There are a lot of things floating around in my head and antibiotic floating around in my system. I have a cold, too. So, please don't expect cohesion here. And, don't expect anything to be pickled.
Minutia
Getting ready to leave for work earlier this week, I put Devin's shoes on him and then set him down. He immediately cried out, "TOO TIGHT. SHOE TOO TIGHT!" That back part piece had gotten folded down inside. Never a comfortable feeling. I took his shoe off and put it back on right, and then he said, "Not too tight anymore." I'm just wondering how he knows how to use the word "anymore" in a sentence correctly. What's the Spanish word for anymore? If I had to acquire a language on my own, I'm not sure I could modify my sentences with words/concepts like anymore. He, like Clever Trevor, is brilliant. Dazzling Devin. Too girly. Deep Devin. That's a little better. Discerning Devin? Too much something like I would say in real life. Well, he's brilliant.
When I drop the boys off at daycare, most days I have to put Adriot Devin's shoes back on his feet. Nothing like a 30 minute ride in the car with no shoes in the middle of winter. He certainly seems to think that way.
After putting his shoes back on, we all pile out of the car, which may, in fact, be too small for daycare dropoff duty (Toyota Sienna??), Trevor races up the sidewalk while Devin LOLLYGAGS behind. Devin is definitely not as safety conscious as Trevor, so I lollygag with him so that he doesn't wander into the path of an oncoming car in the nearby street. But, this puts other parents of the awkward position of what to do with Trevor who is standing, apparently by himself, at the door of the daycare. I normally yell, "He's OK. He's with me." Sometimes they let him in. Sometimes he waits for me anyway.
Devin, in addition to being adroit, discerning, brilliant, dazzling, and sometimes deep, has also been very indecisive lately. This morning as we walked into daycare, he requested that I hold him. That was OK with me because Trevor was already way ahead of us. But, as soon as I picked him up, he said, "No, I walk." So, I put him down, but told him he had to race to catch up with Trevor. Instead of racing, he called out, "TREVOR. COME BACK HERE."
I don't think he gets it about racing. Bossing his brother around, he gets. Racing, not so much.
Racing is a big motivator for Trevor. In the morning, Daddy and I sometimes challenge him to a shoe or coat race. This morning, I had to help him with his shoes for one reason or another, and I mentioned if this was a race, he wouldn't win since I had to help him.
He replied back that I had cheated. He knew that I had cheated because he is supposed to win the shoe race. I think he might have a competitive spirit.
Hmm...how about that? It turned out more cohesive than I expected. Like a relish tray with none of those yucky cocktail onions...
Friday, March 16, 2007
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
the Lovefest continued
Last night, Trevor sat next to me on the couch told me that he loved me and that he loved his daddy, insisted that I keep my arm around him, and told me how much he liked having my arm around him.
He was sweet and cuddly and darn-it if it wasn't the most precious thing in the entire world. I had heard about thus cuddly phase, and I do hope it persists for several years.
But, when my child is so sweet and cuddly, I don't expect tantrums. So, this morning, when he told me wanted to watch Higglytown Heroes and I told him no because we had to go, the ensuing tantrum baffled me completely. How can this child who adores the very couch that I sit on throw a tantrum in the morning when I'm at my grumpiest? How can that be possible? I don't get it.
I just don't get it.
He was sweet and cuddly and darn-it if it wasn't the most precious thing in the entire world. I had heard about thus cuddly phase, and I do hope it persists for several years.
But, when my child is so sweet and cuddly, I don't expect tantrums. So, this morning, when he told me wanted to watch Higglytown Heroes and I told him no because we had to go, the ensuing tantrum baffled me completely. How can this child who adores the very couch that I sit on throw a tantrum in the morning when I'm at my grumpiest? How can that be possible? I don't get it.
I just don't get it.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
I got nothin'
But, I feel the need to post. It's my mom. She looks forward to reading this whenever her computer is up and running, and I don't want to disappoint my mom. Who would?
So, here goes.
This morning, Trevor was especially sweet. Daddy came down as Trevor was eating breakfast and said good-bye and kissed him on the head. As he walked away, Trevor said, "Oh, wait, I forgot something..."
He got off the barstool and went and hugged his Daddy around the legs and I think he even said, "I love you."
After Daddy had left the room and Trevor had resumed his breakfast, he said, "I love Daddy."
It certainly seemed that way this morning.
So, here goes.
