Have lately read these two posts on prayer from a friend of my parents' that I respect immensely:
http://elobban.blogspot.com/2010/08/give-us-today-our-daily-bread-part-one.html
http://elobban.blogspot.com/2010/08/prayer-our-father-in-heavengive-us.html
Owen has been keenly aware of my moods lately...his maturing process seems to have led him to notice how others are feeling. I don't think I've just been more moody lately! (No comments from my husband allowed on that one.) His sensors aren't tuned just right yet. Unless I am elated, through-the-roof excited, jumping up and down happy, he accuses me of sadness, anger or a fairly strong negative emotion. But he definitely picks up on what's going on. There are so many sweet moments in our days (like today when we came in the house and I dropped my bag, sighed, and sat on the floor and he came over, took my cheeks in his hands and said, 'How's my cute Mommy today?') but this one today was extra-sweet.
'Mommy, are you sad? Mommy, are you sad that your Daddy died?'
Yes, I am sad my Daddy died! But I am thankful that I'll get to see him someday again in heaven.
'I know Mommy, I can cheer you up! I know how to cheer you up!'
That sounds great, Owen. What are you going to do to cheer me up?
'I'm going to pray wif you Mommy, that will cheer you up.'
Oh, Owen, I would love that.
[Owen sits in my lap. Then silence.]
Owen, would you like to pray?
'No. Mommy can pray.'
So 'we' cheered me up and talked together with God about Grandpa and how hard it was/is to say goodbye. I couldn't be more fortunate than to be reminded to refocus midday by my sweethearted son.
Finally, speaking of prayer, can I ask for your prayers for my mom as she deals with hospitals, insurance companies, and other difficult to work with entities as she has to go through a hassle about large bills surrounding my Dad's care? These bills should not have come to her, but now are, and she has the headache of sorting it all out with no guarantee it can be righted. She seems to be at peace with it, but I can't imagine something a person who's just lost her husband would rather do less. So, just a prayer request for a quick resolution, good outcome, and continued calm for her.
Off to family camp Wednesday! I will be on my knees for some smooth sailing there, too...new territory for all of us in one cold, mousy cabin trying not to wake the world and each other all night :0
Monday, August 23, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Job security
Well, it's not the most fun way to spend parts of our days, but we've been working on being more consistent about obedience requirements, good attitudes, how brothers treat each other, etc. etc. Unfortunately, little inconsistencies seem to derail the train almost as much as big ones. Now tell me how one can be completely consistent and not a) drive oneself crazy or b) exasperate the child. But I digress. Back to the story at hand, one of the default sentences that sort of pops into my head during some of these sessions is 'Owen, it is Mommy and Daddy's job to teach you how to listen and obey.' (I should probably spend time thinking about whether that's the most helpful or appropriate thing to say at the times I tend to use it, but I'm too busy trying to be consistent.) Today, upon hearing my pronouncement, Owen stops and thinks for a moment.
"Mommy, if I start obeying will you and Daddy lose your job?"
What did you say??
"If I start obeying, you will lose your job?"
Well, no, we have other jobs too. Our jobs are also loving you, and feeding you, and keeping you safe, and teaching you other things, and loving you more.
"Mommy, you didn't underSTAND me. I said if I start obeying, you and Daddy won't have that job!"
Well, Owen, I would be happy to work myself out of that particular job.
"When I'm a Daddy someday I will teach my kids to obey!"
Hmm. Is this what I was going for? :}
"Mommy, if I start obeying will you and Daddy lose your job?"
What did you say??
"If I start obeying, you will lose your job?"
Well, no, we have other jobs too. Our jobs are also loving you, and feeding you, and keeping you safe, and teaching you other things, and loving you more.
"Mommy, you didn't underSTAND me. I said if I start obeying, you and Daddy won't have that job!"
Well, Owen, I would be happy to work myself out of that particular job.
"When I'm a Daddy someday I will teach my kids to obey!"
Hmm. Is this what I was going for? :}
Monday, August 16, 2010
Video-Asher walking
Should be ready by 10pm EST tonight...footage of walking and a little communicating: http://vimeo.com/14197039
New territory! Shocked and awed!
