TotboyAndLollipopStealer

My kids seem to develop and do amazing things days much faster than I can possibly find the time to adequately document. It's constant. They are such little developmental sponges.

Zachy is a little totboy now. He's no longer a baby. He is full on tot. Still not in a defiant way, not yet anyway. But, he's grown. His wobble walk is less wobble. He tries to run now. That's pretty priceless. Today he learned how to point to his nose and ears and wiggle his hands, all in one day. He already had the tummy and the head down. He was playing Peek-A-Boo and, very softly and deliberately, said, 'ee ba boo.' He practices new words all the time. His actual vocabulary is still pretty minimal, although I suspect he says a lot more than we realise. And regardless of his use of actual words, he communicates what he wants very well and understands seemingly just about everything.

He imitates Mackenzie now. Loves to do what she is doing, which at times is okay and other times not so okay. One day she was pretending to fix her kitchen with some tools. He wanted some of that action, bad. But Mackenzie was not in the mood to share her game or the tools. Later, after she had gone to bed (he stays up about a half hour later), he went right to the tools and started to fix away. He even reproduced the sounds she was having her tools make.

Today they played doctor. More like Mackenzie played doctor and he decided, after she forced him, to comply. I look over and he's laying there while she examines him. When I walked over she asked me to take off his shirt. I didn't. But I laughed. When she was finished, she said, 'Your baby was very patient today.' She doesn't miss a beat, that girl of mine.

Things have been pretty good lately. Zachy is sleeping better and OHMEGOSH he goes down to sleep by himself. He cries for a minute or so (tonight just a whimper) and is quiet. Now if only I could get the three old to follow suit! I am convinced she is going to cosleep until she leaves the house. This morning she woke up and I was already out of bed and she came out and said, 'Momma, I was worried about you.' Probably more like she was a bit scared (she has definitely entered the stage of the scaries), but it was sweet nonetheless.

Oh, and BIG NEWS....Mackenzie got a real haircut (1-8-10)! Well, I cut it. She had gone with me to get a haircut and I asked about her hair, which I think might make the Guinness Book of World Records for slowest hair to ever come in. But it was cotton candy like in the back. The woman who was cutting my hair explained to me that I needed to cut it regularly in short layers to keep it healthy and growing in (Rookie Mom, I know). Mackenzie would not let her cut her hair, but the stylist showed me basically what I needed to do and I did when we got home and it looks a TON better! Yay! I know she still wants 'True Princess Hair' (Shame on you Dora the Explorer), but I think just seeing real hair on the floor felt good for her.

I cannot believe how fast they are growing up. They learn new things and change every single day. It's impossible to keep up with! They are constantly doing things that amaze me. They make me smile. They make me laugh. And, yes they make me crazy. But at the end of the day, I will have inevitably fallen more in love with both of them.

Now, for a few TotMusings...

• Last Spring Mackenzie and I went on an 'Adventure.' First stop was the car wash and, despite all we did afterward, all she could talk about was how much she did not like the carwash. On Saturday I asked her if she wanted to go on an 'Adventure.' Her response, 'Okay Momma. But I no like the car wash very much.'
• Mackenzie and Zachy were playing Merry-Go-Round; Her 'spinning' him around on an upside down Little Tikes Table. She would say, 'Zachy do you like this?' And he would say, 'YAH!' Trust me, hearing a sixteen month old and a three year say that over and over again is very amusing!
• Zachy loves meat and cheese sandwiches. Actually, what he really loves is the process of taking out the meat and cheese and eating it. He dismantles the sandwich, bit by bit. It's intense.
• Mackenzie called Zachy 'Dude' the other day. I have NO idea where she got that.
• The other day a plane was in the sky and Zachy started to wave and say, Bye bye. Mackenzie did the same thing at his age - it's in the Tot A curriculum, I suppose.
• Mackenzie likes Lollipops. Today she manipulatively told me to go in Zachy's Room, while looking at the Lollipops. I played along and she came and found me and said, I a Lollipop Sneaker! I going to tell everybody I a Lollipop Sneaker!

