Love's First Kiss

I'm sure that the Conor/Bear/Ben love triangle is getting old for my readers by now, but there have been some major developments that I would be remiss to ignore in my writings.

As heart breaking as Conor's recent move was, it gave me the chance to reflect, have a little time to just be the Bear and decide what I really wanted in a partner. I wanted someone who would be kind and thoughtful and who would at least try to impress me. When I returned to the learning center after being sick, I found those things in Ben.  

My first day back, he sat next to me, gave me a hug and fed me Cheerios at breakfast. My second day back, as his car passed mine at drop off, he threw his pacifier on the floor (signaling to me that he was ready to grow up) while pointing to me and saying my name over and over to his dad.

Finally, on my third day back, while we were waiting in line to wash our hands before breakfast, Ben kissed me on the forehead. I saw stars. I'm still buzzing. We have sat together for every meal and circle time since that moment. This relationship feels so good and so easy. I can't believe we waited so long.  

In addition to kissing and sharing food,
Ben and I also share an interest in glaring at and judging other toddlers.

A lady has "an upset stomach," not diarrhea and vomiting

Ugh. Being sick is the worst. Soiled clothing, leaving the learning center early and don't get me started on the bulimia rumors, just because I evacuated my stomach's contents shortly after lunch.

My mom got the call to pick me up at the beginning of nap time and by the time she arrived, most of the toddlers were awake, though still politely laying on their cots, listening to soothing music. The exception, of course, was Julian. Rather than respecting everyone's need to simmer down for awhile, he was skipping cot to cot and peaking in everyone's face to see if they were truly asleep. He was quickly picked up and placed in my nap crib (with recently changed sheets) so that he could be contained. At that point, he totally lost his cool and woke up the remaining nappers. Most obnox.

The only bright spot in the otherwise murky day was that I was given all the Pedialyte and Pixar I could handle when I got home. In case you were wondering, all the Pixar I could handle equals about 10 minutes of me pointing to Flick and Ada saying "Hi bug!" over and over until I decided I'd rather play with stickers.

Have you seen the first 10 minutes of
A Bug's Life? Captivating.

Happy birthday, Addy

Let me be the first to say that Addy knows how to party. She turned two this week and hosted a killer Yo Gabba Gabba themed event in the toddler room.

She started with vegan cupcakes. 

A true lady knows when to wait and when to hogdog.

Then, she threw in the most amazing goodie bag I've ever seen in my life. Not being allowed screen time, thus never having seen Yo Gabba Gabba, I had to do a little research on the cracked out characters when I got home, but still, pretty amazing. Despite what the available marketing materials would have you believe, Yo Gabba Gabba isn't actually terrifying.

There was a coloring page. There was a box of animal crackers decorated to look like DJ Lance Rock's boom box. There was a pretzel rod dipped in red with a white dot on it. There was a ring with Toodee's face on it and an actual plush Toodee. I have taken my Toodee doll with me everywhere this week. I will not be separated from my Toodee.

 

I like that Toodee is too cool to stand next to the
rest of the Gabba crowd. I feel you, Toodee.

Is it a little awful that I'm somewhat glad Addy will have moved out of the toddler room before my next birthday, though? There's just no way I could come close to this level of party. I would just hate to disappoint everyone.

Princess culture has gone too far

I have no problem being feminine. For instance, check out my most adorbs lavender flower print jacket below. The pattern is perfect with striped pants. I don't care what you say.

That being said, I'll admit that I tend to avoid all things princess. I don't know why being prissy and helpless are the same as being girlie to so many of my contemporaries. As a female who wants to grow up knowing how to tie my own shoes and balance my checkbook (two important skills for any modern lady), the whole culture leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I could never be bothered to sit down and watch Disney's Sleeping Beauty because a 1950's film about a heroine who does nothing but sleep while she grows perfect hair is laughable, at best. So, I'm willing to admit the problem could be ignorance on my end, but Sleeping Beauty just seems out of place at the park.



Over it.

 

Listen, I'm all about expressing your personal style. It's just that a mass marketed, glorified Halloween costume seems neither personal nor stylish. It isn't exactly functional, either.

Sleeping Beauty's poufy dress hardly fits through the climbing tunnel. All of that tulle only serves to trip her while she stumbles from the climbing structure to the swings. Frankly, she's a hazard to the kids who are at the playground to run, climb and burn off a little steam from our stressful weeks.

Come to the park to play. Come to the park to get dirty. Come to the park to judge others. Just don't come to the park expecting me to call you Aurora and step aside for the princess if I was in line for the slide before you.