It was only a matter of time that I start thinking about my first post to the family blog, a momentous event to be sure. The one thing that bothered me was my use of the word routine. Routine just didn’t correctly capture what happens in the morning.
There are many definitions of the word routine, depending on the context. In general, a routine is a set of steps or procedures that occur in a linear fashion with no variation in the process. This is a poor description of what happens each morning.
On further consideration of the morning process, I came to realize that the morning is more fluid. It is not a set of unchanging steps that are followed in strict order. Rather, there are a few events that happen, eating, dressing etc, that happen but how we get there varies. I quickly realized what I was describing was not a routine, but in many was it was an analog for a raga, specifically a Hindustani raga.
As you surely know, a raga is many things. The word translates to colour or mood, but also has a more expansive meaning. A raga has a series of five or more musical notes that are used to build a melody and the mood that it creates in the listener. Hindustani ragas, in addition to mood, are designed to be played at certain times of day or season, for example in the morning. Another aspect of classical Indian music and ragas, which in terms of history makes European classical music look like the latest Top 40 fare, is its improvisational nature. A raga is not a set score, rather a framework that has a certain rhythmic and melodic structure in which the improvisation is used to flesh out the piece.
So my morning is not simply a routine, rather a Jackson morning raga. Each morning has a basic framework and a certain rhythm where Jackson and I use a series of themes to build the melody.
I feel that this is a much better description of my morning and I can finally rest peacefully. It is also an excuse to use my knowledge of classical Indian music. Who says liberal arts educations are not useful?
Monday, March 31, 2008
Jack the Jock
We have some work to do on Jackson and his knowledge of sports and sports lingo, but I'd say we're off to a decent start.
First, a picture of the kid in a Billikins hat. I mean really, how cute is he?! He doesn't know what a Billikin is, but I don't either so that's okay. And yes, that's an adult hat and yes, it fits me too.
Second, yesterday I dragged his highchair into the bedroom and fed him his dinner while we both watched March Madness. I'm a good mom like that. Anyway, a Davidson guy (not Curry) made a HUGE 3 pointer and I yelled "OHHHH!" I guess Jack's used to me exclaiming like that when people get hurt or something because he asked if "him fall down." I said no, that he made a really big shot. Jack looked blankly at me. I said again, "he made a really big, really good shot!" Jack processed for a second and then asked if "him feel better now." Instead of using that opportunity to explain that shots can make people feel better and it was great that he wasn't afraid of them, but that I was talking about a different kind, I launched into an explanation of what a shot is in basketball and why that one in particular was so awesome. Teachable, praisable moment lost.
Third, opening day in baseball. I interrupted a lovely bedtime story to explain to Jack that Monday is Opening Day, where all the professionals play their first game of baseball for the whole season. I must have made it sound really cool because I got him to agree to wear a baseball shirt instead of the hatar shirt to school on Monday.
Once he was in his shirt, Dadda sent him to me so I could see how cute he was. He ran into the room, threw my covers off of me and asked if I was wearing "baseball pants." I don't know where that came from. Then he went into the kitchen for the customary picture-taking, which apparently needed some spicing up:
Here's to baseball, basketball, and our adorable son.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
While We're on the Subject of Routines
Routine comments/questions heard 45 times per day, every day:
1. All mentioned in Chuck's post
2. "Me watch Shrek."
3. "Momma/Dadda, you siddy." (silly)
4. "Shrek say 'bye bye, see you wader.' Shrek say dat."
5. "Me watch funny baby ripping pay-pair." - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXXm696UbKY
6. "Me see eagle boken wing zoo."
7. "Me have dat at day kair."
8. "Me go mallmerica* nonna day." Variation = "Me pay dat paygound* in summar time."
*Items in italics can be replaced by any number of other things that Momma or Dadda doesn't want to do today, so we frequently blame it on the weather. One benefit to living in Minnesota.
1. All mentioned in Chuck's post
2. "Me watch Shrek."