Well, there have been plenty of happenings, but less will on my part to record them. Perhaps that's because I've been trying to up my homemaking game...trying to keep things a bit more picked up and presentable, cleaning out the overjunked basement (and every other room...stuff MULTIPLIES and MIGRATES very quickly now that these 2 boys are living with us), and getting out and about before summer is over.
Last week we went to Maine to spend a couple days with my wonderful friend from grad school and her family, all staying at her parents' summer cottage on Barker Pond. We've been there before numerous times, but it was especially fun now that Owen enjoyed every moment between playing with her kids and...wait for it...a MOTORBOAT and a CANOE!! This was high excitement. Owen could not stop talking about watercraft for days on end. "Mommy, I am going to buy a motorboat. Are there motorboats at stores?" My friend tells me that her 4 year old still won't go in it, and her 6 yr old is just recently a fan. Owen, by contrast, could not get enough of it, and grinned over the 'big bumps' that I have to confess I was afraid would throw him out of the boat...this was a pretty small inflatable boat, maybe 4 people max. Of course, *her children* actually like to swim. Owen hasn't quite figured out that swimming is fun. He much prefers to say, 'Mommy, I want to go swimming! Yes, I'm coming! Just a minute, I have to find my goggles! Mommy, now where are my flippers? Oh no! My ring is getting flat!' and he literally spends the entire swimming session on the dock or poolside fiddling with all his favorite swim gear, and swims for about 60 seconds. Of course, it may be a New England problem. I think he really doesn't love the cold water, and he gets cold very easily (like his Daddy). Maybe Asher will have my constitution and enjoy a brisk dunking. Frog hunting was the other big activity. Anyway, it was a very fun couple of days. Except for that little matter of sleeping...did I mention I got <4hrs the night we spent there? It went something like this:
12am Head to bed after staying up WAAAAY too late having most enjoyable conversation with close friend
12:30am Finally get to sleep after winding down after being up too late
1:15am Owen (sharing my bed, overtired from going to bed too late) wakes screaming, I hush quickly to prevent Asher waking since he's in the same room as well, Owen goes back to sleep quickly
3:15am Owen (sharing my bed, overtired from going to bed too late) wakes screaming. Much conflict, chaos and sleeplessness ensue in an attempt to keep Owen from waking everyone, and also to get him to go back to sleep.
4:45am Owen returns to sleep, so do I.
5:45am Asher wakes screaming for the day (having gone to bed too late the night before)
Well, let's just say that I felt nauseous, had a pounding headache, and would have gladly put earplugs in my ears and let Asher cry a while that morning if I could have!! But in a tiny cottage with a bunch of people (including Owen) trying to get some rest, His Crankiness had to be instantly picked up. Furthermore, on a noiseless, perfectly peaceful Maine morning, with other inhabitants in not-too-far-away cottages, we could not even sit in the yard and play without disturbing the peace (Asher is a loud baby...more on that to come). So, we holed up in the front seat of the car until everyone else was up...about 2 hrs later. After the first hour, I felt less close to dead, and we got out and took a walk and peeked at the neighbor's horses, looked for critters in the woods, etc. All in all, a great trip!! But the sleeping arrangements do place a seed of fear for family camp next week...we'll be at Camp Laurel in Readfield, Maine, all in a one room cabin for 4 nights!! Well, at least I've learned my lesson about staying up late, and Reuel will be along to help this time. On a side note, you know you're going camping in Maine when a veteran camper from previous trips tells you to pack long underwear, blankets and fleece pjs for the kids, possibly a space heater because the nights are 'chilly' in late August!!
