MOMMA & S IN THE SAME BED (30 MONTHS)

Momma and S have a hard time sleeping together. Daddy would describe it as a World War. S moves around too much for momma and her kicking and pushing usually drives momma crazy. Previously, daddy has been able to convince S to sleep with him instead of momma. But, on the recent trip to Houston to celebrate Thanksgiving, momma, daddy and S slept all in the same bed at Auntie Tien's house. After S finally settled down, momma moved to the twin mattress next to the fold-out, but when S woke up in the middle of the night she cried until momma moved back to the fold-out. Eventually with all the tossing, turning, whining and crying, no one slept.

WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? (30 MONTHS)

S's vocubulary is amazing. She constantly surprise us with words that she knows. But, when she doesn't remember a word, she describes it (rather funnily to us) and then ends with, "what do you call it?" She did this last week with the word "goose bumps." She called it "bumpy goose" and went on to describe it as, "something on your leg, you know, when you get cold. It goes bump bump."

FRIENDS (30 MONTHS)

Yesterday, momma woke up S from her nap to meet up with some friends. When S finally sat up, momma said that they had to hurry to pick up Talia and Aunt Fiona. S's response was "I like Talia. She no like hugs." Momma responded with "Yes, she doesn't like hugs now, but she may like hugs later." This caused S to quip, "like Tess." "Yes, like Tess," momma agreed.

CROCUS (29 MONTHS, 4 WKS)

Momma and S planted crocus in the plant bed in the backyard. S enjoyed digging in the backyard too with her spade. Momma can't wait to see them bloom and share it with daddy and S.

BATH TUB PUPPETS (29 MONTHS, 4 WKS)

In the morning sometimes, S plays in the bathtub while momma showers. This morning, S was sitting in her small tub with her two bath gloves one on each hand: a purple dog and a pink bear. She was pretending and they were splashing under the faucet together.

Listening to the dialogue, momma was amazed by what she was hearing. Apparently one of them was having a hard time sharing that S gently scolded it and tell it that it had to take turn. Then she hugged and kissed each one and told them she loved them. Then, they played happily with each other again. Momma wasn't sure if S was acting out a previous scenario or maybe S is slowing understanding what taking turns and meant.

P.S. Despite the puppet show this morning, S (continuously) struggles with sharing (as any toddler does). When Talia headed to the swing today, S cut her off. She's faster than Talia so she got there first, but Auntie Fiona and momma had to wrestle her away from it. Luckily, S was pretty happy swinging on her belly in the other swings.

SAY WHAT? (29 MONTHS, 4 WKS)

S has some funny sayings.

(1) "I'm having a hard time" - S says this phrase when she wants to be carried or is struggling with something (like sleep). This saying came from when momma use to say to S (when she was grumpy), "Are you having a hard time today?"

(2) "I'm a good helper" - S says this to herself or to momma when she finishes picking up her toys, especially when it's unsolicited help.

(3) "Gunky" or "Yucky" - Momma says no comment is needed.

(4) "You eat cheese and die" - S says when she's eating cheese and momma doesn't want a piece. Momma admits this is her fault that S says this. Momma was trying to explain her dairy allergies.

(5) "You're team member" - S says this when momma and S do something together. Momma would say "we're a great team" after buckling the seat belt together.

FLU SHOT (29 MONTHS, 4 WKS)

Momma and S went to get their flu shots today. (Momma told S that only momma was getting the flu shot, because momma wasn't sure if the clinic would also give S shots for her age. Momma was wrong.) Momma had to hold S's legs and arms when S got her flu shot. She cried out during the shot, but didn't cry after the shot.

When it was momma's turn, S came and held her hand and hugged her leg. S is such a sweet girl! Afterwards, S described how she held momma's hand during the shot and asked if momma was better. Momma said the shot hurt, but it was better because S held her. Then, momma thanked her for holding her.

I STOP CRYING (29 MONTHS, 4 WKS)

S seems to get upset more often. Sometimes, it's a big frustration, like buckling herself into the carseat, which is often followed with pushing momma away. Or, sometimes it's a small frustration, like she wanted the green one, not the red one, that causes some tears. Momma and daddy think it's all part of being 2 1/2 years old. Lucky for momma and daddy, she's not upset long.

Momma and daddy also find it funny that when she's calm down, S says, "I stop crying." Usually, S says it with such amazement, like she never thought she would ever stop crying.

NIGHT MARES (29 MONTHS, 3 WKS)

S has been having bad and more frequent night mares over the last month, especially over the past couple of weeks. She wakes up two or three times, looking for momma. Normally momma can console and put her back to bed but lately, S cries whenever momma tries to put her back into bed or leaves the room. The crying has lasted from an hour to three hours this week.

S often makes statements like the following: "It gets darker and darker and darker then it's night. I don't like the dark." Daddy says it's something that S needs to figure out. Momma is still worried and not sure what to do to make S less frightful.

