TRICK OR TREAT

Is it obvious that I cleaned out your snack drawer for Halloween?  Or as one of your Aunt Meghan's dear friends pointed out, more obvious that I'm a dentist? 

DR. JENNA

Having a mom that's a dentist who owns her own practice, means that you inevitably wind up becoming a guinea pig of sorts, as I research local pediatric dentists that I'm interested in referring patients to. 

Yes, we've gone to a few pediatric dentists for the usual cleaning and check up.  I see how they interact with you, what their office is like, and how professional their staff are.  By now you can probably tell any kid which dentist has the best prize box in town. 

I think we've finally found a dentist you like.  Or maybe a dental office you like, since there's a TV where you can happily watch your favorite show, Caillou, as the assistant cleans your teeth. 

As for Dr. Jenna, your newest and favorite dentist (next to your mom of course), you've taken an uncanny liking to her.  I have a feeling it may be because I "call" her every night after you brush your teeth to report how you did.  And of course Dr. Jenna always passes on a message to you of "Great job!"   

And other times when you won't brush, all it takes is me grabbing the phone and threatening to call Dr. Jenna to tell her you're not going to brush and how disappointed and sad she'll be.   One of these days I'm sure you'll catch on that I'm just dialing my office number and letting my office manager's voice mail message be my "conversation" with Dr. Jenna.  But until then, I'm going with it. 

GLOVE ANIMAL

How many moms do you know that can make a mean balloon animal?  Thanks to a little web browsing and some practice over the weekend, you now know one. 

Blown up animal glove at the dentist's- lame.  Real animal balloon at the dentist's- score. 



THE GIRLS

After two years of having Julie pretty much exclusively to yourself with Samantha, you now have an addition at daycare, twins Marie and Sarah.  This couldn't have come at a better time.  We're hoping you learn the art of sharing now that there are more kids at daycare. 

It's been 3 weeks since you received a box of peppermint cookies and every time I ask if I can have one, your reply is, "No, mine!"  With my sweet tooth cookies have never lasted this long in our house.   

ALMOST

We almost made it through the entire children's theater performance with Grandma Kathy and all the cousins in Minnesota.  That was until you announced to everyone within ear shot you had "to go pee pee" and wouldn't accept "go in your diaper" as an acceptable solution.  Bad mommy. 

SAMPLE LADY

This year I was one of those goofy parents that got dressed up to take her kid trick or treating.  Why?  Because my costume was too good to wear to just one party.  Or so I thought.  An older woman commented how nice it was that I was able to get off work early to take you out.  I'm now wondering how many of your grandparents' neighbors now actually think I'm a sample lady at Costco. 

WHERE?

I discovered where missing socks go…tonight I found 14 of your newborn socks crammed under the front-load washer door seal. Did I mention that you are now two?

WHO?

Your dad was questioning who this second birthday party was really for.  Was it for you, or was it more for me?  Custom designed invitations, an afternoon of Munchkin Playland all to ourselves, coordinating decorations, lots of food and beverages that color coordinated to the party colors, plates and napkins that even coordinated with everything, and generous party favors.  Overkill?  For a 2-year old, probably.  For a 35-year old type-A mommy?  To be expected. 

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

We've been practicing singing the Happy Birthday song and blowing out a candle, in anticipation of your upcoming second birthday party.  Obsessive parenting?  Possiby.

SHOE FETISH

You arrived to Julie's this morning with two left feet.  Literally. 

I don't know which is worse.  The fact that I bought this cute pink ruffle Mary Jane in three different sizes for you, or the fact that your dad  managed to put two left shoes on you without noticing. 

Three pairs of the exact same shoe in 3 different sizes?  Overkill to most, but practical to me.  I only have to go shoe shopping once, not three separate times.  Your Aunt Lori and I made a trip up to Seattle for See Kai Run's warehouse sale and look what we came back with this past weekend...

That's a lot of shoes.    

MESSY

While your dad was away in Munich for a week on business, you and I ate out a lot.  Not because I didn't feel like cooking.  I didn't feel like cleaning your high chair messes after every meal.   So I let other people... 

HEEL

I've become the parent I used to make fun of.  The parent that leashes her kid.  A simple yet embarrassing solution as a result of you not wanting to sit in your stroller for long periods of time these days. 

As embarrassing as the leash may be, I no longer have a sore back from bending over and holding you within arm's reach by the back of your shirt collar.  I no longer worry about losing you, having you run out in front of cars, or breaking things in stores.  My biggest worry is accidentally shouting, "Heel!" when you pull too hard on the leash. 

With the newest leash conveniently disguised as a cute monkey backpack, it's not nearly as embarrassing as what I was using before.  The dog's leash attached to the belt loop of your pants. 

PONY TAILS

The day I've been patiently awaiting the past 18 months has finally arrived...you can wear pony tails!  Real pony tails!  No more entertaining myself with wigs and random clumps of hair wadded up in a rubberband on you.  Your hair is actually long enough for me to put up in pony tails.  Next up, pig tails, braids, french braids, ribbons, and clips.  Just you wait. 

HELPING HAND

This is what happens when an 18-month old decides to help Mommy get up in the morning...

Yes, I know what you're thinking.  Coke bottles.  Don't laugh too hard though because you may one day have glasses this thick as well.  You're slightly near-sighted yourself. 

PINKALICIOUS

With an ever-growing collection of clothes compounding in the attic, I knew it was time to part with your baby clothes.  This is what I parted with...

18 months worth of clothes.  That's a lot of clothes.  That's a lot of pink clothes.  And that's not even all of it.  I saved my favorites, just in case there's ever another baby girl, and most of that is pink too.

You would think pink is your favorite color.  Actually, it's mine.  Grandma Janet insists red is your favorite color, since you always go after the red toys at the condo.  I tell her the only reason you do that is because I'm so obsessed with pink, you have no red toys.  Just pink toys.  So of course you like to play with things that are a different color than pink when you're over there.

She's made it her personal mission to expose you to as much red as possible.  For Valentine's Day she gave you a new red swimsuit with a matching red sun hat.  I have a feeling that any gift you receive from her will be red.   

BOYS WEAR PINK

You and I started Sunday morning cheering on the walkers doing Race for the Roses outside of the house.  One of these days I'll wake up early enough for us to see actual runners.  Until then we ring the cowbells and tell the walkers they're doing a great job, even though some of them walk so slow, I wonder if they'll ever make it back to the finish line before they take it down. 

The overwhelming majority of racers that talked to us along the race course commented that you're such a cute boy.  A boy?  A cute boy?  Did they not notice the pink stroller you were in?  What self-respecting mom puts her son in a pink stroller?  What self-respecting dad allows such a thing?  Needless to say that after the race, I put a pink pair of shoes on you.  Surely, no boy would be allowed to wear pink shoes.  I hope. 

SAMPLES

Does it make me less of a parent for habitually trying to pass Costco samples off as lunch for you?  Or ingenius?  I'll go with the latter. 

AJ SAYS...

"Potty.  Pee pee.  Poop?  Wipe.  All done!  Yay!"

No privacy for the mom of a 17-month old.  Thanks for the play-by-play commentary.

BRA

You're turning into quite the little copycat these days.  Your newest activity is running around the house, trying to wear my bras.  Not to say that I run around the house in nothing but my bra.  Considering we don't have window coverings yet, that is definitely not the case. 

SEASON'S GREETINGS

Your dad and I couldn't settle on a Christmas card to send out to family and friends.  We wound up with two different cards this year.  Can you guess which card was your dad's idea?