Halloween Madness

10-31-06 skeleton
Originally uploaded by rwheatfall.

The days of Sophie not really knowing what's going on with regard to holidays, birthdays, etc. are over, officially. She was about to explode today over Halloween. First of all, she couldn't wait to put on her "scary skeleton" costume. She woke up at 6:30am, running into my room to ask me if we could Trick or Treat.

Then, she got to wear her skeleton costume to school for the Halloween party and parade. She couldn't wait to put on her Hello Kitty backpack, which contained the "Dem Bones" treat bags we signed up to bring for the party. She helped me count out 8 bags for 8 students. At the school parade, they marched twice around the sidewalk on the play yard.

After the parade, which we have on video, we attended the Las Madres Halloween playgroup where all her friends were dressed in costume and it was another fest of candy, cupcakes and general junk food, all of which she wanted to eat, non stop all day.

After her nap, I painted her face white with black eyes and nose so she could Trick or Treat. At first, she didn't like the way she looked in the mirror, but she quickly grew to appreciate the makeup! She dashed from house to house, chirping "Trick or Treat!" After she got her candy, she remained standing at the doorways while the homeowners put candies in other children's bags. She then ran away from the house, shouting "Happy Halloween!" and "Good Luck!" Then she would announce, "Let's go to another house guys." She trick or treated with her friends Ashleigh and Drew. 5 year old Ashleigh repeatedly cried, "Hey Sophie! Wait for me!"

Another side note, Sophie's new favorite song is "Witch Doctor" - Oooh, eeee, ooh, ah ah. . . .

Potty Training DONE!!!

I guess Sophie needed to wait for the week she turned 2 1/2 EXACTLY. All week, when she gets dressed in the morning, I've been asking her whether she wants to wear underwear or a pull up.
She opted for the underwear. She kept her pants dry Mon and Tues mornings, but in the afternoon on our walk, she peed in her pants and said, "Uh oh, Mommy, I pee pee in my pants." Then she walked around stiff legged as the pee dripped down her leg. I believe this helped her to figure out quickly the consequences of going in her underwear.

On Mon morning, we were out shopping, and I smelled poop. I asked her if she went, and she said Yes. I went to change her, and there was nothing in her pants. When I asked her where the poo was, she said, "It disappeared!". We promptly went to the potty at Costco and she poo'd and pee'd on the potty. We even called Daddy from the bathroom to share the good news!

Tues, I tentatively sent her to preschool with underwear on and explained to the teachers the situation. She kept her pants dry. However, that afternoon on our walk, after her nap, she peed in her pants. So, after only 2 accidents, we are now done.

It is just like everyone explains - all of a sudden, when they decide to use the potty, they are done. Last night, Sat night, she kept her diaper dry and has been taking her pj's and diaper off in the mornings to pee all by herself.

We need to take a trip to the store to stock up on big girl underwear now :D

Nap Fairy

Sophie has now gone 2 days without taking naps and is still not really going to bed much earlier than her usual 8:30 - 9pm time.

The Nap Fairy has been visiting our house. If she takes a nap, and leaves her Crocs by the front door, when she wakes up, she may find a treat in her shoes, left for her by the nap fairy. The first time the nap fairy left 2 treats - one in each shoe. She picked them up and exclaimed, "Look! The nap fairy brought treats for EVERYONE!" and promptly handed me one of the treats.

Last Friday, we took a walk around the neighborhood, where Sophie loves to admire the Halloween decor in people's lawns. We had left the garage door open, and we found a Marie Callender's pie sitting on the trunk of the car. I had no idea who left it. I said, "Look Sophie, a pie! I wonder who left us a pie?"
Sophie responded, "Maybe the nap fairy left it, Mama!"

(it turns out, the pie had been left by a friend in return for us watching her daughter that afternoon)

OK Daisy

Sophie now addresses me regularly as "Daisy". She points to herself and says, "Hi, I am Dora and this is my cousin Daisy, and this is Boots." I am Daisy and Vivian is Boots. Sometimes we are the Doodlebops, where I am DeeDee, she is Rooney and Daddy is Moe. Sometimes she is Diego and I am her big sister Alicia - Vivian is Baby Jaguar. Sometimes we are the Wonder Pets, but I don't know their names, except for Ming Ming and I think the turtle is Tuck. It's not quite clear who is who, except Vivian is the guinea pig.

When I put Sophie to bed, she says, "Goodnight, Daisy. I love you, Daisy."

Oh, that reminds me, sometimes she is Mickey Mouse and I am Daisy Duck - Vivian is Minnie Mouse. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is a big favorite show right now, along with the Care Bears movie.

We had to discontinue going to Clay Class b/c 45 min playing with non colored clay is just too much for 2 yr old at 11am. She kept melting down and with Vivian screaming in the background, it was too much for me to handle. We signed up for Kindermusik again and she is much happier there. I guess she's not into Arts and Crafts as much as music.

Sophie's naps have gone down to 40 min sometime after 3pm.

She adores school, and loves her teachers, Miss Cathy and Miss Lisa. She loves to name off all her little friends as well.