Acting a Fool!

I was just in the bedroom playing with Val on the floor. She stood up and walked over to my side, put her hand on my shoulder and said "it's ok Mommy," and then leaned in and gave me a huge hug and a  kiss...and then another kiss and an even bigger hug. My heart melted. This is one of the many "bits" she does that gets me to smile ear to ear and be thankful that I have such an amazing child.

She made up a knock knock joke that she loves to tell everyone she meets:

Val: Knock, knock, who dare?
Me: Who's there?
Val: Donut
Me: Donut, who?
Val: Donut Chicken!!!

It kills every time.

You can't see it but her shirt says
T is for Trouble.

She is loving, she is funny, she is fearless and just perfect...90% of the time.

With M, who will be 5 in December, we were lucky to never experience the terrible twos. She was honestly a little angel. Sure there was some 'tude here and there, but never a big fit. Those actually didn't come until the mid-4s (so fairly recently). With Val, it is a whole different ballgame. This kid is already giving me a run for my money and she just turned two in August.

We recently began experiencing major fits in public places. Last weekend we were at a museum and she actually laid down in the middle of a crowded area and screamed bloody murder while flailing her legs and arms around. My husband and I, who are new to this type of behavior, couldn't help but laugh and look at each other like, "should we pick her up? Should we let her work it out? Did a demon possess our child in the play kitchen area?" Ultimately I grabbed her by the waist, trying to avoid getting punched or kicked and removed her to a different location and calmed her down.

This morning she was totally content running errands with me, until we got to the fabric store. I don't know what set her off but as soon as we entered the fabric store she started in with "No! I want Daddy! I want to go see Daddy at work!" She refused to move from the entrance area, so I once again had to pick her up by the waist and carry her screaming with me through the store - this time though she was giving me what I call the "stiff body" and tensing her whole body. I ended up just planting her down a few feet away from me while she kept screaming "I can't! No! I can't!" and tried to listen to the overly sweet woman explain to me how I figure out which fabrics can be used as napkins for M's school. I still do not know which fabrics are suitable as five minutes into the store I had to once again pick up 'Ole Stiff Body McGee and carry her out of the store, where she immediately calmed down.

At home we are dealing with things like hitting her sister, or hitting the pooch. Val likes to steal whatever M is playing with, then play nice and offer the toy to M and say "here you go M!" only to run away with said toy in her hand at the last minute, while cackling her little evil laugh. I'm not going to lie, this I think is hysterical.

Val is also a runner. By runner I mean that she likes to bolt whenever you put her down. She will run away from me at grocery stores (I actually have to use the safety straps on the cart), when we are walking the dog (I now put her in the Ergo on my back to stop this) and her latest favorite place to run away from me is the parking garage in our building. She about gave me a heart attack last night when we returned home and I got her out of the seat, went to lock the car (she usually stands there and helps me lock the car) and out of the corner of my eye I see her running away from the car. I scream her name but of course this just makes her laugh and run faster. This kid!!!

It used to be that being tired or hungry set her off, but now it seems to be anything and everything can flip her switch and make her "act a fool," as I like to say. This behavior even further solidifies our decision to only have two kids. Serenity now!!!

The adorable quirks of Miss M

My Moodle Boodle

My child is an odd duck, which makes me love her even more. She has so many little adorable quirky habits that make her unlike any other child I have met. Sometimes it makes me think she might be crazy, but then I remember who her mother is and realize it is just the genes I have passed on to her. Every day she makes me laugh, and every day is full of more drama than the next. Of course sprinkled throughout each day there are moments when I want to smack her bottom and just walk out the door and leave the pooch to watch her, but then she does one of the following and I just smile and thank my lucky stars for such an awesome kid.

She sings...all day long. When M wakes up in the morning she doesn't call out for my husband or I, she starts to sing. The latest song stuck on repeat is Jingle Bells. This morning I was awoken to "Jinga Bells, Jinga Bells, jinga aw dah wayyyyyy! Oh wha fun it iz to ri eina bah bah do dee say. HAY!" You can't help but start your day with a smile...well you can if that is the same song she has been singing for 24 hours straight.

