Bringing Cheery Back
Um, yeah, I'm an idiot. Despite knowing full well that Alexis does not respond well to scolding, that time outs are wasted on her, and that the best way to help her forget that she's mad about something is to change the subject in dramatic fashion, it took me until way too long to initiate our Shake Out the Grumpies Game. My dear sweet Alexis has been back and in full force ever since we jiggled and shook and bounced around like complete idiots (literally shaking out the grumpies--try it sometime, it's physically impossible to stay grumpy when you're shaking your groove thang and yelling "SHAKIN' OUT THE GRUMPIES!" at the top of your lungs). All day long, two has been nothing more than a ghost of it's cranky self. I've known for months that my game was a great way to put an end to one of her foul moods, and I failed her by not thinking of it sooner. My apologies, kiddo.
To make it up to her, I have read her a book that I despise with all of my soul no less than fourteen times so far this evening. I'm sure we'll get at least five more readings in at bedtime because Elmo Does the Hokey Pokey is her current favorite book. She can't even go to sleep at night unless she's clutching it in her tiny little hands. Her mission at the moment seems to be to memorize the words so that she can "read" it by herself. Of course, not yet knowing all the words doesn't stop her from trying:
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Reader Comments (39)
That is just darling. How adorable is your girl! I love the way she "turns" the pages but kinda stays on the same one. Too cute!
That is so cute! I want that book. I can handle Elmo but all things Barney have always been banned from this house. My mother-in-law has this stupid Barney hat book that the kids flock to when we visit and want me to read it. Yuck!
I've decided the best thing about the Vermont trip will be that I will be step-mom...umm...step-dad...umm...someparentesquetypefigure to her. That was so endearing even grumpy Rocket Scientist thought it was cute.
Oh. My. Gosh. That is the cutest darn thing EVER. I want one of her!!! My favorite book was The Monster at the End of This Book, with Grover. I'm sure it drove my mom nuts.
THAT is super cute. I love that she puts her foot in as she's reading the book. And that you can't even make out any words but she just keeps going on. And she's trying to sing it.
This is my favorite age! I love it.
She's so cute and aren't you the cleaverest Mom for thinking this up!
Do you think that the dance will work with a grumpy thirteen year old? I could use some help to get her grumpies out today. Does Elmo do a 'these hormone are out of control' dance? Sigh.
OMG, you were right that is the cutest thing ever!!!
And yes Elmo spent lots of time screwing up our life here, too.
I sing praises daily that we are officially done with the Elmo stage. But hey, really cute kid!!!
Put your COOKIE in? Just what kind of hokey pokey is Elmo DOING??? ;)
OMG! That is the cutest thing I've seen in quite a while!
I feel your pain, girl. We must read Angelina Ballerina's A Day at the Fair EVERY.SINGLE.NIGHT. It's kind of longish so we usually only read it once but OMG, I'm so sick of that story. I finally hid it this weekend so we could get a little break from it. I guess she hasn't missed it yet -- out of sight, out of mind!
Awwww! Glad you caught that on tape. And, your shaking out the grumpies thing is genius. I'm definately using that in the future.
OHHH MYYY That is the cutest thing EVVERRR !! I am sending people here to see that !! She is soo smart!!! Thanks for sharing, and I am going to shake my grumpies out now...
Elmo. Ugh.
Bring her to NY! She and Morgan can have a sleep over!
That's so friggin cute!! Looks like the cheery's back in full swing!
Oh my gosh...so cute...totally needed this this morning as I head off to an appointment that promises to be as boring as watching paint dry...
Cute video!
Happy V-day!
That's adorable!
I'll have to remember the shake out the grumpies game too. I think we're gonna need it.
Very cute! Seems that Elmo is a big hit....son even calls Mickey Mouse Elmo!
Love the video!
How totally adorable!! She's edible.
How do you not DIE from the CUTENESS that is Alexis?
Shaking out the grumpies is a great idea. Very "Playful Parenting" of you.
I agree. That is the cutest thing ever! I'm guessing you sing it to her? I also love that she is sitting, reading, AND actually doing the hokey pokey!
Yes, I do believe I am to blame for the attempts at singing. You can't just READ the Hokey Pokey, you know.
Sadly, I think I'm also to blame for the fact that she is horribly out of tune. You can't learn to sing well when your inspiration is the likes of me.
That is TOO CUTE!!!
We used to do shakin' off the grumpies when Maya was younger. It worked about 70% of the time.
Happy Valentine's Day!
cutest. ever.
(btw, chickies, elmo is soon replaced by emo... elmo is preferable.)
Ack! She is TOO CUTE!!!!!!
J's sittin' in my lap and was riveted by her. Could it be love?
Gracie and I LOVE her. I want to hang out with her. Seriously.
Oh, and in our house, the word grumpy is another word for um, flatulance. Brings new meaning to the phrase "Shaking out your grumpies" doesn't it?
oh i am going to try this dance for sure. and maybe i'll let the kids join in!! :)
hope you have a great ♥ day!!
That Alexis is so darn sweet. Truly sweet. I think you deserve extra points for being so clever!
We have that book. :O
Elmo is a big deal around here to!
That is the cutest EVER. Way cuter then Elmo...
you are right
CUTEST THING EVER!
That really is the cutest thing ever! I'm going to make sure I read lots of books to my daughter tonight because yours is going to be reading soon! Your going to cry over this when she's all grown up!
She is very cute!
She's so sweet. I love when she drops the book and picks it back up without skipping a beat. Gotta love it!
so sweet!
I cried the first time Gavin 'read' Thomas and the School Trip to me, even though I was really tired of that book.
And um, do I detect a little bit of a North Dakota accent in there? :)
Also, do you know if Shakin' Out the Grumpies works on grouchy husbands?
Colleen-I'm working on that experiment. I'll let you know if I can get him to give it a try. 'Cuz if it does, I'll be making millions marketing the strategy.
OK, that might be the cutest thing I've ever seen.
You are so lucky you can film your child.
Every time he does anything cute and I get the camera out, he just runs to me and goes "I watch Little Man movie now!" Which is not the way to capture those cute moments.