Babykins vs. "No"

I was reminded today that I have not added a new post in a verrrrrrrrry long time, so I now present, for your reading pleasure, "Babykins vs. "No."

Babykins will be 2 next month.  Which means that not only is she smart, she's now getting clever.  She has become especially tricky when it comes to getting around being told, "No."

Like all toddlers, Babykins has the tried-and-true fall-back methods that she tries first.  There's the "pretend I didn't hear you" method, along with the ever popular, "if I ignore them long enough maybe they'll forget" method.  In her really feisty days, she's even been known to go with the, "I'll just do it anyway and see if they have enough energy to catch me and put me in time out" method.

Lately, though, Babykins has developed two new methods...and they each have a very specific purpose.  The first is reserved for those times we tell her "No" because something just isn't popular.  For example, a few weeks ago Babykins became very distressed that the nails in the outside railing had rusted and turned some of the white paint orange.  When she asked me to fix the railing's "owwie," I said "No," explaining that it wasn't a job mommy could do.  Babykins thought about it, gave me a serious look, pointed her little finger at me, and said, "Grandma and Gop Gop."  I tried to explain that Grandma and Gop Gop couldn't do it either, but she wasn't buying it.  Since then, any time I say No because something isn't possible, she gives me a disappointed look and lets me know that Grandma and Gop Gop could do it.

The second method is used when we tell Babykins she can't have something.  I call it the, "I show you" method.  A typical scenario goes like this:
Babykins: I have icy pop!
Mommykins: No, you've already one this afternoon.
Babykins: No, I show you.
Babykins grabs my hand and pulls me to the refrigerator, where she insists I pick her up and open the freezer door.
Babykins (pointing to her favorite treat):  Icy pop!
Mommykins: I know we have icy pops.  You still can't eat one.
Babykins: I show you icy pop!

Apparently, Babykins is convinced that once she shows us the object of her desire, we'll realize the error of our ways and let her have it.  This method has yet to work, but Babykins keep trying.

Babykins will suddenly start listening when she's 3, right?

Mommy's Little Helper

Babykins has discovered the joy of cleaning.

It all started two weeks ago at the mall.  Babykins and I were snacking on shaved ice with Grandmakins and Auntiekins, when I managed to spill a large portion of my snack.  I grabbed some napkins and wiped up most of the spill.  As I was finishing up, Babykins grabbed the rest of my napkin stack and hopped off the bench.

I reached for her, thinking she was about to make a break for it.  Instead, she squatted down and began to wipe the floor with her napkins, too!  I thought she was just mimicking the motions, but realized she really understood the cleaning concept when she purposely moved over a bit to wipe up another puddle.

The next thing I knew, Babykins was lying on the floor of the mall, tiny arm stretched as far as it would go, trying to wriggle under the stroller to get at the last of the mess.  I couldn't decide whether to gaze proudly and support her new-found love of cleaning, or quickly pick her up off of the gross mall floor.

Since then, Babykins is unstoppable.  She goes around our apartment wiping down furniture and floors and cabinets.  Give her a cloth and she will happily spend 10 minutes scrubbing the ottoman in our living room.

Then last week I looked over to discover Babykins had taken the next step in cleaning...she was creating her own cleaning supplies.  Babykins sat on the kitchen floor with her water cup in one hand and a rag in the other.  She would tap the straw of her cup on the floor to let out a few drops of water, then wipe it up with the cloth.  While I made dinner, Babykins happily sat there scrubbing down the floor.

Now, if only we can help her keep this love of cleaning for a few more years...