All About Addie

The kid is killing me. She has the “I’m twwwoooooo” attitude down cold, yet she still cracks me up almost on an hourly basis.

So it is no new “news” that I was sick last week. Poor, little Addie mostly wandered around and played by herself, or watched her beloved Ariel, while Em got a little reprieve and headed out for school.

But, what did sweet little Addie do to make Mommy feel better? She brought Bear to me and laid him under the blanket with me and laid her head on my arm, sighed and said, “I love you, too, Mama!” (She never says just “I love you” it is always, “I love you, too!” I guess she already knows how much we all love her. It is now just understood.)

Then she would wander off and tend to something, and every two minutes or so she would come up and put her face inches from mine and ask so hopefully, “Your tummy feel all better now, Mama?”

That angelic little face framed in curls and her big expressive eyes looking so concerned, it almost did make me feel better.

Today J. left for the SuperBowl. He is gone until next Monday – although he is flying in for a few hours on Wednesday…Nice! A little break in the week. While just the thought that he was gone could have made for a very long day, that and the fact that I have the entire week, including weekend, ahead of me, Addie and I actually had a pretty delightful day.

Daddy left to go work, the girls went shopping! (Ok, some of it was actually birthday shopping for Daddy, but still…)

While we were on our way to pick up Em from school, I peeked into the rearview mirror, Addie saw me and she exaggerated a big yawn, broke into a huge grin while she put her hands behind her head, and then she said to me, “It was a lo-o-ong day, huh, Mama?”

And then…(one more!) at dinner, Emma was antagonizing her and I came in and said “what is going on here?” Emma just sat there with a sheepish look on her face and Addie blurted out, “Tell the twooth, (truth!) Emma Gwacie!”

Seriously. Where does the kid get this stuff from?

She is obsessed with wanting to wear her (and Emma’s) Ariel pjs. Unfortunately they are all little nightgowns, way too light to wear in the chilly 40-degree night air that we have going on right now. So I’ve been compromising and letting her wear the nightgowns over warmer jammies.

Which means this is what she looks like at bedtime around here…

addison.jpg

When I finish getting everything on her, she turns to me and says –

“Now, I’m all nice and cozy, Mama!”

She is definitely the “ying” to Emma’s “yang.”

Sometimes you just have to do it yourself.

Hey! This is Emma.

Well, and Addie, too – but mostly me, because she is my “baby sis” and is not nearly as talented as I am in the talking, typing or storytelling arenas, but I will help her when it is her turn.

First off, we really need to apologize for our obvious slacker Mom lately. She is running around like the crazy rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, exclaiming, “I’m late! I’m late!,” and she is really preoccupied with something, or a few somethings, and she clearly does not understand how important it is to keep her bloggy friends happy. She just keep throwing up a photo here, or a few photos there, and hoping that our sweetness will tide you all over.

*sigh*

Mothers…can’t live with ’em, can’t live without ’em.

Anyhow, about a thousand days ago, our friend Zoe tagged us for a fun little meme. I kept asking Mommy when we could do it and kept getting, “um…how about later.” Story of my life. So, Ad and I are just going to do it now.

The rules:
-Each player makes a list of eight random facts/habits about themselves.
-At the end of your list, choose eight people to tag and list their names. (We probably won’t play by this rule, though).

So, since I am the big sister, and running the show around here, I figure I will go first.

Emma’s Eight:
1. I love school. I tell Mom every single day how I can’t wait to be 5, so I can go to the kindergarten classroom. There I get to go to school – ALL day long. Every day. I’m really excited about that. And I get my own lunch box!

2. There is this boy, Henry, he is at my school and I think he is very cute. My friend Ella and I are always chasing him at recess and I told Mom the other day that I was going to marry Henry when we grow up. Mom said that I was ONLY 4 YEARS OLD (yes, she said it loud like that) and that I should just be friends with Henry, but not worry about boyfriends and getting married and stuff like that. I told her, “I’m almost 5!” Her head just dropped forward and she shook it back and forth, I’m not sure what that means, but she does it a lot lately.

3. I am going to be 5 on April 9th, in case you didn’t know. I like to tell everyone that. I think that maybe I will have a Strawberry Shortcake birthday party. Mom just laughs because Aunt Meesh used to have a bedroom with Strawberry Shortcake all over the wallpaper. I guess everyone likes Strawberry Shortcake.

4. When I’m not in school, or planning my birthday party, I really do like to play with my “baby sis.” That is what I call her, and it also always makes Mom laugh. We have been known to give Mommy close to an hour of peace at one time, while we play Polly Pockets and dollhouses. Sometimes I think Mom doesn’t believe that we are just playing because she will come in and ask, “What are you doing?” “Why are you so quiet in here?”

5. I am working hard on my ballet dancing. I started a new class that my friends Ella and Kate are in. It is on Saturday with Miss Caroline and we are learning A LOT! Miss Caroline told Mommy that she has not seen feet like mine in a long time! Mommy says she is not sure, but she thinks it is a good thing. Apparently my long, skinny feet are good for ballet dancers. I really want to be Clara in the Nutcracker some day.

