I picked up a smiling Arden from Judi today - she was fairly well-rested, happy and had some food in her belly.  I enjoyed a relatively peaceful ride to preschool. Arden did a lot of babbling back and forth.  She likes it when I imitate the sounds she makes.  The drivers around me look at me like I’ve lost it, but it’s fun for her (and for me, I admit).  We walked into school and I greeted Lily, who was trying to tell me that her “boyfriend” (named #1 for protective purposes) had gotten in trouble TWICE today (at this she dramatically holds up two fingers).  Ms. Bryce was not amused and tried to explain to Lily that we don’t talk about other people’s days - only our own, and that she would be the one to talk to #1’s parents, not her.  Try explaining tattle-tale to Lily.  It’s interesting.  I asked her to put on her jacket - she refused. In retrospect, I think the reason this might have happened was that she doesn’t like to be corrected, especially by her teachers - and she was sulking.  I didn’t really notice.  I asked her again to put her jacket on - she said no again and walked away from me.  I asked her a third time. By now, all of the teachers were looking at her and telling her, “Lily, listen to your mother - we don’t say no to adults like that.”  She pushed her bottom lip out and decided she was really going to put up a stink.

I put Arden on the ground and hoped for the best with her (half the time that Lily acts up at school, I have to put Arden down, just to see her get knocked over by some rambunctious classmate of Lily’s).  I grabbed Lily’s coat and began stuffing her arms into it.  That was all it took.  Full-blown temper tantrum with random punctuating screams of “I WANNA PUT MY JACKET ON MYSELF!  I WANNA DO IT MYSELF!” began.  I grabbed her hands and picked up Arden and dragged them both towards the front door.  Lily’s screams got louder and she decided to sit down.  I had already decided that the next time she tries the sit and scream tactic on me, I would drag her.  She doesn’t like it, so I figured it would get her walking again.  For once, I was right - it worked and she walked.  I took several deep breaths and got them both into the car. 

Arden was staring at Lily like she was an alien life form.  I think she was actually amused by it, but I was afraid to look her in the eye for fear we’d both start laughing at her, which would only have made things worse.  After belting both girls in, Lily really lost it.  She started kicked the car door and passenger seat as hard as possible.  She knows this is a huge pet peeve of mine - I’m always telling her to keep her feet off the seat.  She was kicking so hard, her shoes came flying off and one nearly hit me in the head.  While driving (I know, safety first in the Del Bueno household), I reached over and moved the passenger seat as far forward as it would go.  She continued to kick, flail and scream.  I actually did giggle because when she’s mad like that, she sounds exactly like a gremlin.  Her voice gets really hoarse and growly - kind of like the freaky kid in the Shining when he’s doing his “REDRUM! REDRUM!” voice. 

At home, I took Arden out, unloaded the car, got the mail, and let Lily stew in her juices in the car seat.  I unbuckled her and the tantrum continued inside.  I had a mini-tantrum of my own when I realized she had peed in her pants between school and home.  I changed her into dry clothes, while she kicked and screamed and told me she wanted to put her own pants on.  At one point I may have said, “When you can go to the bathroom by yourself, I’ll let you change yourself!!!” 

30 minutes later and many trips to the naughty step, she calmed down and hugged me and told me she was sorry.  Then she asked me to let her watch a movie.  I pretended I was being videotaped by the Super Nanny and informed her that her behavior did not warrant a movie.  Tantrum #36 began and ended shortly before Mike arrived home. For the rest of the evening, she was helpful, cooperative, and even played a little bit with Arden, who watched the whole thing unfold quietly.  She even told Mike that her “attitude was improved”. 

During our cuddle-time, Lily told Daddy to stay - just like one would to a dog.  To ensure he did stay, she draped her arm over his back while hugging me with the other one.  She then gave him a “booger kiss”.  I asked her to explain. She told me that a booger kiss is what happens when you smooch with a runny nose.  Oh, okay.  We both got booger kisses and were dismissed.  I still love her but nights like tonight it’s really a trial, and I know I am being paid back tenfold for the public tantrums I used to have with my mother.  In fact, one of my first childhood memories is of kicking the crap out of my bedroom wall - I had really funky circus wallpaer and I distinctly remember kicking it as hard as I could with my Stride Rite Mary Janes, and the satisfaction (and fear) of seeing the marks my shoes left.  Sigh.  Why did I have to be so bad? 

I think the parents (and staff) must think I’m insane.  Yesterday Arden had pooped in her pants and it shot up her back.  Judi didn’t have a change of clothes for her, and it was 85 degrees, so she decided to let Arden run around shoeless, sockless, and shirtless.  Her pants stayed on as they were clean.  I had to take her into preschool with me to pick up Lily. You should have seen some of the looks I received when I walked into school carrying a half naked baby who kept patting her belly and screeching loudly with delight.  Welcome to my Wal-Mart universe, people. 

I found out today that Alexis is pregnant with child #2.  She’s due in September.  Congratulations, Alexis!  Welcome to the jungle!  I think hers will be about 2 years apart as well.  It is a lot of fun - especially now that our two are beginning to actually play together.  Alexis and her mother are a financial advisory team at SmithBarney and they are awesome.  We love them personally and professionally. 

I’m signing off for tonight.  I’ll update tomorrow after we meet with builder #2 tomorrow.