OK, so the new territory. In the last 2 weeks, Asher has gone from being a loud and fairly demanding little guy to throwing TANTRUMS, and how!!! It's really very interesting. I remember I always found it so confusing at this stage with Owen. People would talk about manipulative tantrums and just waiting them out, ignoring them. Well, that never made sense, because Owen's were not manipulative as such...more born of being emotionally overwhelmed, not knowing how to calm himself, etc, and I felt as though ignoring him didn't help...just made him more insecure and crazy. Well Asher is a different beast! It will be clear as day what he wants (or didn't get), and he will shriek, wail and create a ruckus unrivaled by Owen, and then be able to shut it off like it's on a switch. The other day, he got mad that I walked away from him and I sat down on the floor 15 feet away and held out my arms and said, 'Come here, sweetie!' Well, that was not good enough. He dropped to his belly, laid his head on the floor and screeeeeched, kicked and hit the floor with his fists. He'd look up at me, and continue. As Reuel and I sat there, mouths agape, taking this in, he finally gave up, flipped the whole act off, got up and crawled past me. I expected him to crawl up to me, but I got snubbed! He paid back my refusal to satisfy his desire by taking a wide path around me and looking up at me as he passed with a, 'Fine, I didn't need you anyway.' Then, he went over to Owen and started playing with him quite happily. :O
Well, this tantrum business has gotten out of hand in the last week. I know he is testing out this new behavior...he knows 'No' very well (in fact, shakes his head back and forth when you say it!), and sometimes when he's starting in on screaming about something, I just keep saying 'No!' firmly, and he actually stops cold and smiles. When he doesn't quit, I haven't given in to his demand. But on the other hand, it's hard for it not to appear that he's won sometimes. For instance, he's throwing them over diaper changes. I insist that he not roll around, etc. and do my best to wait til he's calmed a bit before letting him up. But of course he doesn't always quit, and sometimes he's still screaming when I'm done, and it doesn't seem like he'll eventually calm down at all, so what can I do but let him go. So, there are some times like that. We spend a lot of the day with a screamy baby, now at stores and in public all the time too, so it's draining to say the least. Not sure how to handle it exactly. The hardest part is that he screams bloody murder CONSTANTLY at home unless he is being held, or I am on the floor with him. I mean, he won't even be content playing with toys on the floor while I do something in the room...wants me on his level, incapacitated for grown-up work. That's not new territory...been there with Owen! I remember that let up a bit around 18 months, so I'm doing my best to compromise between making him cry all day, and giving him some devoted time too. Not easy.
That's our current big challenge. Between the tantrums are uncountable adorable moments too. The friendship between the boys is growing so beautifully...plenty of scrapping, but so much love, hugs and kisses, affectionate wrestles, sharing, thoughtful acts. Watching the two of them light each other up with giggles, tickling each other, in the backseat of the car together...LOVE IT!!! Owen is getting quite bossy and also protective and nurturing...gets Asher food he thinks he should have, picks out clothes and books for him, tells him the rules and how life works. Asher gets SO excited to spend time with Owen...still full body wiggles and giggles if Owen comes in and gets him after a nap (whereas I get crying...!).
I need to log more specific stories...keep missing jotting notes to myself. This morning, Owen was watching a Barney movie while I showered and got a few chores done. He came out of the office and said, 'Mommy, I need to stop the movie. My brain is turning into jello." (I usually tell him, 'Owen, we need to stop watching movies! Too many movies turn your brain into jello!') Owen is BIG time into jumping. He is jumping up and down, on things, off of things. I think he has jumped off of about a 4 ft. platform onto the ground at the park regularly now. He is very thrilled to increase his height and see my eyes widen in fear as he jumps. So far, he handles it OK, but I think he's at his max. He is very into made-up stories right now. Someday maybe I'll record a few favorites: Babalada the sheep who lived at Farmer Dave's, Lolly the Lobster and his trip to Paris, TX, and the story of Flibberty the fastest fish in the ocean, and Josie, the only fisherwoman who ever caught him!
Asher is *so close* to walking. He reguarly crosses the room before dropping to a crawl. He's at that edibly wobbly stage...barely holding on with each step, but making it. If I say, 'Walkies, Asher!' he grins and stands up and walks to me. Very cute!
