Tantrum Gold

Hailey is a champion tantrum thrower - gold medalist in the 2007 Daycare Olympics for the floor exercise. Her signature move is to throw herself on the floor, arching her back, kicking her arms and legs and, (more often than not) hitting her head. Resolving the tantrum usually comes in the form of a distraction (a book is usually the best diversion). However, daycare tantrums can often have funnier endings - here are a couple of classics from this winter:

Apparently, after trying to take a toy away from another daycare kid, Hailey was removed to the other side of the room. Keeping that child from something she has her mind set to will instantly create 'the perfect storm' (like a hurricane but with more whining). As she launched into her tantrum, Jamie (our daycare provider) decided not to honor Hailey's effort and did what all parents dream of, turned her back to the princess of pout. Not to be ignored, Hailey picked herself up, walked around to the front of Jamie and threw herself down to continue the tantrum - "Excuse me...did you not see that I am angry? I will NOT be ignored"

We have also really been struggling with the 'No Hitting' rule. When she is mad, she will just reach right out and smack your face. Correct me if I'm wrong, but we named her Hailey Anne, not Zsa Zsa Gabor! We grab her hand and tell her "No Hitting", but how much that registers with a 16 month old is debatable because... she still does it. She is a serial hitter/hugger with the other kids. I've seen her hit them, then give them a hug -almost as if she were sorry (but we know better) .On the flip side, I have seen her hug an already crying child, then hit them - almost as if to say, "Aww...it's going to be OK, now shut up."
My daughter, the lover and the fighter (with a two second time span).

So, with Hailey's temper...it is inevitable that she hits Jamie just as much, if not more than Mom and Dad. A few days ago, she hit Jamie and got her hand grabbed with a stern "No". That word didn't sit well with my Bug-A-Boo. She immediately went and grabbed her jacket and hat and took it to Jamie because she wanted to go home. Oh Hailey, if that is the way life worked, no one would ever put in a full day's worth of work!

So our drama gymnast wins the tantrum gold at daycare. Hailey fought it out with her other competitors, but still was able to hug them. She held good form, worked with explosive energy, demanded the crowd's attention and really stuck her dismounts. How could a mother not be proud?

Christmas Come and Gone

I can't believe the holidays have come and gone without a single post - apologies!

Well, Thanksgiving was great and Christmas was even better! I actually got all my shopping done early, so I could really sit back and enjoy the holiday.

After Thanksgiving, during a day of watching Hailey walk into things and roll around on the floor, Hubby and I decided that it was time to throw in the towel, face the music and come to terms with reality. We made the decision that no true advocate of the winter holidays wants to make....we bought a fake tree. I made peace with the decision after envisioning picking pine needles out of my daughter's hair. Nathan was agreeable immediately after realizing he wouldn't have to pay $60 to pick pine needles out of his daughter's hair. We ventured to the local home store and purchased a reasonable size tree which, on the ride home, grew three sizes to completely envelope our living room. It was beautiful - that much I can say...at least the top two-thirds was beautiful. Knowing that I didn't want to buy all new ornaments, we only decorated the parts which were out of little arms' (and dog tail's) reach. Still, she kept wanting to put the tree lights in her mouth.

Christmas was fun. Spending time with the In-Laws was nice, as was watching my Brother-In-Law play with his niece. We got a chance to make gingerbread cookies with the new Sister-In-Law - that was a riot.

Christmas Day, Hailey ripped open her gifts (because, at 16 months, ripping things without getting scolded is 'the best gift ever!'). She got a lot of great toys and clothing but the pinnacle this year was FRIDGE FARM! This is a toy at daycare that my daughter covets...she LOVES Fridge Farm. You place animal halves in the barn door and it tells you if you made a match or not (... "A sheep-cow...that's silly!"). I love this toy...all the pieces are magnetic so they stick to the fridge - not that she actually plays with it on the fridge. This morning on the way to the bathroom, I stepped on a duck butt. Still a great toy!

I had a good amount of time off over the holidays and during that time I found a greater respect for my daycare lady (not that I didn't respect her before). I absolutely ADORE my daughter, but...Holy Plastic Cow Butt...she is a busy, busy kid!!! At one point I was fixing her lunch and she was in the living room, separated by a baby gate. She went to the back bedroom, dragged out a laundry basket, put the basket in front of the gate, climbed onto the laundry basket and tried to scale the baby gate. I was laughing, proud, nervous and telling her 'NO!' all at the same time (is that what parenting is all about?). That is pretty much how things went on a daily basis. I am totally exhausted from my vacation.

I was so tired that I did absolutely nothing for New Year's Eve - we turned the channel two seconds before the Time Square Ball landed, kissed and went to bed. That's how old we are.

Well, here's to a New Year - with a gate climbing daughter, a husband who is just as tired as I am and a house littered with animal halves - how could it be anything but an adventure?!