Filling Daddy's Shoes!

Sometimes, you just want to be a grown-up, so you try and imitate the things we do.

It's pretty funny to watch you piece things together in your head sometimes... like- "Hmm, how can I be just like my Daddy? I know! I'll wear his SHOES!"

"I'll sit on the floor and put them on, no matter how long it takes me... You know what they say! If at first you don't succeed, try, try again..."



It's a little bit of a task to walk when your shoes are many MANY sizes too big. But you, my princess- you are nothing if not determined and headstrong.


So you just stood for a minute, thought about your next move...


Did a little stretch...


And got on with it.

I think that's a lesson you'll be able to pass on to many people in life... When faced with an obstacle, don't give up. Pause, think, reflect, stretch, then plow ahead with reckless abandon :)

What She Says... About TV & More

Pictures of Illy playing in Cey-Cey's garden, 9/12/09

* * * * *

One day after work last week, I was doing the dishes and Will was doing some work on his computer, so Ilyana was playing in the living room with some kind of a cartoon on the TV in there...

She called out to Will and said: "Dada, can you turn on the news?"

He kind of looked at her baffled, and then said, "Okay, honey, bring me the remote and I'll turn the news on."

She carried in the remote to him, he changed it while she watched, and once the "news" (it was Daily Show, so not *news* news, but still...) came on, she said: "Okay, I'm just gonna go watch the news now."

And she did.

My girl is such a character. Although I am glad she's showing some interest in current events. Ha!

* * * * *

A couple nights later, we were all eating dinner in the living room with the TV on... **As an aside: Yes, I know we should really try to eat at the kitchen table (and without the TV) more, but when your kitchen table is small and doubles as a mail station/ computer desk, it makes it hard. I am just happy we manage to all eat together every night.**

Ilyana had been watching her show while I was getting our plates ready, but when we came out to eat, Will grabbed the remote and started looking for something we might all enjoy. Well, Illy wasn't having that. As he flicked through the channels, she goes:

"Dada, I want to watch my show."

"Dada, I want my show on...."

"Dada..."

He finally picked something, and as soon as he clicked "enter" to go to that channel, she shouts:

"DADA! That's not VERY NICE!!"

* * * * *

Last night, she was drying off with her towel after a shower, and I told her to come in her room to get in her diaper and pjs... She did, and after that was done, she looked at me, looked at her towel and said, "Let's have a picnic!"

She proceeded to lay the towel out flat on the ground and said "See, it's a picnic!" And then grabbed a bunch of her kitchen setting toys and had a mini-picnic with us right before bed... She made us some "SCUN" to eat (I have no idea what kind of food that's supposed to be, but I told her it was delicious!) and we had to pour the "tea" into our mouths because we couldn't locate any of her cups... And yet, it was still one of the best picnics I've ever been to :) She makes me smile every day... I love you Bendy Ruggle!

What She Says... The Third :)

She's getting so big! I love this picture... taken 7/8/09 at Fort Constitution Park in New Castle, NH

(1) Illy's been calling wax beans (which I make a lot for our veggie with dinner) WHACK BEANS! It makes me smile every time she says it, and I've taken to calling her my little whack bean when she starts acting crazy...

(2) She is definitely getting into that terrible two phase! I had thought for a while we would somehow avoid it... but no such luck.The past few weeks, her little attitude has been creeping out at random intervals.

She told Will not too long ago, when we were in the car and he was teasing her and said something she didn't like- "Don't talk to me!"

Yesterday was a rough day for her (at home... either her sitter is a big liar or she flips a switch when she goes there, because I always get good reports when we pick her up...). In the morning, she refused to get dressed (turned into a floppy little rag doll wiggle-worm who refused to cooperate with the whole clothing thing), laid on the floor and screamed all morning. Everything we said to her was met with a screech or a whine... Not the best way to start your day! I tried talking to her to see what was wrong and she said "Leave me alone! Don't touch me, Mama!" UGH.

(3) She thinks she is a big girl now, and she tells us. All. The. Time. It breaks my heart when I ask her if she wants me to hold her hand on the way down the stairs, or if she needs help with something, and she says "No, I a big girl." *sigh* Where did my little baby girl go??!

