How much Beef Stroganoff can one toddler eat? I would like to enter my youngest in a few eating contests. She is bottomless. Last night we tried a very adult friendly meal and both girls ate adult size servings. The real challenge was that I put dinner in the oven late. I was about to have anarchy. We were all but throwing snacks at the kids to satiate them before dinner was fully done. We know when Bug is really hungry as she goes into the linen drawer in the kitchen and pulls a cloth napkin out for everyone and places it at their spot. I try to hand her one item at a time to put at the table as to keep her busy until dinner is ready. Never did I imagine I would have a 2 year old set the table. We do however hold off with the plates as I load the kids' plates and stick them in the freezer for a speedy cool off. They aren't patient enough to wait for things to cool.
I have begun to wonder if kids are like pets when it comes to food. When we got Percy dog as a stray he ate anything and he continues to do so. Wouldn't imagine that most dogs like lettuce. The kids didn't have food in their home. They aren't gaunt and looking malnourished and they are tall, but maybe that lack of easily accessible food has left them wanting it. Sissy isn't as bad, but Bug wants all food and at the end of a meal when she wants to be done she puts all the food she can in her mouth at one time. It is that she panics and needs all food. We need to buy appliance straps for the refrigerator and stove.
Pee... everything is pee. Last night was a pee puddle. After our very fun bubble bath with our new ABC's we all went to get dressed. We were working on getting Sissy dressed to turn around and see Bug standing there wiggling her toes in a puddle of pee.
This morning we were nice and leisurely getting going when we realized we had 30 minutes to get out of the house. With only breakfast done we managed to shower 2 adults and dress 2 wees, pack the diaper bag (including apples) and make it out the door.
We have been calling things "adventures" so that there is not a lot of whining if they don't like the sound or don't understand where we are going. Today's adventure was to Relay for Life where I was playing in the band. The girls hated it. Before the band even started Squirrel was off to the playground with them. At least it was an amazing playground. After we were done there we headed to a potluck with the band. We were very unsure how this would go over because of the crowd, but these two were champs. Perhaps it was because there was an endless supply of food!
After the meal we drove home (slowly) with a quick stop to grab two bike helmets. Only moments from home we still had Sissy awake, but there was a detour (gas main exploded and had a huge fire) and in that extra clip of time we had success. We even managed to carry them both to the couch without waking them. Sissy is so long that we don't like to carry her up the stairs too much. In another few months we may not be able to carry her at all. An hour nap for Bug, 2 for Sissy, and a 1/2 hour for Squirrel. A dynamic duo nap is rare. Typically we only get one down at a time. I think being able to do this after only a week is pretty good.
Squirrel's mom came over for dinner tonight. What is great is that she understands our willingness to accept gifts, but we don't always reveal them to the duo. Some days are just too overwhelming so we tuck things away for another day. Speaking of gifts we had a very pleasant surprise from a neighbor. He is a bachelor, in his 50s, and he saw a defiant minute when I asked Sissy to try on a bike helmet. After that he mentioned to the other neighbor how she even told him a thing or two when he encouraged her to try it on and that neighbor explained how the girls had just arrived this week and would be staying with us. Mr. Bachelor then went home and came to us later with two books for the girls. Would you believe it that one of them was a copy of a favorite book of mine as a child. The girls even allowed that to be our bedtime book tonight. Reading the stories, and then flipping through the pages (as a 2 year old always thinks the story needs to go faster) was like saying hello to an old friend.
After dinner we went straight to a bubble bath. For the first time ever we had both with no disagreements! Bug started stripping as she went up the stairs. For the first time we also were able to close the shower doors. We encourage splashing and playing and making it fun as we aren't sure how often they were ever able to bathe. From the CPS worker we found that big sister (who is 7 and in another home) is thrilled that there is running water so these two may be still a bit mystified by it.
We follow bath time with a bit of movie time so that we can brush hair (we still haven't quite gotten through Sissy's wound area) and we need to really look for the nits (thank goodness they don't transfer to animals). That we only got done with Sissy, but Bug won't be too much of an issue tomorrow.
Major evening issue was when Sissy picked at her wound (or should I say wounds as she has picked her scalp open quite a bit) and really opened a big area. We redirect her picking all the time and there is only so much you can do with a three year old. The new blood terrified her. I was able to get some "magic medicine" aka triple antibiotic on her wound and place a band aid. Tomorrow I'm going to have to text our case manager and see if there would be an issue if we trimmed/shaved the bottom inch or two of hair at her hairline. It looks as though someone already trimmed it down so maybe it won't be an issue.
After the picking meltdown I redirected Sissy (again) and her frail little self took it as I was mad at her. We cried and cried. I held her and just had to tell her how much we love her and we aren't mad at her, we just want to take care of her and help her boo-boos go away. These moments are also when she realizes that this isn't a sleep over and we trip into the I want mommy and I don't want to be here and then we have to talk about the good things that are here in our home. That we will keep her safe, we will keep her belly full, we will take good care of her and Bug. You really shouldn't have to reassure a 3 year old that she will be safe.
Other notables: Bug had a failed attempt at tail surfing today (scared her good). Bug threw her sippy cup in the trash (was only a matter of time). Bug spider-monkeyed up a tall slide one handed as she refused to surrender her apple. Sissy answered correctly every time I asked if she was wet (even if I had to check because I didn't trust her).
There is so much we can write about each day. Hopefully tomorrow we aren't writing about any major bike crashes as we will probably get the second bike tomorrow.
The toddler lisp of the day:
"Big Stick" - somehow Sissy managed to toddler lisp that to "Big Dick"
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