Wednesday, March 23, 2011
She's a maniac....
This little clip doesn't really do justice to what I have been experiencing lately. There's just a couple rolls and tremors - but really, I've felt some MAJOR EARTHQUAKES lately. It's no longer cute little kicks and jabs and whatnot. It's full-on get OUT THE WAY baby-shaking. There is a large baby in my belly, and I do believe she is quite a bit more active than my other baby ever was, in utero. My memory might be just fuzzy, but I don't remember this much movement with Andrew ever.
Some patterns lately have been not a ton of movement at night (perfect! let's keep that up indefinitely!), not a lot in the morning either, but the show begins around lunch, and is in full-swing through bedtime. Most particularly around 7-8pm, which is when we're in bed watching a movie usually, so Pablo gets a perfect view at the madness within. There's always a look of shock and disbelief at how I can be living this. And while it doesn't phase me much, it always amazes me.
Pregnancy is hard. Physically and emotionally. The endless (endless!) list of ailments and pains and the endless list of worries of what can go wrong...it can really drive you nuts if you allow it.. but it's a time that I do have a great appreciation for. For any woman who prays and longs to just be pregnant, but for whatever reason, cannot. I know how much it's something to not be taken for granted. I am so grateful that I get to experience the very VERY beginning of my children's lives, with a front row seat.
This is very likely our last child/pregnancy, and while I won't miss the back pain, exhaustion, swelling, weight gain, hormones, headaches, nausea, and other related woes.. I will miss these little dance-shows I get to experience several dozen times a day. And of course the big boobs I know are just around the corner!
Monday, March 14, 2011
3 Years
Enjoy this post to you, my son. Each day brings us closer to becoming a family of four, and ending your supreme reign in the household, so this sentimental ever-detailed post ALL ABOUT YOU might be one of the last ones you'll read for a while. I don't say that to be mean, of course, but it is a reality. I can imagine that as much as I'll try to devote myself to each of you sometimes, 100%, I will always always be pulled in either direction. And this isn't a bad thing, you're going to love having a sister, but let's just say you better really live it up these next 6-7 weeks.
I remember how I felt when you turned one. Aside from perpetually exhausted, I remember feeling PROUD. Not only that we had sustained a human life for 12 entire months (I've always been an indoor plant-killer, so I had my doubts) but that we had done it so incredibly WELL! You were amazing. You were gorgeous and brilliant and just the sweetest little chunk of one-year old I had ever seen. Some of that just had to be our doing, right? We survived that first insanely hard year, and we came out the other side with a beautifully well-adjusted one-year old. We really were full of ourselves at that moment. And really, why not? I had never in my life cared for, or really even babysat, an infant. I had absolutely no clue. But, despite the constant trial-and-error that defined that first year, you made it out unscathed and pretty amazing. There were certain times we might have been a bit scarred from though, like the month or so, around 9 months old, where you would routinely vomit up your day's worth of food whenever you would cry at night. That was not a time we'd ever like to relive, but overall, it was a good good year.
I remember how I felt when you turned two. Months 12 to 24 were most definitely, hands-down, without a freakin' doubt the hardest for us. Well, mostly me. I had some long LONG days with you that year, child. You were very awkwardly staggering the line between being opinionated but not knowing the appropriate ways to get that opinion across. You wanted to say SO! MUCH! but you lacked a lot of the skill to do so. It got eleventy billion times better from months 20-24, but prior to that, it was some rough going. You had quite the attitude for a little guy, and while most of your tantrums were short, they were very memorable. You were still my sweet love, but that year was peppered with far more hair-raising language barrier-caused tantrums than I ever thought possible. I was pretty ill-equipped to deal with them, also. Given the fact that you were always a pretty chill, sweet boy, I was 100% not prepared with how to react to such outbursts. So, there was A LOT of late-night googling and developmental book-reading. Turns out that it really didn't matter what I did or didn't do, once you had a better grasp of the whole English language thing, matters greatly improved.
And how do I feel now, as your turn three? LUCKY. Because this last year, months 24 to 36.. they were just, wow. Insanely fun. Your personality has evolved so much this past year, and the things you do?? The things you say?? Hilarious. You are such a little person. You're not even a toddler anymore, I don't believe, you're a full-fledged card-carrying KID. And yes, this makes me want to stop and sob for a moment, but it's just too cool for words. We have conversations. And to be able to recall the you that cried like a wounded chicken to communicate to us as a newborn, to listen to an entire dialogue from that same you now, 3 years later? Kind of mind-blowing.
We got you a trike, too. It had a long huge handle on the back for us to push, but really we just rest our fingertips there, because you needed to look back and SEE us there. I get that. You did the work, and eventually the handle came off - and off you went. The last week or so, we retired the trike and introduced you to your 'big boy bike' - a small bike w/training wheels. You got on, no fear, and that was that. I have a good feeling you won't take a decade and a half to learn how to ride a bike like I did. This is a good thing because someday your spouse won't mock you every chance they get about it.