This morning, Trevor was especially sweet. Daddy came down as Trevor was eating breakfast and said good-bye and kissed him on the head. As he walked away, Trevor said, "Oh, wait, I forgot something..."
He got off the barstool and went and hugged his Daddy around the legs and I think he even said, "I love you."
After Daddy had left the room and Trevor had resumed his breakfast, he said, "I love Daddy."
It certainly seemed that way this morning.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Other People's Children
On Saturday, our neighbor came over to play. Devin loves the neighbor even though he's really Trevor's friend. So, he did his very best to play beside his brother and his friend, even when he wasn't necessarily wanted.
At one point, he started to cry. I went to check on him, and I asked him what happened. "E hit me!" he told me.
I asked E if he had hit Devin.
"No," he said. "I punched him."
Other people's children are pretty funny, too.
I told his parents this story yesterday. I prefaced it with, "I'm only telling you this because it's funny, so don't get mad."
Still, when I got to the *punch* line, they weren't all that amused. Both had wide eyes and had to cover their mouths to avoid gaping at me in shock.
"NO! IT'S FUNNY!" I tried to tell them. I'm not sure they were really all that amused.
At one point, he started to cry. I went to check on him, and I asked him what happened. "E hit me!" he told me.
I asked E if he had hit Devin.
"No," he said. "I punched him."
Other people's children are pretty funny, too.
I told his parents this story yesterday. I prefaced it with, "I'm only telling you this because it's funny, so don't get mad."
Still, when I got to the *punch* line, they weren't all that amused. Both had wide eyes and had to cover their mouths to avoid gaping at me in shock.
"NO! IT'S FUNNY!" I tried to tell them. I'm not sure they were really all that amused.
Friday, March 09, 2007
The Pioneerwoman in my family
My grandma, Trevor’s and Devin’s great-grandma, is a pretty incredible person. I could end this right here by saying simply, “she had 12 kids.” But, that would be pretty boring.
No, I think she’s incredible for other reasons and for one incident in particular.
When I lived with Vikki in Arkansas, every now and then, Mom and Dad would come to visit and they would sometimes bring along Grandma and once they even brought my Aunt Margie. On this occasion, I decided to take the whole group of them on a leisurely canoe ride down the nearby Spring River. I knew that it would be leisurely because I had taken the same canoe ride with my then-boyfriend just a few weeks earlier. Maybe 6 weeks. I had experience the River, and I knew it to be gentle. So, I had no problems loading up the seniors, Vikki and my Mom and Dad, and heading out to the River.
There were two huge differences between my experiences with Spring River, not even including my companions. First, I went down the Spring River with my boyfriend in a fiberglass canoe on the first trip. It’s more flexible than the aluminum canoes I chose for me and my family that day. Second, the first trip occurred late in the Spring, and the rain had been plentiful. The second trip occurred in the middle of the summer, and there had not been so much rain.
Everything that I had learned about Spring River on my earlier trip simply did not apply. I was not in for the leisurely float trip I had anticipated and hyped to my guests. Did I mention that Aunt Margie was afraid of water? That’s because no one mentioned it to me, either!
Vikki and Mom eventually broke from the group and made it down the river in time to get Vikki to work that day. They really didn’t have any problems. I took the boat with Aunt Margie because I felt like I was probably the strongest canoer left after Vikki and Mom took off, and Margie probably needed the most help.
It was rough, so very rough. It wasn’t very much fun at all. At one point, I realized my sole goal for the day was to get everyone off the river safely. Forget fun. I didn’t think Margie walking up a rocky hill to some railroad tracks was going was doing much for accomplishing my goal, and I think she eventually got back into the boat. But, we switched. Dad and Margie went together, and I got to go in the boat with my Grandma.
My first ever float trip was with my Grandma and Grandpa. With all those grandkids, I don’t know I got lucky enough to spend time with them whenever they went camping every now and then, and I certainly don’t know how I got lucky enough to go on a float trip with them. And, maybe mom and dad were along, but all I remember is Grandma and Grandpa, coolers, aluminum canoes and the Illinois River. I do love floating down a lazy river with people who can paddle a canoe. I like stopping in the middle of the day for soggy sandwiches and sandy Dr. Pepper, and I like listening to far off traffic and wondering where it is. I need more float tips in my life.
So, I expected when I got in the canoe with Grandma that my float trip had started looking up.
I was right.
I was right for one incident in particular.
