Big Cousin

First off, let me give a big welcome to new baby Nicole Alida (born 1/18)! Addie is SUPER excited to have a cousin. Although she hasn't met her yet. And we're not sure that she understands that Nicole will be 'baby-sized' and probably not toddler play-ready for 9 - 12 months. Here's how our conversation in the car about baby Nicole went yesterday (one of many such conversations we've had about baby Nicole.)

Me: Addie are you excited to meet your new baby cousin Nicole soon?
Addie: Yeth! (still figuring out the "sssss" sound)
Me: Do you know who Nicole's Mommy is?
Addie: Ummmmm...
Me: Nicole's Mommy is one of your aunts...
Addie: UNCLE STEVE!
Me: Well, close uncle Steve is Nicole's Daddy.
(after more prompting about her aunts)
Addie: Aunt Amy baby 'Cole's Daddy??
Me: Sure

Science Experiments

Mondays are toddler (or was it pre-schooler?) days at the science museum. Seeing as how I had the day off, Addie and I decided to go in the morning. Here's a list of random things from our visit:

1. If you are the sole parent with a toddler in a stroller in a crowded place, she will undoubtedly refuse to ride in the stroller. Leaving you to chase (yes, literally all out run) after her like a deranged lunatic weaving the empty stroller around people shouting "Addie - Come back here! You either hold Mommy's hand or hold onto the stroller!! Right now!" None of which even remotely will influence your toddler to (a.) come hold your hand, (b.) look back to acknowledge she heard you, or (c.) slow down. But illicit plenty of stares reading on par with 'this is how you control your child?'
2. If an exhibit doesn't have buttons, it isn't of any value. Dinosaurs bones? Blah. Where button, Mama? Where button?
3. Average time spent on each floor in the museum - less than 20
4. Me before we got there: $3 service fee to buy your tickets online. Seriously, like I'm going to pay more to reduce their staffing and overhead (read = sarcasm). After arriving to see a ticket line with at least a 30 minute wait: ohmigod - why didn't I buy tickets online?!
5. Addie fell in the toilet. Tricky business, just sitting on the seat.
6. In the toddler world of logic, waiting for your turn is optional. Feel free to bud in line, interrupt another kid's turn, or push others out of the way. This is your chance to play.
7. Yes, you can lick the exhibits. Create your own game of 'culture a new illness' where you are the petri dish. Up next - test the contagiousness with your pregnant mom.

I still think that even though I was thoroughly worn out from our visit, Addie seemed to like it.

The case of the missing diaper

I arrived to pick up Addison this evening from daycare (running late and eager to get home quickly for dinner) for her to promptly ask to use the potty. Uggh. I know as the mom of a potty training toddler that this is great news. But sometimes, the challenge of "using the potty" (read = minimum of ten minutes time commitment spent alternating between Addie sitting on the potty and me begging her to get back on the toilet and keep trying) can really push my patience. Anyways, got Addie into the bathroom and ready to sit on the toilet only to find the absence of any diaper or pull-up. Definately not normal. At the end of the day the daycare merges the toddler rooms together and tonight the teacher in the room had been there for about an hour.

Addie didn't use the toilet or need a change during that hour which leaves us with the following scenarios:

1. Addie took off and hid her diaper without anyone noticing. (Unlikely since usually when she pulls up her own pants the result is very visible plumber butt. But comical to think about the teachers discover a random diaper somewhere in the room...)
2. Addie and another tot were going to the bathroom at the same time, and Addie escaped before her teacher got a new diaper on her & teacher didn't notice. (Again, similar to #1 this relies on her pulling up her own pants...possible but unlikely.)
3. At the end of multi-tot bathroom rotation, teacher was distracted and pulled up Addie's pants sans-diaper. (Most probable).

Either way, kudos to Addie for staying dry for 1+ hour at daycare while going commando. Good job little Mit!

Listening ears

me: Addie use your napkin to wipe your hands and mouth.
addie picks up napkin: memmh?
me: Yep, now wipe your hands and mouth please.
addie takes off her socks and proceeds to thoroughly wipe her feet.

Toddler Fancy

Ahhh - the things that toddlers' love. Quirky and wonderful! Some of Addie's new fancies...Enjoy!

Her own working vacuum - Yes, our daughter actually begs us to be able to use it! Imagine the possibilities...

Monkey PJs - a clear favorite even if she's visibly sweaty after wearing them for ten minutes. Gotta love the built in slippers.

Best Car Feature

Dear Camry,
I appreciate all of your safety features. However, you may want to rethink how to handle the "notifying" signal for when the car is sliding out of control (i.e. how you tell us that you've decided to stop trying to use traction control and we're just screwed.) The ear piercing, rapid beeping signal is so distracting that the operator may actually struggle to remain calm enough to re-gain control of the car. Because seriously, when the car starts to slide sideways do you really think that an oh-shit-this-is-really-bad audible "signal" is needed to inform the driver that there is a problem?
Sincerely,
Frustrated winter driving mom (& backseat toddler driver - WHOA! WHOA! BEEP!)