You Know You Have a Toddler ...

You know you have a toddler when:

You finish wrapping your husband's birthday present, flip it over, and find peanut butter smeared all over the top of the package. #peanutbuttermonger

You actually look forward to 6:15am because it's so stinkin' cute that the kid proudly says, "Waaaaake! Meeeee! Wake!" as he wiggles to get out from under his blankets.

Your formerly really cozy-cool den/reading room transforms into a fort/epic dinosaur battle room.

Crumbs on the couch, under the couch, on the floor, crushed in the carpet, sprinkled over every surface are, well, normal. #newstandardofcleanliness

You don't even feel the need to vacuum up the crumbs until people are coming over. And then only sometimes. Depending on the people.

Bananas, yogurt, string cheese and graham crackers--all things you used to eat, are ferociously protected and reserved for the youngster. So much so that you don't even remember what those yummy foods taste like anymore.

Guests have to sidestep boats, walruses, numerous fishes, balls and other such bathtub toys when trying to shower. #sorrydon'ttrip

Words like "abudatti" "dati" "hetititititoter" "aowi me" all make sense to you and are actually a relief. #nolongerlostintranslation

The words helicopter, elevator & alligator all sound the same. But you can tell the difference.

Your new baby girl gets peanut butter kiss marks on her cheeks and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles placed in her arms.

 





The approaching winter is more dreadful than ever before. How to expend enough of his energy indoors?? #impossible

You often have to explain the difference between stickers and window clings. So not the same thing ...

A blog moment is interrupted by a little voice saying, "Stories Mama? Stories?" #whocouldresist?

Bathtime is an often used reprieve to occupy and contain a non-stop bundle of energy. #heisintherenow :)

 You dream of three word sentences and a potty trained son.

Your blogging is interrupted again by the same little voice, now done with his bath, asking, "Mama plays? Me? Turtles?" and you crouch on the floor to have a battle between two ninja turtles, a giraffe and the Hulk. #practicingmybattlesounds


 You can't even count how many times a day you say, "I'll be right back", "In just a minute" "What Josh?" and "Silly! You're so funny!"

Equally so, you can't even begin to count how many times a day you hear "Deez Mama?" "Wook, Mama!" "Mama? Down?"



When playing with your precious son, you are almost always told you're doing it wrong. "No Mama!" #somanyopinions

Pretty much you know you have a toddler when your world is full of joy, giggles, tantrums, precious moments, hair-pulling situations & lots and lots of cuddly hugs, "pat-pat-pats" on the back, and sloppy wet peanut butter kisses. I pray for more words, I hope for easy potty training ... but for now, I have a little 2 1/2 year old who has said, "Deez Mama" 4 times in the last 20 seconds, just asked me to go "down" to "plays" with his sticker book in hand and his overalls falling off his shoulder. I've said, "In a minute" twice and should probably now go. #lovebeingamom

My Awesome Son

I just can't get over how awesome my son is.

He plays like Andy from Toy Story, complete with Mr. Potato Head and a semi scary dinosaur.

He tries to hike the basketball at the park-and somehow looks awesome doing it.

He gives me a workout by being a little too crazy at tumbling class.

He transitioned to a toddler bed with absolutely no fight no trouble no nothing.

He loves his baby sister so much and is working on how to best share his mama.

He's just so gosh darn cute, so irresistibly huggable, so knee slapping hilarious that I just can't imagine life without him!

God, thank you for the gift of Joshua Nelson "Din-deeen!!"

Dear Joshua: There's Nothing Like Being Your Mama

Joshua Nelson Lindeen ...

You are currently crawling around your craft table, in mismatched pajamas, and a probably grossly soggy diaper. One boot on, one boot off, pushing a Sesame Street bus full of random toys. The fort I made for you has collapsed, but you don't seem to mind. For the first time in about 37 minutes, you speak my name, which has actually recently changed to "Mommy" (apparently "Mama" is for babies...) You bring me the engine of your Little People Zoo Train, saying "Mommy! Uh oh?!" I tell you to go find the other pieces, which you promptly do, limping just a little due to the one boot situation. I continue typing and you suddenly appear with the other two pieces of the train. I grab the engine, and say, "See? Now we just click them together" to which you respond affirmatively "Yes." And you scamper away, as much as one can scamper with only one boot, to place your "woo-whoo chugga chugga" on the floor under the chair that used to support your fort. I smile gratefully and turn contentedly back to my tasks. Moments later I hear "Uh oh! Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!" and I think to myself ah the bliss of independent play is coming to an end... and I ask my little buddy what he needs. Interpreting the various arm gestures, grunts, "eh ehs" and "uh ohs" I determine that he wants to animals that go with the zoo train. Due to recent organization efforts, all animals are in a tub on the top shelf of the closet. I explain this to him as I get it down. "Wow wow wow!" he exclaims as he digs through the tub, engrossed in this new discovery of old toys.

