Watching Elmo movies at Chez McDougall-Foster doesn’t just involve watching the 45 minutes or so of furry red manic monster (insert object Elmo is thinking about today!) love, but also previews of other Sesame Street films.

For who knows what reason (seeing as her mother rather, ahem, dislikes country music), Lucy picked up on this cowboy song from the preview of Elmo’s World Wild Wild West! Travis Tritt sings about Pecos Bill:

 

This has become The Song That We Brush Our Teeth To. Except we never sing about Pecos Bill. We sing about Pecos Everybody Else in the Family, Including Friends and Daycare Buddies: Pecos Mummy, Daddy, Spencer, Papa, Aunte Jenni, Uncle Marky, Auntie Michele, Gramie, Eirinn, Pearl, Julia, Mac, Tyler and Joshie. Recently, she’s moved on to inanimate objects, including toothbrush, toothpaste and pink cup.Oddly, my parents — Nana and Grandpa — are never part of Pecos Everybody. I think it’s because they have the Kids’ Favourite Country Songs DVD at their house — Lucy calls it “Chicken Elmo” — and Lucy knows they are already rootin’ tootin’ enough.

(One time, that movie made it to our house, and we watched it, and I almost died. Elmo + country twang = head explosion. As much as we sacrifice and do stuff for our children, the line has to be drawn somewhere. That movie is banned from here, and remains a special Nana/Grandpa House treat.)

What needs to be immortalized is the image of either Eric or I sitting cross-legged on the carpet in front of the bathroom door (blocking any escape route, you see…), singing “Pecos ________” in deep country voices, while Lucy perches on her white and blue Ikea step stool, toothbrush protruding from her lips, shaking her chubby butt to the beat.

Another completely unfathomable aspect of parenthood. Priceless.

Know the story/song No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed?

No? Here, Lucy can teach you:

I was watching the news tonight (with Lucy, who was quietly reading books on the floor and could not see the television THANKGOD) when this story came on and made me literally sit up and shriek.

Apparently this “ritual” makes children grow up big and strong. I wonder how many are afraid of heights and don’t trust their parents?

Lucy shares her genetics. Have we been practicing this a lot so we can make our child perform showcase her natural talent to the entertainment of all?

Perhaps.

The party, by toddler standards, was a success.

(See more photos on the Durham Region Baby flickr account here.)

We kept it small this year — just immediate family — unlike last year’s decorated, invitationed, large-attendee affair. Lucy did, however, get a new dress. A dress with buttons down the front that no one could predict would create a strip show and gut wrenching entertainment at the end of the night.

Lucy “Wow!”-ed over all her presents from our super generous families: money for her education fund, movies, tons of stickers and art supplies (including a handmade apron that holds crayons, from my sister), books (this one — best EVER — is now known as “Doggie Poops” because of the yellow lab that’s squatting; two more Little People flap books!; Dora and more), movies, adorable spring clothes, funds to paint Lucy’s bedroom

For dinner, I made chicken chili, served with fancy schmancy bread and old cheddar cheese (that yummy stuff that’s tart and makes your mouth feel dirty. Mmmmm). While I love entertaining, I have to admit I still have a lot to learn about portion. Everyone had food and was full, but there definitely could have been more.
(Note to self: MAKE MORE FOOD.)

Lucy spent dinner wanting more bread. She spent the time between dinner and dessert wanting cake. She ate her cake. Then she mashed it all over her tray and down the side of her chair. Typical toddler. I take it as a sign the food was good.

Did I mention I made carrot cake? With cream cheese icing? Do you know how much cream cheese icing I ate last Saturday?

After dinner, Lucy and her Auntie Jenni started dancing in the office. Before we knew it, my daughter was popping open the buttons on the front of her dress. Was she hot? Was she practicing (un)dressing skills? Was she EGGED ON BY FAMILY? Yes, yes and yes. Soon, she was leading us in a Benny Hill-inspired chase:

High on cake and all the attention, Lucy was soon screeching through the house clad only in tights and Robeez. The party could not have ended on a better note.

Best. toddler. birthday. party. ever.

Lucy woke up from her nap today asking for popcorn.

Since she was a first born, she’s always been quite scared of loud noises such as the vacuum, electric beaters and hair dryer. It’s only been in the past two months or so that we can even use said objects — which Lucy calls “no noise” — while she’s awake or in the house.

We make our popcorn with an authentic air popping machine which makes its own level of racket. Lucy was understandably terrified of it when we first turned it on, but once the popcorn started flying out, she was so excited. Now she sits in our arms, leaning over the clear hard plastic cover to watch the kernels circle around in the hot air before popping.

So today, on our first Family Day, we had to do what has become a weekend tradition. Here, Lucy explains how it’s made:

Day 18: 29 Days of the Everyday

Day 10: 29 Days of the Everyday

My special friend and former co-worker, Christy, introduced us to Sandra Boynton just a few months after Lucy was born.

I’m sure most of you know of her famous books, including The Bellybutton Book and Snuggle Puppy (a love story). If you don’t, pick some up — they’re hilarious and have some excellent adult-geared humour woven in, a favourite element of mine for any children’s books, movies etc.

Lucy, for whatever reason, really attached to Moo Baa La La La. Now she can recite parts of it with us. When she says la-la-la (with her tongue outside her mouth instead of in — how charming!), we know exactly what she means. Doing this little routine has helped us through many a long car ride.

Hope Santa is good to all of you. Drink lots of wine to make it through the holidays! I will raise my glass to each of you, my special friends (really, I just want a somewhat plausible excuse to toss back a ton of booze…).

Posting will happily be light this week as I take an Eric-enforced, much-need vacation from the computer to be with family.

Please enjoy Lucy’s tour of our tree (made famous on Parent Hacks!) and special message — and have a Merry Christmas!

Last night, in bed.

(Sorry to disappoint — it’s not THAT kind of post)

Carly: I can’t wait to be home all day tomorrow with Lucy. I’ve really missed her the past few days.

Eric: *snorts. rolls eyes*

Carly: What?!

Eric: You’ll be calling at 5 p.m. begging me to come home early, like you do almost every Friday.

Maybe he’s right, because OMG IT’S A LITTLE LOUD AROUND HERE:

We’re actually having a terrific day together. Lucy is behaving and listening, doling out millions of kisses, and being cute and clever. I’m so proud to be her Mum-Mum today.

Have a great weekend!

We’ve pushed manners on Lucy for as long as I can remember.

The last thing I want is for her to be That Kid (making us Those Parents) the one who steals the last piece of cheese off your plate, snarfs it down while you stare in bewilderment, then scurries away to go smack Junior upside the head before knocking his tower of blocks over.

At least we’ve taught her how to say please (a circle on her chest via sign language), thank-you (kake-u) and you’re welcome (gum) if she’s going to be a jerk (which she isn’t. Usually. Except last night during dinner when she smushed an entire chicken ball, mittfull of low mein and three mushroom slices in her hands like Play-Doh, then tossed them in the air like confetti. Hooray flying Chinese food!):

(Filmed on Halloween night during dinner — don’t you love Julia’s handiwork?!)