ThreeIsWeeeee

Three started out rocky. I have commented before that when I had a Parent Teacher Conference for Mackenzie at her Preschool, shortly after she turned Three, that I basically expressed that my daughter had gone mad. I was somewhat and somewhat not comforted by the teacher's response, which was that this is entirely normal. Mackenzie is full of Spunk and Sass. She's a character. Already at Three she provides me with lots of challenges, as well as humor and more love than I can wrap my brain around. 

She has a way of making me laugh. She is the only person I can think of who can make me want to scream and laugh at the same time. A few days ago, I was putting Zachy to bed. I let her stay on the couch and watch TV provided she did not interrupt. I had the bedroom door open just slightly. Next thing you know, I can see her cute little self trying to peak at me through the crack. Her cute little three-foot body sort of bent over and her head going up and down and to the side, trying to get the angle just right so she could catch my eye. I was trying not to laugh because she looked so adorable, but, at the same time, I wanted to scream as I felt my anxiety increasing because I feared the ThreeFootTallTotmonster had returned and was flirting with interrupting Zachy's naptime.

These days she holds her ground like an mule and likes to push limits and see what's going to happen. At the same time, ironically, she is more likely than before to enforce the limits herself. So, while she might make a big show of resistance to whatever it is that is 'expected' of her, she will suddenly, of her own free will, do what it is she 'needs' to do. Watching this process has helped me learn to be less over-reactive, and to allow her an opportunity to work it out. And in the process, she is able to experience a positive sense of power, feels good about herself and develops a bit more self control.

Her imagination blows my mind. She's really creative in her play and loves to play pretend. She uses a Little Tike's table upside down to play Merry Go Round and gives Zachy rides. She uses different things as baby cribs for her dolls (despite having actual play cribs, why did I waste that money?). She likes to make up stories. Often about cows of all things - middle of nowhere influence coming through. Through the day, she pretends she is different people and actually stays in character. One day she was 'Miss Ann' and I mistakenly called her 'Mackenzie.' I went to the back bathroom and quickly heard her coming after me yelling. Once she found me, she loudly said, 'I NOT Mackenzie, I Miss Ann.' To which I responded, 'Hi Miss Ann.' Then she cocked her head to the side and with a sweet smile and even sweeter voice and said, 'Hi-iii.' All the girl wanted was a little R.E.S.P.E.C.T.!

Then there's the baby game. Not my favorite. I have tried numerous things to discourage this game. It's a game where I have to treat her like a baby. There's something slightly un-enjoyable about this for me. Okay, really un-enjoyable. Truthfully, I think twins would be less work than she is when she plays baby. For Christmas she had wanted (and got) a red baby buggy for her dolls. I had tried telling her that it's a big girl toy and not for babies, so we would have to tell Santa not to bring her one. She replied with, 'I charge my cell phone and then I call him to bring me push toys.' Really? So much for reverse psychology! At one point I told her, 'Mackenzie, I am not playing the baby game anymore.' She responded with a very stern, 'I NOT Mackenzie. I NOT playing baby. I AM BABY.' So there. As usual, I stand corrected. But, I have finally, I think, managed to take some of the fun out of the game, therefore hopefully eliminating it or at least changing the rules to make it more tolerable. I refuse to let her waste any more diapers. It was getting ridiculous. Before Christmas I had too much going on and, admittedly, allowed things to happen so I could  accomplish something. And, there was a time where I did not want to make it a power struggle, so I figured indulging it would let it run it's natural course. But, the 'baby game' had an annoying life of it's own. Finally the other day I told her 'No more wasting diapers.' (She is potty trained, which made the diaper thing even more annoying.) Initially, she protested loudly for about fifteen minutes, however, now when she wants to play 'baby,' she says, 'I can pretend to be baby in my big girl clothes, right?' And the game and involvement are less intensive.  For now.

