Building a Stool

For reasons we will never know our hall bathroom (i.e. "Lydia's Bathroom") the counter is really tall. With a small stool she can reach every other sink in the house BUT her bathroom sink. This is really problematic and was equaling allot of frusteration for a 3 year old wanting to be independant and battles with mom.

I was OVER it but could not find a stool to buy that was sturdy enough for Lydia to be independant with but also tall enough that she could reach the sink.

SO James and Lydia just built their own stool.

Working Hard. Lydia got to use the drill even. 

And the pure delight when she got to brush her teeth all by herself!

For a wanna be independent three year old, this picture is priceless! 

For inquiring minds, Lydia forgets to brush her top teeth so she still needs help but the battles over all are over!!!!!! 

Doors to Independance

Lydia has a new quest in life. Opening doors BY MY SELF!

The locked front door that was installed by a not so handy handy man and involves two hands to unlock. Lydia would like to spend 10+ minutes trying to unlock that door by herself. If I perhaps go ahead and unlock it while she is putting on her shoes so she can have success, well that just equals the need to fall dramatically to the floor and pout.

The screen door wasn't latched right the other morning so she touched the screen door and it opened. Apparently this equaled "mom's fault" and she fell dramatically to the patio crying "I really can open the front door alone". The reasoning of trying to tell the 3 year old that I wasn't even near the front door fell on deaf ears.

But then the best door opening situation as of late: Lydia likes to open the car door from the inside byherself. So I unbuckled her from the front seat and went around the car to offer help, if needed. As I round the corner of the car I see two little feet flip up and do a not so graceful roll on the floor followed by SCREAMING. So I open the car door to help the little girl jammed between the back seat and front seat head first only for the screaming to get even louder "I wanted to open the door". OH MY!!!!!!!!

Independence is good right?

Dear Lydia:

Your dad and I have learned that you learn best through natural consequences. Believe me, we have tried telling you that this cradle is for your babies. But you have not listened and continue to try to sit in the cradle.

And yes, when you got stuck your dad did run to get the camera before helping you out of the cradle (and despite your pained expression you really were just in the cradle for 30 seconds tops!).

After this evening, you have not tried to get in the cradle again. So your parents are right - you learn best through natural consequences ;)

We love you very much sweet girl!

Slide!

This week I was very exasperated with my dear little girl. She had spent the day turning toys upside down, walking on them, throwing them, destroying them, and getting hurt.

I figured that she would eventually learn that when you play with your toys this way, then you get hurt. She was getting this message but was still determined to play with her toys in unsafe ways.

We had played outside for HOURS as I was hoping to get this energy out of her little body. 

She had gotten in time out (really, not supposed to tear books up just for the fun of it!). 

We had done art projects. Taken walks. Re-organized every low cabinet and closet in our house. And still one of us was destroying her toys systematically. 

James brought up a good point. Maybe she has outgrown her toys. I was a bit skeptical but went with it. Lydia got to pick out big girl toys from the closet. Within minutes we were nicer to our toys. (Not nice just nicer!) 

And then our very sweet neighbors offered Lydia their old slide. I think the slide was just what Lydia needed. Hours and hours and hours and hours of play. Up the slide. Down the slide. Around the slide. Scooting down the slide. Standing on the slide. Getting all that energy out of her little body. So I guess she is no longer a baby and is truly a toddler! 

Did I mention we can scoot the slide around the basement???

I think that is a look of victory! 

A towel and we can't scoot the slide (i.e. mom can leave you  and fix lunch!)

"I Need a Professional"

I have been told that when I was getting ready to be baptized (5 years old) that my dad asked if I would like him to baptize me. I am sure in his brain that any daughter would be honored to have her father baptize her.  Apparently, I told my dad "no thank you I want a professional to baptize me". Who can argue with the five year old's logic - the pastor baptized me. Which looking back, I do not know the pastor who baptized me but I do still know my dad. But a five year old's logic - really can't argue with it.

Many years later, my own daughter has the same opinion on life when it comes to her dad doing things for her. "I NEED a professional to do this task". According to Lydia, only mom is capable of putting her in her high chair, giving her food, cleaning her face, giving her a bath, changing her diaper, getting her out of her crib in the morning, comforting her in the middle of the night, administering medicine, and on and on and on and on and on the list goes.

I watch her dad do these tasks and realize that he has so much more mercy than I do.

Mom's version of hair washing: (During this scenario Lydia is giggling, playing and having a wonderful time). I tell Lydia, "close your eyes I am washing your hair". I then figure that I have warned her dump a couple cups of water on her head, lather the shampoo, and rinse. Sometimes she closes her eyes and sometimes she is playing with toys, doesn't close her eyes, and gets shampoo in her eyes (but it is tear free shampoo, I warned her, she will - and has - learned!).

Dad's version of hair washing: (During this scenario Lydia is screaming, trying to get out of the tub, and just being very difficult). James very calmly tries to soothe the child. Gingerly pours water on her hair so not a single drop gets in her eyes. Plays games, sings songs, and tries to explain that it is OK. Lydia continues screaming while her head is massaged with shampoo so that EVERY curl gets equal attention. James once again carefully pours water on her hair once again not getting a drop in her eyes. Lydia continues screaming until either A. mom rescues her or B. she gets a snack.

We joke that she is like a collie puppy that needs to have all "it's people" in one room. Maybe she holds a grudge against her dad because he leaves her every day (granted he does leave her every day to earn money so she can continue to live the life she has become accustomed to but she is far too young to understand that concept!). Maybe she has divided tasks in her brain and only certain parents can do certain tasks (mom = food, bath, and naps while dad = PLAY). And maybe we have over analyzed this entire situation and it means nothing other than our little girl likes to taunt her dad.

One thing is true. I do not understand the brain of a one year old.