In the middle of the Spring River near the end of our trip, the river widened. In the middle, there was a small waterfall with about a 6 feet drop. As Grandma and I approached the waterfall, I noticed a little excitement, but I didn’t know what the excitement was about because I hadn’t seen the waterfall yet. Grandma and I were cruising down the middle of the river. I was in front. I may have thought I was the strongest canoe’r when I got Margie in my boat, but I must have recognized I was wrong when I decided to take the less important front seat. Since I was in front, I realized before Grandma did what was coming up. I think I mentioned it to her in time to make the correction so that we could go around the water fall. She was in the back, and she was steering. She didn’t say much, so I don’t know what she was really thinking, but we didn’t change course. We went over the waterfall. We didn’t turn our boat over.
A group had gathered so they could try this waterfall until they made it over successfully. Once they got the bottom and crashed, as they inevitably did, they carried their boat back to the top to try it again.
They cheered a little when Grandma and I cruised down that waterfall like the old pros that I guess we were.
My grandma, Trevor and Devin’s great-Grandma, is a pretty incredible person.
No, I think she’s incredible for other reasons and for one incident in particular.
When I lived with Vikki in Arkansas, every now and then, Mom and Dad would come to visit and they would sometimes bring along Grandma and once they even brought my Aunt Margie. On this occasion, I decided to take the whole group of them on a leisurely canoe ride down the nearby Spring River. I knew that it would be leisurely because I had taken the same canoe ride with my then-boyfriend just a few weeks earlier. Maybe 6 weeks. I had experience the River, and I knew it to be gentle. So, I had no problems loading up the seniors, Vikki and my Mom and Dad, and heading out to the River.
There were two huge differences between my experiences with Spring River, not even including my companions. First, I went down the Spring River with my boyfriend in a fiberglass canoe on the first trip. It’s more flexible than the aluminum canoes I chose for me and my family that day. Second, the first trip occurred late in the Spring, and the rain had been plentiful. The second trip occurred in the middle of the summer, and there had not been so much rain.
Everything that I had learned about Spring River on my earlier trip simply did not apply. I was not in for the leisurely float trip I had anticipated and hyped to my guests. Did I mention that Aunt Margie was afraid of water? That’s because no one mentioned it to me, either!
Vikki and Mom eventually broke from the group and made it down the river in time to get Vikki to work that day. They really didn’t have any problems. I took the boat with Aunt Margie because I felt like I was probably the strongest canoer left after Vikki and Mom took off, and Margie probably needed the most help.
It was rough, so very rough. It wasn’t very much fun at all. At one point, I realized my sole goal for the day was to get everyone off the river safely. Forget fun. I didn’t think Margie walking up a rocky hill to some railroad tracks was going was doing much for accomplishing my goal, and I think she eventually got back into the boat. But, we switched. Dad and Margie went together, and I got to go in the boat with my Grandma.
My first ever float trip was with my Grandma and Grandpa. With all those grandkids, I don’t know I got lucky enough to spend time with them whenever they went camping every now and then, and I certainly don’t know how I got lucky enough to go on a float trip with them. And, maybe mom and dad were along, but all I remember is Grandma and Grandpa, coolers, aluminum canoes and the Illinois River. I do love floating down a lazy river with people who can paddle a canoe. I like stopping in the middle of the day for soggy sandwiches and sandy Dr. Pepper, and I like listening to far off traffic and wondering where it is. I need more float tips in my life.
So, I expected when I got in the canoe with Grandma that my float trip had started looking up.
I was right.
I was right for one incident in particular.
In the middle of the Spring River near the end of our trip, the river widened. In the middle, there was a small waterfall with about a 6 feet drop. As Grandma and I approached the waterfall, I noticed a little excitement, but I didn’t know what the excitement was about because I hadn’t seen the waterfall yet. Grandma and I were cruising down the middle of the river. I was in front. I may have thought I was the strongest canoe’r when I got Margie in my boat, but I must have recognized I was wrong when I decided to take the less important front seat. Since I was in front, I realized before Grandma did what was coming up. I think I mentioned it to her in time to make the correction so that we could go around the water fall. She was in the back, and she was steering. She didn’t say much, so I don’t know what she was really thinking, but we didn’t change course. We went over the waterfall. We didn’t turn our boat over.
A group had gathered so they could try this waterfall until they made it over successfully. Once they got the bottom and crashed, as they inevitably did, they carried their boat back to the top to try it again.
They cheered a little when Grandma and I cruised down that waterfall like the old pros that I guess we were.
My grandma, Trevor and Devin’s great-Grandma, is a pretty incredible person.
lame...
