Toddler Tuesday: New stages and traits.

  The last few weeks I have been noticing a big change in Lucy. She is still my baby (they are all our babies though, aren't they?), but obviously getting older and more curious everyday. She is not the destructive and mischievous toddler she has always been. Suddenly all her positive and adorable traits have been amplified and many "little girl" traits are surfacing.

  As always, it's so much fun to watch the kids grow and discover new things. Lucy is following me around helping with house work. Usually singing some of the songs she is learning at sabbath school (or the Barney song) while we work. She is learning how to joke and be silly in more of a little girl way. She is becoming more aware of things going on around her and also the feelings of those around her. I suppose some of that has been taking place for awhile but the speed at which she is growing, mentally and emotionally is much faster recently.

  It's always neat to observe kids (especially your own) and pick out character traits that you hope will stick. it's also neat to see just how young some traits and lessons can be learned. Lucy is very nurturing. She is always trying to take care of her brother and sister. Always making sure they are ok. If you pass her a drink, a snack or anything else she asks for one for her brother. If Avary is getting into something she shouldn't and we are distracted, she is sure to tell us.

  She also wants to please us. She wants to be a good girl and make us happy. That trait is a new one ;) She wants those around her to be happy. She herself is a very happy person. Always smiling and giggling.  She loves to be silly and just have fun and enjoy things. it doesn't matter what, she finds a way to being joy to any task or occasion.

  She is compassionate, kind, loves to share and help, happy, thankful, loving and affectionate. I hope that those are traits she keeps. Those are very important traits to have in life. Trev and I have tried to instill those things in our children. Even though all our children have some great traits, they are all different.

  Jake has always been an old soul. Right from the time he was a toddler. He is very thoughtful- always thinking things through. Something I hope he continues to do always. He has a very dry sarcastic sense of humor, but is funny all the same. He loves the Lord. He is also very insightful when we talk about God and biblical subjects.

He has also been developing some great compassion and care for his sisters. It's cute to watch him get down to their level and do a very enthusiastic up beat voice when talking to them. He has learned how to defuse potentially bad situations and avoid conflict. I think  are kind of older sibling traits. He is also smart, both book and life smart, which I think are equally important. Lastly, he is independent.  He doesn't mind being on his own and doing his own thing. something I hope he holds too. It could come in handy during the teen years!

  Avary is going to be the little ray of sunshine. She is silly and funny. Outrageously so. She wants to laugh and tries to get those around her to laugh and be silly too. She is also very loving and affectionate. She loves to snuggle and when she hugs you, it's the best. She grabs you very tightly. So tight that I've come to believe I could let go of her if I was standing and she wouldn't even budge.  She is also very determined. She wants to do what she wants to do, when she wants to do it. Age and size have not been limits to her so far. She just does whatever she sets her mind too. That is a trait I hope she keeps (as long as she uses those powers for good and not for evil ;)).

  It's also very cool to see how the children change one another. When Jake was an only child there were many of his traits and characteristics which we didn't see. Being an older brother brought those out in him. Lucy has grown and developed many new characteristics since becoming a big sister herself. She also looks to her brother with almost a hero worship. Avary looks to her big siblings and learns from them. These are precious and vital years. These are the years that lay the foundation for the rest of the kids lives. They are developing into who they will be as adults.

  It's a pleasure and an honor to watch them grow. It's fun to see them becoming more in depth beings. Neat so see them learning and exploring things for the first time. And of course, it's also a big responsibility. Nurturing, guiding, sheltering, molding, holding back, letting go.... Being a parent is hard work. knowing how to raise these little people and stimulate the positive traits while hammering out the less appealing ones. It's tough. It's the most important thing we will ever do.

  I'm sure as our children grown they will do things I will not life. Characteristics and traits will develop in them that I won't like. I don't expect them to be perfect, they are human after all. They live in an imperfect world just like the rest of us. Unfortunately they will most likely even inherit and pick up some bad traits from their father and I. However, I do hope that in 30 years when I look at my children I still see many of the positive, beautiful traits that I see in them today. No matter what stage we are in life, our character defines us. I hope my children continue to  grow to have a Godly, positive, upright character.

