New Developments in Toddler Land
¤ One day while vegging on the couch eating my Bon Bon’s and watching Oprah (not said sarcastically at all) I watch as Heaten picks up a crumb from the floor (I suppose I should have been cleaning instead of watching TV, but whatever), takes it to the garbage can and throws it away. I give him another crumb and ask him to throw it in the garbage. I watch in amazement as he does. Who taught him what garbage was, let alone how to throw it away?!?! A couple of days later Shenzie does the exact same thing. Just wait babies, the day is soon coming for a chore chart which means more TV time for Mama!!! (Sissies, do you remember the chore chart we used to have with dusting, dishes, garbage, bathrooms, and unloading the dishwasher…my least favorite by far were the dishes!)

¤ Last night while playing in the loft upstairs I watch as Shenzie gets a diaper wipe and takes it over to doggie. She wipes his booty a couple of times and lays the wipe down next to her with a little pat. She gets up, gets a diaper, and takes it back to doggie where she wraps it around him. She gets up again, gets another wipe and does the entire thing over again. By the time I finally stopped her she had 4 diapers and even more wipes all jumbled up around doggie. She’ll make a good Mama someday. =)
¤ Speaking of diapers….Shenzie doesn’t want to wear hers anymore. Or for that matter have it changed either. Every diaper change results in a wrestle match between her and I. Let me say it is not pretty when the diaper happens to be stinky and she is rolling, squirming, kicking, and flailing to get away. Of course Heaten sees her doing this and copies her. They both want to be naked all of the time. If I take her pants off his have to come off too. Then they start pulling at their diapers wanting them off. I wouldn’t mind the diapers off too much if we didn’t have a couple of accidents last week (one of the really bad variety right on the floor). I am going to buy some big kid undies and either put them over the diaper and make is some fun game. If the babies don’t find the game fun, instead of breaking a sweat trying to get a diaper on them I may just put them in their new undies without a diaper and hope like all getout that they catch the worst of the spillage that may occur. Is this the start of potty training or just some weird diaper revolt?

¤ Totnastics was finally a hit! Heaten and Shenzie did great last class. They love the trampoline (may have to get a mini one soon), did the balance beam, front rolls, and of course the teeter totter with 80% less fuss. Of course there was some fussing, crying, and ground rolling, but in comparison to last weeks fiasco it was much improved! Whew, what a relief! Story time is still a favorite. They are learning the songs and sitting on my lap much better. They love to play in the kid area afterwards and do very well with the puzzles and interacting with all of the other kids. I know I’m going to regret saying this, but when we’re out and about they are so well behaved (95% of the time, and knocking on wood as I type this). I’m dreading the terrible twos and horrible threes where this great behavior will most likely be a distant memory.

¤ Since running over my double stroller a couple of months ago (OOPS) I have been practicing walking the babies in place while holding my hands. They hold very well and will wait for me before walking anywhere for me to hold. My favorite part is when holding hands Heaten will give mine little squeezes while we walk. How sweet and precious. We’re practicing Stop! And don’t move. I’m always worried while loading and unloading one the other is going to run off into the parking lot or worse. I swear my heart must stop a thousand times a day with the little scares the babies give me. Falling backwards on their heads while rough housing, going down the slide wrong, running off, banging heads, you name it my heart does a little jump!

¤ What do you think it means that Shenzie yells at Heaten when he is in time out? Hmmmm. I sure hope she isn’t getting that from me. I have raised my voice to her when she bit him or bit me, but for the most part I don’t yell. She really lets him have it when he’s in time out…finger pointing and all. Little Sassy Pants.

July 21st, 2008 at 7:13 am
It’s funny to see all the parallels. Mine love to put things in the hamper and
garbage (S always throws out kix she finds on the floor). I’m always finding strange
things in the hamper, though, so I worry what might go in the garbage. We love
changing doll diapers. Sometimes we “package” that with putting on kid diapers, which
could possibly help Shenzie? Also, we started doing pull ups if you sit on the potty.
Sit on the potty, you get a special diaper and get to stand and help pull it up.
I can’t believe you lost your stroller, poor you, you are brave to leave home without
it.
July 21st, 2008 at 10:56 am
That diaper changing business sucks. It was right around that same age we started time outs with Madeline because she was doing the same thing. I didn’t think about making it a game to try to fix it though. Probably a better idea than the time outs, although they worked too. I was pregnant and grumpy so time outs were the only thing I thought of. Luckily for us though she wasn’t one to take her diaper off. I’ve heard about people duct taping the tabs so the babies can’t get it off themsleves.
July 21st, 2008 at 11:29 am
I agree, maybe try to put pull ups on them. It could be a strart of toilet interest, or just being a toddler. They want their “independence” & they want to have a “say”!! Maybe let Shenzie help you strap the sides on, or be a part of it so she feels like a big girl. I have read people actually duct tape the diapers on kids because they rip them off, mine (knocking on wood) have never taken off their own diaper, but I have heard some NIGHTMARE stories about kids that have! Have fun! Another joy of motherhood! I am glad the Totnastics is getting better! I love the part about Heaten squeezing your hand, he is such a sweetie! Sorry girfriend but Shenzie is all you, Mom’s mother curse must have worked:) As always I love the pictures!!
October 1st, 2008 at 6:37 am
[…] that sometimes I forget things….like say, the stroller in the parking lot. Ooops. First I ran over our double stroller and now I forgot to load up our single stroller after using it. Hopefully […]