Yesterday's post was so totally lame. I'm sorry. This one is sort of a continuation of that one so brace yourself...
This morning in the car, I played "Fishin' in the Dark" by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band for the boys. It's become one of their favorites, and both boys know a few of the words.
After the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was done singing, I went solo. I have the most beautiful voice really. At least, I thought I did until Devin said, "No, Mommy, don't sing that song! I sing that song myself."
Silence. So, it was a ploy just to get me to stop singing. At least, I think that's what it was. But, I called his bluff. I told him to sing that song himself. So, he did.
"Fishin' in the dark! Stars!"
Trevor joined in and sang the first few lines almost perfectly.
It was a harmonious trip into work, indeed.
This morning in the car, I played "Fishin' in the Dark" by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band for the boys. It's become one of their favorites, and both boys know a few of the words.
After the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was done singing, I went solo. I have the most beautiful voice really. At least, I thought I did until Devin said, "No, Mommy, don't sing that song! I sing that song myself."
Silence. So, it was a ploy just to get me to stop singing. At least, I think that's what it was. But, I called his bluff. I told him to sing that song himself. So, he did.
"Fishin' in the dark! Stars!"
Trevor joined in and sang the first few lines almost perfectly.
It was a harmonious trip into work, indeed.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Independent Little Cuss
For the past two weeks with Devin, everything is, "No, Me do it!" He wants to get put his own clothes on, get in his carseat by himself, undress himself, go potty (sit on the potty). Everything.
Well, it's a new phase. It's really cute. No good story here. Nothing too funny has happened. He just says, "No, me do it" all the time.
You probably remember that phase with your own children or grandchildren. Think on that time fondly now...
Well, it's a new phase. It's really cute. No good story here. Nothing too funny has happened. He just says, "No, me do it" all the time.
You probably remember that phase with your own children or grandchildren. Think on that time fondly now...
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Turning a POSITIVE into a NEGATIVE
The boys were playing at dinnertime the other night. We were out at a restaurant, and they were playing Monster Jam before the food arrived. It was a night of firsts. Trevor asked Devin to come and sit by him so that they could play monster jam together. First time I saw that! Then, Devin said no. First time I saw Devin say no to playing with Trevor! Then, Devin found a better mood and joined Trevor for a rousing round of Monster Jam.
They were playing and Devin wasn't really following Trevor's rules.
"NO, DEVIN! DON'T SMASH THE MONSTER JAM COURSE!"
Daddy suggested that Trevor should tell Devin what he should be doing instead of what he shouldn't be doing.
"DEVIN, YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO ME! DON'T SMASH THE MONSTER JAM COURSE!"
They were playing and Devin wasn't really following Trevor's rules.
"NO, DEVIN! DON'T SMASH THE MONSTER JAM COURSE!"
Daddy suggested that Trevor should tell Devin what he should be doing instead of what he shouldn't be doing.
"DEVIN, YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO ME! DON'T SMASH THE MONSTER JAM COURSE!"
Monday, March 05, 2007
My Creative Genius
When I posted Devin's peanut song, I didn't realize just what a creative genius he really is. But, he really is...
This has its good sides, like the peanut song, and its bad sides, like this...
I was upstairs brushing my teeth yesterday when I heard Devin crying. I went the top of the stairs and asked him what was wrong. He continued to cry and asked, "Mommy, where are you?" I told him I was upstairs and since it wasn't life threatening, I went back to getting ready for the day. He made his way to the bathroom, and I asked again why he was sad.
"Daddy hit me," he said.
Well, Daddy doesn't hit Devin ever, so I knew this to be untrue. But, I played along.
"Where did Daddy hit you?"
"Right dere," he said as he pointed to his eye.
"Daddy hit you in the eye?"
"Yeah," he told me while nodding his head.
He did, in fact, make it all up. The thing that was making him sad was that Daddy wouldn't get him some yogurt.
This is the first time that Devin "made a lie" (as Trevor would say) about Daddy. Normally, his lies sound like this: "Trevor hit me."
Now, sometimes, I think Trevor actually commits some sort of transgression against Devin, although it might not involve hitting. But, Trevor is onto Devin and his creative (evil) genius. So, he's gotten pretty quick to point out the times that the thinks Devin is making a lie. The trials of a Mother of Two. It's cool. I think I know what I'm up against.