This year also marked the whole 'mommy getting pregnant again' event. That weekend we found out, I vividly remember taking you to your most fave place EVER, the mini-train. I wanted to celebrate and remember the weekend, but in a way that meant something to you. You still have no idea how much your life is about to change, and neither do I. It was something very surreal for a few months, the notion of you not being my one and only.. and me having to share all the love. As the time gets nearer, it's still somewhat of a weird feeling, but not as crazy as it was those first few weekends.
You also started preschool. Let me tell you, I was stressing about this BIG TIME, for months. And months. I even got you a What To Expect At Preschool book (and fine, ok, a few other related reads). A little mental prep goes a long way with you. And, me. I was just worried about everything. The leaving you (went fantastic). The possibility of potty-accidents (1 all year). How you'd make friends (pretty easy). If you'd eat lunch (oh yes). If you'd get hurt (one ear-smushed-in-doorway accident). If you'd nap (sometimes). How you'd adjust overall (fabulously). So.. like most things, I over-worried. You have loved loved loved preschool from Day One. You come home and give me dramatic lowdowns of playground soap-opera happenings. "Ya know why Dylan was sad today? Because Sophie messed his hair up! And then he messed her hair up! And then she was sad, too. And then she got a time-out..." It's all so riveting, and I love hearing about it.
There's just been so much this year. So many milestones. Little and big. When someone thinks of milestones, they might think of sitting-up or walking or clapping. And those are amazing milestones that you never forget. This year has been full of somewhat more.. abstract thought related ones? Like, the one where you ask me for something, I tell you no and you immediately scamper off to find your father to ask him the same question. This little gem of a milestone is sure to stick around for the next decade at least. Or the little emotional milestones along the way - how you instantly sense a bad mood, and tell me to 'just be happy, ok?'.. or if you've been a toot and I've just about had it, you give me a sweet face and say 'I'm still a good boy...' Oh man. Crawling and clapping were awesome and each deserve their own parade, but I absolutely adore these different kind of milestones.
I am just such the proud mother. I know these days are so fleeting, and as easy as it would be to look at the years ahead when you are in college and we can cruise the world as 'the light at the end of the tunnel', I don't. I want these sweet toddler years. I know they won't be around for much longer, and they might have even already passed me by and I haven't yet realized it.
I try to soak up moments every single day with you, but there's so many of them. You give me, us, so much. Every single day. I couldn't feel more blessed by YOU than I do right now, and always.
Happy third birthday, sweets.
I remember how I felt when you turned one. Aside from perpetually exhausted, I remember feeling PROUD. Not only that we had sustained a human life for 12 entire months (I've always been an indoor plant-killer, so I had my doubts) but that we had done it so incredibly WELL! You were amazing. You were gorgeous and brilliant and just the sweetest little chunk of one-year old I had ever seen. Some of that just had to be our doing, right? We survived that first insanely hard year, and we came out the other side with a beautifully well-adjusted one-year old. We really were full of ourselves at that moment. And really, why not? I had never in my life cared for, or really even babysat, an infant. I had absolutely no clue. But, despite the constant trial-and-error that defined that first year, you made it out unscathed and pretty amazing. There were certain times we might have been a bit scarred from though, like the month or so, around 9 months old, where you would routinely vomit up your day's worth of food whenever you would cry at night. That was not a time we'd ever like to relive, but overall, it was a good good year. 
I remember how I felt when you turned two. Months 12 to 24 were most definitely, hands-down, without a freakin' doubt the hardest for us. Well, mostly me. I had some long LONG days with you that year, child. You were very awkwardly staggering the line between being opinionated but not knowing the appropriate ways to get that opinion across. You wanted to say SO! MUCH! but you lacked a lot of the skill to do so. It got eleventy billion times better from months 20-24, but prior to that, it was some rough going. You had quite the attitude for a little guy, and while most of your tantrums were short, they were very memorable. You were still my sweet love, but that year was peppered with far more hair-raising language barrier-caused tantrums than I ever thought possible. I was pretty ill-equipped to deal with them, also. Given the fact that you were always a pretty chill, sweet boy, I was 100% not prepared with how to react to such outbursts. So, there was A LOT of late-night googling and developmental book-reading. Turns out that it really didn't matter what I did or didn't do, once you had a better grasp of the whole English language thing, matters greatly improved.
