the_belle_log

About a week ago I believe Belle just says to me out of the blue "I love you. You're a good mommy." Obviously I'm touched so I stop and say "I am?" She said (and the following is pretty much word for word quote and I SWEAR is true) "Yeah! That's why I picked you. I picked you to be my mom." I was flabbergasted. I said, "You PICKED me?" She said "Yeah, I picked you because I thought you'd be a good mommy... and I was right!"

I about fell over with joy and shock. No one put her up to this, no prompting, no putting words in her mouth. I use to think that there was a little kid out there in the universe who had picked me and Brad out as parents and was just waiting for the right time... never really thought it was true till now. :)

Afterwards she said "Yeah! I picked Daddy too!" I said "well you know... then you should go tell him." She did. :)

Belle has told me she loves me a million times and each time makes my heart sing. But I can't think of anything more touching and wonderful and just the best moment in my life then when she said "I picked you."

Belle made breakfast in bed for mother's day. She saw on a site online how to make breakfast for your parent. It was obviously SOOOOO important to her and that is why it was so special. She made (with Gaga's help) toast, a bowled egg, yogurt, juice, and tea in a wonderful new tea mug with panda bears on it! Oh and of course a red rose. :) She also got me the best card ever. :)

I will never ever forget this mother's day. It meant SO very much to me.

So we are in the bath and just our normal talking. And I ask her if she loves me, she says yes of course. I ask her jokingly “yeah? What do you love about your mommy?” She says my face. :) Which of course I thought was sweet. So then I tell her how I love her face too and I said “Your eyes are like the sky, your hair is like the sun, your lips are like red roses…” I wasn’t trying to be mushy just telling her she was pretty and adding in some color association. :)

Well then she says “I love you face too mommy. Your eyes are the color of the sky, your hair is yellow like the sun, your lips are like roses, and your teeth are like Jack Skellington!” :)

The story of Muskadio and Joanwyne I will have to write out later since it is involved and has pictures I need to scan in. But to sum up briefly it is a movie that Belle has come up with all on her own. Her first movie to be specific because there are several others now. But this was her first and it is about two mermaids called Muskadio and Joanwyne. Muskadio is the girl and Joanwyne is the boy. :) It really is very interesting and creative! I was amazed when she told me about it.

Well, anyway we decided to get her her first pets that she could pick out (since Princess and Shadow technically were her first pets). We thought goldfish would be a great starter. So we went to the pet store and looked at the fish and the minute she saw these two Pearlscale goldfish in a tank she said "Those two!" So... let me introduce to you the goldfish now know as Muskadio and Joanwyne! The bigger one is Joanwyne and the smaller is Muskadio of course.

Aren't they cute?!


And here is Belle putting their home together:

We took Belle to her first movie in a theater today. She loved it, AND was an amazingly good girl in it. She stayed either in her sit, in my lap, or standing in front of me. She didn't talk to loud and was thrilled with the popcorn, M&Ms, and water she got. At one point she was sitting in front of my (we were on the front row of the balcony section) dangling her feet over resting her arms on the bar in front and munchin on the popcorn next to her while watching her movie. It was so cute!

We saw Ice Age: Meltdown. Frankly I have no idea if it was a good movie or not, but Belle loved the experience.

Upon leaving she announced that this (the theater) was her house and she lived there.

So the same day as the "Don't you tell me when I have to potty." incident I finally get Belle to munch-munch. She pulls back at one point and scratches her forearm and says "oooh" like it is bothering her. I feel and see she's got a little patch of dry eczema. I say "oh poor baby Daddy will go get you some lotion for that."

She says all concerned and just as serious as she could be, "Oh I have a booboo... I think its Hepatitis."

I could not help but bust up laughing. Brad looks over and says "WHAT did she say?!" :)

So here's the thing... a couple days earlier Belle had her three year checkup at the doctor and was given a Hepatitis A vaccination. It hurt and she was a little upset by it. I explained it too her because I wanted her to understand why the nurse had given her the shot that had hurt her. I didn't want her thinking the nurse was being mean. So I was honest with her and told her that yes the shot hurt but it was to protect her from getting a really yicky sickness. That the nurse was helping her and was sorry it hurt but had to do it. Belle asked what the sickness was so I again told her the truth and said it was called Hepatitis.

I didn't think much of the conversation and didn't really think it had left that big an impression but then bam! :) "I think I have Hepatitis."

I quickly explained to her of course that no she had a shot to keep her from getting that and the thing on her arm was just dry skin. When she saw us laughing she started laughing too and it was all okay.

