Naughty Little Girl

Who me? Yes, Mayah, you.

Mayah is my limit pusher, as I have mentioned many times before. She is beautiful and wonderful and fantastic...and naughty. She has mastered her innocent and sad faces perfectly. I really do feel remorse when I have to punish her. She's good, folks.

Mayah has also finally developed an attachment to her mama. For a long time, Mayah appeared to be indifferent to Will and I. She seemed to love us just as much as she loved everyone else in Ames. While other little girls were pining for their mommies, Mayah was leaping out of my arms to snuggle with the stranger sitting against the wall. Now, she can't handle the tragedies of life if I go to the bathroom without giving her an invitation. It is a clear injustice if I defer the responsibility of getting her some milk to Will. This girl LOVES her Mama.

The other day, the kids and I were getting ready to go somewhere. I bundled myself up first and went outside to start the car. I told Judah and Mayah to get their shoes on, and I would be right back. For some reason, the Suv was parked on the side of the road instead of in our driveway. I got inside and started to pull it backwards into the driveway so I wouldn't have to lug the kids an extra five steps to the road. I looked in my rear view mirror as I was driving backwards into the driveway and noticed the door was open. I slammed the brakes and jumped out of the car. Mayah was inches from my back tire, shoeless, coatless, and screaming because I was leaving her.

It was terrifying. I was so scared and so mad at the same time. All I could think about are the stories I have heard about moms backing over their kids. I love that she wants to be with me now, but this new desire and her tendency toward misbehaving can be dangerous. What am I going to do with this little girl?

Who Knew?

So, I am either an amazing mother or completely clueless. Yep, those are your options...black and white...either or...which will you choose?

Judah is four years and two months old. He has zero interest in anything crafty. He doesn't like to draw, paint, collage, color, or cut. The only thing that can keep him occupied longer than five minutes is play dough. Whatever...I'm not worried about his development or attention span or anything really. I just rarely break out the craft supplies for him anymore because he will play with them for less time than it will take me to get them out.

Judah is, however, very interested in letters and reading. He knows what all of the letters are and what sound each letter makes. He is even reading a little bit (a very little bit). However, he simply refuses to work on writing. I have gotten preschool-like books from Target that we go through, but Judah always skips the writing letters parts. He just doesn't care, and I am okay with that...I mean the kid is only four. He will even rarely sit down at the table during preschool when it is time to work on worksheets. I'm not sure what else I have to tell you to get you to believe me that this kid has no interest in writing or drawing...I will assume I have made my point.

So tonight, Judah found some markers that GranDeb had gotten him for his second birthday. I went and got some construction paper for him to try them out, hustling as I assumed his interest would be held for a short time. He drew a city first and then stated that he was going to write his name. I stood behind him and was SHOCKED by what I witnessed. This boy has never written his name before. He has never had me show him how, nor did he stop to ask which letter was next. He just wrote it. Am I too amazed, or is this normal? Does a kid just decide he wants to write his name the way a kid decides he wants to be potty trained? What other things can this kid do? Maybe next time he says he wants to email someone, I will just step back and see what he can do. Or maybe he can fix supper tomorrow night or change the tire next time we get a flat. Oh the possibilities...

Like a Rolling Stone

Sometimes I wonder at the parenting choices I make. Sometimes I say things that I think are funny. And sometimes Will tells me they aren't.

Are you aching for an example? Judah has really gotten past the "whiny" stage for the most part. Sure he still has his moments of scrunching up his face and pouting, but comparatively, he is quickly reaching big kid status. We occasionally have to remind him to use his big kid voice or take a deep breath. These are the grown-up ways to deal with a whiny kid, right? Well, in addition to those, sometimes I sing a little Rolling Stones to my kids when they get in the "but I want that" state.

No, you can't always get what you want.
You can't always get what you want.
You can't always get what you want.
And if you try sometimes, you might find
you get what you need.

I'm not sure why I get such joy out of singing this to my kids. Judah now sings it to Mayah when she whines...do you think less of me?

Okay, so this morning Judah really didn't want to go outside in the cold to get in the car for Mommy & Me. He just kept saying, "I don't wanna go outside. I don't wanna go! I wanna stay in here where it is warm." (This kid might not look like me, but he and I share the same brain.)
I went out to put Mayah and Liam in their car seats, and when I came back in, Judah was begrudgingly pulling his coat on and singing to himself:

I can't always get what I want.
I can't always get what I want.

It was so hard for me not to laugh. It was so sweet how he turned it around and was coping with his situation.

I am now picturing Judah in school singing this to his friends... or his teacher *gasp*...or me if I want him to do something.
Me: "Judah, I want you to pick up your room.
J: "But, Mama, you can't always get what you want..."

Coffins

Before I begin, let me apologize for the quality of the following photos. The camera in my battery is dead, and I had to use my phone to capture this moment.

Judah has found a new favorite place to enjoy his cartoons. A few years ago, Will's dad made us a large blanket chest. It is fantastic, because I really like to have blankets ready at hand whilst I am watching tv. I would have been a prime candidate to receive a snuggie for Christmas, but alas.

Anyway, we have had this chest in our living room for four years. This week, after much Sesame Street watching, Oscar (Judah) has "moved" into this "trash can". He spends a lot of time in there these days. Who needs relax on a real couch when you can snuggle up in a pile of blankets in a coffin-like box? I think it is pretty cute until Mayah wants in there, too. That is when the blood bath ensues. That girl knows how to get what she wants.

Mayah, Bloody Mayah

Mayah woke up this morning in a puddle of blood. The poor girl evidently gets massive nose bleeds in the middle of the night. Will and I seem to have passed our least desirable traits on to this girl. She gets carsick like me. Sometimes she vomits before we even get to the church, which is barely a ten minute drive. And now she gets Will's nose bleeds. This morning she had blood smeared across her face and caked in her nostrils. Obviously, she could have a lot worse problems. But who wants to wake up in a pool of blood?

I'm not sure my homemaking skills can remove the stains from this butterfly pillow. I guess it gives it character, right? I am just waiting for Judah to ask me why Mayah's butterflies are bleeding.

Worst Hair Scenario

As you may have already noticed, Mayah has some curls. Her hair is adorable right after the bath or if I take the time to wet it down and do some scrunch action with my fingers. It is even kinda nice if I just brush it out, giving it some nice Farrah Fawcett waves.

However, it is atrocious in the morning and after naps.

This is what we woke up to this morning:

How does a mess like this even happen? She has to twirl it in her sleep. I can't think of any other explanation for the nappy weave that is my daughter's hair. It is a nightmare to brush out. I use a ton of detangler, which drips down onto her back and makes her squirm. I can't figure out a way to detangle it without winces of pain. I am open for suggestions (not including the unrealistic suggestion to wash it every morning...please take my life situation into account).

Help her...help me.

Beautiful Mayah

Someone today told me, "Wow. Mayah has really gotten cute."

So are you saying she used to be ugly? What a poorly worded compliment.

Geesh, people.