MishMashOfCrazyCuteness

As promised...here I go! Bullet point Momma is going to catch up. Somewhat. In no particular order, get ready for a mish-mash of crazy cute!

First...some facebook posts:

• Love when Mackenzie runs in, grabs a towel and yells out, 'Just stay there Momma. I didn't do anything!'
• "Ow, Zachy hit my bike helmet." Why? I asked. "Cause I was doing something to him."
• watching wizard of oz, m's new favorite movie. 'but mom, why she's not in kansas anymore?'
• this morning mackenzie said to jeff, 'dad, i'm going to go to the mall with you to keep you busy but i can't tell you why because it's a surprise.' note to self: careful how much you tell the 3 yo!
• Mackenzie got mad at me for calling her 'Honey' and insulted me right back with a 'Sweetie Pie.'
• Zachy has now discovered the power of hiding behind closed doors. Found him the other day in the bathroom in the dark munching away on chapstick. This was probably after he declined the lunch I made him.
• i love the random thoughts my daughter has when we talk before she goes to sleep. 3 (almost 4) year old minds certainly are busy places!
• followed a slightly stressful day at work with some family time at the square. kids got to run around while we listened to 'prescott idol' contestants perform. and it's an absolutely beautiful northern az night! just perfect :-).
• If Zachy eats one more tube of my chapstick, I'm going to....I'm going to....well, maybe actually put them somewhere out of his impulsive (almost) two year reach? ♥ ♥ ♥ (yep, I can do ♥ s now.)
• we went to walmart this evening and when we got there i commented how crowded it was. mackenzie said, 'see mom. that's why i didn't want to come. i knew it was going to be too busy.' yes, my dear little three year old tyrant, i am sure that's exactly what you were thinking during the argument-filled half hour it took to get out the door.
• We're going to play a 'Saiger's' house today - Mackenzie's school BFF. She's crazzzzy with excitement. They've been together for 3 years now....too sweet :-)
• Really wish I had listened to that little voice that said "Put the craft supplies away." Maybe then there wouldn't be purple paint all over the playroom floor. At least it's the playroom, right? Mad at myself.
• perfect night at the zoo tonight with Ben & Julie. Weather was perfect. A little rain before, which cooled things down perfectly and then again right at closing time. Couldn't have asked for a better evening. Oh, and Ben & Mackenzie couldn't have been cuter. And Zachy too, of course.
• zachy getting a sugar high at dinner was hilarious. now at 945, not so funny. that'll teach us.
• mom/grandma is in town. a beautiful day. a beautiful night. life is good.
• This morning Mackenzie informed me that she knows everything. Excellent. She turns 4 next month, mission accomplished!
• "When I go to Kindergarten, will I drive myself?" Of course you will, Mackenzie.

And now, what else? Off the top of my head....

• Zachy has his entourage, which includes 2 big pillow pets, 1 small pillow pet, Gunky and a blanket. One day I took another stuffed animal out of his crib and put it on the couch along with the rest of his entourage. He threw it down and said, NO! The boy knows his entourage.
• Zachy loves to throw balls. Actually, he loves to throw just about anything.
• Mackenzie loves Glinda the Good Witch from Wizard. Loves her. She has a framed picture next to her bed. She has a string of lights, which Glinda watches her through. She loves Glinda. A lot.
• One day Mackenzie was crabby and yelled at me. I reminded her that she was Glinda and Glinda smiles. It worked.
• Speaking of Mackenzie smiles....Tuesday morning, Mackenzie woke up and with a beautiful groggy smile said I love you Mommy. You know it. I melted.
• As I was getting ready to leave for work, Zachy followed me around with his shoes. Trying to get me to put them on so he could go with me. Sweet, but it broke my heart.
• One afternoon when I was doing the dishes, Zachy closed the dishwasher and said, Momma, uggle (snuggle). Did I? Absolutely. How could I resist?
• When Mackenzie took the sharebag to school, she took a barbie-ish doll (only one she owns) who she calls Glinda. I tried to talk her into taking her To-To instead.
• One day  I asked Zachy for kisses and he started kissing the air, over and over and over again. CuteNess!
• I wasn't feeling too good on July 4th. I was on the bed in the playroom and Zachy pretended to put me to sleep. He put a 'blanket' over me, hugged me and gave me a kiss. And then he decided it was more fun to use me as an obstacle course. He climbed on the bed, over me, off the bed, ran around the bed, climbed on the bed, over me, and so on and so on.
• Out of nowhere, Mackenzie said, Momma I don't want shots in my arm. Will you tell the doctor that?
• Zachy has been practicing animal sounds. One evening I asked if he wanted a Hotdog. He said, Ruff ruff.

I know I keep saying it, but things are good. We have been having fun. And, I feel totally Blessed. Blessed that you two sweet beings are in my life and Blessed that we are getting to do things. Fun things.

Until next time....

WordyWednesday

I feel bad that I don't seem to have much time to make more thoughtful posts. But here's yet another running ramble, which will hopefully cover a bit of this and that and some musings. Here we go..

