Curly Straight

Tried to put TJ down earlier than usual this morning, due to a playdate we have early this afternoon.

Went through the entire routine - read, music, cuddles, told him who loves him. "Goodnight, Mama" he tells me, "thank you." Usually that's a good sign.

48 minutes later...

He is in his crib, yelling "Happy New Year!" over and over, with an "Up. Down" thrown in every now and then for good measure.

How can I resist a little party animal toddler like that? 12 more minutes and then I'm calling it a day.

He's eating a fortune cookie for dessert after his breakfast. He wants more fortunes than just the one.

Today, you should spend some time to search in yourself.

Sage advice for a two-year-old.

Today TJ's little friend said "thank you" and Thomas said "You're Belcome!" back to him. Unprompted by me.

So cute and so sweet.

Whenever I make a phone call and hang up after, like if I have to make a doctor's appointment, TJ looks at me with a look of distress because I didn't let him talk.

He says "I want," which means he wanted to talk to the person on the other end.

If we are talking to Daddy or Ali and Bebe and I hang up before he blows kisses, same thing - massive look of distress that warrants a call back, just for the kiss blowing.

TJ got cut off again with his phone call with Auntie KK before he could say goodnight.

Mama: "TJ, it's ok, do you want to try to call anyone else to say goodnight?"

TJ: "Elmo."

When we put T to sleep, we tell him all the people who love him. It's a nice way to end the day and he knows it's his cue to lay down.

Tonight after "the baby in my belly loves you," he added in the following Cast of Characters:

Piggy Bank
Pooh Bear
Owl
Tigger
Eeyore
Elmo

TJ is crying about two hours after we put him to bed, which is unusual.

We both try to settle him down. I succeed, but thirty minutes later, he's crying again.

John's turn. Daddy asks him, "are you hungry?" - which is not the problem. Turns out he has to pee, he tells John. (!)

He's not even 2 1/2 and he's telling us he has to get up in the night to pee! While he's wearing a nighttime diaper!

We definitely did the right thing by potty training him at 2 years old, because I think even now he is getting too stubborn and it would be difficult. I guess that there is also a huge issue with kids pooing in the potty, we somehow managed to avoid that one, too, through no good parenting of our own. I'm thinking we got lucky.

It will be interesting to see if there is any regression once the Little One gets here.

The little boy is still snoozing. I wonder if he feels ok.

He pulled a weird thing at lunchtime - he wouldn't come and eat - he hid behind the couch and I had to pretend I was reading Elmo stories to myself to get him to come out. When I started reading, he poked his little head out and when he finally came over, I told him he needed to eat his pizza before we read Elmo.

He ate seconds and then I put him down for a nap.

He picked the "When is Spring Going to be Here?" book, which I found very appropriate, considering the snow outside.

Sounds like he may be making some waking up noises now.

I have a disco baby in my belly.

TJ was not like this. I remember him only poking me on one side. He also had the hiccups pretty much constantly. This baby just parties all over the place.

He or she is either dancing or exercising or something that takes up every inch of my belly.

So I'm pregnant, which means I pee. A lot.

But I seriously just contemplated going pee in TJ's potty so I wouldn't have to walk upstairs.

I gave it serious thought for about five seconds before deciding against it.

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long.

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew).

With all that has been happening the past couple of weeks, I haven't had much time to think about Disco Baby, besides the time when there is a party in my uterus.

Today I was thinking, "once February gets here, I'll really be able to think about it and will probably be a little more freaked out." I then looked at the calendar and realized that Friday is February. Yikesamikesa.

Mama:TJ, did you have any dreams last night?

TJ: Yes.

Mama: What did you dream?

TJ: That I was sleeping in my bed with my blankie.

I am not going to save up the red sour patch kids 'til the end from now on.

I am just going to eat the red ones and throw the rest away because really, why not?

Mama: TJ, what do you want for lunch?

TJ: Waffle.

Mama: But you had that for breakfast. How about something else? Sandwich?

TJ: No.

Mama: Pizza?

TJ: I want pizza.

Mama: Do you want pepperoni or just cheese?

TJ: NO, I WANT PIZZA.

We just made chocolate chip cookies, fresh from the oven.

I am introducing TJ to one of the true delights - warm chocolate cookies with a glass of milk.

TJ: I don't want cookie.

Mama: Just try it.

TJ: I don't want cookie.

Mama, walking away with half: OK, I'll take it.

TJ: I want cookie.

Mama: You have some right there. Try it.

TJ takes a bite.

TJ: I like cookie!