3. "Momma/Dadda, you siddy." (silly)
4. "Shrek say 'bye bye, see you wader.' Shrek say dat."
5. "Me watch funny baby ripping pay-pair." - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXXm696UbKY
6. "Me see eagle boken wing zoo."
7. "Me have dat at day kair."
8. "Me go mallmerica* nonna day." Variation = "Me pay dat paygound* in summar time."
*Items in italics can be replaced by any number of other things that Momma or Dadda doesn't want to do today, so we frequently blame it on the weather. One benefit to living in Minnesota.
The Morning Routine....
As many parents know, routine is important to kids. Jackson is no exception.
Each morning, I put a frozen waffle in the toaster and then go get Jackson. I have learned that having the waffle ready to go right as Jackson gets in his high chair is important. If a waffle is not ready, the questioning about whether or not he is going to have a waffle goes on the entire time the waffle is “cooking”.
Jackson will typically wake up when I open his door, if he isn't awake already. His first words each day are, "Me have waffle?" I say that he will have a waffle, but that we need to get dressed first. Getting dressed can be seen as an impediment to eating waffles or it can be strangely exciting. Either way, he requests to wear his "hatar shirt". The hatar shirt is an orange shirt with a guitar on it and really should be worn everyday. 6 of the 7 days, the hatar shirt is dirty and just to make sure that I will wash it; Jackson asks if I will wash it. Once we have clarified the laundry status of the hatar shirt, the selection of jeans or sweatpants is made and which shirt to wear. The instant he is dressed, he makes the short run to the pantry to pick something out to eat, which is usually a "froot bedder" (a fruit leather to untrained ears). Recently "froot snax" have replaced froot bedders, but one is always needed for breakfast.
Once strapped into his high chair, another query into waffles is made at which point I hand him the waffle. There is, of course, concern if the waffle is too hot and I assure him that it is not too hot. A cup of "milt" and he is ready to commence eating and humming. Jackson will take a break from eating and humming to ask for "Muffin Man" which is a song on a CD filled with nursery songs. We then talk about what is coming up and generally miss all of the Muffin Man song. After Jackson has eaten everything and usually something more, he proclaims "Me all done" which will typically follow a few more hand full of veggie chips, Craisins, raisins or froot snax.
At this point, everyone is dressed and ready to say bye bye to Momma. With some convincing he will go and give Momma a hug. As quickly as he can squirm away, he runs out to the entry way and tries to engage "his Sunshine" by waving his arms near it. At this point, I wander over and actually turn on his Sunshine, a motion activated animated sunflower that sings "You Are My Sunshine". We listen to that a few times over while I get his boots on. While getting his "puffy coat" he will run over to "his mat" where he needs to stand while Jamie takes his snowy boots and mittens off after daycare.
Peppered throughout the whole morning process, there is debate whether I will be taking him to daycare or if Momma will be taking him to daycare.
"Dadda, you take me day kair?"
"Yep."
"Momma pick me up?"
"Yep, Momma will pick you up."
Before we can walk out the door, I will usually have to tell Jackson that we won't be able to bring whatever thing he is holding to daycare because we don't want to lose it. There is then a discussion over which car we are taking.
"We take bid ban?"
"No, we are taking my car today."
"Dis car? Daddas car?"
"Yep."
Finally, we end up in the car and are ready to go. We then say goodbye to his bike as we backup out of the garage. Sometimes the house gets a goodbye as we drive away, but many times there are more pressing issues like which way we are going or “what that man doing?”
On our drive to daycare we “go down dat yamp” and drive by the “mallmerica” (Mall of America) where apparently there is a moose, the city bus takes him there “nother day” and saw the “nut packer” (The Nut Cracker). We again talk about “what that man doing” and when I explain that all the people on the road are driving Jackson asks me “what you doing?” Occasionally, he will ask if “that man dangeus?” to which I explain that no one is being dangerous but you have to watch out thinking that a fear of cars isn’t the worst thing. Continuing north, we pass by the “air porkt” where air planes are “wandin”.
