Fun-filled Mommy and Daughter Day

The last couple of days have been crazy fun that I must write about them to share with my readers and save for Inara to read about when she's older.

Inara was starting back at preschool on Friday, so I thought it would be good if we have a mommy and daughter day on Thu. Before I continue, I have to make a side note that this past week I thought we were starting the "all about daddy" phase because she's been wanting mroe and more of daddy and less of mommy. (Finally!) That all changed after she and I had a non-stop fun-filled day. I started it off with lots of art time. We did paint with water, watercolors, dot art (super fun...thank you Auntie Kristi for introducing this), and playdoh. She loves to sit in her high chair during art time even though she got a new art desk from Grammy for Christmas. So needless to say, my kitchen was full of art supplies and projects. We then had lunch and afterwards, continued playtime with puzzles, singing songs, and she pulled her Little People Christmas train while singing jingle bells. We then transitioned into her new favorite pasttime: playing Potato Head Family. We now have a Mr and Mrs Potato Head as well as two little boys. We had a blast playing with these for at least an hour. It was hilarious to me that these toys could be so entertaining to her. Of course, she found them entertaining because I created new games for them. The little boys played hide 'n seek while the mommy and daddy came to find them. As we started playing with these toys, she even acted like they were talking. One brother would say to the other: "Little broder, what are you doing?" As mommy and daddy found the boys' hiding place, the boys would yell, "Ahhhh they found us! Good job Mommy and Daddy." Then Inara decided the potato head family wanted to go swimming, so she had them jump in a bucket and pretend they were splashing about. Next the little boys rode on top of Hot Wheels like they were riding scooters. Of course, all this imaginary play produced endless laughs from Inara. After nap, she wanted to sit and watch a movie, so I turned on Toy Story and told her Mr. Potato Head was in the movie. She got so excited and grabbed the potato head boys to come watch the movie with her. She even held up one boy and said, "Look broder, Daddy is on tv." I can't believe she's old enough to start imaginary play already. It's mesmerizing to watch I must say.

After our funtastic mommy and daughter day, when Shawn got home last night, Inara made it very clear that she only wanted mommy. I felt really bad because Shawn's been hoping the daddy phase was beginning only to be relegated back to the number 2 position. Friday was the same thing. More on that in a minute.

Today was Inara's first day back at preschool after our 3 week break. Drop-off was no walk in the park. This morning as we were getting ready for school and I started talking about her teachers, Inara began crying and saying, "Mommy go too!!! Mommy no run errands." The car ride to school was filled with similar loud cries. She even began calling for daddy and Nee Nee to come get her. As we were walking into her classroom, Inara started crying even louder. Her teacher Ms. Kristina opened to door to greet her to which Inara turned around and started running out of the room. I ended up picking her up and consoling her in the hallway trying to calm her down. I noticed there were no other kids crying in the hallway besides mine. Just then our best buddy Addison came up to us with her daddy Andrew. Guess what? Addison was crying too! They seriously are 2 peas in a pod.

I never got called to come pick her up, so I figured she survived her first day back at school. When I arrived to pick her up, she was playing with her classmates and teachers having a great time. All that fuss for nothing. From the second I picked her up, she talked and talked and talked. On our way home, we stopped at the grocery store for a few items. As expected, she asked if she could get a cookie, if she could ride on the horsey, and on and on. I found us the obnoxiously monster sized car shopping cart that she loves. She incessantly asked to get a cookie. I quickly made our way to the produce department grabbing things I needed and headed back to the bakery to get her a cookie. Within seconds, she gobbled the thing up. Suddenly, I'm about knocked out by a horrific stench. I look down to see Inara leaning over in the car. This could only mean one thing...a poopy diaper. Seriously right now kid? Come on! She asked to get out of the car and I could see the turd protruding from her diaper. I asked an employee where the bathroom was and started heading to the back of the store when I realized I didn't have a diaper or wipes in my purse. (I took them out when I went to the gym. GREAT!!!) She wanted to get back into her car, but I told her she could walk like a big girl. I so didn't want her to squish the poo. I hurried and grabbed the last of the items I needed while she kept asking me to change her diaper. We headed to the checkout counter. Of course, she instantly spotted the horse ride. I tried to explain that the horsey was "broken" so she couldn't ride it. She began crying and asking for horsey. How do you explain to a 2 year old that she can't go on the ride because mommy doesn't want a smashed poo in her diaper? Ugh. The cashier was very friendly and tried to distract Inara's attention. Then Inara asked, "Mommy what's this shopping cart?" "Honey, the man took our other shopping cart so other kids can ride in it. We'll just use this regular one." Dum dum dum. Suddenly I remembered her adored brown monkey doll was sitting in the car with her. JACKED!!! I told her to hurry so we could go get brown monkey from the other shopping cart. "OH NO MOMMY. Where brown monkey? I go find him!!!" I worried this would produce another meltdown, but alas, it didn't. We hurried to the shopping cart area in hopes that nobody had taken the car cart yet. Phew! We found brown monkey! Inara grabbed him out of my hand and hugged him so tight. She then said the cutest thing: "Brown monkey was lost. I miss you." As we walked to the parking lot, Inara said, "Mommy, brown monkey waited for me in the car." "Yes, he did sweet pea. Yes, he did."

