Competition

Middle Child has got some competition. 

Now stepping into the ring, weighing 25 pounds soaking wet, wearing what looks to be a well worn tutu and Hello Kitty shirt that hasn't been washed for days, is.....

Baby Girl!!

I just can't get enough of myself!

She's giving him a run for his money.  Let's talk about the bank today.  This visit should have taken 10 minutes.  Well, maybe it did take 10 minutes, but you know how those minutes stretch into hours when you are NOT having fun?  It felt like an eternity.  I think it also felt like an eternity for the poor loan officer who sat in his office and watched our little circus while he tried to make phone calls.  Hey, I've gotta take 'em with me when I goes to the bank buddy.  I try.

Anyhoo.....because I don't own a copier, I asked the nice Teller to make copies of the stuff I had to drop off.  She did.  Unfortunately there was a paper jam and it all went down hill from there. 

While waiting, Baby Girl discovered the ginormous Nutcrackers that are twice her size guarding the front door.  In case you are wondering if their mouths really open and shut when you pull on their coat tails....they do.  I'm sure you know how I know this. 

Next.  After the Nutcrackers, Baby Girl saw the preeeppy, shiny gift card display.  On the spinning rack.  Merry Christmas!

Time Out.  Not time out from my story, but we implemented a Time Out.

After the little rest from her gift card extravaganza, she saw stacks and stacks of brochures on the table next to her time out seat (really I should have seen that coming...usually I can stay a step ahead of them).  Suddenly it was raining bank brochures.  Funny enough I discovered that some people use them as their own personal notecards and then just shuffle them back in the stack for other patrons to enjoy. 

Before I could stick her little butt in another time out, this happened.....

It's a little blurry, but you get the idea.  She is not falling.  She is not crying.  She's cracking herself up yelling "I laying on da foor!!!!"  Over and over and over. 

How long does it take to fix a paper jam anyway?!

But, even after all of this, once we got in the car I was thinking about how lucky we are.  And, let me tell you, it was hard to hear my thoughts over all the screaming of Christmas carols from the back seat.  Yes, I wish there was more money in the bank.  Yes, I wish my kid had not tried to make a snow angel on the carpet of the bank floor.  But, at least she can make a snow angel on the carpet of the bank floor.  Sometimes I have to remind myself of that.  It's hard.  It's especially hard to remember when I am picking up 8,352 socks off her floor because she's discovered she can reach the sock drawer.  But, there are always worse things to complain about. 

On a positive note, I've discovered boxing at the gym.  Let me recommend this to all moms as a way to destress!

Happy Holidays!