• Last night after we got home, Zachy walked right to the laundry room, right to where the hand vac is, right to where the detachable hose is, and got it out. To play with.
• Next he got the sweeper. He's a tot of cleaning appliances.
• Tonight when I was vacuuming, he got his toy one and vacuumed right alongside. He's my Helper Boy.
• I called him my Helper and Mackenzie promptly showed up from the other room. She proceeded to hold the vacuum cord for me. Until I told her it was okay if she wanted to go back and play cars. She did.
• On the way home last night in the car, Mackenzie said Mommy I missing Daddy. So I said, Great! He can lay down with you tonight. At bedtime she said, Mommy, I not missing Daddy anymore. You can lay down with me. I lucked out, yet again.
• I not the crabbiest! Zachy is. We are taking turns. You the luckiest. I guess that's one way of looking at it.
• About a friend at school: Oh Audrey. She's the cutest!
• Zachy points to his bum and tells me when he goes poo poo now. Consistently! And even 'before' sometimes.
• After accomplishing a new feat, Mackenzie said, Look Momma. I learning!
• Zachy rode his 'car' up to me, crashed into me, then said, Beep Beep!
• I gave Zachy a bath the other night. While wiping some water up from the floor, next thing you know, water all over me. Zachy was using a cup to throw water over his head and it landed on me instead. While the first time was an accident, I'm pretty sure the other four were not.
• Zachy's a boy. All boy. The other day he tooted while sitting on my lap. This made him laugh. Hard.
• I think he's making you fun in reference to Zachy running away with playdoh, laughing at me while I chased him. Her way of saying I think he's making fun of you? Or maybe she really meant he was making me fun. As in otherwise I'm not.
• I don't have an issue today, but Zachy does.
• Another Zachy boy moment: He likes to pretend to gag up food. When I say *likes* I mean *likes* as in he does it and finds it amusing.
• He also likes to pretend to toot on people now.
• Mommy just did her first If it's on the floor, it's mine speech. Unfortunately for me, I was talking about Mackenzie's cut up pieces of paper.
• And he likes to blow toot noises out of his mouth. If there's a silly noise to be made, he likes it. If he can figure out how to do it, he does it.
• Mackenzie used the phrase 'best friend' today. She was talking about Saige. And Jordan S. Do kids have best friends at three?
• I almost caught Mackenzie trying to push Zachy yesterday. When she saw me, she, with the attitude of a teenager, said What? I was just trying to move him out of my way like this (demonstrating gentle push). Nice try.
• On Monday, Mackenzie called me into the playroom. She whispered I just wanted to tell you I love you, but I'm not gonna talk to you.
• Today before Zachy was going down for nap, Mackenzie said But who will play Kindergarten with me? Zachy's my best friend.
• Sometimes Dad calls Zachy 'Fred.' It's like their own little thing.
• And sometimes he calls Mackenzie 'Chowder Head.' She doesn't like it. She says, I NOT CHOWDER HEAD. I MACKENZIE.
• Before I put Mackenzie to sleep tonight, she sang our Good Night song to Zachy. Sweetness.
• Sleep tight my little ones. I'll miss you guys tomorrow. Like crazy.

And so concludes my last day of being a Mommy in her 'early' forties. Said it before and I'll say it again, I'm one Lucky Momma!

M.CircusSnakes&Musings

Okay, now it's Mackenzie's turn. First and foremost, if she knew right now she was 'second,' I'd be in some trouble. She really is into: First, Second, Winning, Fair, Fault, and Blame. Serious stuff for a three year old.

So, Mackenzie and I had a little adventure this weekend. We really didn't know what we were doing. No game plan. But she's a trooper and just up for getting out. We ventured to town. I needed a haircut. It happened. We did a little basics shopping at Walmart and then decided to head to the mall for the play area.  And what did we find? A mini circus. Next show in twenty minutes. Why not? So we did. She had cotton candy. For the first time. And loved it. She brought home a souvenir coloring book. She clapped vigorously for the juggling guy. As far as the lady on the long rope, she said, That looks not safe. I not going to do that. Phew! I can sleep easy now. At intermission she decided she'd had enough, so we left. It's her adventure, right? We went into the mall. Tried to take pictures in a booth but all the booths were broken, darn it! She rode the car ride. We played in Barnes and Noble. She pretended to be a 'Circus Leader' on their little story time 'stage.' Then her sugar high wore off and it was quickly and clearly time to head home. She had french fries in the car. And chocolate milk (Apparently it was a junk food adventure more than anything).

Mackenzie had a bad dream the other night. It really freaked her out. All of the sudden she woke up and scooted to the side of the bed and screamed. She told me a snake licked her. She made me check under the blanket, which she would not put back on. She didn't want to go back to sleep. She really got scared. Her talk about the next day, however, was pretty cute. It went something like this:

It was big and huge. It lickded me. Let's look for it more. I think I heard it. Maybe that was Rufus. It licked my arm. Right here (pointing). Let me tell you some more truths about snakes, baby snakes you can hold, but not big snakes. Momma snakes are in big holes and baby snakes in small holes. You better keep an eye on me so the snake don't lickded me again. Can we check again?

She talked about it most of the day. And then again this morning. At some point it clearly became more of a 'thing' than an actual fear. For now anyway. Until the next bad dream, poor thing!

Some of Mackenzie's favorite things right now are:

• Her friend Saige at school. She identifies everything with Saige. Me and Saige like purple. Me and Saige....
• Performing songs and dances. The other day she did an edgy, punk rock like version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
• She's obsessed with her birthday. Which is in August. Five months away. The day we went on our Adventure, I asked her where she wanted to go and she said, of course, To my Birthday.
• Her imaginary friends.
• Cars. She still loves playing cars. And probably will for quite sometime.
• And playing babies. And playing baby, where she's the baby.
• Practicing her letters and shapes and coloring.
• Books right now: Purplicious and Knuffle Bunny.
• Competing with Zachy, for everything. Making sure she has more of everything or is first or second, or whatever is 'better.' Today Zachy started to put rocks in his bucket, so she made sure she got more and bigger ones.