(4) There's a new baby at her daycare, and she absolutely adores him. She sings to him a lot, and her sitter tells me she likes to sit near him, too. She has been telling me lately that she has a baby sister... When I asked her what her sister's name was, at first she told me "Orange"... but the past few times the name has been "Triangle". LOL! I wonder if this *sister* is an orange triangle... Or if she had a name change ;)

(5) I was out shopping last weekend, and I called Will to let him know I was on my way home. Will told Ilyana "Momma's going to be home soon!" and she got all excited, ran downstairs, and peered out the window saying "Mommy! Mommy!"... He realized that she hadn't fully understood what he said and so he told her again- "No, honey... Mommy's not home yet, she's going to be home SOON. She's on her way."

She looked at him with big eyes and a pouty little lip and said... "OH... You lied to me??" I know... AWWW, right?!

(6) We went to Portsmouth this past Saturday to see the play "Grease" in the park. It went late, and she was very tired by the end... Although she was a good sport through the whole thing (and by that I mean that she didn't scream and cry... she did sing VERY loudly during it, but I figured that was fine since we were in an open space) at the end she just kept saying "Momma, I tired. I want to go home and sleep in my bed."... "Mommy, I want to go home."... "Momma, I want to see Dada"... (he didn't go with us.) etc, etc.

On the way out of the park, I was pushing her in her stroller and wearing her glow-necklace (my stepmom had brought some for my brothers and her- smart move!) because she hadn't wanted to wear it. She looked up at me and said "Momma, where's my necklace?" So I took it off and handed it to her and said- "It's right here, honey. Here you go." And she looked at me with her tired little face and said "Momma, I like sharing with you." And then I melted. But not before telling her "Thank you, baby. I like sharing with you, too."

What She Says... The Sequel

*****

Baby girl, you were sick last weekend with the flu.

I came into your room to check on you at around midnight when I was going to bed. All I needed to do was touch your skin to know that something wasn't right- you felt like a little furnace, just kicking heat off your body towards me in waves. I pulled you out of bed and brought you in to our room, so you could sleep next to me and I could keep an eye on you. Of course, this woke you up, and you became a little chatterbox- "Mama, it's dark in here."

Me: "Yes honey, it is dark. That's because it's late and it's night-night time. Let's go to sleep now."

You: "Where's Dada?"

Me: "Right there next to you..."

You: "Is Dada sleeping?"

Me: "He's trying to, babe... Now shhh... Gotta be quiet now. It's bedtime."

*car drives by outside* You: "What was that noise?"

Me: "It was a car honey. Now, shh... Or you'll have to go sleep in your bed."

You: "I wanna sleep in my bed."

Me: "You do?"

You: "No, I wanna sleep in Mommy and Daddy's bed."

Me: "Okay, ni-night, now."

*a minute later*

You: "I wanna sleep in my bed."

Me: "Okay, honey, let's go."

I picked you up, and as we were walking back to your room, you started spewing. Everywhere. On the floor, on me, in my hair, on your clothes... Then you wiped your face, and got it in YOUR hair and all over your face.

When you get sick, you like to think that if you could just go back to whatever the situation was BEFORE you threw up- in this case, laying in bed- that you won't be sick anymore. So when you threw up on me at what was by then around 1 AM, you looked at me with your shaky, burning up body and your pitiful little puke face and said "I wanna go to sleep, Momma."

Me: "I know honey, but we need to take a shower and get these yuckies off us."

You: "NO! I wanna go to sleep!"

It breaks my heart when you feel bad like this, and I know all I can do is try to make you as comfortable as possible and then wait things out. Needless to say, I did get you in the shower and cleaned us both up. Your dad, who had been charged with cleaning the floor-splashed puke, was waiting to hug you when you came out:

Dada: "Oh, honey... You feel yucky, huh?"

You: *giving him the hairy eyeball* "Dada, I not yucky... I sick!"

Side note unrelated to what you said about the experience: The one thing you like about being sick? Eating popsicles for breakfast. :)

*****

This is one of your latest tactics in trying to get what you want:

You: "Mama, I want to go outside."

Me: "No honey, not right now... Momma is making dinner, and we are going to eat soon."

You: "Mama, I want to go OUTSIDE."

Me: "No, honey, not right now."

You: "Don't say no, Mama. Don't say no. I want to go outside."

Me: "I'm sorry honey, but the answer is no right now."

You: Stomping and screeching at the top of your lungs- "DON'T SAY NO!! DON'T SAY NOOOOO!"