On the plus side of Devin's genius, he made up a little song and dance about Chuck E. Cheese yesterday. We decided to go there for lunch and games, and just before we loaded up, Devin started swaying back and forth and singing:
Chuck E. Cheese
Pizza!
Chuck E. Cheese
Pizza!
Chuck E. Cheese
Pizza!
Darnit if that wasn't just the cutest thing he did all day long.
This has its good sides, like the peanut song, and its bad sides, like this...
I was upstairs brushing my teeth yesterday when I heard Devin crying. I went the top of the stairs and asked him what was wrong. He continued to cry and asked, "Mommy, where are you?" I told him I was upstairs and since it wasn't life threatening, I went back to getting ready for the day. He made his way to the bathroom, and I asked again why he was sad.
"Daddy hit me," he said.
Well, Daddy doesn't hit Devin ever, so I knew this to be untrue. But, I played along.
"Where did Daddy hit you?"
"Right dere," he said as he pointed to his eye.
"Daddy hit you in the eye?"
"Yeah," he told me while nodding his head.
He did, in fact, make it all up. The thing that was making him sad was that Daddy wouldn't get him some yogurt.
This is the first time that Devin "made a lie" (as Trevor would say) about Daddy. Normally, his lies sound like this: "Trevor hit me."
Now, sometimes, I think Trevor actually commits some sort of transgression against Devin, although it might not involve hitting. But, Trevor is onto Devin and his creative (evil) genius. So, he's gotten pretty quick to point out the times that the thinks Devin is making a lie. The trials of a Mother of Two. It's cool. I think I know what I'm up against.
On the plus side of Devin's genius, he made up a little song and dance about Chuck E. Cheese yesterday. We decided to go there for lunch and games, and just before we loaded up, Devin started swaying back and forth and singing:
Chuck E. Cheese
Pizza!
Chuck E. Cheese
Pizza!
Chuck E. Cheese
Pizza!
Darnit if that wasn't just the cutest thing he did all day long.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Peanuts, Peanuts!
The boys' daycare recently moved from nut sensitive to nut aware, which I think means nut free.
In the grand scheme of things, I am completely and totally OK denying my children peanuts and other tree nuts, as needed, in order to keep other kids safe. Some folks find this a controversial topic. Some folks think the right to a peanut butter sandwich is unalienable for children. Some even argue that peanut butter is a cheap, healthy, food source so we can't deny it to kids whose parents are just getting by. I'm not one of those. I just want to know what I have to do to keep my children's classmates safe from nuts.
Just wanted to make that clear on what side of the peanut allergy controversy I'm on.
Nut free is OK with me.
So, I have no problems with the daycare's move to a nut free status. I think it's a good move. I support it.
What I don't understand, though, is why Trevor now thinks he's allergic to peanuts?? Why does he cry when I tell him that he is, in fact, not allergic to peanuts? Why does he ask for peanut butter sandwiches when he thinks he has a peanut allergy? When did peanut allergies become cool? Is that what is going on here?
It's affected Devin, too. He wrote this little song (or maybe he just sings it):
Peanuts, Peanuts!
Yummy in my tummy!
Umm, Ummm!
I can't imagine that the nut-free daycare center would have the kids sing a song about Peanuts, so I'm pretty certain that Devin composed this little song himself. That would, in fact, make him brilliant, right?
In the grand scheme of things, I am completely and totally OK denying my children peanuts and other tree nuts, as needed, in order to keep other kids safe. Some folks find this a controversial topic. Some folks think the right to a peanut butter sandwich is unalienable for children. Some even argue that peanut butter is a cheap, healthy, food source so we can't deny it to kids whose parents are just getting by. I'm not one of those. I just want to know what I have to do to keep my children's classmates safe from nuts.
Just wanted to make that clear on what side of the peanut allergy controversy I'm on.
Nut free is OK with me.
So, I have no problems with the daycare's move to a nut free status. I think it's a good move. I support it.
What I don't understand, though, is why Trevor now thinks he's allergic to peanuts?? Why does he cry when I tell him that he is, in fact, not allergic to peanuts? Why does he ask for peanut butter sandwiches when he thinks he has a peanut allergy? When did peanut allergies become cool? Is that what is going on here?
It's affected Devin, too. He wrote this little song (or maybe he just sings it):
Peanuts, Peanuts!
Yummy in my tummy!
Umm, Ummm!
I can't imagine that the nut-free daycare center would have the kids sing a song about Peanuts, so I'm pretty certain that Devin composed this little song himself. That would, in fact, make him brilliant, right?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)