Dora Vs. Dora

Summy put on her new Dora slippers on our way home from the store today. The Dora slippers were having a conversation in voices that resembled Summy's.

Left Slipper (I presume): Oh, look, you have the same hair as me!

Right Slipper: Yeah, and the same eyes too!

LS: And the same pink shirt!

RS: And the same skirt!

LS: We match!

RS: We are both Doras!

~Silence~

LS: How bout you can be Boots!

RS: No, you be Boots!

LS: No, you!

RS: No, you!

I now have a new idea for a pair of slippers that has Dora on the one foot and Boots on the other one. Or how about Tom on one foot and Jerry on the other? The feet would have so much fun chasing around the house.

Finding Nemo

Yesterday all three of us watched this movie again together. All of us love it. Summy asked me for explanations, especially when the whale swallowed Nemo's dad and Dory (who are trying to find Nemo) in order to take them to Sydney, where Nemo was (and if you haven't seen this movie, you're all at sea here).

I always wanted to see Australia, so after the movie was done I asked Summy rhetorically, "Would you like to go to Sydney?"

She thought about this before saying yes. That was not expected because usually she is eager to see new places. Then we found the reason for her hesitation when she added,

"But not in a whale."

Playtime - Toys optional

It was not any of the toys she received for Christmas that kept Summy occupied for a whole hour the other day. It was stale mini-muffins from the fridge.

It was her baby doll's birthday. The mini-muffin was the cake. We put her last year's birthday candle on it, lit it, blew it out, made a wish. Sang Happy Birthday (dear baby).

Then she helped "baby" cut the cake, got out her tea set, and served Kiran and me (and the rest of the doll family) cake and "juice" (water, which spilled on the floor, causing her to spend ten minutes wiping up her spill, the table, the chairs, and the doll, just in case).

Then, she put some magazine cutouts in a little box, wrapped it up with old magazine pages, put a bow on it and made baby a present. Then the baby got to open the present.

After it was all done, we got another stale muffin and started all over again. The next day, we had a party again.

Though there are some toys that Summy enjoys, most games don't involve big toys. Some things that keep her occupied for a long long time:

1. Cleaning. A wet rag with which to wipe the fridge, the floor, anything. Then a dry rag to dry everything up.
2. Scissors. The thing most used by Summy in the last two years is her little blue pair of scissors. Just have to watch and make sure she doesn't cut up Time before we've read it.
3. Dishes. It can be her play dishes or real ones that are unbreakable - but she puts her stepstool at the sink and washes the dishes over and over until they sparkle.
4. Washing. In the tub, Summy likes to wash her clothes in a bucket sometimes (the way we did in India). Next Summer I can imagine her washing doll clothes outside and hanging them up.
5. Pretend People. Usually with little finger sized dolls, but as I mentioned before, these are not necessary. The people can be anything from pens to real fingers. These people take baths and put out fires and save each other and eat pizza and go on forever.

If you're reading this and have a tot, what entertains yours the most on a cold winter day?

Tears

The previous post reminded me - When Summy's eyes water, she says "My eyes are melting." I find that cute, but apt in a way. When her eyes fill with tears, they sure melt my heart.

Water Scarcity

The other night she stubbed her toe against something, but not hard. Out of habit, she started to cry. After about a minute of loud wails and dry eyes, she stopped crying and said in a normal cheerful voice:

"Mama, are my tears all gone?"

I guess she can usually bring out tears on demand, so when she couldn't, she was surprised. Now I'm onto you, Summy :)

Parenting Advice from the Expert

Yesterday, I was trying to get Summy to take a bath, and she was stalling ("No, But I don't want to take a bath right now.").

"You said you'd take a bath after you played with the computer. Take a bath and I'll play downstairs with you. If you don't, I can't play with you because you'll be stinky. So come on."

She watched me with an amused smile through this speech, and after I was done she said:

"You have to say 'It's not a choice.', Mama". (!!!!!!!)

I said, "Okay, It's not a choice, Summy. You have to take a bath", and then Kiran and Summy and I all laughed.

I've never said this to her before, she must have heard it in school.

Advice straight from the horse's mouth - and it worked too. She did listen that time.