Mackenzie has started to make up words. She might say something like, 'That's beebah.' She loves that she makes up words. Gets really proud of her 'new word.' She also makes up songs. Her songs are usually to tunes she already knows. She will either make up new lyrics or just switches 'em up a little bit. Last night she was singing a song that says I love you...and she started to sing, 'I love Zachy. Oh Zachy Zachy Zachy, you my little brother. I love Zachy.' THAT was sweet. When she makes up all new lyrics, they usually relate to 'poopy' and 'stinky.'  Today she sang 'Twinkle twinkle wittle Christmas star....'  Speaking of songs, she loves to sing and dance and perform. She will get out the play mic and sing for us. She works the crowd, totally. At the end of the song, her voice will gain intensity and bravado and she will go into some sort of run. When she finishes, she does the whole, 'Thank you all for coming,!' and takes a bow.

She is figuring out how to apply more complex concepts such as time - 'tomorrow,' 'yesterday,' 'later' and such as 'too small' or 'too big.' 'Yesterday' is anything that happened in the past and 'Tomorrow' is, of course, anything that will happen in the future. She knows what 'small' and 'big' are if she sees them in a concrete way - pictures or blocks, for example. But, trying to figure out if she means her shoes are 'too small' or 'big' is another story. Actually her shoes could even fit and she just doesn't wear them, so then she plays like they are too small or big just to get out of it. She's a clever one. And a tot that cried wolf FOR SURE! She will like to throw out random times for things, such as, 'I go to bed at forty-five-six.' I love her use of the past tense: 'I sleep-ded good.' Lately, she loves to use the word 'Ever' for emphasis. 'I ever not going to do that Momma!' She randomly uses phrases or words I didn't realise she knew, 'Oh my Goodness!' came out of her mouth out of the blue last week. All things just sound cuter when a three year old says them.

I have decided that I really need to attach a sign to her when I take her in public that says, 'Beware, Sassy Tot. Talk with Caution and at Your Own Risk!' One evening I stopped by my work with her. I think the people at my work have a sense of humor. At least I hope they do. Truth is, she was pretty cute, although pretty sassy. Walking a fine line there, MissyTotgirl! What I do know is that she is figuring out social situations, as three year old kids do. Despite being sassy and spirited, she can be very shy around strangers, so, I think it makes her a little nervous when people she doesn't know start talking and paying attention to her, and she reacts. Sometimes big people expect kids to be able to handle things in grown up ways. She has her own temperament and her own personality. She's on the Slow to Warm Up side of things. She just is who she is and that's prefectly okay.

Mackenzie is a great big sister to Zachy. Well usually. Sometimes he bugs her. Sometimes intentionally, often unintentionally - but probably more and more intentionally than not. But she loves nothing more than when she is in the mood and he plays with her. They laugh together and it's delightful to watch. She definitely owns her role as Big Sister. She has become the 'Helper' and will try to comfort him when he is upset, speaks for him at times, bosses him around here and there and is, most of all, veryVeryVERY protective over him. You will be met with her totwrath if you try to touch him in public or if she perceives that you have made him cry (Only She is allowed to do that!). Today some people walked by our house and they dared to say, 'Hi.' She put her arm around him and guided him away. Protective indeed.

She is beginning to understand more about her feelings and emotions (as well as the feelings and emotions of others). And learning to Problem Solve, which I think helps her learn to regulate her emotions. The other day she identified herself as being 'angry' and was able to explain why. I was blown away. She said it appropriately and without tantrum. She can tell me when she is sad or happy. She practices her different emotions. She is learning to ask for what she needs. She has started, for example, to ask for help when her little brother frustrates her, instead of just knocking him over (although that still happens too).

I would venture to say that Mackenzie, already at Three, knows me pretty well. I really think we get one another. She likes to tell me 'It's okay Momma' usually when she knows I am getting 'Frustrated' ('Don't get frustrated, Momma. It's okay.'). She'll also provide reassurance if something 'happens.' Like maybe something falls over (amazing how many things fall over when you have kids, right?). 'It's okay, Momma. You can pick it up.' Note she doesn't say she'll pick it up (Me, Laughing). I think we have a pretty good relationship. I try very hard to listen to her, let her know she is important. Because she is. I encourage her to speak up and tell me what is going on. Sometimes it's complicated. But we work things out.