6. I also like playing baseball with Daddy. I conned Davin into playing with me for hours when he was here a few weeks ago. But I keep telling Mommy that I really want to play soccer. Mommy says this summer, after I am 5, I get to start playing. Which is good, because every time we go to the Grove and I throw pennies into the fountain and I wish to play soccer. Now I won’t have to waste all of those wishes!

7. My current favorite person is Sharpay from High School Musical. I used to only want to wear skirts and dresses, but Nena and Mommy found me some “Sharpay jeans” they are sparkly and very cool, so I have branched out and am now including some new stuff into my wardrobe. But it must sparkle. And it must be fabulous!

8. I know the plot to every Tom & Jerry cartoon. It is my favorite cartoon. Daddy and I like to watch them together. He has also been showing me the Three Stooges. Much to Mommy’s chagrin.

Addie’s Eight:
1. Well, I’m 2. So that pretty much explains what it is like around here. One minute I’m laughing and having a great day, the next minute I am having a supreme meltdown because my sock is not on my foot the right way. It is kind of a game now – I just do it to keep Mom on her toes.

2. After my “debut” at the dance recital last month, I am taking a little break from dance. Although every time Mommy puts tights on me, I ask her “Am going to dance class?” But I don’t think I really want to go.

3. My obsession for Cinderella has been transferred to Ariel. I love the Ariel song, I want to watch Ariel every single day. Sometimes I will sit at the table and comb my hair with a fork, or “dinglehopper” like Ariel does while I sing, “Aaaaaah, aaaahhh.” Mommy is trying to get it on video, but I’m smarter than her. I know when she is trying to trick me and I know exactly when to stop.

4. The two words that I say (and use correctly) that cracks Mommy up lately. “Pobabaly” (probably) and ack-tu-ally (actually). “Um, Mommy – ack-tu-ally, I want juice instead of milk – but I pobabaly will have to have some goldfish with my juice. Yes?”

5. I think my big sister is great. She is my favorite person. When she is somewhere and I need her I will yell at the top of my little lungs, “Emma Gwacie Girl Boris! Where arrre you?!” Most of the time we have a very fun time. But I do know that by screaming very loud when Emma isn’t sharing with me, it will make Mommy come running. Another fun game I like to play.

6. As much as I love Emma, I really love my afternoons with Mommy when Em is at school. We usually don’t do anything exciting, but Mommy says I’m a totally different kid when I am without Em. I sure do like it when all of Mommy’s attention is on me.

7. My favorite place to go and just hang out is the “puppy kitty store” (PetSmart). We always start in the fish and wander past the birds, but then I get antsy and can’t wait to get to the back of the store where the puppies are! There is a doggy daycare where all of the puppies go and run around and I love to watch them. And then I have to go visit the kitties, too. And I love our kitties. The other day I picked Smokey up and carried her around for a little bit. I think she really liked it!

8. I am the world’s slowest eater. Or maybe this is just another game to drive Mommy crazy? The only way to get me to eat a full meal in a timely fashion is to make sure you are serving “noonels” (noodles) or broccoli. It is a sure way to make sure I will wipe my plate clean.

—————————————————–

So there you have it. A little bit of funny stuff and happenings that Mom has been to busy to write about. I think that all of our bloggy friends have already done this? If you haven’t and want to – just leave us a comment and let us know you did it!

Now we have to go find Mommy. It is a fun little game we play sometimes. Mommy has to go to the bathroom or take a shower, and we go throw open the bathroom door. “MOOOM? Hey, MOM! You in here? Found you! Now it is our turn to go hide…”

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow~Best Shot Monday

Remember our little discussion nearly a year ago now…what to do with Ad’s hair? I held out as long as I could. I really did listen when people told me “don’t cut her hair, it is beautiful, she’ll lose all her curls!”

But after fighting for the past three weeks with a crabby 2-year old and clearly not winning the battle, I mean…look at the dread-locked, baby mullet, hairdo she had going on –

ad_hair.jpg

Detangler wasn’t working any more, and the back was getting too long and heavy, it was actually pulling her curls out! And it just looked really frightful.

So, we took Ad for her first haircut on Saturday. I was going to pick this photo for my BSM because I love the expression so much.

ad_haircut.jpg

She actually did really, really well. Of course she is just sitting there thinking, “Hurry up already lady. Where is my lollipop? Cuz, I was told…that I could have a lollipop.”

And I took a bunch of pictures and with every snip of the scissors was thinking, “OH MY GOD! I said to trim it up – you just cut like 3 inches off!”

But when it was all said and done, Addie was happy because she got a lolly and a balloon and Mommy was happy because if anything she has even more curls now, and her hair just looks SO.MUCH.BETTER.

ad_newhair.jpg

Of course she is crabby for other reasons now. Like…um, she is 2. And she has a runny nose again. And…she is 2!

I tried desperately to get a good shot of her sporting the new hairdo but it just wasn’t happening today. But I like this photo a lot, so it will be my BSM for today.

ad_tophead.jpg

Don’t forget to stop by Tracy’s to see other Best Shot Monday photos.

