Help This Mother

Ackkkkkkk! I need some advice from my fellow parental figures! I don't know if anyone has ever even dealt with this or not. Here is my problem:

My daughter is a stripper.

I don't know what has been going through her crazy little head, but she has been taking off all her clothes at home. And I do mean taking them ALL off. It started on Wednesday. I was making dinner and I thought to myself, "Self, it sure is quiet back there, you'd better go check on Maryn." So I did, and she heard me coming so she jumped into bed and pulled up the covers. I was baffled by this behavior, so I pulled down the covers and she was totally in the buff. I tried not to freak out, put her clothes back on and went back to making dinner. 15 minutes later I came to tell her dinner was ready and she had started to take 'em off again. I tried to explain that there is a time to take off our clothes, like before bath time, or when we change our clothes, but most of the time we need to wear clothes to stay warm and be modest.

Don't worry...this story gets better. Please continue.

The next morning, Maryn wakes up at 7:30. She comes into my room with a big grin on her face and a happy "Good morning!" Peering over the edge of the bed all I could see was her head, so I said, "Good morning! Come snuggle in bed with me for a few minutes." She runs around to the other side of the bed and climbs up. I roll over...and she's completely naked. My message from the previous night obviously didn't get through to her.

As I write this, it's sounding like one of those awful recurring nightmares.

So does anyone have any advice on how to combat this? Is my child showing some kind of signs of trauma or disturbed behavior?? Is she going to be that kid in kindergarten who takes off her clothes in class? She hasn't done anything today, but we've been out and running around all day. The day isn't over yet...anything could happen.

Please, please, please help me.

"Orange" You Impressed??

Yesterday I had a couple of oranges that needed to be eaten up, so I sliced them and put them on the table with dinner. Well, it turned out, oranges not only provide lots of nutritious Vitamin C, but they also supply the entertainment for the evening. We learned lots of new things about our family. Such as: It's really hard for Maryn to keep her eyes open in a picture...and it turns out she gets that from her father. Kade cannot scrunch his lips so that his upper lip touches his nose. I thought everyone could do that. Can you? And, I would look great in a Western movie.

Maryn, a Mustache and a Monocle.

I see you!

See, he can't scrunch that lip.

I think I like the Handle Bar Mustache the best.

ABC Tag

A- Attached or Single: Attached...6 and 1/2 llllllooooooonnnnnnnggggg years. Just kidding.
B- Best Friend: Wow, tough question. I couldn't say that I have one that I would blow off everyone else for, but I do have a few people that I feel are true blue friends to the end.
C- Cake or Pie: Cake and pie
D- Day of Choice: I do enjoy a nice quiet Sunday. I don't feel like I have to do anything. And it's a fun day to have company over.
E- Essential Item (s): Blankets, the slippers my mom knits me, warm meals.
F- Favorite Color: I think it's yellow. I really want a yellow Easter dress for Maryn this year. Haven't found one yet.
G- Gummi Bears or Worms: I'm going to have to take Allison's answer and say Cinnamon Bears. I really want some right now!
H- Hometown: Lousville, KY
I- Indulgence (s): Buying scrapbooking stuff and clothes.
J- January or July: For sure July. I love hot weather.
K- Kids: Maryn, 2 and another on the way.
L- Life is incomplete without: Laughter.
M- Marriage Date: August 4, 2001
N- Number of Siblings: 5; 1 bro and 4 sis.
O- Oranges or Apples: I've always had a thing for Apples. I love braeburn.
P- Phobias or Fears: Feeling like something is completely out of my control and I can't help. Not that I'm a complete control freak. For example, it would be awful to see maryn run out into the road. Things like that, where I can't do anything and am completly helpless. I have a re-occuring nightmare about this stuff.
Q- Quote(s): "If you can't pay-up, then don't put-out." I had a roommate say this to another roommate. We had a rule in our apartment that if you kissed a boy, you had to buy everyone ice cream. I guess my roommate couldn't afford it.
R- Reason to Smile: This is totally crazy, but I like to feel the baby kick. They are still cute and little right now.
S- Season: Summer
T- Tag six: Just whom ever wants to participate
U- Unknown Fact About Me: I lothe green and red peppers. They easily ruin a meal for me.
V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animal: I like animals...they taste good.
W-Worst Habit: I stress out too much. Oddly enough, it's mostly about the things I am not doing because I'm too lazy.
X-X-rays or Ultrasounds: They had a little trouble finding something for "X" eh? Ultrasounds.
Y-Your Favorite Food: Right now I really want some Cinnamon Gummi Bears (thanks Al). I really like healthy foods. Things that make me feel healthy when I eat them b/c they are packed with vitamins. And also I like chocolate.
Z- Zodiac: Libra. I'm a well balanced gal...right.