And how do I feel now, as your turn three? LUCKY. Because this last year, months 24 to 36.. they were just, wow. Insanely fun. Your personality has evolved so much this past year, and the things you do?? The things you say?? Hilarious. You are such a little person. You're not even a toddler anymore, I don't believe, you're a full-fledged card-carrying KID. And yes, this makes me want to stop and sob for a moment, but it's just too cool for words. We have conversations. And to be able to recall the you that cried like a wounded chicken to communicate to us as a newborn, to listen to an entire dialogue from that same you now, 3 years later? Kind of mind-blowing. You are so loving. Lately, the last month I'd guess, you come up to us and give us out-of-the-blue kisses. Sometimes on our leg or our foot or our back.. then you go off and continue playing or doing whatever you were doing, leaving me in a pile of Loved Mommy Mush. Sometimes you will pick a dandelion outside and give it to me, saying 'I picked this big one, just because I love you.' Again - Mommy MUSH. Sometimes I'll ask you if you have any love or kisses for me.. you'll typically shrug and say 'no I'm all out of love.. but I have a few kisses!' (or vice versa) And then sometimes, when I would give our life's savings to stop time. you will let me hold you in a full-out body hug, you straddling me (perched over the belly) with your head resting on my shoulder.. and I'll sway and you will stay there for FAR longer than I'd ever expect a toddler to stay still. It's the best part of any day.
We also did some potty-training this year. Month 28, to be exact. It went MUCH better than I anticipated, but then I often anticipate the very worst of scenarios. Really though, you were a quick learner. At least with the pee. We won't talk about the other function, because it was a month and a half we'd all like to burn from our memories. Really though, it could have been so much worse, so I have absolutely no complaints.. I am nothing but proud of you and how it all went. I think (for me at least) as soon as you have a newborn, you start to realize 'OH GOD this child will someday need to be potty-trained. And by me!' and there's a certain amount of dramatic panic experienced well in advance. I can panic with the best of them, and I am so stinking thankful to you for having all that panic be for nothing.
We got you a trike, too. It had a long huge handle on the back for us to push, but really we just rest our fingertips there, because you needed to look back and SEE us there. I get that. You did the work, and eventually the handle came off - and off you went. The last week or so, we retired the trike and introduced you to your 'big boy bike' - a small bike w/training wheels. You got on, no fear, and that was that. I have a good feeling you won't take a decade and a half to learn how to ride a bike like I did. This is a good thing because someday your spouse won't mock you every chance they get about it.
I am just such the proud mother. I know these days are so fleeting, and as easy as it would be to look at the years ahead when you are in college and we can cruise the world as 'the light at the end of the tunnel', I don't. I want these sweet toddler years. I know they won't be around for much longer, and they might have even already passed me by and I haven't yet realized it.
I try to soak up moments every single day with you, but there's so many of them. You give me, us, so much. Every single day. I couldn't feel more blessed by YOU than I do right now, and always.
Happy third birthday, sweets.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Out Back
This video sums up what we hear daily, several thousand times a day, depending upon your sugar intake (of course). You are ALWAYS wanting to 'gooo get you!!!'... But it has to be said a certain way. It has to start with a cheeky whisper.. 'ya know what I'm gonna do in just a minute...?'.. then you SCREAM 'I'm gonna go GET YOOOU!'... After hearing this in our sleep practically, we mix things up sometimes by saying the first part ('ya know what I'm gonna do in just a minute?') - and then we'll say 'go do laundry'.. 'go take the trash out'.. or something else equally as mundane. You get a huge kick out of that. And it buys us some lazy time where we don't have to chase you all over the house. ;)
And this one was taken the same afternoon.. it's just you being silly. And counting rocks. You know, someday, probably a LOT sooner than I realize, your requested form of entertainment will go far beyond being outside and counting rocks. We have never been big TV-watchers, and it's something I am proud of as a parent - the fact that you don't know all the normal toddler tv-shows that most kids do. Because I am my own worst critic, there's not a TON I can confidently say I am proud of, but this is something I feel I dun' good on! Sure, you have a few favorite tv characters, but we've always simply left the TV off. It has required muuuuch more patience and focus on our behalf, keeping you entertained otherwise - but I am so thankful that you would rather count inanimate objects outside or read through endless (endless!) books, or paint or color, than sing the latest mind-numbingly annoying TV theme-song. Now, having said that, it's highly likely that your little sister will teach you many many annoying tv theme-songs!!!!! Life as we know it will be adjusted accordingly. ;)
Lately, just to see how you'd like it, I put on a show called Diego. Knowing that most kids your age like the show, I thought you'd love it... but given the fact that this Diego character does not speak - he SCREAMS and yells - you were sort of taken aback. The show likes to get the kids/audience to interact, asking them questions, and waiting for responses with their big blinking cartoon eyes. And you, you just blink right back at them, probably wondering why the hell they are screaming at you. You do interact with the shows you do watch, Curious George, Word World, SuperWhy, and some others.. but I don't blame you for hating a show that yells at you.
