Thursday, February 14, 2013

Anna-isms #1

(I have a feeling this will be an ongoing blog post.)

The radio comes on as we start the car. A commercial announcer says, Do you have a herniated disc?
Anna says, NooOo, with an inflection I cannot quite capture through typing.
The announcer continues, Do you need surgery or need regular shots?
Anna replies again, No.
She looks at me with her eyebrows raised and an expression that says, Nope, I don't need any of that.

In other news, the neighbor's cat, who is a recluse of an old man, suddenly is around all the time because he wants Anna to pet him. Did you read that? The cat miraculously wants to be touched by my daughter. I am, of course, a nervous wreck about the whole thing because the cat has ran from me on numerous occasions. Tonight I come home to find Bryan and Anna in the garden with Anna sticking her hand through the fence patting the cat. Unbelievable. The cat loves her.

When Anna finishes a book, she most always says, Amen. Very religious this one.

Stay tuned. More to come, no doubt.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Lori's Visit

One of my very best friends came for a fun visit to start off the month. So refreshing. So what I needed. It's great to hang out with an "old" friend who's been there with ya through the yuck and the ups and downs of your twenties. And it doesn't hurt that she possesses a degree in interior design. :-) A few boxes were unpacked, several pictures hung, furniture rearranged, and some marriage mediation. Let's just say the furniture arranging brought out the best in me. Ahem.

Lori captured some great photos during the weekend. Enjoy.

We are so happy Lori is here!

The fake smile. Notice its appearance in multiple pics.

Swinging with Mama.

Her first birthday gift of the month. She loved the book and fun Melissa & Doug toy from Aunt Lori. 

Cutest toes I've ever seen...

At the midway at the Stock Show. Holy moly. Those rides are incredibly fast. Note to self: Don't take Anna back until she's 13.

The fake smile in all its glory.

The guhrls.

I call this the tv stare.

Mastering the park this little one. She no longer wants anyone to catch her at the bottom of the slide. Sniff. Sniff.

Saturday, February 9, 2013

What's for Lunch? Learning to Feed My Toddler

Today, Anna ate a leftover slice of cheese pizza and lima beans. Not your usual combo? Well, she loved it.

A few weeks back a fellow toddler mom and I were discussing what to feed these little ones. Face it, we run out of ideas weekly and enter the food ruts constantly. Add in toddler "assertiveness" and table time is turning tricky.

My sweet girl, who once downed cooked carrots and brown sugar butternut squash and steamed green beans, now will not touch the stuff. Essentially her veggie intake now consists of anything sweet potato and most beans (except green beans). She loves limas, pintos, peas, black beans, kidney beans, and so forth. I do not have any great ideas about luring her to love broccoli and brussel sprouts and carrots and even mashed potatoes. My take is that I keep making it with our meals and I keep putting it on her plate and maybe one day, she will eat it. Maybe.

So for you other mothers, here is what Anna is eating this week. Oh, and no judging.

Tuesday: banana and milk for breakfast / leftover cheese pizza and lima beans for lunch / pasta and chicken in parmesan and spinach sauce with corn and cauliflower in the sauce, which she picked out
Wednesday: yogurt and blueberries for breakfast / avocado, cheese, and pretzels for lunch / crock pot chicken and green beans (we made a "deal" for her to eat 10 beans)
Thursday: banana for breakfast / leftover chicken and green beans (which I am happy to report she ate with less fuss) for lunch / half an avocado and sweet potato tater tots for dinner
Friday: yogurt and blueberries / avocado, pretzels, applesauce, and gingersnaps (packed lunch for school) / fish and chips for dinner
Saturday: bacon, eggs, and whole wheat toast for breakfast / leftover limas and sweet potato tots / cheese pizza and berries (strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries mix)

As you might guess, blueberries and avocados were on sale at the grocery store. :-) Also, Anna has a snack between lunch and dinner since we don't eat dinner until 6 or 6:30. So it's usually a piece of fruit (apple or berries or orange) or a grain, like Annie's Bunnies or pretzels. So far, Anna doesn't like sweets, except for gingersnaps. Thus, I'm not fighting the sweet treat battle as of yet.

I'd be DELIGHTED to learn what your little one eats. New ideas are always welcome. And if you have ideas about incorporating veggies into Anna's diet, I'm ALL EARS. Or eyes because you'll likely type it, not say it. :-)

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Anna and the Restaurant

While driving home from Bible study this afternoon, Anna told me she wanted to eat. I replied, "Okay, honey, we're on our way home. Mom will make you some lunch."

"No. Lunch at restaurant," Anna said in her whiniest voice.

At first, I couldn't understand her completely, probably because "restaurant" was the last possible thing I thought she would say. As much as I tried to convince her of the fabulous lunch awaiting her at home, she persisted with "restaurant."

I called Bryan on the way home because I was half horrified and half cracking up at this restaurant declaration. What in the world? Of course, she heard me talking to Bryan about this and became even more adamant that she wanted to go to a restaurant for lunch.

And then we pulled into the driveway at home. What's that saying? All ^@#* breaking loose? Mhmm.

The more I tried to undo her car seat straps, the more she buckled them back--full out fit. She was crying incredibly hard, screaming "no" and "restaurant." I was making the situation worse because I was nearly doubled over in hysterics . . . laughing so hard. Clearly, she did not find the situation funny.

I get her out of the car . . . dragging her up the porch stairs to the door. As I unlock the front door, she makes a bee line for the car. Dragged again. Inside, I call Bryan so he can hear this. She was brokenhearted and mad, crying big tears. I told her to tell Dad what was a matter. All she would say is "Mama" while she clutched the phone.

Here's how I resolved the situation:

The mailman divinely showed up to drop off the mail. So we went outside to get the mail and the newspaper. She recovered. We played outside for nearly 30 minutes until I dared to bring up lunch again. Strategically, I also mentioned she could watch the "Beats" (Fresh Beat Band, her first true love) while she ate lunch. And maybe, just maybe, I provided her with some of her favorites: avocado, cheese, and pretzels. Whew.

Let's just hope she takes it okay when she finds out we're having crock pot chicken at home for dinner.