Things I find cute. Like with Zach, it's the little things. Such as:

• She has been working on different letters and shapes. The other day she made a triangle and said Look Momma! I made a triangle. I worked hard.
• Her facial expressions and hand gestures.
• Her use of language.
• Her thought process.
• Seeing her interact with people.
• When she takes pride in being a big sister.
• Of course, when she tells me she loves me.

Lastly, how about a few totmusings?

• When we were driving, Mackenzie saw a balloon and said, Oh, when  Zacher sees those, he's going to want one!
• Taunting Zachy before naptime. Good night, Zacher. Sorry you have to nap. Big sister doesn't have to. Just you. Sorry. Big sister is going to have a treat.
• Commenting on Zachy: Look at Zachy. He's a crazy dude.
• I didn't toot on your leg, I tooted on my hand!
• After getting mad at me: You're not a perfect Mommy! (Glad we got that figured out.)
• Commenting on my mothering abilities yet again, another day we got in the car and had to arrange all her stuff. She said Wow Momma. You did much better than yesterday. Good job!
• And my personal recent favorite: After getting mad at Zachy for something, she said, Zachy, you a dirty diaper! Such a little lady.

That's a little bit of Mackenzie right now. Just like with Zachy, I love that girl. And, as always, she's as sassy as she is sweet. And loving. Incredibly so.

Over the weekend, she had been outside and came in to surprise me with 'flowers.' She said

 I saw flowers and thought to myself I pick you some flowers and some for me too. This one is for me and this ones are for you. 

TotTalk&Happenings

Thought I'd get in a little TotTalk tonight. Mostly things they have said and a thing or two or three they have done lately.

First up, Miss Mackenzie:

• Mackenzie's teacher sent an E-letter home with awesome pictures of the class. Some nursing students had visited and when she was looking at that picture, she said When I grow up, I want to be a nursing student.
• She's ambitious, yes she is, because today she also said When I grow up, I want to be a Fireman, and a Policeman, and a Teacher and a Nursing Student. I going to be all those things!
• She has also said she wants to be a Cowgirl, but not lately.
• The other day I called her 'Sweetie Pie' and she said I not a sweetie-pie, I a Mommy. Nice! Almost as good as You're not a person, you're a Mommy.
• We were at Walmart this weekend and out of nowhere, Mackenzie said That's cool!
• This made me laugh. She's become a tattler. Yesterday she came in and said Daddy's not good at this game!
• Earlier in the day she came to tell me Dad had hurt her feelings. I suggested she let him know and she looked up at me with her head down and said Will you come with me?
• Still not too nuts about Zachy's pronunciation of her name. In response, she said But Miss Anne doesn't call me Kengy. She calls me MAC-KEN-ZIE!
• She has a new morning ritual. She wakes up. If I'm awake, I pretend to still be sleeping. She goes to the bathroom, gets her undies on, gets a summer dress in the middle of winter almost spring on, turns on the kitchen light and then comes back to the room and yells SURPRISE!
• We've been playing Store quite a bit and the conversations are hilarious. She gets so into character. Uses an 'adult' voice; Brings in her baby, 'Chaser' (Saige's new little brother); Makes small talk; Asks where certain 'sections' are (Do you know where the balloon section is?); Brings her things over for purchase and then asks how much - usually I will say $2 and she offers me $1 and then wants $3 back; Then she goes 'home' and comes right back, often returning something with a full explanation and everything; And on and on and on. I like the store game.
• With Dad she's been playing Baby Room. He's the teacher and she drops off - you guessed it - Chaser who is in the Baby Room with Zachy; Then she goes to work, which is in the kitchen but yells out instructions to Dad the whole time; When she goes to pick up Chaser, 30 seconds later, she pretends she's at the outside window and says Guess who's here? and Dad acts surprised and says It's Chaser's Mommy (often adding in a sarcastic, Who's been gone for a whole 10 seconds); And on and on and on.
• I told her that Grammie will be watching them one day next week and, very concerned, Mackenzie said Does Grammie know how to watch kids? I will teach her rules about how to change Zachy's diaper and feed him and that he naps and I don't. I'm sure you'll let her know all the rules my little sweet!
• My favorite Mackenzie~ism this week? She got mad about something today and very dramatically said This is the worst day of my whole life! And then Michael Jackson music started to play on Ellen, I asked Mackenzie if she wanted to dance and the world was right again.

And now for Zachy. He doesn't talk quite as much, but he sure is learning to get his point across!