Moments later I hear "Nonnie! Nonnie!" and I can't quite figure out why he's calling for my mom. He comes running up to me holding a plastic Lego "hop-po" (hippo) and I realize he knows that this is from Nonnie's house--a stowaway in Christmas luggage that we'll have to return someday. "Yes buddy, that's from Nonnie's house, isn't it?" "Yes." And off he goes, to fill the train with hop-pos and whys (lions). I stop briefly to help him put the tractor hood back on, and watch as he places the train conductor in the smoke stack, because apparently this is where he belongs.

I'm well aware that I'm still in my PJs (though they do match), and drinking my coffee, and the front entry way is blocked by a fallen fort and many many toys. We have people coming over for a vocal rehearsal in precisely 29 minutes, and a small, very small part of me thinks I should pick up a little.

But the joy of being this little guy's Mama, and the incredible relief and joy of watching him learn to play so well independently causes me to laugh at the urge to clean up. I instead attempt to capture this beautiful moment in words, and go back to sipping my coffee and writing some letters.

(He has since filled the Jungle Car full of animals and safari people, and as he pauses every few moments to wipe his incredibly runny nose, he sings to himself and I can hear him counting. [Which sounds like "Di Di Di!"] For a moment he grabs his baby doll and cuddles it, whispering his baby sister's name and singing a little song. He feeds her some play-doh spaghetti that he made earlier, and then tosses her to the side, grabs a play cell phone, and says "Hi? Babble babble babble....Hi? Bye!" and the playing goes on ... on and on and on. I LOVE THIS.)

Dear Joshua: Can you be Peter Pan?

I know every mother goes through this, but .... does he really have to grow up?

I mean, can't he be Peter Pan or something and stay like this forever?

(Now, I don't actually really like that idea, because I truly have enjoyed each and every stage, and so based on that experience for far I can assume that I will love and appreciate each and every stage from here on out.)

Some of my favorites lately ...

I love how you say "Hulk smash!" and smash your little right leg down on the floor. #cutestvoiceever.

I love how you make a chipmunk face whenever you see a chipmunk, squirrel, or sloth. #slightlyconfused

I love how you say, "Oooh, mama!" when you're looking for me (though I don't necessarily love hearing my cherished title 100 times in ten minutes. We counted. For real.) #littlebitoverwhelming

I love how somehow you're still able to curl yourself around my growing belly and nestled your head on my chest and fall asleep. #iknowthiswontlastforever

I love how you're at that perfect toddler size--chubby, sturdy legs, oversized head, stocky little body. #youreperfect

I love how you're so proud that you can now jump out of your highchair all by yourself, and you still proclaim your accomplishment every time. #absolutelyadorable

I love how your imagination is expanding and you're really learning to play. #somuchfun

I love how you tell lots of stories--in gibberish. But what's great, is I can often follow along! #fluentintwolanguagesnow

I love how everything is exciting--Nemo, the car, dancing with the Wii, playing ball, Baby Boo, Spiderman, your aunties, crackers ... #everything. :)

Joshua, I love you so much. My dear Joshua ... don't be Peter Pan, but please, remind your Mommy to pause, take note, and thoroughly enjoy this beautiful toddler stage. #don'tletmeforget

I love my little buddy!

Dear Joshua: What a Good Little Boy

Dear Joshua,

My goodness, you are turning into such a good little boy. There are so many things that you do in a day that cause this mama to just sigh in gratitude, and shake my head in wonder, and stifle a giggle in awe of your curiosity, tenderness, craziness.

You are definitely a two year old, and I love seeing the changes in you! You are still my baby--wanting to cuddle, loving to be carried, needing so much assistance in so many ways. But you are definitely my two year old baby--independent, sometimes defiant, emotional and so so so curious! I love it.


I love how everything has a place, and you are quite sure where everything goes. A few weeks ago, you adamantly lined up two drumsticks on two separate floor vents. Apparently, that's where they belonged. When I ask you to put things away, you know exactly where they go, and you put them there! Except for the plate that you insisted belonged in the garbage tonight, even though I kept pointing to the dishwasher. (We finally compromised on the sink.)

You close doors, turn off lights, put away toys (when asked, after completely dumping out everything as any good toddler would.) I love how you always put the bathroom stool away in the closet--I don't think I even taught you that. You just decided it one day!