For whatever reason Three definitely started out rough. But all in all, almost five months into Three, I'd have to say I am finding to be magnificently complex and magically simple at the same time. It seems to be an age of dichotomies and contradictions. She is developing and learning new things every day. She's making connections between things. She is impulsive yet, able to think through situations more and more. She is emotionally reactive, yet able to come around by providing herself with thoughtful comfort. She's more combative than ever, but also more intentionally compliant. She wants to please. She's figuring out social relationships and how to 'Be.' She's able to reframe and reorganize things, restore balance in her universe and herself. She's a bit yin and a bit yang. One might say, ThreeIsWheeeee! And, I'm Lovin' It! I'm Lovin' Her!

'TistheSeason

Today is feeling a bit crazy. A lot to do. Mackenzie has two friends coming over on Friday and we are making Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses. I am not crafty, so I have been preparing things well in advance, well since last night. Trial runs are important in my mind when you have no idea what you're doing. So, between that, making sure I have the food ready to put in the oven (it's a morningish gathering and I work tomorrow), doing some sort of minimal cleaning, getting totcollege gifts ready to drop off tomorrow and, oh yah, taking care of my one and three year olds, the day has been WILD! 'Tis the Season...

Some random tidbits from our day:

• Zachy just came in from out back with one shoe off. He handed it to me. I put it back on. And he walked outside. I thought that was adorable.
• Later he walked up to me with a jacket. He demanded he have it on. Then he couldn't go outside because it was dark and he got very upset. I thought that was adorable too, because he is expressing himself so clearly and I LOVE that!
• We went to the small, but bigger, neighboring town. Checked out the thrift store and got a small baking pan perfect for a totkitchen; found a red plastic tablecloth perfect for our Gingerbread Making Party on Friday at the 'market;' and mailed Christmas Cards at the Post Office. Almost felt like I live in a real city. Almost.
• Found out Santa is making an appearance at the Family Dining Restaurant Friday night. Not sure if we'll be able to make it, but sure will try. Depends on how the day goes!
• Getting out of the house for our trip to 'town' was awful. Mackenzie wanted to be baby and I needed her to put on some clothes because it is cold outside. We both had meltdowns. Hate when that happens. But, all is OK now. And, we had a good time.
• Poor Zachy just got really upset because Mackenzie would not let him have her pink princess purse. I got him the pink Dora one and he was happy. Bet he'll love reading that one day!
• The other day Mackenzie said, 'Momma, Can I have a princess jacket? Jordon 'Milton' has one.' Already? Doesn't the whole but everyone is wearing it start later? Later than THREE?
• When Dad picked up Mackenzie from the Preschool Room yesterday, she was outside playing her baby game with Saige. Great. Let's hope she doesn't start playing puppy. That one gets weird.
• Naptime coming up. Will they nap? Will Zachy nap two and half hours like he did on Monday? That was my Christmas Miracle.
• Getting together all the gifts for all the people at the Totcollege. Teachers and Student Workers and the Director and Co-Director and the Cook and the Teachers from the last two rooms...is it all really necessary? 'Tis the Season...and I DO appreciate them all, tremendously. They take great care of my kids two days a week. That's HUGE!
• Last week Mackenzie said, I go to school at college. She's right actually, the Totcollege is on a college campus.
• I think it's a lot less stressful to just decide not to be ready for the holidays. But last year I had a good excuse. A practically newborn.
• My White Chicken Chili smells....DELISH!
• He napped an hour and a half. Not bad. Mackenzie had a rare decent nap too.
• Made a trial Gingerbread House with Mackenzie. She had a great time and was really into it. But we ate too much candy. 'Tis the Season...
• I'm really glad we did the trial run. Told Dad to pick up M&M's and Lifesavers. Bigger candy just wasn't sticking. Now I'm ready, or so I think I am.
• Zachy has been touchy all day. Having one of those nothing is right in my world days. He's had his happy moments, but he's been pretty crabby. Didn't help that Rufus smacked him in the face with his tail. I think it hurt poor Zachy's feelings.
• Gosh it's hard getting ready for a Friday party when you have 12 hour days on Tuesday and Thursday. Doing it all today and I'm pooped.
• Hoping the morning goes smoothly with Mackenzie tomorrow. Despite being an early riser, she's not a morning person.
• Having too much to do in one day means way too much tv for Mackenzie. I hate using it to babysit. But, I suppose 'Tis the Season....
• Wondering why I washed the kitchen floor over the weekend. Couldn't I have found any other way to waste my time? 
• Have I brushed my teeth today?
• Mackenzie has decided she likes purple. She only wants to wear purple socks. This is a problem since she only has one pair.
• Truth be told, the chicken chili did not come out as flavorful as I like.
• Zachy sort of threw up. Sure doesn't seem sick though. Well, he has been crabby. But he's not lethargic, not at all. No fever. Who knows.
• Oh no, I hear Mackenzie saying she wants out of the bath (Dad is giving them a bath). It's too soon. I need a longer break. Say it isn't so!!
• After he gets on his PJ's, Zachy walks right to the bathroom to brush his teeth. His enthusiasm has rubbed off his previously toothbrushingphobic bigsister.
• Almost time to get the youngins' in bed. Too pooped to pop...that would be Me. 'Tis the Season...
• Zachy walked up to me to give me kisses, his new favorite thing.
• Before bed Mackenzie said, Thank You for a Good day.
• Too pooped to pop for sure. But a Good Day Indeed. 'Tis the Season after all...