Last week we went to Maine to spend a couple days with my wonderful friend from grad school and her family, all staying at her parents' summer cottage on Barker Pond. We've been there before numerous times, but it was especially fun now that Owen enjoyed every moment between playing with her kids and...wait for it...a MOTORBOAT and a CANOE!! This was high excitement. Owen could not stop talking about watercraft for days on end. "Mommy, I am going to buy a motorboat. Are there motorboats at stores?" My friend tells me that her 4 year old still won't go in it, and her 6 yr old is just recently a fan. Owen, by contrast, could not get enough of it, and grinned over the 'big bumps' that I have to confess I was afraid would throw him out of the boat...this was a pretty small inflatable boat, maybe 4 people max. Of course, *her children* actually like to swim. Owen hasn't quite figured out that swimming is fun. He much prefers to say, 'Mommy, I want to go swimming! Yes, I'm coming! Just a minute, I have to find my goggles! Mommy, now where are my flippers? Oh no! My ring is getting flat!' and he literally spends the entire swimming session on the dock or poolside fiddling with all his favorite swim gear, and swims for about 60 seconds. Of course, it may be a New England problem. I think he really doesn't love the cold water, and he gets cold very easily (like his Daddy). Maybe Asher will have my constitution and enjoy a brisk dunking. Frog hunting was the other big activity. Anyway, it was a very fun couple of days. Except for that little matter of sleeping...did I mention I got <4hrs the night we spent there? It went something like this:
12am Head to bed after staying up WAAAAY too late having most enjoyable conversation with close friend
12:30am Finally get to sleep after winding down after being up too late
1:15am Owen (sharing my bed, overtired from going to bed too late) wakes screaming, I hush quickly to prevent Asher waking since he's in the same room as well, Owen goes back to sleep quickly
3:15am Owen (sharing my bed, overtired from going to bed too late) wakes screaming. Much conflict, chaos and sleeplessness ensue in an attempt to keep Owen from waking everyone, and also to get him to go back to sleep.
4:45am Owen returns to sleep, so do I.
5:45am Asher wakes screaming for the day (having gone to bed too late the night before)
Well, let's just say that I felt nauseous, had a pounding headache, and would have gladly put earplugs in my ears and let Asher cry a while that morning if I could have!! But in a tiny cottage with a bunch of people (including Owen) trying to get some rest, His Crankiness had to be instantly picked up. Furthermore, on a noiseless, perfectly peaceful Maine morning, with other inhabitants in not-too-far-away cottages, we could not even sit in the yard and play without disturbing the peace (Asher is a loud baby...more on that to come). So, we holed up in the front seat of the car until everyone else was up...about 2 hrs later. After the first hour, I felt less close to dead, and we got out and took a walk and peeked at the neighbor's horses, looked for critters in the woods, etc. All in all, a great trip!! But the sleeping arrangements do place a seed of fear for family camp next week...we'll be at Camp Laurel in Readfield, Maine, all in a one room cabin for 4 nights!! Well, at least I've learned my lesson about staying up late, and Reuel will be along to help this time. On a side note, you know you're going camping in Maine when a veteran camper from previous trips tells you to pack long underwear, blankets and fleece pjs for the kids, possibly a space heater because the nights are 'chilly' in late August!!
With Niklas, Teo, Anneli and Sasha the dog:
You have to kiss a few frogs?
Bucket o' frogs:
OK, so the new territory. In the last 2 weeks, Asher has gone from being a loud and fairly demanding little guy to throwing TANTRUMS, and how!!! It's really very interesting. I remember I always found it so confusing at this stage with Owen. People would talk about manipulative tantrums and just waiting them out, ignoring them. Well, that never made sense, because Owen's were not manipulative as such...more born of being emotionally overwhelmed, not knowing how to calm himself, etc, and I felt as though ignoring him didn't help...just made him more insecure and crazy. Well Asher is a different beast! It will be clear as day what he wants (or didn't get), and he will shriek, wail and create a ruckus unrivaled by Owen, and then be able to shut it off like it's on a switch. The other day, he got mad that I walked away from him and I sat down on the floor 15 feet away and held out my arms and said, 'Come here, sweetie!' Well, that was not good enough. He dropped to his belly, laid his head on the floor and screeeeeched, kicked and hit the floor with his fists. He'd look up at me, and continue. As Reuel and I sat there, mouths agape, taking this in, he finally gave up, flipped the whole act off, got up and crawled past me. I expected him to crawl up to me, but I got snubbed! He paid back my refusal to satisfy his desire by taking a wide path around me and looking up at me as he passed with a, 'Fine, I didn't need you anyway.' Then, he went over to Owen and started playing with him quite happily. :O
Well, this tantrum business has gotten out of hand in the last week. I know he is testing out this new behavior...he knows 'No' very well (in fact, shakes his head back and forth when you say it!), and sometimes when he's starting in on screaming about something, I just keep saying 'No!' firmly, and he actually stops cold and smiles. When he doesn't quit, I haven't given in to his demand. But on the other hand, it's hard for it not to appear that he's won sometimes. For instance, he's throwing them over diaper changes. I insist that he not roll around, etc. and do my best to wait til he's calmed a bit before letting him up. But of course he doesn't always quit, and sometimes he's still screaming when I'm done, and it doesn't seem like he'll eventually calm down at all, so what can I do but let him go. So, there are some times like that. We spend a lot of the day with a screamy baby, now at stores and in public all the time too, so it's draining to say the least. Not sure how to handle it exactly. The hardest part is that he screams bloody murder CONSTANTLY at home unless he is being held, or I am on the floor with him. I mean, he won't even be content playing with toys on the floor while I do something in the room...wants me on his level, incapacitated for grown-up work. That's not new territory...been there with Owen! I remember that let up a bit around 18 months, so I'm doing my best to compromise between making him cry all day, and giving him some devoted time too. Not easy.