We still had the poopy diaper to take care of, so I unloaded the groceries in the back of the car, grabbed a diaper and wipe pack, and headed back to the store. We headed back to the restroom only to find there's no changing table. I had to change her stinky diaper with her standing up and, of course, pointing and trying to touch everything in sight. I did the best clean up job I could and we started heading back to the car. Inara then made me die laughing when she asked, "Mommy, horsey fixed now. I go ride it!" I threw the towel in and let her ride the horse after the craziness that we'd just survived. Yes, I spoil my daughter. Sometimes you just gotta let her have her way to avoid any more tears. On the ride home, I couldn't help but laugh at the chaos I had just gone through. Boy, how my life changes every day as my baby girl just keeps getting older and wiser.

Every day brings new adventures and fun new sayings. Here are some of my favorite new things Inara is saying and doing.

She loves to tell Shawn and I that we are doing a good job. The other night she even said, "Good job, Daddy. I so proud of you." I must say there is nothing like being congratulated by your 2 year old for doing a job well done.

The whole time we've lived here Inara has been so careful going up and down the stairs. Now that she's two though, she's trying to test her limits and has now fallen on the stairs three times. Nothing super major but still she's fallen. Yesterday, as we were heading downstairs, she asked me to carry her because she fall. Alright I'll carry you. As I picked her up, she grabbed my cheeks and in a super serious voice said, "Mommy be very careful." Yes, ma'am. She's becoming quite the bossy little thing I've gotta say.

Inara loves singing! For awhile now she's been singing Itsy Bitsy Spider, Ring around the Rosies, Twinkle Twinkle. Now she also sings songs from the Curious George soundtrack, the CD she listens to when she goes to sleep. She even asks for her favorite songs by title: "Mommy, I hear People Watching." "I wanna hear Talk of the Town." She also loves this Winnie the Pooh CD we have. Her favorite songs are the Tigger song and Rain, Rain, Rain. Today, I heard her sing Old McDonald on her own for the first time. Then tonight she started singing it but changed the lyrics a bit: "Old McDonald had a farm and bingo was his name oh. B. I. N. G. O. And bingo was his name oh." She really is starting to love all kinds of music. When I'm playing some of my music, she will ask me "What's this song called, mommy?" My favorite thing though is when the song "Sometime After Midnight" by Airborne Toxic Event comes on, Inara instantly says, "That's mommy's favorite song." Yep, I have been playing this song a lot lately, and she knows it the instant it comes on.

The next part my mom may want to skip since I know she's been crying when I write stories that relate back to her since she misses Inara so much. Consider yourself forewarned mom.

Inara's been asking for Nee Nee and Pop every day since they left. I've been talking to her about starting swim lessons on Saturday to which she replies, "I go swimming at Pop's pool." She sure does love her Pop. This is evident because this week on several occasions she's asked me when Pop coming home. It's hard trying to explain to her that Pop lives in CA. She will just keep asking when Pop coming home. Of course, this only makes me sad and I quickly try to change the subject to avoid me getting sad. When we go upstairs, she often likes to go into the spare room oh I mean Nee Nee's bedroom as she has named it and play. I love that she calls the room Nee Nee's room. Several times now I've started singing "Here we go loop de loop" but she scolds me and tells me "No sing that song Mommy. Only Nee Nee sing that." Not a day goes by that she doesn't talk about Nee Nee and Pop and her favorite things to do with them.

Hope these stories have entertained you all. Mom and Pop, hope the last part didn't make you too sad. Love to you all!!!