I don't know how I got on the topic of TV... but there you go.
This video needs no real description. Just a crazy kid in a tunnel!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
The Little Gym
The top video is of you going around the parachute. It's so funny to watch (for me) because when we first started these classes - 2 yrs ago - you were TERRIFIED of the parachute. You had such anxiety about it. It could have been the over-stimulation factor of it, the size of it, or who knows what... all of the above probably, considering there is almost always at least one screamer for this part of class. But the last year or so, you've LOVED it. And you participate and listen to the teacher SO so beautifully. I am just so proud!
The last video is of you receiving your 'medal of honor' - on the last day of class. We picked the wrong end of the semi-circle to sit at, and you were the last of about 12 kids, but you were patient as always, waiting your turn.
Christmas 2010 - Better Late Than Never
Yes yes, I know, this is WAY overdue. But I am just grateful that I am documenting it while it's still winter. It seems like it was just yesterday, anyway....
Aunty Kelly came home for Christmas, which is always a treat! Especially for certain toddlers who know they can get months worth of energy out all in a few days with her! Endless games of chase and hide-and-seek are the best ways to make some holiday memories.
On Christmas Eve night, we let you open one gift. It was a big Play-Doh set! I have to say, this item was strategically picked, given the fact that I knew that if you opened it ON Christmas Day (amidst the gift-opening chaos w/everyone else) that you would want to immediately play with it, and rightfully so, but Play-Doh is quite the cumbersome toy to play with/clean-up.. sooo... yeah. I picked a night where we could devote some immediate playtime to it! You really loved it. :)
Then came Christmas morning! Santa came and he was definitely sure you were a VERY good boy this year!
I don't have any photos of you stumbling out to the living room - I do have a video though..... You were a little confused. Last year, you were very confused.. sort of in a state of awe, surrounded by all these new toys, not really knowing what to do or why they were all there. This year, you knew exactly WHY, but you were still in a state of awe I think. You kept asking 'are all these for me??!'... YES CHILD! You were definitely latched on to your new train-set the first minute you laid eyes on it. All other gifts were pretty unremarkable by comparison.
Well, except your trash-truck (which, if we were picky, we'd call a Recycling Truck, because that's what it is.. but whatever!).. you loved that. You unwrapped the box, and were so excited to get 'A TWASH TWUCK!'
You really loved your guitar, too. This was really the only toy you asked for (aside from your non-toy request of lollipops - daily, all day, all month long).. so Santa made sure one was available for you just days prior to Christmas!
And yes, Santa made sure to have a good selection of lollipops for your stocking!
Santa even brought ME things in my stocking! A few gift cards.. some antibacterial-gel (Santa knows me well).. a toothbrush holder I wanted...some chocolates.. and a few other things!
Santa got me my yearly planner, and a book I'd wanted to read, too. :) And this year, since you'll have a baby sister soon, Santa even got me the cutest little newborn booties. Santa did well.
Let's not forget Daddy though! Santa brought him a book he'd wanted to read... and a few comics! Santa appreciates adults who are kids at heart. :)
After breakfast and getting dressed, we headed over to Grandpa's house for more Christmas-fun. Here all us ladies (plus you!) are squeezed in on the couch, a very rare photo where all of us are looking in the camera! Aunty Kelly had the coolest Christmas Snoopy shirt - which you liked, as you really enjoyed the Snoopy movies this Christmas.
We indulged your request to hide under the gifts... because really, how often can one even do this? The big black & white box that is over you is actually a gender-gift. We had Kelly open it in front of everyone, and it contained a 'Little Sister' onesie - as a way to tell everyone we were having a girl.. got that on vid, too, it's a good one!
You then started the races off with opening gifts.. you're holding a prayer-bear from Mamaw. It says a little prayer when you press the button.. It starts off cutely with 'Now I lay me down to sleep..' but the last line it says it absolutely incomprehensible. We've listened to it 3 dozen times, and still, no clue whatsoever. I think this just adds to it's novelty.
A bath-tub boat. You love bath toys!
Some cars, that I think you have only since played with once. But you really seemed to like upon opening! I guess it's because they are small - and everyone knows bigger = better, in terms of cars.
And here is a very thoughtful gift from Kelly and Roger - a big brother tee!!! You loved it. :) And it will get lots of wear. VERY cute,
Amongst fellow gift-openers.. Mamaw has apparently been into.. coloring. So Aunty Kelly decided to be a little cheeky and get her some new coloring books! Mamaw was LITERALLY using the very same half-used coloring books that us girls used as kids, in the 80's! (ever the Recessionista) So, it was time.
And it is no secret that upon purchase of his new Mac laptop, that Daddy has become a bit of an Apple.. FREAK. So, I decided to get him some snazzy Apple-application magnets. For his work.
