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We finally got Buttercup a pair of rain boots.  I have firmly decided that rain boots are the most wonderful product for children.

We bought them while we were on vacation.  We went to a Disney store, and she was having a blast – fascinated by all the adorable products.  They had two pairs of rain boots on sale – Daisy Duck or Tigger & Pooh.  Rather than pick from the boots on sale, she spotted a pink pair of Minnie Mouse boots.  Those were the ones we ended up getting, and she loves them.

While we were on vacation, it rained quite a bit, and she was thrilled to be stomping away in the puddles – reveling in the splash factor.  Now, everywhere we go, she has her eyes open for puddles.  I might just let her wear the rain boots for the rest of April everywhere we go.  It’s been raining almost every other day, and the puddles can be found anywhere.  The parking lots seem to have the most, and there’s a church parking lot down the street from us that’s always empty.  She’s been soaked and muddy every night, just the way an April toddler should be.  I swear, the muddier and dirtier she is at bedtime these days, the better I feel about my parenting.  The great outdoors are back in play, and I cannot say I’m sorry to see January – March go.

I find myself wishing I had a pair of rain boots to stomp with her :)  Maybe I’ll find a pair in mommy-size so I can be a puddle-stomping mommy with my little gal.

Buttercup, for the first time, has been getting scared at night.  It’s the most heart-rending thing I’ve ever come across, that child in her pajamas saying, “Mommy, I’m scared.”  I think it’s the sirens at night.  Whenever she hears a fire truck or cop car, it upsets her a lot even though we’ve had conversations about this and tried to make it a happy thing.  Let’s face it:  sirens sound scary.

She’s never had a “lovey.”  It’s just never been her thing.  I think I’m the lovey.  However, we took the advice of a friend and went and purchased Twilight Turtle.  He’s basically a nightlight with a soft huggable body and a shell with star cut-outs that cast constellations around the nursery.  She’s totally in control of it and can push various buttons to change the color of the light.  The shades are soothing and mellow.  She appears to be enthralled so far, and we’ve had talks about if she gets scared, she can turn on Twilight Turtle.

What really led me to looking for something like this is that my little electrical estimator’s granddaughter loves light switches.  In fact, one of the things that helps her at night is climbing up onto the chair I’ve placed under the light switch to turn off the light.  She likes to be in control of the lighting, and I can dig it.  So, now she has a little night light that she can operate.  Here’s hoping!

Here’s the problem with toddler shoes:  they fit for like two weeks.  My Buttercup is growing like a weed.  It seems like every month I have to buy her new shoes.  In fact, I do.

The other day, we went to a local department store to get her new shoes, and I nearly had a stroke.  When did toddler shoes start costing more than mine?  I mean, good God.  Children’s shoes cost so much money; it’s amazing.  Because, it’s not like they need one new pair:  oh no, no.  My little girl needs a whole new collection of shoes.  Whether it’s dress shoes, sneakers, boots, slippers, or whatever, when Buttercup needs shoes, it’s not just a pair:  it’s an arsenal of new shoes.

What really drove me nuts was that I could not find a pair of little girl shoes that were lace-ups or Velcro.  What I mean by that is that there wasn’t a pair that fully covered her foot.  They were all “Mary-Jane” style shoes with a cute little strap across her foot.  Welp, it’s getting to be freezing cold around here, and I want a little more than that.  We found a set of “Thomas the Train” shoes that I’m sure were designed for little boys, but there weren’t any available in her size.  So, I ended up with a pair of Disney Princess Sneakers that are entirely ridiculous except she can get them on and off without assistance.  That does come in handy, to be honest.  However, I just can’t believe how much they cost.  Don’t they entail like 85% less material than my shoes?  My baby fashionista, I wouldn’t have anything less, but dear God….give me a break!

I want to find Buttercup a pair of perfect rain boots.  When I was a kid, I think there must have been a story in the Ramona Quigley books about rain boots, but there’s something about rain boots that just make me think of childhood rainy days in this sweet nostalgic light.

So, I went on a search for them in some of our local stores.  Once there, I realized that buying a toddler a pair of rainboots entails a raincoat and an umbrella, too :)  They had some of the cutest damn boots I’ve ever seen in my life.  There was a pair of green rainboots designed like little frogs that nearly killed me.  However, they cost a small fortune, and I realized:  it’s November.  We’re going to need rain boots in spring, and she’s going to be two shoe sizes larger.  So, no rain boots for now, however…I will find them!

Christmas is coming.  Let the retail nightmare begin!

People seem to be particularly keyed up about the holidays this year.  We’ve gotten a ton of invites for the season, and everyone I know has already started their Christmas shopping.  Personally, I plan on doing as much shopping online as humanly possible to avoid the in-store madness.  While I do love that time of year, I can’t bring myself to step into a department store.  I am not a Black Friday warrior.

I’m planning Buttercup’s Christmas list ardently.  Christmas and gift-giving holidays have taken on a whole new meaning, now that I have her.  I want to give her everything I can possibly do.  Last year was wonderful, and I want this year to be just like it.  Nothing has ever made me quite as happy as sitting in our living room watching Buttercup open gifts.

Buttercup and I go to the mall quite a bit on days when the weather doesn’t permit our outdoor excursions.  It’s fun to walk the length of the mall, wears her and me out, and there’s lots of little kid stations where we can take breaks and reign toddler havoc.

Usually we go in the middle of the day, around lunch time or after.  It’s interesting what has evolved there, and I’m surprised, although maybe I shouldn’t be.  There’s a regular crowd of older gentleman who walk the mall, stop and get lunch, or do a little shopping.  I’m not sure if they’re widowed or their wives have just sent them to the mall to get them out of their hair for a little bit.

Nevertheless, there are regulars there, these old men come daily.  I guess they’ve started to recognize me, because the other day I went to one of the department stores to get Daddy a couple new shirts and some ties.  I was trying desperately to keep Buttercup from tearing apart a beautifully laid out table of ties when my radar came on that there was a man hanging around near us.  (In the men’s department, imagine my surprise.)  I look up to check him out, and there is the most adorable old man I have ever seen in my life.  He had these heavy grey eyebrows and big laughing eyes.  Once I made eye contact, it was all over.  He strolled over to me and started complimenting Buttercup, like they do, and I was all smiles and “Yes, yes, she’s an angel.”  Buttercup continued to the dress socks area, where she was pulling them one by one off of the rack.  God, help me.  Anyway, the old man walked away and came back carrying a suit jacket.  He looked at me so sincerely, so sweetly.
“Is this tweed?”  The jacket in question was indeed tweed.
“Yep, that’s tweed!  Very nice.”  I nodded my approval, trying to negotiate a deal with Buttercup where she could hold the ties I was buying if she left the socks alone.
“What kind of tie do you think you’d wear with tweed?”  Still, the sincerity and slight confusion was all over his face.
“I’m really not sure…”  But, before I knew it, I was helping this poor older gentleman pick out a tie, and then a shirt to match his new jacket :)

Back in the play center, the old men come to talk to me and watch a little of the TV that hangs above the center.  They chat me up about everything from the weather to the elections.  I really don’t quite know what to do with them all, but we’re getting to be on a first name basis.  I think I’ve collected a new set of boyfriends :)

In a way, I love it.  They remind me of my Grandpa who used to always come to the mall with my Grandma and me to do our shopping.  I still miss him, and these adorable old men make me think of him every time.