Have Toddler, Will Travel? Step Two

Now being on vacation for a few days was an unpredictable adventure when I was single, but with a toddler the trick is to make things as familiar as possible. Luckily for me Riley sleeps in a pack and play at day care. For extra security we also had her piggy pillow.

I remember glancing around the veritable toy store that was the "grandchildren's room" and thinking Riley was going to wake up and rush the wall of her pack and play, tip it and charge the toys. There was a fully equipped play kitchen, baby dolls aplenty and all the accessories for baby care, animals enough to fill a zoo and even an Elmo easy chair. She was asleep in the middle of her personal toy heaven.

Unsurprisingly, Riley rose at 6am I was able to talk her into going back to sleep, thank goodness. At 6:50am she was up again and this time she'd gotten a good look around. I let her out and grabbed my camera to document the ensuing glee. She raced around the room from toy to toy yelling "Yeeeee!" It was adorable. I laid in the bed snapping pictures and laughing. She found a whole bucket of baby bottles and rushed around the room feeding every baby and stuffed animal she found.

It was nice to lie down and watch her play. I fantasized about putting a bed in the center of her room. Although, on second thought it may just make me depressed about all the sleep I'm missing out on. Speaking of which, I had Riley dressed, shoes on, and hair done  (Riley had fed every toy in the room) an hour later when we heard people stirring.  She'd already had a busy morning so while the adults shuffled around in p.j.'s with cups of coffee she had fruit and yogurt. Luckily for me they still had a highchair because I had a travel one that didn't make it to the car.

Once she'd put something in her belly she was off to explore. We used to have dwarf hamsters they were sweet little critters and the thing they loved most was to explore. They would dart about their freshly cleaned cage noting everything that had changed. Riley went into full on hamster-mode. She squealed with delight at the ceramic cow collection, the chickens in the yard, the Valentine's Day decorations and all the toys!

Riley's investigation was winding down when breakfast was ready. My little lumberjack ate eggs, grits, and bacon regardless of her snack an hour before. After mentioning Riley's love of dinosaurs my aunt produced a Dora and Diego dinosaur movie from her extensive collection. Riley loves Dora almost as much as dinosaurs so the movie was a big hit. After the movie and some jacks lessons from grandma it was nap time.

Nap time went off without a hitch despite me pushing the wrong button on the unfamiliar CD player and causing only one song rather than the whole CD to repeat. After the nap it was time for Walmart (gulp). I wanted some organic whole milk for Riley. A cooler and snacks would have been a welcome addition on our trip. Somehow I left town with a bag of cut up apples as the only snack option which is ridiculous considering on any given trip to the park I pack more snacks than that and Riley's been eating alot lately.

It was packed of course so it took a couple trips around the parking lot to get a handicapped space. I didn't have my wheelchair because there wasn't room in the car so it was a huge bummer when all the electric carts were taken. See Kati's blog on the subject of electric carts she pretty much hit the nail on the head Kati's Blog So, shocker not an electric cart to be had. I reasoned I could push the cart long enough to get the milk and the big brother gift I needed and then we'd find a bench or something. Needless to say I come out with more than two items, like $70 worth of more.

Some of it was practical like suction cup bowls and milk, but most of it wasn't and none of it was for me. It was the first time I ever regretted bringing Riley down the toy aisle. I'd like to believe it was low blood sugar and too much excitement, but it was bad. She used to just point and babble excitedly until she had something to hold and then all would be quiet. Not this time. Oh, no. She grabbed things I showed her out of my hands hoarded them until her arms where full and cried when I put things back. We were headed out of the toy aisle, mission accomplished and then some, when she spotted a set of Mickey and Minnie Mouse cars. It was ugly. I will admit I made a bad call and let her "look at it", rookie mistake what can I say.

When all was calm again we went to check out where Riley announced with polite, but insistent signing that she was hungry. I gave her lunch before we left, but so goes a growth spurt. I let her choose between Cheetos and crackers because that's what that had at the check out besides candy. I opened the bag and thrust it at her, but she had apparently decided this was not what she wanted after all. Annoyed and wearing down, myself, I passed her to grandma who deposited her in the now empty cart and that's when I spotted a pouch of applesauce, score! She sucked it dry and then started on the Cheetos before we had gotten out the door.

When we got home grandma plucked Riley down in the front yard and ever cautious my Roo stood silently watching the chickens for a few moments. When they came closer she proudly held up her new bath baby doll. It was really cute until she was screaming, really screaming. My mom yanked her out of the dirt gave her a quick look and put her in my arms. She hadn't seen any sign of injury. She told me that Riley had tripped and scared the rooster. After a minute I saw a red puffy area on the side of her face. Every mom knows that cry, the one that turns your blood cold because they only use in when they're really hurt and terrified. My panic spread to my mother who ran insdie the house. By the time everyone rushed out I reassured them that it was a pretty minor injury. "Oh good!" my aunt exclaimed "Because I was screaming for him to get the shoot gun."