WhoaZachy

Zachy can be a bit of a brute. That's right. The fifteen month old. Poor Mackenzie. He likes to yank at her hair and lately he has taken to hitting her with objects. Specifically things from the doctor kit. I prefer to believe he is just trying to play doctor and needs to work on his bedside manner. It's hard not to laugh. But you can't. But I do. We do. In that case he's not trying to be aggressive. I think he is playing. Unfortunately, playing for him sometimes means irritation for Mackenzie. As I have indicated before, he goes right for her stuff. He wobble walks over to whatever it is she has going on, with a big smile on his face and picks something up or knocks something over and then AHHHHHH...Mackenzie screams.

Now there are also times that he clearly gets mad at her. Today she had her head on his pillow pet and he did not like that all. He really likes his pillow pet. He knows which one is his and he stays away from her's. So, today when she was using his, he started babble-yelling and pulling at it and hitting her. WHOAZACHY! He might be little, but...he's learning to hold his own and he doesn't back down. I guess he has to as the younger brother. I'm telling you, there are days that it feels a bit like survival of the fittest around here. Not the fittest? That would be me. Otherwise, the playing field is wide open!

Been awhile. How 'bout TwoGoodThings...

1. Mackenzie wearing her hair in two little pigtails for awhile today. She looked really cute. It's growing, slowly but surely. She caught glimpse of herself in a mirror and smiled.
2. Chasing Zachy outside. He loves to be chased. He gets so excited when you say, 'I'm coming to get you!' His giggles are contagious.
3. Asking Zachy where Mackenzie is and him going to find her, smiling the whole way to her. His understanding of things is so evident and fun to watch. After coming in from outside I told him we needed to take off his shoes and he sat down and started trying.
4. After waking up this morning, Zachy was a bit cranky. Mackenzie, very sweetly, said, 'I give him a kiss,' and did so on the back of his head.

That was four. I could go on and on. We had a good day. Overall, a good day.

LittleBother

I had to work today. I work again tomorrow. It is a 'holiday' week, but sometimes being a half time employee doesn't quite work to my advantage when holidays happen on my scheduled workdays. So, I am working two days in a row. I felt a little sad because I won't see my kids tomorrow. And, actually they will be going to totbabycollege both their normal days. I am off Thursday, which is also the holiday, but since the 'school' is open, I'm sending them so I can hopefully get organised for Christmas. Living as far out as we do, I have found that if I don't start early, it doesn't happen. But, tonight, the whole thought of being away from them for three days..sad. The break will do us all good though!

Today they went to Carol's, our back up to the totbabycollege. I got to do the pick up and Carol said they had good days. They both came running/crawling over to me with big smiles when I got there. Hard not feel good about that.

They were adorable on the way home. A bit tired, but cutecutecute.

Zachy got a little mad when I put him in his carseat. I gave him his blanket to snuggle with and he pushed it aside, my little temper boy. Then I gave him a bottle and he was happy and picked up his blanket again.

Later on they both played peek-a-boo with their blankets. All I could see in the rearview mirror were their blanket heads. It was too funny. That and the giggles. And we sang songs.