• Lately when I ask him if he wants something, he very clearly says Yah! or No! And pretty much seems to know what he is saying Yah! or No! to.
• I swear when he got up from nap he said: Where's Dada? Where go? Work? All without me saying anything. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think I am.
• When he likes doing something, he says, 'Gain!
• He knows the words No and Mine in a (really not so) Terrible Twos way. Learned them much faster than his sister ever did. Interesting. At least I think so.
• He loves jumping on the bed and jumping off the couch onto the bean bags (with help) and dancing. Oh, he is such a cute dancer.
• Lately when I am in the shower, he comes to find me and keeps opening the door and saying HI!, which has become one of his favorite words. He also likes the word Bye! a lot. And blowing kisses. Really into working on his social skills I suppose.
• He still says Whoa, but also likes Weeee now. Maybe more than Whoa.
• And, he likes to ask for a Hug! and loves to give hugs.
• This evening Mackenzie came crawling in the kitchen with a pacifier in her mouth (yes, she is the 3 1/2 year old) and Zachy pointed at her and said Baby!
• When I give him something he asks for, he says Tank You!
• He knows the name of quite a few foods now: Eggs, Bananas, Crackers, Cheese, Beans, Milk, Apples, and of course cookies and juice, two things that Mackenzie never had until she was probably 2! I'm sure he knows other food words (as well as other words in general), but I can't think of them right now.
• The other day he decided to join Mackenzie and I in playing doctor. He was using all the doctor things and so intent. Really serious. Really cute. He loves to play the 'big kid' games that his sister plays.

MondayRandomness

Ah, it's Monday. I usually like Mondays. As I have said before, I am home with the kids. It falls between the weekend and 'workweek' (Tuesday work, Wednesday home, Thursday work). For the most part, things are in reasonable order, as good as can be expected anyway.  This tends to make the day pretty low key.

We had a pretty good weekend. Yesterday, we woke up to a winter wonderland and had some great outdoors snow play. Lots of fun. The snow was fluffy, the temperature perfect (I was even out there in shorts since I had just gotten off the treadmill). Mackenzie and Dad made a snowman, with a little 'help' from Zachy. Zachy enjoyed the snow a lot more than he did the first time. He walked around, but pretty much wanted to be holding hands. If he saw a bit of oh-so-familiar dirt peaking through somewhere, he got pretty excited and made sure to pick some up and throw it. He also got brave and threw some snow. Mackenzie made snow angels and was out there for over an hour, I'm sure.
 
Saturday we thought the storm was going to arrive and decided to head south for the day. We went to the mall for awhile. Funny how malls are mini outings for people with toddlers. We tried the playarea, but unfortunately parents allowed their above the age and height limit kids to play in there. So, we went up and down the elevator (or 'alligator,' as Mackenzie calls it), had some yummy pretzels, walked through the pet store, and found a nice outdoors run around area with squirting water. Zach enjoyed just walking around and getting some energy out. Mackenzie and Dad ran through the water. She took off her pants and undies, which meant I had to talk to her. People laughed. She was quite entertaining.  She did put her pants back on  and continued to have fun anyway. We finished off with an early dinner at Chili's. Mackenzie ate fries. Zach had some fries and pizza. Healthy, I know. Simple outing, but fun and the kids were pooped and went to bed easy.

When we were at Chili's, Mackenzie was flirting with the waiter. Before we left she almost said, Bye bye stinky butt. But, she stopped herself! Love it. I think that kids will play around with the those words and really don't get too worked up at all, but I do want my kids to understand when and where. Fine line, I know. The main thing is, she is learning self control! She caught herself and stopped herself and still managed to be silly crazy fun.

So, that was our weekend. Because the temps warm up around here pretty quick, the snow is now melting away quickly or just very wet. The dirt underneath has turned to deep, thick mud, which means we are stuck indoors today. But, we are making the best of it. Got some jumping on the bed time, made a fort. After naptime I suppose an agility course of sorts will be devised and we will have to have a dance party. Perhaps we can venture outside for a walk on the street, provided we can make it across the driveway with minimal collateral damage (after getting the mail, it looks like this might not happen).

Anyhow, while I'm here, I thought I'd share a few random things along with perhaps a totmusing or two:

