Monday, January 05, 2009

The Pajina Monologues

Sweet little baby Marin is now 18 months old. All parents know that 18 months can be a difficult age, that’s when the tantrums generally kick in, but toddlers this age are also so sweet and funny. Although 18 months is better known for tantrums than anything, I think it should also be recognized as the “OCD period”. This is the stage where an open cabinet door must be slammed shut immediately, even if Mommy’s head happens to be stuck in there at the time. The door must close.

Except for all the tantrums, door slamming, and poopy pants, Marin is generally a pleasant companion. She cuddles and gives big kisses and hugs. She dances and tries to sing. If all that isn’t enough then we have the cute little baby voice as well saying, “Hewo” whenever she finds a cell phone and “Yewo” when asked to name any color. When Marin is hungry she will take me by the hand to the kitchen, gesture wildly towards the cabinets and refrigerator and say, “EEEEEE!” That’s baby for ‘eat’. When it’s time for a nap, Marin walks to the stairs yelling, “Ni ni!”

Marin frequently gets a hold of things that she is not supposed to have. Usually she will look at me, smile and run. Lately she has been winning the race that unless I happen to have a surrogate chaser available at the time. If it’s just me, (I’m back on crutches) I realize that I can’t easily catch her and I wait her out. Or I try to trick her to lure her close enough to snatch her. She usually watches me from a safe distance and smiles.

If Marin manages to get her hands on the baby wipe container she will sit quietly and carefully unload every single wipe. Sometimes she seems to recognize her own weakness and will instead bring me the baby wipe container saying “uh-oh, uh-oh” and “hewr”. “Uh-oh” is frequently a warning that she is about to get into something so she knows she had better hand it over before she gives in to the temptation.

A few days ago I told Marin that her big brother Noah was coming to see her and she said, “I know.” Despite being just 18 months old, she seems surprisingly well versed on the happenings around the house. I’m really going to miss it when everyone in this house is speaking proper English.

Claire and Katie can pronounce most things now but sometimes they still say funny things. Katie had an experience at school recently when a little boy walked into the bathroom while she was washing her hands. The little boy proceeded to pee right in front of her. Katie thought it was funny and has been talking about it ever since.

Katie- “I saw Ian’s butt.”
Me- “Oh, yeah?”
Katie- “Yeah. And he had a nut hanging down.”

I finally got tired of Katie talking about “the nut” that I broke down and told her the proper names for both boy’s and girl’s anatomy. This knowledge was thrilling for Katie and she couldn’t wait to tell Claire what she knew. Just briefly Katie appeared to be drunken with the power of knowing more than her big sister. She decided to fill Claire in at the dinner table.

Katie- “Claire, do you know that girls have pajinas? That’s what the butt part’s called. A pajina.”

Then she continued, sounding as if she was giving a detailed job description for a gynecologist. Which, by the way, we did not discuss and I have no idea where this came from.

Katie- “And did you know there are some doctors whose job it is, is to look at pajinas?”

Claire- "Yeah, and they look and they say, 'Hey, your pajina’s not workiing!"



14 comments:

Mia said...

Holy cow! When did that baby get so big? I've been reading your blog right along and I SWEAR she was just an itty bitty baby yesterday!

Jack said...

Way, way, way too funny!

I remember those days with two boys and a girl - and the first two only 15 months apart.

Whirlwind said...

That's so funny. Last year, my then 4 year old used to call it her "china".

Krissi said...

I cannot laugh any harder! I seriously have tears in my eyes from laughing so hard! This is hysterical!!!

J. said...

Too adorable! And my new favorite word is "pajina."

Julia said...

You are so lucky you get the two syllable "pajina" as we are only able to say "jina" around our house! When they say those things I just wish I had a tape recorder around. Those are priceless moments.

Lisa said...

I think it's a great new favorite word. The only problem is trying to work it into conversation...

My Soul said...

That is so funny! So cute, I can't wait until my son is talking on a regular basis!

Anonymous said...

ok...THAT was hilarious!! you're pajinas not working...is so funny!!

Unknown said...

Found you through blogger. I have a 17 month old and the whole OCD thing is so completely true at this age...and it's funny you mentioned slamming doors shut on your head because my son does that to me all day every day!

Anonymous said...

Oh my god...this is hilarious! I'm going to have to find some way to use the phrase "your pajina's not working" this weekend!

Teresa said...

I needed that... your blog is so funny! I love it.

Teresa

Skye @ Planet Jinxatron said...

I'm glad to hear the OCD thing isn't just my kid. CANNOT EAT THE BROKEN CHEERIOS. MUST SHUT DRAWER THAT MOMMY'S HAND IS STILL IN.

Stacie said...

HAHAHAHA!!

The conversation between Kate & Claire regarding pajinas was too funny!

I have so much to look forward to. My daughter is only 7 months old.