Things I've said to Joci

Some things I've said or shouted at my 1 and 3/4 year old daughter:

Regarding her creative development:

"Everything in the house is NOT your canvas!"

"No 'pop pop' dances on the table!"

Regarding exercise:

"The top bunk is not for base jumping or running track!"

Regarding cuisine and dining:

"We don't eat money.  Not literally."

"Get out of the toilet!"

"Please don't spit that on the ground."

"No thank you, you eat your ramen with root beer broth.  Mommy is full."

"Lincoln logs are not for eating."

Regarding ownership:

"Seeing/touching/hiding/shouting "mine!" fifty times at something does not make it yours."

Is there anything you've said to someone lately that you never thought you'd say?

Mess maker, mess maker, make me a mess!

Since becoming a mom, I often sing those words to the tune of "Matchmaker" from Fiddler on the Roof.  It helps keep me cheerful while doing something I hate (cleaning).  My kids love it so much that they make sure I have an opportunity to sing it at least a dozen times every day.

Motherhood is full of joys.  Last night was so joyful that Will and I both decided not to sleep!  Thank you, fever, for making Joci so much fun!  She was so much fun that she didn't go to bed until 7am!  Then when she woke up at noon, she was even more fun!  Her laughter sounded so much like continuous, angry screaming that our neighbors were probably very confused!  Blogging with no sleep is amazing!

Sigh.  Oh well, now she's feeling better.  She's wearing one of Will's shoes and has his hat on backwards and is talking to herself in the mirror.  Now she's sticking her face into a bowl and talking.  I would totally take a picture for you guys, but I can't find my camera battery charger and the thing has been dead for over a month.  It's so weird how something can be so difficult and yet so beyond description awesome as parenthood.  Sorry this post is so bizarre.  I'm going to put it up anyway!

The Name Conundrum

I'm finally starting to feel better, and that means resolving something that's been bothering me for months.

What the heck are we going to name this kid?

I've been too sick and tired to spend hours and hours scrolling through lists of names only to have Will reject the ones I pick.  Now I'm not so sick, but I'm still tired, which makes me cranky when he does it.  We're closing in on a girls' name.  We're down to two, actually.  The problem is that I like one and Will likes the other, of course.

Our boy name situation seems to be going in circles.  If Joci had been a boy, her name would have been Calum, which is Scottish (where Will served his mission).  I like it ok, even though I HATE the nickname Cal.  The problem is the middle name.  I want to use either William (Will's name, duh) or Wheeler (my grandpa's name).  Will doesn't like Wheeler, but Calum William sounds weird to me (it's the 'lum 'lum).  So either we find a first name that goes with William (WAY more difficult for my picky self than it should be) or I thrash Will into submission and we go with Calum Wheeler.  My vote is for thrashing.

Anyway, I'm going to post a poll with our girl names, so vote.  Vote for mine!  I'm not telling you which one it is, but no pressure (PRESSURE!).  If we ever come up with another option for a boy name, I'll post a poll about that, too.