Two Minutes

Lately, we have had to institute the Time Out for Mariella.  For awhile, we experimented with it, trying new spots to call the "Time Out" but each time, she managed to find a way to enjoy it.  Finally, we settled on the chair in my office.  It is just off the living room so it works well to separate her from the activity but not isolate her too much.  She has not yet found a way to enjoy it, so it has become our regular go-to spot.

When we sit her in the chair, we tell her what she did wrong and then we say "Two minutes," so she knows how long she has to sit there, not that she can tell time, but it has become part of the routine.  So, for instance, when she throws her toys, we take her in there, sit her down and say, "Mariella, do not throw your toys. Now sit in here for two minutes." Then I usually show her two fingers and I say again, "Two minutes."

The other day, Maggie was the one to get in trouble.  She has developed a stealth lurk and will strike for your food the minute you blink.  She likes to steal Mariella's food for all the obvious reasons.  When she scores, I usually hear Mariella cry and yell, "Mommy, Maggie eatin' my cookie!"  This is what happened the other day.  Well it happens almost every day.  Anyway, when I got to the scene of the crime, Maggie was slinking around the table.  I yelled at her and chased her into the den and told her to "get in her bed!"

Mariella came running behind me and stopped in the doorway to the den.  She threw her arm forward and pointed into the den and yelled, "Two minutes!"

Mommy Fahted

The other day, Mariella and I were sitting at the kitchen table.  She was making her usual attempt at a Guinness world record for the slowest eater and I was not so patiently sitting there staring at her.  Anxious, I folded my arms on the table and sank into them with a big sigh.  When I did this, my bare arm rubbed against the table and made an unflattering noise.  Mariella said to me with a mouthful, "You fahted?"
No, I did not fart, Mariella.  It was my arm on the table."
You fahted?" she asked again, interrupting my explanation.
"No, honey, I did not fart."
"You fahted?" she asked again, this time her mouth clear of food and her spoon pointing at my face.
"No,"  I said getting annoyed.  "I did not fart."
"Mommy, you fahted?"
"No."
"You fahted?"
"Nope."
"You fahted?"
"Mariella.  I did not fart.  When I do, I will let you know.  Okay?"
She sat quiet for a minute, looking down at her bowl.  She moved some food around with her spoon as if she was contemplating.  Then she spoke very decisively.
"You fahted."

The Mariella Lexicon

Here is a growing list of Mariella's words and their meanings:

Meno--- tomato
Mena--- banana
Memo--- Nemo
Memaw--- grandma
Monga Fan---- Grandma Fran
Glint Glint--- yogurt
Glee Glit--- blanket
Peda Bahter--- peanut butter
Cutie--- Clementine (tangerine)
Chickmunks--- Chipmunks
No!  My do it!--- I want to do it myself!
Itty Pahder--- spider
Beza--- zebra
Cawee--- crayons/color
B--- bottle
Babbit--- rabbit

more to come.......

Itty Pahder

Recently, Mariella has learned some new songs and like most two-year olds, she has her own interpretations of these songs. The following are Mariella's lyrics:

Itsy Bitsy Spider, aka "Itty Pahder"

Itty Pahder inna water
down keam nawain an wassa uh
owkee sun ana wanna wain
itty pahder inna water.

Ring Around the Rosey, aka "Wing Awound a Wodey" version 1

Wing awound a wodey
asses, asses, asses, asses
We down!

Ring Around the Rosey, aka "Wing Awound a Wodey" version 2

Wing awound a wodey
pokka posey
asses, asses,
all fall down!

Here's the Church

Na church
ana teeple
open na door
anna people!
Yay!