• Mackenzie really loves to play cars. I'm sure I have talked about it before. She parks them. Then has them leave and other cars take spaces. She talks while she is doing it and has her cars interacting somewhat socially. Fascinating. I think they might be the closest thing she has had to a 'comfort item.'
• When Zachy plays with cars, he crashes them. Or throws them. Which is pretty much what he does with everything.
• The other day I told Zachy he looked adorable. Mackenzie got concerned and asked, Does that mean I going to look a-handsome? (Since I usually call Zachy 'handsome' and her 'adorable.')
• This afternoon, before Zachy was going for his nap, he put his arm around Mackenzie and said Hug.  That was sweet. Last night before bed he was chasing her around the house trying to give her kisses. That was funny. So was her screaming.
• Kids stood on the scale this morning. Zachy is about 21.6 pounds and Mackenzie 31.4.
• Before bed the other night I suggested to Mackenzie that we clean up the toys. She said How about you clean and I play. A few days earlier, after waking up in the morning, she said, Look Momma, we forgot to clean up the Princess Castle. I thought the word We was a funny and interesting choice.
• After playing outside last week, Zachy walked in with one shoe and looked baffled as he said Where shoe? Totally confused and concerned he appeared. Poor little guy. I searched the yard with him. No luck. About a half hour later he just happened to find it. Right inside one of Dad's shoes. And, how do you think it got there? He laughed when he pulled it out. Sneaky boy!
• I made banana bread for breakfast this morning. Zachy took a bite and said Mmmmmm.
• Yesterday he had some sliced black olives, which he lovvvves. How'd he eat them you ask? He picked them up by poking his finger in the hole and then eating them off his finger. I think this qualifies as multi-tasking. He ate and amused himself at the same time.
• I love the smell of bacon. Has nothing to do with anything.  But I do.
• Mackenzie loves bacon. Don't know if she loves the smell yet, but she loves bacon and I have no doubt will kow that she loves the smell someday.
• We had a play date scheduled last Friday with Ari and Cate, but their Momma was sick. Mackenzie said, How about I draw her a picture so she can feel better? My girl can be pretty sweet!
• I know we have talked about Mackenzie and her 'door' thing, where all the doors off the living area have to be closed. She now gives us a stern talking to if we leave one open. Next thing, she'll be giving us some sort of consequence.
• In the midst of quiet play, Mackenzie says something. I ask What? because I hadn't heard her. She replies with I not talking to you, I talking to someone else. Opps, my bad!
• Not complaining, but what's up with the over three hour nap, Zachy? Hope you're feeling okay!
• Yesterday Mackenzie was playing 'Infant room' and she and Zachy were the babies. I would say Naptime! and Zachy would lay right down. Funny and cute. At the same time.
• The problem is....I crabby. Spoken like a true Mackenzie.
• Next up, Zachy. On the living room floor, crying. Until he sees me, then he smiles. He really wants to 'get' the whole tantrum thing, but he's just not there. Not yet anyway.
• Zachy is a food thrower. Totally.
• I think my ear has been colored blue by the Zach. That's the price I pay for trying to eat while holding a fussy one and half year old.
• Mackenzie invited me into her fort. She has it pretty well stocked. It even has outside dining.
• Zachy played a 'Mine' Game with some Chapstick. He said Mine and ran away laughing, making sure I was chasing him.
• At dinnertime we sang Farmer and the Dell. I don't really know the sequence, but apparently Mackenzie does: The farmer takes a Wife; The Wife takes a Child; the Child takes a Dog; The Dog takes a cat; The Cat takes a Mouse; The Mouse takes the cheese; And the Cheese stays still. Or something like that. Point being (yes, I do have a point), they must sing the song in Preschool and she knew the order and I was proud.

Two kids asleep by 7:30. Mackenzie was O.U.T. at 7:06, Zachy at 7:30, which surprised me since he took a three and a half hour plus nap. Jury is still out on why he's so tired. Momma is pooped, but, overall, a pretty good day. Gonna miss those kiddos of mine tomorrow. Yes, I sure will.

MondayMusing

We had a good - great - weekend. On Saturday, we went to the Gold Rush Days carnival and Mackenzie got to ride real rides. Age appropriate of course. Zachy even went on one with Mackenzie. He didn't cry, but I'm not sure he knew just quite what to make of it. I almost think he preferred sitting outside the fences and waving to her when she went by. Her favorite ride? Despite going on the Ferris Wheel and other 'fast rides,' she still likes the Merry Go Round best of all. A traditionalist one might say.  Mackenzie also made a sand art picture. They had flowers and butterflies and cute animals. She picked the plane. Why I have no idea. But it turned out just adorable!

When we got home, we had Emmy dog over for a playdate since his Dad, Rich, was gone for the day. Zachy knows her by name and said Emmy!Q when she walked in. Mackenzie was upset when it was time to take her home. Sunday Dad worked and Mackenzie, Zachy and I went on two 'park' outings. Pretty fun day. All in all, it was a fabulous, Vitamin D filled weekend.

Things have been busy lately, so I've decided today that I'm going to do a Ramble. It will have some bits from today, a few totmusings, and just some random catch up thoughts that come to mind. Here we go...

