Helping Out With The Dishes

Mireya was a little beastie for months when it came to the dishwasher. She would come barreling over the second you opened it and grab clean dishes only to run off with them. If you were trying to load dirty dishes, she would touch every single one of them no matter how many times you said NO. Jason and I would get so frustrated, because we couldn't do dishes while she was napping or sleeping, because it would wake her up, but getting them done while she was awake was impossible. It was a catch 22 and it was getting old fast.

Starting about a month or so ago, I decided that she was old enough to learn how to help mommy put the clean dishes away. After all, she was helping with cleaning up her room, putting dirty laundry in the hamper and a few other chores. She does a great job with everything else and she really enjoys helping. I told her one day that she was going to help mommy with the dishes and she got so excited! She learned VERY quickly how to put things in drawers and in all the lower cabinets. It's actually been a big help to me. Yes, the whole job is slower than if I were doing it myself, but it's certainly a lot faster than all the times where I was chasing her around trying to get her to bring the clean dishes back. Plus, when we're done with the clean dishes, I explain that only mommy can do the dirty dishes and 99% of the time, she leaves me alone! I guess she is satisfied that she got to help with at least part of the job and we manage to avoid the tantrums over not being allowed to touch all the dirty dishes.

A few times a day, I ask Mireya, "Do you want to help mommy do the dishes?" She always shakes her whole body yes and runs towards the dishwasher saying, "Deeses! Deeses!" It has been so wonderful until today. Jason is a bit new to the concept of having the baby help with the dishes. Earlier today I saw he was doing the dishes and getting frustrated with Mireya getting in the way. I asked him to let her help, because that's what she's used to doing with me. He forgot that Mireya helping means complete supervision when the cupboards are open (normally they are closed and locked.) He kept his back turned for a bit too long and....

... goodbye casserole dish. It was a really nice casserole dish too. Ah well. I suppose that it's just one of the hazards of having a toddler. Good news is that Mireya looked so sad, so I got to pick her up and get a few rare snuggles and lovies out of it. Ok, good news for me. I think Jason learned his lesson, but I'll guess we'll see in future posts...

Mireya and Landon

Mireya has a little boy, Landon, for a friend. She calls him her, "Buddeee." They have been hanging out for months now. It's a bit of a love-hate relationship. Landon loves Mireya and Mireya hates Landon. Well, she dislikes how he pulls her hair and grabs onto her. I think she really wants to play with him, but he scares her. She spends most of each play date crying, although she is getting better at socializing with him. (Maybe it's that he's learning to ignore her more...)

Landon is an extremely cute little boy. He is very busy and just an absolute doll. He had his first birthday today and Mireya was invited. We went and she had so much fun. She got to swim and play with all the little kids. She was even nice to Landon, which was a nice surprise! She didn't cry even once!!

Here are some photos of Mireya taken at the party and some photos of Mireya and Landon playing afterwards:

 

Molars anyone? No? How About a Back Rub?

Mireya has been working on her bottom molars since her first birthday. They FINALLY came through a little over a week ago and they are almost completely in now. To our surprise, her top molars have broken through the gums in the last few days. I hope there's a bit of a break in between these four molars and her next set of teeth, because the last month or so has been so rough for her. She gets nightmares and cries and it's so sad! I love my little Mookie and I hate it when she's hurting.

Something positive and so cute that Mireya's been doing, is asking for back rubs. She lays down and rolls over and she just melts while you rub her back. It's so cute!! She wants a back rub with every diaper change, every clothes change, every everything. Anytime she can think of an excuse to get one, she does. I think it's probably the only time when she's awake that she's holding still longer than two seconds. Jason and I both love the excuse to give her extra lovies! She's such a wonderful little girl and we love making her feel good. I try to get a hug out of it if I can.

Speaking of hugs, I bought her a doll that will help her learn to use the potty and brush her teeth. Her reaction to Baby Ann (the doll) was so cool! She said, "Pretty baby!" She gave Baby Ann a huge hug and then she gave me a hug, then she went over to her Daddy and gave him one too! It was a very clear "thank you" for giving her the doll. What a sweetheart!! She takes that doll with her everywhere and she does a great job of feeding her and giving her a sippy. (The doll came with a toy sippy cup and a fake cracker.) It's so cute to watch her play pretend. She's at a really cute age.

 

Mireya Has Learned So Much!

