That's Not Pizza!

Dinner time with a toddler can be so amusing.

My Little Monkey  happens to be fairly picky about the foods he will actually allow to pass his lips.  Of course he has his favorites....oddly enough his happens to be salsa with a small side of chips.  But we can' have chips and salsa (or even tacos) for dinner every night, so we have been making increasingly stronger attempts at getting him to try  new foods.

Even knowing that he won't so much as touch a food, we will stick some of it on his plate.  Most nights he manages to dump the plate upside down before the prayer is over.  We are hoping that eventually he will have seen a food enough times to get curious and taste it.

One food we recently succeeded in convincing him to try was pizza.  And surprisingly, he didn't spit it out.  (Hurray!)  Yesterday, we had pizza again and  he at 1 1/2 slices!!! (which is actually kind of a lot for him).  Early this morning, he asked to have pizza again.  Of course, I told him we would not be having pizza for dinner again because we had it yesterday.

Because of school/work circumstances, today became one of those as-easy-as-it-can-be dinners...meaning we had mac and cheese.  Of course we put some on his plate (before the prayer so it could cool).  No sooner had we closed our eyes than the plate got dumped.  During the prayer he leans over and whispers to me, "I want chips and salsa.....chips and salsa."  After the prayer, we scooped the mac and cheese back up onto his plate and told him he didn't have to eat it if he didn't like it, but he did have to look at it.

Then he did something unusual......he sat down.  After a minute he he casually put his right elbow on the table and put his chin in his hand and asked "What food we got for dinner?"

I replied, "We have mac and cheese for dinner."

In total innocence (still with his chin in his hand) he says, "That's not pizza."

Jake and I just burst out laughing.  Yes, Little Man, mac and cheese is not pizza.

Adventures in the Bathroom

Did you know, it is quite possible the bathroom is the most entertaining room in your house???

Don't believe me?  Let's examine some evidence from a toddler's point of view (okay, Mom of a toddler's point of view).

1- Bathrooms have toilets.  Toilets are a pretty essential aspect of the bathroom, but its normal function for adults is just the beginning of the adventures to potty-training toddlers.  And let's face it, the adventures with toilets begin long before the potty-training.  In addition to being a place to potty, you can also read on the toilet (Sheep in Jeep is a great one), you can clean a toilet (which probably means you'll need to mop the floor---but Mom might freak out if you use the readily available water from the toilet).  You can climb on toilets (made easier if you put the lid down first).  Perhaps most importantly, you can flush the toilet, and what toddler doesn't enjoy that?

2- The bathroom houses the toilet paper.  Toilet paper has some obvious uses, but to a toddler the possibilities are endless.  For example, most adults only use a small amount of toilet paper per visit.  Toddlers on the other hand find joy in putting square after square after square into the toilet.  If you're lucky, your parents will be distracted just long enough to enjoy putting the whole roll into the toilet!  (Not to mention the fact that putting toilet paper in the toilet means you'll need to flush it!)

3- Toilet paper is long.  If you have a semi-straight shot at it, you can get the toilet paper from the bathroom on the north end of the house to the wall on the south end of the house in about 3 seconds.  (It only takes a little longer if you have corners to maneuver).  But the best part is, if Mom is busy with the baby, you can probably make two or three runs and get the whole roll out before she can stop you.

4- Bathrooms have showers.  Most toddlers don't actually like showers because the water sprays on their heads.....however, shower-heads make spreading water all over the bathroom  really fast!  Additionally, Moms and Dads typically do like showers which provides adequate time to explore EVERYTHING they have told you not to touch in the past week.

5- Bathrooms have bathtubs.  Unlike showers, many toddlers LOVE baths.This is a great time to play with the tub toys provided by Mom and Dad.  Once you have become bored with the designed functions of the tub toys, most of them make great splashing tools for soaking Mom and Dad.  Most likely, you'll have to suffer through Mom or Dad using a cup to dump water on your head.  DO NOT BE DISMAYED, most likely, they will forget to take the cup with them when they go to check on your baby sister.  You can then use the cup to relocate the water from the tub to the floor!

6- Bathrooms have sinks.  Sinks are like mini bathtubs, but you don't have to take your clothes off to use them (and soggy clothes are great for carrying water all over the house!).


7- Bathrooms have mirrors. Mirrors are awesome.  They show a reflection of the MOST ADORABLE person in the world!  They also make a great surface for artwork (soap is usually a readily available paint substitute).  Not only will you be able to enjoy your reflection and artwork at the same time, you'll probably also get to hear Mom's screams of delight when she discovers your master piece.

8- Bathrooms have soap.  Not only is soap a great paint substitute (see above), it is great for making bubbles!  The more the better.  Pump soap has become quite  popular in recent years and is of course the best for bubble-making.  These bubbles can be used to enhance your artwork, add embellishments to your face, put on your hair like a hat, eaten, or just spread all over.

9-Bathrooms have makeup.  Makeup is great.  Most Mom's put makeup on and you can barely tell.  That is SO BORING!  Makeup was designed to be seen.  Mascara is the best because you can make war faces with it.

10- Last, but certainly not least: Bathrooms have toothbrushes and toothpaste.  Many parents will buy you your own wonderfully tasting toothpaste and attempt to brush your teeth with it.   Don't let them!  That is such a waste of toothpaste!  Toothpaste should be generously applied to the toothbrush and used to enhance the artwork on the mirror.  Once the master piece is completed you can use it to detail the toilet (Mom will be so grateful!).

Picture of the bathroom that prompted the blog post....please note the foggy mirror covered in soap and lotion and the gathered up toilet paper on the back of the toilet.