Who's a Hot Mess???

Oh yes, that would be Miss Caroline! She was in rare form tonight. She was as happy as a clam when I picked her up from daycare, on the ride home, and while getting out of the car. It was downhill from there! She asked for yogurt, and I said no. I just didn't want to clean up her mess before dinner (plus she had just eaten a "squeezy fruit" aka a pouch of baby food that I can give her to sneak in a veggie on the ride home). So, she settled for 4 Ritz crackers--hey, they were the veggie ones....does that count as a serving of veggies too?? She kept crying/whining and asking to "eat, eat" while almost pulling my pants off because she was hanging on for dear life.



Nothing was making this kid happy, and I was cooking as fast as I could with a 21 month old attached to my leg. The old faithful, Toy Story 3, wasn't even keeping her attention (is it a full moon??). I decided try and be a good mommy and let her "help" me by carrying spices and such to the pantry for me. That stopped the crying/whining. But then she wanted to hang out in the pantry. Whatever. Go for it as long as it gives mommy a little quiet. Hmmm...make that a lot of quiet. I go check on her and she has found a box of band-aids and is pulling them out. No biggie--if that is her biggest mess in the pantry of treasures, I can deal with that. We picked them up, and she stayed in there. More quiet for mommy. Wait, she's been in there awhile and I haven't heard a sound. I peek in and what do I see? Yup, she had found the bag of chocolate chips, taken off the clothes pin, and helped herself! Who knows how many she ate before I walked in! She was NOT happy when I took them away! Major meltdown time. So, time for good mommy attempt #2. I let her "help" me cook. I learned this isn't such a good idea when you're using a very hot electric skillet. Oops! She only has a little burn, I promise.



Ok, so I finally get dinner ready (super yummy new recipe of mini meatloaves and loaded skillet potatoes). My picky eater did attempt to try everything but proclaimed "don't like it" after a bite of each. Cantaloupe is a healthy dinner, right?? When is is done, she says "pee pee potty" so we rush to the bathroom where she does poop (yea, Caroline!!). She gets 2 stickers and 2 chocolate chips (to top off the 10 she ate while in the pantry), and we run to tell Daddy. I tell her it's time for her bath and she announces "pee pee potty" once again. We head back in and she does manage to squeeze out a little pee. This kid knows how to work the system because that meant she got another sticker and another chocolate chip.



We head upstairs where she insists on sitting on the potty once again. She squeezes 3 more drops out and then has a meltdown when no treats are given. She cries/yells in the tub while I'm bathing her. When it's time to get out, she has to sit on the potty one more time (of course!). Another meltdown happens because I won't put her dirty socks on her clean feet. So, what do I do? Go get my camera to snap some pictures to help me remember this super fun night!



She whines for her blanket, so I tell her she has to get off the potty for Daddy to bring it to her. She does--without melting down! Yea, mommy!! We go through our bedtime routine (only tears there are when I brush her teeth, as usual), and she stands beside me to read a book. My smart baby is super sweet now and labels almost everything in the book. She gets her babies and blanket and cuddles for a few minutes, and then repeats "night night, love you".

I sure do love that hot mess! But, man, I'm tired!!