She sings...when she poops. Yes in 10 years she will kill me for telling the world that she sings when she poops, but it is so cute. Picture Jingle Bells above, but much angrier and red faced. Makes me laugh every time.

Help me, I have a hitter!

Dear Mamas of the world,
I write to you because my dear sweet adorable child, M, as she is known on the blog, has developed a nasty habit over the last month. The child that loves to give me hugs and kisses has come to love slapping (or clawing at) my face. It has happened to my mother, and my husband as well, but I seem to be the favorite amongst her targets. Well, me, and the pooch.

Sometimes it is out of frustration when I won't let her do something and sometimes it comes out of thin air when we are having a great time together. Bam! Smacked in the face by her sweet little hands.

The poor dog (who is almost 6 and only bothers you if you have food) gets a drive-by at least twice a day. She will just be moseying along (the dog not the daughter) and M will smack her on the snout. Thankfully the pooch isn't bothered by it and just saunters back to her doggy bed.

What is my reaction when this happens? Well, it is the same every time. Let me put it in screenplay form so you better understand:

Interior, playroom.
M smacks Mama on the face.
Mama immediately grabs M's hand and holds it down. Mama's face turns red from anger, but she takes a deep breath to try and compose herself.
Mama (speaks sternly and loudly to M, about an inch from her face): DO NOT HIT YOUR MOTHER. It is not nice to hit anyone. 
M: I know Mama, I know. 
Mama: I don't think you know or you wouldn't hit me all the time. NEVER HIT YOUR MOTHER.
M: I'm sorry Mama, I'm sorry. 


And what is her reaction to all this? She gives me a "huggy" and goes about her business. And then it happens an hour later and we repeat the scene above. I have tried to give her a "time out" but she doesn't understand it, and won't sit still anywhere I put her.

Thankfully she hasn't hit any of her friends, as I would be mortified. Who am I kidding, I am mortified! My kid hits! Where did she learn this? I am sure someone gets slapped in one of the movies she loves. I certainly didn't teach her this!

My question to all you Mamas of the world - HOW THE HELL DO I DEAL WITH THIS? Does anyone else have a kid that hits? I need to nip this in the bud ASAP.

Beaten in Boston,
Mama J

A Very Happy Birthday at My Gym

Yesterday I celebrated M's second birthday (which isn't for another two weeks really) along with her 8 Isis buddies and their families. These are the women that I have talked about many times on here, with whom I took my first mommy and me class at Isis almost 2 years ago. We have watched our kids go from drooling lumps of baby goodness to these amazing active little people, each with their own awesome personalities.

Instead of attending 9 different birthday parties within 6 weeks of each other, and celebrating each child individually, we wanted to do one big bash and celebrate all together. Since all of our kids need to run and climb every minute of the day, we decided to try out My Gym Boston.

Having never been to a My Gym party before we booked I didn't know what to expect. I happen to be invited to one a few weeks ago for a friend of M's who turned 3, so I got a sneak preview at the Norwell location. There are things to climb, and slides, and all sorts of fun things, and then the instructors actually lead a little mini-class full of songs and parachute activities. I thought it would be the perfect thing for my Isis group...

And boy was I right! Last night's party was a huge success, and I cannot say enough good things about  My Gym Boston. The instructors were amazing (I am sorry I don't remember your names!) - much better than the ones in Norwell. They remembered each of our 9 kid's names the entire night, were incredibly good with the kids, and made sure a few times that everything was being done to our liking.

The Boston location is about 3 times the size as the Norwell one too (these are the only two I have been to). The kids were constantly entertained and running around with giant smiles on their faces.

The parents were happy too, as we were allowed to bring in drinks (including booze) and food of our own to enjoy in the eating area (not on the gym floor). With our package that we purchased we got pizza for the kids (with plenty left for the adults), juices and water, as well as a delicious cake. They provided all of the paper goods, as well as gave each of the kids a balloon at the end of the night.

There is nothing like having a party where you aren't responsible for entertaining the kids, or cleaning up at the end of the night! And the adults as well as the kids had a great time.

If you are looking for an affordable fun venue for your kids next party, look no further than My Gym Boston. If only they let us adults use the dolphin swing on the zipline!