NEW PARK (29 MONTHS, 3 WKS)

S, her friend Tess, and momma tried out a new park in the neighborhood today. There were so many new things for the two girls: a merry-go-round, see-saw, rocking horses, sand escavator, a (super) high metal slide, and big monkey cage/scape. S and Tess thought the seesaw was so funny. Momma would ask, "Who's going up?" and wait for the girls to respond. Then she would ask, "Who's going down?" The girls just giggled going up and down and tried both set of see-saws.

S, being the dare devil, climbed up the monkey cage, which was probably more than six feet high at the top. She stopped half way and hung down. Momma had to often come and rescue her. Thankfully, S didn't jump down by herself. There was a couple of times where the jump (down) was more than her height. S also climbed up the slide by herself and slid down two or three times. Momma had to climb up to persuade Tess to go down. Although Tess managed to get up, momma wasn't sure if Tess could slide down.

The two girls had a great time! Momma was glad she found this new park near the library. On a sad note, this is probably the last time S and momma will play with Tess. Aunt Lou and Tess are moving to Dallas.

P.S. One of the cute things that S does is come up to momma and say, "Wanna play, mom?" and pull momma to her toy.

PUSH-UP POPSICLE (29 MONTHS, 3 WKS)

Momma tried to bring S to the Children's Museum yesterday but it was closed. On the way of the museum, S asked to see a man on the street corner. He turned out to be an ice cream cart pushman. So, momma bought S a sherbert push-up.

S loved it. As momma and S walked back to the car, the push-up was melting and running down S dress and all over S's hand. That wasn't a problem for S. Momma had to help S a couple of times push-up the sherbert popsicle and wipe her hands.

During momma's final push of the push-up, the last piece fell out of the tube and into the dirt. Momma said sorry to S. When momma put S into the car, S said, "Push-up fell into the dirt. It's okay momma. Things fall into the dirt sometimes." Momma couldn't help but be wonderous of S show of empathy.

SHRINER CIRCUS (29 MONTHS, 3 WKS)

Daddy took S to the circus last Saturday while momma was out visiting. Despite the fact the circus was three hours long (with an intermission), S had a great time. She saw performing tigers, dogs, and elephants. She also road her first pony.

That night, when daddy asked if she liked the circus, she said yes. She also added that she was afraid of clowns. The only things she didn't like were the clowns.

MONSTERS (29 MONTHS, 3 WKS)

S has developed a bigger fear of monsters. Tonight and yesterday night, she didn't want to finish her bath because she was scared. She gathered her plastic animals and climb up on momma tonight (daddy yesterday) still covered in soap. Previously, she has stated that there are monsters in the house and wants all the doors to her room closed.

Neither momma or daddy knows what she is specifically scared of. We hope this is a short phase which will pass. Poor little S!

INK'S LAKE (29 MONTHS, 2 WKS)

Daddy, momma and S went on their 2nd camping trip to Ink's Lake for the weekend. They met Mr. Eric, his daughter Katie, Mr. Wan and his daughter Maria there. On Saturday, the girls rode the dingy that Mr. Eric brought. It was S's first time on a boat; she was excited and kept looking around and putting her hand out to touch the water. Daddy had to make sure he kept a tight grip on her. On Saturday nite, the girls roasted yummy marshmellows.

On Sunday, Mr. Wan made the best pancakes (ever), cooked with bacon fat. After the camp was broken down, Mr. Eric, Katie, Mr. Wan, and Maria headed back to Dallas while daddy, momma, and S headed to Longhorn Cavern. Amazingly S had a great time at the (1 1/2 hr) cavern tour. The funniest moment there was when she said, "Monsters live in cave. Mr. Brad (guide) lives in a cave. Mr. Brad is a monster."

Momma and daddy are pleased that S is turning into a camper. Daddy and momma are talking about more family camping trips next year! Yeah!

P.S. Here is a picture of the 3 girls exploring the "big" hill next to the campsite.

HALLOWEEN (29 MONTHS, 2 WKS)

This year was S's "first" memorable Halloween. (S went trick'o treating last year too). Momma, daddy, and S walked around the neighborhood. At first she was scared to go and was often carried by daddy to the door. She quickly realized that she was getting candy! When asked if she wanted seconds, she put out her hand. Momma and daddy couldn't get her to say "Happy Halloween" or "Trick Or Treat," but she did say thank you after each candy handout. Since Halloween, she's had a piece (or two) of candy every day.

P.S. Halloween has brought on the fear of super heros and masks. Unfortunately, a young boy in an Incredible Hulk muscle suit and mask jumped out in front of her at the Little Gym Fall festival and since then she's been scared of the "monster."

P.S.S. Here's a picture of S and momma before trick-or-treating.