Wednesday 29 February 2012

What does Daddy say?

Kayla, Legend and I are playing the "what does a such-n-such animal say?" game and I have exhausted all the animals I think of that have discernible noises. I am left with rabbit, deer, turtle, and fish in my head.

I decide to make a joke with them instead.
Me - "What does Daddy say?"
Legend looks at Kayla for help, as usual.

Kayla - "Boc boc boc. Wait, no. Daddy says OooOooo EeeeeEeee AaaaAaaa!"
Me - 'Daddy sounds like a monkey?"
Kayla - "Yeah. And Mommy says OooOooo EeeeeEeee AaaaAaaa! And Kayla says OooOooo EeeeeEeee AaaaAaaa too!"

Legend writes Kayla and me off as bonkers and hops away as a frog.
Kayla wins the game.

Friends

Kayla and I are sitting at the table chatting and colouring pictures from the Cars movie.

Kayla - "What are they doing in that picture?"
Me - "Those are all of Lightening's friends. They are happy."

Kayla sets to work colouring, but she only chooses to use one colour this time and doesn't put much effort into this one; it is her sixth picture so she is losing ambition.

Kayla - "There. Done."
Me - "You only used the colour green. They must all be jealous, 'green with envy'."
Kayla is appalled - "They are not jealous! They are friends! Auntie Kate!" She frowns, disappointed in me.

Wow. She knows the word 'jealous' already. I was not expecting that. Impressive.
She also succeeded in making me feel a little bad for assuming all of Lightening's friends are jealous of him.
Man, she is good.

Tuesday 28 February 2012

Fast

Legend is a T-Rex and is chasing Cash and Kayla around the house. They victims both scream and giggle and thoroughly enjoy it. Legend always plays the villain.

Cash runs over to a ride-on car.
Cash - "That Legend dinosaur is really fast. I'd better get my car."

Then he zooms off into the kitchen to egg on Legend.

I love the sound of T-Rex roars and toddler screams in the morning.

Monday 27 February 2012

Cash Returns

Cash had been away on vacation with his Mommy for two whole months and finally returned to us this morning. The greeting at the door was full of excitement and smiles but no hugs, to my disappointment. For some reason, Cash never hugs me when his mom is there.

After about an hour of happy play time, Cash lunges at Legend almost knocking him over. He hugs Legend around the waist, to Legend's delight and surprise.
Cash - "I missed you too, Legend. I missed you too."

A few minutes later, I have a moment wish Cash after helping him wash his hands.
Me, not allowing myself to hope for too much affection in return - "I really missed you, Cash. I am so glad you are back."
Cash looks up into my eyes and just beams. Then he gives me the biggest hug he ever has and my heart nearly explodes from happiness.

Two months is a long time. I am so happy to have him back.

You Did It, Daddy!

This weekend, we instituted a potty training boot camp for Legend which included No More Diapers, cold turkey. And no pants for that matter. Yay naked toddler! It started pretty rough with him hiding behind the kitchen table and peeing on the curtain and waiting until he had a pull-up on for nap time to have a BM. We almost gave up in the middle of the first day, but we decided to stick with it.

We had a turning point in the evening of the first day...

Daddy yells - "I have to go potty! C'mon Legend!"
Legend runs happily to the potty with his Daddy.
Daddy - "Watch me, Legend!"
Then Daddy shows Legend how it's done, including waving "bye-bye" to his pee.
I run into the bathroom and pretend to be very excited - "Did you pee on the potty Daddy?"
Daddy - "I did it! I peed on the potty!"
I break into song, dance, and cheers - "Daddy peed on the potty! Hey! Daddy peed on the potty! Hey! Yay Daddy! Legend, say 'Good Job' to Daddy."
Legend clearly thinks we are crazy (and he is right), but he loves it - "Yay Daddy! You did it!"

And then the turning point...
Legend - "Watch me!"
He climbs on the potty and manages a little tinkle and Daddy and Mommy break out with crazy cheering, singing, and dancing.

The trouble is trying to pull out that excitement every time. It is actually really difficult to be that excited when he tinkles. Seriously.

Saturday 25 February 2012

Cookie Monster

I am sitting on the couch discussing hair accessories with Kayla when Legend starts stomping toward me with his arms stretched out menacingly.

Legend, in his best monster voice - "COOKIES!"
He has a mischievous gleam in his eye as he approaches.

Legend - "COOKIES!"
Kayla and I pretend to be afraid and cling to each other.
Me - "Oh no! Here he comes!"