Toddler Tuesday: Not the usual.

  In recent weeks you have all probably all noticed the absence of a Toddler Tuesday post. To be honest Lu has been giving me a serious break. Either that or she is just out growing the curious-in-a-bad-way stage. I'm afraid to wish or hope for the latter. I do know that she seems to have grown up a crazy amount. She has been much more little girl then toddler recently. I have to say, I'm really enjoying, and very proud of the little girl she is becoming.

  Today was sort of the icing on the cake and I had to share. Lucy and I have had a very fun, very productive day so far. She woke up a little grumpy, but quickly came around to be her usual sunny, cheerful self. We had our morning snuggle on the couch, now Avary wants in on it too and she's not always impressed with that. Today she wasn't happy about Avary snuggling too, but she came around. After snuggles we had some breakfast. The girls played a bit. Then it was nap time for Avary and the real fun began!

  I went to do some laundry and Lulu wanted to help. I always try to let her help if she wants. We really believe in  fostering that urge to help and exercising the kids work ethic while they are young. We folded laundry together. Well, she did something, then passed it to me and I folded ;) but I praised her and she was proud and happy to be helping. Although I do have to mention, she did manage to fold one face cloth darn near perfectly. Next I unloaded the dishwasher. She wanted to help again. She got a little bored when I began reloading the dishwasher with the breakfast dishes. She decided to finish off her blackberries and chattered away.

  I finished tidying up the kitchen and then we did some crafts together. She is really catching on to manners. She uses them all the time now. I'm very proud to have such a polite little girl. She says please and thank you. She will even ask if she can use something before touching it, if it's not hers. Today was no exception. It makes for a much more pleasant experience when kids learn not to just grab. We were able to share the craft supplies and both had fun.

  About this time Avary woke up from her nap. We had lunch together. Lucy is a girl after my own heart, she loves pasta and garlic bread, so we had that today. I burst out laughing when I looked over to find her putting her pasta noodles on her garlic toast and eating it. I don't think she has ever really seen me doing that, but I love eating left over pasta that way. It's so cute to see little things like that which must be genetic. This was the first meal she has really eaten in a few days (oh yea, I forgot to mention she has entered the eating-like-a-bird stage) and she had thirds! I couldn't believe it! After getting all cleaned up from lunch, and getting her cleaned up we had a snuggle and read a book. Then she had her nap.

  Both girls even had their afternoon nap together today. I was able to get all my housework done by early afternoon. I couldn't believe my luck! They are really spoiling me! They rarely have their whole nap at the same time anymore. The best I get is an overlap. Avary did wake up a little before Lu, but she played happily in her crib while I finished mopping and had a quick shower. I'm sure this all sounds pretty mundane. Maybe even boring. To me it was a perfect morning and early afternoon spent with my beautiful little girls, especially Lucy. I'm thoroughly enjoying the "mundane" and "boring" while it lasts. Before you know it I'll be back in the the toddler stage with Avary.

Toddler Tuesday: Painting...

  I can only imagine what kind of images are going through your minds after reading that title. Was Lucy painting? Were we? Does it even matter who was SUPPOSE to have the paint?! Well to answer your questions, we were painting, she wanted too, and even though we won that battle she still managed to do some damage. She got paint on her PJ's, transferred her bum print on to the closet door from her PJ's, and just straight out touched the wet walls with her hands a few times. Painting with a toddler is on my list of things not to ever do again, although we did maintain some good humor about the whole thing. She kept standing outside the closed door saying (in her cute little voice) "let me out pleeease!" Of course she meant let her in, and she somehow kept managing to sneak in, or charm her way in, much to Trev's despair. Listening to his comical antic's was almost as funny and listening to her try to get in the room ;)

  In other news, Avary took her first steps last night. I suppose that sort of makes her a toddler herself now! She wasted no time getting in on the fun. This morning she discovered the buttons on the tv. She has changed the channels, turned the television on and off about a million times and attempted to make countless changes to the settings. Lucy was not impressed by this in the least since it took place during her morning episode of Barney.