• It's Valentine's Day! Mackenzie enjoyed giving cards to Daddy, Zachy and Me and loved getting one too - a Princess Card, that plays music. Zachy got a Snoopy card. And both got a little candy. Mackenzie made sure Zachy shared his with her. Zachy showed off his 'more' sign.
• Tomorrow Mackenzie and the school friends will hand out cards to one another. She has been a little resistant to the thought of giving her cards away, but she's catching on and realizing that they are all exchanging.
• We were outside playing chase today and Mackenzie had to go potty. She didn't want to stop though and said, It okay. My pee pee is being good.
• The other day she said, Why do birds and flies come in for visits? So they can play?
• Before we went to the carnival, there was a parade. Mackenzie asked about Santa being there, since he was in the last parade she went to. When I told her he wouldn't be there, she put on her best sad face and said, I miss him.
• Zachy's new 'thing' at night is to shove one of his books down the side of the bed. Then he looks at me with big, confused eyes and in his most innocent voice says, Where book? Again and again and again.
• Zachy really likes to throw things. At people now. Hard things. Not good. But he gets so much enjoyment out it.
• Speaking of this, Zachy's favorite game of late is to walk up to you, laugh and throw a ball at your head. Then he laughs even harder. He has surprisingly good aim for a one and a half year old. Note to self: Make sure all hard objects are out of the totboy's reach.
• Oh, and he has officially figured out how to use stools. The other day he wanted my purse. I said No. I went to other room. I came back and he was on the floor with it, chewing a half piece of gum with foil, yikes! Stool positioned right below where my purse had been on the counter. Note to self: Use purse zipper.
• This morning Mackenzie said I hurt her arm. For the record, I wasn't even close to her. But, her exact words were: Momma, you blooded me. I going to send you to jail!
• I have been noticing lately that Mackenzie is no longer a toddler, but a little girl. Maybe not  quite a little girl, but definitely a preschooler. Regardless, it's bittersweet. My babygirl is growing up. So fast.
• And Zachy, definitely a toddler. Today I was remembering how last winter I would pull the exersaucer outside to entertain him while Mackenzie ran around. Then the pack and play and now....well now he's just all over the place and lovin' it!
• Mackenzie has this lovely spitting thing she does when she gets mad (although knock on wood, I think she's finally over it). One day we were talking about how we were not going to spit and she says Well, we can spit like this (demonstrating quietly onto her hand) but not like this (demonstrating sassily at someone). I think she's going to be an attorney.
• This morning we were playing jump rope. Exact words Mackenzie uses, Momma will you jump me? Basically I just wiggle it on the floor and she runs back and forth and jumps over it. Zachy joined in. First wiggling the rope alongside me and next running back and forth with her and 'jumping' over it. He really got excited when she fell and then that became the game. Falling. He loves that game. Gets to use one of his favorite words: Whooaaa.
• Zachy walked up to me with a finger puppet and said Puppet! I'm not sure I knew he knew that word.
• Mackenzie gets strangely independent and quiet around nap time. Until I make that comment of course.
• I decided to try to implement some preschool tactics into our day. Circle Time. More songs. Bells before activities. All that good stuff. Turns out we just pretend play preschool all day. But, hey, it's sort of working. Today Mackenzie is the Bell Helper. And we're all having fun with it!
• Mackenzie just tried to rebel against circle time. Once she saw how clearly wrong Zachy and I were doing it, she decided we were in desperate need of help and joined us.
• I hear Zachy crying. Find him in his room on his back on the floor as if he has fallen. The minute he sees me he stops. It's sort of like he said Gotcha! Is he picking up his sister's flare for the dramatic?
• Sometimes Zachy seems to think he's a hamster. He puts a bunch of food in his mouth and then spits it out. Today it's a green beans. And, he keeps on asking for more.
• I wish I could translate the sound of Mackenzie's hilarious sarcastic voices to print. They crack me up.
• Mackenzie is very into being first these days. Her concept of first really is more or less defined as 'only.'
• Last week I let Mackenzie know she's been invited to Maverick's birthday (friend from totcollege). Sweetly yelling: 'No Maverick no have a birthday. Only me and Saige and Emerson and Andrew have birthdays.' Why she included Emerson is beyond me since she was mad at him last week for telling her to go to jail. Ah, the life of a three year old.
• A few days later she said Maverick could only have two friends at his party, Saige could have five and Emerson could have four. Of course all the friends are supposed to come to her party. Good luck with that Mackenzie!
• You know mealtime has gone on too long when you hear Zachy say Hat and the bowl of applesauce is on his head.
• But the hospital is boring! So apparently, is the bath, the doctor's office and whatever she does not want to do.
• What had Zachy cracking up on the changing table? A nail file. He kept rubbing it on his tummy and cracking himself up. Hysterical.
• Mackenzie has begun monitoring her own TV! This doesn't mean she watches as much as she wants, but rather that she has gotten the idea that she's not supposed to watch a lot and that there are things that are much more fun!
• Zachy has eaten more today than he has in the whole previous month. Growth spurt?
• Today was Amazing. Fun. We Jived. I feel Fantabulous. I Love My Babies and am going to miss them like crazy tomorrow! Smiling. Feeling Grateful!
• Cracks me up when Mackenzie says she is going to take a little 'snooze.' And that concludes our day.

MommyMackenzieDate

Mackenzie and Momma went on a girl's date. Spontaneously we decided to venture out to the mall. We had a great time. I was reminded of the last time just she and I were there alone together. That would've been 8.19.09. Several hours after we got home, my water broke. I'm glad we had a special afternoon that day, even though I had no idea her world, our world, was going to change so completely, so soon after. Remembering, had me feeling a little sappy today, remembering back to that afternoon, when a sassy little two year old had my 8.5 month pregnant self chasing her around while people laughed. I enjoyed our day then and I enjoyed our special day today, veryVeryVERY much!

Some memories from today...

First a Totmusing: While looking at clothes at Penny's, Mackenzie picked up a girl's baby outfit and said, 'I sure wish I wear'd that when I was a baby.' (A cute little older couple laughed. She got a lot of 'How cute she is' comments and smiles today.)

 First stop...the 'Merry Go Round.'

 Enjoying a little Orange Julius on the way to Barnes and Noble.

 At Barnes and Noble, we read a story, picked out a book and played with the train.

Checking in with Daddy.

What would a mall trip be without some fries?

Last stop...the Helicopter!

We got the book 'Knuffle Bunny' and, also shown, took pictures together in the photo booth!

Whata funFunFUN time we had! Thanks Mackenzie :-).

Momma LOVES You!

'Thank You for a Good Day!'

FamilyExercise

Mommy is trying to get 'back in shape.' As much shape as she can get in at 'her age.' But, she figures that 17 months after Zachy was born, it's time to shed that twenty that hung onto after having him. So, Momma has been working hard. Eating right. And exercising. Luckily, you guys, Mackenzie and Zachy, are pretty cooperative. Zachy loves the pack n play, so I don't feel guilty about putting him there a few times a week for thirty minutes while I do the treadmill and, let's face it, what better opportunity to let Mackenzie catch an episode of her favorite, Olivia (loveLoveLOVE DVR's!).

Today I decided to do a little 10 minute leg video after the treadmill. Released Zachy from the pack n play and just figured I'd see what happens. Mackenzie enjoys doing these along with me, so she's always game.