Mireya started talking a million months ago (or so if feels like.) Her vocabulary is growing steadily. Every single day now she is learning new words and I'm constantly surprised. Sometimes it isn't exactly a pleasant surprise, but most of the time it's awesome. She can say:

• Mama


• Dad


• Nana


• baby


• Jason


• pancake


• uh oh


• caca (as in yucky)


• cat


• dog


• cheesy


• eggs


• wawa aka water


• poop (yeah, surprised me too!)


• butt (no, I did not teach her this!)


• book


• ball


• done


• yes


• no


• yeah


• hooray


• yep


• weeeeeeee


• what


• nope


• banana


• bird


• boom


• alright


• duck


• potty


• pretty

She also repeats short phrases that we say, but of course I can't think of any right now. I know there are a bunch more words too, but they've also slipped my mind. That's what I get for not writing them down I suppose. Anyway, she also knows a ton of sign language now. She can sign:

• eat


• more


• milk


• water


• please


• thank you


• book


• baby


• hat


• mom


• dad


• ball


• done


• dog


• telephone


• flower

She can name a ton of body parts with ease. She can name:

• head


• face


• teeth


• lips


• tongue


• hair


• chin


• nose


• ears


• eyes


• elbow


• knee


• hands


• feet


• toes


• fingers


• belly button


• baby belly (that's what I call it and it's so cute!!!)


• baby buns (these are cute too!)


• nipples (she kept asking...)

Mireya can show you how old she is. She holds up one finger and then she usually claps for herself. She can show you how many five is too. She knows what nearly everything is in the house. I love that I can actually talk to her about stuff and she knows what I'm saying even if she can't talk a whole lot in return. It's so nice to be able to ask, "Do you want to _____?" I spend a lot less time trying to figure out what she wants than I used to, which is a huge relief. That means she spends a lot less time being frustrated too.

I write these posts about all the stuff Mireya can do for all of you, but mostly to document what I can. I don't know anyone who knows what they did and when they did it when they were as little as Mireya. We can all name a few things that our parents told us, but not a ton. There certainly aren't a million easily accessible photos and videos of either my childhood or Jason's. Mireya is going to have it all at her fingertips. I hope she realizes how amazing it is. I know it makes me feel old to think of all the things she is going to grow up with and take for granted (cell phones, internet, etc) that I still marvel at. I remember memorizing friends phone numbers and calling them on the phone attached to the wall. I also remember my first cell phone being this giant brick. Remember floppy disks and DOS? I do. I had a portable stereo that took tapes. Now I have speakers in my ceiling in every room of the house and I use my computer to stream music. Man, I've started rambling.

Anyway, Mireya, I hope you enjoy reading all of this one day about all the stuff you did as a baby and a child. I sure enjoy writing about you and bragging about how totally awesome you are. You are my sweet baby Mookie pants and I love you very, very much!!! I'm going to write so much between now and when you are old enough to blog yourself that it will be like a fully illustrated novel. Bear with me baby girl :)

My Baby Rocks a Shower Cap!

Allergic to Hidden Valley Ranch?

Mireya had a whole bunch of fruit and snacks a little over a week ago, and by the time she was done eating I noticed that she had red, raised areas around her mouth. I assumed it was a mild allergic reaction to something she had eaten and gotten around her mouth, but I wasn't sure which food did it. Then, two days ago, she got a horrible rash all around her mouth and on other areas of her face as well as her arms. The only thing she had eaten were some veggie crunchies dipped in Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing. She has had the veggie things a million times, so I know it was the ranch. I figured it's a pretty bizarre allergy. Who has heard of kids being allergic to ranch? I was curious, so I just googled it and it's apparently a common skin reaction and most kids not only outgrow it, but they don't consider it a true allergy unless you have swelling of the tongue, mouth or throat. Mireya seemed totally oblivious to anything going on, so I don't think hers is a true allergy, but it scared the hell out of me! To be on the safe side, I'm not going to give her any more for awhile. I'm also going to ask the pediatrician about it.

Doesn't the middle photo just break your heart?

LOL Mireya

Mireya did the funniest thing the other day. She was watching tv and eating a piece of toast. She was kind of running back and forth like she usually does. Jason and I were talking on the couch. Mireya goes barreling over to Jason saying, "Dad, Dad!" She has her arm out and Jason figures that she's done with her toast and she is giving him whats left as usual. Jason holds his hand out and takes the toast, only to realize that it's cat vomit! EEEWW! Jason screamed like a girl and flew up off the couch. Mireya was all shocked, like, "What? What's going on? What did I do?" I guess one of our kitties barfed behind the loveseat and we hadn't yet noticed. Mireya found it and thought Dad should have it. It was hilarious! I only wish I had it on video.