Nicknames: Addie

It feels like forever since my last blog, but it actually wasn't all that long ago. I think everything around here is just changing so quickly that I'm desperate to pin it down before we move on to our next big adventure o' the week.

One thing that is changing around here are the nicknames that we call our babies by on a daily basis. Nicknames are a currency of love around here, and both kids have a lot of them.They also reveal a lot about what is going on in our house at any given moment. This post is all about Miss Adelaide's current nicknames and the next one will be about Graydon.

For instance, I used to call Addie "Sweetness" all the time. And now I'd say I tend towards "Addie-tude" a lot more often. That probably doesn't need an explanation but here it is anyway: Sister rocks a mean attitude these days. She knows what she wants and she wants it yesterday...with sprinkles on top. I spend about half my day thinking she is the cutest thing on Earth and the other half praying to God for the serenity not to spank the bejesus out of her hind end.

Scenario 1: Addie likes to play in the dog food. Addie is not allowed to play in the dog food. Addie knows this full well. Addie does it anyway.

One particular day she crept away to strew dog food all over the sunroom several times (each time I was nursing) because I kept forgetting to close the door after I'd let our panting dogs have access to their water. She did this at night, after Tim was home,and I thought "Oh thank heavens, the Enforcer can deal with it." So down to the sunroom goes Tim, full of righteous irritation and wearing a stern face. He confronted our darling daughter by saying "Addie. Why are you in the dog food? You know this is wrong." She looked at him and said "I'm crazy!" Down goes stern face in a flood of laughter. So much for that.

Scenario 2: I'm sick as a dog on Friday evening and I'd called my husband, filled with a faint but desperate hope that he'd be home soon. He informs me that he is not even close to being done, thus invoking Residency Law #4: Thy spouse will never have a short day when thou art sick. I haul my aching carcass into the shower, hoping that this will refresh me enough to get through the four hours until bedtime because Residency Law #12 has already been invoked that day: Thy children will never nap when thou art sick. I put on a movie for Addie and take Graydon into the bathroom with me. Normally, Addie is very intent on any TV time that she gets. I get out to perfect silence and silently thank God because I know she has fallen asleep.

Not so much. No, Addie has opened the fridge and is cracking eggs all over the floor and rug. When I asked (ok, maybe I shrieked) what she was doing, she calmly said "Easter Eggs."

Looks contrite, doesn't she? Or not!













She is into everything. Every.Thing.

Spare moment? Oh, I'll just run some water in the sink, strip down, and play. No problem.














Bored in the car? Do a little face painting to pass the time.



















I posted a video at the bottom of the post that details another escapade where she slipped outside after her nap. The ability to open doors and drawers is seriously an overrated achievement. Parents, keep your children ignorant for as long as you can.

And tantrums? Addie-tude loves a good tantrum, preferably where she can watch herself. A favorite place is in front of our French doors where she can really appreciate the effect of her screaming and rolling and kicking. Or in front of our oven. Or in a department store in front of a mirror. Honest to goodness, she will carry on in Oscar worthy fashion, pause to take in the effect, and then renew her efforts. It's unreal.

This stuff is funny but it's also totally wearing because NOTHING affects her discipline wise. I've spanked. I've yelled. I've "timed her out" a gajillion times. I've ignored. I've cajoled. I've bribed (this works). I'VE LOST THE BATTLE OF WILLS. TO A TWO YEAR OLD.

So, now we have a new plan. We're doing some research and deciding on a discipline plan that both Tim and I will practice all the time. Right now our discipline really varies from parent to parent and according to our level of patience at the time. So we're going to read all about the Love and Logic approach and go from there. We have some friends that have really praised that approach, so we'll see how the Ewalds fare with that. Because we've lost the battle, but not the war! Yet.

The other big nickname for Adelaide these days is "Princess". We didn't raise Addie to be a "diva", but apparently that is who she is. She wants to wear a skirt or a dress every single day.

At the playground in her tutu













She has two Disney Princess nightgowns that I have to sneak into the wash. And she wants to wear her patent leather Mary Janes or her fuchsia Crocs every single day. She actually hid her sneakers.
She loves tutus, glitter, makeup, stickers, fairies, ballerinas, and princesses. Oh, and unicorns. We seriously discuss all of these things about 12 time a day.

Covered in stickers in one of her favorite nightgowns


















I honestly don't mind this, and frankly, I think it's pretty adorable.We just wanted her to be empowered to do whatever she wants and if she wants to be a cheerleader instead of the basketball player, I've got no issue with that. There are a lot of different ways to be a girl and I love this really "girly girl" aspect of her personality.

If you find it hard to believe that this face belongs to the author of so much chaos....















Well, so do we. But we wouldn't change her for the world.















I'll talk about Graydon in my next post...but here's a sneak peek of Mr. Wonderful.



















And here is the promised video of more Addie shenanigans. The batteries died but her answer to my question "Do you think this is a good idea?" is "This fun."