Babels on the Narrow Road: no, No, NOOO

June 03, 2010

no, No, NOOO

i had such a busy month, i don't even know where to begin! perhaps i should just tell you "no, No, NOOO" and post some pictures, since i have MASTERED the art of saying that phrase to mommy & daddy (and they thought i was this unique kid that was not going to use that fabulous two letter word!). i actually prefer to refer to my behavior by its technical term, "toddler refusal".

bouts of my behavior spike when in public, especially when my parents are not paying attention to me (can you believe they want to speak with each other and not with me?!). it also occurs when i am tired, and of course while in public. but don't be deceived, i'm fine with displaying toddler refusal at home, especially when they want to change my diapers.

for mother's day, i thought it would be appropriate to 'gift' mommy over dinner with a healthy dose of "no". while the below picture looks "nice", just realize it was the START of dinner, and not one hour later, which is when we all rushed out of the restaurant to attend to my "needs" :)

i went on my very first camping trip two weekends ago, where traces of toddler refusal were no where to be found! i got to sleep in a tent with my very own sleeping bag, and play outside to my heart's content! i ate around the campfire and even managed to maintain my nap & evening sleep routine. i was given freedom (as i rightly deserve) and (mostly) played well with my other friends that were camping with us. i gave hugs, kisses, high-fives, fist bumps, climbed trees, grazed stumps, saw blue jays & a banana slug, ate bacon (!! .. all thanks to daddy for this), played with trucks, and at the end of all it all, somehow came home with NINE spinters in my hands (6 on my right hand & 3 on my left)! maybe it was this tree that i climbed that gave it to me? :) off to urgent care i went, where my hands were soaked in salt walter, my body wrapped like a mummy, and daddy, mommy & a nurse pinned me down while the doctor did her thing. i wailed.

i slept VERY well that night, and the very next day i was europe bound. while i love playing with airplanes, and making their noises, i have to say, they are uncomfortable and restrictive! and so began our week trip to venice -- little sleep and toddler refusal at its max :) ah, my poor, amateur parents. i think some 'veteran' friends need to coach these poor souls into some common sense. what were they thinking traveling with a toddler to italy?!?

ok, maybe i'm being a little over dramatic. the fresh pasta and gelato (yes, they let me eat it!) were fantastic. the backpack they lugged me around day after day will never be seen as "fun" again. the vaporettos (public boat transportation) are slightly over rated, though were a good medium for my beauty sleep. the best part of the gondola ride was the brass horse which i hugged and love to death.

lido venice had an wonderful sand, which i played in for a long time! the adriatic sea was not my cup of tea. by far, the best part of venice, was this play structure we found while at an outlet mall!!

after a 24-hour return travel day, i was delighted to see all my toys again, along with my crib. after one day of rest, i celebrated the final milestone of mommy & daddy having full legal custody over me -- my final adoption hearing day! i got to wait in a courtroom, and enter the judge's chamber! i sat quietly and patiently as mommy & daddy vowed to love me through all my toddler refusals, and hand over their "stuff" to me should anything happen to them (it's my understanding they don't have anything to hand over!!). papers were signed and i got to choose a toy to take home!!! oh, i also got to wave an american flag all morning :) here i am in the courtroom practicing waving my flag.