Busytown

Sophie loves to read; she knows all of the titles of her books and has many of them memorized. Often she will "read" them to us.  Over the past 6 months, we have been collecting almost all of Richard Scarry's books.  She loves "Busytown" and the recurring characters---Huckle, Sally, Lowly Worm, Miss Honey, and "those naughty pigs." She requests to read "a Richard Scarry book" and has learned such incredible vocabulary from his stories.  This past month, her obsession with Busytown has increased!  Now, most of her imaginative, make-believe play includes the characters from this series. She plays the role of Huckle, I'm Sally, and Daddy is always Mr. Fix-It Fox (surprise, surprise).  The scenarios constantly change, and her commentary that accompanies these games is hysterical and original!  It's amazing to listen to her role play, create "mysteries" for Huckle to solve, comfort sad/sick animals or dolls, sing made-up songs, and imagine silly situations.  Her independent, creative play has developed a lot this month, and we love that for so many reasons :)

S enjoyed reading Owen one of her Richard Scarry books

After returning home from Sunday School today, Sophie narrated a conversation that she had with her teacher: "Mommy, my teacher said, 'Hi, Sophie' and I told her, "I not Sophie.  I'm Huckle.  But she didn't call my name Huckle.  She keep calling me Sophie."

Pretending to be a character from a book series is such an improvement from the past couple months when Sophie would pretend to be a cat...in public....

Hysterical outtake of storytime--Owen has pretend doctor scissors to cut her hair..look at Sophie's expression!!

Other Sophie-isms that I've been documenting amidst our Busytown extravaganzas:

"Mommy, where are you?  Eli-babeth (Elizabeth).  Eli-babeth, come in my room." (calling us by our first names)

"Fargo (her stuffed animal horse) is ugly." (his hair was messed up)

"Oh no, Don't Go is gone." (when her snowman finally melted)

This next anecdote might not be blog-appropriate, but because I annually publish this blog as a book, I need to document these stories.  Sophie inappropriately and regularly talks about "boobies."  She has done and said some very embarrassing things around friends and around strangers...I'm choosing to only write about one particular instance that was in the privacy of our own home.  S and I were working on letters and numbers.  We were talking about the number "2."  I listed many items that came in pairs--eyes, hands, feet, ears..so I sort of set myself up when I asked her to then name other items that came in pairs. You see where this is going....She was very proud of her quick response.

Doug travelled to Germany several months ago and brought Sophie some souvenirs from his convention.  As we played with them this week, I reminded her that they were from Germany.  Sophie grabbed my hands and said "Mommy, look in my eyes (what we say to her during moments of discipline).  Mommy, these are German.  Say German, not Germany."  This was funny because she often adds a -y or an -ie sound to words--ex. bowl-y, sweater-y--and we then correct her.  So, she thought I was making a language error.

"It's baseball time!" (followed by throwing her food off the dinner table)

"I'm a monster and my name is Mommy."

I framed an adorable card that reads "I love you BIG TIME" and we've been using this phrase in our home.  I told Sophie that I loved her big time and that I loved her this big (extending my arms as wide as I could).  S responded, "I love you this little."  She had her fingers in a narrow, pinching position to show how little she loved me.  And in case I didn't understand, she added "I love you tiny."

And I know I've mentioned the following two phrases before in previous blog posts, but I must mention them again.  They are my favorite.

"I have a tear."  (post-tantrum when she still has 1-2 tears on her cheeks)
"My house is tipping." (when she is dizzy after spinning around and being silly)

Enough about Huckle/Sophie....B2 is apparently thriving in my belly.  At 6 months pregnant, I'm hoping he makes an early (but healthy) entrance to this world!  He is big and bold and strong.  It is quite a different experience with a second child.  At this point, during my first pregnancy, the nursery was all set up, I had diapers/wipes ready to go...I hate to admit it, but I'm pretty sure I already had my hospital bag packed!!  This time around, the future nursery is still our master bedroom and our future master is still in construction.  I've purchased close to nothing.  Don't get me wrong--although I feel confident and experienced that D and I know what we're doing, I'm still nagging Doug!