Our conversation went something like this:

Mackenzie: Why we doing this one?
Momma: This exercise is good for our inner thighs.
Mackenzie: Where our inner thighs Momma?
(Momma points)
Mackenzie: By our bum bum.
Momma: Yes, sort of.
(Enter Zachy who starts trying to do squats too while laughing).
Mackenzie: What we doing now Momma?
Momma: Lifting our heals.
Mackenzie: Where our heals?
Momma: On our feet.
Mackenzie: This one's tricky! Why we do this?
Momma: To work on our balance.
Mackenzie: Where our balance Momma?
Momma: It's what we do when we are on one foot. (Lame answer, I know.)
(Enter Zachy who tries to kick his foot forward with a bottle hanging out of his mouth AND laughing).
Mackenzie: When we use the ball (pilates ball)?
Momma: Not on this video. Maybe later.
(Mackenzie gets her ball anyways.)
Mackenzie: Look at Me! (Doing pilates exercises she has learned. Way to go!)

Moving on to the floor...Starting with Bicycles on one side...

Mackenzie (laughing): That NOT bicycle! This is (On her back doing both feet. Smartie pants!)

Our session ended up with RufusDog joining in and licking my face with his 'sweet' dog breath. Oh, Joy.

TotMusings2011

Mackenzie has been pretty funny lately. Probably on a bit of a roll because she's also been pretty full of sassy.

• We were getting ready to go somewhere and I had asked Mackenzie to keep an eye on Zach, who was on the front porch (Dad was outside too, I just wanted double coverage). She comes in, lays down on the couch and says, Okay Momma, I keeping an eye on Zachy. Problem? She couldn't see him.
• Momma, Zachy called me a gook-goo.
• One day she was playing in her room with her imaginary friends. I went to the bathroom in there and she got upset with me because apparently Jordan or someone was in there. She said: Momma, we need to have a talk about this. When you need to go potty, you need to go in the other bathroom.
• Another day when I told her I needed to potty, she told me I had to wait until Daddy got home. Problem? That was like four hours down the road. Her response? From Pinkalicious: You get what you get and don't get upset. 
• We had soybeans one afternoon and I was showing her how to get the bean pods out. Her observation? There's a baby bean inside!
• Sometimes she likes to pretend she's Zachy's Mommy. When she does, she calls me Zachy's Grandma. Being an older Mom, I don't like that so much.
• Zachy thinks he wants to be a big kid and play big kid games! She's right!
• RufusDog got in Zachy's way the other day and Zachy shouted out, Ruuuu, NOOOO.
• When we were at the zoo on the sky ride, Mackenzie wanted to try to push forward and sit on the edge of the chair. Not happening. I explained how she could get really hurt if she fell. She responded with, It's okay Momma, the people will help me.
• Another time, I think when they were climbing on the kitchen table and being wild, I again tried to discuss with her the dangers of what she/they were doing. And, she responded with, Oh Momma, the policeman will help me. Yes, that's one way of looking at it.
• Mackenzie loves the color purple. One day Zachy repeated the word Purple and she ran over to him and said, That's what your sister's favorite color is Zachy!
• They got a toy school bus one afternoon at the Dollar Store. I told her it was a toy for them to share. She resisted at first and then said, Zachy can put the guys in and I can drive! How's that for problem solving and critical thinking skills? In a Three Year old nonetheless.
• Mackenzie got the crazy band bracelets and wanted to wear them to school. I said she couldn't and she said, I wanna wear them like Jordan Milton does. So, I let her wear one and after school she said, I share my bracelet with Jordan Milton! I let her wear it!
• I the Dad. Dad's make dressers.
• In the bathroom yelling Mooo-oooom, I dropped a car. Again, louder MOOO-OOOOM, I DROPPED A CAR! Mom goes in to get the car and she says, It worked!
• The Zacher is a cutie!
• The baby cow is a cutie!
• She's an early riser. One morning I told her we couldn't get out of bed because it was still dark. She gets a big smile on her face and says, I have an idea to make it light! After more discussion about why we can't get out of bed yet, she says, After we have one, two talks, we can get up? After yet more discussion, she says, Moo-oom, my eyes are OPENING! Clearly, I have lost.
• Mackenzie: That's a great idea! Mommy: That's a terrific idea, terrific means really, really great. Mackenzie: That NOT a erific idea. That's a great idea!
• At the end of the day, I often say I'm 'too pooped to pop.' The other night she said, Momma, did I poop to pop you?

RunningRambleNo.2

Whata week. Mostly good. We had a 'Moment' on Wednesday, but otherwise, not a bad week.

Wednesday I think we were all feeling a bit caged up. Especially me. After the holidays, the snow and then just not getting out, we've been home way too much. But, today we went to the zoo, full post with pictures to follow shortly.

I never really got around to posting this week other than my 2GoodTuesday. I started on Monday with some randomness, but never really finished. Then added a bit on Wednesday and then Friday. Also never finished. So, here's a combined RunningRamble effort from our at home days last week. Since they cover different days, ignore any 'time references!'