Legend reaches me and pretends to eat my knees like Cookie Monster devouring cookies.
Me - "I'm not a cookie! I'm not a cookie!"

Legend pauses and looks up at me.
Legend, in a goofy monster voice - "SORRY! SORRY!"
He stomps down the hall, monster-apologizing all the way to the front door.

Me - "Phew. We're safe, Kayla."
Legend-cookie-monster stomps toward us again - "COOKIES!"

Kayla - "Legend is the Cookie Monster! He is so silly. I love Legend."
My thoughts exactly.

Friday 24 February 2012

A Tearful Departure

The babysitter is here for the evening and Cody and I are headed out for a few hours. Legend is quite sleepy this evening and is lounging on the couch. I go give him a kiss then head out the door.

Cody and I walk out the door and, just as I start to close it, Legend screams and runs down the hallway toward me. 

I think, for a moment, that he is sad to see me leave and prepare for a difficult departure. 

Instead, he pulls the door out of my hands so that he can be the one to close it.

He yells - "Bye bye!" And happily pushes the door closed.

I should have known; closing the door is kind of his thing. He always insists on doing it when people leave. And, really, he very rarely makes a fuss about me leaving. It would be nice once in a while. 

Thursday 23 February 2012

Not My Snack

Legend is playing with play-do and eating a granola bar at the same time, a risky mix apparently. He finishes his granola bar but doesn't seem to notice and continues playing.

Then he picks up a piece of play-do with the hand that used to be holding a granola bar and pops the play-do into his mouth.

He chews for a moment then looks up at me disgusted, wines a little, and sticks out his tongue. He is not at all pleased, but doesn't seem sure about what just happened.

Legend - "Granola bar gone?"
Me, through uncontrollable giggles at my son's misfortune - "Yes, it's all gone. Try not to eat the play-do. Yuck."

He looks at me like I am crazy then gives me a crooked smile.
Legend - "More snack pleeeeease."

Wednesday 22 February 2012

Not Her Forte

Kayla is very good at many things. She has an amazing vocabulary and sentence structure for her age, well above average. She can count, sing the alphabet, and name any colour.

She is atrocious at doing puzzles.


Legend and Kayla decide they want to do the big dinosaur floor puzzle together. We dump it out, circle around, and Legend sets to work, needing only the occasional suggestion to keep him on track; this is what he is good at.

Kayla picks up a puzzle piece and stares at the mess of pieces in front of her.
Me, handing her a piece that fits in an open spot directly in front of her - "Try this piece."

She holds that piece blankly for a while.
Me, pointing to the correct spot - "Try putting it there, Kayla."

She holds the piece close to the right spot, but does not ever actually put it in.
Kayla - "I can't do it."
Me - "Yes you can. I will help you."

I show her exactly how to put the piece in and hand it back to her.
She starts turning it the wrong way.

I show her again.
She puts it roughly on the right spot but can't make it fit.

I hold the back of piece behind her hands and try to guide the piece into the right spot. This is more difficult than it sounds because she actually resists me a little.

I finally put the piece in the right spot, with her fingers barely touching it.
Kayla, proudly - "I did it!"

Tuesday 21 February 2012

Glasses or Underwear?

Kayla - "My mommy break her glasses."
Me - "Oh, that's not good."
Kayla - "She break her glasses and she can't see in the kitchen."
Me - "But she got new ones, right?"
Kayla - "Yeah. She got red ones."
Me - "Red ones?"
Kayla - "No. Black ones."
Me - "Did you help pick them out?"
Kayla - "Yep. They are nice. But my mommy can't see with no glasses."
Me - "That's right. She has to wear glasses to see."
Kayla - "I don't have glasses. I have to wear underwear and I can see."

Glad we got that straightened out.

Which Bear?

Legend and Kayla sit looking at a picture of two polar bears.

Kayla points to one of the bears - "That baby bear."
Legend - "That daddy bear."
Kayla - "No. That baby bear."
Legend - "That baby bear?"

Kayla - "Yeah. And that mommy bear." She points to the second bear.
Legend - "That mommy bear?"
Kayla - "Yeah and that bear is dying."

Me - "What did you say, Kayla?"
Kayla smiles mischievously - "That mommy bear."

Pink Dragon's Surgery

Legend's pink dragon had a tear along the seam on its back and was losing stuffing.

Legend brings his precious dragon to me with fluff in his outstretched hand.
Legend, concerned - "Pink dragon broken. Fix it, mommy?"

So I get out a needle and thread and set to work.
Legend sits beside me at the table, holding his dragon's hand and making soothing noises.

