ParenthoodNJ.com

For a little splurge, I gave my daughter a small ice cream cone and she asks, "How come there are no sprinkles like at Grandma's House?"
And I said, "I don't have any in the house, but you know, that'll be what makes going to Grandma's house more special."
And without hesitation, my daughter replies, "And that's what'll make our house more boring."

I'm lucky that my daughter has only had a fever over 101 twice in her nearly 4-year life. Last week was the second of those times. Over the weekend, she was feeling a lot better and the fever had finally broken and we were discussing how she was sick.
At one point, I said, "I was a little worried about you because you were sick and you never get sick."
And she said, "Then you should've sent me a card."
Ok, Miss Manners. I guess next time I'll have to.

Justin Martin stuffed the 1,000th bear at 5:50 pm tonight.

My daughter and I watched as his Dad took photos to mark the occasion and we joked that this bear should have a name, even though his distinction would end once he was packed up with the rest of the bears to be distributed to sick and needy children throughout New Jersey.

I suggested Bear, since that was the name of Justin's original stuffed toy which inspired him & his dad to create The Justin Charity Bear Fund in the first place. His dad recommended Bear II.

Well, it doesn't really matter what we call that bear because some child out there will give it a new name. And that's what the hundreds of hours have been all about: ensuring that children have their own stuffed toy to love and cherish this holiday season. Justin was able to do that for 850 kids last year and this year he's going to do it for 1,000 - and counting. This remarkable 7-year-old is planning to continue stuffing bears as long as there are donations.

My daughter helped stuff several bears tonight but she is still a little young to grasp the full scope of what she was involved in but I think over time she will understand and I'm glad she was able to help, even in a small way.

A friend of mine just mentioned a recent conversation she'd had with her daughter. She'd asked her daughter what she thought Santa would bring their dog for Christmas.

Her daughter quickly replied, "A walk!"

I'm sure Santa will deliver that gift. But give Santa some help and maybe walk a shelter dog this holidayfor those dogs in shelters waiting for a home, Santa might

My 3 1/2-year-old daughter and I were snuggling and I said, "You're a good girl - usually."

And she said, "And sometimes I get cranky...when I don't get the things that I want."

Yeah, don't we all get cranky when we don't get what we want?

My daughter is lucky to see my mom a fair amount but my husband's mother lives far away, making it difficult  to stay connected. It also makes it hard for me to make sure she knows she really has two grandmothers.

So I've tried really hard to be specific as to which Grandma she will be seeing or talking to, for example, my mom is Grandma K. Well, this was a tough concept for her to initially grasp so I said things like "Grandma K is the one we see all the time" and "Grandma K is the one who has the dog, Shadow."

After a pause, she asks, "Is Grandma K the one who always gives me ice cream?"

Apparently so.

And mom, you've been busted!

Danica: "I am a beautiful princess and Mommy is the queen!"
Daddy: "And what am I?"
Danica: "And Daddy is the prince!"
Daddy: "But I should be King, right?"
Danica shakes her head and says, "No, no. You're the prince."
Daddy won't give up. "But if I'm married to Mommy, then I'm the king."
I helpfully point out that just because he's married to Mommy, who is Queen, doesn't necessarily make him King. And I get shushed.
But I'm still the Queen and apparently he's just my consort.

Today my daughter is in one of her many dress-up outfits. She runs up to my husband and asks,"How do I look?"

He says, "You look gorgeous!"

And she says, "That's my favorite answer."

My daughter's name, Danica, is often shortened by me to "D" when I write, so I thought D-isms would be a great way to categorize her funny one-liners.

So here are some I've heard lately:
"Mommy, my shirt is dirty. You can just put it in the dishwasher to clean it."

"I feel much more better."

"I look fablious"

"B starts with butterfly"