Devotion

Iris: I'll never get rid of blankie and poochie! Even when I'm a hundred and ten and working a job...

Cute Saying of the Day

Lydia: (pointing to a penguin in her book) I YIKE dis ting!

Yike?

I think I "yike" you, Miss Lolly!

Iris-isms

Last night while hanging out on the couch before supper...

Iris: Mommy! Can you sit next to me?

Me: I am sitting next to you.

Iris: But I want you to touch my arm!

(I scoot over so we're sitting arm to arm)

Iris: Yeah. (satisfied) Now we're cozy.


Piping up from the backseat while out running errands in the car...

Iris: Mommy, I wish I could get inside my heart and take Jesus out and play and play with him!

Vomit Makes For Great Dinner Conversation

We've been attending the membership workshops that our new church hosts once a month. We've really been enjoying them - not only because of the wealth of valuable information they impart, which is incredible, but also because they offer childcare and feed us supper (it's so nice to not have to scramble for babysitting...or cook!).

Well, last night happened to be a workshop night, and when we got about halfway through the material for the evening, our food arrived, and we stopped and took a supper break. Todd and I got the girls all set up and situated with their food and drinks, and we got ourselves all set up and situated with food and drinks. Everybody's calm - eating, talking, joking, laughing.

All fine and good, right?

In the midst of all the fun, Iris turns to me, points to my salad and says, "Mommy, are you eating Lydia's vomit?"

Poor, poor girl. She was a front row spectator during Lydia's vomiting debacle at the babysitter's. Apparently, the sight of it left a deep impression upon her.

And you know what?

Looking down at my salad, I realized that it did, indeed, resemble Lydia's vomit from that night.

Yum!

Overheard

Iris: Mama! Get Lydia away from here before she spoils my appetite!

The word "appetite" as defined by Webster's Dictionary:

1: any of the instinctive desires necessary to keep up organic life; especially: the desire to eat

The word "appetite" as defined by Iris:
1: a snugly bed on the floor with all her blankets and stuffed animals

Silly girl. I think she may have her definitions a bit confused...

Iris, watching a commercial advertising Halloween products:

Hey Mommy! I think those Halloween things are very grumpy because they need God.

Out of the mouths of babes...

Me: Hey Iris...why don't you put your sister's socks on her feet.

Iris: (indignantly) But I CAN'T put her socks on! I'm NOT a MOM!!

Alrighty then...

OVERHEARD

Daddy! Hey Daddy! Mommy uses that...THAT SPATULA to spank my bottom AND scoop my ice cream!

Um.

What can I say?

It's a multi-tasking utensil.

Iris: (in the bathtub, singing to the tune of "Mary Had a Little Lamb")

Mary had a little boy...his name was Jesus!

Me: (carrying Iris into bed) I love giving you hugs!

Iris: (wrapping her arms tight around my neck) Jesus likes it when you give me hugs, mommy.

A Pet for Iris

It is no secret in my household that I have a distinct loathing for the dogs in our neighborhood. Specifically, the dogs in our neighborhood who have owners that allow them to do their business in my yard. This seriously sends me over the edge (much like a possible mole invasion might. Hee, hee. Only MUCH worse). And I like animals in general, I do. But this makes my heart grow cold, and I know we will never have pets. I joke all the time that Iris will have to live vicariously through our neighbor's animals (her doggies are very nice, in case you're wondering - they are NOT the evil dogs I'm talking about).

Anyhow, the topic comes up often since it IS the summertime and many dogs are out and about with their absentminded (I'm trying to be kind) owners. Todd and I actually had a rather heated discussion about this very thing on Friday as we were getting ready to go to the 4th of July parade. Which is why later in the day as we were driving home I found it funny to be having a conversation about pets with my darling daughter. You know that saying about kids being like sponges? Well, it's true.

Iris: (piping up from the backseat) Mommy, we need a pet.

Me: (laughing, looking at Todd with eyebrows raised) We do, do we? What kind of pet do you think we need?

Iris: (brightly, eyes wide) A goldfish would be a good pet, mommy.

Me: A goldfish? Why do you think a goldfish would make a good pet?

Iris: (helpfully) Goldfishes don't poop and pee, mommy.

Isn't she a sweet and thoughtful lovely to try and accommodate my obsessive compulsiveness in her choice for a pet? She obviously has been paying attention. It almost makes me want to get her one.........almost.

Todd's coffeepot fizzled out this past week, so he and Iris took a little trip to Wal-mart to replace it. As they were meandering their way through the store on the way to small appliances, Todd got a small glimpse of what his life is going to be like with two daughters:

Iris: (sweetly) "Oh, look. Bras for little girls!" (I think she was meaning the teeny little pre-teen bras)

Todd: (in disbelief) Um...yeah!.....they sure are.....let's keep walking!

Iris: (wistfully) I sure wish I was big enough to wear a bra.

I"m pretty sure Todd sprouted a few new gray hairs at the thought of his three-year old daughter being big enough someday to wear a bra. And oh, my dear, dear baby.....I hope it's a long time before we have to think of that because right now I can't bear the thought of you growing up!

