CootieGirl is fully entrenched in toddler mode. And it’s starting to give me a headache.

An example: She asks for jelly beans. I give her two and she cries because she wanted three. Nevermind the fact that I’m actually allowing her to have jellybeans.

She’s good at playing by herself, but occasionally she’ll do something that requires modest discipline which she hates.

An example: She was playing with her two Boohbahs and the doll playyard. Next thing I know she’s IN the doll playyard – an item which can barely hold the weight of two Boohbahs much less a toddler. I asked her to get out, and she said no. So I picked her up, told her to obey me from now on and NOT climb in. I only used a stern voice and the tears welled up in her eyes as though I had told her the dog died. I comforted her by telling her that I just wanted her to play safely and that she was okay. Seconds later she starts trying to crawl in that thing again. More stern voice, more tears. A never ending cycle.

*sigh* Is it too early to send her to college?

I was just going to ramble on here for a bit to have something posted. Then I thought I’d remind you that I posted a new pic of CootieGirlon her photoblog. She looked so cute in her pig tails yesterday at church. Then I saw that someone had already commented on the new entry. Check it out. Very interesting comment. Not sure what it all means.

We recently put together a new toddler table and chairs for the playroom. It is a Wiggles table that I bought from Target.com. It was only $40, so I wasn’t expecting much. However, upon delivery it was surprisingly sturdy wood and completely easy to put together.

Until I screwed in the table legs and found that they all faced the same direction. As in if you breathed on it it would tip over. CootieDad and I briefly debated on what to do, and out of sheer laziness we grabbed some tools and took apart the table in order to get the legs to go in the right direction. We managed to split the brace on the bottom of the table, but for the most part it’s functional. We need to wood glue it and put in better screws (since our handiwork caused the screws to go all, well, screwy.

CootieGirl loves her table. Every night since we put it together she runs in and plops in her chair, demands one of her ‘rentals sit in the other chair, and proceeds to do puzzles or draw. When Ace and Anthony came over the other night she led Ace in there and had him sit and watch her do a puzzle as well.

Best $40 I’ve spent for the playroom. So far, that is.

“It’s time to go to bed, CootieGirl. Put your head down on your pillow.”
“Nooooo!!!!”
“Yes, sweetie. Now, do you want the singing bunny?”
“Noooo!!!!!!”
“Then do you want Rabbitito?”
“nooooooooo!!!!!”
“Then what do you want?”
“Aunt Jen.”

This was the conversation I had with CootieGirl this weekend while my sister was visiting. CootieGirl was on her bed and didn’t want to lay down at all.

Another one was yesterday after church. We had gone to Wendy’s for some lunch and took it back to the house. We got CootieGirl into her booster chair and started munching on our french fries and slurping our frosties. Jen began asking CootieGirl to name things, including herself and me. She was good with naming me, but when Jen said, “What’s my name?” CootieGirl would just point at her and say “This!” or something like that. After Jen asked What’s my name? several times I leaned over to CootieGirl. I put a hand up to my mouth and whispered “Aunt Jen.”

CootieGirl proceeded to bring her hand up to her mouth and whispered “Aunt Jen!” We had a giggle about that. A few minutes when by and Jen again asked, “What’s my name?” In a flash CootieGirl brought her hand up to her mouth and whispered “Aunt Jen!”

So I haven’t posted lately on our continued efforts to potty-train CootieGirl. And that is because since our first efforts there have been no improvements. Lots of sitting on the potty, but no training. Lots of book-reading, but no actual USE of the potty other than for sitting and reading the latest Baby Einstein rhyming book.

Until this morning. Finally. This morning. She used the potty for the first time in about two weeks. I think I was actually dancing as I left for work…

In the past few days we’ve noticed a new phenomenon in CootieGirl’s behavior. It’s slightly disconcerting since it has never happened before.

On Saturday we had a babysitter over because we had tickets to see Kathy Griffin. As we were leaving CootieGirl burst into tears and screams when I put on my jacket. She followed me to the front door, her arms outstretched as her red face was covered in streaming tears, her mouth open in a silent scream.

On Sunday as we put her in the nursery at church she began crying at the thought of going in there. Usually she runs in and begins playing without even thinking twice. But on Sunday she wanted none of it. On Sunday night when I dropped her off at Miss Marilou’s when I went to our church’s karaoke night she again began crying and holding me tight so I wouldn’t leave.

Yesterday CootieDad said she cried again when he dropped her off at daycare.

She’s fine once we’re gone – everyone reported that within seconds of being “abandoned” she was happily playing and chattering and having a good time. I know this is a typical stage for toddlers to go through, and I know I’m handling it properly (A hug, a kiss, “CootieGirl, I’ll be back soon – I love you – have fun and I’ll see you later,” followed by a prompt removal of myself from the scene) but it’s just weird that we even have to do it. Up until now she’d have no problem with ANY situation that we threw at her. Times, they are a’changin’!

Sorry I haven’t posted around here lately – we’ve been really busy with things and I just haven’t had a chance to make any updates! The girl is taking a nap right now – she now HATES going down for naps. Today she pitched a fit at the idea of even going upstairs much less laying in bed for a couple hours. Of course, once she was actually settled and laying down she was asleep in seconds, but boy was she fired up and ticked at me for making her lie down.

CootieGirl has been having a blast playing in her new toyroom – she has over a dozen puzzles now and loves doing them. Her favorites are the animal puzzle and the shape puzzle, although occasionally go to the Cookie Monster puzzle just to shake things up a bit. She’s a pro with the shapes puzzle – she drops them right in the right spots. With the animals she knows where the pieces go, but it takes her some time to figure out the right direction for them, and sometimes she’ll give up and hand me the piece to put in.

She also continues to love her vacuum (which she brings out every day – she’s such an inspiration to all FlyLadies out there).

CootieDad said she picked out all her own clothes this morning for church: Orange sweater, red turtleneck, magenta socks and pink shoes – as well as jeans to small for her. Oh, and some gold Mardi Gras beads to dress it up a bit. Stylin’ and profilin’!