But, it's Busytown around here--there are Valentines to be decorated, banana bread to bake, quilt forts to be made, potty dances to be learned, baby dolls that need Sophie to sing them a lullaby...so the present is taking precedence over the future--and B2 will quickly get used to Busytown with all its toddler-centered excitement and drama.  And we'll be ready for him eventually :)

Don't Go

Doug and I love snow, so this snow week has been amazing for our little family!  I've had snow days all week long which means that we've had lazy mornings of pancakes, hot chocolate, and sticker crafts.  We've lived in our snow hats and slippers.  Our entry way is littered with wet coats, snow pants, mittens, and boots.  The kitchen table is covered in unfinished art projects, Dr. Sophie vet supplies, and half-eaten gingersnap cookies (ok, who am I kidding? I'm eating the whole cookies like I'm storing up for winter....).  We've been dumped with snow and today, it's covered with ice.  We've enjoyed a fun dinner with our neighbors and then a morning walk to the Pancake Corral down the street.  We have only ventured out a couple times (with Doug behind the wheel) to buy a sled, to get our Starbucks fix, and to buy some construction materials at Home Depot.  This has been the most unexpected and exciting surprise to be shut in our house looking at our snow covered yard and trees.

After the major snowstorm hit, we spent the entire morning out in the snow.  Sophie loved to go sledding, squealing and commanding Doug to go faster.  She raced down the little hill in our backyard and would fly between my legs at the bottom.  She was so bundled up that her arms couldn't really relax by her sides, but she still threw snow, ate snow, and jumped in the snow.  She also helped Doug build a little snowman whom SHE named "Don't Go."  We were puzzled at first by this name until she explained that it was like "Frosty the Snowman when that little girl doesn't want him to go away."  Frosty melts away and the girl says "Don't Go."  Her name choice is hysterical.  Don't Go is still out in the backyard, covered in ice.  Periodically, Sophie peeks out her window, saying "I check on Don't Go.  He still have a hat on. He have a carrot nose", etc, etc.  I'm not sure how we'll handle it when Don't Go really does go....

Sophie loves Rice Krispies cereal for breakfast.  She thinks it's fantastic that the cereal says "Snap, Crackle, Pop."  This morning, after we ate some cereal, we headed outside for an adventure, despite the freezing rain.  Sophie commented how the sound of that freezing rain hitting the ground and trees sounded like "Snap, Crackle, Pop."  Pretty poetic if you ask me...

(Don't Go covered in snow/ice after 2 days) 

On another and somewhat related note:  Since we've been cooped up in the house with such exciting and extraordinary circumstances, Sophie has been exhibiting some "exciting and extraordinary" behavior at times.  I've noticed that it's hard for her to adjust to normal life after she has the high of a really fun time--(ex. the joy and overstimulation of Christmas).  So, to balance out the laughter and excitement of fun in the snow, we've had some fun in time outs.  I won't go into detail about all of naughty behavior because I'd like to maintain the illusion (on this blog) that she is just the greatest child 100% of the time... but I will share some funny stories about her toddler attitude.  Sophie was making a silly face and singing a funny song, so I started to laugh. She yelled "Don't laugh, mommy."  The word "no" has been said to just about everything.  I asked her if she wanted a chocolate chip cookie and some hot cocoa, and she scowled at me and said "NO, NO, NO!!!!"  She had a dirty diaper, and I said that it was time for a diaper change.  She replied, "No diaper change.  I like sitting in poop." I could go on....but Doug and I have used the word "naughty" to describe her behavior during several stern discussions.  Today in the car, as we were navigating the icy roads to Home Depot, Sophie started telling a story about a naughty mommy and a naughty daddy and a naughty cat who were playing the naughty snow...She is such a rascal!!

