Mommy Words » Sophia

How the Tooth Fairy Works in Our House

Brittany — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:25:45 +0000

Sophia is almost 4 and likes to hang with the older crowd. She prefers the cool 5 and 6 year olds to kids her own age and thus is constantly wondering when she will lose her first tooth and meet the amazing tooth fairy. She knows exactly what to look for and daily feels her teeth to see if any are wiggly. This girl is ready to say goodbye to those babies and get some big girl toofers and more importantly, the tooth fairy prize.

She made a little video explaining the process and the aforementioned prize. Show this to your kids if they are wondering how this exciting process works. The best part? Our tooth fairy brings pennies! I just love it – the tooth fairy is on a budget too!

Yes, I know that she will realize a penny does not buy much and at some point will ask for the big money or a Wii or something our tooth fairy cannot afford. I’m thinking of telling her that our tooth fairy has fallen on hard times and see how she takes the news.

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Honey, don’t teach them how you clean. You sort of suck at it.

Brittany — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 02:29:57 +0000

Sophia announced with pride that she had cleaned her play kitchen. I was ecstatic as I have been trying to get her to really clean up for a very long time. I wanted to see this immaculate masterpiece. She stood in front of the doors and said “Look, All Clean Mom!” Her words said one thing but her stance said another.

All Clean Mom!

I asked if she could show me her kitchen and she told me I did not need to see the kitchen, just the floor in front of the doors. I knew something was awry. I asked how she cleaned the kitchen and she informed me with pride that it was “Just the way Daddy showed me”. Houston, we have a problem. Daddy has no idea how to pick up. His mantra is out of sight, out of mind. I give you Exhibit A. No further exhibits are needed.

Daddy Showed Me How!

My husband showed her how to shove all her crap into whatever closet or bucket or niche was nearby and shut the doors. He showed her how to hide the mess, not clean it up. This is why he never knows where his stuff is. I asked her why she did not clean her kitchen the way I do. I was really curious.

A Clean Kitchen

She said cleaning that way is boring and takes too long.

Yeah babe – but my way actually puts things back where they belong so you don’t lose pieces or have things fly out of the closet when you open it. My way is the mommy way and my way is the way we clean up around here. Daddy is not so good at cleaning. He fakes it. This is like telling a lie. You don’t want to tell a lie, do you?

Sophia said “No, but I like fun things and that is not very fun.”

Really? Shocker. Welcome to my world. Wait until you have kids. I am so going to say “I told you so.”

The Kids Milked Me

Brittany — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 21:03:51 +0000

I would never let my husband do this in a million years. I mean absolutely never. I never thought I would let anyone do it, but this morning that all changed. I let my kids milk me.

I was using a hand pump to get a little milk for baby Violet for her morning nursery time and Sophia asked if she could help. I said no and she said I told her she could help to give Violet milk when she started using a bottle. I said you can help with the bottle, not the milking.

Then she asked me if it was gross? Well, I do not want my kids to ever think that anything about breastfeeding is gross. I want them to understand that I make milk for my babies and that I am proud of my commitment to breastfeeding through all of the struggles I have had. I want them to think that it is totally normal for a mommy to milk herself like a cow. And so I let her try. I was muttering inappropriate words in my head. I mean what the hell was I doing? Then Miles cried, saying it was his turn. What the heck…the more the merrier right?

Both Sophia and Miles successfully milked me. They were so proud that they made Violet’s milk. I don’t know if I was proud at the moment as much as relieved it was over. From now on I will pump a little more privately than in the playroom.

Since it was definitely a first (and hopefully a last) we took pictures!

Sophia is Pumped!

Proud Pumper

I truly hope you are laughing and not gagging.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

Brittany — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:36:37 +0000

I was just lucky to get them all in green and sort of cute looking. Getting them all to smile? Impossible. But hey – we are not Irish – so I am pretty impressed that they are even in green.

My Non-Irish Hooligans

They even made a video for you. And Miles talks! Not well but I am so proud that he really tries now. I try too – not to giggle. He is so flippin’ cute!

I can’t help it. Here is my littlest leprechaun. In her very first dress. *Sigh*

Violet in her First Dress

That Mean Girl is Mine!

Brittany — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:13:55 +0000

I got pulled aside at carpool today for the first time. Ms. Gretchen needed to tell me that my darling Sophia is the mean girl in class since Jenna showed up.

Sophie's Mean Face

Jenna is the new girl. Sophia talks about her all the time. She wants Jenna to be her BFF and come to her tea party. It is going to be Sophia, Jenna and Corinne. Turns out that means her friend Cecilia is out. Literally – Sophia told her that the empty seat their table was not for her – she was out. Sophie actually laid herself over the chair. She lost her time in the gym and sat with the teacher. I almost lost my lunch.

