Toddler Appreciation Day

I just love a gaggle of toddlers. Today I brought C to daycare with cupcakes so they could have a little pre-birthday celebration for her at school. I brought her and her lunch in first and then I told one of the teachers that I was going back out to the car to get the cupcakes. One little boy who's usually pretty shy (I think he's a notoriously picky eater too) picked up on this immediately and said, "Cupcakes?!" Little red-headed A said, "Cupcapes! Cupcapes!" Little I said "Dos anos!" (Their Spanish is really coming along.)

They all herded over to the entrance to the kitchen. Apparently they thought they were getting cupcakes for breakfast! I think I now know the secret to mobilizing a group of toddlers. When they got in the kitchen they all began to sing "Happy Birthday" in a different key and pace. I guess all this unexpected attention got to C (or maybe she thought I had left without saying goodbye) because she started to cry, which is really out of character for her lately. I went over to give her a kiss and reassure her and then I was on my way.

I don't think I could last a half hour taking care of 8 or so toddlers, but I'm not sure there's anything cuter than a whole mess of them, especially when they have a common purpose-an extremely rare event. I loved it.

My baby is 2. I absolutely can't believe it. And apparently she hasn't heard about that terrible 2's stuff yet because lately she's been delightful (I knock on wood as I write this). Some people mentioned to me that she might sense what I am going through. I never really bought that, but consciously or not, in the past few months she's just made it so much fun to be her mom. I am eternally grateful for this timing.

I'm not saying she's been perfect. Yesterday she refused to nap. But to be fair, we screwed up her schedule. Despite three attempts to get her to nap, she didn't resort to crankiness or meltdowns. Somehow she made it to 8 pm perfectly happy and presumably exhausted.

I am so grateful for this particular phase because I don't have the energy for meltdowns at the moment. (To be fair, who ever does, really?) If we could keep this streak going for the next couple of months, that would be great. I guess acting out is a sign of development, so I am selfishly asking for stalled development. So be it!

I am totally tempting fate by writing this. I'm just asking for a restaurant tantrum or something. But I had to put it out there.