Ok, so what is next?

Last night I let Lanie go outside to play as usual.  We have a large back yard, with a privacy fence and it is secure so I don't have to worry-and she comes in and out of the house about every three to five minutes anyway.  But last night when I went out to check on her I didn't see her.  I called her name because I figured she was around the corner of the house.  No answer.  I called a little louder and I hear this tiny voice say, "I here". 
I replied, "You're where?"
She said, "Right here." and then I see two little feet under the privacy fence.  Lanie decided to go visit the neighbor...by crawling under the fence into the back yard-and then could not get back through!  I ran next door to knock on the neighbors door but she was not home!  I ran back figuring that she got over there, surely I could help her get back. She was already out by then AND in the house and up the stairs.  I came in the front door and saw her at the top of the stairs covered from head to toe in mud! No, I did not get a picture.  I wish I had but I was afraid that would encourage the behaviour! Needless to say, she doesn't get to go outside by herself until Poppa gets that hole fixed. 

I thought I would add some pictures that I have taken recently.

Isn't that a cute smile?

We made meringue cookies and she licked the beaters.

This is a new dress that I got at a garage sale for .50 cents. 

 

These two outfits show her creativity...Oh my eyes!

That's my girl!

Time-out in Inchworms!

Yes, Friday Lanie had to sit in Time-out in inchworms class!  This child does not get to spend enough time with other children and just does not know how to interact with them.  She keeps pushing other kids!  I don't think she does it to be mean, she just does not understand that she needs to take turns and that those kids are in this class too.  She is the center of our universe so I think that she thinks she is the center of everyone elses universe too.  I have threatened to put a leash on her and then anytime she looks like she is going for another kid, pull back on the leash!  Ok, I know this is not good and I won't do it but I can dream about it! 

Lanie also runs all over the gym.  This gym is the size of two basketball courts and there is a center curtain that divides the two full size courts and then plactic pylons that seperate the area where we are from the other side of our gym.  She runs all over to ENTIRE two sides of this gymnasium.  There is NO WAY I can keep up with her.  It is impossible-This is where the leash would come in handy.  The child is WILD!  She even conned a little boy into following her example this last week.  The dad just looked over at me and shook his head.  What could I say?  "My child is the leader of all evil." I just smiled and shrugged my shoulder as I chased after my beautiful little girl!  :)

Staff Meeting Day-I have the afternoon off!

When CAASTLC has a staff meeting Temps do not go to them so we have the afternoon off-without pay of course.  But that is ok with me because I get to go to lunch with a work buddy and sometimes we even go to a movie but we are not today (Mostly because there is nothing at the cheap theater I want to see).  Lanie is still going to Susies so when I get home, I get to relax, maybe even take a nap!  How cool is that?! 

Lanie and I had a discussion last night about her doing as she is told. Ok, it was one sided but I am hoping that when she is put in the corner and we have these little talks afterwards that it will somehow sink in.  Maybe I am just wasting my breath but I like to think that it will eventually sink in.  She does tell me "I want to be good", "I want to be nice to Hannah", "I don't want to hurt Sandy".  So I do have hopes!

My BIL can go to any store in our area and will run into someone he knows.  My dad used to always do this too.  He had a saying that I remember, "Strangers are just friends I have never met.  Anyway, I have never had this experience...until today.  I went to QT for a granola bar and ran into a guy I used to work with at Tarlton.  Totally blew my mind.  We talked for a few minutes and then parted ways but it was just really nice to run into someone I knew. 

Almost time for another Inchworm class...

Tomorrow is inchworms again.  I am curious to see if Lanie remembers what she did in the class last week.  We talked about it last night and she remembered Brittany, although I do show her the video almost everyday of Brittany helping her with a somersault. 

Last night she was also complaining of a stomach ache quite a bit.  I thought it was maybe because she had not had a BM but I asked John and she said she had had two.  She did eventually go to sleep and was asleep still this morning when I left for work so I don't know how she is feeling this morning yet.  She was still playing last night but complained about her tummy and I was up a few times during the night with her, which is very unusual as she will sleep all night most nights. 