WTF? I was instantly transported back to Heathers, back to Molly Ringwald, back to Mean Girls. I was immediately feeling the nausea I can still remember from my youth. I always had a lot of friends, but we moved a lot, and I was always one of the first ones out when the girls got nasty.

And yes, girls do get nasty. From a very young age they form cliques. They learn that skinny is good and long hair is good and nice clothes are good (this is one of the only pictures I have of Sophia in pants). And when they form cliques and see special groups they see power – they know how it feels to lead the masses – and how it feels to be left behind.

Sound dramatic? To a little girl, or a junior high schooler, or a teenager – IT IS LIKE THE END OF THE WORLD. Even if you have good friends and you know who you are – to be the target of the mean girls is a huge fear. From reading the news you all know to be a target of any bully is now a very dangerous game.

Our children are precious and whether they are 3 or 10 or 16 the emotional stakes are high. I firmly believe we need to guide them from an early age to include others and act with kindness to ALL. I think we should ask about their friendships and pay attention to the dynamics. Whatever side our kids are on we need to guide them with love, and discipline, when necessary. I have to believe that as a mother I can make a difference.

My biggest parenting fear beyond my children’s health is to have kids who are mean to others, who are exclusive instead of inclusive. Kids who are selfish and mean. This kind of child would break my heart.

So I talked to Sophia about feelings and about kindness. We did not do any other punishment at home. She was punished with a time out at school. She cried. She told me she knew she was being mean and she wanted to make the rules. Both Sophia and Cecilia have strong personalities. I knew part of this had to do with Sophia being the boss. I told her about how important friends were and how we don’t always get to pick the rules. I told her how we love all of our friends even if they are different from us. I told her we need to always make room for others at our tables.

I hugged her and asked her if she was mean to Cecilia. She said yes, and my heart broke a little. But then, she said she did love her friends, and that she wanted to be a nice girl.

I kissed her and said she would have to be nice or we would not have a real tea party at the house. I’m the mom so I can say that kind of thing and be mommy – not bossy – you know. She is only 3, so she said I was kidding and laughed at me and then she saw I was not kidding. She stopped laughing. she REALLY wants to have a fiary tea party at the house.

For the time being, I think she will be nice. We’ll see what happens as she “blossoms”.

Now, as a grownup, I am going to apply the same rules in my own life. Be a friend to everyone. Let others be the boss. Make room at the table. These simple things never go out of style.

Here’s to acceptance, kindness and friendship.

Can’t Help but Compare

Brittany — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 04:50:14 +0000

Everyone is saying that Violet is a mini Sophia. I am their mom and to be honest I think all my kids look night and day different than each other. Still, I am now curious. I happen to have a pic of both of them in the first week in the same chair. (Ha – happen to have – I have so many pictures of my kids in their first days it is inevitable!)

So, what do you think?

Do you think your kids look like each other or all have their own look?

Baby Sophia 4 Days Old

Baby Violet 3 Days Old

Ghost Bunny and the Missing Brain

Brittany — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 03:50:38 +0000

Call me Miss Flibbertyjibbit but I am too pregnant to write anything really coherent despite the fact that I am completing another fabulous DIY Project. Well, at least I think it is fabulous. It will just be a couple of days late. Who wants to bet I will have to re-post the tutorial after the baby? Now to my point – see – I have lost it….

Ghost Bunny

The good news is that the new game Sophia and Miles play does not involve me at all so I am free to do whatever the hell I do not remember doing in the first place. This game is called Ghost Bunny and I tried googling it but I have no idea where the rules came from. I know it is some combination of a Max & Ruby episode entitled “Ghost Bunny” dealing with camping out and flashlights and both of my kids’ obsession with jumping out of things.

In this game Sophia and Miles shut themselves in her closet with just a tiny flashlight that has barely any light and then they tell secrets or something – I can only hear whispers – until at some point Sophia gives a signal and they open the door and jump out running in circles and yelling “Boo!” Then they both dissolve into hysterical laughter, immediately talk about how great the game is and go back into the closet. They will stay in that closet for 5 minutes or more and they will play this game FOR AN HOUR. I am not allowed to play. Usually I am forced to play games but I am left miraculously on my own for Ghost Bunny Time. All I have to do is look scared when they decide to “scare” me. Usually they do this to me when I am in the shower in the morning. All I have to say is that they are CRAZY – at 38 weeks pregnant and naked trying to wield a razor I am the really scary one.