I received the cutest iPhone holder EVER. And I love it not even based on looks alone! It's so functional! I can now find my dark-colored phone in the deep murky abyss of my purse, and for preschool drop-offs/pick-ups, I no longer have a pocket-bulge. I have a cute holder!
You can see here in the top left corner an easel you also got for Christmas (from Mamaw). It didn't get quite the enthusiastic response she probably hoped for, but I think it's because you had no idea what the heck it gets used for! Now though (almost 2 months past Christmas) I can guarantee her that you VERY much love it and use it several times a day.
You also went around the room, as soon as you were done opening your gifts, to HELP others open theirs. I think you definitely had the concept of gift-opening DOWN this year. Eventually though, I had some new blocks opened up and you were relegated to the window-sill to play. You were happy and others got to open a few of their own gifts!
Lunch/dinner then got rolling, with all us gals in the kitchen. Kelly & I doing all the cooking, while Mamaw stuck her fingers in things that ought not to be.
It was pretty well past your normal lunch-time, and as most know, it's not wise to mess with a toddler's eating schedule, so to avoid the incessant whining we had Grandpa read you several stories from your new way-awesome Curious George collections book (that we now read oohhhh 59 times a day!).
After a delicious meal, we got you upstairs for a much-needed nap, and then we all just basically laid around. I was beat, and I had about 5 books total I received, so I started in on one of them. It was a relaxing few hours!
When we got home, we set up your tent/tunnel from Mamaw, and you were one HAPPY CAMPER! You loved the novelty of it - and shockingly, it hasn't really worn off. You now play with tons of toys inside your tent.. and you love to go through the tunnel, or roll things through it. It's also the #1 top choice when it comes to hide-and-seek places.
I do realize this entire post has all been about STUFF. Gifts and presents and goodies. And while it's a huge part of Christmas for a toddler, we did try to talk to you about WHY we have Christmas. We read some cute books about it, and when we asked you what happened on Christmas Day, a long time ago, you would confidently tell us that 'baby Jesus was born!'.. It's a story that we'll elaborate on throughout the years when you're older and can understand a bit more. Though, I think there might have been some confusion... several weeks prior to Christmas, I would ask you who was coming for Christmas, and you would enthusiastically reply 'baby Jesus and Aunty Kelly!!!!' HA! Let's just say she was flattered to be placed in the same category as the baby Jesus.
Overall, it was a wonderful Christmas. The last Christmas as a little family of three. I hope you can remember some parts of the day, years from now.. but if not, I'll just tell you about how you were the sweetest, most polite little boy we've ever seen. How it was so very amazing to get to experience Christmas through your stunned little eyes!
Aunty Kelly came home for Christmas, which is always a treat! Especially for certain toddlers who know they can get months worth of energy out all in a few days with her! Endless games of chase and hide-and-seek are the best ways to make some holiday memories.
On Christmas Eve night, we let you open one gift. It was a big Play-Doh set! I have to say, this item was strategically picked, given the fact that I knew that if you opened it ON Christmas Day (amidst the gift-opening chaos w/everyone else) that you would want to immediately play with it, and rightfully so, but Play-Doh is quite the cumbersome toy to play with/clean-up.. sooo... yeah. I picked a night where we could devote some immediate playtime to it! You really loved it. :)
Then came Christmas morning! Santa came and he was definitely sure you were a VERY good boy this year!
I don't have any photos of you stumbling out to the living room - I do have a video though..... You were a little confused. Last year, you were very confused.. sort of in a state of awe, surrounded by all these new toys, not really knowing what to do or why they were all there. This year, you knew exactly WHY, but you were still in a state of awe I think. You kept asking 'are all these for me??!'... YES CHILD! You were definitely latched on to your new train-set the first minute you laid eyes on it. All other gifts were pretty unremarkable by comparison.
Well, except your trash-truck (which, if we were picky, we'd call a Recycling Truck, because that's what it is.. but whatever!).. you loved that. You unwrapped the box, and were so excited to get 'A TWASH TWUCK!'
You really loved your guitar, too. This was really the only toy you asked for (aside from your non-toy request of lollipops - daily, all day, all month long).. so Santa made sure one was available for you just days prior to Christmas!
And yes, Santa made sure to have a good selection of lollipops for your stocking!
Santa even brought ME things in my stocking! A few gift cards.. some antibacterial-gel (Santa knows me well).. a toothbrush holder I wanted...some chocolates.. and a few other things!
Santa got me my yearly planner, and a book I'd wanted to read, too. :) And this year, since you'll have a baby sister soon, Santa even got me the cutest little newborn booties. Santa did well.