She has her cake, I eat it too

The other day as Summy and I were picking out jammies for her, I saw the cutest blue pair with duckies on it. But when I showed it to Summy, she said, "Mommy, those are baby jammies."

I see.

And then she showed me her pick - Disney princess nightgown. I said, "But Summy, that looks too grown-up."

And this is where we are now. I'm trying to hang on to her babyhood, and she's ready to drive a car ("Mommy, next year can I drive the car?").

So who won?

She got the princess nightie, and twirled and danced in it for a long time before she slept. She got her wish.

When she fell asleep, she snuggled up to me just like when she was a baby. I got my wish too.

Love at first sight

With a doll! And I'm not talking about Summy.

It was more than twenty years ago (Groan! An oldie's story!). I saw this doll in a store that I wanted for my eighth birthday. The night before my birthday, I was running a fever and it was raining, but my father took me to the store in a rickshaw and bought it for me. The condition: I wasn't to open it till my actual birthday.

That night I slept with the doll box next to me. I even remember staring at the ties around its legs and wanting so much to open up the box. When I opened it, it was named Neelima/Jane and turned into a "she" instead of "it". She was a chubby little girl with a gentle smily face.

Years later, when I was in college, my mother quietly discarded her from storage (I think rats had gotten to Neelima/Jane, and even before that, her hair and face were in a pretty bad state with all the love and baths and makeup I'd given her), I found I was still attached to her. I couldn't sleep for a week, with the image of the doll in the trash.

I never saw a doll like that again. The dolls in the stores these days (groan! "these days"? Another sign of an oldie) are so out of proportion and ghastly. The few toddler dolls that really look like little girls are a little pouty.

Yesterday I found the doll that was just right - with a happy face, the right proportions, and wearing shoes and socks that can be taken off (yes, that's a bombshell feature). Moreover, it has a couple of changes of dresses and shoes and little clippies for her hair. I just know Summy is going to love the doll when she sees it (on Christmas day, since it's so close).

I can't wait to play with her doll.

Er, I mean I can't wait for Summy to play with her doll.

A compliment (?)

One day Summy was watching me going about doing things, and said (very appreciatively) - "Mama, you are getting really big and heavy." What I say to her when I carry her came right back at me!

Then, that night, she cuddled up to us and said, "My, what a big nose you have!" (Her daddy also received the same praise).

Why, thank you, Summy!

Tropical Girl

On the class survey report of each child's "Favorite Taste" posted on Summy's classroom door today, among the "popsicle"s, "lollipop"s, "chocolate chip cookie"s and other stuff, "mango" stood out prominently. Guess who liked mango best? But that was one of Summy's more mainstream favorites.

Her strangest favorite is (gag) - tofu served in an icecream cone.

Live Green

For the sake of my child, and your child.

"Future generations may well have occasion to ask themselves, 'What were our parents thinking? Why didn't they wake up when they had the chance?' We have to hear that question from them now."

- From the documentary film "The Inconvenient Truth"

Grandparents

For three months, Summy had a wonderful time getting pampered by her Ammamma and Thatha. I was also busy those three months, so I missed a lot of things that I should have put down.

She stayed at home whenever she got a chance, and played many games with them. They patiently played little people with her, and played patients when she was a doctor.

She learned to draw, color within lines, and write letters while they were here.

She made both of them crawl into her tiny playtent (her house) and take "naps", climbed all over them, and they were as patient as only grandparents can be.

Dear Grandma and Grandpa, now that you are in India, she can't wait to see you and play with you again!

Drama Queen

Last year she was voted the one with the "Best Imagination" by her teachers, and now we're seeing why.

Her favorite toy is her little dollhouse people (and there are many). She makes them talk to each other, play, fight over taking turns (and then the mother or the teacher comes in to restore peace), and sometimes even fly to California (why California?) in a magic car. She keeps this up for hours, but that's not what makes her a dramatic expert.

She makes characters out of everything - spoons and forks, markers, socks. She has a toolset and she even makes the screwdrivers and wrenches talk to each other. I once heard a screw comment to another one "What a pretty skirt!" (the other screw was "wearing" a washer).

Goodbye, Old Mother

I was ready to become "Mom" or "Amma" from "Mommy", but this is what I heard recently when I waved bye to her.