I have had a fairly busy week this week.  I have had 5-6 appointments every day all week and everyone has shown up so far!  I probably just jinxed myself by typing that but it is just so nice to be busy with weatherization clients for a change...and to have everyone show up!  I usually have at least a 5% no show rate.

Lanie's First Gymnastics Class

I took Lanie to her first Gymnastics class on Friday at the Y.  She is in the "Inchworms" class for 2-3 year olds, so she will be in this one for 3 sessions.  This, of course, was her first time and I was not sure what to expect.  Picture twelve 2-3 year old kids all clinging to their moms and dads-well, all except Lanie who is running around, playing on all the equipment, laughing, singing, dancing and having a grand old time by herself.  Everyone else waits for the teacher-but not Miss Lanie Lou!  The teacher has them sit on the floor so they can stretch out before they start their strenuous routine.  Lanie can't even sit there for 2 seconds and she is up running around!  I finally get her sat down just in time to get into line so they can "take turns" doing somersaults with Brittany (the teacher).  The reason that "take turns" is in quotes is because Lanie does not know how to take turns...neither do the other 11 children it seems.  So we spend the next 40 minutes trying to take turns on each piece of equipment.  I was amazed at how well she did on the balance beam...all the other children were holding moms hand as they carefully walked on the beam, falling off every other step.  Lanie got on it without my hand-and almost ran to the other end without falling off once!  She was also the only one who would climb on top of this little pyramid thing and jump off by herself.  The others held their parents hands to jump from one level to the next but not Miss Lanie Lou.  She climbed to the top (about 2 1/2 feet off the ground) and jumped to the floor.  No fear in that child! We had a fun time but it wore me out!

Also, Lanie is calling me Mama again.  She calls me Hettie at times still but it is mostly Mama now.  We had a talk the other day and she said I was her mama now.  Made me cry but also made me smile.  She is my baby girl!

I am so happy it is Friday!

For a short week, this has sure been a long one!  We had Monday off for Labor Day but this week really dragged.  We are all just run ragged!It should start slowing down some now that we are out of water funds.  I have 6 Weatherization folders on my desk to get done today and at least 30 to call on to make appointments.

This weekend Lanie and I are on our own.  We are going to make Meringue cookies.  I have been wanting to try those out for a long time so this will be the weekend we do! I think I will also make potatoe soup too or cream of broccoli soup.  I need to make a grocery list so we can do some grocery shopping this evening after I pick her up from Susies. 

Lanie's sweet smile!

3

Before Fudgecicle

After Fudgecicle!

She really loves her fudgecicles!  She calls them popcicles though.  I have to send her outside to eat them so that I don't have a heart attack trying to keep things clean.  It stresses me out to watch her eat them.  If I just see the after effects I am ok and knowing that I don't have to go outside and clean up the mess makes me much happier. 



STILL Trying to Potty Train!

I have just spent 3 days trying to potty train a 2 1/2 year old!  It was an abysmal failure! The only time she would actually go in the potty chair was when she first got up in the morning.  The rest of the day she would pee in her panties.  I bought her big girl panties, a princess potty, she gets stickers and treats when she goes potty.  We do the potty dance and clap and praise her when she goes.  I don't know what else to do!  If anyone reads this and has any suggestions, I will try just about anything!

I was actually ready to come back to work today.  I was so tired of saying, "do you have to go potty?"  "Please sit on the potty chair."  "Tell me when you have to go potty."  and all other variations on this theme! 

Speaking of potty, I didn't get to go to the potty until 3:00 this afternoon, I have been so busy!  There are so many of my clients that have not shown up in the past three weeks...at least 3 people a week!  Granted I have plenty of walk in Water clients that take their place so I have still been busy but I really want to be doing weatherization clients. 

We did not do anything this weekend Labor Dayish. No BBQ's, no one came over, we did not go to a park.  John didn't even get out of his pajamas yesterday.  I didn't take the car out of the driveway all weekend.  We are such boring people!  Next weekend Nonnie and John are going to Sedalia to see his parents.  Lanie and I will stay here by ourselves.  I actually love these weekends that they are gone, when it is just Lanie and me.  We have a lot of fun and I don't have to fight with her to go downstairs.  I guess I will have to let the boys out a few times though.