aunt bobbe

 more pictures from our la trip, this with molly's great aunt bobbe frankenberg.

Nudie Cutie

One of my favorite moments in LA was while we were out with Great Aunt Bobbie. We were sitting in a very fashionable restaurant (the kind that is referenced in movie-star spotting magazines) and Molly looked intently across the patio and started trying to stutter something out (as Zach says, you know it's going to be good when she works herself up to it like that). Finally, she gestures in the direction she's been looking and announces "Nudie Cutie!". We all look and see an unsuspecting woman in a skimpy top.

For the record, Nudie Cutie is what we call Molly when she's running around naked before bedtime.

And now, more pictures from the trip (I've been studying waay too hard to download the new pictures off the camera, so these will have to do for now!):
(Molly on the front walk at Aunt Bobbe's house; Mama & Molly enjoying the rain at a rest stop on the drive home; Molly plays with Legos - it's a boat! in the water!; Molly & Lego "rings"; Molly is really really good at GGpa & GGma's house; trying to steal someone's car at Venice beach; playing in the sand; enjoying Bobbe's sitting room; more fun in the sitting room.)

Visiting with GGPa and GGMa

at the beach with uncle seth

We're in LA and spent the morning with uncle seth out at venice beach.

molly had too much fun and passed out on the way home... :)

1, 2, 3 ...

We seem to be all getting healthier and less tantrum-y around here. Turns out I had/have an ear infection, Molly's brain was scrambling to prepare for turning 2, and Zach was exhausted from my temper tantrums.

In the midst of all that, though, I learned a neat toddler parenting trick that makes me feel so clever, even though I in no way thought of it myself. It's as simple as 1-2-3. Oh wait. Actually it is 1-2-3. I watched her Nana use it for fun things, like "On the count of three let's get up in the chiar. 1...2...3... up!" And I put it all together when I read a parent on BPN describing using it to help her kid. Basically, if I feel strongly that she has to do something, like put on her shoes, and she puts up a big fight I stop and tell her in that great parenting "firm but gentle" voice: "I'll count to 3 and then Mama will put your shoes on. OK. 1.... 2.... 3..... shoes on!"

The first two times I tried it I really had to toughen up and follow through. On go the shoes, even if it means she's pounding her fists and I'm wrestling the shoe on. Then, the third time I used it things went a little more smoothly:

Mama: "Time for your diaper Molly."
Molly: "NO diaper!" (turns away to get another book)
Mama: "If you don't put your diaper on I'll count to three and then Mama will put your diaper on"
Molly looks back at the diaper sheepishly while grabbing a bok.
Mama: "OK. 1.... 2.... 3...."
Molly suddenly turns and puts her but right on the diaper. I hide my surprise and close the tabs.

Now that I've used this method a few times it's dawned upon me (oh, I'm ever so brilliant) that it's actually doing two things for Molly: it gives her a few seconds to understand what is going to happen and allows her to have some control over it. Maybe I'll jinx our good luck by saying this, and maybe she'll stop responding to it in a few more days, but for now I've been really amazed at how much it helps things go smoothly. Two nights in a row she's laid down in bed on the count of three. This afternoon she stopped in the middle of a meltdown at the farmer's market over putting a coat on (the fog had rolled in and the temp was quickly dropping) when I said "on the count of three, Mama's going to put your coat on, 1, 2, 3."

So, I may not be the most clever parent, but I figure things out eventually. I guess what they say is true: kids crave consistent boundaries (and a little information about what the heck is going on, and just a touch of input into what will be done to them).

Little Farm, BIG Truck

we went to the Little Farm today. Molly got a big crack out of having us feed the geese, listening to the rooster crow, petting the sheep's woolly coat, and looking at the biiiiig truck! She also exercised her rights to wear her pajamas all day and put her own hat on, thank you.

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