Let's not forget Daddy though! Santa brought him a book he'd wanted to read... and a few comics! Santa appreciates adults who are kids at heart. :)
After breakfast and getting dressed, we headed over to Grandpa's house for more Christmas-fun. Here all us ladies (plus you!) are squeezed in on the couch, a very rare photo where all of us are looking in the camera! Aunty Kelly had the coolest Christmas Snoopy shirt - which you liked, as you really enjoyed the Snoopy movies this Christmas.
We indulged your request to hide under the gifts... because really, how often can one even do this? The big black & white box that is over you is actually a gender-gift. We had Kelly open it in front of everyone, and it contained a 'Little Sister' onesie - as a way to tell everyone we were having a girl.. got that on vid, too, it's a good one!
You then started the races off with opening gifts.. you're holding a prayer-bear from Mamaw. It says a little prayer when you press the button.. It starts off cutely with 'Now I lay me down to sleep..' but the last line it says it absolutely incomprehensible. We've listened to it 3 dozen times, and still, no clue whatsoever. I think this just adds to it's novelty.
A bath-tub boat. You love bath toys!
Some cars, that I think you have only since played with once. But you really seemed to like upon opening! I guess it's because they are small - and everyone knows bigger = better, in terms of cars.
And here is a very thoughtful gift from Kelly and Roger - a big brother tee!!! You loved it. :) And it will get lots of wear. VERY cute,
Amongst fellow gift-openers.. Mamaw has apparently been into.. coloring. So Aunty Kelly decided to be a little cheeky and get her some new coloring books! Mamaw was LITERALLY using the very same half-used coloring books that us girls used as kids, in the 80's! (ever the Recessionista) So, it was time.
And it is no secret that upon purchase of his new Mac laptop, that Daddy has become a bit of an Apple.. FREAK. So, I decided to get him some snazzy Apple-application magnets. For his work.
I received the cutest iPhone holder EVER. And I love it not even based on looks alone! It's so functional! I can now find my dark-colored phone in the deep murky abyss of my purse, and for preschool drop-offs/pick-ups, I no longer have a pocket-bulge. I have a cute holder!
You can see here in the top left corner an easel you also got for Christmas (from Mamaw). It didn't get quite the enthusiastic response she probably hoped for, but I think it's because you had no idea what the heck it gets used for! Now though (almost 2 months past Christmas) I can guarantee her that you VERY much love it and use it several times a day.
You also went around the room, as soon as you were done opening your gifts, to HELP others open theirs. I think you definitely had the concept of gift-opening DOWN this year. Eventually though, I had some new blocks opened up and you were relegated to the window-sill to play. You were happy and others got to open a few of their own gifts!
Lunch/dinner then got rolling, with all us gals in the kitchen. Kelly & I doing all the cooking, while Mamaw stuck her fingers in things that ought not to be.
It was pretty well past your normal lunch-time, and as most know, it's not wise to mess with a toddler's eating schedule, so to avoid the incessant whining we had Grandpa read you several stories from your new way-awesome Curious George collections book (that we now read oohhhh 59 times a day!).
After a delicious meal, we got you upstairs for a much-needed nap, and then we all just basically laid around. I was beat, and I had about 5 books total I received, so I started in on one of them. It was a relaxing few hours!
When we got home, we set up your tent/tunnel from Mamaw, and you were one HAPPY CAMPER! You loved the novelty of it - and shockingly, it hasn't really worn off. You now play with tons of toys inside your tent.. and you love to go through the tunnel, or roll things through it. It's also the #1 top choice when it comes to hide-and-seek places.
I do realize this entire post has all been about STUFF. Gifts and presents and goodies. And while it's a huge part of Christmas for a toddler, we did try to talk to you about WHY we have Christmas. We read some cute books about it, and when we asked you what happened on Christmas Day, a long time ago, you would confidently tell us that 'baby Jesus was born!'.. It's a story that we'll elaborate on throughout the years when you're older and can understand a bit more. Though, I think there might have been some confusion... several weeks prior to Christmas, I would ask you who was coming for Christmas, and you would enthusiastically reply 'baby Jesus and Aunty Kelly!!!!' HA! Let's just say she was flattered to be placed in the same category as the baby Jesus.
Overall, it was a wonderful Christmas. The last Christmas as a little family of three. I hope you can remember some parts of the day, years from now.. but if not, I'll just tell you about how you were the sweetest, most polite little boy we've ever seen. How it was so very amazing to get to experience Christmas through your stunned little eyes!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Andrew, almost 34 months
Oh my sweet little man! So many cute things, as always, that I have to get documented to remember them forever.
* You are so conversational! You aren't even a toddler anymore - you're a little kid. And it blows my mind constantly. You will come up to me and say 'hey, I got a good idea, wanna hear what it is?' - and it's usually something like 'let's watch some Polar Express' (your fave movie du jour) or something else that is typically given out in limited doses. Sometimes it's quite outlandish - 'let's go to New York. Right now!' - or 'let's go to a hotel room' - you just love it when we check into hotel rooms!
