The New Toddler's Creed

You may rememeber this post from about a year ago:

theparkertwins.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html

While many things have stayed the same, many things have also changed since then. 

Every so often, I catch Ella and Aidan really sharing and truly playing together as a team. It is rare, especially when I am not in the middle and coaching them on the art of taking turns.  I am so proud to see that my efforts are not totally wasted, and that some of it is actually soaking in to those sweet little brains!

Even when real sharing and turn taking does occur, it never lasts for long.  I stumbled across a new version of the same sort of "Toddler Creed" poem the other day, and literally laughed out loud to myself about just how accurate it is to the daily life of toddlers - especially two at the same time, at the same age!

If it is on, I must turn it off.


If it is off, I must turn it on.


If it is folded, I must unfold it.


If it is a liquid, it must be shaken, then spilled.


If it is a solid, it must be crumbled, chewed or smeared.


If it is high, it must be reached.


If it is shelved, it must be unshelved.


If it is pointed, it must be run with at top speed.


If it has leaves, they must be picked.


If it is plugged, it must be unplugged.


If it is not trash, it must be thrown away.


If it is in the trash, it must be removed, inspected, and thrown on the floor.


If it is closed, it must be opened.


If it does not open, it must be screamed at.


If it has drawers, they must be rifled.


If it is a pencil, it must write on the refrigerator, monitor, or table.


If it is full, it will be more interesting when emptied.


If it is empty, it will be more interesting when full.


If it is a pile of dirt, it must be laid upon.


If it is stroller, it must under no circumstances be ridden in without protest. It must be pushed by us instead.


If it has a flat surface, it must be banged upon.


If Mommy's hands are full, we must be carried.


If Mommy is in a hurry and wants to carry us, we must walk alone.

If it is paper, it must be torn.


If it has buttons, they must be pressed.


If the volume is low, it must go higher.


If it is toilet paper, it must be unrolled on the floor.


If it is a drawer, it must be pulled open.

If it has a faucet, it must be turned on at full force.


If it is a phone, I must talk to it.


If it is a bug, it must be swallowed.


If it doesn't stay on my spoon, it must be dropped on the floor.

If it is not food, it must be tasted.


If it is food, it must not be tasted.


If it is dry, it must be made wet with drool, milk, or toilet water.


If it is a carseat, it must be protested with an arched back.

If Mommy's carrying one of us, plus groceries, plus car keys, plus holding the other one's hand in a busy parking lot, her cell phone will ring every time!

If Mommy wants us to nap in the car, we won't.

If Mommy doesn't want us to nap in the car, we will!

If we are running late... at least one of us will POOP!

Blue

Rather than thinking it was a cool color for a lollipop, perhaps, just perhaps, I should have thought this one through a bit more.......

Flashback Friday

February, 2008 - 9 Months Old

Aidan had just really gotten the concept of clapping and was having so much fun!  Not to be outdone, Ella just had to show off her love of the camera as well!

30 Minute Playdate

Tuesday morning the kids and I headed over to a local spot to meet Juliane and Patrick & Finnegan for a morning get together.  

We wanted something outside and that was at least semi-enclosed to make it easier to keep up with four toddlers who find it outrageously funny to all take off in different directions, thus leaving us Moms to make the decision as to who to chase first based upon which one is in the most immediate danger.

We wound up at Elon Park soccer fields.  The entire thing is fenced in (with a gate!) and is a huge place with so much room to run and play.  We brought soccer balls and our game faces - Juliane and I were both excited to let them run and perhaps have at least 10 minutes to actually chat for a moment. 

All went well for about 15 minutes.  Then someone wanted juice, and another wanted to be held, and then.......

Someone figured out how to open the gate, and it all took a quick downward turn into a huddle with 40 little fingers trying to squeeze around Juliane and I, determined to act as a group to get at the gate latch.

The tears soon followed, and that was that.

It WAS fun while it lasted though!!

Wordless Wednesday

Weekend Re-Cap

We had a great, family-filled weekend!

Saturday afternoon we celebrated Justin's 8th Birthday with a cookout at Mike's parents house. Ella ate her fill of baked beans, while Aidan refused to eat anything but a banana - at least until the cake and ice cream were served!

Sunday morning we took Ella & Aidan to a local bouncehouse to burn off some of that toddler energy.  I am more amazed each day with their ever expanding physical capabilities.  They can now climb up all of the ladders and go down even the tallest of slides all by themselves. 

Their independence is growing by leaps and bounds every day, leaving me on the sidelines with weepy eyes as I watch my once needy babies run off without even the slightest hesitation.

Playdate at My Gym

Last Thursday we met up with Patrick & Finnegan (and Juliane, of course!) at our local My Gym. They were offering a free "play day" to their members as well as the general public. Rumor had it that Elmo was scheduled to make an appearance, and that alone was enough to entice Ella and Aidan!

