Jaw Droppers

First self portrait- February 2009

I don't see the likeness... ;)

Whether it is a blessing or a curse to have your child in daycare, we happen to be a family who has to rely on these services. In the beginning, I was racked with guilt that I would allow someone else to "raise" my child. After a while, the bigger picture set in, at least for me, that part of my job as a parent was to expose my child to an environment that was teaching, nurturing, and supportive of the values and morals that we teach at home. And, although I wish I were the best candidate at doing all of those things, I've come to realize that there are many other authoritative figures in her life that offer her these things with more experience and in different situations than I could ever offer. Devi is an extremely social person too, so with no other children at home yet, she rises to the occasion every day that she gets to spend time with her little friends by announcing, "Hey ebby body....I'm here!", when she gets dropped off. (Yes, her parents feel like chopped liver!)

We have been fortunate to find our childcare services to be just a couple blocks from our house and Devi and daddy walk there together most days. Rainy days require holding an umbrella and when you are two this is the most exciting part of the day - not the slightest bit inconvenient, as daddy might think.

Because of our daycare situation and the fact that Devi is very articulate, we occasionally hear pieces/parts of lessons they have been learning that leave us giggling, some times having to bite our cheeks to keep a straight face in front of her. So between her daily routine and what she picks up from us, these are our latest jaw droppers.

After steak night a few weeks ago I was backing out of our parking spot into traffic when Devi said, "Be careful mom, don't bump into any one." Lovely, another back seat driver!

Pat injured his calf muscle in a recent soccer game. Devi is quite concerned about her injured daddy and has been asking daily, " Daddy, you feel better? Do you need ice? I kiss it?" She loves to put her leg next to his on the heating pad at night...it is pretty cute.

She has figured out our first names so it is not uncommon to have her enter a room and say, "Whatch doin' Jules?" or "Hi Patrick". Although we correct her every time, she knows we almost always are surprised and break a smile so therefore the class clown continues with this one.

Patrick and I had just finished her bath time one night. Both of us were standing over her on the changing table, swathering her with lotion and putting on jammies when she said, "Daddy, pinch mommy's cute buns!" We were choking with laughter as daddy obliged her, so she followed it up with, "Mommy, pinch daddy's cute buns!" I hadn't heard a better idea in a long time, so I took that opportunity too :)

Around President's day, Devi and I were sitting together and there was a penny in front of us. Devi said,"Mommy, what is President Lincoln doing on that penny?" Guess they were learning about presidents at daycare that week and she recognized the profile from an art project they had done :)

Driving home from daycare last week, we were discussing her day when she announced, " George Washington Carver made peanut butter." Then followed it up with a raging chorus of "Peannnuuuut, peanut butter......JELLY; Peannnuuuut, peanut butter......JELLY!" That one was a gut buster, and I was behind the wheel.

I love to sneak outside of her room when she is not quite ready to get up and listen to her talk to her stuffed animals or sing. "This is the way we brush our teeth, brush our teeth..." Those totally candid moments can melt a heart.

So go our days, although we have our struggles with her fight for independence, foot stomping demands, and occasional whiny melt downs, most of the time we are still marveling at the wonder of parenthood that gives far more smiles and jaw dropper rewards than hardships.

Daddy helping to make Valentines

Saturday morning fun

This weeks Gallery...learning about dental hygiene,
animals that hibernate, shepard's, more animals and winter time.