You'll gaze out the back-door windows as you eat your dinner and proclaim that 'it's getting dark.. just not dark yet!'.. sort of your way of saying that it's not quite night-time yet.
Your story-telling to us continues, but now you add in genius little segueways like '...and all of a sudden...!' Or 'suddenly!' Such intrigue for a two year old!
You still add on the phrase 'or something' - to a lot of phrases.. though it comes out 'or somefin'.. once or twice you've said 'wanna go play somefin or somefin?'... Your father and I say this between the two of us for a laugh, just because it's so cute.
* When we clean you up after meals, you take notice of how clean or dirty you are. You'll look down at your pants or shirt and say 'wow, hey! I'm pretty clean!' or your tone will lower, and you'll say 'ohhh no, we're dirty, we gotta change!' As if you were ever reprimanded for being dirty - I guess you just equate it with a sad tone. And sometimes, when immediate stripping is necessary (that dirty), you'll run in your underwear as fast as lightning, screaming 'naked toddler on the loose!!!'
* Speaking of naked-ness, when you're getting dressed/undressed, I'll sometimes ask if I can give you some back kisses.. which I LOVE to do because 1. your back is just so so so soft and I could smother it with kisses all day long and 2. your back has always been the most sensitive-to-touch part of you, so I loved seeing you squirm and squeal with laughter. When I ask if I can, you'll always oblige, turning around and back up into me, like a sweet boy. Though, now that I do it all the time, you've been successfully de-sensitized and you no longer squirm.. you just humor me til I'm done.
* This morning, after you woke up, you went to go potty, and as always I am sitting on your bed, where I can see you but you can't see me too well (to give you privacy/keep an eye on you at the same time)... well, this morning during your epic-long 30 second pee, you start to pick your nose. You bring a prize-winning-booger out of your nose, on your finger, and say 'wow, that's a big one...' Talking to yourself while peeing while picking your nose just adds up to some major cuteness in my book.
* You recently took to bouncehouses. Before, they were mostly something to be walked around, eyed with caution and suspicion. You eventually worked your way up to actually going ON one, but you'd only hold hands with your friend if you were to slide down on one. Just a few days ago, you went with your father (I dropped you two off to shop for a little bit) and when I returned, you were whizzing down these 20 foot tall slides like it was nobody's business. Of course, your father had quite the smug smirk of parental pride, but he admitted he bribed you (to play an iphone game you quickly forgot about, because you were having so much fun). I must say, it brought me much happiness to see you being all .. kid-like.. but also some sadness because of just how fast you're growing up/away.
* The other day, all 3 of us were out running errands, and due to some miscommunications between your father & I, you got jipped out of a visit to the park. You would have been 100% a-ok with this, easily distracted, not the type to hold grudges or throw ridiculous tantrums. But, just because I KNOW THIS and how damn lucky I am, I went in to the store really quick and brought you out a big orange lollipop (you go ape). You had the biggest sweetest smile when I gave you that lollipop. The little lollipop was 29 cents, but my God, that joy was just immeasurable.
* Today, we were sitting on the couch, and when you got up, you leaned on me and elbowed me really hard in my growing abdomen full of baby. It surprised me more than hurt me, and I sort of snapped at you. I didn't yell, I just said 'Andrew, be careful!' or something like that, very sharply. You walked away, and maybe 3 steps away you turned to me and tears welled up and just started flowing. It was the type of cry I remembered as a kid, not ones of being scared, but 'I'm sorry are you ok?' tears. You really had thought you hurt me, and I think my sharp tone didn't help the situation. I held you and you cried for maybe 15 or so seconds (an eternity to a mother!). It wasn't at all how you gouged me in the stomach that made my heart ache after all this, it was seeing what a sensitive little soul you are. How so so so much more in your years ahead will bring on tears like that. Little boys will hurt your feelings on the playground, and big girls will hurt your feelings on the dance-floor. And I won't be there to scoop you up and let you blow your snot in my shirt. I am afraid that I grow more understanding of your grandmother all the time, who wants to physcially coddle your almost-30 year old father. It's quite inappropriate, but I am getting it more and more.
* You adore picking out girl clothes. You find something that's pink and yell it out 'here's some girl clothes!!!'. You get a lot of practice at this, too. :) You talk about how you'll play hide and seek with your sister and play-doh, and how you'll show her your train. And you very much know that something babies do a lot of is CRY. I am so so excited for you to meet her. I am so excited to dedicate these posts to how amazing of a brother you are. You are already one amazing little son.
