Cleese, Clackers, Lions & Bears. Ah-some

Well, that is what it sounds like when a 2 year old (Alice) is trying to say the following words: "cheese, crackers, wine & beer. Awesome." Yes, Alice's favorite snack is cleese and clackers. Her favorite (non-bedtime) book is "cleese book," aka Ratatoulli mini-book about food. The other day, Lizzie and Alice were saying lions and bears back and forth across the table. It was a funny day, especially because when a 2 year old says lions and bears, it sounds like wine and beer. Actually the game may have started with Alice saying wine and beer... Ah-some!

Pop-Pops

In a previous post, Eric wrote about 'Cair', Alice's love of the before-bedtime ritual of 5-15 minutes of time with either mom or dad in the rocking chair.  Officially, it's a time to cuddle and settle down; unofficially, Alice often uses the time to jump in my (or Eric's) lap in a weird sort of cuddle-mosh-lovefest with her bunny and the parent du jour.

Recently, through some joint initiative, Alice and Lizzie have established their own bedtime 'cair' routine.  But it's not called `fair' at all.  It's called "Pop-pops."  (I have no idea why, of course; I never do.  I am an obtuse parent with an opaque atrophied sense of imagination...)

In Pop-pops, Lizzie gets on the rocking chair and invites Alice to climb up with her in a sort of nested straddle, then the two rock together while Lizzie says sweet soothing things to encourage sleep.  In true young-kid fashion, the gentle snuggle quotes suddenly when Lizzie says in a totally matter-of-fact tone, "Okay Alice, that's it.  Tim to go to bed now," while unceremoniously shoving Alice off of the chair.  So sweet.  Sort of, anyway.  We don't raise the bar too high around here!