Note: Please – do not call social services – Sophia and Miles can both open the closet door by themselves and when I am in the shower I do put a little thing on the top so it will not close all the way and chop off their little bunny fingers. They are relatively safe during Ghost Bunny compared to some of the gymnastics games they play.

I do not have any idea what they do in there but here is a quote from the Max & Ruby episode. Valerie is telling a story and says

There’s no escaping Ghost Bunny. His ears are so big he can hear the tiniest sound across town.

Sophia always says no one will get away and she asks me if I can hear them because she says I am not supposed to. And I have big ears. I am VERY self conscious about them. But I cannot hear them. Usually they are screaming. In this they whisper.

Is this not the best game ever? I don’t have to play and they are basically silent. If I knew the actual rules to Ghost Bunny I would totally share them with you. This game is second only to the Quiet Game, which Sophia says “totally stinks”. If I figure out how to get them to play that – you can give some giant mommy prize.

The Missing Brain

If you see my brain, let me know. I think it might have fallen out of my huge ears. I can’t remember anything. I am saying words that do not exist. I am responding to people who have not said anything. I am lost all the time. I do not ever know what time it is. I feel like a raving lunatic. Even Sophia asked “Mommy are you being crazy or just silly or are you saying a joke?” Of course I lied and said I was joking. I do not want my 3 year old thinking that I have lost my mind and with it every ounce of authority. So if you have any advice – I’d love to hear it – but I expect this is just what is known as Baby Crazy. I should just use it as an excuse to act like a fool and bear absoltely no shame or blame.

Big Day for Sophia and Miles

Brittany — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 04:45:11 +0000

We had 2 firsts today! I absolutely love having little kids because there is so much that is absolutely new for them and as a grown-up I get to see the excitement and joy in the simplest of things.

Sophia’s First Movie

Sophia saw her first movie today, The Princess and the Frog. She absolutely loved the movie theater, the seats, the popcorn, the soda and the parts of the movie where there was a princess. She also loved that the movie was in New Orleans, where she has been and absolutely LOVES. She loved the princess Tiana and her “kind of mean” friend Charlotte. She thought they were beautiful.

That goes a LONG way with a 3 year old – sadly – it goes long way with people of most ages. But I digress.

She was not as keen on the frogs and thought that “there should be more girls and more princesses”. Other than Tiana, her adventuring friends in this movie were all male. She did think that said males (a frog, a firefly and a crocodile) were “really pretty funny a little” but she kept saying that they “were taking too long without a princess”. She absolutely thought hat the voodoo man and the voodoo spirits were “just a little too scary since I’m only 3″. That is a true review from the mind of a 3 year old.

Overall I think she had a great time and said she would love to see another movie, but I think I might wait a while considering she did not exactly give this flick 2 thumbs up. Actually, neither did I. It is not my favorite Disney movie by a long shot, although it was cute. It just did not really keep my attention.

Miles’ First Day and Night in a Big Boy Bed

I spent the morning taking apart the crib in Miles’ room and moving furniture around to get a twin mattress in there. We wanted to give him a little time before I am in the hospital to get used to not being confined in a crib. After moving furniture all morning, I did not have the energy to finish his actual bed so he is on just a mattress until I build it. While my darling boy took no nap with the excitement of a big boy “bed” he was totally tuckered out at 7:30 and crashed without any problems. 4 hours later and I have not heard a peep! I am wondering how nap times will go from now on as he already does not nap until almost 3 and is starting to get WAY too close to dinner time. This is what happened right before Sophia totally gave up her nap. I am hoping and praying and wishing and well, I might just turn to some voodoo myself to make sure he naps a little while longer. I NEED it!

I am still so proud of him. He was not scared. He was happy and excited and Sophia was such a great big sister. She was “teaching” him how to sleep in a big boy bed. They are just adorable together when they are not fighting!

First Time I Have Sat Down Today

Ha ha. I am beat! It has been a long day with everything we are trying to accomplish in the next week or so but I am really feeling like we are getting somewhere. We accomplished a LOT this weekend!

Crib is down. Hallelujah I hate cribs so much!
Bed is in and usable and I do not have to pick up Miles to get into it.
Stairs are now carpeted so there is less chance Miles will die or permanently injure himself when he falls or jumps down them.
Infant carseat cover is washed and put back on seat
Co-Sleeper is up and in our room waiting for baby
Swing is assembled
Baby clothes are out of the attic and in drawers and closet
Other baby stuff (sling, nursing cover, toys, blankies etc.) is all out of the attic and in a basket waiting for a home
Nursing and Pumping stuff is out and organized. I am ready to be a cow.
We continued purging and I have ANOTHER backseat full of donations. This feels SO good.
Meal plan for kids while I am in hospital is complete.