The best part is that once we are past these landmarks that are in my opinion, especially the Mall of America, aren’t exactly what I want my child to be excited about is beautiful Lake Nokomis. Jackson is continually unimpressed by the lake and the fact that we are driving on a bridge that literally goes over the lake. I point out how pretty the lake is and whatever is happening to the lake to sheer silence. The car ride from the air porkt to daycare is usually pretty quiet.
The adventure ends when we pull into the parking lot of daycare, which Jackson spotted a block or so before we got there. As we get out of the car, there is usually some animal the needs to be looked at, a dog, a bird or a squirrel. We then make the long, slow walk into daycare. He makes a bee line to the receptionist to say “Hi.” The receptionist is a sweet, older woman that has three sons of her own and always has something good to say to Jackson. I then suggest we go see who is already there.
Jackson bangs on the door to daycare until Mrs. Kay comes to open it. Jackson runs in and gives Mrs. Kay a big huge and the day can finally begin for Jackson. Once the coat and boots are off, Jackson runs off to play. He can sometimes be distracted from what he is about to do to say goodbye to me and on the rare occasion I get a hug before I go.
Wait 23 hours and repeat.
Each morning, I put a frozen waffle in the toaster and then go get Jackson. I have learned that having the waffle ready to go right as Jackson gets in his high chair is important. If a waffle is not ready, the questioning about whether or not he is going to have a waffle goes on the entire time the waffle is “cooking”.
Jackson will typically wake up when I open his door, if he isn't awake already. His first words each day are, "Me have waffle?" I say that he will have a waffle, but that we need to get dressed first. Getting dressed can be seen as an impediment to eating waffles or it can be strangely exciting. Either way, he requests to wear his "hatar shirt". The hatar shirt is an orange shirt with a guitar on it and really should be worn everyday. 6 of the 7 days, the hatar shirt is dirty and just to make sure that I will wash it; Jackson asks if I will wash it. Once we have clarified the laundry status of the hatar shirt, the selection of jeans or sweatpants is made and which shirt to wear. The instant he is dressed, he makes the short run to the pantry to pick something out to eat, which is usually a "froot bedder" (a fruit leather to untrained ears). Recently "froot snax" have replaced froot bedders, but one is always needed for breakfast.
Once strapped into his high chair, another query into waffles is made at which point I hand him the waffle. There is, of course, concern if the waffle is too hot and I assure him that it is not too hot. A cup of "milt" and he is ready to commence eating and humming. Jackson will take a break from eating and humming to ask for "Muffin Man" which is a song on a CD filled with nursery songs. We then talk about what is coming up and generally miss all of the Muffin Man song. After Jackson has eaten everything and usually something more, he proclaims "Me all done" which will typically follow a few more hand full of veggie chips, Craisins, raisins or froot snax.
At this point, everyone is dressed and ready to say bye bye to Momma. With some convincing he will go and give Momma a hug. As quickly as he can squirm away, he runs out to the entry way and tries to engage "his Sunshine" by waving his arms near it. At this point, I wander over and actually turn on his Sunshine, a motion activated animated sunflower that sings "You Are My Sunshine". We listen to that a few times over while I get his boots on. While getting his "puffy coat" he will run over to "his mat" where he needs to stand while Jamie takes his snowy boots and mittens off after daycare.
Peppered throughout the whole morning process, there is debate whether I will be taking him to daycare or if Momma will be taking him to daycare.
"Dadda, you take me day kair?"
"Yep."
"Momma pick me up?"
"Yep, Momma will pick you up."
Before we can walk out the door, I will usually have to tell Jackson that we won't be able to bring whatever thing he is holding to daycare because we don't want to lose it. There is then a discussion over which car we are taking.
"We take bid ban?"
"No, we are taking my car today."