I slowly drift back to reality from daydreaming to hear a small voice saying this:


"It's all right. I'm NOT yawning. I'm just practicing my scary face!"


Ummm.......OK.

Iris: (jealously eyeing daddy's face) I can't wait until I can grow a beard!

Daddy: Girls don't grow beards.

Iris: Awwww ma-a-n!

Day Five: Odds and Ends

Lydia's personality has exploded the past few days. Remember how before you left we were joking that you would come back, and she would be totally different? I think you are going to find that to be true. She is squealing, screeching, singing, and babbling all day long. And so opinionated - there's no question now about what she wants and doesn't want. Can I tell you how much I love her? It's like, she was just this baby that hung out and ate and slept and didn't do much of anything for months, and then suddenly seemingly overnight she became this person. I've been loving it! She wriggles and squirms and twists and rolls - her favorite thing to do lately is to push up as far as she can on her arms and then she lets go and rocks like a little airplane on her belly. Be prepared to be amazed by a whole new Lydia when you get home.

This week, Iris has been obsessed with marriage. I'm not sure what sparked this interest - maybe Skunk getting married on Little Bear? I don't know. The other morning, she tells me, "When I get bigger, I'm going to get a beautiful dress and marry my daddy!" Isn't that sweet? I laughed and explained that her daddy is already married - to me. Is she really big enough for us to be having these conversations? As much as I think it's silly and cute, a little bit of panic sets my heart racing. Will I know what to tell her when the REALLY big discussions come around? Sometimes I don't feel equipped for this job.

Iris: (observing me juggling a load of things up the stairs) Mommy, you need octopus arms so you can carry everything.

Wouldn't that be fabulous? Think of the multi-tasking I could do!

Lydia and I were sitting on the driveway a few days ago while Iris bopped around the cul-de-sac with P. At some point, he went and got his new basketball out to show her.

"Mommy! He's got a SPONGEBOB ball! Oh, ma-a-an! A SPONGEBOB ball, Mommy!! We don't LIKE Spongebob!" She shrieks, rolling her eyes in agony.

P. doesn't get what the fuss is all about. He, bless his heart, has no inkling about my Spongebob issues (how I think he is not a cartoon for small children - or ANY children, for that matter, and that this has been much discussed in our household). He just wanted to show Iris his cool new ball. Isn't she great? My teaching apparently has taken root..... I love it!

And of course, Iris' best moment so far this week was this:

She finally worked up the courage, after many failed attempts, to ask C. if she could have a ride in his jeep. I'm so proud of her bravery! She had a total blast. I wish you could have seen how adorable they looked going around the circle together. Truly, the highlight of her day!

Mommy: (teasing and goofing around) I think you should....hmm....pick Lydia's nose!

Iris: (shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly) No thanks.

Mommy: (feigning shocked surprise) You don't want to pick her nose?

Iris: (matter of factly) We-ell.....I'm not a big picker.

Mommy: You're not, huh?

Iris: We-ell....daddy always says, (beginning to sing) "Don't stick your finger up your nose......"

Iris: Mommy, Lydia is just wiggley, wiggley wack!

(referring to Lydia's antics while getting her diaper changed)

Oh, Iris!

This evening........

(.....sounds of Daddy running the saw outside........)

Iris: (sitting at the supper table listening) Is that Daddy's bottom?

This morning........

Iris: Daddy, go get my backyardigan chair!

Daddy: Iris, you're able to get it yourself . I think it's in the garage.

Iris: (in desperation) Noooo, you go get it..I want you to get it! I caaan't get it!

Daddy: (ever so patiently) Iris, I can help you, but how can you ask me nicely without whining?

Iris: (resigned) Daddy, I just can't stop whining.

Funny Girl

Once again, I have a funny Iris moment to share. At least I thought it was funny. See what you think: We decided to eat our lunch outside today after church because finally, after so much rain, the weather was too gorgeous not to. Iris was super excited to get out her Backyardigan patio furniture that's been in storage since Christmas. So while Lydia was snoozing and I was cooking, she and Todd got out all the furniture and cushions and set them up on our patio. Of course, because of the extreme thrill of being outside and setting up her stuff, once it was time for lunch she was too wound up to actually sit down and eat. She kept jumping up from the table to get a toy or blankie or whatever else - anything but eating, totally distracted. I was starting to get mildly irritated (I say mildly because I realize that when you are two it's hard to sit still when the world is so big and much more exciting than boring lunch) so jokingly I said, "Iris, if you don't sit still and eat your lunch I'm going to knock you into next Tuesday!" (thank-you Emily for that phrase - it's so great) Iris, totally oblivious said, "Please mommy! Please knock me into next Tuesday! Please, I wanna go to next Tuesday!" Todd and I just burst out laughing. What can you do? Apparently, I'm not going to be able to use that phrase as any sort of threat since my daughter thinks being knocked into next Tuesday sounds like a fun time.