The Toy Box Years: What Am I, Chopped Liver?

The Creators of the Toy Box Years

The creators of the Toy Box Years are my two beautiful daughters and wonderful, handsome soldier husband.

"Nani" (our oldest) is a 11 year old 6th grader who loves Taylor Swift, ballet, books, fashion designing and sewing. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and it changes daily to anything from "an artist" to "a teacher" to "a singer/dancer". Nani is also currently fighting a battle against brain cancer -- recently diagnosed in June 2016.

"Nudgie" (our youngest) is a very smiley, very happy, very giggly, very spirited 8 year old 3rd Grader who's favorite toys are anything that gives mommy an anxiety attack - ladders, stepstools, the climbing wall at the playground. Like her sister, she has a love of reading and coloring, loves gymnastics and still provides mommy lots of snuggle time!

"My Marine" is my high school sweetheart. We've been married over 20 years and met when we were 17. (You do the math....) His favorite toys are Blackhawk helicopters, the lawnmower, our steam cleaner, and microbrew beer bottles. My husband is also my hero in that he proudly serves his country as a Blackhawk crew chief (hence his favorite toy!). And need I say that there is nothing hotter than my man in uniform!

All About Me......

Once upon a time I had a career and worked in the corporate world. Once upon a time, I dreamed about leaving that all behind to follow my true calling -- being a wife and mommy.

The first part of my calling was fulfilled in 1995 when I married my Marine (now soldier) and my love. Little did I know that being a military wife would change me in so many ways and that because of that, I would have an extended family all over the world from Japan, to California, to North Carolina.

The second part of my calling took a little doing, but I finally achieved that dream in 2004 with the birth of our first child, followed 4 years later by her baby sister.

So now, when someone asks me what I do for a living - I simply smile and say proudly that I'm following my calling - I'm a mommy and a wife -- and I couldn't be HAPPIER -- I'm living in the Toy Box Years!!

I love to hear Nani call me Mommy. Lately she's been calling me "Momma", and even though I can't figure out where she got it from, I like that too. I always wanted to be a mom. I never had aspiring goals to be a career woman -- my career was going to be my husband, my kids, and my home.

While I hear "Mommy" on a daily basis from Nani, I still have yet to hear it from Nudgie. And even though every one says not to worry about it, I'm starting to take offense to this little brush-off.

She CAN say it. She HAS said it. Once about a month ago and then once again about a week ago - at My Marine's prompting.

She calls after everyone else -- her sister (Naaaaneeeee), the dog (Aaaaayaaaaa - or otherwords, Zoya), my mom (Buuuuubeeeee), and yes -- even her daddy (Daaaadeeee). Heck, she even said my friend's name (Robin) before she said "Momma".

Darn kid can say her own name and other words in her repetoire includes "Baby" and "Ishy" (fishie) - but no momma.

Now I certainly don't doubt that she loves me. She'll come up to me and put her head on my leg. Or bring me a dirty sock or any other random piece of trash she finds (as long as it's not a dead squirrel, I'm ok with this.) Or she'll make kissy noises at me or put her arms up to be held.

But I still want to hear "Momma"

I work on it at least once a day......

Me: Can you say "Momma"

Nudgie: Uhhhhhhhh

Me: Mom-ma

Nudgie: Aaaaayaaaaa

Me: Mom-ma

Nudgie: Giggles

Me: Mom-ma

Nudgie: Daaaaaa-deeeee

Me: Mom-ma

Nudgie: She farts

Me: (Sigh)....can you please say mom-ma for me?

Nudgie: Puts her head in my lap

I have such a small window of opportunity where they say "Mommy" with love. Then it graduates to the whiny "Moooooo-oooom" when you embarrass them, tell them no, or ask them to do something.

I'm still hoping to hear the "Momma" from Nudgie before she turns 13!

6 comments:

Charity January 12, 2010 at 11:01 AM: CG does that with KS, it drives him crazy. When he is home that is. I am hoping that by holding the letters it straightens him up, hopefully it will work!
Annette W. January 12, 2010 at 12:00 PM: Mommy is so important. I waited 27 months to have ANY name. You can read about it at http://derekannette.blogspot.com/2009/02/i-am-mommy_19.html if you like...me becoming MOMMY.

With a speech disorder, you never know what to expect.
The Four Week Vegan January 12, 2010 at 1:31 PM: Mommy and momma - love those words. Yes, now I am mom or when teens are upset with me mother. Occassionally I still hear mommy and I smile in my heart.
Jennifer Haas January 12, 2010 at 9:45 PM: I am just loving the Mommy and Momma days. I hope they stay. I do have two boys so I may have some hope, I still call my dad, daddy.

Thanks for your sweet comment while I have been MIA. Hopefully I will get to be around more.
Carrie January 13, 2010 at 5:48 AM: yes... I hate when my two year old says "Mom". still waiting for my 10mo to say mama.... I think she says naynay for me-- who knows!???

Oh- and WOW on all that starbucks cash!! man that is a lot of lattes!
Vanessa January 13, 2010 at 6:36 AM: Saw your comment and stopped by -- and I, too, love hearing "Mama" so much! I *still* call my mom "Mama," and that's what she called my Granny, so there's hope that we won't always be stuck with "Mo-ooom!" :-) (And my younger daughter also took her precious time with giving the satisfaction of certain words -- namely "yes" in our case!) :-)