My Future Actor

We spent the holidays at my in-laws house.  At one point while we were there, Babykins didn't get her way and she put on a big show of being sad.  Later, when she was out of the room, we were discussing her excellent ability to put on the sad face at will.

In the middle of that discussion, I hear Babykins calling me from her room.  I go in to find her crying again about the same incident.  I picked her up and started talking to her, but after a minute she interrupted me.

Babykins: Mama, I want to see it.
Me: What do you want to see?
Babykins: I want to see in the mirror.
Me: Why do you want to look in the mirror?
Babykins: I want to see my sad face!

So not only does she know how to put on her sad face, she knows she's doing it!  I don't stand a chance...

Good guess

A little while ago, we took Babykins to a carnival.  They had a used book table, and at the end of the night, they handed out bags and gave away the remaining books for free.  We picked up a few books that we thought Babykins would like and headed home.

A couple days later, Babykins was flipping through her new books, when she suddenly got very worried...

Babykins: Uh, oh, Mama.
Me:  What's wrong?
Babykins: Someone colored in this book!
Babykins (Thinks about it for a second and lowers her head, looking sad): It was probably me!

It actually wasn't her.  The book came that way, and as soon as I explained that someone else had colored in it, she looked instantly relieved.  But it's funny to know she automatically assumes she's the culprit!

Tattoo

The other day Hubbykins was sitting next to Babykins with his shirt off, and she noticed the tattoo on his back.  Babykins has seen his tattoo before, and even commented on it, but this time she was fascinated.  After chatting about it for a few moments - What is it?  How did it get there? - Babykins announced that she would be getting a tattoo, as well.  The following conversation ensued:

Babykins: I get tattoo on my back!
Hubbykins: Little girls can't get tattoos.
Babykins: Ok.  I get tattoo when I a big girl!
Hubbykins: You can get a tattoo when you're the same age as daddy.
Babykins (Not realizing she will never be the same age as daddy):  Ok!

Since then, Babykins has excitedly told me on a number of occasions how she plans to get a tattoo when she's bigger.  She's planning on a rainbow.

Luckily, for now, she's happy to stick with the wet and wear fake tattoos.  Whew!

Norman Rockwell Moments

Every once in awhile, I'll look around and feel like I have achieved the perfect Norman Rockwell moment with my babies.  These most often come at bath time.  With Babykins in the big tub playing with her toys and Babyroo in his baby tub happily splashing away, the sense of perfect zen happiness is almost overwhelming.  Especially with Christmas coming up, most bath times now involve Babykins and I singing Christmas carols together (I like to focus on Santa Claus is Coming to Town...any song that advocates being nice and not screaming gets my vote).  It is magical.

Then earlier this week, we had finished up round one of dinner (when I feed Babykins the first part of her meal while we wait for Hubbykins to come home).  Babykins was sitting at the table practicing cutting up paper with her little toddler scissors, Babyroo was sitting in the kitchen cooing, and I was washing dishes singing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.  And I realized that I have it really darn good.  We had reached perfection.  Happy sigh...

Bodily Functions

Babykins is now fully daytime potty trained.  This process has lead to a lot of conversations about bodily functions.  The other day I was chatting with her while she was sitting on the potty.  She looked at me and announced, "I make wee-wee, poopies, and farts.  Mommy makes milk."

Yep.  Sounds about right.

Christmas Confusion

This is the first year that Babykins really gets the idea of Christmas.  She knows that Santa will bring presents, and she made a special request for a scooter.  Every morning when she wakes up, the first thing she wants to do is add a piece to the advent calendar.  And she is now able to sing a good selection of Christmas carols.

But in true toddler fashion, she still finds a few Christmas concepts a little hard to grasp.

Last weekend, we went to Carols in the Park in the park across the street from our house.  There was a barbecue followed by Christmas carols.  In between the Christmas carols, a puppet would pop up, and the pastor would use the puppet to talk about the meaning of Christmas.  One of the things they talked about was how Christmas is Jesus' birthday.  That idea really stuck with Babykins.  Later that week, I mentioned to Babykins that we needed to get a present for her to give to Babyroo for Christmas.  She looked at me and responded, "I can't give a present to Babyroo!  It's Jesus' birthday!  Only Jesus gets presents!"

Interesting.  So I responded, "Does that mean Santa shouldn't bring you any presents, either?"

"No!  I can still get presents!"

Ahh...

Then on Thursday, Babykins had her Christmas concert at daycare.  After watching a roomful of toddlers sing songs and shake bells (absolutely adorable), we had morning tea followed by a visit from Santa.  When Santa appeared, the look on Babykins' face was priceless.  Each child was called up to meet Santa and received a bag of candy.

Babykins came running over to me holding up her bag of candy.  She was super excited, and she immediately recounted for me how Santa had rung his bells and gave her a present.  Then she stopped and informed me, "Santa gave me candy, but I didn't get a scooter!"

Oh, no.  I quickly explained to Babykins that Santa only gave presents like scooters on Christmas.  Before Christmas, he only gave out candy.  Thus reassured, Babykins commenced to tell me about Santa's visit the entire walk home (a 20 minute trip, by the way - it's amazing how many times a toddler can re-tell the same story when they're excited).

I can't wait for Christmas to come.  Knowing how excited Babykins is for the day has re-kindled my own excitement for the joys of Christmas.

Gender Norms

Recently, Babykins and I were talking about work, when she comes out with this statement, "Boys go to work.  Girls don't go to work."  Oh, no.

Now, I have spent 11/2 of the last 2 1/2 years as a stay-at-home mom.  Which means that although I have been home with Babykins a lot, she has seen me go to work.  But apparently this hasn't quite left its mark, so I quickly correct her, explaining that BOTH men and women can go to work.  I remind her that I have worked, and will go back to work when Babyroo is older.

Anti-feminist crisis averted.

Until Friday, when, on the way home from daycare, Babykins suddenly announces from the back of the car, "Boys go to school.  Girls don't go to school."  WHAT?!  Who is putting these ideas in my toddler's head?  It's not like we live in some scary country where girls are banned from education.  I once again correct her, assuring her that both boys AND girls go to school.

Then, over the weekend, we're getting ready for bath time, and Babykins tells me she has to go to the bathroom.  She walks over to the toilet and stands facing it.  "Mommy, boys do wee-wee like this."  Then she turns around and sits down.  "And girls do wee-wee like this."

Finally, a boys vs. girls statement I can agree with.