Us and Things: Mommy's Helper

Saturday, May 01, 2010

Mommy's Helper

We had some friends (FRIENDS! I know! I lured them with strawberry shortcakes) over the other night, and as one of them was indulging Nora in her extensive cuddling habit, she said, "Oh, it must be so nice to have a cuddly baby!!"

While it is nice sometimes that Nora wants to cuddle, it's not nice that she needs to be plastered to me ALL THE TIME. I think I was trying to cook dinner when I took the above pictures.

As I type this, she's at my side, pulling at my arms. And, I've already paused 3 times to play patty-cake.

I realize this is every mom's lament (well, every mom of a toddler), but does she really have to follow me around and undo everything I've done 1 second after I do it? This is what it looks like when I try to hurry and load some dishes in the dishwasher.

2 comments:

Allison said...: Ah... this too shall pass and you'll be begging her for a hug or to speak to you at all. Also, I bet it keeps her busy for several minutes in the dishwasher and only takes you 30 seconds to fix it again. Hang in there.; Sat May 01, 10:59:00 AM MST
Anonymous said...: I think today I might have told Mia to stop touching me. But I know that one day I will wish that she would.; Sun May 02, 04:28:00 PM MST

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A taste of the Ball life

Amanda: What do you want for lunch: ham sandwich or peanut butter sandwich?
Lillian: Ham. No, peanut butter. No... ham... No, peanut butter.
Amanda: Ok, I'm going to make you a peanut butter sandwich. (makes sandwich)
Lillian: NO! I WANTED HAM!!!!
Amanda: You said peanut butter, and I told you I was going to make you peanut butter.
Lillian: No... I think you just spaced out Mom.

Tyler on dodo birds: I mean, any species that can be wiped out by rats probably didn't deserve to live. Nature should have selected them a long time ago to go extinct... it's like it forgot and got there late.

Lillian: I like carrots mom. They're like... juice you eat.

Tyler was reading Lillian a picture book in which a little boy finds an airplane in his closet and takes it into space where he runs out of gas and lands on the moon. On the moon, he meets a little Martian boy, wearing a space suit, who's spaceship had crashed.
Tyler: How come the Martian needs a space suit and the little boy doesn't? This book is so inaccurate.

Lillian threw a piece of food during dinner.
Tyler: Lillian don't throw food.
Lillian: But, it was just a little bit of food.

At 2 AM, Tyler pokes Amanda and says, "The baby is crying"
"No, that's a dog."
"No, it's Nora. I have superhuman hearing, that's why they call me Eagle Ears."

Amanda looks over and sees Lillian desperately trying to shove the Camelbak valve into Nora's mouth.
Amanda: Stop that! Don't put that into her mouth!
Lillian: Mom, I'm just playing doctor.
Amanda: Well, don't put it into her mouth.
Lillian (accompanied with change in tactic): Just her ears.

Lillian (pointing): This is my neck. This is Daddy's neck. This is Mom's neck. Nora doesn't have a neck.

Amanda: Listen to this, "The men and women of the Yana tribe in California speak different dialects." (TIME Magazine).
Tyler: The men and women speak different dialects in our house: sense and nonsense.

I ran upstairs briefly and left Nora in her chair with a curious Lillian looking on. Nora started fussing and crying a little and I heard Lillian say, "Nora! Stop Crying! Use your words!"

We practiced and practiced saying "Daddy, I missed you" all the way to the bus stop, a full five minute drive. Upon arrival, I prep Lillian one last time. I roll down the window, Tyler sticks his head in, and I prompt Lillian, "do you have something to say to daddy?"
Lillian looks up at him with her eyes full and sincere, "Juicebox."

Amanda: This dictionary says Wednesday can be pronounced wendz-dee or wendz-day.
Tyler: Well... that dictionary was written by an old person.