Sleepless in the South

Oh, boy, what a night! Munch has been progressively waking up an hour earlier for the last three nights. This morning was the kicker...she woke up at 3:30 a.m. fussing as usual. Just when I think I have Munch figured out she reminds me how challenging tots can be and how dumb I am. Hubs and I had been luxuriating in our usual 6:00 a.m. wake-up call for the longest time. Not anymore! When I tried to put her back in her crib this morning, hubs and I were met with cosmic size resistence (yes, eardrum busting cries for at least ten minutes). Munch repeatedly climbed out of her crib stumping her little feet like the dancer in Flashdance. I think it is time for us to visit my sleep guru friend again, Dr. Ferber. Hubs and I will turn her crib into a toddler's bed today and brace ourselves for this new transition. Hopefully, another few more sleepless nights and we'll be back on track...maybe.

Two Is the Number

happy as a clam on our way to Brea's birthday celebration

getting into the "sandbox"



birthday girl, Brea

Sammi and her mommy

singing happy birthday to Brea

helping Brea open her big present

Kyle popping bubbles

Wow! How time flies!!! Today we helped Brea celebrate her second birthday. The three spice girls along with their parents and good friends and relatives enjoyed an early morning celebration at one of our favorite local playgrounds. Happy birthday, Brea, and thanks for having us. BTW, the Dora lip gloss bracelet is a big hit---Gi still doesn't know it contains lip gloss and we don't plan on telling her (hehe).

Celebration with a Side of Diaper Mouth

waiting for our breakfast

crazy hair



climbing

full of energy

The three Ds spent a low key day today practicing maternal adoration. Hubs took Gi and I to my favorite breakfast joint, John G's...the yummiest breakfast in town. After an hour of gluttonous consumption, we headed home for a nice long nap. Gi, to our delight, snoozed away for about an hour and a half. For you parents out there who have offsprings that snooze for two, three hours, I'm insanely jealous of you! Then it was off to preparing dinner for my mom and dad. When my parents arrived and settled in, I noticed that Gi kept leading my mom into the kitchen. Well what do you know? The Munch was charming Grandma into giving her pieces of chocolate cake sitting on the kitchen counter. After dinner, we sat around the living room watching Gi perform daredevil acts on her new Eezzy Pezzy. Once my parents left, we settled into our nightly routine but with a twist. Hubs apparently spent two minutes brushing his pearly whites with diaper cream. How he didn't notice the minute the toothbrush entered his mouth is beyond comprehension. But then again this is the same man that didn't notice that he wasn't squeezing toothpaste onto his toothbrush. Now only one question remains---should I let him kiss me goodnight? Happy mother's day!

Feliz Dia Das Maes

That's happy mother's day in Portuguese. To all the mamas and mamas-to-be that I know and love---have a great Sunday!

Play Play Play

Brea sampling the glassware

The girls were not too happy napping in their respective beds so I put them together in one bed. They fell asleep within five minutes! Too funny! How cute are they??!!

tea time

Well, yesterday we had the pleasure of having our little buddy, Brea, spend the day with us. What fun! Gi and Brea ran around at the playground in the morning. When we came home, we broke out the tea set for a little pretend play. The girls ate lunch together and even napped together. The afternoon was spent with more mei meis, Kayla and Ami Mei, in Delray Beach. After another round of play, we headed home. The girls entertained each other in the car...Gi would put her big toe in her mouth to Brea cackling delight and Brea would blow raspberries sending Gi into nonstop giggles. What a great day!

Suited Up

Gi's UV protection and chlorine resistent bathing suit and hat arrived recently. We've been trying it out almost daily now that the weather is very warm and sunny.

My Little Babushka

Just having a little fun with my little dyanmo while she plays dress-up. Gi is finally fitting into her size 18 months clothing (mostly tops and dresses) and size 4 shoes (o.k., size 4 is still a little roomy but nothing that socks can't correct). Her vocabulary is increasing along with her picture recognition of common objects and body parts. She loves, loves, loves to look at books and be read to. Within the last month or so, she has started letting me know that she has pooped in her diaper. She also mimics me by sitting on a plastic bowl and repeating the word pee pee. Is this the start of her interest in potty training? I hope so! It sure would be nice to not spend loads of money on diapers each month.

