Quote of the day - December 26, 2008

Charlotte had a wonderful Christmas. Santa brought her many presents. My favorite gift is a story book size copy of Charlotte's Web. She calls the book My Web. Just precious.

Quote of the day - November 24, 2008

Last night Andrew and I were both craving a fancy coffee. Meaning the weather has turned cold and Starbucks now has their Peppermint Mochas and Gingerbread Lattes on the menu.

Me: "Charlotte. Would you like to go to the coffee shop for a treat."
Charlotte: "No thanks."
Andrew: "Are you sure?"
Charlotte: "Yah. I just want to stay home."
Me: "You can get a yummy cookie!"
Charlotte: "No, thanks."
Me: "Maybe Daddy could go to the coffee shop and bring home some treats."
Charlotte: "Yah. Daddy should go to the coffee shop."
Me: "Oh Charlotte. Great minds think alike."
Charlotte: "Yah. Great minds stay home."

I love my daughter. I got to enjoy a Grande Gingerbread Latte without having to venture out into the cold night. (Thank you Andrew.)

Quote of the day - November 23, 2008

Charlotte: "Mommy.....Mommy.... Mommy."

Me: "Sweety, I'm driving. I can't help you right now."

Charlotte: "Mommy! Listen to me! I am important!"

Quote of the day - August 20, 2008

It seems I have failed to post my favorite Charlotte-isms this summer. We are having a beautiful summer here in Peg city. The days have been hot and sunny and we have spent the majority of our time outside in the backyard trying to stay cool. Of course, being responsible parents we make sure Charlotte is wearing a wide brimmed hat, is properly slathered in sunscreen and bathed in kid friendly mosquito repellent. Unfortunately, these efforts are often for not. The following quotes have been heard on a daily basis the last couple of months.

"I just wanna be naked" says Charlotte stripping down to her birthday suit.

"My bathing suit is wet. I better take it off" says Charlotte stripping down to her birthday suit.

"There's a bug on my shirt. I need to take it off" says Charlotte stripping down to her birthday suit.

"I just wanna feel the wind in my hair" says Charlotte taking off her hat.

Despite are best efforts we cannot keep Charlotte clothed! Thankfully this need for nakedness only strikes when she is close to home. And really, who can blame her. If I didn't care what the neighbours thought, I too would put on my birthday suit.

Quote of the day - July 4, 2008

Summer has arrived. Temperatures have exceeded 30 degrees Celsius the last few days. The hum of window air conditioners now adding to the summer soundtrack of car alarms and rowdy Bar Italia patrons.

Charlotte has no need for air conditioners. Indeed, she has no need for clothes. Each month the temperature has warmed up a little and Charlotte has shed an item of clothing.

May - no shoes

June - no pants

July- no shirt

I have tried to explain the importance of wearing clothes. However, there is no reasoning with her. She has had a nasty sliver in her foot, mosquito bites on her tuckus, and still she opts for the birthday suit. Today's conversation about clothing went something like this.

Me: "Honey. Where are your clothes?"

Charlotte: "I don't need clothes. I just want to be naked. NO CLOTHES. NAKED!"

Emphasized with the stomp of her foot and hands firmly planted on hips. Followed by a deliberate march to the backdoor and exit to the backyard.

Quote of the day - June 26, 2008

We are currently working on our street safety skills. Rather, we are still working on our street safety skills. Charlotte has known for many moons that she needs to stop on the sidewalk and look both ways before she crosses the street. However, lately she has gotten a little caught up in the details. We have a version of this conversation at each intersection.

Mommy: "Okay Charlotte. Stop and look for cars".
Charlotte: "...and trucks, and vans, and school buses, and city buses!"
Mommy: "Do you see any cars coming?"
Charlotte: "It's not a car Mommy. IT'S....A...VAN!"
Mommy: "Okay. Do you see any vans coming?"

5 blocks and 25 minutes later we are finally home.

And other days, cars and trucks don't exist in Charlotte's world. Instead, her walk home is all about picking the perfect dandelion. White, fluffy, and round. Of course each time she finds an ideal specimen, the fluffy seeds become dislodged with the force of being pulled from the earth. The white fluff floats away leaving behind a bare stem and a bewildered 3 year old.

5 dozen dandelions and 25 minutes later we are finally home.

Song of the day - June 22, 2008

Here is Charlotte and Andrew's version of Hush Little Baby.

Hush little baby don't say a word
Mommy's going to buy you a hummingbird
If that hummingbird don't sing

Mommy's going to buy you a diamond ring
If that diamond ring don't shine

Mommy's going to buy you some turpentine
If that turpentine doesn't clean

Mommy's going to buy you a leaf of green
If that leaf of green turns brown

Mommy's going to buy you a circus clown
If that circus clown isn't funny

Then Mommy's going to give you some money!

Quote of the day - June 17, 2008

Charlotte was telling her Dad that she fell on her bum today. Like any child who has an ouchy, she asked the following.

"Daddy, can you kiss my bum?"

Quote of the day - June 16, 2008

Charlotte is our little Yoda. Every time we get in the car she asks the following question.

