. So, tomorrow is my last day of work. How is it I can be excited and sad and nervous all at the same time? I've been there 10 years - a whole decade! I've seen a lot of changes, met a lot of people across the country, watched those people come and go. Now it's me that's going. I'm just gonna be "Mommy" How exciting is that? I'll miss all the friends I've made and maybe I'll miss the daily adult interactions outside of the home, but I'll no longer be missing my babies. Totally worth it!

2. I HATE MY DRYER. My clothes dryer that is. I shouldn't complain because it was free. We've actually been lucky enough (here's where I knock on some wood) we have yet to have to purchase one. Perhaps I say that to hope to have to, but then (I'll refer you to #1) I don't think it's in the budget. Let me explain...recently, something happened and either the machine won't stop running or the buzzer won't stop buzzing - depends on the cycle you use. So, before I remember to check on it, BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!! I'm getting tons of "exercise" leaping out of my skin, I mean, from the chair and racing into the utility room to stop the beast and it's incessant roar.

3. My little boy ain't so little. So, at just under 3 1/2 months he is 14 1/2 pounds! Such a change from my girls who were tiny. You know the boy is big when the doctor says, "Don't bother waking him up to feed him, he seems to be gaining just fine!" I'll just say - my Boy hasn't missed a meal yet.

4. Girls are whiny. At least mine are. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my girls. I love them LOTS! And I must add, they are quite adorable. But, man can they complain. Anyone else have girls that can find something wrong with every piece of clothing down to their socks? A typical morning might go something like this:

me: Maddie, let's get your shirt on.
Maddie: But, I'm tired.
me: I know you are, but the quicker you get your shirt on, the quicker you can lay back down
Maddie: Awww...
(we get the shirt on and the conversation continues)
Maddie: I don't like this shirt, it's too short.
(I must interject here that the shirt goes past her waist)
me: It's fine Maddie.
Maddie: No, it's too short (as she attempts, unsuccessfully, to pull it down over her knees)
me: you'll be fine, let's get your socks on
Maddie: Okay, but I want the short ones
me: that's what I have
(once the socks are on...)
Maddie: Mommy, fix the bumpies, there are bumps on the sides of my toes.
me: Maddie, all socks have these, there is nothing I can do (and I really do try to fix them for her)
It goes on and on...her shoes have bark (from the playground) in them, I've put them on her too tight, it hurts her head when I brush the tangles in her hair - really, I think the only thing I've figured out is the shorts or uniform skirt.

5. There must be a reality show for everything. There are so many that some are actually very close duplicates. (American Idol, Nashville Star, America's Got Talent, etc) Some of them, I enjoy (Amazing Race, Biggest Loser, American Idol -yes, I'm a dork), some freak me out (The Baby Borrowers, The Bachelor, Big Brother - can't bring myself to watch these) Really, is that all we can have on TV for the summer - perhaps I should buy a book - or maybe I should just read The Good Book!

6. Dieting is hard! There are too many yummy things that are no-no's. Does anyone know of a diet that includes Cokes and chocolate?

7. I am one lucky gal. Not only do I have three precious children, but I also have a wonderful Husband. He's got to be one of the most supportive people I know. He doesn't expect me to do all the housework or take care of the kids by myself. He might cook dinner or even help me bathe the children. He's even been seen doing laundry from time to time. (Sheets and towels, of course!)

8. Going to the movies is expensive. We have been discussing taking the girls to see a movie - (we're thinking Kung Fu Panda, which was only rating PG for the Kung fu scenes) I love to go to the theater with the larger than life screen, but the cost sure adds up fast. It's so hard to GO to the movies, when I can OWN it for less than the cost of two adult admissions!! $8.50 per adult ticket, more than $5 per child ticket, and then we'll have to have snacks, popcorn $7?, drink $4?, candy $3? Almost sounds like a MasterCard commercial - all I need to add is "Spending quality time with the family: Priceless!"

9. Gas prices impact everything. (I hear you - "News Flash!!") I'm starting to worry that I'm going to see an awful lot of the inside of my house. That only means that our electric bill is going to go up. The more I'm at home, the more I turn on the air, the more I turn on the air...well, you get the picture. The cost of a gallon of milk is now less than a gallon of gas (never thought I'd see that day) Anyway, I'm watching our grocery bill increase and prices for everything else going up...inflation! It's like 20 years of the cost of living increase happening all in one summer. I don't know if this is a recession or not, but it sure does stink!

10. Sometimes, I only have 9 things to think about. This might just be one of those times! HA!

He Can't Help But Stare!

So, 2 1/2 year old Hailey refused to go to sleep until I turned him around. She told me he was staring at her. You'd think I was referring to her Daddy's deer mount, but NO, it was this:

How can she be scared of a stuffed puppy with a rose in his mouth?