Me - "Does that hurt dragon? Are you okay?"
Legend - "It's okay, dragon." He strokes his dragon's head and kisses his hand.

It takes me a while to sew it up because I am mostly inept at this. I can do a button or a rip on a seam, but that is about it. Legend never leaves his dragon's side.

When I am finished, I gingerly stand the dragon up.
Me - "Look, Legend! He's fixed. All better!"

Legend takes one look at his dragon, fixed after months of being ripped, and completely freaks out.
He throws the dragon on the floor and bawls.
"No dragon! No fix it!"

Well, I am at a loss.

Cow

Legend is putting together a puzzle of a farm scene. He constructs the cow.

Legend - "Yucky!"
Me - "What's yucky?"

He points to the cow's udder.
Legend - "Yucky. Cow's bum."

Friday 17 February 2012

Be Mine

Cody and Legend come in the front door. Legend has a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a card in the other. He sprints down the hallway to me with a huge smile, yelling, and flowers flailing. "Mommy! Mommy!"

Legend pushes the flowers into my face.
"Smell! Mommy! Smell flowers. Present mommy!"
I take the flowers and give him a hug. He puckers up for a kiss too.

Then he holds up my card, rips into it, and hands me the torn up envelope while he marvels at the cutesy bunnies on my valentine. 

Embrace

We are out for a walk by the creek behind our property. We come here often; it is a lovely little piece of green space. 

We are headed across the field to look for ducks in the creek. When we get close, we spot Roisin and her daddy on the other side of the creek. 

Roisin and Legend yell and try to stretch across the creek to reach each other. Roisin's daddy and I wave.
Then Legend and Roisin both take off toward the bridge.

They run as fast as their little legs can carry them, meet at middle of the bridge, and embrace like there is no tomorrow.

It was like Gone With the Wind or something. 


Fire Building

Legend and Grampa decide to make a fire in the hearth together.

The two friends go outside to get firewood, but Grampa ends up towing Legend around on a sled for a while first. Grampa then loads himself up with firewood.
Grampa - "Want to help me pack wood, Legend?"
Legend - "Nope."
Grampa - "Oh, okay then." And in they finally come to build their fire.

Grampa crumples newspaper and begins to put kindling down in the hearth. Legend helps by handing him the pieces.
Legend - "Small. Too small. Want big." He tries to lift a larger piece of wood.
Grampa, ready for the larger pieces now, helps him out.

They put the last piece of wood down and Legend begins to close the glass door.
Legend - "Close the door."
Grampa chuckles and pushes the door back - "No. We don't close the door. We don't even have fire yet."
Legend - "Fire yet? Close the door?"
Grampa lights a match and begins to light the paper and kindling - "See? We need some fire. Don't blow on it yet."
Legend - "Blow?"
Grampa - "No, not yet!"

Grampa - "Okay, help me blow on it, Legend."
Legend blows on the flames for a moment. Then he bends to look Grampa in the face.
Legend - "Blow Grampa? Blow?"
Grampa obliges. Legend reaches up and rubs his Grampa's back.

Grandfather and grandson kneel in front of their fire in quiet companionship... while I try to snap as many photos as possible to capture the moment. It's okay; I'm not even noticed.

Friday 10 February 2012

Home

Kayla stayed for dinner last night for the first time ever.

We sit down to chicken, broccoli and fancy bread and Kayla digs in happily.  After a few minutes she looks up at me.

Kayla - "I go home with my Mommy and Daddy and have supper. Soon?"
Me - "Yes, but you are having dinner here first today and then your auntie is picking you up."
She goes back to eating.

A few minutes later...
Kayla - "I go home with my auntie soon and see my daddy."
Me - "Soon."
She is thankfully not upset, just curious. 

Near the end of the meal, she turns to Legend. She calmly blames him for the change of routine.
Kayla - "I have to go home, Legend."
Legend - "No home!"

Nice and Warm

We are in the car on our way to play group.

Legend - "Chilly! Snow outside!"
Kayla - "Snow's not chilly, Legend. It's nice and warm."
Legend - "Chilly, Kayla?"
Kayla - "Snow's not chilly! It's nice and warm."

Me - "Are you cold, Legend?"
Legend shivers dramatically - "Cold!"
Kayla - "Not cold!"
Me - "Are you warm, Kayla?"
Kayla - "Not warm! Nice and warm."

Me - "You're warm in that nice jacket."
Kayla, annoyed - "Not warm! Nice and warm!"

