One hot mama

OK, I'll admit it, the best part about Sophia learning how to talk is making her say silly things. There are days when she will say almost anything I ask her to say. Other days, she won't say a single word. Last night she was a motor mouth.

A couple of weeks ago, we taught her to say "cool, baby." It's very cute, especially when she points and tries to wink when she says it. Over the weekend, Sophia learned "hot mama."

The day I tried to teach her she wouldn't say it at all. She just laughed like I was nuts. Well, it must have stuck because when I picked her up from daycare yesterday, she was all about "hot mama."

In the car, it was hot mama, hot mama, hot mama, until I turned to hand her a cookie and dropped it. "Oh, man," is what I said.

"Oh, man, hot mama, hot mama," I heard the rest of the way home.

Presented in front of me was an opportunity I couldn't resist.

"Who's a hot mama?" I asked. "Mommy!"

Yes! I've made it. I am now one hot mama.

Lost and not found - yet

I lost my keys this morning. I don't mean the kind of lost like they weren't were I left them and I found them someplace else, I mean lost like I had to get our spare house key and use the valet key to start my car this morning.

They are gone.

I discovered their disappearance in the midst of our mad rush out the door this morning. Ryan was in his car seat, Sophia had her jacket on and I was headed for the door when I discovered my keys weren't in my pocket. I checked my pocket book. Nothing. I emptied my purse three separate times. Still no keys.

So, the frantic search for the keys began. We checked in all the usual places: the door, the computer table, the kitchen counter and all the coat pockets. Then we started in some not-so usual places, like the under the couch, the bookcase, Sophia's toy box, even the trash can. For 45 minutes, my husband and I turned the house upside down looking for these keys. We found nothing.

As far as I'm concerned they got up and walked out the door themselves.

This is a disaster. I know it's not the end of the world, but it is so frustrating. The remote for my car is now gone, so I can't use the automatic door opener function on my car or set the alarm. All those silly grocery store cards are on my keys, and the worst is the key fob to get into daycare is gone and that's $10 to replace.

I have a sneaking suspicion that my dear Sophia may have thrown out the keys, but I have no real proof. She's never thrown anything like that out before, but there is a first time for everything and I think this might be it. I'm secretly hoping I'll get home tonight and they'll be sitting on the counter, but I doubt that will really happen.

My daughter the car demon

Sophia hates being in the car. She always has. She cried on the way home from the hospital and this trend has continued ever since. This problem was briefly corrected when she moved into a forward-facing car seat, but when I say briefly, I mean she was OK in the car for about a week.

Everyday I listen to her yell, scream and kick. I've tried all types of kids music, audio books and food to distract her. I've tried talking to her, ignoring her and I've even resorted to yelling back at her on more than one occasion.

For a while I was able to pacify her on the way home from daycare with a cookie or two (or five or six). This has backfired on me -- big time. As soon as her bottom touches the car seat she starts asking for a cookie and it gradually escalates to crying and whining until I can get into the driver's seat and tell her to say please, and hand her two cookie. One for each hand.

Several cookies later she wants juice. I can't refill her sippy cup while I'm driving so she freaks out until we get home. As soon as we pull into the driveway she is all smiles again. If you look in the back seat you'll see most of the cookies are in pieces all over the floor. It's not the cookies she really wants, but what she wants is anyone's guess.

I don't understand her aversion to the car. We've never been in an accident and I don't drive erratically. Ryan falls asleep as soon as the car starts running -- he's an angel for sleeping through his sister's tantrums.

I think the car is a perfect place for families to talk to each other so I've been hesitant about getting a DVD player for the back seat, but the idea has crossed my mind.

Sometimes while she's in a heated screaming match with herself, I imagine her at 6 or 7 years old screaming like a banshee in the back seat, while her little brother yells at her to shut up. I get chills just thinking about it.

For now, I know the farthest we can drive is 45 minutes before I need to get out of the car. Maybe when she moves to a booster seat she will be more comfortable and our problem will be solved.