Now she says it as a running gag to get us to laugh. Even the other day at the park she said "Is there any Hepatitis around here?" :)

So Fridays are movie nights in our bed. We watch a movie and all sleep in Mommy and Daddy's bed. Belle (and us too) loves it. We are also of course potty training still and Belle is doing great, but sometimes will use pottying as an excuse to get up and run around when she shouldn't be.

So we are in the big bed watching our movie and Belle has already done two trips to the potty back to back. She is very tired but not wanting to go to sleep so she's in hyper mode. I have taken her to the potty every time she's asked. The second trip see peed lots and lots so I think 'okay good we are done.' We are back in bed not two minutes and she says "I need to go potty." I, now being a little tired of running to the bathroom every two minutes say "No you don't. You just went, honey." She wiggles out of bed defiantly. I ask, "Belle don't you want to watch your movie?"

She Snaps back, "No! And don't you tell me when I need to go to the potty or not!" And stomps off to the bathroom. :) I couldn't help but laugh. And ya know... how the heck do I know if she needs to potty or not! It's her bladder. :) She uh... did pee too. :)

I love this kid:

So I’m so dreadfully behind in Belle stories I don’t know where to start! I am really going to try and post something at least once a week. So here are a couple brief Belle updates and stories.

Okay so let me see… Well this week we are planning for Belle’s birthday. She turns 3 on Sunday. Holy cow I can’t believe I have a 3 year old! :)

We are renting a house in Long Beach WA. And Linda, Mark, Melissa, and Jeremy are all coming up for the party. We are planning to have Pirate photos taken and weather permitting horseback riding on the beach! We’re all looking forward to it, especially Belle who keeps asking if it is time to go yet. :)I can’t begin to describe what a character my little girl is. She is so smart, funny, and just a stinker to boot! I love her so so much.

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This morning my mom and I are in the kitchen and I hear someone coming down the hall and I think it’s Brad but instead I see a very wobbly little girl in batman P.J.s with messy hair come walking in. She just say “I got up to come and see you, mommy.” SO CUTE.

Oh but Belle is not a morning person... this picture isn't from today but another morning...





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We had to have the chimney cleaned the other week. We told Belle this and she asked “For Santa?” just out of the blue! So when the men came to clean it she asked them “do you know Santa?” One of the men smiled and said “Oh yeah we know Santa.” Belle looked at him for a moment then asked “Are you dwarves?” My mom corrected her that Santa works with Elves not Dwarfs. But the chimney sweep just laughed and said “Well I’m an elf but he’s a dwarf” pointing to the other sweep.

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This may be more of a Shadow story then a Belle story but it’s cute. Belle was sitting on the sofa the other day and out of no where Shadow leaves her pallet in front of the fireplace, hops onto Belle’s lap kisses her on the nose and jumps down and goes back to her spot. Belle just had this look like “uh.. what’s she doing?” the entire time.

This entry is swiped from her Daddy's LiveJournal but thought it should go here too. :)

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So it's bed-time and I walk up to Belle before her and her mother go for bottle and story time.

"Give Daddy a kiss, honey." I get on my knees with my arms wide open in anticipation of my darling little girl's kiss.

"You got any money?"<<<

They finally made a doll for Belle:


Yes that is the Corpse Bride. When she got it she walked around the mall we were at with it, never taking her eyes off it and periodically kissing it.

Same day she got this she also got some more Nightmare Before Christmas toys. Belle is definitely a little Goth Girl. :) Which is just fine with me.

This might sound like a silly thing to note but today was the first day that Belle peed in a cup at the doctor's office! She's got a little stomach bug and they wanted to make sure she doesn't have a urinary track infection so the doctor asked for us to try getting her to pee in a cup. Honestly I was totally doubtful that we'd be able to do it. Not that I didn't think Belle was capable but that's a hard thing to time when with a kid who is sick, defiant, and not 100% potty trained (mostly due to stubbornness mind you).

Well we go in the bathroom and I note that her diaper is totally dry so I'm hopeful. I wipe her down and sit her on the toilet she looks so pitiful cause she's sick. I tell her I need her to pee in the cup so that the doctor can tell how sick she is from her pee. She says she doesn't want to. I promise her a small present of a stuffed panda bear (she'd asked for one). She still says she doesn't want to but I ask her to please try. Well after only a minute or so sure enough she pees in the cup and filled it! :) She's going to love me for recording this in a couple years (sorry, honey. Some day you'll understand when you have a kid). :)

So I take the cup out from under her and put it on the sink so I can get her down. I tell her "look what you did!" pointing to the cup. She looks at it and snarls and says "I am NOT drinking that!" I laugh and tell her no she most certainly isn't.