That's our current big challenge. Between the tantrums are uncountable adorable moments too. The friendship between the boys is growing so beautifully...plenty of scrapping, but so much love, hugs and kisses, affectionate wrestles, sharing, thoughtful acts. Watching the two of them light each other up with giggles, tickling each other, in the backseat of the car together...LOVE IT!!! Owen is getting quite bossy and also protective and nurturing...gets Asher food he thinks he should have, picks out clothes and books for him, tells him the rules and how life works. Asher gets SO excited to spend time with Owen...still full body wiggles and giggles if Owen comes in and gets him after a nap (whereas I get crying...!).
I need to log more specific stories...keep missing jotting notes to myself. This morning, Owen was watching a Barney movie while I showered and got a few chores done. He came out of the office and said, 'Mommy, I need to stop the movie. My brain is turning into jello." (I usually tell him, 'Owen, we need to stop watching movies! Too many movies turn your brain into jello!') Owen is BIG time into jumping. He is jumping up and down, on things, off of things. I think he has jumped off of about a 4 ft. platform onto the ground at the park regularly now. He is very thrilled to increase his height and see my eyes widen in fear as he jumps. So far, he handles it OK, but I think he's at his max. He is very into made-up stories right now. Someday maybe I'll record a few favorites: Babalada the sheep who lived at Farmer Dave's, Lolly the Lobster and his trip to Paris, TX, and the story of Flibberty the fastest fish in the ocean, and Josie, the only fisherwoman who ever caught him!
Asher is *so close* to walking. He reguarly crosses the room before dropping to a crawl. He's at that edibly wobbly stage...barely holding on with each step, but making it. If I say, 'Walkies, Asher!' he grins and stands up and walks to me. Very cute!
Cutie pie
When 2 boys get hold of a giant box of cheese balls...yikes!
How many will fit in here?
Mmm, likes mama's pasta!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Aha!!
Just read this in the take-home literature from the ped. Would have been helpful to know this about a month ago...explains the high chair tantrums and pickiness :}
'You'll probably notice a sharp drop in your toddler's appetite after his first birthday. Suddenly he's picky about what he eats, turns his head away after just a few bites, or resists coming to the table at mealtimes. It may seem as if he should be eating more now that he's so active, but there's a good reason for the change. His growth rate has slowed, and he really doesn't require as much food now. Your toddler needs only about 1,000 calories a day to meet his needs for growth, energy, and good nutrition.'
'You'll probably notice a sharp drop in your toddler's appetite after his first birthday. Suddenly he's picky about what he eats, turns his head away after just a few bites, or resists coming to the table at mealtimes. It may seem as if he should be eating more now that he's so active, but there's a good reason for the change. His growth rate has slowed, and he really doesn't require as much food now. Your toddler needs only about 1,000 calories a day to meet his needs for growth, energy, and good nutrition.'
Asher 12 mo. checkup
Owen is watching Kipper on netflix and Asher has crashed instantaneously in his crib after his appointment this morning, so I will grab the moment to record his stats.
