We went for a walk after dinner, which turned more into a run around the block, as usual. Alyson and I were behind Madelyn and Tony as they slowly gained more distance ahead of us (three-year-old legs can only go so fast). Me to Alyson: Do you think you can catch up to them? Alyson, not worried but running hard for her: Yeah, I can do it eventually.
Alyson and I have a reoccurring joke while cuddling that we are each other's "snugly toy". Usually, she says that she isn't a snugly toy. For that matter, when I give her lots of kisses, she tells me that she isn't a snack. I was laying on the couch while the girls were playing and waiting for Madelyn's piano teacher to get here. Alyson came up to me. Alyson: Can I have Mommy cuddles? Me, as I lifted her up on me: Sure. Alyson, hugging me: Mommy, you're my favorite snugly toy.
The girls both have analog alarm clocks that can be set to tell them what time they are allowed to get out of bed in the morning. Unfortunately, the two clocks can be set for the same time, but switch to daytime at slightly different times. This morning, Madelyn's clock had changed to daytime, but Alyson's hadn't, and she heard Madelyn up. Through the monitor, I watched Alyson get out of bed, turn her clock off, and leave her room to see Madelyn. Next thing I knew, Alyson was coming into our room crying.
Me: What's wrong? Alyson, through the tears: Madelyn said I couldn't get up yet, but if I turn my clock back on, it will take even longer!
Madelyn mispronounced "asparagus" during dinner, so I started to spell it for her. Alyson started to copy me, but spelled, "A-S-T-M." We aren't sure were she learned about international technical standards.
Alyson wanted to cuddle while we were trying to bake a cake for Easter dessert. I ended up getting the Ergo out so that she could cuddle and I could still bake with Madelyn. During dinner: Me: Tell Daddy what you were in today. Alyson: In Mommy! (Um, no.)
When we were leaving Mom and Dad's this afternoon, I had Alyson's backpack and lunch box in one hand. My car keys were in the other hand that was holding the storm door open for the girls to leave the house, and my purse was on that shoulder. Alyson tried handing me the book she was holding. Me: I don't have any room in my hands for that. You can carry it. Alyson, pointing to the hand with the keys holding the door: You still have room in that hand!
Last night, Alyson spilled her water down her pajama shirt when she was getting a drink after brushing her teeth. We changed her shirt and laid the wet one out to dry. Tonight while getting her pajamas on: Tony: Do you want to wear the shirt you wore last night or the other one since it's dry? Alyson, pointing to the dry shirt: My shirt is dry?!?! Tony: Yeah. Alyson, after putting the shirt on: Mommy, my shirt isn't wet anymore!
Tony was holding Alyson and walked into the messy playroom. Tony: Do you know what I'm going to say to you? Alyson: That you're going to take away our toys..... Tony: No. I was just going to say that it's a mess and you two need to clean up.
As happens frequently at this point in her life, Alyson decided she wasn't going to eat all of her dinner. Alyson: Mommy, maybe I don't want to eat anymore because I have to go potty. Me: Are you going to eat more after you go potty? Alyson: No.
We ended up having dinner tonight at Mama Lucia's, which is right next to a Krispy Kreme. We got to talking about making picking up some donuts for breakfast tomorrow and the girls were excited. Alyson didn't realize that the donuts were coming from another place, not the restaurant we were at. Server: Can I get you anything else? Tony: Just the check, please. Alyson, quiet enough that the server didn't hear: Donuts, please, too!
Tony picked Alyson up from Mom and Dad's today before lunch because they had an appointment this afternoon. When I got home from work: Me: Did you have fun with Daddy? Alyson, pouting a bit: Yeah, but he didn't let me watch anything on my phone!
After Alyson finished her dinner tonight, she wanted a piece of candy for dessert. Alyson: Daddy, can you reach my Halloween basket? Tony, reaching toward the basket across the room from the dining room table: Nope, can't reach. Alyson: If you walk over there you could reach. (Yes, both girls still have Halloween candy.)