* You are so conversational! You aren't even a toddler anymore - you're a little kid. And it blows my mind constantly. You will come up to me and say 'hey, I got a good idea, wanna hear what it is?' - and it's usually something like 'let's watch some Polar Express' (your fave movie du jour) or something else that is typically given out in limited doses. Sometimes it's quite outlandish - 'let's go to New York. Right now!' - or 'let's go to a hotel room' - you just love it when we check into hotel rooms!
You'll gaze out the back-door windows as you eat your dinner and proclaim that 'it's getting dark.. just not dark yet!'.. sort of your way of saying that it's not quite night-time yet.
Your story-telling to us continues, but now you add in genius little segueways like '...and all of a sudden...!' Or 'suddenly!' Such intrigue for a two year old!
You still add on the phrase 'or something' - to a lot of phrases.. though it comes out 'or somefin'.. once or twice you've said 'wanna go play somefin or somefin?'... Your father and I say this between the two of us for a laugh, just because it's so cute.
* When we clean you up after meals, you take notice of how clean or dirty you are. You'll look down at your pants or shirt and say 'wow, hey! I'm pretty clean!' or your tone will lower, and you'll say 'ohhh no, we're dirty, we gotta change!' As if you were ever reprimanded for being dirty - I guess you just equate it with a sad tone. And sometimes, when immediate stripping is necessary (that dirty), you'll run in your underwear as fast as lightning, screaming 'naked toddler on the loose!!!'
* Speaking of naked-ness, when you're getting dressed/undressed, I'll sometimes ask if I can give you some back kisses.. which I LOVE to do because 1. your back is just so so so soft and I could smother it with kisses all day long and 2. your back has always been the most sensitive-to-touch part of you, so I loved seeing you squirm and squeal with laughter. When I ask if I can, you'll always oblige, turning around and back up into me, like a sweet boy. Though, now that I do it all the time, you've been successfully de-sensitized and you no longer squirm.. you just humor me til I'm done.
* This morning, after you woke up, you went to go potty, and as always I am sitting on your bed, where I can see you but you can't see me too well (to give you privacy/keep an eye on you at the same time)... well, this morning during your epic-long 30 second pee, you start to pick your nose. You bring a prize-winning-booger out of your nose, on your finger, and say 'wow, that's a big one...' Talking to yourself while peeing while picking your nose just adds up to some major cuteness in my book.
* You recently took to bouncehouses. Before, they were mostly something to be walked around, eyed with caution and suspicion. You eventually worked your way up to actually going ON one, but you'd only hold hands with your friend if you were to slide down on one. Just a few days ago, you went with your father (I dropped you two off to shop for a little bit) and when I returned, you were whizzing down these 20 foot tall slides like it was nobody's business. Of course, your father had quite the smug smirk of parental pride, but he admitted he bribed you (to play an iphone game you quickly forgot about, because you were having so much fun). I must say, it brought me much happiness to see you being all .. kid-like.. but also some sadness because of just how fast you're growing up/away.
* The other day, all 3 of us were out running errands, and due to some miscommunications between your father & I, you got jipped out of a visit to the park. You would have been 100% a-ok with this, easily distracted, not the type to hold grudges or throw ridiculous tantrums. But, just because I KNOW THIS and how damn lucky I am, I went in to the store really quick and brought you out a big orange lollipop (you go ape). You had the biggest sweetest smile when I gave you that lollipop. The little lollipop was 29 cents, but my God, that joy was just immeasurable.
* Today, we were sitting on the couch, and when you got up, you leaned on me and elbowed me really hard in my growing abdomen full of baby. It surprised me more than hurt me, and I sort of snapped at you. I didn't yell, I just said 'Andrew, be careful!' or something like that, very sharply. You walked away, and maybe 3 steps away you turned to me and tears welled up and just started flowing. It was the type of cry I remembered as a kid, not ones of being scared, but 'I'm sorry are you ok?' tears. You really had thought you hurt me, and I think my sharp tone didn't help the situation. I held you and you cried for maybe 15 or so seconds (an eternity to a mother!). It wasn't at all how you gouged me in the stomach that made my heart ache after all this, it was seeing what a sensitive little soul you are. How so so so much more in your years ahead will bring on tears like that. Little boys will hurt your feelings on the playground, and big girls will hurt your feelings on the dance-floor. And I won't be there to scoop you up and let you blow your snot in my shirt. I am afraid that I grow more understanding of your grandmother all the time, who wants to physcially coddle your almost-30 year old father. It's quite inappropriate, but I am getting it more and more.
* You adore picking out girl clothes. You find something that's pink and yell it out 'here's some girl clothes!!!'. You get a lot of practice at this, too. :) You talk about how you'll play hide and seek with your sister and play-doh, and how you'll show her your train. And you very much know that something babies do a lot of is CRY. I am so so excited for you to meet her. I am so excited to dedicate these posts to how amazing of a brother you are. You are already one amazing little son.
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