In the end after a few terrifying moments it was clear they had scared each other and in his haste to get away poor Mr. Rooster had stepped on Riley's head and broken the skin. It's moments like these I miss breast feeding the most. I used to be able to make it all better so easily, but no more. She was washed and Neosporin-ed and off to play shortly. I felt guilty that she'd scared everyone. My aunt explained that roosters can be very overprotective husbands to their hens and once they attack they become dangerous to people. I reassured her yet again that niether Riley or her rooster had been aggressive.

After dinner Riley took her new bath baby in the bath tub. Their bath tub and all it's fixtures are so shiny and new they were reflective. Riley thought it was hilarious to be able to watch herself splash and play. I wish I had video! It totally over-shadowed the dolly I got her thinking bath time in a different tub would be easier with a new toy. Silly me.

It was a long day and she went right to sleep and I wasn't far behind. I hadn't really recovered from Friday, had done alot more walking than I intended and it was a rainy day so my joints were aching. I was also aware that it would be another early morning. Vacationing with a toddler is remarkably similar to staying at home there's no extra sleep and minimal TV that isn't animated.

Our hosts were truly amazing they made us feel right at home. I aspire to be a gracious host in a spacious house. It was lovely not to have to worry about meals or what the boys were up to, and I didn't.

Sign of the Times

I have never subscribed to the "children should be seen and not heard" philosophy. I have vivid memories of how painful and frustrating being ignored as a child was. I always hoped for a smart and eloquent child. Not being able to express yourself clearly is so frustrating and leads people to all kinds of false assumptions about your manners and intelligence.

I find myself humbled by karma alot as a mother. There are so many ill-informed judgments I made before I had children that I find myself on the receiving end of now. Apologies universe I had no idea what parenting was really like. For example my dad recently expressed dismay that I had "taught Riley these weird hand signals." He went on to explain that "it would be better if I just taught her to talk."

Thanks, Dad. First of all those "weird hand signals" are American Sign Language. I didn't instruct my toddler to conduct Mozart, coach softball or land fighter jets. Secondly, I am teaching her to talk. It is my first priority (at least until potty training gets more serious). I need her to be able to tell me, or any adult, what she needs that is why I taught her a few signs.

As Miss Roo crept closer to her first birthday a disturbing pattern of screeching at Mommy emerged, especially when she was hungry. At which point I taught Riley the signs for more and eat. That helped my ear drums and stress level immensely. When she was old enough to eat all her meals in a high chair she started screaming to be let out (or later throwing food) when she was done. I decided then it was time to teach her the sign for all done.

At this point she does more, eat, all done and sometimes please. That's 4 signs I see on a regular basis. Do you want to guess how many words I hear everyday?  Mama, Dada, Shooz (shoe), Peezz (please), Out, Baah (Boom), Bruder (brother), Bath, Yes, No etc We're probably talking at least 10 words I hear daily not counting copious animal noises. When you start talking about words I used to hear all the time, but don't anymore there's Hair, Duck, Ho (Hold), Help, Pretty, Good etc. There's also things I've heard once or twice in proper context and then never again like Clock, Wipes, Mad, Gasses (Glasses), etc. Riley's vocabulary is pretty good for someone her age and more important than that her cognitive abilities blow my mind.

You can say "Riley, go get your pink shoes please." and she'll bring you want you requested. If I say "Do you want to go take a bath?" she walks to the bathroom. If I ask "where's Dada?" she knocks on our bedroom door. It's so amazing how quickly the human brain becomes aware. It's so much quicker than the ability to speak develops fully.

So, to my former single judey wudey self, my dad and the rest of the folks who have disdain for baby signs wait until you have a toddler red faced and shirking for 5min on end and your every attempt to appease them fails and then tell me what you think. In the end parenting is all about what works for you and your little one and this works wonders for Riley and I. It makes fussy periods shorter because we have to guess less. It helps babysitters who are less familiar with her routine. It shows her how much easier life is when she can communicate (which encourages her to talk). I've even had her sign and speak a word at the same time. Perhaps the most important thing to me is that it's an early introduction to manners. I love polite children.

At this point more has become the sign for all occasions. When she's hungry, wants you to read the book again, wants to go higher on the swing or needs more tickles. I'm trying to teach her new signs so she can answer when I say "more what, Riley?". I'm trying to tech her milk, juice, play and outside. We'll see how it goes. Sometimes I'll ask her while signing if she wants more and she'll answer with the word and no sign.

No worries, talking is not an issue for Miss Roo. I'm sure I'll miss this stage, soon when she communicates in full sentences and every declaration isn't a surprise. I love hearing her voice, but more than that I love that there are fewer tears when she can just tell me what she wants one way or another.