Mackenzie did good tonight, especially since I know she was tired. She is REALLY into being injured these days. Yesterday she skinned her knee and we're still hearing about it today. She had to go poop and was in the bathroom for a looonnnnng time. I hear her yell from there, 'Poopus, I need my privacy!' About 10 minutes later I hear her yell, 'Zachy, I need my privacy.'

Zachy lights up now when she gets out her Princess Castle and Little People. He has developed this whole game that he thinks is going on. The one where he grabs something, takes off and she screams while he cracks up. He definitely is becoming her little 'bother.'

Two(More)GoodThings...

1. Today, there was another 'baby' at Carol's. I asked Mackenzie if she thought the other baby was cute and she said, Yes, and then I asked if the baby was cuter than Zachy and she said, No. Awwww....
2. Zachy came crawling in with a doll and said, Baby! Loud and clear. Yay!  A new word for Zachy. Let's list his words: Mama, Dada, Ut-oh, Ball, Nigh Nigh (meaning bottle), Roo (for Rufus), Nana (for banana) and now Baby! Yipee Zachy!

OhhhhZachyPoorTotgirl!

OhhhhZachy, I think We're going to have our hands full with you, just like your sister, only different.

I'm not sure if I can do literary justice to what happened this afternoon. I hear Zachy crying. I ask Mackenzie what happened; I was pretty sure she hit him or something because she was hiding her face. She told me that she hit him with some toys she was playing with. He was bugging her; I know, but she still cannot use the toys as weapons. She knows she is supposed to ask for my help. So, I took away the toy. Naturally, totgirl was not happy about this. MyPoorTotgirl! On one level, I feel bad for her. Self control is a big responsibility for a three year old, especially when you have a fourteen month old that pushes you beyond any level of control you are capable of having. But, life is painful and this is how she's going to learn. (I do cut her some slack sometimes, because I know it is tough for her.)

Next she sees Zachy playing with some toys out of a bin and comes over to grab the bin. So, I hold onto it and next thing you know, she and I are both holding on for our lives. But laughing. Or trying not to. Zachy decides to get in the mix. So, he starts to throw stuff at her and then hits her (not hard, he is only fourteen months; I don't even think he made any actual contact) and then he 'yells' at her. Poor totgirl is ganged up on. But now I'm cracking up. I couldn't help it. But seriously, Mackenzie was never a hitter (until Zachy came along that is). He's a little SpitFire that boy. He loves to pester her. I'm not sure if he understands that she is 'upset,' but he sure enjoys the reaction. My guess is, as funny as it is now, we might be in for some stormy weather ahead!

Two(orThree)GoodThings...

1. Piggybacking off the above....this evening Mackenzie was playing party. Actually it was more like she had set all the 'guys' (I love how she calls her Little People the 'guys') up in an audience and she was performing for them. Then I started to sing with her, so we were performing together for the 'guys.' Zachy decides to get in on the action. He starts to take one 'guy' at a time and turn around with it. She starts screaming and he starts cracking up and throws it 'to' (more like 'at' her). Dad and I start cracking up too, because really it is hilarious. After a couple of minutes of trying her best to be furious, Mackenzie got in the spirit of it and started to see it has humorous and joined in on 'his game.' Love moments like that.
2. Spending some time with Zachy while Mackenzie was napping. And getting some time to see a little more of who he is. Most importantly, a pretty happy little totboy!
3. Before bed, Mackenzie said, 'Momma, I too pooped to pop!'

TotZachyLove2

Zachy has this little sense of humor going that makes me smile. He finds things funny and tries to be part of. Last week we were at the school playground playing monster. He caught on and started to put his hands up and say, 'Arrrr.' He gets it. Last night Mackenzie screamed at him for disrupting her play and he screamed back, with a smirk on his face. He thinks it's funny!

