Right now Charlotte's favorite game to play, one she made up, is called "Al's Toy Barn."  That's a Toy Story 2 reference, for those of you who didn't know.  The way you play Al's Toy Barn?  The nearest I can tell, there is only one rule - dump out every single toy you own on your bedroom floor.  When asked to put away some or all (or ANY) of the toys, reply, "I can't!  I'm playing Al's Toy Barn!"

Easter

In lieu of a new post, a book review.

Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Frontlines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture by Peggy Orenstein
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a book that moved straight from my library request list to my Amazon Wish list.  In fact, it's hard for me to review it right now because I pulled all my notes for it so that it can go back to the library in five minutes.  Well, it's hard for me to review it the way I want to.  Long story short - this book is something that I wish I could give my mother-in-law and other people who think that I'm just being contrary and obstinate by resisting the "Princess Phenomenon" with all my might.  Orenstein makes a number of clear, well-researched points about the gender divide in little kids, and how the princessification of little girls can lead to the very objectification of young women the "innocent princess" phase is meant to avoid.

Orenstein is very clear in her motives - she has a distrust of princesses from the start, and is willing to be either validated or proven wrong, and I respect that a lot about her.  I am also a feminist raised to be open-minded and suspicious of gender characterization/separation, so her voice rang true for me.  Well-researched & well-footnoted, I am looking forward to investigating some of the source materials.

Side note - the day I picked this book up from the library (from inter-library loan, a recurring character in my reviews) the librarian handed it over with some interest.  "I was looking at this when it came in," she said.  "It looks interesting."

"Yeah, I'm really excited to read it!" I said earnestly.  "My daughter is three, and the princess stuff is definitely on the horizon."

"Right," she said.  "Plus, it has glitter on the cover.  Everything is better with a little sparkle."


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Cleaning out the phone...

Taking pictures off the cell phone - kind of crazy how big Charlotte has gotten, even in the last 6 months!  Not so much taller, but I think her face is changing from toddler to pre-schooler to kid.  Kid.  I have a KID.  Not a baby.

This weekend.

Playing with her cousin, G.

Drawing. Note the tongue.

Charlotte, Mama, Daddy

Surprisingly self-aware.

The day we had, copied from Facebook:

* Epic tantrum today. Over an hour of whining, crying, screaming, writhing on the floor, and boogery hiccups. AND she's still in her pajamas. I have a hard time not laughing at her sometimes, is that wrong?


* To Charlotte's credit, she was honest with Matt when he came home and asked her how her day was. She said, "I spitted on the couch, and then when Mom put me in time out I screamed...I did not do a good job today." Matt told her that he thought she should give me a hug and kiss, which she did, and spontaneously added, "I'm sorry I made you upset today."

Sigh.

Charlotte just told her grandmother that her belly button is for pooping.  What??