"Dis car? Daddas car?"
"Yep."
Finally, we end up in the car and are ready to go. We then say goodbye to his bike as we backup out of the garage. Sometimes the house gets a goodbye as we drive away, but many times there are more pressing issues like which way we are going or “what that man doing?”
On our drive to daycare we “go down dat yamp” and drive by the “mallmerica” (Mall of America) where apparently there is a moose, the city bus takes him there “nother day” and saw the “nut packer” (The Nut Cracker). We again talk about “what that man doing” and when I explain that all the people on the road are driving Jackson asks me “what you doing?” Occasionally, he will ask if “that man dangeus?” to which I explain that no one is being dangerous but you have to watch out thinking that a fear of cars isn’t the worst thing. Continuing north, we pass by the “air porkt” where air planes are “wandin”.
The best part is that once we are past these landmarks that are in my opinion, especially the Mall of America, aren’t exactly what I want my child to be excited about is beautiful Lake Nokomis. Jackson is continually unimpressed by the lake and the fact that we are driving on a bridge that literally goes over the lake. I point out how pretty the lake is and whatever is happening to the lake to sheer silence. The car ride from the air porkt to daycare is usually pretty quiet.
The adventure ends when we pull into the parking lot of daycare, which Jackson spotted a block or so before we got there. As we get out of the car, there is usually some animal the needs to be looked at, a dog, a bird or a squirrel. We then make the long, slow walk into daycare. He makes a bee line to the receptionist to say “Hi.” The receptionist is a sweet, older woman that has three sons of her own and always has something good to say to Jackson. I then suggest we go see who is already there.
Jackson bangs on the door to daycare until Mrs. Kay comes to open it. Jackson runs in and gives Mrs. Kay a big huge and the day can finally begin for Jackson. Once the coat and boots are off, Jackson runs off to play. He can sometimes be distracted from what he is about to do to say goodbye to me and on the rare occasion I get a hug before I go.
Wait 23 hours and repeat.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Difficult Last Name
Van Nostrand has been quite the last name to get adjusted to. It took me awhile to learn how to spell it, first of all. Once you get that down, it would seem easy to pronounce. Almost everyone gets it wrong though. Common variations are Von Nostrand, Van Norstrand, Van Norstrum, and Von Nordstrom. Due to my gender neutral first name, I have even had letters addressed to me as Mr. Nostrand.
Usually it's fairly annoying to keep correcting people - until I heard my own child's interpretation. I LOVE it and don't want to correct him. It's got a nice ring to it. Here's the story:
Chuck and I realized we had never really told Jack his full name. So the other night while we were reading books I asked him if he wanted to know his full name. He got very excited and said yes.
Momma: Your name is Jackson (Jack smiles)....Manning (blank stare)...Van Nostrand (pause - giggles).
Jackson: Jackson Banjostrand (more giggles).
Momma: Want to hear something even sillier? Do you want to know our names? I'm Jamie Van Nostrand and that's Chuck Van Nostrand.
Jackson: (hysterical laughter as he tries to repeat the names...pause...) Momma Banjostrand. Dadda Banjostrand. Jackson Banjostrand.
Usually it's fairly annoying to keep correcting people - until I heard my own child's interpretation. I LOVE it and don't want to correct him. It's got a nice ring to it. Here's the story:
Chuck and I realized we had never really told Jack his full name. So the other night while we were reading books I asked him if he wanted to know his full name. He got very excited and said yes.
Momma: Your name is Jackson (Jack smiles)....Manning (blank stare)...Van Nostrand (pause - giggles).
Jackson: Jackson Banjostrand (more giggles).
Momma: Want to hear something even sillier? Do you want to know our names? I'm Jamie Van Nostrand and that's Chuck Van Nostrand.
Jackson: (hysterical laughter as he tries to repeat the names...pause...) Momma Banjostrand. Dadda Banjostrand. Jackson Banjostrand.
