Whole New World

One Saturday a month, for 1 hour and 30 blessed minutes, I take some time to myself. I don't worry about cleaning, mowing, working out or even bathing (even though sometimes I do stink a little). My child is asleep and I give myself a time-out. What do I do during these precious 90 minutes? Well, sit and read my monthly edition of Parenting magazine of course! (See, I never get too far away from the mommy-ness).

The August issue has an editorial all about the huge transitions that come between 18-months and 3-years. Umm ya think?! AG is all of 18-months and one week old and I feel like every day it is something different. One day it is "Mommy up" i.e. "hold-me-even-though-I-am-nearly-30-pounds-and-have-to-wiggle-around-to-look-at-everything-going-on-but-no-no-I-really-do-need-you-to-hold-me". Then the next I am sprinting after her because she can't get away from me fast enough, nevermind the fact that we are in the middle of Lowes or even better - a parking lot.

Most days she has a beautifully sunny, easy-going and calm disposition. We have fun doing just about anything. Then she throws me for a loop and NOTHING pleases her and she has some need that must be met NOW; but she cannot verbalize it and no amount of "show Mommy please just show Mommy what you want" will calm her down. Those days we spend a lot of time sitting on the ground, her sobbing, kicking, screaming and me saying "Mommy wants to help you but you have to stop crying". Those are long days.

Not all of the transitions are patience testers though. Some are simple and so small, you almost miss them if you weren't watching her every move with amazement. All of a sudden, she can use a spoon. Just decided one day, "I'm going to take care of finishing this applesauce cup all by myself". It was amazing. She has also gone from casually observing toys and their function to Miss Crazy Imagination. Our baby dolls jump everywhere. Everything Addie Grace does, they must also perform. Brushing teeth, eating snacks, running errands with Mommy. They're living the life right now.

We also dress up in play clothes, eat play food and make poor Snoopy wear chapstick and necklaces. Playing with her is fun and exciting. I am sooo looking forward to the next few years when we can kick this imaginarium into high gear and really get silly. Plus I am interested to see if Alex will have a tea-party and wear a feather boa. Only things that his princess would be able to make him do.

Having a toddler is SO much better than having a newborn. Even through the whining, defiant streaks and "I want to do it on my own" moments.

Stand Back Superman

You see this cape fluttering proudly in the breeze? The one with the giant "SM" stamped on the back? That's right, it stands for "Super Mom". And I wear it with pride. I became a proud recipient of said cape way back in January '09. It was tucked in my hospital overnight bag right in between the cutest newbie-sized strawberry onesie and a few pairs of granny panties that I swore I would only wear for a few days then it would be back to my cute little VS regulars. (Eight months later, I caught my husband staring longing at those same VS panties still resting in my top drawer...right behind their more comfortable Hanes counterparts.) I digress.

I pull out this cape for special occasions. Times when my motherhood, I believe, has reached near super-human status. Today's reason for pulling out my favorite wardrobe accessory? Addie will brush her teeth, wash her hands and her face all without having a nuclear meltdown.

The past five months have been daunting. Each morning I drag her into the bathroom, sit her on the counter, foil her attempts to plunge head-first on the tile in sheer desperation - all to avoid the wet washcloth from touching the giant eye boogers and snot that have plastered her face overnight. Seriously, WHERE do all these boogers come from?!?! She will go to bed with a clean face and equally clean nasal passages only to wake up looking like she laid in her crib shooting loogies into the air all night.

We have had the same morning routine since she was 10-months old. Wash your face - stick a toothbrush in your mouth. Good. Great. Let's get to daycare. I think it all changed when teeth started taking up residence inside of her mouth and I had to actually make an effort and brush those teeth. Then she realized, "Wait a minute, you're serious about this? Like, every day for LIFE I have to do this? No thanks." Plus, her new favorite past-time is "catch-me-if-you-can". Which is always fun when it either involves her running with a fork or her bare butt sprinting away from me as I chase after it with a diaper.

To many mothers, my recent victory may not seem like much. But I am a stickler for not having the "eww kid". Be honest, you know these poor children. The ones that show up for play group and have gummi-bears stuck in their hair because Mom decided to "let that fight go". Or the kid who always wipes their nose on their sleeve and therefore all of their sleeves are permanently stiff and crusted. Of course we all are well aware of the child whose mouth emanates those foul-smelling green gaseous odors like you see in cartoons all because their mom "didn't want to fight about brushing teeth".

Well, put your boxing gloves on, AG, 'cause your mommy is a fighter and you are brushing those dang teeth. And I will lay down on the tracks in front of that Snot Train before it leaves this house.

Maybe I didn't win the war, but round one is definitely mine. This morning when I uttered the (formerly) dreaded words "time to brush", she dutifully got up and marched to the bathroom. We brushed, washed and then I praised like crazy. Dancing, singing and clapping my hands like an insane person. She just watched with an expression like "Geez Mom, I brushed my teeth, get a hold of yourself."