And, as I was writing this post, I got another call from my school district that school is already cancelled for tomorrow!

"I have to be older...."

We have had the most glorious Sunday--started with church and a trip to Starbucks, included lots of arts/crafts time and singing and dancing parties, peaked with a major snowstorm that allowed us to play outside, and culminated in some of Sophie's silliest antics ever!  When you add in the fact that our little baby boy spends most of his days kicking me, the day gets even more glorious!

I've been jotting down lists--on random sticky notes, on my phone, by my bed, in my day planner--of all the hysterical commentary out of Sophie's mouth.  I've only documented a small portion of her conversations, but seriously, this child of ours brings so much joy.

"Mommy, I put something on your back."
"Sophie, what is it?!!"
"Mommy, it's your background."

Anytime there is a problem--from a broken toy to a lightbulb that needs changing to a plate that I can't reach to a missing sock--Sophie says "Maybe, you need Daddy to fix it."  Daddy is the hero who fixes everything around here, apparently.  Doug was completing some construction projects and Sophie said, "Daddy a doctor fixing something downstairs."

The idea of being a doctor has expanded to play time, too. Dr. Sophie has her own clinic, license to prescribe medicine, tools of the trade, and an eager and ever-growing list of patients seeking appointments.  The kiwi "bonked his head."  Chuckie the dog "is sick because he have Louie fur in his mouth." Many animals appeared to lose their eyes by hitting them on the wall.  Exams included measurements, stickers, checklists, use of binoculars and a flashlight, and sponge baths.

Dr. Sophie's clinic had a very busy and chaotic waiting room.  

"Fargo" was measured to be "in 5 days long."

Dr. Sophie was extremely thorough in her check ups. Nothing went unseen. 

For several weeks, we have been attempting to clarify the difference between an "elevator" and an "alligator."  Riding up and down an alligator has an entirely different meaning...finally, today, Sophie was fed up with us trying to get her to pronounce the correct word.  She turned to us and said, "I can't say it."  It shut us up.

(Looking out the window at our weather): "Somebody threw water on the sunshine. Maybe Quinn (her friend) did it."

(Making pretend butter, pickle, and whipped cream sandwich in her kitchen): "You need a double batch of this, mommy?"

"Mommy, you're an elephant.  I going to sit on your trunk.  I take your trunk to the store and then I put it in a book."

"Daddy, you a fox.  Mommy, you a wolf.  Fight."

(At the dinner table):  "Mommy, I hate your face."  This comment was met with a discussion about the bad word "hate" and how we should be nice to everybody.  D and I did smirk at eachother because she kind of rolled her eyes at me and I had visions of her at 15 telling me that she hates my face...

Sophie has all her ducks in a row...apparently bath toys are not to actually go in the bath.  Instead they watch.

We did our first science experiment this week with dancing raisins!

"I made a new friend at Sunday School.  She not have a name."

As I mentioned in a previous post, concepts of time, size, cost, etc. get muddled.  Daddy's ears are "4 days long."  Pretend food costs "in 2 minutes."  Negotiations on nap time include pleas to nap "30 minutes ago."

"I eating my toes because they're getting cuter."

Sophie was invited to join her friend at Buddy Day for his little soccer lessons.  Doug took her so that I could run some errands.  He reported that she preferred to pick up the ball and run.  Isn't it so much more efficient to carry the ball than try to kick it and dribble it?!  Such a girl.

(During a dance party to some oldies): "I hurt my toe on those music notes."

