Like Mother, Like Daughter

Sometime during the year that I was 3 I learned about the birds and the bees. I was a curious child and I asked my mother how babies got made. I was also tenacious because I was not satisfied with a simple when-mommies-and-daddies-fall-in-love-and-get-married-they-have-babies answer. I wanted to know the mechanics. "Yes... but.. HOW??" So she explained.

Apparently that trait has rubbed off on my princess. On the way home from daycare:

Sugarplum: Mom, before babies get born and you have a baby in your tummy, how does it get there?

Me: Umm... well.. that's kinda tricky.

Sugarplum: But how?

Me: Well... when mommies and daddies are grown up and fall in love and get married, they can make babies.

Sugarplum: HOW??

Me: Well... they can cuddle up together and use their private parts

Sugarplum: Private parts? What's that?

Me: Well.. you know.. your private parts.. when you go to the potty? Your body parts that no one touches?

Sugarplum: ok.... but I want to have a baby in my tummy while I'm young

Me: No baby, your body is not ready to have a baby in your tummy.

Sugarplum: YEEESSS!!!!!

Me: No baby.. you have to be a grown up.

Sugarplum: But I want when I'm young!!

Me: Well, you'll be young for a long time baby.


Next thing you know, she'll be asking me loudly in a crowded movie theater whether or not I masturbate. Like mother, Like daughter.

Stop laughing mom.

Midnight Snacks

Sugarplum has really been pushing the bedtime routine. She's up, she's down, she has to go to the potty, she neds this animal or that, she wants her blanket just so, and on, and on and on.

Last night, she was angling for popcorn and both daddy and I had to tell her to get in bed, she was not getting popcorn, she already brushed her teeth.

On attempt 4,692 she came to the door with something she had to show me:

SP: Mommy, I have something to show you

Me: What? Get back in bed

SP: Here Mommy (hands me something from her empty hand)

Me: Thank you so much! Now get back in bed

SP: It's a booger

Me: Great - get back in bed

SP: Did you eat it?

Me: NO! I don't eat boogers! Get back in bed!

[husband laughing from the couch]

SP: Don't Mommy and Daddy! Don't laugh! [heavy sigh]

It's a good thing she makes me laugh as much as she does.

Additions to the Family

NO, I'm not pregnant. But Sugarplum has expanded our family. I'm not sure why, but sometimes she picks out random people in the grocery store and proclaims that they are her new parents. Most recently it was a nice looking lady at the meat counter. She had her back turned to us so she didn't know she'd just inherited a carefree, imaginitive 3 year old.

Most recently, we went out to dinner with my mom and on the way back to mom's house she announced from the back seat that she had quite a large family.

"I have a brother and a sister and a mommy and a daddy and you and daddy"

"Really? That's quite a family. What is your brother's name?"

"Twinkle Little Bug"

"Really? Wow. What is your sister's name?"

"Twinkle Butt"

My mom and I dissolved into quiet laughter. Our attempts to contain ourselves were almost successful.. until Sugarplum started singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little BUTT!"

The things these kids come up with... I hope her imagination will always soar like that.

Two Words

Apparently Sugarplum has decided that there are two words that best describe me:

Sour and Curdled

Witness this morning's conversation in the car:

SP: Mommy, are you old?

Me: NO! I'm not old!

SP: (With the high pitch of insistence that only a 3 year old can reach) YES YOU ARE!

Me: You really think so? Is Daddy old?

SP: No

Me: Is Oma old?

SP: No. You are old like the milk in my ba-ba (sippy cup)

Maybe I've not been doing a very good job leaving my work at work these days. I've found myself often frustrated and feeling sour toward the condescending harpy I have to work with. Yesterday I actually counted the days on the calendar left until her upcoming 3 month vacation. 47 including today. It. Can't. Come. Soon. Enough.

Plum Shot

Sugarplum is 3... and she's begun taking shots at me. The other night we had this conversation in the car getting ready to go to dinner with Oma.

SP: "Where's your mother?"

Me: "Getting her purse."

SP: "This is your mother's house?"

Me: "Yes.. Oma is my mother, just like I'm your mother."

SP: "Oh... you're old."

Thanks Kid.

The Elusive #2

When Sugarplum was first born the doctor's and nurses drilled it into our head that we had to count wet and dirty diapers as an indication of whether our new little wonder was eating enough. She was breast fed so she would sometimes go DAYS without a dirty diaper and we were assured that as long as she wasn't in any pain and discomfort it was fine.

This assurance wasn't enough for us, oh no... we made a list to keep track of her wet and dirty diapers. Then we had conversations at night about how amazed we were that poop became so interesting once our dear sweet girl was born.