You are going to be a great big brother--I see you feed your Spiderman man action figure, and know you'll take even better care of your sister. :)

You are going to be a great big brother! Tonight while I was praying and singing a song to you, you snuggled down low on my lap, laid your head on my 20 week pregnant belly, said something in gibberish and patted my tummy. Then, with your cheek resting on your baby sister, and your right arm circling my midsection, you kissed the baby and said, "Hi!"

Seriously, you are too cute.


Joshua, I love you!

Dear Joshua: I love how you love your Daddy ....

But maybe you could choose a word for Mommy? 

It's pretty funny when I arrive to pick you up from the kids' room at the Y and you see me, delightedly smile, and shout, "Daddy!!!" 

It's super adorable that when Daddy is out of the house you wander around looking for him, calling, "Daddyyy? Dadddyyy?" 

And it's also super cute that when I take a shower, or open the garage door, or turn on lights in the music room, you say, "Daddyyy?" as if you expect him to be in those places. 

It's definitely pretty sweet when I lay you down to sleep, all cuddled up in the quilt your Grammie made for your Daddy years ago, after singing and giggling with me in the most precious way for 20 minutes, you sigh softly, flutter your eyes, and say, "Daddy?"

It's all super funny, adorable, cute and sweet .... but I sure would love to hear you say Mommy! 

To my sweet little boy, I love you. You can call me Daddy for the rest of your life, as long as you love me forever, and always let me love you. 

Kisses little one ... Mommy who is often called Daddy loves you so much.

Dear Joshua: You're Hilarious

Dear Joshua,

Thank you for being so funny! Your silly grins, crazy antics and tiny little sense of humor completely and totally make up for the tantrums you've discovered, the loud opinions you love to voice and the never ending messy diapers and food fights.

Thank you for loving me so much! My mommy-heart swells when you grin so huge when you see me, and I can hardly stand how much you love your father. The recognition and genuine love I see on your face when you see us, the crazy amount of time you want to spend with us ... I'm soaking it all up because I know it will morph and change. But for right now, all you want is mama and dada and I LOVE IT.

Thank you for being so active! Sometimes I feel like a horrible mommy because we watch cartoons, but then I realize you're dancing, and twirling, and running and jumping--and that's all just while watching some T.V.! Then we go to the park, and the other park, and the other park, and the backyard and the mailbox, and pretty soon, I'm just worn out.

Thank you for learning sign language! Without "more," "please," "all done," and "thank you," Mommy would be going INSANE! Please now learn some more words, OK? To start, how about "Mama"? Because it's really funny when you point right at me and say, "Dada" but actually not so much. :)

Love you Joshua, you're the best ever!

Dear Josh: Messy Wonderful

Dear Joshua,

Oh my goodness, are you just the cutest little guy ever? Yes, yes you are.

I love hearing you babble to yourself in your crib when you wake up in the morning.

I love entering the room and seeing you shake the whole crib in excitement!

I love how sturdy you are, and how exuberant you are in your reaching for me.

I love how when you recognize me across a room (or the airport baggage claim) you grin and run as fast as you possibly can and all the strangers stop to smile at this little son loving his mommy.

I love how the second you get into my arms, you twist your body and point--at what, we never know. I don't think you know either ... you just point until you find something good.

I love how you love escalators, elevators, cars, buses, remotes, keys, buttons of any kind and keyboard--musical and computer.

I love how you say "Hi" and wave at every single person at Walmart. Big or small, young or old, interested in you or not interested in you ... you force them to respond. Love it.

I love how obsessed you are with going outside. Ok, maybe I don't always love this, but it's better than never wanting to go outside!

I love how you love your Daddy. And of course how he loves you.

I love how you now know when we drive into Grandma and Grandpa's house and you kick and kick and kick with excitement to go see Roxy the Horse, Sammy the Snake and Nugget the Pug!

I love how lately we only read the first 2/3 of any book before you're hopping off my lap to find another one, climb back on to my legs, read another 2/3 and so on and so forth.

I love how when I say no more books, you sigh, give me a slightly evil eye, but then curl up in my arms for singing and prayers.

I love how when I mess up or try to change the melody in a bedtime song, you notice and look at me funny.

I love how you scwinch up your face and make really loud noises in an attempt to communicate.

I love how you make my life full and exhausting and joyous and loud and messy and wonderful. 

I love you Joshua Nelson Lindeen--and I want everyone to know. I LOVE being your mommy!

Dear Joshua: You Little Person You

Joshua, you are walking!

I absolutely cannot believe how incredibly

impossibly 

adorable 

you are when you find your legs, steady yourself, and toddle across the floor, with a smile plastered on your face that says,

"Mommy Mommy look! I'm so proud of myself! I'm coming to get you!"

