Multi-tasking

The question busy mothers struggle with all the time (at least, I do) is how to get it all in.  The mothering.  The work.  The laundry.  The exercise.  You get the picture.

I think I do a pretty good job with the mothering and the work.

Today I came up with a solution for the laundry and the exercise.

Step 1: Do a GIGANTIC load of toddler laundry (probably because you haven't done it for at least a month)

Step 2: Realize that you don't want to go outside for a run (too cold) or do a workout video (takes too long).  Realize (BRILLIANTLY) that you could bring the laundry up to toddler's room (2 floors up), a few at a time, and get exercise AND laundry put away AT THE SAME TIME.

Step 3: Go for it: Run those stairs, still wearing pajamas.

Step 4: Halfway through (while SERIOUSLY sweating) change into a running skirt. 

Step 5: (15 minutes later) Bring up the last few shirts and laundry basket.

Step 6: Bask in the glow of just burning approximately 221 calories, grab a Powerade Zero and look at your handiwork.

Try and ignore the fact that vacuuming will be in your future.

That, my friends, is what I call multi-tasking.

Happy Birthday Grandma!!!

We love you, Grandma!  Have a fabulous day!

Toddler Brain

My friend Melissa found this blog post:  approximately-3-minutes-inside-the-head-of-my-2-year-old a few days ago.  I don't know who that blogger is, but he hit the nail on the head when it comes to short-attention-spanned toddlers.

So I decided to use his idea but change it to:

Approximately-3-Minutes-Inside-the Head-of-Callie Joy

Here you go:

Each of these “emotions” lasts about 3 seconds.

1. I wanna play with Daddy’s phone.
2. Heyo-oh?
3. PLAY FROSTY SNOWMAN NOW! Pease.
4. I wanna play with choo choo set.
5. I wanna destroy choo choo set.
6. Is there anyone here with a phone I haven’t played with yet?
7. I WANNA TO PLAY WITH IPAD. Pease Ipad. PEASE!
8. I wanna hug Kona.
9. I wanna ride Kona. Horsey Kona.
10. I AM HUNGRY!
11. CHEDDAR BUNNIES.
12. I HATE VEGETABLES.
13. I want out of my chair.
14. Mickey Mouse. Ipad. PEASE!
15. I wanna go outside. No, I wanna play the keyboard piano really loud.
16. I wanna take my shoes off.
17. I don’t like the socks I’m wearing. TAKE THEM OFF!
18. I wanna play with Mommy's phone.
19. Tooters. No poopies.
20. Juice!
21. Not yellow cup! Pink cup!
22. Yes, perfect, pink cup. I’m gonna turn this upside down and get all wet and sticky.
23. Where’s Mommy?
24. Where’s Kona?
25. Hide and Seek!
26. Daddy hide!
27. Ca-yee count. One-two-free-four!
28. Ok, there’s Daddy. I want to play with his phone.
29. Dora! There's Swiper!
30. I just remembered I need puffs. PUFFS!
31. NO SOCKS NO SOCKS!
32. Wow, I’m starving. I want cheese.
33. Poon. No fork. No poon. Both.
34. WHY ARE YOU PUTTING MY SOCKS ON???
35. Oh look, a new person. I'm going to avoid looking at them at all costs.
36. I’m tired.
37. I’M NOT TIRED!
38. I wanna go for a walk. I mean run. Mommy chase me!
39. NO HAT! NO HAT!
40. Mickey Mouse! Ipad! Super Why! Ipad! Dora! Ipad!
41. Hee hee hee. Tooters.
42. Poopies. No potty. No poopies. Yes.
43. COOKIE!
44. STOP TRYING TO PUT MY SOCKS ON!
45. Hi Kiki. Hi Elvis.
46. Books! Elmo book!
47. I’m tired.
48. No sleepies. Passy sleepies.
49. Where’s that drum and saxophone?
50. I want my passy. BYE BYE PASSY. SEE YA YATER. **crying**
51. Put on my favorite song. No thank you. No thank you. No thank you. Yes that one.
52. Where’s Kona? Where's Kiki and Elvis?
53. I wanna dump out all my little toys Mommy just cleaned up all over the room. Again.
54. Ooopsies!
55. OW! OW! OW! OW!
56. I wanna see Daddy.
57. Sleepies. Passy. God Book.
58. I wanna play with Mommy's necklace.
59. Ipad. Super Why. DORA!
60. I yuv you Mommy.

So there you have it.  Three minutes inside the head of my 2-year-old.

Now, just for fun, here is 48 seconds of my 2-year-old having a jam session with her drum.

Weekend Wrap-Up

This weekend was blissfully not busy.

We basked in the ability to stay at home.  To play.  To watch movies.

At least on Friday night, when we had a Care Bears and popcorn party.

"Stop bugging me, Mommy, I'm trying to watch Care Bears!"

Then came Saturday morning.  We'll call it Crabby morning.  Or Toe-Nail-Clipping-Battle morning.  Or Drama Queen morning.  It was slightly rough on everyone involved.

So we went to get coffee (for me) and a muffin (for the drama queen) and shopped at Target.  Then I solicited some help carrying in the groceries.

"Look Mommy!  I help!"

After a 3 hour nap (THANK GOODNESS) we headed to Southdale to ride on the choo-choo.

Holding tight to her choo choo ticket

This morning was MUCH better.  We played with all of the animals.

So many friends!

And then we had brunch.

It's Daddy!

And another three hour nap (THANK GOODNESS).  Then we went to visit Auntie Cat at her new house.

Housewarming gift...toys for Callie

Playing Cat's 'tar

Finally, we headed to the evening church service where Callie proceeded to talk really loudly during all the quiet parts, including things like "Church Done!"  And "Boom!  Flute!"

This two-year-old stuff is kind of crazy.  Her ability to understand what we say and communicate her needs is awesome.  She is so smart and learning new things every day.  I love it. 

And yet, her ability (desire?) to actually listen to what we say and follow directions at times is...less than awesome.  So we're working on it. 

Melt My Heart

It has been a rough transition going back to work.  For me because I have to get used to spending full days away again.  For Cal because we're back to the wake-up-early-rushed-crazy-frantic morning routine.  This morning she threw gigantic fits about wanting to eat her cereola and then NOT wanting to eat her cereola.  And then wanting to eat it.  And then not wanting to eat it.  In and out of the high chair.  Lots of screaming.

So much drama...that apparently she saves for her Mama, because (thankfully) she is lovely and adorable with Gma, Gpa and Boom. :)

But despite the 2-year-old behavior, I've missed her these past few days.  Like crazy.

So while Chris is out tonight, I decided to stay in and do a "movie night" with my little toddler.

And just now- mid movie and totally unsolicited- she leaned over, hugged me, and said "Love you Mommy."

As you can imagine, my heart just melted.

I'm glad it is the weekend.

Bye Bye Winter Break

Sigh.

Two lovely weeks are coming to an end.  It has been fabulous, as you probably guessed from previous blog posts. 

So to wrap it up, here is what we've been up to the past few days:

Cuddling with Alison and Sydney

Pre-Haircut

Post-Haircut

Hanging out with Ciri and Gianni

Dinner with Bops

So I go back to work tomorrow and I'm going to miss my little Punkin Head like crazy.  It is going to be a bummer to have to wake up to an alarm clock instead of toddler noises.   

Happy New Year!!

We rang in the new year with a some playing

some playing it cool an then some hugging

some dancing


some great friends

and some staying up really late.

And then a certain toddler woke up this morning, late for her but VERY early for us, excited to ring in the new year.

Thanks, Daddy, for getting up with her early and napping on the couch later.

Bring on 2012!!!