kins quote

I've been teaching the kids to not let the water run while they S-L-O-W-L-Y wash their hands because they are wasting water.  So the other day I was letting the water run while I was trying to wet Kins' comb to comb her hair, and Kinsley said, "Mommy, you're wasting the batteries."

I think that means she's been listening to me.  Sort of.

quotes

Kids growing up in a texting generation:

C: Mommy, when will Daddy be home?

Me: I don't know.  I think he told me that he'll be home after dinner.

K: He text you, Mommy?

Callan is LOVING watching the Olympics.  He can spot the USA flag from a distance and loves keeping track of scores for events.  While getting Callan dressed today:

Me: Look, Callan!  You're wearing red, white and blue!  That's the colors of the USA flag.

C: Not quite.  I have a red striped shirt, but I need some stars on my blue shorts.

I guess he really is paying attention to our flag!

Uncle Brian

The other day I took Kinsley to the doctor.  The doctor we usually see is Mrs. O'Brien.  We talk about her at home ("Ok, who's ready to go see Mrs. O'Brien at the doctor's today?") so the kids all know who she is.  They love her and she loves them.  

That's why this conversation with Kinsley cracked me up:

K: (while waiting for Mrs. O'Brien to come in the room)  Mommy, when is Uncle Brian going to come in?

Me: What?  What are you talking about?

K: When is Uncle Brian coming?  I want someone to come check me.

Me:  No, Kinsley.  It's not UNCLE BRIAN, it's MRS. O'BRIEN.  Uncle Brian isn't here.

K: Where is he?

Me: He's a teacher like Daddy.  He's teaching his students now.  

(I still think she was surprised that Uncle Brian didn't walk in the room!)

And, later as we were leaving the doctor's Mrs. O'Brien gave her a toy bear, her favorite.  As she always does, she asked me if she could get one for Callan, too.  (She always thinks of him and wants to get him something if she gets something.)  The dr. and I both started saying at the same time that Callan could get one the next time he came in.  

As we walked away, Kinsley said, "That was kind of her."  I asked her what she meant.  She said that it was kind that Mrs. O'Brien gave her a bear. 

"I'm all ready to go, Mommy!"

Two different shoes on, both on the wrong feet, and one pigtail in and one pigtail torn out.  Not her finest hour...but surely her most humorous!

tidbits about my girl

Kinsley never ceases to amaze us.  She won't be two until another month, but she is practically potty trained, has already transitioned out of her crib into a toddler bed (just last weekend), and speaks more fluently than some adults I know.  She speaks in complete sentences, such as: "Mommy, I want some more milk in my cup, please."  Sometimes I step back and think, "Did she really just say that?!"

She's also completely obsessed with Sesame Street.  She screams in excitement whenever she sees one of the characters.  "ELMO, MOMMY!  ELMO!  SUPER GROVER!  LOOK MOMMY, IT'S SUPER GROVER!"  Looks like we'll be having a sesame street themed birthday party this year. 

She still sucks her thumb while stroking her hair.  Just the other night she woke up crying in the middle of the night.  I went up to check on her and said, "Kins, everyone is sleeping now.  Daddy is sleeping.  Mommy is sleeping.  Callan is sleeping.  And Fintan is sleeping.  It's time for you to go back to sleep now.  She whispered, "I want to touch your hair."  So she touched my hair for a second, fell back in bed and went right back to sleep.  So strange.

She's beginning to love pink, too.  She loves to go around saying, "Where's my pink drink, Mommy?"  (my mom got her a pink water bottle) 

let's pray...and Mr. Potato Head

A long time ago I heard a friend say that whenever they heard (or passed) an ambulance or fire truck, they would stop to pray for the people who needed rescued.  I thought this was a great idea, so we started doing this with Callan a while back.  Like most things, Kinsley picked up on this from her big brother and now loves to pray along with us, too.  She often stops right in the middle of playing and says, "Let's pray." (and folds her hands to pray)  It often catches me off guard, and I'm left wondering why she spontaneously wanted to pray...until I hear sirens and realize that an ambulance just drove by our house.  That girl never misses a beat!

Today she came over to me and pointed to her foot (she was still wearing her footed pajamas).  She wanted me to get something for her.  Here, she put the pieces to her Mr. Potato Head down her pjs and they all got stuck at her feet.

She keeps me smiling!

the cold shoulder

The other day driving in the car the kids and I had this conversation:

C: Stop touching my seat, Kinsley!!!  (pushes her hand away)

K: (reaching over to touch Callan's seat)

C: STOP TOUCHING MY SEAT! (pushing her hand away)

K: (starts screaming while still trying to touch his seat)

Me: Callan, can you think of a better way to say that to Kinsley?  Try, "Kinsley, please stop touching my seat."

C: Kinsley, please stop touching my seat.

Me: Now, Kinsley, please keep your hands to yourself.  Callan doesn't want you to touch his seat.  Can you please say, "Ok, Callan.  I'm sorry."

K: (silent...staring straight ahead)

Me:  Kins?  Tell Callan you're sorry.

K: (still silent, looking straight ahead with her eyebrows lowered like she's ready to pounce on someone in anger)

Me:  Kins?

K:  (in a low angry voice)  I'm not talking to him.

At this point I had to turn away so she didn't see me laughing.  I never saw her give the cold shoulder before.  

Yes, I have my hands full... 

some Kinsley table tales

Here are two stories about Kinsley at the dinner table...

Today I was feeding her some cereal (Shredded Wheat squares...she'll only eat them if they are soggy, not crunchy right out of the box).  I gave her a big spoonful of squares and turned to continue eating my own breakfast.  A minute or so later, I put the spoon up to her mouth again and she pushed it away while saying, "No, no, no" and pointing at her mouth.  She was trying to tell me that she was still chewing and to hold on a minute.  haha  A few seconds later she finished chewing and opened her mouth wide, ready for her next bite.  She seemed like such an adult in that moment.

Last night at dinner we were trying to get Kinsley to eat some of her supper.  She unexpectedly ate a big bite of food, and Gene, Callan and I all began cheering and clapping for her. Towards the end of supper (quite a few minutes later), Callan then began refusing to eat some of his food.  We told him that he had to eat one bite of his chicken that was left.  After a few minutes later, he finally ate it.  At that point Kinsley burst out in cheers and applause all by herself, cheering her brother on.  haha  That little girl doesn't miss a trick!