... I have to wonder if you somehow telepathically read my recent "Yes" post. :)

*****

Out of the blue- You: "Dada... We don't eat dog poop. We don't eat dog poop."

*****

There is a new baby at your daycare who is only 3 months old. Carol, your sitter, had set him down in his seat to go do something, and told all the kids to leave him alone. Well, a couple of the other kids went over and were bugging him, so she went to correct them and raised her voice.

You looked at her straight in the eye and said: "Carol! Don't talk so loud!"

*****

Wordless Wednesdays #26- A Tomato A Day... ??

You can see other people's entries, or join in the fun, at THIS site!

Wordless Wednesdays #24- Funny Faces

You can find other people's entries, or join in the fun yourself, at THIS LINK.

Poop and Singing

I have been awful with the photos lately. I take some, then I forget to post them. And I never get ones of the things that are REALLY memorable, like last night...

* * * *

I'm pretty sure fate did not want me talking to my Mom last night. Who knows why, but she called me on my cell phone first... I was busy, so I figured I'd call her back. Then my house phone rings. I think, "Oh, it might be important, I better pick up." So I grab the nearest phone, pick it up... and start hearing that ominous beeping that can only mean my phone will die as soon as we start getting into the juicy bits of whatever story we're telling.

Quickly, I say- "Hey, my phone is dying, I'll call you back in a little bit!"

Mom: "Bye!"

So I put the phone on the charger and hang around for a bit until Bendy's tubtime. I take her up with me, start running her tub, and go grab the other handset to call my Mom back.

As soon as she picks up, beeping ensues. "Dammit, I just grabbed a new phone thinking this one MUST be charged, but now this phone is beeping too!"

Mom: "Huh?"

Me: "My phone is dying! I'll-" the phone hangs up. HMPH!

So, I go run and grab my cell phone from downstairs and bring it up, determined we'll finish this conversation sooner or later. I put Bendy in the tub and give her some of her toys to splash around and have fun with. Call my Mom back.

"Hey, sorry, that phone died too. I don't know what the heck is up. None of my phones will stay charged! Anyway, what's up?"

"Driving home from work. I have an event tonight and an event tomorrow night too! It's the nomination party for Andover's Hottest Bachelorette!"

"Oh that sounds fun! Illy... what are you doing? Wait, hang on a second Mom... What IS that? That's not a tub toy... Illy, did you poop?!"

Ilyana: "Nooo..."

Me: *takes a closer look* "Yes you did! Oh my GOD, I gotta go. Ilyana pooped in the tub."

Mom: Laughing hysterically- "She DID?! Okay, talk to you later!" *giggles*

I think she did this like, once before. When she was really little.

Needless to say, I wasn't thrilled with having to drain the tub, scoop out the poop nuggets (there were like 5 of them!), lift the tub mat, clean everything down, rinse it out, and re-fill the tub to finish a bathtime that had barely started... but you don't really get other options with things like this!

I actually sort of felt bad for her, because I think she must have been constipated (it seemed like it for a couple of days before this) and the warm water helped her get it out. But still. Cleaning soggy poops out of a bath and off of toys and bath mats is not my idea of fun. By the time I finally got to talk to my Mom again after all this, I forgot entirely what the conversation had been about. Isn't that just the way?

* * * *

So, after tub time was over, we go back downstairs to have our dinner, watch some TV and relax. I'm laying on the couch a bit later, and Illy goes:

"Momma, what you doing?"

"I'm laying down, honey."

"I wann' lay down TOO!"

"Okay, come on up and snuggle with me for a bit."

So she comes over, hoists herself up onto the couch, and sits on my lap. She looks me RIGHT in the eye, and starts singing to me out of the blue:

"KINKLE, Kinkle, iddle STAR
How I wonder utchoo ARE!
Up above a wetchoo HIGH
Like a diamond in the SKY
Kinkle, kinkle IDDLE star
How I wonder UTCHOO ARE!"


Through the whole entire song, she stared straight at me. Then I melted.

I tell you, having the most beautiful, loving, smartest, most rhythmic and musical little girl in the world? TOTALLY makes up for having to clean soggy poop.

Just saying.

What she says...

(1) Will: "Honey, you are going to be TWO soon! *counts* One, two!"
Ilyana: With her brow furrowed down about as low as it goes- "Whad you talkin' bout, DADA?!"

