Duh guys

Lately, Zoe responds to questions like they are the most obvious answers EVER. Be careful when you ask her questions. She will probably make you feel stupid.

Going out to dinner is a big occasion over here, because we don't do it that often. Mostly to save money, and lately to avoid being glutened (which of course, I was).

I was on the phone coordinating dinner logistics...

After I got off the phone I tried to add to the dinner excitement by asking Zoe what she was going to eat.

In her best why do I even bother voice she added...

That Just Got Weird

Zoe ran up to a picture of an American flag on a box and declared, "THAT'S GOD BLESS AMERICA!"

Which of course led to me and Yannos singing a rousing rendition of the song.

Which OF COURSE led to Zoe's own special version...

It started off strong.

Ok. We're skipping a few words here.

Yep.

Ok, not the words, but it at least makes sense.

Ummm. No. What?

Miss Manners

I made a really great meal (curried butternut squash and coconut chicken red curry, if you're curious) and Yannos licked his plate clean.

Then ALL the plates

Zoe is unphased.

Then I do something COMPLETELY NORMAL...

Karma

A while ago, back when Aleko was still refusing to eat any food, we were sitting down for dinner with friends and this happened...

Yep. I totally squirted lime directly into his eye. He was not a happy camper. I don't think it helped him on his solid food journey.

But the world had his back.

I clean off the high chair with vinegar. We just keep it in a spray bottle and douse it occasionally. Well on THIS occasion, I was spraying down the chair, but I had moved it directly over the vent. When the AC switched on, I got my comeuppance...

Wings

The topics that Zoe doesn't quite have a grasp on are pretty entertaining...hence the "Things My Toddler Does Not Understand" series. But lately, she just seems so wise. Noticing everything. Quietly observing. Reminding me to close a gate because Aleko is on the floor. Taking food off his high chair that I didn't cut small enough. Remembering the tiny details of every task including what color all the mini-golf balls were. She helps me stay present. Reminds me how much information we learn and take for granted. Her observations are priceless and abundant.

TMTDNU

Drawing!

So Zoe and I were drawing with chalk and I asked her if she wanted to lie down so I could trace her body.

"YES! Let's go. Do it in pink."

So she positioned herself on the driveway and I traced her.

"Do you want to give yourself eyes and hair?"

"Yes!"

"What's that?"

"My nose."

"Hair, hair, hair, hair."

"And eyes!"

"Is that your mouth?"

"Ummm. No. That's my other eye."

"Now, it's your turn Mommy!"

So I got down on the driveway and she worked hard to trace me. When I got up, this is what I found!

Apparently my body shape is Minnesota.

Happy Birthday Little Girl!

My first baby turned three and I have some things to share about it.


Her birthdays are totally cursed! On her first birthday, I had to leave the big, amazing party we were having at our house to bring her to the ER for 105 degree fever. Yesterday, on her third birthday, this happened suddenly...

Then this brown disgusting liquid started coming out of her ear and I was totally grossed out. The doctor said she could see us Thursday.

Thanks, but no thanks.

I carried my screaming toddler to the car and woke up Aleko to head to Urgent Care for an ear infection/probable busted ear drum diagnosis and her first ever antibiotic.

That was super fun and all, but my favorite part of her birthday was her reaction to the present we gave her.

So over a year ago, Yannos and I rescued a dollhouse from our neighbor's trash pile and I've been slowly collecting dollhouse furniture from consignment sales for the past two years. Yeah, we're patient around here.

The dollhouse has been sitting in our garage and every now and then Zoe asks if she can play with it. I ignore her completely until she forgets about it. Great, I know.

I was anxious to give it to her, so when she woke up from her nap after her party, I basically ran into her room and yelled about coming downstairs immediately.

When she saw the house she so sweetly said...

Good thing I'm no dummy! I ordered these guys...

They are great because they stand AND sit which is apparently rare in dollhouse world. I was also determined to get a non-white family. 

The baby's name is "Aleko like our baby."

Unfortunately for Zoe, Aleko also took an interest.

This dinosaur is "taking the Pappou to Philadelphia because the dinosaur might be too scary for the two Goldilocks sleeping in the bed."

Duh guys. What dollhouse doesn't have a stegosaurus to ride? 

Check out the deal on past birthdays HERE.

TMTDNU

...WORK!


Zoe packed up a bag full of stuff from her room and headed to her "car".

She knows that daddy and grammie leave for work everyday. She hears me talk about work, but I usually go when she is at school, so she doesn't hear about it very much from me.

We talk about what other people do for work and try to talk about professions, but it's a pretty difficult concept for her right now.

I wanna know more about this job!

TMTDNU

On today's edition...

MONEY!


I kind of love that Zoe has no concept of money. Despite us talking to her about working in order to make money, needing money to buy things, and letting her put coins in a piggy froggy bank (thanks, Tamara) - she still has no clue what's going on.

She opens cards with money in them (thanks, Nana) and the bills just float to the ground...

But we asked her,

Ok, good start.

...crickets...

Then the brain hamsters started running,

It was my turn for crickets. This ball pit at school was news to me. So I just stared at her until she felt compelled to explain more.

There was a lot of arm flailing.

That's true. You do need money for that. Maybe I should add ball pit to the list of things she doesn't understand?

Bears, Beets, Battlestar Galactica

Ok, so there are no bears and there's no Battlestar Galactica, but I couldn't resist.

Here is what happens when I am in charge of trimming the beets...

But when I accidentally nick my hand...

How's that beet salad taste?

TMTDNU...

...NUMBERS!