  You would think that would be the end of Avarys toddler like antics and that she would start slow. Nope, Big Stuff just doesn't do things half way. Go big or go home, that seems to be her motto. Thus her nickname: Big stuff. She crept into the bathroom while I was changing around laundry this morning and stuck her hand square in the bit of leftover blue paint in the paint tray. Thankfully I caught her before she managed to paint too much. Her hand and Lucy's stool were the only causalities.

 It also appears she is going to be very helpful in teaching me important lessons just like her big sister. Last night I was being lazy and put a cream of mushroom soup can in the recycling without rinsing it fully. I know, I know, bad Mallory! Don't worry, Avary managed to get a hold of it from the bag of recyclables waiting to go out to the bin and got the left over bits of soup all over her hands and the floor. Twice. Goes to show you that even if something looks ALMOST clean  it can still be pretty dirty! Lesson learned. I will not skimp on rinsing the recyclables ever again.

 Your all probably thinking Lucy must stayed out of trouble this week. Nope, I was just messing with you! While we were painting Jake's room, which is going to be Jake and Lucy's room for awhile, the two of them spent a couple nights in our room. We blew up the big air mattress we have for camping and they had a blast getting to sleep in mommy and daddy's room. Of course Miss Lucy couldn't resist the temptation that a room full of new things provided. During nap time yesterday she covered herself in Joy essential oil blend. Of course the upside to that is that she was really happy the rest of the day ;)

  She has discovered the word happy. I'm pretty sure she has also discovered just how cute she can be. Her new defense against nap time and bedtime is "no, cuz I'm happy". I mean, common, how can you argue with that logic?! Of course, being the mean mommy I am, I do ruin her happy and put her to bed lol. If she gets caught doing something she shouldn't she has a lighting fast reflex of saying "I sorry mommy". Now it's more like "I sorry mommy, I happy". I guess she thinks if she's happy she can avoid getting punished?! If that's so I could have used that knowledge back when I was a kid! Why am I always the last to learn these things?! lol.

  I hope you have have a fantastic week full of humor, love and fun!

Toddler Tuesday: Toddler love

  In honor of valentines day, I thought I would do something a little different today. Instead of retelling all Lucy's inventive misadventures for the last week, I want to share some cute moments. Some melt your heart cuteness and some pure acts of toddler love and affection.

  After dropping Jake off at school one morning, Lucy and I were walking back to the van. She was having a blast jumping and "bouncing" around. I told her she was bouncy like Tigger and asked her if she had springs in her feet. I noticed after a couple seconds she had stopped walking. I looked back and there she was bent over, holding her foot, and looking for springs in the bottom! She looked up and me and said nope mommy! :D

  Late last week the flu hit my hard and fast. I was camped out on the couch feeling miserable. Lucy came up and said "mommy sick?!" I told her yes, I was sick. she replied "I kiss oou better". Then she gave me a big hug and kiss, smiled and said "All better?!" I couldn't reply being I was too busy chuckling so I just had to shake my head yes. I couldn't bring myself to break her heart and tell her otherwise. A couple days later we were driving in the car and she herd me say something about being sick. She pipped up and said "No mommy, oou not sick, I kiss you better!!". Oh yea...I forgot about that lol...

  We have been trying (Without much success) to potty train Lucy. Of course we give a ton of praise and get very excited if she goes in the potty. She is starting to use our tricks right back on us. If she manages to sneak in with me when I go to the bathroom she goes "shush...listen mommy." and whenever Trev goes to the bathroom she is waiting to tell him "Good job daddy!!". When was the last time YOU were recognized for your great work in the bathroom?! Lol.

