True to Form

Today is Angela's birthday.  I cannot believe that she is two years old.  Actually, there are certain times when I can totally believe she is two.  They generally correlate with the times that I want to pound my head into a wall repeatedly.

After I served the girls their breakfasts, I sat down in my seat next to Angela and sang "Happy Birthday" to her.  Upon its completion, she smiled and demanded, "Cake."

It is nice to see that some things don't change.

Easter Mass

One day I will look at my well behaved children after Easter mass and think, "When did they become so boring?"  In Alice's defense, she was great.  Thankfully she did not pledge her allegiance to Satan like she did two years ago.  Peanut, however, was your typical two year old (read- a pain in the butt).  I spent more time walking outside the church than actually inside listening to the mass.  Props to the grounds crew of the church.  You did a beautiful job.  Thankfully it was a nice day, so I guess God was smiling upon me in that respect.  I am sure it was in appreciation for the laughs He got while Angela was inside the church.

• Angela apparently really loves her Pop Pop.  Unfortunately for all the white haired gentlemen wearing glasses around us, she adopted them all as her honorary grandfathers.  She kissed and hugged the man sitting next to me much to the amusement of his family and persisted in kissing the back of the man in front of us throughout the time we were actually in the church.  I hope they were flattered more than annoyed.

• During the "Glory to God" a hand bell chimed.  Angela exclaimed, "Oh no!  Telephone!"  I guess she took the reminder to turn off all cell phones to heart.   

Another Alice-ism

Today we took the kids to Dairy Queen.  Alice enjoyed her chocolate and vanilla twist tremendously.  As she ate, Alice surprised us with the information that ice cream has to stay cold or it will die. 

Apparently, she watched Frosty the Snowman one too many times.

I don't think I will view melting the same way ever again.

Lord Help Me

Alice has been home this week for her school's Spring break.  Consequently, the girls have been spending more time together which has lead to good blog fodder for me.

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Two mornings ago, Alice decided to teach Angela how to draw.  Apparently, those seven months I taught English to high school kids while pregnant were internalized in utero.  Or, perhaps, she is just bossy- take your pick.  Anyway, it was amusing to witness this instruction unfold.  Alice was pretty patient until she realized that her student was more interested in eating raisins.  Exasperated, Alice exclaimed, "Angela, if you eat more raisins you will have to deal with a big poopage."  Angela, unfazed, continued her raisin eating. 

Those lessons on digestion that were part of her school's body unit obviously made a big impression on Alice.

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A rainy day this week lead us to explore a new birthday place nearby.  It has lots of those inflatable slides and bouncy houses (read- great way to exhaust children).  I put Angela into one of the obstacle ones and waited outside.  She is generally pretty brave and enjoys stuff like this.  Plus, there was a very nice male attendant on duty who would fish out the little ones who got stuck.  After about five minutes or so, he emerged with a smiling Angela who went right back in.  I waited and again the young man fished her out.  She went right back in and once again the attendant emerged from the bouncy caverns with my daughter in his arms.  As I watched this unfold, I looked at Angela only to realize that she was flirting with the gentleman.  The coy glance, the sweet smile...that little sneak.  She was in charge of this situation all along (at least until I realized her ploy). 

When I spoke to John later that night, I informed him of his daughter's use of feminine wiles.  I dread when she is old enough to date.

Anatomy Lesson

Lately Alice has been into drawing.  The amazing thing to me is that her drawings are now recognizable.  Gone are the colorful scribbles of her modern period.  Last night we did some drawing after dinner while Daddy gave Angela her bath.  I decided to make an Easter basket filled with colored eggs, which inspired Alice to draw the Easter bunny.  Because Alice cannot do anything silently, she dictated to me all the steps that she was following.

She explained how she needed to make an oval for the body, ears, teeth, legs, arms, and a belly button.  Belly button?  I looked up to see her place a dot in the middle of the bunny's oval body.  I don't know why but this has me still chuckling.  Actually, as I write this blog entry, Alice has drawn another Easter bunny complete with belly button.  I guess she has entered her navel period.

Should I Be Concerned?

Angela has become rather proficient at naming body parts while pointing to them.  This might not seem like much, but I am her mom and little things like this make me proud.  Still, I could do without her forceful pointer finger demonstrating her knowledge of "eye" on me.  If you see me sporting an eye patch any time soon, I have not entered into a life of piracy (although I would look good in those boots and flowy shirts).

Angela knows "nose", "eye", "head", and "mouth".  Her recent addition to this list is "butt".  She demonstrates this new knowledge by hinging at her hips and slapping her buttocks all while saying, "Butt.  Butt.  Butt."

John and I used to joke that given Alice's love of nudity our job was to keep her off the stripper pole (thankfully she has outgrown the need to streak through the house).  Apparently, our new task is to keep Angela away from leather and whips.  A parent's work is never done.

More Than Meets the Eye

Angela has entered the "Terrible Two" stage.  When Alice was in its throws, I was in my first trimester of pregnancy.  I attributed my feelings of frustration, tiredness, and annoyance to pregnancy hormones.  Now, as I enter round two of the "TT" stage, I can honestly say all those feelings had nothing to do with pregnancy.  This developmental stage in a child's life just (for lack of a better word that is not a profanity) sucks. 

I understand the "why" behind the tantrums- no longer napping and not having the speaking vocabulary to convey her knowledge/desires.  Still, it is tough weathering through it.  The other day I informed my mom and husband that there should be a law of "No tantrums before Mommy has her first sip of caffeine".  Yesterday morning Angela seriously had about five meltdowns before the water for my tea even came to a full boil.  Nothing made her happy, so we went to the local Y.  I worked out and she played with her friends and we were both in better moods by the time we reunited.

The good mood extended into the evening hours.  After dinner, Angela sat on my lap while we chatted.  I hugged her and asked, "Angela, are you my big girl?"

She shook her head and replied, "No.  Alice."

"Oh, Alice is my big girl?"

"Yes."

"Are you my little girl then?" I asked.

"Yes."

John and I were amazed that she reasoned this out so well.  No wonder she has meltdowns.  Angela has it all figured out and she has to guide her occasionally addled mom through it all.  I would be frustrated too.