Height: 30" (52%ile)
Weight: 22lb, 14.5oz (48%ile)
Head Circumference: 48cm (88%ile)
BMI: 18
Poor Asher had a time of it this morning. He did GREAT until the very end. He made it through the checkup, 3 shots, and a nose-to-bum x-ray without much of a fuss (2 of the three shots, he didn't even make a peep!). Then after all of this he had blood drawn, and it seemed like they had to dig around in there for some blood, and when they stuck a giant gauze and tape over his arm at the end...that was it. He'd been pushed too far, and was spitting mad!! I've not ever seen him like that. He wasn't so much crying in pain as coming up fighting...wow! I tried to calm him in a variety of ways, but it finally took a full tummy of mommy-milk to get him to come back to earth.
The little guy had to endure the x-ray because I told the doctor that about a week ago, I thought Asher had swallowed a staple (an average household staple, open, not folded). I wasn't really worried about it as he'd been completely normal, etc. but I mentioned it just to see what the Dr. thought. We both agreed it was probably not a big deal. But we both also thought of the horror stories of something getting embedded somewhere and an abscess forming, or something like that. Well, I would have passed on a x-ray, but the Dr. thought we should. So little Asher got a dose of radiation because mommy was careless leaving the drawer open while holding Asher at the desk.
He's now taking some very deliberate steps on his own...3 or 4 at a time. But he won't practice walking much because he just prefers to crawl FAST to get where he's going. Cousin Lily just a few days younger likes to walk and up til recently hasn't cared for crawling. Isn't it interesting how differently kids develop? At this age, Owen was still army crawling and just figuring out how to crawl up off his belly, and didn't take first steps til 14 months. Asher climbs like a monkey, Owen never did much climbing. I see a crib tent in Asher's future :) Asher has a few words...moo (boo), quack (dak), this (dis), Asher (Aaah-bah), and Owen (Ooo-beh). And tons of jibber-jabber. He is a SCREAMER! Very loud baby. He is demanding as heck in the high chair. And he has become an incredibly picky eater. My theory is that he is getting too much milk...still nurses 3 or 4x per day, and now drinks 10+ ounces of milk, too. No room for food!
Owen would like some mommy time, so I'd better git!
Height: 30" (52%ile)
Weight: 22lb, 14.5oz (48%ile)
Head Circumference: 48cm (88%ile)
BMI: 18
Poor Asher had a time of it this morning. He did GREAT until the very end. He made it through the checkup, 3 shots, and a nose-to-bum x-ray without much of a fuss (2 of the three shots, he didn't even make a peep!). Then after all of this he had blood drawn, and it seemed like they had to dig around in there for some blood, and when they stuck a giant gauze and tape over his arm at the end...that was it. He'd been pushed too far, and was spitting mad!! I've not ever seen him like that. He wasn't so much crying in pain as coming up fighting...wow! I tried to calm him in a variety of ways, but it finally took a full tummy of mommy-milk to get him to come back to earth.
The little guy had to endure the x-ray because I told the doctor that about a week ago, I thought Asher had swallowed a staple (an average household staple, open, not folded). I wasn't really worried about it as he'd been completely normal, etc. but I mentioned it just to see what the Dr. thought. We both agreed it was probably not a big deal. But we both also thought of the horror stories of something getting embedded somewhere and an abscess forming, or something like that. Well, I would have passed on a x-ray, but the Dr. thought we should. So little Asher got a dose of radiation because mommy was careless leaving the drawer open while holding Asher at the desk.
He's now taking some very deliberate steps on his own...3 or 4 at a time. But he won't practice walking much because he just prefers to crawl FAST to get where he's going. Cousin Lily just a few days younger likes to walk and up til recently hasn't cared for crawling. Isn't it interesting how differently kids develop? At this age, Owen was still army crawling and just figuring out how to crawl up off his belly, and didn't take first steps til 14 months. Asher climbs like a monkey, Owen never did much climbing. I see a crib tent in Asher's future :) Asher has a few words...moo (boo), quack (dak), this (dis), Asher (Aaah-bah), and Owen (Ooo-beh). And tons of jibber-jabber. He is a SCREAMER! Very loud baby. He is demanding as heck in the high chair. And he has become an incredibly picky eater. My theory is that he is getting too much milk...still nurses 3 or 4x per day, and now drinks 10+ ounces of milk, too. No room for food!
Owen would like some mommy time, so I'd better git!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Asher 1 yr.