I Spy With My Little Eye

I was feeling extra crafty yesterday and made this little I Spy Bag for Maryn. This was actually a project I started about 1 and 1/2 ago or so, I just never got it going. We finally made a trip to Micheals and found some small wooden cut-outs to fill it up with for 25 cents each, and some cute lady bug flannel at Walmart. It was pretty easy once I figured out the measurments (I have terrible math skills...you be surprised how much that effects sewing!), and Maryn was pretty eager to help. She seems to enjoy the "spying" so far. I made the objects in her bag a little bit bigger, 'cause, well, she's only 2 years old. The bag ended up being about 8 and 1/2" square with 40 objects to spy. We'll see how well the quality of my sewing skills hold up to a 2 year old.

I'm Dreaming of a White....Valentine's Day?

We got some wintery weather this past week. It wasn't awesome, I'll be the first to admit it. When it started snowing Monday night, I was so excited to take Maryn out and be able to play in it the next morning. Well, first it snowed. Then it started to rain. Then the rain froze on top. So, what we came out to the next morning was a layer of great packing snow, all covered up by a layer of ice. But, since our illnesses have quarintined us to home this week, we bundled up anyway and went outside. Maryn thought it was good fun to throw the ice at me while I shoveled the driveway. Which, by the way, wasn't a very good idea because the only pain relief for sore muscles for a pregnant woman such as myself is Tylenol. It's not ideal.

We did have fun, and it was a nice break from the television. I was sad that we couldn't make a snowman, but I guess that's what we get for living in Kentucky.

Maryn "helping" me shovel. I think I will hire out next time!

Finding icicles on the trees in the back yard.

Too Much Time On My Hands

Well, here it is...another boring ,very cold and windy Monday. Maryn is sick today, so we stayed in and watched a lot of tv and made snakes with playdough. Pretty exciting 'round here. At least it is snowing outside now. That makes the view from my front window very nice.

I had a little bit of extra time on my hands while Maryn took a nap, so I followed my sister, Marybeth's, example and Simpsonized our family. Here is how it turned out:

You can do it, too at www.simpsonizeme.com. Have fun!

Our Alternate Identities

So, I found this little quiz on my friend's Jessie's blog. I thought I'd try it out on us just for kicks.

Emily's Alternate Identities

1.YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)-Gus VW

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)-Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Snickerdoodle (you can call me 3C.D.S. for short)

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name) - E-Rou

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)-Yellow Pig

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)-Rae Sterling

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first)-Rouem

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink)-The Green Milk

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)-Joe Harvey

9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy)-Love Spell Snickers

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names )- LaRae Franklin

11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter)-Butler Butte

12. SPY NAME/BOND GIRL: (your favorite season/holiday, flower)-Summer Lily

13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)-Mango Brassierie

14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree)-Apple Juice Willow

15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”)-The Scrapbooking Tornado Tour

Kade's Alternate Identities

(who I was apparently bugging when asking him all these questions)

1.YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)-Lucy Civic

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)-Mint Chocolate Chip White Chocolate Macodamian Nut

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name) - K-Rou

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)-Blue Lion

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)-Adams Cedar

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first)-Rouka

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink)-The White Dr. Pepper

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)-Clemont Byron

9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy)-Burning Leaves Peanut Butter Cup (Oh so sexy)

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names )- Edward Adams

11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter)-Greenhall Gatlinburg

12. SPY NAME/BOND GIRL: (your favorite season/holiday, flower)-Fall Poison Ivy

13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)-Orange Shortie

14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree)-Yogurt Magnolia

15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”)-The Baseball Card Blue Skies Tour

Fort Roundy

So, when I was a little girl we had this recliner. You know, the kind that reclined (duh) and the little foot thing would pop up when you flipped the lever. Well, I was always a small kid (would you have guessed that?) and being small, I could use the recliner to make a tent. I would recline it a little and put up the foot rest, then throw a blanket over it. Voila! My own personal hiding spot. I'd wiggle up the hole between the foot rest and the chair and climb on to the seat. There wasn't a lot of living space, but I thought it was great. We also used make huge tents out of blankets, stools, chairs and books to hold it all together. Sometimes broomsticks came in handy, too. That was all pretty fun until the books came crashing down on top of our heads. Ah, good times.
Anywho, the reason I'm reminiscing about my childhood is that the other night Kade built a little fort for Maryn to hide in on top of our bed. It was made of the gazillions of pillows on our bed (see they DO serve a purpose!) and our throw blanket. It wasn't the best construction, and I don't think Kade plans on giving up on Endodontics to become a builder, but Maryn sure had fun. We tried to get a few pictures and this was the best we could do: Ah, sometimes I miss being a kid and just playing. I must say, a little bit of the reason I want kids is because I still really like to play and imagine up stuff like this.