• I love the mud in the backyard since the snow melted. Really I do. So, so, so glad my kids are outside in the mud in their socks.
• Speaking of socks, Mackenzie has sock neurosis. They hurt her if there is the slightest crinkle.
• Mackenzie just called out from the playroom, 'I at the hospital. My baby is going to be a little born.'
• I think Zach threw away one of his Fisher Price toy milk bottles.
• Mackenzie is wayyyyy too fixated on Olivia. She now wants to be called Francine. Make that Queen Francine.
• Zachy came in and brought me his shoes to put on. The bottoms of his white socks are, not surprisingly, black.
• Yesterday Zachy and Mackenzie were outside. I hear him crying. I go see what's wrong. Mackenzie has been 'washing' him with cold, muddy water. Sweet sister.
• And, yesterday Mackenzie pretended to be a puppy, In doing so, she decided to pee in the backyard. It was as funny as it was disturbing.
• When I clean the playroom, I inevitably stop at the play kitchen. Do you think maybe, just maybe, this is some form of MommaRebellion?
• I just made broccoli, cauliflower and cheese soup, from scratch. Zachy is a food thrower. Why did I think this was a good idea?
• I made the mistake of referring to Mackenzie as 'Princess Mackenzie.' She's taken on this role and run with it. Demanding. Expects me to be at her beck and call. Oh wait...nothing's changed. Just another day with a three year old.
• Zachy comes up to me sometimes and just gives me a totboy hug. He's getting the whole cuddle idea too. Love it.
• Mackenzie is an expert Snuggle-bug. She Loves it. I Love it.
• Today I saw a wasp and the other day I saw a bee. Come on guys, it's January! We had snow. Shouldn't those things be gone by now? And I mean totally gone. Annoyed. And concerned, because if they have survived, they must be some sort of super stinging insect, bug or whatever they are species.
• Zachy is taking two to two and a half hours naps. Ridiculous! I might regret saying this, but bygosh he's become a good sleeper! Who'da Thunk that would even be possible!
• Mackenzie has a thing with closing all the doors off the living room. Wondering what it's about. I think it has something to do with her totfears and feeling safer and more in control with the doors closed off.
• Zachy just dumped dog food all over and said, Ut-oh. As if he didn't know that was going to happen!
• 'Momma, I need to jump way higher, so I will grow taller!'
• When I picked Zachy up yesterday, they said he is their favorite eater. He sits at the table, crosses his hands in front of him, and waits. Are they sure they were talking about my son, the food thrower?
• 'Momma, I having a bad, bad day because I got a papercut. Will you call the doctor so I can go in and say I got a papercut, please!'
• Mackenzie made sure I called the doctor. She asked to talk to the Doctor and wondered why the Doctor was not talking back. I made up some lame excuse. Told her the Doctor was busy writing everything down. She bought it and kept talking.
• Mackenzie playing Mommy to Zachy, sweetness.
• Mackenzie playing Doctor with BuddyCat. Have I mentioned how bizarrely patient that cat is?
• I will never get over how cute it is when Zachy puts a choking hazard in his mouth, seeks me out, laughs in my face and runs away. Cute and unfortunately dangerous at the same time.
• Zachy seeing his Favorite Book, 'Yummy, Yucky' and saying Ugy.
• Zachy now plays 'Baby.' He gets on the floor, crawls around and says, Baby. Hmmm....wonder where he got that idea?
• Zachy clapping and saying Yayyyy during the movie Happy Gilmore when Gilmore was playing golf.
• I am ashamed to admit this, but our 'Christmas tree,' a small, humble artificial one is still up. Maybe by February?
• Yippeeee! I found the missing milk bottle. He didn't throw it away. The wagon now has six again. Whoppeee. My life is complete.
• Mackenzie gets into arguments with RufusDog and BuddyCat.
• Mackenzie commenting, while lying on the couch, that something was Stinky. I pointed out it might be RufusDog or perhaps BuddyCat. And she replies with, Or maybe you, Momma. For the record, I was nowhere near her at the time.
• Zachy seeing Puffs and calling them Uffs.
• Mackenzie came up to me with her mouth wide open and then said, Momma, mouth is open. I tired.

TotMusing of the week:

Quite awhile ago, after Mackenzie had done something that upset me, she suddenly started to sing me the ABC song and I started to laugh. On Wednesday, I got upset with her after she dumped her smoothie all the over table for an 'art project.' When I was explaining my upset to her, she said:  Momma, Do I need to sing you the ABC song?

2GoodTuesday11.18.11

My 2GoodTuesdays for this week...

• Tonight I gave Zachy his bath. Just me and him. I loved playing with him. He's so funny. I had a little foam guy I kept popping up over the side of the tub and he was hysterically waiting in anticipation of where the guy would pop up next. When he caught him he would yell out and throw him. The boy is hilarious. After the bath, I held him while he gave himself kisses in the mirror. A lot of kisses. It was funny. And cute. And then just odd.
• This week we got Mackenzie's 'room' set up. New furniture and transformed part of the bedroom into her own little pretty area. She has a new pink bean bag for chillin'. She decided to stay in her 'room' for awhile and read books. She kept coming out to update me. 'Momma, I reading 'Pinkalicious' now.' 'Momma, I still in MY room. I reading 'Too Loud Lily.' She felt special and that felt good.

Now, how 'bout adding in a Totmusing or Three?

• Momma says, 'You've made quite the mess in here Little Miss.' To which she replies, 'I thought I was decorating!'
•  'My issue...my issue is I no want to play with my little brother.'
• Yesterday Mackenzie took Zachy's fly swatter. After a lot of negotiation, I got her to give it back. He had long since moved on, but, quick study that he is, he figured out he won and smugly said, 'MINE!'

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!