The Life of Riley

I'm sorta hoping the peeps at the Quaker Oats Company stumble across this photo...

Next? Sweeping, Mopping, Vacuuming...

I read recently that researchers have found a reliable way to predict of whether a child will become a highly functioning member of society: Children with the most family involvement (chores, responsibilities, etc.) from a young age turned out to be the most competent, responsible adults.

So, as a bona fide housework-hater, I've embraced the idea of delegating household tasks to my 20 month old. And that I can call myself a good mom for doing it! (Right? Right?)

Riley's current chore: emptying the silverware and Tupperware from the dishwasher.

Results:

Hey, I'm not complaining! We've come a long way since this...

I Heart Trader Joe's

Here's why:

When we stopped by there today, Riley, as usual, requested a balloon.

But instead of giving her *a* balloon, they gave her...

...

...

...

...

...

FIVE!

Talk about customer service!

*This balloon fetish has lasted four full weeks. Is it safe to say this is more than a passing fancy?

The Happy Easter Moments

So on top of Meltdown Central this weekend, my camera fritzed out again. It deleted 90 percent of the Easter photos I took, including our trip to the zoo, Easter egg coloring, Riley in her new Easter dress, and associated meltdowns.

But we managed to salvage a few pics:

A few goodies from the Easter bunny (aka Grandma R).

Riley, in between meltdowns, surprised by her Easter loot.

There's a big cathedral across the street, and Riley loved the Easter morning church bells.

Riley's Greatest Weakness

We just endured the Easter Weekend from Hell, which featured a toddler who's both discovered and mastered the fine art of meltdowns in just 48 short hours.

So we took her to the doctor today to find out if we can blame the crankiness on something besides toddlerhood.

Sure enough, she's got an ear infection and eczema.

So instead of leftover Easter candy, the poor girl's hopped up on amoxycillin.

To lighten the mood, Matt and I have been reciting one of our favorite lines from BBC's The Office.

(If you'd like to cut to the chase, it's the last six seconds.)

Matt the Workaholic, Revisited

Last week:

This week:

He declared it work-from-home week. He says it's a perk of self employment.

Happy March Madness!

(Is it over yet?)

Pinch Proof

...right down to the green choking hazard and the green balloon, which, I've recently been told, is also a choking hazard. Happy St. Paddy's Day from one delinquent mommy!

Not the Shears, Mom!

Here's something I recently read in a parenting magazine:

• Hair clips are a choking hazard for children under 3.
  
• Headbands are a strangulation hazard for young children.
  
• Ponytail holders cause headaches and hair loss.
  
• Hair covering eyes cause weak eye development and poor vision.
  

They offered no suggestions for moms of shaggy-haired children like mine.

Bowl cuts? Boy cuts? Buzz cuts? Are these my only options?

Slow Down, Child!

See these wellies?

This little girl put them on all by herself. On the right feet, no less!

Riley, we've discussed this already: Growing up so fast? Against the rules!

Latest Discoveries

Birds! And sticks! And mud! And waterfalls! And moss-covered rocks!

We live 2 1/2 miles from Forest Park, which you can read all about here. I've taken Riley there before, but this morning was the first time I let her run free, sans stroller. Sheer bliss. The girl loves her "buuuh," which, I finally figured out, means "birds."

Riley practicing her birdcalling skills

Word of the Day: Serendipity

So I'm training for a marathon.* It's my excuse to be 100-percent selfish a few hours each Saturday morning.

My Saturday long runs range from 12 to 22 miles, and some go better than others.

Yesterday's was NOT a good one, thanks to lack of sleep, bad socks (hello blisters!), and turned-off drinking fountains along my route.

The last 11 miles were brutal, and it was all I could do not to hop on the streetcar to head home three miles early. As I hobbled home, I thought, "How the heck am I going to chase Riley around all afternoon?"

But in a stroke of serendipity, she napped for almost four hours.

Which hasn't really happened since...

Thank you child! I thoroughly enjoyed my 7 hours of selfishness! (Minus the 11 miserable miles part...)

*If all goes as planned, I'll be running the Tacoma (Washington) Marathon on May 10.

Baby Mania

My baby-hungry baby has something to celebrate: three new baby cousins!

Yesterday, Matt's sister Emily had a baby boy named Zachary. And today, my sister Heather, bless her heart, had twin girls, Jordyn and Rachel.

We'll meet the new cousins later this summer. Meanwhile, we'll work on Riley's baby etiquette:

Singing to baby? Nice.

Poking at baby's eyes? Not so nice.

Our Little Psycho Stalker Chick

Everybody knows Riley's a daddy's girl. But the puppy love seems to have grown into pure obsession. 

Whenever Matt's home, she's relentless, dragging (or following) him everywhere.

And here's what happens when he tries to use the bathroom:

Why am I already scared of the dating years?

Note the replacement balloon, thanks to Trader Joe's--MY obsession du jour!

A Moment of Silence, Please

As Riley and I walked to the library Friday morning, we spotted a woman hanging balloons outside her boutique. Riley perked up, pointed, and shouted, "Blooon!"

So the very kind woman gave Riley a yellow one.

Riley and that balloon were inseparable (literally!) every waking moment of the next 36 hours.

Until it popped.

Since then, Riley's been mourning her loss. All day, she'd look at her empty palm, or point up to the balloon-less sky, and sadly ask, "Bloon?"

Who knew the death of a balloon could be so heartbreaking? (For all of us!?)

That's One Energetic Bookworm

Riley has always liked books. But the love has intensified lately because:

• She can say "book" now. So she roams around all day, books in hand, saying "Book. Book? Book! Book!!!"
  
• My sister Emily recently took her to Powell's City of Books, the world's greatest bookstore. It wasn't her first visit to Powell's, but it was the first time she was allowed to run around with reckless abandon.* Yeah, she was in book heaven.

*Thank goodness for energetic aunties!