So it seems like most of the baby stuff is done. Now I just need to finish the to do list for me and hubby and the kids I already have!

Now I think I deserve a bath and a book so I can try to settle down. It’s 11:48 – the day is almost gone!

Holiday Festival Highlights

Brittany — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:33:12 +0000

Sophia and Miles had their Holiday Festival at pre-school yesterday and it was absolutely adorable and of course, because they are in pre-school, totally silly. None of the kids knows the words to the songs all the way or the dances and the noise level throughout the “performances” is unbelievable. Dear readers, you should not have to be subjected to this. However, this is a mommy blog and you know, my mother and other relatives expect some updates on their grand kids and all that jazz. I promise it won’t be that bad. They are pretty cute.

Sophia’s class sang two songs and really – she rocked. She is extremely dramatic to begin with and was the only one to do ALL of the hand motions to Away in a Manger. We have not talked about Jesus in our interfaith house yet and she still looked like she was totally cool with him as a baby. I was so proud of her.

Then the toddler’s arrived. They were pretty good for about 30 seconds considering their routine was to walk in shaking the heck out of these bell rings to the tune of Feliz Navidad.

Miles is SERIOUS about the Holidays

I really cracked up. They all made it about half way in and looked shell shocked by the noise and all the people. Then some started crying and they all tripped over each other and created mayhem while they frantically searched for their parents. Again, proud mama over here. Miles loves himself some bells on a ring and he just kept shaking that thing across the room until he met with a decision. His class was in a shambles and he was standing alone in the middle of the room. He saw me on the floor trying to take pictures and Sophia on the other side of the room with her class. He also saw a pyramid of juice boxes and a TON of cookies. What was a boy to do? The picture above says it all. He just stood there while Sophia and I both called to him. Finally, she went and got him. What a good girl. He snapped out of it and went to sit with the big kids and wait with them for the treats. He is always waiting with her and not with his class so I think they have sort of adopted him as his mascot. He is quite the flirt with the girls and really an admirable wrestler with anybody so they accept him in the 3’s crowd and he is happy.

Finally, it was time for Sophia’s dance performance.

Post Performance Glow

You should watch this terrible video if you are in my family because it is Sophia and it is her first performance and you are required to. You should watch this video if you are a bloggy friend because it is REALLY funny at the good parts. Let me set this up for you. Miles has been “practicing” with Sophia so he thought he was going on stage. I had to physically hold him during the performance while videotaping it. Did I say videotaping? Not quite. I am too pregnant to remember to charge the actual video camera so this is taken with my tiny little camera. And it would not zoom with one hand. That is why the picture quality and stability suck. The room was so loud that I was laughing most of the time and yes, you can hear me talking. I am not that bad of a mother. Someone else took a better video and I will get it at some point. This will really make you feel like you are there.

Besides that, here are the funny things to watch out for.

HEIGHT: Sophia is 3 as of September and is so hyperactive that I asked if she could be in this ballet and gymnastics thing at school even though she takes her fancy ballet class with the NC Dance Theater. The girl needs constant physical activity. They let her in. The other girls are 4 1/2. They TOWER over her. She is the little one all the way to the right. Everyone was giggling.

ROUTINE: There is only the most basic routine and you can see Ms. Bridget showing the girls what to do. They did not have class last week so it had been two weeks since they really practiced the “routine” in class. It showed. The girls sort of do things together and sort of do their own moves.

BLOOPERS: I feel bad but I laughed. There is a part of the above “routine” where the girls are supposed to run across the stage and do some sort of leap. They all line up and the first girl goes and falls flat on her face. The others stare for a second and it is clear that the girl is okay but then the others decide, I suppose, that it is not worth the risk. NONE OF THEM RUN TO HELP HER. THE SHOW MUST GO ON. They all get in a line with one still on the floor and continue with the routine. I could not believe it. But it was funny.

ENVIRONMENT: The room was crazy and at one point a boy from Sophia’s class walks straight across the stage. I don;t know how they danced at all. It was a circus in there and there was no control over any of the kids by this point.

OVER-EXCITEMENT: Towards the end of the dance Sophia’s class teacher walks in and Sophia starts waving and saying hello to her. She doesn’t ever really get it back together after this. She just keeps waving and saying hello to people, including me at the very end.

