Everyone should have a sweet face like this one helping out in the kitchen! We were listening to Christmas music tonight via satellite radio, and Corbin was precious. He was singing "Jingle Bells" and putting sprinkles on cookies that I iced. He desperately wanted to eat more than one, but we each allowed ourselves one treat. After the cookie baking extravaganza, we headed to the bath tub. As I was drying him off with a towel, I said, "you've got the cutest buns!" Corbin replied, "A hot dog bun." I laughed and said, "you have a hot dog bun bum?" He then said, "Yea, from Coney Island."
I nearly fell down from laughter! How does my child know Coney Island is famous for hot dogs? I inquired. He stated very matter of factly: The Wonder Pets.
And this is why allowing your toddler to watch a little television every now and then is actually rewarding. I had a great laugh. Anyway, we're in the Christmas spirit. I was worried because up until this past Sunday, I wasn't feeling the holiday charm at all. I normally am super pumped when Thanksgiving rolls around. Matt suggested buying our Christmas tree on Sunday. Every year he puts the lights on the tree and I hang the ornaments. It's our tradition. This time we had a little "helper." He broke (and ate) a candy cane from last year that we were planning to use as an ornament again this year. He successfully broke a glass ball ornament, and commandeered another as a toy. Corbin did manage to hang three ornaments, albeit very low on the tree:)
Where he lacks in tree-decorating he totally makes up for in good looks and charm.

Sad day

Tonight my heart was broken. Corbin told me he didn't want to sit in the rocking chair to hear the bedtime story. Not only that, but he picked out a book and said, "I want to read it. By myself. You can sit over there and listen, mama." I fought the tears back. I pleaded: "but Mommy really loves to read stories to you. I cherish it. Can I please read to you?" After he recited two stories (which, by the way, is so impressive that he has memorized them) I asked again.
He relented. He let me rub his back and he listened patiently as his mommy went through a ritual that was begun about 30 months ago; she's not going to let go of it very easily. Maybe it was just his mood tonight. Or maybe not. He might want to do his own "reading" from now on. What will I do then?! I guess I'm just going to have to be proud of the fact that he wants to read all on his own. But, if he tries to tell me he doesn't need any lullabies, I may just have to throw my own temper tantrum. SLOW DOWN, Corbo! You're way too big these days. Sniff, sniff.

Just wanted to share the entanglement that is parenting a 2.5 year old. We have been trying new tactics with discipline as the trusty time out doesn't always work in public places (i.e. there are no remote corners in which he can "reflect" at a playground). So, I've employed the counting method. You know, "Mommy will count to three and if you haven't stopped throwing rocks, we will leave...."
He normally pushes until I've started to say three, and I think he's not listening or responding well to this technique. Just when I was about to give up on counting to three, Corbin reversed the role on me twice today. First, at nap time he told me I needed to listen and be nice. Then he counted to three and told me (at the end of counting) that his Wall E robot toy would be sleeping in his crib with him at nap time. Uh, what?! How do you know to do this to me, little boy? So, I compromised and allowed Wall E to sleep on the floor. I just couldn't resist how calmly he communicated his wishes. Normally he will stomp his feet, squeal, and roll on the ground. I was impressed and confused by his tactics. ha ha ha
Then, he had been lying in bed for about thirty minutes when I heard his sweet little voice, "sixteen,seventeen,eighteen, nineteen, MAMA!!!" I went into his room and he very calmly said, "I counted a lot of numbers cause you weren't listening." Then I smelled that old familiar smell to which I questioned, "Were you counting because you needed me to change your pull up?"
"Um, yeah, mommy, I pooped while I was sleeping and I waked up." Too cute!! Messy,stinky, but cute.

This is what it looks like to be addressing envelopes with a little monkey on your back. :0
Corbin is so energetic and playful with us. He inherited this uncanny ability from his daddy: full body techniques of total distraction while Mommy is trying to work.
I woke up earlier than everybody else today so that I could do a workout DVD. Lame, I know. I just didn't have the motivation to put my running shoes on this morning (even though that was the original plan). Anyway, about halfway through, Matt woke up and came shuffling into the living room. He immediately started cracking jokes and then came over to me to inspect my form. How is a girl supposed to work off the calories of a gigantic cupcake consumed the previous night if her hubby is impeding the exercises? Anyway, like father, like son. Corbin jumped on my back while I was writing the names and addresses on Kristen's baby shower invitations. It's tough to be the low-key minority around here with the boy shenanigans and what not...