I do have to say this is probably the strangest baby gift we've ever received.

When I wasn't looking.

Some things have happened while I wasn't paying attention.

Apparently, my 2 year old has celebrated another birthday without me in the past 7 months. I remember planning a party for her second birthday in November, but how many is one little girl supposed to have in a year? I can't help but shake my head as I hear someone ask her, "And how old are you pretty girl?" to which she responds, "I'm free!" (which is Hailey for three) It's either that or she's trying to give herself away.

At one time or another, I have asked both my girls if they wanted to take gymnastics through the preschool that they currently attend. They both very enthusiastically told me in no uncertain terms -- NO! Periodically, Daddy or I will ask again only to receive the same response --NO! What prompts us to continue to ask is that our 5 year old comes home showing us the gymnastics moves from school. Now, mind you, we have still not enrolled her in the program.

I have never been quite sure where she is getting these moves until a few days ago when speaking with my good friend Mrs. TD. Apparently, my 5 year old has enrolled herself in the program. My girls and Mrs TD's children were attending Art Camp offered at our Church (also the place where my children attend school) When the day's activities were over, Mrs. TD needed to return Maddie to her classroom to finish school for the day. Mrs TD asked Maddie where her class was and Maddie responded saying something like "I'm supposed to be in gymnastics, but I don't feel like going because I'm not very good at it."

She's probably not very good at it because SHE'S NOT ENROLLED and SHE'S NEVER BEEN!!

And all this happened when I wasn't looking...

Seriously...?!

Okay, I have GOT to find new things to say! Obviously, I repeat myself waaaay too much. In fact, this past weekend I learned just how much.

So, I'm sitting on the couch and I look over at my sweet little 2 1/2 year old and notice that she has moved from one set of toys to a new one. In my attempt to try to persuade her to clean up the toys she appears to be done with, I say to her, "Hailey, before you start playing with your Aquadoodle, you need to pick up your baby dolls." To which she calmly looked at me and replied:

"I am serious!"

After that, I really had a hard time being serious.

Lesson learned: Perhaps I should find ways to show my children I am serious and then I won't have to tell them "I am serious!"

Bonus tidbit: My kids DO listen to what I say.

Good Thing You're Cute

So, how 'bout those terrible two's, huh? Well, I wouldn't trade it for the world. Even though the little Angel is quite fond of the word "No" she still does things to keep us in stitches.

The other night when putting sister to bed, I handed Maddie a water cup (she takes one to bed each night) Anyway, Hailey placed her hand on her chest, forced a fake cough and told me: "I need a brink (drink) I have a fwog in my fwoat." (that's frog in her throat - It's just not the same if you can't hear it the way she says it.) Where do they come up with these things?

When asked why she does something, she simply states: "Betause" (which is "Hailey talk" for Because) Although, she doesn't hesitate to question me "why?" which is usually followed by another "why?" At first Daddy and I had decided to just tell her "Because I'm Mommy/Daddy and I said so..." Yes, it's one of those things people always say they'll never say. (But not me, I knew one day I'd need an easy response to the question "why?") I'm trying something new. I've told her she is not to ask Mommy "why?" Now I get "yes mum" (which is her way of saying Yes Ma'am quickly.)

Does she look like a chipmunk to you? One day Daddy and I picked her up from school during nap time. So, we're walking down the hall to get Sissy and Rod says, "Hailey, what are you chewing?" (it was her lunch) She will shove food into her mouth and chew on it for hours. She'll even take drinks and enjoy dessert - all while still storing lunch/dinner in her cheeks. Yuck!

Speaking of dessert, when she's ready for it, she asks for "Zert?"

When she wants what I'm drinking, she'll say, "I want a brink of jous brink" (I want a drink of your drink.)

When she wants me to carry her, she says, "I want to carry you."

I wonder how many times she's heard Daddy or me say:

"GOOD THING YOU'RE CUTE!"

What Not to Wear...

I am constantly learning new things from my children.

This past Saturday, we decided to take a trip to the zoo. (Sorry, no pictures!) But I've got something worth more - wisdom from a 5-year-old.

It was hot and so we decided to sit down for a snack break to cool off when my little Princess asked me a very shocking question. "Mommy, why is that lady not wearing a shirt?" I KNOW! Crazy, right? I couldn't help but laugh because I had seen the same lady only moments before wearing what? A tight fitting, skin-colored tube top! Clinton and Stacy (shut up!) would have fainted.

Lesson learned: Perhaps matching our clothing to our skin tone is not the best fashion choice!

Bonus tidbit: Through the eyes of a 2-year-old, Jellyfish are pretty bubbles!