Miscellaneous updates...

Had our last ballet class today - Haley has expressed interest in continuing, so I'll investigate schedules for fall. We've started an art class, and Haley enjoys that, too. They read a story and then do an art project related to the story. Last week they made caterpillars and this week they made dinosaurs. Fun!

Haley continues to crack me up with her phrases and language. Latest giggles include: "unusual" as in "that's a very unusual salad, Mom"; a very grown up "Thanks, Mom"; "I need a little love, Mom" when she needs to snuggle (a personal favorite); "that's gross" (very valley-girl); and, as she wrinkles up her little nose, "something doesn't smell very good."

I also laugh when she imitates me so well. Lately, she's been giving me choices. Toddlers are infamous in throwing tantrums when told what to do, so a popular means of avoiding them is to always offer 2 acceptable choices. Do you want the red plate or the green one? Lately, the choices are getting more sophisticated: "you don't have to wash your hands, Haley, but you can't leave the bathroom until you do. Your choice." So now, Haley randomly gives me choices "Mom, you have two choices. You can either wash the dishes or play with crayons." It never fails to crack me up.

And lastly, a poor Haley and poor Mom story. You know going into parenthood that you will eventually have to deal with your child making a mess or breaking something in a store. Haley introduced that one to me with gusto. We were in a beauty supply store getting shampoo and I sat her on the counter while I paid. There was a display of tissue packs on the counter and she took one out, then tried to replace it. In replacing it, the tissue display pushed another display behind it off the counter with a crash. What do you think it was? Not tissues, but nail polish! At least a dozen bottles of different colored nail polish crashed to the floor and shattered, splattering colors all over the tile and carpet. You can't even believe my horror. Luckily, the employees of the store were very cool and understanding - didn't even make me pay for the broken bottles. They were more concerned with Haley, who didn't stop screaming until at least 15 minutes after we left the store. She kept wailing "What did I do?" Poor darling, it really was an accident. Can't decide if I should give my loyal business to the store forever for being so nice about it, or avoiding it forever out of sheer embarrassment...