  Avary is at the point where she is almost ready to walk. We have been trying to get her to walk to us while just lightly holding on our finger. Miss Lucy is a jealous little monkey by times and likes to think she is still the baby. Last night Avary didn't get much practice because Lu was too busy going "I walk to oou mommy!, I walk to oou daddy! and doing her best imitation on a baby walk while going back and forth between us. She also has started coming over to be snuggled and saying "say ohhh my baby girl, I love you baby girl". I think someone doesn't want to grow up ;)

  Lulu has discovered all things beautiful and "pretty" A friend send us some of her daughters too small clothes, and when I opened the box Lucy went crazy! All I herd for the next 15 minutes was "oohhh I oove it mommy! I oove it!" and "pretty mommy!". She got her first pair of high heels in that box and has been wearing them all around ever since because they are "pretty".  We have also been doing mani's and pedi's together because every time mommy does her nails, Lucy needs hers done. She even had her own mini bottles of all natural nail polish. It's so much fun having a girly girl!

  Lucy had developed this too cute habit of running at me exclaiming "Mommy!! Mommy!!" whenever I walk in the door from being gone somewhere. Even if I am only gone a few minutes. It gives me such a warm happy feeling to know I've loved and missed that much :). She has also started giving massive bear hugs and big smacking kisses. One of favorite new thing she does though is Eskimo kisses. She will lay there snuggling me in the morning and give me Eskimo kisses for several minutes straight, chuckling and giggling and being all silly and ticklish the whole time. It's super cute, even if my glasses do get really smuggled :).

  My MOST favorite thing Lucy does?! The fact that she now says I love you, without being prompted. She understands what it means, and wants to say it to those she loves. Being told that your child loves you, especially when it sounds like "I oove oou mommy!" is the sweetest, best, most melt-your-heart-and-turn-you-to-a-big-pile-of-mush thing ever!

  Happy Valentines day all <3 I hope you have a sweet little boy or girl in your life to wrap their arms tight around your neck, look at you with big twinkling eyes and tell you how much they oove oou, because there really is nothing else that can match the smile that will leave on your face and in your heart <3.

 

Toddler Tuesday: The fun continues!

 This week was quite an eventful one. I swear Lucy somehow realized that she is the star of her very own weekly post. I also think Avary somehow got the memo and has decided she needs to start practicing so she can get in on this post too! Here are the toddler highlights from this week.

 Not 15 minutes after I finished writing the Toddler Tuesday post last week I found Lucy stripped naked and crouched in the (empty) bathtub slathering body wash all over herself.  Avary was standing there watching her and bouncing with excitement. I guess Lucy figured she needed a bath, and Avary thought it was a swell idea. Upside?! They were nice and clean after! Downside?! it would have been nice if I could have decided bath time!

 We had a repeat situation here this week. Remember how Lucy was trying to teach us not to leave things out? Guess mommy and daddy didn't learn their lesson. We lost another full bottle of popcorn seasoning to the floor. I'm proud to report I didn't even bother to get upset this time. Just sent her on her way to time out and cleaned it up. Man I'm getting nerves of steel!

 Lucy has decided she loves to help me bake. Wonderful. Termendous. Honest! I do love having her help me. It teaches me patience and she gets to learn to be helpful and follow direction, not to mention the obvious, how to bake. However. Sometimes she feels the need to take it upon herself to "start" a project without me. Often I don't even know she is starting one.

 I've found several squares of margarine sitting in my stand mixer, all at different times of course. Thankfully this was before she learned how to turn it on. Sunday while I was baking she dumped the flour container on the floor while trying to measure out some flour. While I was distracted of course. Thankfully it was almost empty, what a mess that would have been!

 This morning I had my three little ducklings in the tub. I went to grab their towels and came back to find Lucy washing Avary. The plus side?! Avary shouldn't have to be bathed for, oh, the next couple weeks. She's THAT clean. The downside?! We need to buy more baby wash. We had 3/4 of a bottle when bath time started.