Sophie cannot let go of Christmas songs.  She requests her four favorites during her nap/nighttime routine: Silent Night, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Jingle Bells, Frosty the Snowman.  She sings these throughout the day, at the store, to her friends.  Lately, she has found it hysterical to change the words and add silly nouns in the songs (ex. "Jingle cars, Jingle cars, Jingle on the road.").  Then, she started making up her own songs to the tune of the Christmas songs.  Verses included phrases such as "Buttons, buttons, get on my shirt!" and "Foal is in a book and foal is in my shades."  Another favorite song is The Itsy Bitsy Spider.  At the craft store, she was belting out this song; some other shoppers were amused, others looked annoyed, but Sophie was confident and adorable.  As soon as we were in the checkout line, Sophie changed the lines to say "The Itsy Bitsy Spider crawled up Mommy's belly."  It was cute, until she interrupted her song to tell the checker that her mommy has a really, really big belly now.

I was doing a simple art project for the baby's nursery.  I asked Sophie if she thought her baby brother would like these frames in his room.  Sophie said, "Um, maybe not.  I don't think so." Then she patted me on the back, said "It's ok, mommy. That's just an accident."

And finally, I must address the title of this blog: "I have to be older."  This is Sophie's new sentence to address anything that she doesn't want to do or can't do.  Potty training. Reaching the pedals on her trike.  Throwing away garbage.  Eating a vegetable.  For example, I said "Sophie, can you please pick up your blocks and put them back in the box?"  Sophie replied, "No, I have to be older first."  "Sophie,  do you want to wear this fancy barrette in your hair?" "No, I have to be older."

Speaking of older...I'm now 22 weeks pregnant.  Overall, I feel great.  Baby boy punches, kicks, and makes certain that I know when he is not comfortable.  I just can't wait to meet him!

PS.  My excitement for the birth of our baby boy is matched by the excitement of another new arrival to our family.  My brother and sister-in-law are due with their first baby in August.  I'm thrilled!  (see their blog for the cute announcement!)

Surprise, Surprise....

B2 is a boy!

Last month, we were told that there was a 95% chance that B2 was a girl.  Although I didn't post anything publicly on our blog or on Facebook (and although Doug advised me against broadcasting the news until we were 100% sure), I told everybody that we were having another girl. I created a wonderful Pinterest Board with all of my design inspirations for this little girl.  I found 2 beautiful pink quilts that were family heirlooms from 1914! Sophie knew she was getting a baby sister, and we even had her "trying out" our top name choice.  I organized and sorted through all of Sophie's old clothes, and plans were set for Doug to live in a household of women...

Look at all these girl clothes! 

But everything changed today at my ultrasound when the technician laughed at the thought of this baby being a girl.  She pointed out the "big turtle" between his legs and she repeated multiple times that yes, this baby is a boy. I broke into nervous laughter and could barely contain myself. Throughout the 30-minute appointment, I kept giggling and asking her to show me the proof again that this was a boy!

I raced home with the photographic evidence in hand, eager to share the news with Doug.  He was sitting on the kitchen floor playing with Sophie.  We had joked earlier in the day about the baby's gender.  I think our last comment to eachother on the phone was me saying "haha, what are the chances that they'll tell us it's a boy after we've prepped everything for a girl?"  So, when I returned home and found them playing in the kitchen, I kneeled down to Sophie to show her the photos of the baby.  When I got to the "turtle" ultrasound picture, I said, "Sophie, here is a picture of your baby brother."  Doug lost all expression in his face and just stared at me.  Then he said a jumble of words that included "What? Are you kidding me?  Are you serious?  It's a boy?"  And then he may have had some tears--what we call "happy tears" in this house.

This is the "turtle" shot that clearly confirms gender!!

I am still in shock!  But, we are so excited to welcome this baby boy in mid-May.  He is healthy and active, weighing 14 ounces.  His heartbeat is strong and he has the cutest profile.


Now, I need to completely redo my vision board for the nursery, figure out what I'm going to do with 5 tubs filled with little girl clothes, change my whole perspective of my family of 4 (I thought we'd have 2 teenage girls living in this house in 13 years!), and prepare for a whole different kind of baby/toddler!  Game on, little boy.


As Doug said, we have an awesome story for his 21st birthday.....his "turtle" was way too small and they thought he was a girl....