"Did she poop today?"
"Yes!"
"Oh YAY! How many times? What color was it? Was it thick or runny?"
"Once... it was like grainy mustard. I never thought I would be happy about poop when I was growing up."

Entire conversations.

Now that we've been on the potty training journey, poop is once again interesting. I finally wised up and started paying attention to when Sugarplum would go play in her room by herself in the evening. Because she decided that was the perfect time to poop in her pants. UGH!!! I made her sit the other night and she finally went on the potty. WOo HOO!! We have achieved both peeing and pooping on the potty... I think we may be on the backside of this mountain.

Adventures in Potty Training

Since I am getting to spend a few weeks at home with Sugarplum while she recovers from her heart surgery, I decided it would be a good time to tackle potty training. Sugarplum has not been the least bit interested in going on the toilet and has only been curious enough to sit on it at my mother's house and at daycare one time.

Generally she responds very well to the timer. So I decided the best course would be to set the timer for trips to the bathroom. After all... it's supposed to work in two days right? Just put them in panties or let them go naked and keep going into the bathroom until they get the idea right and SNAP! Potty Training is done!

Right.

I think now she's relying on the timer and not really paying attention. Sigh. So today, I've set the timer for longer intervals until she gets the idea to notice that she needs to go between the times it goes off. We've been working on it since Tuesday. My 2 days was gone yesterday and it's made for a very monotonous week.

On the up side, it looks like I may be getting caught up on laundry.

Big Helper

May 24 Theme: Shoes

Occasionally Sugarplum will help her Daddy put on his socks and shoes before going somewhere. She sits down with him, grabs the top of his shoes and pulls. While she grunts. Then tells us how it's "hard work". She's a great helper!

The Road to Recovery

Well, we are firmly on the road to recovery. Sugarplum's heart surgery went very well and the surgeon does not expect that she will have any further complications or need any further operations on her Mitral valve. She was sedated the first night while she had the breathing tube in and on Saturday morning they took it out at about 11:30. She had to wait another 4 hours before she could swallow anything making it about 30 hours total without food or water by mouth. She was receiving IV nutrition but that does nothing to help the empty tummy. She was very happy to get some apple juice Saturday afternoon and milk later that evening.

Sunday she got the chest tube out and got a lot more comfortable. Monday she was awake all day and she even got to go to the play room upstairs and was happy to be able to move better.

Yesterday we got to come home! She's playing and moving around the house without any problems and is pretty well back to her normal self. We just have to be careful about how we pick her up but she's dancing and walking just fine and even climbing up on our bed and the couch all by herself.

We are so happy to have our Sugarplum back home!

Trick or Treat!

May 17 Theme: Candy

Last year was Sugarplum's first time Trick or Treating for real. We dressed her up in a Dorothy dress and walked around with friends of ours. Once she got a lollipop, she was a happy camper!

****
In other news: Her heart surgery went really well - she's still in ICU and we are headed back to the hospital shortly. I'll post a more detailed update in a few days.

After 10

"Sugarplum, can you count to ten?"

"1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10"

"What comes after ten?"

"Ready or not, here I come!"

Cookie Toes

May 10 Theme: Share ANY Photo

This was taken the first time Sugarplum helped me make cookies. I had her up on the counter to help pour in and stir up the flour and sugar for Snickerdoodles. Needless to say, she needed to work on her aim a bit.

Mama Carrots

Sugarplum likes to help me pick out produce in the grocery store. Right now, it's the bargaining chip I use to get her into the cart so I let her help and buy whichever vegetables she gets her fingers on. She usually asks for Brocolli and sometimes Asparagus. She'll even eat them too. Last time we also picked out zucchini.

After we were done with the green veggies, she wanted carrots. I like baby carrots so I grabbed a new bag of them, and told her "here you go honey, now we have baby carrots"

>commence whimpering<

"Noooo.... Mommmmmy... I want mama carrots!"

How could I be so clueless?

Happy Birthday Sugarplum

Today is your actual birthday, Sugarplum. Even though we celebrated on Saturday, you turned 3 an hour ago. I called you at daycare and you have been happily playing all day in your new Cinderella dress-up dress. You are having such a good day, you even turned down "Old Mac Donald's" for a birthday cheeseburger and french fries.

Three years and one hour ago, my life changed in immeasureable ways. I continue to learn how to love, teach, cherish and respect another human being in ways I never thought possible. Even when I get frustrated, I always love you and cherish you and am so grateful that I get the honor of being your mom.

I love you Sugarplum, Happy 3rd Birthday.