He likes to torment his sister at times. I am sure of it. Everything she has, anything she is doing, he wants a piece of. The other day she was practicing her writing, a new favorite activity of her's, and he pulls himself up to the table, grabs a marker and takes off as quick as he can crawling. Yep, he knows. Tonight we were at Red Robin, he was sitting in a high chair at the end of the table, equal distance from Mackenzie and me, and who's food does he keep trying? Who's utensils? Mackenzie's of course. Now, she was quite sweet tonight because she kept offering to share food with him. Good thing, since she really doesn't eat it, except the french fries of course. But, as much as she loves fries, she even gave him some of those.

Watching their sibling relationship evolve really is something else.

Mackenzie comes up with names for him now. Her latest is Zachascooter; where she came up with that, I have NO idea. Lately it seems that many of them involve use of the word Poo Poo. He 'hit' her yesterday and she said, 'Poo boy, I don't like that.' Or the other day she wanted candy and said, 'I have a candy when you put Poo Poo to bed.' So, so sweet. And, she does not get candy just because he goes to bed. She comes up with some interesting propositions though.

As much as he bugs her at times, she is very protective over him. Last week at the zoo when she was in the jumper and he was looking in, another little girl went to touch his hand through the mesh and Mackenzie practically pushed her down. She DOES NOT like anybody messing with her brother. She will get mad. Today at the mall they were in the play area and once it started to get crowded, she seemed to feel that she needed to watch over him. He was fine and just involved in whatever he was doing. At times I think he is her safety net.

TotZachyLove. It will be interesting to watch over the years; See what roles they take on with one another. Already, it changes from minute to minute. It changes from, 'Zachy, You bugging me!,' to 'Zacher, I the Big Sister to the Zacher!.'

TwoGoodThings...

1. Mackenzie got to dress up in her Princess Dress for Halloween and for the first time 'Trick or Treat.' We went into town, to the mall, where they had Malloween. Perfect! She looked precious in her little dress, with sparkly tennis shoes...a Funky Princess! When we go home, she dumped out her bag of candy and just had fun organizing it. She ate her first lollipop...at three! Not surprisingly, she LIKED it! My heart melts when she has fun; really has fun.
2. Zachy in the bath today. Seems I do not get very much time where I get to just focus on just him. Every time I do, I am amazed at how he shines, his eyes, his smile and his face. He loves to splash and to be squirted with the bath toys. His giggle. Heaven!

All.By.Myself.

Yesterday is a bit of a blur. I missed my TwoGoodThings Post. I did do FotoFriday though.

The night before Miss Mackenzie was sick. So, I was up and down with the poor thing all night. She was sort of cute and sweet in her sickness. At one point, she sadly said, 'I worried about Sister,' referring, of course, to herself. She still was not feeling too well yesterday morning. But, she perked up some by evening, so we hit the elementary school's 'Trunk n Treat.' She only hit up a couple of Trunks, but I think she enjoyed her first Halloween experience (I'm not one of those Moms who takes out their 1 and 2 year old...just not.). She wanted to be a Princess. Don't all three year old girls?

I figured she would sleep in a little this morning, since her sleep the night before was so disrupted. Nope. ‎5:15 am: 'Momma, be my friend and get up.' Uh, No! I had been planning on taking her to the town square for a Halloween Festival, but decided not to drive her for an hour and hope that she would be okay. So, instead, I went shopping. All.By.Myself. Sorry kids. But I liked it. Living as far out as we do, I don't get a chance, like other Moms, to go out for an hour here and there. So, today was a bit of a treat. A five hour treat. Two of it was in the car, but MommyMusic is nice to listen too every once in awhile! I must say that if ever I am not feeling loved, all I have to do is leave. You would have thought the world was coming to an end! Sweetness. And, tomorrow, there is more Halloween fun to be had. We are going to Mall-o-Ween at 4! Be ready, Princess Mackenzie and Spongebob PJ wearing Zachy!

So, how 'bout a little TwoGoodThings catch up?

Friday:

1. Zachy reaching up and saying 'Momma.'
2. Mackenzie in her Princess Dress saying 'Trick or Treat' and 'Thank You,' so shyly.

Saturday:

1. On this car thing that 'they' have that goes along with the dollhouse, there is a 'radio' that plays music when you press it. Zachy likes to press it over and over and he gets that mischievous smirk on his face and bops his head up and down. It is hilarious! He's a dancer.
2. Mackenzie trying to get Dad to align with her against Zachy for disrupting their Little People parties. Had to laugh. 'Dad, Zachy bother your party!'