Want to write a few notes about Asher at this age...will update when I have more time, just don't want to forget this right now.
-Asher says his name. We always say 'Aaaa-sher' with a higher tone on the Aaaa, and a lower tone on the sher, maybe something close to 'Laaaa-ssie!' So now Asher loves to say, 'Aaaaa-bah' with the same rhythm and intonation exactly. Very cute. He'll lay in his crib and say it, and also occasionally during the day. He also has sounds for 'Owen' but I haven't listened closely enough to know exactly what they are. He'll still say something for all done, also some animal noises, and mama, dada. And a bunch of other unintelligible babble! I think he says 'no-no'. That would make sense considering how much he hears it from me toward either him or Owen.
-Asher says his name. We always say 'Aaaa-sher' with a higher tone on the Aaaa, and a lower tone on the sher, maybe something close to 'Laaaa-ssie!' So now Asher loves to say, 'Aaaaa-bah' with the same rhythm and intonation exactly. Very cute. He'll lay in his crib and say it, and also occasionally during the day. He also has sounds for 'Owen' but I haven't listened closely enough to know exactly what they are. He'll still say something for all done, also some animal noises, and mama, dada. And a bunch of other unintelligible babble! I think he says 'no-no'. That would make sense considering how much he hears it from me toward either him or Owen.
Monday, August 2, 2010
tidbits
Me: [stepping into Owen's room] Owen, it's time to settle down right now and go to sleep. You are very tired and if you want to have fun with Daddy tonight, you need to get some sleep or else we'll have to have an early bedtime.
Owen: I don't like to sleep anymore. I want to stay awake all the time. I don't want to sleep, I just keep my eyes open all the time long.
Me: I understand that, but I can tell you are tired. Time to lay down and get some rest.
Owen: [looks me in the eyes] No. I don't take orders.
Me: [silence. dazed silence. remembers uttering those exact words a few times in a row a few days back after getting a few too many marching orders from a 3 year old]
Me: [deciding to fight or flight] Well, sir, yes you do. You see, mommy and daddy are all grown up and we have been kids before and we know all about how to grow up. We know what is best for you and we get to obey God's rules and teach you to obey our rules and God's rules too. So tell me Owen, who is in charge in this house?
Owen: [a bit sassily] Mommy and Daddy!
Me: ...and who gets to obey?
Owen: Me. [pause] And Asher.
Me: [thinking myself the poster-mommy of authoritative yet calm] Owen, I love you. I want you to be healthy. Time to lay down quietly and sleep or rest.
Owen: I don't take orders, Mommy!
Well, I am not the poster-mommy. I won't detail all of the ensuing events. What I ended up 'winning' was 5-10 minutes of him lying quietly with eyes closed on the bed, and then if he couldn't sleep he could just stay quietly in his room. Didn't get a nap, and boy did it show at bedtime. Anyway, the crux of the matter was the absolute self-control it took to not explode in laughter and give up my position entirely when he came out with his response to my directive. Granted, all of this may sound pretty harsh, but if you were in my shoes, you'd see all of what goes on around here and realize there is some law and order needed...usually firmer than what I give, actually :}
__________________________________
Owen LOVES the They Might Be Giants DVD for kids with songs about science that Aunt Pam and Uncle Ethan sent for Christmas. He particularly loves Solid, Liquid, Gas, a song about the phases of matter. 'Mommy, I want solid liquid!!!' is frequently heard around here. I also find him humming the tune under his breath. He's apparently started to grasp onto the details of the song. Today I was saying at one point that I was getting really warm, while changing the sheets in our room upstairs. Owen says, 'Mommy, if you get warm enough I'm going to drink you all up! You'll turn into a liquid.'
________________________________
We brought home our CSA veggies today in the big yellow Farmer Dave's bin. I was carrying Asher and the crate (don't ask me how...mommy super-power) and Owen ran up ahead of me and said, 'I'll be that gentle-man and open the door!' I was very impressed. Daddy must be doing some good training behind the scenes. Then, later in the day Owen saw a package that had been delivered to the front stoop. I told him he could go out and get it. I hear the front door close behind him, then a muffled, 'Mommy, I need you to be that gentle-man!' and I step to the door to see his arms all full of package. Very cute.