The Sands of Time

May 3 Theme: Time

Today we are celebrating Sugarplum's 3rd birthday. For a present, her daddy and I got her a sand box to play in. So far she is loving it. I can't believe my baby is already turning three. The sands of time seem to flow faster and faster with each passing year. Today, I'm going to slow down and enjoy the celebration.

Two Weeks

In two weeks time, I will have to work through the longest day of my life. I will have to hand my Sugarplum over to a stranger to be fixed.

At three months old, we found out she has an ASD that we were told would eventually require surgery. When we found out we cried, we fretted, we researched, and we accepted that someday, this day would come. Now, as each day brings us closer to the final moment, when "eventually" becomes the past, my anxiety builds steadily.

In two weeks time, I will put my heart and soul into this man's hands. For him this is routine. For him, this is common practice. We met him today. He was warm and kind even though he was pressed for time and couldn't sit with us for very long. He explained that her procedure is not complicated for his skilled staff. He explained that within just a few weeks, our Sugarplum would be back to her normal self but with a new badge of honor. A battle scar to prove she's one tough cookie.

I've never had to put so much faith and trust into one person. I've never contemplated what it means to hand over my most precious gift to be cared for and kept safe. In two weeks time, that is what I will do.

Nap Time

Well ok.. a few words... Sugarplum got time out this weekend for hitting. She has a spot to server her time at the end of the hallway. Sunday, she didn't want to come out of her time out when I called her. So I left her. I think she's been checking out my Google Reader and getting ideas because she decided it would be a good idea to lay there and take a nap. In the hallway.. and SOMEONE was just recently taking a nap in that very same position behind the couch.. but I can't for the life of me remember who it was.

I Have A Head

It's true... Sugarplum has figured it out. I have a head.

The other night, she again asked for Daddy to tuck her in to bed. A rare occurrence which happened twice last week which I'm sure warmed his heart beyond measure. After he did his part, she summoned me to also tuck her in. Not only am I a good helper, but she noticed when I came in that I have a head.

"You have a head mommy."
"Yes, I do."
"And you have eyes mommy."
"Yes I do."
"And Mommy? You have a nose."
"Yes baby, and I have a mouth too. Goodnight Sugarplum. You have extra sleeps, and night night and sweet princess dreams."
"Night Night Mommy."

Good Helper!

Sugarplum has been getting praised and told she's a good helper when she participates in cleaning up the toys at the end of the day at daycare. We're also trying to teach her to pick up her toys from the living room at night and put them in her room. They don't get put away so well, but at least they make it into her room.

Last night I got kicked out of the bathroom during bath time. I was good for washing her hair and soaping up her body, but when it got to the fun play-time, she wanted Daddy to sit with her. Ok.. I can go read some blogs, that's alright.

Then she was promised a lollipop (because she DID eat a great dinner for once) so she wanted to sit on the couch with Daddy and her lollipop and watch a documentary about the USS Enterprise Aircraft Carrier. Guess who picked the show?

SO then it got down to bed time. She has an evening ritual where she has to chase and be chased by Daddy up and down the hallway while screaming her little heart out and giggling. It's too darn cute. This is when I gather up the required bed-time stuffed animals and blanket and wait in her room. She comes in, sits in my lap and takes a few last sips of water and climbs into bed.

Generally, if I'm home, I'm the one that has to tuck her in. Then check on her. And wish her "extra sleeps, night-night, and sweet princess dreams". Well.. in a rare moment, she decided she wanted Daddy to tuck her in. Woo Hoo! Escape! I don't have to wide up the pink elephant 14 times! I don't have to keep re-starting the glow-worm! No yanking on the green dinosaur so he'll play his lullaby while being tucked back under her blanket!

Then he went in to check on her a few minutes later to make sure she was "all set". Then she asked for mommy. So I went in for one last tuck and snuggle, and she gave me a big hug and kiss and said "you're a good helper, Mommy"

So are you Sugarplum!

First Trip to the Dentist

Sugarplum had her first check-up with the Dentist this morning. She's pretty good about brushing her teeth even if she takes her time and fiddles around (I always help her finish her back teeth) she even gets upset if we forget to brush in the morning before leaving or before going to bed.

Aside from having to hold her down in the chair while they brushed and scaped her teeth, the promise of Dora stickers and a toy made for a very cooperative little girl. That and Mommy letting the dentist look in her mouth first.

She has 20 teeth so far, her back molars aren't up all the way, but they are all broken through. They're spaced well but a little closer on the left side so now we get to start flossing. YAY! I'm terrible at flossing..

But, her teeth look great so she has the dental green light to go ahead with her heart surgery and we don't have to re-schedule due to dental issues. YAY! One more step in the prep process out of the way.