How 'Bout That?

For posterity's sake, I thought I'd capture a few "Calla-isms" we've been enjoying lately. Using complete sentences is no longer remarkable (except when I stop to think about how we just intuit things like sentence structure and verb endings and pronouns), but she's using a few phrases frequently that still make me laugh.

"You OK, Mama?" [Daddy/Chloe/Baby...]
I'm not sure from whence comes this wellspring of concern, but if I look irritated or am concentrating on a task (opening a jar, for example) or bump an elbow, Calla's instantly asking about my well-being. Likewise, any minor bump or trip she experiences will get a quick "I'm OK!" to reassure us of her well-being. I'm OK. She's OK. We're all OK around here.

".... like Daddy!"
This has become a common phrase ending. Calla likes to emulate her father - be it the way he drinks up the cereal milk straight from the bowl, or how he eats goldfish crackers cupped in his hand, or even just mimicking his hand gestures. She once had the temerity to suggest that I should use the bathroom "like Daddy" and that's when I knew things had gone too far.

"'Scuse me, Lily!" "No, thanks!" "Bless you, Chloe!"
Some of our lessons in politeness have been paying off, apparently. She doesn't always remember to say "please" (except when it's something she really wants), but even the "thank yous" are more frequent. She somehow uses the "no thanks" more, but often at strange times. "Calla, do you need a diaper change?" "No, thanks!" "Calla, it's time to get dressed now." "No, thanks!" I guess one can be ornery and polite at the same time.

"How 'bout that?"
This phrase punctuates the end of many sentences. I couldn't figure out where she picked this one up, until I started listening to me. Guilty. Calla uses it - as I do, I guess - to garner enthusiasm for something she really wants to do.

"We have snack now, how 'bout that?"

"We play outside, how 'bout that?"

Or my favorite, said twice now, from out of nowhere...

"I make a baby, how 'bout that?"

Ummm... In 25 years, let's talk. How about THAT?

Still not winning mother of the year...

Quick story from yesterday...

Calla and I were upstairs, trying to make our way downstairs to dinner, but she clearly wasn't as hungry as I was. I could see her starting to dawdle over an open closet in the hallway and gave the door a nudge so she wouldn't be encouraged to start playing hide-n-seek.

Unfortunately, I hadn't realized her fingers were already playing in the hinges. Ouch.

It was a gentle door nudge and it didn't shut all the way, so no major damage (a la Jessica at that age with fingers stuck in the screen door), but I imagine it still hurt. I kissed and hugged and apologized and felt supremely awful. I knew it wasn't too bad when she asked for her ice pack doggie, because that's more for fun than for actual healing.

Then, through her whining and her tears, she sternly told me: "You hurt me, Mama. You go time-out. You go time-out, Mama."

And so she led me to the time-out corner and instructed me to stay. She wasn't satisfied with my just standing there. I actually had to turn around and face the corner (I don't think we've ever made her stand face-in). Eventually, I was let out and we could go have dinner.

I guess that was fair. At least I got to eat.

When the cat's away...

... the girls will play. Joe left this morning on the train to Chicago for work meetings and then future brother-in-law Ben's bachelor party. Joe will head home Saturday morning, fully rested, I'm sure. Solo parenting days used to be stressful for me, but Calla's at an age now where it's just a little easier to handle the daily ups and downs. Besides, some people do this every day, so three and a half days on my own shouldn't be too much of a stretch.

And in fact, a few days of quiet isn't all that bad considering we had so much fun this past weekend. Friends from Chicago, Catrina and Chalise visited for four days and we enjoyed every minute. Calla, especially, loved three-year-old Chalise with her big vocabulary and big girl underwear. She's still talking about the visit.

A few pictures from this past weekend...

Playing around at Giant City State Park, where we went for a hike and lunch.

Chalise and Calla finishing up the hike. Big girl Chalise realized they were heading out to the road and parking lot and insisted on holding hands,
because that's what you do in parking lots, of course.

Our hike was followed up by lunch at the lodge. It turned out to be all-you-can eat fried chicken and sides dinner. Finger-lickin' and spoon-lickin' good, in Calla's book. That's my good eatin' girl.

More pictures later this week of Calla's newly decorated Big Girl Room. Joe did a great job of assembling my ideas and Calla's loving her new space. Until then... we'll be playing our version of Girls Gone Wild...which just might involve pizza and playgrounds and Calla's favorite videos.

Take That, Galileo

This must be how myths are born.

During our first diaper change of the morning, Calla looked out the window. "The moon is gone!"

Yes, the moon goes away in the morning.

"The moon was scared. Scared of the clouds. The clouds make a loud noise and scared the moon."

Really. And what sound do clouds make?

She grimaces. High-pitched squeal: "EEEEEEEEE!"

There you have it. A new view of the universe. And a new way to wake the neighbors, noisy clouds.