(2) Me: Going about my morning, packing lunches for the fam...
Ilyana: "What you doin, Mama? You makin the foods this morning?"

(3) Ilyana: Carrying Will's pill box, brings it over to him and says- "Dada, kake (take) meds." (Think she listens to me talking to him, or what?!?! lol...)

(4) Me: Sweeping the kitchen floor.. sweep, sweep, sweep.
Ilyana: "Mama I want turn."
Me: Hand her the broom, she sweeps... Then say "Okay, honey, it's my turn now."
Ilyana- staring at me sweeping with a puzzled look: "Mama, is that a great big brush??"

(5) We're driving to work/ daycare in the morning as per usual... Drive by our old house, and I hear from the back seat:
Ilyana: "Look! Yucky yuck yuck house!"
Yes, honey... That's what we thought too :) That would be why we moved!

lmao. Sometimes she just cracks me up. I can't believe how much she's growing, and just how MANY words she has lately! It seems like every day there are more and more...

This Valentine Made Me Giggle

SO. Who are you, Peggy or Viola?? Tell the truth... :P

Wordless Wednesdays #16- Dada's Hat Is More Comfy...

If you would like, you can visit other Wordless Wednesday participants HERE.

**end wordless wednesday post**

PS: This is my 98th post. 100 is up and coming... Any good suggestions? Anything you'd like to see? I think it's a little late to do the 100 question thing, but feel free to ask me anything you'd like to know now and I will tell all in that post. Course there probably won't be many questions by then, but, eh, whatevs. :)

ROCK That Runway, Ruggle!

Many of you don't know this, but my Mom works in media and as of late has been intensely involved in (and mostly in charge of) the development of a new upscale magazine out of North Andover, Massachusetts called- what else?- The Andovers. It's a great resource for people living in the area to get in the know on what's going on, who's hot (like in the Andover's hottest bachelor contest!), and even get fresh ideas for dinners, decor, and de-stressing. So guess how excited I was when she asked me if the Ruggle could pose for some pics in the magazine this coming spring??

That's right.

SuperexcitedyesofcourseshewouldlovetoandIwouldloveherto! heh.

You heard it here first. You are now watching the making of a mini-model.

So what else could she do but begin to practice? I mean, she changes her clothes all the time anyway... granted it's usually because she spilled some kind of something on herself, or she leaked splody poops on her pants... but still... still...

Okay, really, it's just another great big excuse to show off some new pics of the girl. Humor me please, and leave comments about how darned cute she is and how she will someday be famous and take care of her mummy who loved her and coddled her and made her head big and took way too many pics of her when she was young.

Note: These aren't the pics from the photo shoot for the mag. We haven't done that yet, but I'll be sure to let you know when we do.

****************************

The room is dark. Your chair is uncomfortable. You hear the crunching of secret chocolate wrappers stashed in purses, snuck into the no-food-ever venue by PMS'ing photogs and buyers for name brands. A strobe rises up and a hush falls over the crowd as the famous Bendy Ruggles is revealed in silhouette:

You never thought you would actually get to be thisclose to a real, live, up and coming model, now did you?
It's okay, feel free to gasp. Also, feel free to rearrange your buttcheeks on the seat if it's too hard. God knows Bendy loves her some wiggling. In fact, just the other day, she wiggled her own self right off the edge of her seat. No joke. So don't feel like you need to remain in humble quietude for her benefit. She'd prefer you **get your sillies out** just as you normally would in your own home. Oh, better hush up, here she comes on her first jaunt down that runway!

Uh-oh, better focus that camera! Don't want to miss any more important shots. Too bad you missed that one in her fuzzy jacket and hat. It was cute. Really cute.


Here she comes again, modeling the latest and greatest in puffy-jacket outerwear for the 2009 season! Every girl needs a truly warm coat, wouldn't you agree? According to the toddler digest, green and purple are. seriously. in. this. year.

Whoops, looks like she found someone's stash when they snuck out to change their tampon! Now you know... Even models need chocolate breaks. I think the choco-face goes perfectly well with the multi-colored polka dot outfit.

HEY! You! YES, YOU! No flash photography backstage! Now GIT OUTTA HERE! Before I have to unleash my faithful furry friend on you...