Legend - "Chilly! Snow!"
Kayla, pretty sure we are being daft - "Snow's not chilly! Nice and warm!"
Me - "Snow is cold, Kayla. Snow is very cold."
Kayla gets the last word in under breath before we park - "Nice and warm."

Sometimes I think she is contrary just for fun.

Wednesday 8 February 2012

Monster

Kayla looks up at me with a concerned expression.
She says softly - "There is a monster in my ear."

She tugs at her ear and looks expectantly at me.
Me - "Do you mean there is water in your ear? Does your ear hurt?"
Kayla - "No water. It's a dinosaur in there."

Me - "Oh. Um... I'm sorry to hear that."

Tuesday 7 February 2012

What makes a man?

Legend, Cody and I are at the pool getting dressed after a great time swimming. Legend is naked standing on the bench.

Legend looks down at his belly and grins - "Belly button?"
Me, reaching in for a tickle - "I see your belly button!" He giggles.
Legend looks lower - "Wee wee?"
Me - "Yep. That's your wee wee."

Legend turns his head sideways and leans over toward his Daddy who is also naked.
"Wee wee, Daddy?"
Daddy - "Yep. I have one too."
Legend - "BIG WEE WEE!"

Daddy, trying to change the subject - "Thanks. I have a belly button too. Where is your belly button, Legend?"
Legend looks down - "Legend's wee wee."

And then I died laughing and was no help whatsoever.

Sing

We are in the car on the way to play group. Kayla is particularly happy and chatty today. After an in-depth discussion about cleaning her daddy's truck and whether or not it was still dirty, Kayla launches into her own made-up diddy.

Kayla - "La la la! La la la! Spider climbing! Water! Wheels go round! La la la!"
Legend starts bouncing in his seat to Kayla's beat.

Kayla - "Legend! Sing with me! La la la!"
Legend - "Sing with me? Kayla?"
Kayla - "La la la! Sing Legend!"
Legend - "Okay sing."

In unison - "La la la! La la la!"

Not quite in unison - "Wheels! Mommy bus shhhh!"
"Little star up! High! La la la!"
"Round and round!"
"Spider and rain! Fall down!"

And for a finale, Legend shouts - "Zoom zoom blast off!"

Kayla - "Good singing, Legend."
Legend - "Yay! Everybody clap! Good job!"

Friday 3 February 2012

Old McDonald's Farm

Kayla, Roisin and I are singing Old McDonald's Farm. The girls are really into it; they love to sing and today we have been singing for about half an hour already.

Verse 10:
Me - "Old McDonald had a farm."
In unison - "EIEIO!" The girls are captivated.

Me - "And on that farm he had a..."
Kayla has run out of animals and the girls stare at me a bit blankly.

Me - "Roisin, what kind of animal should we have?"
Roisin - "Animal."

Me - "How about... a chicken!"
The girls - "Chicken!"

Me - "EIEIO. With a.... What does a chicken say?
Roisin - "Cookie!"
Me - "No silly. Chickens don't say cookie. What does a chicken say?"
Roisin - "Cookies?"

Kayla suddenly remembers - "Boc boc!"
The song then disintegrates into "boc"ing until we all yell "EIEIO!"

Wednesday 1 February 2012

Crap

Legend, happily - "Crap!"
Me - "What did you say?"
Legend - "Crap."
Me, worried - "...What does that mean?"
Legend - "Everybody crap your hands!" And he begins to clap.

Phew.

Take It!

Legend has two train toys in hand and is chasing Kayla around the house. They are very upset with each other.

Legend, intent on playing trains with Kayla, whether she likes it or not - "Take a train, Kayla! TAKE IT!"
Kayla refuses - "I don't want it! NO!"

Kayla runs down the hall away from Legend.
Legend catches up quickly and thrusts a train toy at her - "Play trains! Take it!"
Kayla screams - "NO THANK YOU!" (At least she uses polite words, but they lose value when screamed).

Kayla tries to hide in my legs, but Legend ends up chasing her around and around me.
Kayla half-screams, half-cries - "I don't want it! Legend! No!"
Me, getting eye-level with my persistent boy - "Legend, she said no thank you."

Legend tosses both trains on the floor and bursts into disappointed tears, dramatically collapsing on the couch to bawl loudly. After a few moments, Legend calms down.

Then Kayla picks up the trains and hands them both to Legend.

Legend runs to me excitedly - "Kayla share! My turn trains now!"

Apparently the memory of a 2 year old resembles that of a goldfish: short and sweet.