And yes, tonight she got a new little panda bear stuffed animal which she promptly dressed up as a witch.

It's no small thing to pee on command. I know it's silly but I'm proud of her.

So Belle says she wants to sleep in our room. She climbs in our bed and asks us to get in bed with her. We do and we're all laying there in bed talking and playing. Belle then says "I wish I had a bed like this one. I wish I had a room like this." Brad and I asked her if she didn't like her room. She said she liked her room but then said, "I wish my room had a computer and printer, and tv, and big bookshelf too, and a bigger bed!" So it wasn't our room she wants it's a coputer and a tv! How many 2 year olds want a computer I ask you? :) Brad told her "You couldn't fit all that stuff in your room." She said "I could if I waaaanted too."

And the record, Belle has a Queen sized bed! :)

Belle insisted that my mom workout with her today. My mom told her okay but that she had to put on her workout cloths. Belle said my mom didn't need too, that she could work out in the cloths she had on. But my mom said "Well I need to at least put on my workout bra on." Belle stoped and thought, then asked "I have a workout bra?" paused then said "No. I don't have a work out bra, I don't need one. I just have little baby boobies."

And before you ask, no we've never told her she has baby boobies.

So out of no where on Christmas Day she's opening her gifts and we're trying to get one toy out of the box (I think it was her Castle from Jeremy and Lissy) and she's anxious for it and she spouts off "You can't do this to me! Open it!" in a cute and yet somewhat panicked sort of tone. I dunno, maybe you have to hear it but it was hilarious. And WHERE she got that phrase is beyond me.

So Belle was talking with my mom about her next birthday. The typical, "I'm going to be 3" thing. But then Belle asked "I still be 2?" My mom said no that she wouldn't be 2 any more but would be 3. Belle asked "I won't be 2?" My mom explained how Belle was born and was 0 years old, then she turned 1 and then she turned 2 and next birthday she'll be 3. Belle just stopped for a minute and then said "What's happening to me!" My mom explained that 'what's happening to her' is that she's growing up and we all do it.

Since then Belle will occasionally bring this back up and ask the "what's happening to me?" question and then answer it herself "I growing up." But sometimes she'll then say "I don't want to be 3! I want to stay 2." Little young for freaking out about getting older I'd say. :)

She also asked me last night if when she starts school she won't be little any more. I told her she wouldn't be as little as she is right now but that she would in fact still be little and not all grown up yet.

I tell this mostly cause it's a darn cute story about her, but it's also another example of how advanced and self aware she is.

So I'll post more about our trip later but had to get this out now.

Belle got a mini grand piano for Christmas from her Grandparents. So I get it put together and she goes and puts on a pair of her over sized bizzaro sunglasses, sits down on the piano and says, "I Elton John!" Then she sings "B-B-B-Benny and the Jets dum-da-dum!"



She also got Pigs In Space toys to which she insisted that we do the right voices for all the characters... and don't you dare do them wrong or she'll know. I swear she should have had Robbin Williams for a parents or Grandparent! Actually I often wonder if this is how Robin's parents felt raising him. :)

Belle and her Gaga were making cookies today. We've told Belle about the Santa ritual of giving him cookies on Christmas. So she says while making cookies... "I don't want to give Santa any cookies."

My mother says "You don't have to give him ALL the cookies. Just a few, there are plenty."
Belle says "Okay I give him ONE... but he's sharing the milk!"

Later, as if that wasn't enough, once the cookies were done she picks up one of the tiny ones and asks Gaga "Is this Santa's cookie?" My mom says "If you want it to be." Belle takes a bite and says "I eating Santa's cookie."

I'm telling you, Santa is going to have our house marked as the stingy house this year! :)

Belle found a small New Testament Bible among her things the other day. Her Great Grandparents had given sent it to her awhile back. She picked it up and asked her Gaga what this book was called. Gaga responded simply "The Bible". Belle sits down on the floor and says "I read it." She opens it and starts to 'read' aloud... "The Bible by Dr. Seuss."

So a couple nights ago I'm trying to get Belle to sleep. We're laying there and I'm holding her. I say "I love you, honey." She says in a sweet little voice, "I love you too, Mama.... DUH!" I hear her Daddy bust up laughing in the other room. He had the monitor on and could hear every word. :)