The Curious Georges

The Toddler Whisperer

I just checked on the boys and they're asleep ... drumroll please ... in their beds!  Are the planets aligned or are they just in a compliant mood?  I have a one-word answer:  Dora.  Dora is our wonderful nanny and she has a way with my wild things.  They actually nap for her.  They usually sit in their seats during meals when she's around.  They listen to her.  How does she do it?  I honestly don't know, even though I've tried to uncover her secrets.  Even when I follow her instructions to the letter, it just doesn't work.  One day scientists will de-mystify the phenomenon of children behaving for everyone, except their parents.  Maybe if I had the name of one of their beloved animated characters it would help.  How does Nemo George sound?

Dora & Dane

No, Tank You!

Like the Sade song, even though my kids are Wilder Than Friday Night, they're also Sweet as Cherry Pie.  You'd think that the two traits could not co-exist, but hey, we're in Oz, so flying monkeys can live alongside cute little munchkins.  I'm actually amazed at how these Little Georges have all become so polite and generous.  I guess we're doing something right!

One of the things that's difficult to teach a kid is that even if you ask for something politely, it doesn't mean that you will always get that certain something.  We want to reward our children for good behavior, but there have to be limits.  For instance, Nicole has taken to saying "No, Tank You" as the polite version of "No, No, I won't go!"  She says "No, Tank You" as adamantly as "No, No, I won't go," but since it's under the guise of being polite, she thinks that she will get her way.  We've had full-on tantrums in this manner, especially when she doesn't want to leave the pool.  If it wasn't so aggravating, it would be hilarious.  In fact, it is somewhat funny, but we won't tell Nicole that until she's old enough to read this blog.  In the meantime, Barton and I try to keep our smirks behind our hands.

On another note, I love how Nicole can't pronounce "th."  It reminds me of my Great Grandma, who was born and raised in Pisa, and also had a problem with the "th" sound.  I don't think the sound exists in Italian.  I fondly remember her saying, "Dinner is at Tree-Terdy"  (3:30pm).  I really miss Grandma Giacomini.  She practically raised my dad and she was one of the sweetest, strongest women I have ever met.  She died when I was a freshman in college. 

Nicole politely pushes Logie in the hammock

Don't Fence Me In

Oh, sad day!  Dane has figured out how to scale the baby gates.  We have our family room fashioned into an over-sized playpen, or Baby Prison.  Sometimes the gates seems cruel, but unfortunately, they are always necessary.  I don't call our kids The Curious Georges for nothing.  Those who have seen our house will notice that every room has a latch on it because when the kids are not in "The Pen," they will wreak havoc.  I'm not exaggerating.  Their penchant for trouble-making is legendary.
Prior to yesterday, Dane was able to propel himself over the gate in times of extreme emotion (i.e. tantrums).  The intensity of his emotions would give him the adrenaline he would need to swing over.  Now, he easily slithers over "with impunity," as Barton says.  He doesn't have to be having a fit to do this now.  He just does it because he can and because it's fun.

All of our Little Georges have figured out how to undo the child safety latches so guarding them from hazards is nearly impossible.  Today, Dane got into the sunscreen and sprayed his eyes.  He's fine, but he complained up a storm and even claimed that "he couldn't see."  I'm hoping that this will teach him a lesson, but like Homer Simpson and his donuts, some things are just too tempting, regardless of how much they hurt you. 

Dane also unrolled a whole box of wax paper.  I caught him in the act and he tried to run away, but stepped on the wax paper, which slipped on the hardwood floors.  High hilarity ensued.

Logie and Nicole can't scale the gates, but with Brother Dane gone, Logan must follow.  Then, Nicole doesn't want to be left alone, so she wants out too.  Heavy sigh.  The Pen was our safe haven.  The family room had been stripped of all contraband and we even had to tape the fire place shut.   What now?

Barton calls the ongoing measures to thwart the boys, "fixing their wagon."  After Barton put a latch on the shutters in their room, Dane said to me, "Daddy fix wagon."  Dane is our communicator.  (Sorry, Barton, if you consider that a "label.")  He editorializes everything and gets extremely upset if you don't respond to his every utterance.  Hmmm ... wonder where he gets that?  Hint: it's not mommy.

Back to Curious George.  We have an old copy of Curious George and it's decidedly un-PC.  The Man With The Yellow Hat captures George from Africa and takes him away from his home.  They go to The Man's house and smoke a pipe.  George makes a prank call to the fire station and then gets thrown in prison for his crime.  The naughty monkey stages a prison break, then steals a bunch of balloons.  Finally, he is sent to live in the zoo.  Heed this, my mischievous little monkeys. 

Three Wise Monkeys:  Speak no evil; See no evil; Hear no Evil

Let the love-in begin!

Dare I say the "h" word and the "s" word?  Yes, helping and sharing.  All three kids are subscribing to the Barney credo's:  "Sharing is caring" and "Clean up, clean up ... everybody do your share."  (So there is a benefit to having that annoying purple dinosaur prattling on in the background amidst tone-deaf singing.)  I'm not saying that we're completely out of the proverbial woods yet, but it is so nice to see this.  Today, Sister was lounging leisurely on the couch and I asked Logan to retrieve her sippy cup so that I could get her a refill.  He did it!  I then asked Dane to bring Miss Princess N her replenished cup.  He did it!  And last night Nicole cleaned up the entire family room.  Not in that haphazard toddler fashion.  It actually looked clean!  She did it!  Yea ... just thought I'd share a positive for once.  Lots of blankin' and moanin' recently on mommy's part.

Can the Super Georges live on Planet Peace?