FotoFriday10.8.10

Went to Congress Days over the weekend. I had very low expectations and it STILL managed to disappoint. 90 degrees with no breeze did not help....But here they are, watching the parade.

Zachy working on organizing and fitting things together and his spatial skills...

Zachy being cute and Momma trying to set up an E.T. like photo-op...

TooCoolTotgirl

And so the 'Winter' totstyle begins....

Lookin' like he's busted!

They were playing puzzles together, until totgirl decided the use the puzzle piece for harm...

But they do have their moments where they play nicely....

Totgirl avoiding naptime, by telling me she is going to sleep on the ball...

 ...and that she needs to use the 'potty,' where she asks to read 'Newsweek.'

Doing chalk on the front porch...she cannot make letters yet, but she did start to spell her name...

M-A-C-K...Z-A (but she got the first FOUR right several times!)

Playing with the letter 'R'

'I think I can, I think I can....'

'Look Momma...I'm standing!!!!'

Retro photo alert....

It's Mackenzie on 8.16.08, her first birthday, standing....purejoy expression on her face (and a sport bra around her neck...one of her first fashion must haves!).

PoorTotgirl

Last night, Mackenzie hits Zachy on his back, runs (evidence that she knows she is in the wrong), falls, and 'hurts' her finger. After she finishes her 'calm down time,' I point out to her that she hurt him and show her that Zachy's back is red. She, very pathetically, says, 'My finger is red too,' as if SHE'S the victim! Yep, that's our poor little totgirl!

Then this morning Zachy cries out and Dad says, 'Mackenzie what did you do?' I tell him we can't assume she did something every time and he says, 'Well he cries out and she runs off.' Yep, he's right, that pretty much indicates GuiltyTot. But totgirl had a response, yes she did...'I no run off,' she says, 'I DRIVE off on my car!' Oh, that makes it okay...Never a dull moment.

SiblingConspiracy

I lovelovelove how totgirl dumps out all her most cherished worldly possessions right in front of Zachy and expects him to have self control. And, I lovelovelove that no matter how engaged Zachy is in something else, he will immediately drop everything and anything he is doing to interfere with whatever it is she is doing.

Totgirl and Zachy might only be three and one, but they bicker constantly. Their bickering happens in part because they are both impulsive beings (age appropriately so) and in part because they both, I am convinced, intentionally try to annoy one another. They bicker about toys, about space, and about having my attention. I neverever would have imagined that a one and three year could argue so much. Really, I find myself looking at them with my jaw on the floor, utterly astounded. I spend most of my time trying to engage one in an activity to keep them from the other only to have the other decide they want to do, make that MUST DO, what the one is doing. Wipes.Me.Out! I am convinced that packnplays were invented because of siblings. I have not yet resorted to confinement, but it IS tempting!

And the screaming; Even Mr. not-talking-yet Zachy manages to get his 'message' across with a screaming ramble of sorts. And totgirl, we KNOW she can keep up with the best of 'em when it comes to screaming and yelling. As far as she is concerned, persistence pays. And, persistent she IS. We have started to implement 'calm down' time with her. This happens when she is screaming and screaming and (usually) demanding and demanding...instead of sending her to a 'naughty corner,' we now ask that she goes in the other room and have some 'calm down' time. Seems to be working so far, well as much anything...meaning, it has it's effective moments. Zachy is still a little young for this, and actually, he has not hit the spiraling out of control screaming and demanding phase. Not yet, anyways...but there's always hope he'll reach this 'milestone' sooner than later...

Occasionally, they do have moments where they 'play' together in harmony or side by side without causing one another mayhem. Almost always they have these moments after Dad gets home from work. I kid you not. All day long they can be screaming, in one another's space, climbing over and practically assaulting me as they compete for my attention. Then Dad gets home and they suddenly develop the ability to play quietly, side by side, each engaged with their own toys...or, even better...they actually share! At these times, I am convinced they are aligned in some sort of covert siblingconspiracy to make MiaMomma, TheirMomma, look i.n.s.a.n.e.!