carlie, carlie. . . CARLIE!

OH, this girl. She makes me laugh. She makes me cry. She makes me tired. She makes me smile. She loves to run, loves to fight, loves to snuggle, loves to sing, loves to play, loves to read. She is passionate about a lot of things right now.

She is also taking a giant lead on the race for my most difficult toddler. It's been one HECK of a week.


MONDAY: Carlie was out helping Daddy wash the car. Adam noticed she was gone and asked Lucy and Megan where she was. They told him she had gone inside. About 10 minutes later I came out and asked where she was. Adam told me she had gone inside, and I told him that she hadn't. We started searching her usual places (she's done this before), and Adam found her-- on Germann Rd. For those of you who aren't local, Germann is a 6 lane road, speed limit 45 mph, and there is a little hill. She was on the road, at the bottom of the hill where there is limited visibility. There is a grassy area next to the road where Carlie likes to play, supervised of course. Adam was searching the grass and saw a few cars come to a quick stop, and heard car horns honking. Then he saw her little blonde head pop on the sidewalk from the road. He said he just ran and prayed that she wouldn't go back in the road. When he finally reached her a few cars had stopped and looked like they were going to make sure she found a parent.

It is a tender mercy her life was preserved! If those cars had been distracted, or she had gone further--I can't even think about what would've happened. Lucy and Megan were the most upset, they felt terrible that they told us she was inside when she wasn't. Carlie cried for a minute, told us she didn't like the honking, and then was back to playing and happy 20 minutes later.

TUESDAY: While Meg was at dance I took Carlie to the park so she could get in some good play time. 5 minutes later she tells me she needs to go potty. So we pack up, run to Meg's dance studio and take care of business. She did okay considering, but then ran as we're getting into the car. I packed up Samuel and Megan and chased her down.

THURSDAY: We had some friends over for a play date and she was great. She loves to help with the baby, and took a great nap.

FRIDAY: No nap today, spent 30 minutes throwing a fit as I tried to put her in time out for screaming. Threw a fit when daddy told her to go potty and peed all over the floor. Then at bedtime took 40 minutes to go to sleep, kicked, stuck her tongue out, constant talking, anything she could to get me to have a meltdown. The more mad I got, the bigger she smiled.

SATURDAY: New game plan. No yelling, no spanking, no loud talking. She will only be disciplined in a calm voice, and taken to the brown carpet to wait until she is ready to act appropriate. Nap time was great. I sang to her until she fell asleep. Bed time was a nightmare. She waited until Meg fell asleep, then bit Meg to wake her up! Seriously?!? Had a bedtime time out in Daddy's room where she kicked the wall repeatedly until Daddy finally put her back in her own bed.

SUNDAY: Took her panties off and pooped in our closet. Which is literally 4 feet away from a toilet. WHY? Why, Carlie?!?! Had to wake her up for choir practice, threw a fit until she finally realized she could watch a movie at choir. Hid on the Welly's balcony (off of their bedroom) and sent everyone in the house in a panic, I was on my way to check Germann again. Bedtime was easy, thank goodness.

I am not sure what to do with this one! I'm trying to be patient, I really am! Hopefully this week will be better. If not, she may be part of an experimental toddler exchange program. Until she's 4.

But I sure would miss her singing. . . and her adorable curls. . . and the way she yells mommy when I walk in the room, as she runs to hug me.