The Top Eight (because I couldn't think of ten) Reasons a Mother of Two Might Run

8. Hearing your toddler say, "Do you want a bite of my cookie?" to your 3 month old.

7. An unexplained loud thud, thump, bang, or crash. Take your pick.

6. The noise explained above followed by a loud, piercing cry.

5. A knock on the door when you happen to be walking by it in nothing but a towel that is actually your two year old's since you still need to put the load of towels in the dryer.

4. Hearing your toddler fall from the top of her play kitchen. Don't ask.

3. Anytime you see your toddler headed toward your 3 month old with a blanket, especially if it looks like this when she tucks in her baby dolls.



Do you see a doll there? Me neither.

2. Hearing the water in the bathtub running when you're home alone with your toddler.

1. Hearing the door open while you're getting dressed.

Oooohhhhh Mommy! You got slimed!

I heard this just a few minutes after I finished nursing Claira earlier this morning. She's usually a very good burper, but sometimes she takes awhile and I end up getting "slimed" as Elsie apparently likes to call it. Have you ever noticed how toddlers come up with things out of nowhere? I have no idea when Elsie might have come in contact with the word slime or actual slime. As far as I know, I've never seen an episode of Strawberry Shortcake or the Little Einsteins with slime. It's one of those unanswered questions, I guess.

Last night, I went to the restroom and, as usual, Elsie a.k.a. Tagalong, was at my heels the whole way. When I reached the restroom, she grabs my arm and hollers, "TAG, you're it!" I think that must've come from her friends at church. Actually, I bet it came from a little boy named Sammy, whom Elsie adores. That reminds me of a conversation we had a few weeks ago on the way home from church. Elsie and several of the younger kids at church were playing in the sanctuary when I overhear Sammy telling her, "Elsie, tackle me! Tackle me, again!" Now, talking, dancing, giggling in the sanctuary are all things I find tolerable; however, I'm not sure tackling is appropriate. So, I gather Elsie and once we're all ready, we head to the car. On the way home, Jason and I are trying to explain to her that's it's not okay to tackle boys...or girls. The conversation goes a little something like this.

Mommy: Elsie, you have to remember to be good in the sanctuary. Running, wrestling, and tackling is not okay.

Daddy: Mommy's right. You shouldn't tackle little boys.

Mommy: Or little girls. You just shouldn't tackle.

Elsie: (exasperated) Oooookay.

Mommy: You can give hugs though.

Elsie: and kisses!

Daddy: Well, no kisses for the boys. Save your kisses for Mommy and Daddy.

Mommy: So, you can give hugs or you can shake hands. Shaking hands is good.

Elsie: Okay, then I can throw them on the ground.

LOL! What a little character we have! I hope she feels the same way about boys when she's 16, but somehow I doubt I'll be that lucky. On the plus side, I haven't noticed any tackling since.