I got a call from my friend Margaret tonight "Amanda, will you come watch Odin for a little bit so we can go see the new baby?" Margaret's sister-in-law delivered a very healthy 9lb 4oz little boy today ... so of course I didn't mind.

Until they were gone for four hours.

I love my friends, but at least warn me that you're going to be gone to nearly 9pm so I can feed my daughter something before we come over. I picked Juliette up straight from school so they could head over there.

So Julie had three(ish) bowls of Kix cereal (momma helped). They had "Handy Manny" on them, so she was all about this cereal. And three pieces of cheese. YUCK! Whatever, she's so small for her age, I think she needs the extra calories. I had to run to walmart for a couple of things after watching him, and she did pretty well, since it was nearly 10pm. I never like being "that parent" with the screaming kid in the store past their bedtime ... but after having the "talk" with her (Juliette, stop it or we go to the bathroom for a spanking sort of talk) she was pretty well behaved.

Except for in the bathroom (but we were there for a potty break, not corporal puishment ... yay!) when she decided to start talking back AND talking under her breath. Who replaced my sweet toddler with a teenager?!?!! We've been using soap when she spits at me, talks back or lies ... these are pretty big deals in my book ... but obviously you can't use soap on a toddler 80 times in a day. It starts to loose the effect. I can now pick up the soap bottle, and she's changing her tune ... I didn't believe my mom when she told me that your children have to fear you. So, in the bathroom ... I get as close to on her level as I can ... and threaten with tabasco.

Just so we're clear ... I don't like a lot of pepper on my food. If I did have to follow through and use tabasco, I'd have to go out and buy a bottle of it. By the time I actually got to the store and back ... I'm pretty sure she would have completely forgotten her offense. Needless to say, I'm blowing smoke up her butt, and praying she doesn't realize it. I'm pretty sure that she's never even seen tabasco ... let alone knows that it's spicy ... but I really need to nip the talking back/spitting thing in the bud .. as in yesterday. Let me tell you, I've never seen a child snap back into place so quick in all my days. It was like instant *wham!* momma's serious, and I think she might kill me sort of straightening up. LOL. Sweet, the threat is still enough.

As we're washing our hands, a woman leans over and says "I used vinegar on my kid's when they talked back or spit." Instant light bulb over my head, since I do always have vinegar in the house. I love the crazy mom advice that I get from strangers in bathrooms too ... it's really pretty creepy the way people will open up to you in a public place like that. It's kinda like "Been there, done that ...here's how I survived!"

Oh, and the expenses from the new baby came after we left walmart and Julie saw the Sonic across the way "Momma, can we eat there ... I'm really really hungry." (You can reread the beginning to realize why I thought ths was a pretty hilarious statement.) But, since I had starved my child that evening ... I let her go to Sonic's for a cheeseburger and a milkshake ... she drank like three sips and ate a bite of her cheeseburger and was out like a light.

I love my child ... but I'm glad I got the stubborn one first! Before children I wanted 5 kids! What was I thinking?!?!