_______________________________
Turn away, those who dislike potty stories. Totally out of the blue, Owen went to the potty by himself today (we've been working on this...he'd been very demanding of me standing by his side each and every time, which was getting older than old), and came back BEAMING with his chest puffed out and yelled, 'Mommy I went to the potty all by mySELF and I went potty like a big DADDY!' After a high five, I queried the details, then got a demonstration 10 minutes later after a bladder refill. 'See mommy, I stand on my stool and then if I stick my tummy out really far the pee pees go in the potty!' Well, actually first they land on the back of the toilet seat and then aim is readjusted so they hit the mark. But I have to say it was pretty impressive for a self-taught 3 year old. Reuel says he had nothing to do with actively teaching him that. Owen is quite, quite proud of himself on this one.
Owen: I don't like to sleep anymore. I want to stay awake all the time. I don't want to sleep, I just keep my eyes open all the time long.
Me: I understand that, but I can tell you are tired. Time to lay down and get some rest.
Owen: [looks me in the eyes] No. I don't take orders.
Me: [silence. dazed silence. remembers uttering those exact words a few times in a row a few days back after getting a few too many marching orders from a 3 year old]
Me: [deciding to fight or flight] Well, sir, yes you do. You see, mommy and daddy are all grown up and we have been kids before and we know all about how to grow up. We know what is best for you and we get to obey God's rules and teach you to obey our rules and God's rules too. So tell me Owen, who is in charge in this house?
Owen: [a bit sassily] Mommy and Daddy!
Me: ...and who gets to obey?
Owen: Me. [pause] And Asher.
Me: [thinking myself the poster-mommy of authoritative yet calm] Owen, I love you. I want you to be healthy. Time to lay down quietly and sleep or rest.
Owen: I don't take orders, Mommy!
Well, I am not the poster-mommy. I won't detail all of the ensuing events. What I ended up 'winning' was 5-10 minutes of him lying quietly with eyes closed on the bed, and then if he couldn't sleep he could just stay quietly in his room. Didn't get a nap, and boy did it show at bedtime. Anyway, the crux of the matter was the absolute self-control it took to not explode in laughter and give up my position entirely when he came out with his response to my directive. Granted, all of this may sound pretty harsh, but if you were in my shoes, you'd see all of what goes on around here and realize there is some law and order needed...usually firmer than what I give, actually :}
__________________________________
Owen LOVES the They Might Be Giants DVD for kids with songs about science that Aunt Pam and Uncle Ethan sent for Christmas. He particularly loves Solid, Liquid, Gas, a song about the phases of matter. 'Mommy, I want solid liquid!!!' is frequently heard around here. I also find him humming the tune under his breath. He's apparently started to grasp onto the details of the song. Today I was saying at one point that I was getting really warm, while changing the sheets in our room upstairs. Owen says, 'Mommy, if you get warm enough I'm going to drink you all up! You'll turn into a liquid.'
________________________________
We brought home our CSA veggies today in the big yellow Farmer Dave's bin. I was carrying Asher and the crate (don't ask me how...mommy super-power) and Owen ran up ahead of me and said, 'I'll be that gentle-man and open the door!' I was very impressed. Daddy must be doing some good training behind the scenes. Then, later in the day Owen saw a package that had been delivered to the front stoop. I told him he could go out and get it. I hear the front door close behind him, then a muffled, 'Mommy, I need you to be that gentle-man!' and I step to the door to see his arms all full of package. Very cute.
_______________________________
Turn away, those who dislike potty stories. Totally out of the blue, Owen went to the potty by himself today (we've been working on this...he'd been very demanding of me standing by his side each and every time, which was getting older than old), and came back BEAMING with his chest puffed out and yelled, 'Mommy I went to the potty all by mySELF and I went potty like a big DADDY!' After a high five, I queried the details, then got a demonstration 10 minutes later after a bladder refill. 'See mommy, I stand on my stool and then if I stick my tummy out really far the pee pees go in the potty!' Well, actually first they land on the back of the toilet seat and then aim is readjusted so they hit the mark. But I have to say it was pretty impressive for a self-taught 3 year old. Reuel says he had nothing to do with actively teaching him that. Owen is quite, quite proud of himself on this one.
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