Cooking Up a Storm

Well, I finally broke down and bought a play kitchen set for the Munch. She has been cooking up a storm since hubs put the thing together the other day. I have never seen Gi want to "wash" her hands more than I do now. Oh, and other family members must "wash" their hands in the little sink also. She turns the knobs so often that the automated voice is now warning us that the batteries are low. We only had this toy for a couple of days and the oven door is already closing funny. Defective you ask. Nope. Munch keeps using the pulled down oven door as a stepping stool. Why? I don't know. Everything is within reaching distance for her. Go figure.

New Do and How Dare You Lady

Gigi sporting her new do...no more mullet in the back

Today my mom and I took Gi in for her second professional haircut at Cartoon Cuts. She did great! No crying or whining. Gi sat on my lap with a little grimace on her face and grudgingly allowed the hairdresser to cut her tresses. Her attention is mostly on the Dora cartoon playing in front of her. Then it was Mommy's turn to have her lifeless hair reshaped. I tell my mom to hold Gi while I head over to the hairwashing area. THIS IS WHERE THE MELTDOWN BEGINS. Gi first fusses a bit. So I instruct my mom to strap her in the stroller and take her for a stroll around the mall. Gi decides that it was time to open her lungs and start to cry (more like screech) uncontrollably. My mom, who can not bear to hear her granddaughter cry, immediately brings her back into the salon hoping that the sight of me close by would soothe Gi. That was not to be. Now Gi is demanding that I hold her. I would if I wasn't in a horizontal position with soapy suds all over my head and water dripping down my back. The poor hairdresser stumbles off to get Gi a toy to play with. Upon being handed the toy, Gi throws it angrily onto the floor and continues to wail. By this time, my flustered mom takes Gi out of the stroller and tries to console her to no avail. Out of the corner of my eye I notice an elderly woman get off her cell phone and walk over to me. I see her mouth moving but can't quite tell what she is saying. As she gets closer I realize that she is informing me that my daughter's crying is beginning to upset her little granddaughter who was getting her haircut across the room. I guess my protective motherly instincts kicked in. Our exchange goes something like this:

Elderly woman: Her crying (pointing to Gi) is really beginning to upset her (meaning her granddaughter)

Me: Well, my daughter is upset too. Are you the owner of the salon? (I knew that she wasn't).

EW: No. What can you do to help her to calm down because it's really beginning to upset my granddaughter?"

Me: I've asked my mom to take her for a stroll.

EW: Well, why is she so upset?

Me: Because she is not within sight of me. I apologize but you should show some understanding. This is a kid's salon after all.

EW (after getting a better look at Gi's face): Why she's a doll. So adorable! Can I help in anyway? (she said this in a fake sugary way as if I was going to believe that a complete stranger would be able to calm my sobbing daughter down).

In a goodwill gesture, EW proceeds to pick up the toy that Gi threw down and hands it to Gi. Both my mom and Gi stand there not taking the toy from her. Urghh. O.k., my mom is not strong on diplomacy. EW walks back to her side of the salon. Don't know what she thought about that scenario. At last, frazzled mommy sits in the styling chair, puts Gi on her lap and all is well again. Not one peep from screaming dynamo and self-entitled, overly made-up elderly woman. All that's left to do is to assure an annoyed 67 year old Cantonese-speaking grandmother that I have put that "old white woman who can't mind her own business" in her place. Oh, and also get a haircut!

Moral of the story: stand up for your kid even if her crying really does peel paint off the wall and shatter perfectly made glass.

Lesson for me: meltdowns do happen in very public places. Next time I witness another child's meltdown, I will be more understanding. That parent probably doesn't like it anymore than I do and is most likely doing his/her best to remedy it.