They had a wonderful time playing in the bouncehouse, in the ball pit, jumping on the trampoline, and climbing and sliding on all sorts of gym equipment.

And then, Elmo entered the room.  Apparently, Elmo, the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus are all the same to my little munchkins.  

Ella immediately shrieked in terror, digging her fingernails deep into the back of my neck and wrapping her legs around me like a little monkey. She quite forcefully screamed at Elmo to go home, and was even more upset when he did not obey her orders.  Needless to say, she screamed for the remaining 20 minutes that we were there and was only happy once we were physically exiting the building, at which point she waved at him and blew kisses!

Aidan, on the other hand, was cautiously optomistic.  He didn't cry, shriek or run away.  Instead, he kept about a 4 foot distance and followed Elmo around the room.  After about 10 minutes, he worked up the nerve to approach Elmo, reached out and touched him, and was instantly hooked. He then got a nice big hug and a kiss and did NOT want to leave.

Both Ella & Aidan have been repeatedly asking to see Elmo again ever since.

Flashback Friday

May 2007 - December 2008

I loved when they were so little and would take their naps downstairs in the living room in their bouncy seats / boppys/ papasan chairs.  Back when nap time was schduled, but the location was not.

January - April 2008

I was sad when we made the transition to napping in their cribs - I suddenly felt so alone all by myself downstairs.

Our Apples and Their Tree

As Mike and I sat down on Tuesday night to plan our calendar for the month of September we realized that he will only have four days off in the entire month.  Out of 30 days, he will only be off for four of them!   

The thought of seeing him even less than we do now made me realize just how much we already miss him - he works four jobs just to keep our heads above water these days.  I am eternally grateful and just cannot seem to find the right words these days to express that gratitude.

Thank you. 

Thank you for being the guy who was unashamed to coo and make silly faces at our babies....regardless of who was watching.

Thank you for changing an obscene amount of diapers.

Thank you for being able to tell when your wife has had enough, and taking over without a fuss.

Thank you for thinking your wife is still beautiful even if she's still hanging on to way too many pounds.

Thank you for understanding that childhood goes so fast, and for eating up every minute that we are blessed to have with our kids.

Thank you for being so incredibly loyal to the three of us.

Thank you for being so fun.

Thank you for working so hard to support our family.

It has often been said that “The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!"

In our case...I hope they fall as closely to the "tree" as possible. 

Wordless Wednesday

Time To Take a Nap

In her usual fashion, Ella woke up well before Aidan did from their afternoon naps.  She and I were doing puzzles in the playroom when she heard Aidan sneeze on the monitor. She said "Bless you Aidan, Aidan sleeping!", to which I replied, "Yes, you should still be sleeping too!"

She gave me a quizzical look, jumped up and ran into the living room, calling for me to follow her.  I watched as she took the pillows off of the loveseat and laid them just where she wanted them on the floor.  She then laid down her sheep (which was a gift to me from my Dad for Easter one year when I was little) and covered it with Aidan's blanket.  Next, she got on the floor next to the sheep and told me me to "Tuck in, Mommy!".  

Once everything was to her liking, she said "Good Night Mommy, I take nap now.  Sweet dreams!"

Too cute!

It didn't last long though - she is a busy little bugger!  Shortly thereafter she hopped up and headed to the playroom kitchen, telling me she would "Be right back, I cook macaroni now!"

Wheels on the Bus

Ella and Aidan took a little time this afternoon while playing outside to sing one of their favorite songs!

Weekend Re-Cap

While I worked at the CMOM's (Charlotte Mothers of Multiples) sale all day Saturday, Mike and his Dad took the kids to the Aviation Museum here in Charlotte.  As a special  treat, they got to go to Dick Keffer's private hangar and sit in his personal plane! 

That evening my parents arrived and we all headed to Rotelli for dinner.

Sunday was filled with a wonderful brunch at Charleys (where Aidan actually tried a new food - Opa's french onion soup!) followed by a fun trip to Toys & Co where Opa and Grandma Shushi bought Aidan an ambulance and Ella a stuffed zebra.

That afternoon was filled with water play, popsicles, corn on the cob, and "haircuts" for Opa and Grandma Shushi.  Ella and Aidan were too cute coming at them with the toy pliers saying "snip, snip"!

On Monday we had a nice lunch at Cantina 1511 where Ella once again enjoyed her "cheese soup" (aka - our cheese dip appetizer which she takes over as her own and eats with a spoon!).

The kids each had a big bowl of ice cream for dessert and then we wandered around by the fountains before deciding it was just too hot to be outside in the sun!

It was a wonderful weekend - oh how we miss Opa and Grandma Shushi!