Baby boy, Mommy loves you. You look like an ape when you walk, and I love it. You love showing your teeth when you babble authoritatively, and I love it. You grab my legs and rub your face when you're tired, and I love it. You shake with insane amounts of joy when you see someone you love and I love it. 

Joshua Nelson Lindeen, Mama loves you--you little walking man!

Dear Joshua: Where'd you learn that?!

It's so amazing to be a mom, and watch this little person develop right before your eyes. How many times a day does Joshua do something, and I'm like, "What? Where'd you learn that??" The noises he makes, the facial expressions he throws our way, the movements, the obsessions, the mischievousness ... every day is a bundle of surprises with the Little Buddy.

He cracks me up. I find myself with sore abs, not because I'm working out so hard (ha.) but because I'm laughing so hysterically, with great awe and appreciation, at my son, who is a little ham.

Dear Joshua, you make Mommy smile. You make me laugh. You make me cry--with joy. In spite of the obsession with being held by me (which, as frustrating and draining as it is, is pretty darn heart warming and adorable ...) and in spite of your drool, and dirty face, and banana-crusted hair, I can't imagine my days without you.

Yes, it's hard to get stuff done when you are constantly clawing at my knees, or hanging onto my pants. Yes, it's draining and tiring that you still like to see me at least two times during the nighttime. And yes, getting out the door on time is a whole new endeavor, especially when, somehow, EV-ER-Y single time, you get a hold of my keys and won't let go.

But also yes, I love you. Yes, I'd never ever regret YOU. I will take every struggle, every stage, every tantrum, because I know these moments are overwhelmed by the moments of smiles, and cuddles, and exhilarated play, and fascinating discovery, and laughter, and constant pointing and joyous screams, and unadulterated glances of love. You love me--and it's amazing to know that my love can continue to grow and swell each and every day. I will never tire of you, Little Buddy. You are my joy!

Dear Joshua: Mommy Loves Bedtime

Joshua, 

I absolutely love bedtime. Not because I get three-ish hours of time to myself, though that is more amazing than I ever thought possible, but because I love spending time with you in your room. I love zipping you into your sleeper, I love playing with you on the floor, I love chasing you across the room, and dragging you away from the humidifier. I love pulling you into my lap, nursing you one last time, wrapping you all warm and snuggly in a blanket. I love reading you a book, and singing "You Are My Sunshine" and "Have I Told You Lately that I Love You" while you wiggle around and suck on your fingers. I love saying "Sleepy time, Mommy loves you!" over and over and over, and I love when you bend backward in my lap to grin joyfully at Stanley the Monkey. I love saying "Dear Jesus, thank you for Joshua ... Help him to sleep! Amen!" 

But most of all, I love when you heave a sigh, lay your little hand on my shoulder, and rest your cheek on your arm. Your eyes start to droop, your little red lips hang open, and you begin to drift off to sleep. 

And my heart bursts with sheer joy and awe--I am a Mommy, and you are my baby boy. Forever and ever. 

Mommy loves you Little Buddy! 8 months old, and more and more adorable each and every day!

Dear Joshua: No Spitting

Dear Joshua, my beloved son,

I know you think it's hilarious to stick your tongue out, suck in air, and blow raspberries like a boy impersonating an elephant, but it's kinda gross when you do this at dinner time when Mommy has just fed you a large spoonful of carrots.

Carrots stain.

But laughter soothes the soul. And my oh my, dear son, do you make Mommy laugh lately. A lot. And hard.

Erik said to me the other day, "Yeah, I could skip the first four months." And while the Mommy in me immediately says, "Oh but all those cuddly moments when he learned to sleep, and learned to nurse, and learned to smile, and learned to recognize me ..." Yes, all those moments are precious, and the newborn stage is definitely something to remember and cherish ... however, 6 months was a huge break through, and 7 months is amping up to be fairly hilarious.

The impish grins, the silly looks, the excitement of sitting and standing and crawling, and yes, even the spitting--man, this is super fun! Yay Josh!

3 + 3 = 6

Dear Josh: 

I cannot believe the Little Buddy is 6 months old! So much has changed ... you're so alert, active, and developing your own little personality. People kept telling me that as you grow, it just gets better. Well, they're right! What a joy you are in our lives. I tell you all the time--"Joshua, Mommy loves you, and you are my joy! You crack me up!" You are seriously funny. I can't wait to watch you continue to develop into the Little Man you're going to be. 

You're grabby, and smiley. Drooly (oh. so. much. drool.) and giggly. Slightly crabby and very opinionated (I suppose that continues to escalate?) Here are some of my fav pics from the last 3 months, since that last picture blog.