"Where we are going?"

Quote of the day - May 29, 2008

Charlotte and her dad (Andrew) went shopping at Walmart the other morning. Charlottte, much to our dismay loves using public washrooms and this trip to Walmart was no different. This is the commentary Charlotte provided on her trip to the Walmart potty.

Andrew: "Good job Charlotte. You went poop."
Charlotte: "Yeah. A mommy and a Charlotte poop."

Apparently, she made a big poop and a little poop. Nice!

Quote of the day - April 26, 2008

Well, it has been quite some time since my last post. Suffice it to say, Charlotte continues to talk up a storm. She will soon be three years old and continues to amaze me with her gift of gab. These are a couple of my favourite Charlotte-isms of late.

1. Charlotte: "Are we going to the airfort to get Nana?"

Me: "It's not airfort. It's airport. Air, P like Papa, port."

Charlotte: "Air Papa fort?"

2. Me: "Do you see the woodpecker in Pam's tree?"

Charlotte: "I see the woodpepper!"

Quote of the day - March 16, 2008

Charlotte and Andrew spent the morning preparing Sunday breakfast. They made chocholate chip muffins, trays of bacon, pancakes etc....While everything was cooking, Andrew wandered into the living room to turn on the radio. Charlotte did not want to listen to his musical choice and without missing a beat told her Daddy where to go.......

"GET BACK IN THE KITCHEN!"

Quote of the day - February 28, 2008

I have recently discovered microwaveable Edamame beans from Costco. Delicious. A healthy snack alternative. Charlotte likes them too. Of course, she doesn't call them Edamame beans.

Me: "Would you like to share my Edamame beans."
Charlotte: "They're not mommy beans. They're Charlotte beans!"

Too funny.

Quote of the day - February 22, 2008

In an effort to be a good mommy and engage my child, I thought we should turn off the TV and have some old fashion fun with glue and paper.

Me: "Do you want to do some arts and crafts with mommy?"
Charlotte: "Yeah. Craps!"
Me: "No, crafts. With glue and paper!"
Charlotte: "Yeah. Crabs. I saw lobsters at the green grocery store. There were nine."
Me: "Ohhhh."

End of conversation. TV remains on. We can have arts and crabs time another day.

Quote of the day #2 - February 16, 2008

A few months ago I taught Charlotte the word "boss". I thought it was genius. I would ask, "Who's the boss?" Charlotte would always answer "Mommy's the boss!" I particulary liked asking this question in front of Andrew. Hearing, "Mommy's the boss" just reinforced my belief that I was in charge.

This is the conversation we had at bedtime tonight.

Charlotte: "You're not the bus. You're the car. I'm the bus!"
Me: "I'm not a car. Mommy's the boss."
Charlotte: "No, Mommy. You're the car. I'm the bus!"
Me: "You're the bus?"
Charlotte: "Yes, Mommy. I'm the bus! You're the truck."

I don't think I will be asking "Who's the boss?" for awhile. I don't think my self esteem could take hearing "Mommy's the bus!"

Quote of the day - February 16, 2008

Charlotte: "Mommy you were a ballerina at the big party."

I absolutely love this description of my sister's wedding in Puerto Vallarta. It was certainly a big party on the beach, but I was definitely not a ballerina. Dancing bridesmaid yes, ballerina no.

Quote of the day - February 15, 2008

"You make me angry!" says Charlotte with arms firmly crossed.

I hear this statement pretty much every time Charlotte doesn't get her way. Probably on an hourly basis. I'm such a mean mommy.

Quote of the day - January 23, 2008

Charlotte goes by many names. Little lady, sweet pea, or munchkin to name a few.

The little lady and I were folding laundry the other day. I was very focused on the task at hand. To get my attention, Charlotte will often repeat "Hey mommy. Mommy. Mommmmy" until I give her my attention. I don't always respond on the first "Mommy". Today she tried a new attention getting tactic, "HEY BIG LADY!" I snapped to attention immediately.

I think I may need to rethink future nicknames for Charlotte for fear that "Hey Big Lady" may be shouted out somewhere other than my laundry room.

Quote of the day - January 13, 2008

The following Charlotte-isms are heard almost everyday.

Me: "I think it's time for a nap."
Charlotte: "I think it's not."

Me: "Okay. Time to put some pants on."
Charlotte: "No. I just want to keep my legs on."

And they never fail to make me smile.

Quote of the day - January 7, 2008

Our bath time ritual always ends with this question.

Me: "Charlotte, would you like me to pull the plug for you."
Charlotte: "Yes mommy. Pull the plug."

And every time I ask that question I think to myself, one day kid you are going to be asking me the same question. Let's just hope it is not for a very long time.

Quote of the day - December 26, 2007

We had a tasty breakfast this morning, which included warm croissants smothered in butter. Delicious. I'm not too sure how the following conversation began.....

Charlotte: "Mommy, say bassant."
Mommy: "Croissant."
Charlotte: "No mommy. Not bassant. BASSANT."
Mommy: "Bassant."

Every conversation with your toddler is a potentially valuable learning experience. However, today Mommy just wanted another bassant with butter.