The wonder of The Wonder Pets

Do all you toddler mommies know about this show? The Wonder Pets is on Nick Jr. weekdays at 10:30 am (where I live, anyway), and is just about the cutest little kids' show out there. Less bizarre than Yo Gabba Gabba, less (WAY less) annoying than Barney, more entertaining than Thomas the Tank Engine, the Wonder Pets live in a preschool classroom and leave the room, after the class is gone, to help animals in trouble around the world. If your little one hasn't met them, they're definitely worth checking out. I promise you'll find yourself singing the theme song without realizing it at some point.

There you have it: a review of a preschool TV show. This is what my life has come to. I love it!

Speaking of Thomas, though, this show has definitely become one of Jack's favorites too. He asks for it by pointing to the TV and saying "Doo Doo?" (Only a parent could know that's not referring to a poopy diaper, but is Jackspeak for "Choo Choo". Oddly enough, he can say "choo" when he's pretending to sneeze, but it doesn't carry over to the train sound for some reason). It's funny to me that a month or so ago, he couldn't have cared less about Thomas - didn't even give it a second glance if I put it on. Now, though, he could watch it all day if I let him. And let's face it, if I've had a lousy night's sleep (which I often do), sometimes I let him watch a few episodes that I've recorded on the DVR (I love that thing) so I can lay down with my feet up for a little while. Sir Topham Hatt needs to lighten up.

What's with all the parenthetical comments (the ones like this) in this post?

Have you guys noticed the poll over there on the right? Not only is the girl vote way higher than the boy vote, but there are only 38 days left to vote. 38 DAYS, PEOPLE! That's when this baby is due! Holy cannoli! Are you curious about the names we have picked out? Should I share them or let the suspense build?

Right now, Baby T. has the hiccups for the third time today. (What's up with that, anyway?)

Hail to the Cheeks

I've already mentioned how much I love Jack's buns, but I'm just going to say it again. We let him have some diaper-free time at my Mom's house last night before he got in the bathtub, and we were both in hysterics at the sight of that tiny little tushie walking around. It is the cutest thing! (Yes, he's going to hate me when he's older.)

Today I met a friend at the mall for a playdate with her niece, Elizabeth, and I just have to say that little girl has the sweetest face. I could just kiss her cheeks all day, and I don't know how her Mommy hasn't eaten them right off her face, but she's definitely exercised some serious self-control in that area. Jack has his Daddy's metabolism, fortunately for him, so there's just not a lot of extra chub there for me to munch....not that I don't still kiss his face like it's my job. (It is.)

Anyway, today being Presidents' Day, I thought I'd talk about cheeks and chiefs. I find it interesting that we only celebrate the birthdays of two of our nation's presidents. Actually, it's interesting that we celebrate any of their birthdays at all, but that we just chose two is curious to me. Not that they weren't great Presidents who changed the course of our country dramatically and for the better, but I'm just saying. My sister sent me an e-card this morning that said it was a good day to learn which presidents are on our currency, and it reminded me of my promise to myself just to learn the presidents. In chronological order. I'm ashamed to say that I would fail that portion of the U.S. citizenship test. I've told myself several times that I would do it. Oprah would tell me that I'm lying to myself each time I do, but does Oprah know the presidents? That's what I'd like to know.

I probably shouldn't tell you, but I also can't label all 48 contiguous states on a map of the U.S. either. I can get the majority of them, but it's all those rectangular midwestern states that get me. Am I a prime example of the failure of our American public school system? Perhaps, but I can tell you how lightning bugs reproduce, how to say "leave me alone" in French, and a thing or two about Newton's laws of motion. And when you're skidding out of control on an icy road, would you rather know where Kansas is, or how to avoid that oncoming telephone pole? I ask you.

What things do you wish you'd learned?

My funny Valentine

I love Jack's funny faces. He's usually not even trying to be funny - and that's what makes them funnier. I often try to get a picture of him sitting still and smiling. It seems like an easy task, considering the kid smiles about 90% of the day, but it's the sitting still part that's hard. He never sits still - EVER. Well, unless he's watching Winnie the Pooh, but then he's usually not smiling because he's so engrossed in the story. And if I make him sit still without Pooh, then he doesn't smile because he doesn't like it. Are you following this, people?

So the other day, I attempted once again to have him stay still and smile. And once again, I failed. I did catch a few funny pictures, though, and thought they might make you laugh.

It doesn't look like it, since he does it by pulling the corner of his mouth back, but in this one, Jack is doing the "oo" part of his monkey sounds. You know, "oo-ooo-ah-ah-ah". He does this every time he sees any of the four remote controls (see "Pet Peeves", below), in an effort to get us to put on his Baby Einstein DVD that has world animals. It's hosted by a monkey puppet. Please note, he does this sound even if he sees a remote while the DVD is actually playing.

Here is how we play peek-a-boo. He's always got one eye uncovered or is peeking out between open fingers. I think he's afraid he might miss something. He starts the game by doing this and then asking "Oh?"

This is Jack's response to my asking "How big are you?" It always results in my tickling his armpits, which he loves. And yes, he did pick up my cup of coffee and spill it - cold - down the front of his white shirt. Pretend you don't notice.

And here's my little Calvin Klein model. I can't stand how cute his butt looks in these jeans and I'm wondering if that's weird. Do other mommies think their kids have cute buns?

An idea for a nature documentary...

Nature plays a cruel, cruel trick on a pregnant woman in her third trimester. It's at this time that the baby in her belly is gaining weight at the fastest rate, and carrying all that weight around in the front results in her tending to lean back a bit to counter-balance. Her graceful stride is replaced by an awkward, inefficient waddle. Her hips, legs, feet, and lower back really feel the brunt of this extra weight and balancing maneuver. If she has a toddler to chase around throughout the day, by the time she gets that child to bed, the word "exhausted" is the understatement of her lifetime. She can't wait to crawl into bed, put up her throbbing feet, and rest.

And there's the rub, for there is no place less relaxing at this point in her pregnancy.

Rest eludes her as she struggles to find a comfortable position, tossing and turning amidst a sea of strategically-placed pillows. Her hips ache if she lies on her side - relaxin hormone has caused the pelvic bone to stretch and ache. She is forbidden to lie on her back lest she compress an artery that would cut off blood flow to her developing baby, and her stomach is simply not an option at this point. As such, she is forced to lie propped up, practically sitting up in her bed. A perpetual case of shank-neck is guaranteed as her head flops from one side to the other. She wakes to use the bathroom, and to reposition herself or her pillows several times each night. Getting in and out of bed each time is an ordeal, and if she wakes up anytime after 4 am, she may opt to stay awake rather than fight the losing battle for another hour or two of fitful sleep.

It is after a few weeks of this that she begins to hope that her baby comes before its due date. Once she sees that little face, all the pain will be worth it. Until then, though (and actually for the next several months afterwards) she will dread the night.

Think I can sell it to the Discovery Channel?