Perspective of a 2 year old

Recently a mom friend shared this very fun article.  I'm so guilty of underestimating June Bug's comprehension that I thought this would prove interesting.  The mind of a toddler is an anomaly, but it was a reminder that toddlers really do live in the moment; something I could and should do much better for sure.  His answers, verbatim:

1. What is something Mommy always says to you? no push [Lady Bug] (true story)

2. What makes you happy? Read books

3. What makes you sad? Feet are sad

4. What makes you laugh? Dada and mommy

5. How old are you?  Two

6. How old is Mommy?  Two (I wish I had the skin of a 2 year old)

7. How old is Daddy? Two

June Bug getting a hug from his bestie :)

8. What is your favorite thing to do?
Go to the dentist (he'd like any place that gave him 20 toys at each visit)

9. Who is your best friend? Little D!
(This one melted my heart. June Bug did say his actual name, but he happens to be the son of one of my bestest friends and most favorite people of over 20 years. I'm glad our kids get to be buddies too!!)

10. What do you want to be when you grow up?
Be Max, king of the monsters (yes, really. word-for-word)

11. What are you really good at?
Monster books and max books

12. What are you not very good at? 
::shakes head no:: (aka nothing, obviously mom)

13. What did you do today?
Play in the park (ummm it's 30 degrees we did not go to the park today, but you did beg to go)

14. What is your favorite food?
Pooh Toast (toast and honey, which he was eating when I asked him)

15. What is your favorite song?
Elmo song (I don't think he even took a breath before answering)

16. What do you want for your birthday this year?  Panqueques (pancakes)

17. What is your favorite animal?  giraffes (a toy giraffe was on the table at time)

18. What is love? Amen!!! (shouted, at the top of his lungs. It was only lacking a finger snap and strut)

19. What does Daddy do for work? Daddy work choo-choo (Well he takes one to get there, so almost?)

20. Where do you live?  Daddy's car (no, he really doesn't. I swear)

21. Where is your favorite place to go? The kitchen (too bad he can't cook yet)

Happy Halloween!! Love, Lady Bug

Halloween, it's all about the fear factor. I've always thought the "scariest" things were rooted in sounds:  the shrieks and screams of a haunted house, the soundtrack to a horror film, the creeks and groans of an empty home, the suspect silence of a toddler...

Lady Bug, an apparently huge Halloween lover, has been diligently practicing her scariest pitch for over 3 months. When I say diligently, I mean relentlessly. For hours. Seriously, hours, I wish it were a typo. I think it's suffice to say she's ready for all those trick or treaters.

Frankly, I think this sound should be illegal and am desperately hoping she opts for Christmas carols come November 1st.

Wild Child

I've been relatively lucky that June Bug-- albeit "very two"-- is for the most part well behaved. Until today.  He might as well have chanted "liar liar pants on fire" while he raced around Old Navy. I mean raced. Full speed around tables of clothing and garment racks cackling like this was the best game ever; only egged on by his sister who laughed at his every defiant move, undermining every parenting tactic I tried. I was that parent today.  The one you look at and shake your head sadly wondering why this mom can't control her child.

Figures that June Bug's Halloween costume would be "King of the Wild Things" or Max, from my most favorite childhood book ever, Where the Wild Things Are. We read it at least 4 times a day, though in Spanish because some how I do not own the book in English. But I have made sure to teach him the best line ever written in a children's book. His costume is still in progress. So you get a video narrated by June Bug and a visual of Lady Bug in a most appropriately wonderful hand-me-down. Now if only my little wild thing would learn how to tame his own behavior...

(I'll eat you up, I love you so)