We have been working very hard on banning the sippy cup in our house. Especially when we are not in the car or out ‘n about. When we were on vacation Addie drank out of glass water goblets at every meal – with help, of course, but I know she is capable of doing it and we simply don’t need the sippy cups anymore. The day I get rid of those stupid cups will be a milestone all in itself. Just think, no more cleaning those gross valves,* or turning a corner in the car and having a cup roll out from beneath the seats! (Never, ever open the cup if you can not remember when they might have had it in the car. It isn’t pretty. And I don’t care how much you are into “reduce, reuse, recycle” it is really not worth trying to salvage the cup. Just trust me on this one.)

So anyhow, like I said, we are definitely working on just “kid cups” at the table. And we’ve had a few spills, which is to be expected, and not a big deal…well, most of the time. Occasionally I am in just the right wrong mood, and both of the girls have pushed just the right wrong buttons or messed around for just a little too long and ends up knocking the entire cup of milk on the floor. Or coincidentally enough, right into the plate of food that they are trying to NOT eat. Convenient, huh? That might send me into a bit of a spiral, but usually, clean up the milk and move on.
Anyhow, as I was getting at (What’s up with the tangents, today?) today was a good day. Girls were eating like champs, laughing, we were having a just fine morning. Addie takes a drink of milk, turns to the side of her chair and opens her lips just a little bit and lets the entire mouthful of milk dribble onto the rug. (Yes, we have a rug under our table, on top of the hardwood. Yes, I am rethinking that arrangement. Everyday. After every meal.) I’ll admit, I was kind of in shock, so I did watch the whole “dribble” – as if it was in slow motion or something. Finally I ask:

M: “Hey, hey, HEY! Ad what are you doing?!”
A: “My milk fall down, mama!”
M: “No, no, no! We don’t do that!”
(Emma chimes in…)
E: “What? What did Addie do, mama?”
A: (smiling) “Emma, watch me, what I do, Emma!”

And the mischievous little monkey takes another big gulp of milk and starts to “show” Emma what she had just gotten scolded for.

I did manage to stop her before she showed her dribbling technique to Emma. But I’m sure it won’t be the last time we see it in our household. I did have to go into the kitchen and laugh where she couldn’t see me. The look of pure glee at being able to show her big sister a neat new “trick” and knowing that she wasn’t supposed to be doing it – it was priceless. Such a little monkey.

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*If you are still in the sippy cup phase – you really do have to try the First Years Sippy Cups. They are insulated, completely spill-proof and they do not have icky valves to clean. So awesome. Oh yeah, they also come in very cool styles like Princesses, Nemo, and Elmo. I have actually found that they are cheapest at Kohl’s – they often have them buy 1 get 1 half-off or on their 15% off sale. I have a bunch if anyone wants them, I’ll send them your way!