 When I have to give Jacob disciplinary talks, or serious talks of any manner, I never have to worry about him not remembering what we talk about. There is this little echo that repeats every word I say. Very seriously. With the right tone and everything. Even hand actions, if I'm using them. This use to bother Jake, and I use to try and get rid of the echo. I just tune it out now and I think Jake has just decided to be grateful for the free recording. Either that or he has tuned it out!

 Just before finishing this post I once again notice that quiet. The one that can only mean trouble. The one we talked about last week. I said "Lucy?" to which she replied "oop's I sorry". She totally gave away her hand. I think she's slipping. I knew she was next to the nail polish. The RED nail polish. I braced myself. Maybe my nerves of steel couldn't survive this situation. Don't worry, it's not too bad. She just looks like her hands are bleeding. The furniture and floors are safe. I'll just chalk that one up as a win ;)


Top five Favorite toddler things from this week:
1-The way she says "Mommy!!!" when I walk in a room.
2-The way she gets really excited about things
3-The way she gives a hug. Super tight,  with both arms wrapped right around my neck and her face mushed next to mine
4-The way she says"I sorry" all sweet and innocent like when I catch her getting into trouble
5-Actually...the way she says everything! Isn't toddler voice the cutest?!

Toddler Tuesday: Come on, you were all thinking it!

  I have decided that since toddlers have enough energy, imagination and personality for two children, they really need a special day each week. One special day to write about the exciting (ha!), destructive, bewildering and hilarious (after the fact at least) adventures they have day after day.

  Since many of my readers have toddlers of their own, I know this post will be appreciated. I encourage you to add your own toddlers (mis)adventures in the comments. Because since they are going to find something to get into regardless, we might as well all have a good chuckle about it!

  Of the top of my head, here are a few of Lucy's imaginative messes from the last week or two. I assure you there are MANY more that I've blocked out so that I can try and remember all the cute and adorable things she says and does, and continue to like her Lol.

  Not even half an hour ago I went to get a drink of water. I reuse one glass all day and keep it by the sink. When I picked it up to refill it I noticed something shiny in the bottom. Upon further inspection the shiny items were also a little slimy. She had found a broken necklace I had stashed in an unused tea light decoration, awaiting my next trip to the mall. She had taken the hand lotion beside the sink, pumped a couple squirts of lotion into the tea light section of the decoration then (I'm assuming) tried to wash it off with the bit of water in glass. At least she was trying to clean up after herself?!
 
  Last week I walked into the kitchen to find her standing beside a huge white powder "puddle" on the floor. Looking closer, she was also coated in a fine white powder and was licking it off of her hands, which were caked with it. That mess turned out to be popcorn seasoning. Guess we forgot to put it back in the spice cupboard the night before. That'll teach us not to pick up after ourselves.

  She is not allowed to play with my new iPhone, however I did keep my old iPhone and let her use that. She has basically made a game out of trying to sneak my new phone anytime I set it down.  A few days ago during one of those times she found it, she discovered it had a camera. Later that night I deleted over 40 photos of her eye and forehead. All exactly the same picture.

  Lucy disappeared down the hall a couple days ago. I noticed because it got really quiet all of a sudden. You all know what I'm talking about. Your working away on some task or chore and suddenly realize, it's quiet. TOO quiet. Then you drop what your doing and hurry off to find the source of the quiet. What mess has your toddler found to keep them busy and quiet this long?! Well this particular day, Lucy had discovered my essential oils. I had quite a few of them out on my headboard because Avary was sick and I'd been using them on her. She was covered in eucalyptus oil and my floor was covered in sweet almond oil. On a positive note, my floors shiny, and if she had any cold symptoms the eucalyptus would have cleared it right up. She smelled good too!

  Make sure to share your toddler stories too! And remember, we might as well approach them with humor
or we'll all end up with nervous breakdowns ;)