What do you mean… ~ Wordless Wednesday

…Nena went home?
…Daddy has to actually go to work?
…We are back to boring old Mom all day again?
…I can’t have Christmas candy for breakfast?

ww_addie.jpg

Well, that just doesn’t make any of us happy.

(Mommy predicts tantrums of epic proportions in the forecast for the remainder of the week while we try to get back into the routine. I am guessing at least an 85% chance.)

Nose to the Corner ~ Wordless Wednesday

timeout.jpg

(Okay, I can’t be completely Wordless on this one. This is Daddy’s discipline trick…the corner. I use the step. And yes, she definitely listens better to Daddy. But I can’t help but laugh when I see her stand in the corner…on her tippy toes, just waiting to be released. The giggling and taking photos probably isn’t sending the right message to her, is it now?)

Enchanting Princesses

If you live in the LA area, and have two Princess-obsessed girls (or any number of obsessed children, girls or boys) you should definitely go see Enchanted at the El Capitan theater. The theater is cool to begin with, the movie is actually a very enjoyable Disney movie, (Patrick Dempsey, ladies…for a good hour and a half!) and the “Enchanted Experience” after the movie is well worth the price of admission. The girls got to see, talk to, hug, and take pictures with every princess, including the new one, Giselle. No huge lines and no huge ticket price. It was a little bit of Disney heaven, without the drama of Disneyland.

Addie seeing her idol, Cinderelly, for the first time.

sm_addie.jpg

That little grin says it all. “It’s Cinderella, Mama! Cinderella!”

sm_cinderelly.jpg

Oh yeah, there were other princesses, too!

sm_jasmine.jpg

And yet another example of what a great big sister Em is. She was so loving and sweet – once she understood the drill, she tried so hard to help Addie to meet the Princesses.

small_belle.jpg

She will always be my one of my favorite Princesses.

sm_em_2.jpg

God Loves High School Musical

I may have mentioned the High School Musical Mania in our house, although the girls call it “High School Music-school.” But if you have not witnessed Addie’s rendition of “Breakin’ Free,” especially the beginning that starts –

We’re soarin’, flyin’
There’s not a star in heaven
That we can’t reach

-well, then! You are in for a Thursday treat.

J. caught the girls goofing around on video on his laptop the other night. It isn’t Addie’s best performance, but it is still pretty funny. I especially love the part where Emma tries to tell Addie how it is supposed to go and Ad gets fed up and tries to squirm away.

Good times.

While we are on the subject of High School Music-school and the obsession, today while we were in the car they asked for a HSM song…

A: Mama, turn up High School Music-school?
M: Sorry Ad., Mama’s iPod isn’t charged up.
E: But it is the Radio Disney, right Mama?
M: Yes, it is. But you can’t control what song they play when you are listening to the radio, Em.
E: Maybe God can play “Fabulous” for us.
A: Or “Na-na-na-na”
(Music in Me, for anyone who knows/cares what song A. was talking about.)
M: I think God probably is worried about other things, not what song the Radio Disney is playing.

And then, I kid you not, the next song was “Music in Me.” (Na-na-na-na.) It wasn’t too surprising since they pretty much rotate Hannah Montana, High School Musical, and the Cheetah Girls. So every third song is usually a HSM song. But such timing!

A: (shrieks) It is Na-na-na-na, Mama, it is!
E: See, Mama?! God likes High School Music-school, too.

Can’t argue with that, I guess.

Perfeck and Creem, of course.

Before you read the following funny conversation you should probably know that –
1. We have been accident-free for well over a week now, A. is doing great with the potty! (Still use a pull-up at night, though.)

2. We have a heating vent right next to the toilet in the bathroom downstairs. It is really nice on chilly mornings.

3. Yes, it has been chilly enough for a heater (at least in the mornings) this week, even in California.

Oh, and also, if a toddler who just stripped all of her pjs and pull-up off and says “have to go potteeee” while running to the bathroom, you should stop reading your email and follow her in there. Pronto.

A: Mommy. I need hep (help). Pleeease. Need hep.
M: Okay, A. I’m coming.

(As I’m walking through the playroom, is that water I can hear? Think to myself, “maybe she used the stool and got up on the toilet by herself.” See as I come into bathroom, that is not the case. She is standing right next to the toilet looking horrified as she pees down her leg, on the floor. Quickly put her up on the toilet.)

M: I’m so sorry, honey. It’s okay, that is Mommy’s fault for not getting in here faster.
A: Is okay, Mommy. Don’t worry.

(I must say this to them all the time, it is our mantra around here, “It’s okay. Don’t worry.)

A: Mommy, you clean up my pee-pee?
M: Yes, I am. Hold on just a second and I’ll clean you up, too.
A: Is okay, Mommy. I dry my own foot. Yook
(Look)! Is all nice an dry and creem (clean)! That’s perfeck (perfect)!

She had her foot in front of the heater and was “drying” it off.

A perfeckly creem foot. It’s okay. Don’t worry.