"Goodbye, old mother."

I laughed a lot, so now she says this all the time. Where could she have heard that?

Zzzzzzzz

This morning she said, "I snored about you yesterday, Mama."

"You mean you dreamed about me?"

"Yes, I dreamed about you"

Hee hee hee. Good night, Sweet snores.

A Link to Bliss

I was so impressed I'm putting this link on both my blogs. Be sure to look at the pictures she points to.

Happiness is a small home.

Cosleeping

I just visited noon's blog for the first time (and enjoyed it). I came across this entry about co-sleeping, which immediately made me want to write this before I forget.

Summy had always slept in our bed as a baby. Then this year, she started to go to sleep in her crib. Sometimes she joined us when she woke at night, sometimes she didn't. Now, she insists on going to sleep on her sleeping bag on the floor of our bedroom, but almost always wakes up in the middle of the night to join us.

I love to sleep next to her, but sometimes I think about Summy sleeping in her own room. The first step, ofcourse, would be to have her sleep the night in her own bed.

So I told her about her friends who (presumably) sleep in their own beds. Then I told her about how she too could sleep on her own all night, because she was all grown up now.

She said, "But I'm not grown up - I'm just a little kid! I want to sleep in Mommy Daddy's bed. When I'm bigger, then I can sleep in my own bed."

Old enough to present her argument persuasively, but young enough to be Mommy and Daddy's baby.

You think you know somebody....

One evening recently, I was exhausted and I told her, "I'm tired today, Summy. I'm sorry I can't give you a bath. We can take one tomorrow."

Her expressions changed. First she looked puzzled. Then incredulous. Then a huge smile came onto her face and she said, "Oh Mommy, that's okay."

Then she explained, "I don't like baths."

Oh, so she doesn't like baths :) That explains a lot.

To be honest, she's been trouble at bathtime lately, but I still thought she loved baths. Sometimes you don't realize things about somebody until they come right out and tell you. Even things about your child.

So what now? You still have to take baths everyday, Summy, but we'll try to make it a little more fun.

Car Talk: The A-List

We were discussing her fourth birthday party (after all, it's only six months away).

I asked who was going to be at the party.

Counting them off on her fingers, one by one, Summy says
"Alicia, and Brad, and Cathy, and Dylan (names changed to protect identity :))..."

Me: And who else?

Summy: And Elizabeth, and Freddie, and Gena, and Harini, and...

Me: Who else?

Summy: And Ian, and Julie.

Me: (waiting for her to list all her classmates' names) And?

Summy:......

Me: And Kristin?

Summy: No, not Kristin.

I was shocked at the exclusion.
"But Kristin was at your last birthday party, and you had so much fun."

Summy: Not Kristin.

Me: But Summy, that will make Kristin sad!

Summy: But Mommy, I have no more fingers!

So that's why :) She had already counted off her ten fingers.

9 Weird Things about me

Tagged by mommyof2.

1) I can turn off the alarm only in my sleep (can't figure which button's the right one after I'm awake). Apparently, I'm not the only one who does this, as I have weird friends.

2) If I step on a line between tiles on the floor with my left foot while walking, then I step on another line with my right foot, and vice versa. If I accidentally knock my right fist against the treadmill while running, then I knock my left fist against the treadmill on purpose. Have to have symmetry. If I goodnight kiss Summy's left cheek, I have to kiss her right one too, or I can't sleep.

3) I don't wear my running shoes anywhere, not even to the gym. I go to the gym in running pants, workout shirt, and dress shoes. Only just before I get on the treadmill do I put on my running shoes.

4) I like to crumple the edges of bedsheets. It needs to be a very specific kind of edge, unhemmed and of a certain thickness, but once I find it, I can spend hours just crumpling it between my fingers. Even Summy sometimes tells me - Mommy, stop playing with that sheet! Sometimes when I get bored in meetings, I get a high just by imagining that I'm crumpling a sheet edge, and my fingers twitch.

5) I can't enjoy a meal if I don't have material to read. I have to read while I eat, even if it's just a little snack, even if it's just the grocery store flyer. (Most of the time I eat the snack and read the flyer, not vice versa).

That's all that I can think of. I suppose I'm not as weird as I thought I was. I tag Tara and Gauri.