While we were waiting for everyone to sit down to dinner, Alyson was practicing "her prayer": The Sign of the Cross. Once everyone was seated, Madelyn started saying the grace as usual. As she finished, Alyson bursted out into uncontrollable alligator tears. Alyson, bawling: But I wanted to say my prayer! Me, trying to calm her down: Say it right now. You can have your turn. Alyson, still bawling: Nooooooo!!!!! Me: Okay, do you want to say it tomorrow? Alyson, still crying but starting to calm down a little: Ooookkkkaaaayyyyy.... Me, trying to distract her: Okay, good. Now, do you want your ravioli like that or do you want me to cut it up? Alyson, suddenly barely sobbing: Cut up!
On the way home, Alyson was acting sleepy. Alyson: Mommy, I don't want my eyes open. Me: Well, then close them. Alyson: Are your eyes open? Me: Yes, I have to keep my eyes open while driving. Alyson: When will I grow up enough to drive? When I get older, I want to be a doctor. I want to be called "Doc" like Doc McStuffins, so I'll be Doc Driver.
Alyson has a little cut on her finger. This morning before I got up, she showed up at the side of the bed to inform me, "This tiny red thing hurts a lot, but I don't want a Bandaid, and I don't care about it." She then walked off.
During ballet today, the class did a new "walk" across the dance floor. Each girl did it with the teacher. Alyson was the first one. As soon as she finished, she sat down, looked at me, smiled, and stage whispered to me, "I did it!"
Madelyn has been having an on and off ear ache for a couple of days, but no fever or anything else. After we got home from meeting Madelyn at the bus stop this afternoon: Me, to Madelyn: How's your ear? Madelyn: It still hurts a little. Alyson: My ear doesn't hurt. Everything is fine with me except I'm exhausted. Me, knowing Alyson was exhausted but not sure that I heard her correctly: You're exhausted? Alyson: No! I'm still thirsty! [drinks more water from the water bottle she was holding]
After Alyson had been asleep for a few hours tonight, Tony and I heard a little "thunk" over the monitor. Alyson was sitting up in bed, so I went up to check on her. Me, walking into Alyson's room and over to her in bed: Are you okay, Alyson? Alyson, reaching out to hug me: Mumble mumble mumble. Me: What was that? Alyson: Mumble mumble mumble. Me: Do you have to go potty? Alyson: Uh uh. Me: Okay, lay back down and go back to sleep. Alyson: Uh huh. Mumble. The girl definitely was not really awake.
As we were getting ready to leave Mom and Dad's this afternoon: Alyson: Do I have to wear my jacket? Me: No, it's warm outside Alyson, relieved: That is what I was hoping for!
When Alyson was gathering the trash this evening, she stood at the top of the stairs and yelled down to me, "Mommy, can you open the trash can's door?" Close, but not quite the right word.
As we left Mom and Dad's today, the neighbor's dog was out in their yard barking at us. Alyson: Why does he look sad and lonely? Me: Because he's alone in his yard and has no one to play with him. Alyson: Maybe if I was a dog I could play with him.
The girls were playing grocery store with all of the different types of play ice cream cones we have: hard plastic, cloth, wood. Alyson licked one of the cloth ice cream cones and then started trying to spit something out of her mouth and said, "Uh, Madelyn, I'm going to go rinse out my tongue and get some water."
Alyson was being cranky this afternoon/evening, so we were cuddling for a few minutes before she started getting ready for bed. She looked closely at my watch. Alyson: When can I have a watch like yours? Me: We can get you one sometime. Alyson: I want the same color. And, when I'm a mommy, can I wear a shirt like that? Me, trying not to laugh at the cuteness: Sure. Alyson: But I can't wear it yet because I'm not a mommy yet. That would be silly.
While getting ready this morning: Alyson, already dressed and running into Madelyn's room: I got dressed before you! Madelyn: It's not a race! Alyson: I know that, but I still did it!
We had chicken pesto turnovers for dinner tonight. Earlier in the afternoon, I had explained to Alyson that they were like individual pies, but weren't sweet and didn't have sugar in them. As we sat down for dinner, Alyson confused everyone (but me) as she blurted out, "And Madelyn, remember it doesn't have any sugar in it!"
When I got to Mom's to pick up Alyson, she threw a fit because she didn't want to stop playing. Me: Okay, Aly, I'm going to go potty so you can play for a little bit longer, but you have to stop when I get out. Alyson, to Mom: We only played for a little bit, Grandma, so let's PLAY!