Now comes the nationally acclaimed Bendy Ruggles in her signature Abby Cadabby pantsuit with skirt attached! Of course, one could pair it with nothing LESS than knockoff Uggs. Puh-lease, people. You didn't know this was the new trend?

Back on the runway in a stunning cherry dress with matching shirt and heart-embellished tights, it's BEEEEEEENNNNDDDDYYYY RUUUGGGGLLLEEEESS! Notice that she has realized the beaded rainbow bracelet does NOT match and has tossed it to the side. But the sippy, that matches. Sippies match with everything, right?


Ignore the legs in the background, please. That's just the janitor, come to clean a spill... SOMEone got chocolate all over the runway. And yes, men's winter outerwear is also making an appearance on the toddler fashion circuit this year.

Remember this face, for one day it will grace magazines far and wide. Or at least as wide as North Shore, Mass. Which is essentially the same thing, right?

Thank you for joining us tonight for the first ever Bendy Ruggles fashion show! Please help yourself to the buffet of leftover nuggets and de-crusted PB&J sandwiches on the way out, and don't forget to enter the raffle..........

....for.......
a brand-new.........

POTTY seat!
That's right! You, too, could be the proud owner of a cushioned ducky seat by the end of the night! Don't miss out!

Any media inquiries about the Ruggle must be directed to Mama Ruggle at the Ruggle agency, inc. Thanks!

Wordless Wednesdays #14- Getting Your Kid To Enjoy Hair-Washing

(Pretend these words aren't here if you're a STICKLER for *wordless* Wednesdays...)

Ingredients:

• Shampoo
• Mirror
• Silly hairdo ideas :)
  

Wordless Wednesdays #12- A Horse Named Dada!

Want more?
Check out other Wordless Wednesday participants HERE

Wordless Wednesdays #11- Our Little Graphic Designer

Happy Halloween!

Some cartoons to tickle your funny bone today. The real halloween post- with obligatory pics of the girl in her costume and details on how we fared on her first trick-or-treat, will hopefully be up sometime this weekend :)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE! Don't get sick off that candy, now...

~The Little Girl Secret Friends Handshake~

Yesterday was our day to return to normal life.

Our daycare provider had been on vacation for the previous two weeks, so Illy girl had sort of been all around- the first week was at home with moi, the second week she was with her Dada on Monday (he has a 9-hour a day, 4 days a week schedule... yeah, I'm jealous too!) and then our upstairs neighbor and friend offered to babysit for us for the same rate we pay our sitter normally for Tuesday- Thursday... Thank god because I don't know what we would have done otherwise! Finally, on Friday she was with her Cey-cey and Uncle O-dizzle, who took the day off to spend some quality time with her. Of course, they went shopping... And of course, she came home with some cute suits! (See the pics in the entry from yesterday below- the dress she was wearing in the ones taken 10.18.08 was one of the outfits)

So we were anticipating that maybe she'd have a hard time going back to daycare. She's only been in daycare for about 3-4 months now, and has never before had that much time away and then gone back. We were a little worried that maybe she would forget the routine, be nervous when I dropped her off, be shy around the other kids... Or something else along the lines of screaming-crying-tantrum-toddler-bad-attitude-morningness.

Not so for my AWESOME Bendy Ruggle!

I walked through the door with her on one arm, her bag and lunch on the other... And immediately she glances down and sees her 2-year-old best friend Kaylynn. As soon as they meet eyes, she starts doing THIS lip thing! (Link leads to a vid on YouTube which is an explanation... it's hard to explain in words exactly what it is. Keep in mind in the video it's the parents doing it to the baby, but she was doing this herself)... As soon as Kaylynn sees Illy doing it, she starts doing it too, and Illy wiggle-worms her way down from me and runs over to her little friend. They both stand there doing this lip thing at eachother, and then the other little girl Katelyn joins in... And... Yeah. I wish I had my camera. It was the cutest thing ever! I've never seen such a weird secret handshake... lipshake? before in my life~

Oh, the things they do.

She must have missed her little friends... I'm so glad we've found such a great daycare provider- she feels at home there, which is more than we could have asked for!

Halloween Might Suck This Year...

Thanks to Issa for posting this up today and making me giggle. :)

(Mostly) Wordless Wednesdays #4- Caught in the Act!

What does Ilyana do when she's caught being naughty?? Make a series of cute faces, of course!