Practicing for Christmas

I can't believe it, but my baby girl is old enough to be in this year's children's Christmas program. Yesterday, when I picked her up from her class after church, her teacher let me know what they would be singing and asked me to practice with her a few times. Since they're only 2, remembering 3 songs and a "Bible verse" is a lot to expect from them if they're only practicing once a week. So yesterday on the way home, J and I tried to go over the "Bible verse" section of the program with A by having her repeat it over and over again. This is how it went.

J: A, can you say "John 3:16"?
A: John 16!
J: Good! Now say, "God"...
A: God...
J: Loved...
A: Jesus!
J: Well, I guess that's theologically correct...

Then, later last night, when I was practicing with her again, trying to get the right ending to her verse section, it went something like this...

Me: A, can you say, "God"?
A: God...
Me: Loved...
A: Counting things!
Me: Hmmm.... not quite. Let's try again. "God"...
A: God...

Me: Loved...

A: Tacos!
Me: Oh boy... I better video tape this Christmas program.

Finally, at dinner, I was singing through the "B-I-B-L-E" with her, attempting to get her to sing along. The whole time, she just looked at me like she had never heard the song. I was thinking while singing, "I thought they had already taught them these songs...?" When I reached the end of the song, however, A threw her hands up in the air and shouted "BIBLE!" right on cue. For some reason, I feel like I'm getting played with this whole "practice with your toddler" scheme...

Today... She is my toddler.

Today, my toddler helped me sort all the laundry. She also tried to throw away all her baby brother's clothes.

Today, my toddler helped make her own peanut butter and jelly sandwich. She also tried to dump her juice all over my family room rug.

Today, my toddler kissed her baby brother on the head while he was crying. She also tried to suffocate him with a blanket.

Today, my toddler told me, "I lub you so much mommy. And bubbles, too." She also told me to "cut it out" when I asked her to get off my bed.

Today, my toddler cleaned up her blocks all by herself. She also pulled down the stockings off of the mantle and almost broke her head open.

Today, my toddler learned which was her right and left hands and feet. She also had a complete meltdown over the fact that I wouldn't let her have candy for breakfast.

Today, my toddler changed out of her pj's all by herself. She also hid said pj's somewhere in her room, and I have yet to find them.

Today, my toddler is an angel. She is also the spawn of Satan. But that's all in a day in the life of a toddler and their parent.

They're so precious when they're asleep.