I don't remember what to do!
As usual, Bobbin and I had a busy day today. Tim had to work so we were on our own for most of the day. Having stayed up until 10pm last night, she slept in a little this morning, waiting until 7:30 before calling out to be released from her "jail" (picture 30 1/2" of toddler standing tall in her crib, adamant, shouting, and scraping her binky along the railings as if it were a tin cup).
We had breakfast, got dressed, packed up, and headed out to the South 47 Farm to meet up with l'il Zed and Miss E!.
Bobbin had a grand ol' time watching the other kids play on the hay stack, and eventually joined in herself! She got a kick out of the goats and ducks, and was fascinated by the flocks of geese and crows that were continually passing overhead (the South 47 farm is next to a grass farm, where the geese love to hang out. The crows are, well, crows, and are everywhere but moreso when there is corn involved, of which there is plenty on this farm). We went on the tractor ride, and she sat quietly and observed the scenery (and the aforementioned crows). We went into the pumpkin patch and she touched all the pumpkins and picked out a couple of tiny ones to take home. And then we headed back to our place where Debra and Miss E! joined us for lunch.
Every time Miss E and Bobbin get together, I learn something knew about the Toddler World. It's quite fascinating :-) Today's lessons were
1: If you come over to play and I let you read one of my books, you better not forget it's my book, and you better know that I'll take it back at any time unless you have it in your hands and are actively reading it (and even then you better be holding on tight)
2: If I come over to play and you let me read one of your books, and I'm not actually reading it but have just stacked it in a pile nearby to save for later and you try and take it back, it's still my book. Even though it's yours. And I still want it. Even though I'm not reading it.
3: If it's after lunch and we're both really tired and we both really want to read but we can't agree on how to share the books, and you start to cry, then I'll start to cry too only louder.
By the end of it Debra and I were sitting on the floor of the TV room, each with a bawling toddler in our laps, looking at each other trying very hard not to laugh out loud (because we both knew that would definitely have made it worse ;-)). It was quite the experience. One I'll be getting used to quickly, I suspect. Bobbin gets more and more territorial with her things every day. Which I undrestand is normal and according to experts actually a healthy sign of development. But it's definitely going to make for some...er... interesting playdates until she learns the whole concept of sharing :-).
Of course there will always be some special items that are off limits to anyone else and that she won't have to share. Kitty, her blanket, Elmo, and there are about a handful of books that will elicit sobs and looks of horror if she catches anyone but her, Tim, or I reading them (which I learned last night for the first time!) and that's ok. But "Hop on Pop", which was the book that led to today's round of tears and protests, doesn't fall into the category. I can't remember the last time she even read that one with me! But it's all part of growing up :-)
Anyway - back to earlier today. After the book issue, Miss E! and Debra prepared to leave (a round of naps for everyone please!) and no sooner had they gone back to Bobbin's bedroom to retrieve their things, than Bobbin was asleep on my shoulder. I popped her into bed, thinking she'd be out for her usual couple of hours, but she woke promptly an hour later, raring to go.
we played a while and then I packed us up again and we headed downtown to the mall. I wanted to get Bobbin some additional train tracks for her Thomas train at the Lego store. They're $5 per set, and she likes playing in the store, and on the "boat" climber in the play area of the mall, so off we went.
I don't wear a watch these days; just never remember to put it on. so I didn't realize that it was 6:30 until I got us back to the car after what was apparently a 2 1/2 hour stint in the mall (we walked and played and walked and drank juice and played and walked and checked out the lego store, and some other stores, and walked and played). Poor munchkin! At least 30 minutes past dinner time for her and I had nothing but a sippy cup of milk, pretzels, crackers and cheese and an apple in her snack bag, not thinking we'd be gone past dinner! What kind of mother am I?! So I gave her some milk and pretzels in the car, which seemed to satisfy her for the moment. When it got really quiet I glanced in the rear view mirror and found her snoozing peacefully. Which is how she stayed, even after we got home. She woke momentarily as I was unbuckling her from the carseat but then was out again as soon as I picked her up. So I carried her back to her room and put her in the crib. I managed to get her pants off, and get her into a fresh diaper, but she's still got her t-shirt on that she was wearing, since it buttons at the back.
I made up some mac & cheese and cut up some fruit just in case she wakes up and is hungry. But that was 7pm and it's 8:30 now and I'm thinking she may be down for the night.
So... what to do now?! The house is relatively clean, I'm relatively clean. And so there's nothing really screaming to get done. So what do I do?!
Oddly, the TV no longer holds any interest for me. And running a bath sounds like a lot of work (because first I'd have to fish all the toys out of the tub, and then I'd have to wipe it down, and then I'd have to rinse it and then I'd have to fill it, and I'd have to take care of the dirty clothes pile that has built up next to it so I could get to it.., sigh...) And reading a book would require me to be able to focus. So I sit here and type and ramble on instead. I'll figure out something. If nothing else, I might just call it a night and go to bed :-)
(P.S. Pictures from today's farm outing forthcoming; I didn't take many because after the 2nd time I bonked her in the head with the camera while trying to pick her up, I decided to toss it in the trunk so it wasn't in the way anymore :-)).
Comments
A couple of points:
Of course there's going to be a little toddlin cat fight over "Hop on Pop." They both miss their Aunti-Juan who made the donation to the Library!
And, now I want to eat mac and cheese again.
Posted by eJuana on October 22, 2006 10:59 AM.