Despite all of this, I will probably watch this video (or the better one the other guy took) a million times over the years. It is another first from my fabulous daughter and I am so proud. I laugh and cry when I watch it. Feel free to laugh – the girl who fell is fine.

After the dancing we ate an enormous amount of cookies and brownies and came home to dance some more and take a little nap. Well, Miles and Mommy laid down. Sophia the never stops going girl had a dancing tea party in her room with every single stuffed animal and doll she could find. They all got to watch her dance. I heard it was a great party.

Happy Holidays!

We Got Our Princess On!

Brittany — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:51:48 +0000

Presenting Princess Sophia

Sophia realized she was a princess right out of the womb at a very early age. Since the time she could speak her royalty has been a main topic of conversation. She has had dress up clothes since shortly after her first birthday and yes, she loved them then and is obsessed with them now. Between gifts and donations she now could clothe a small court in fancy dresses, heels and jewels and is taking applications for ladies maids. The only pay is the pleasure of her slightly bossy company. I have already been told that I can wait on her because I am pretty and good at working (Gee, thanks). I tried to explain that I was the Queen and she just laughed and told me I was funny. Other applicants will have to try out for the privilege to serve her. Ross is not good enough. Miles is not pretty enough, but he can be a handsome prince.

As an aside – I think Sophia and my husband are in cahoots to keep me working for her and him playing guitar for her on the couch. I also think if I asked him why he married me he would say something along the lines of pretty, funny (or maybe just pretty funny) and a good worker. Where’s the romance huh?

Besides creating her royal court, she has been concerned about the fact that she has not had a princess party since her birthday in September. We have discussed the annual nature of birthdays and parties but with Hanukkah already here and Christmas just weeks away she has been constantly begging for another princess party – not a holiday party. I am considered quite the cheeky lady in waiting for actually denying the princess’ requests on such a regular basis. According to Princess Sophia “It’s going to take such a long time until I am 4 and I really need a party!” Don’t we all? She is disappointed.

Then, this weekend, I convinced Sophia that I am, in fact, a kick ass mother and wonderful Queen. While walking through Nordstrom for some tights we ran smack dab into a giant Princess Party. With Make-Up. And Crowns. And Crafts. And cookies. And other princesses. She thinks I did it. She thinks it was a big surprise! She screamed “Oh, Thank You Mom!” I made her say thanks to all the nice ladies who threw the party but I took the credit. I myself cannot thank Nordstrom enough. They threw a little girl princess party that rocked!

First, there was a long table with a white tablecloth and on this table was a giant tower of juice boxes and gourmet white cookies with pink and white icing. They were in little clear bags with sparkling ribbons. They were delicious! The girls hosting the party gave some to Miles and Ross too before we went them on their way to Get Our Princess On! At the other end of the table was a glitter picture frame project where we decked out our frame in preparation for our Princess Photo Shoot! We had a blast meeting other little royals and socializing over our apple juice, cookies and glitter!

Glitter Crafts - Perfect!

Then, as if the cookies and crafts were not enough excitement, the little girls got to have their full glitter make-up done in one of the grown-up chairs by a real make-up artist. The pink glitter was included in everything from the lip gloss to the blush to the eyeshadow. I don’t think Sophia has ever had so much fun! Her whole face was sparkling and her smile was ear to ear. When they gave her a sparkling crown and wand her “Oh my goodness they are beautiful!” scream rang through the girls department. I don’t know if I wanted to laugh or cry at her overwhelming enthusiasm. While it was all very funny, Sophia and all the other girls were just beautiful and the moments spent with their moms and dads were priceless.

Following the application of gobs of makeup we were sent on to our Princess Photo Shoot in front of a dazzling Christmas tree on a red velvet chair. Sophia said it was perfect for her! So, fully decked out in her crown and wand we proceeded to the picture station and smiled for our royal portrait.

She Graces Us with a Smile!

All of this partying was completely FREE! Sophia hugged all the Nordstrom girls ( I wanted to give them mushy kisses for giving my daugther so much joy) and then we got another beautifully wrapped bag of cookies, for the baby of course, and went to meet Daddy and Miles. They actually asked me if we would be back for the Tutu and Tiaras party next month. UM….YES! I COULD BE IN LABOR AND WE WOULD NOT MISS IT! Sophia agreed with a hearty “Of Course we will be here! I am a ballerina too!”

So thank you Nordstrom. Usually having fun in your store costs a lot more money. And causes marital distress. This was awesome. We Got Our Princess On and We LOVED it!

I would love to hear of any randonly wonderful things you have discovered with your kids. When you thank God that some marketing genius thought of this activity to get you in the store…or whatever…you get it. Share!