Update: Missing Avery
Just a quick note in case everyone didn't see the comment on my first post. Avery has been returned home safe and sound. Thanks to everyone who helped to spread the word!
Friday, March 21, 2008
Scary - Please read
Hi everyone. Please read the following from my cousin Christi (email sent this morning). I know this is a long shot, but I thought it was worth trying, in case anyone happens to see this man or his son:
(Written by Christi Price)
My friend Jeni's son Avery Brooks has been missing since Monday, when he went with his dad for the night. His dad (Mark Brooks) did not bring him home Tuesday -- he has joint custody but does not see him very often, and the two of them have completely disappeared at this point. Avery is 8 years old, one of Joshie's buddies, and Jeni is one of my closest friends through dance.
Avery was last seen on Monday, March 17th at 5pm. They are travelling with a dog and Mark drives a nondescript four-door sedan (like a Toyota Corolla or something). There is a warrant out for Mark's arrest for child abduction, and I believe there are restraining orders now in place
against Mark for both Jeni and Avery. We're working on a web site, but please forward this info to anyone you can think of. We're plastering Columbia [Missouri] with the attached flyer, and the Tribune is running a small story today with both of their photos. If it turns into an Amber Alert, which we're hoping for, there will be a lot more media coverage.
Avery was last seen on Monday, March 17th at 5pm. They are travelling with a dog and Mark drives a nondescript four-door sedan (like a Toyota Corolla or something). There is a warrant out for Mark's arrest for child abduction, and I believe there are restraining orders now in place
against Mark for both Jeni and Avery. We're working on a web site, but please forward this info to anyone you can think of. We're plastering Columbia [Missouri] with the attached flyer, and the Tribune is running a small story today with both of their photos. If it turns into an Amber Alert, which we're hoping for, there will be a lot more media coverage.
Please forward this to anyone you know (especially if they are in or around Missouri) and keep Jeni in your thoughts. I can't imagine anything scarier.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Discipline Van Nostrand style
Okay, so we might be a little strict with Jack. Not in a bad way (I hope) but just generally expecting certain things out of him, and trying to be consistent about them. Things he has been told he can't do include but are not limited to the following:
-eat fruit snacks for every meal
-pull Tug around by the tail
-sleep with sharp objects
-go potty in the bathtub
-play with Daddy's saw
Reasonable enough. And he needs to pick up his toys when he's finished with them. Generally this refers to blocks and stuff, and he's great about putting them away when we're cleaning up. But recently we found something he just plain refuses to do. He has taken a liking to construction paper, and to little-kid scissors, and to markers - getting them out and doing "art." He spreads them all out on the floor and proceeds to cut/rip the paper into tiny shreds, color the tiny shreds (and his hands, shirt, floor, etc.) and then arrange them in some sort of meaningful (to him) pattern that takes up most of our living room. We're fine with all of this, obviously.
The stumbling block comes when we ask him to clean up. We offer to help, which doesn't work. We have told him about taking care of our house and our things and we have perfected the explanation that he is choosing to do this and that he could have been done already.
He's watched Tugboat fall down as she slips on a pair of plastic scissors left on the ground and Kitty gag as she tries to choke down a piece of paper. He really doesn't seem to care.
Okay, as I'm writing this I realize we sound so harsh! We're really not, I promise!
Anyway, the other night we took the stack of construction paper away from him and told him that he could get it back when he picked up the ones he was finished playing with. He started wailing that he wanted Santa Claus, or for us to take him to daycare. Now he seems better but when I'm reading him a story where a kid is being naughty, he asks me if they got their paper taken away. I have to say "maybe" even though I don't know anyone else who was mean enough to deprive their kids of construction paper. He'll thank us when he's older and disciplined.
Right????
-eat fruit snacks for every meal
-pull Tug around by the tail
-sleep with sharp objects
-go potty in the bathtub
-play with Daddy's saw
Reasonable enough. And he needs to pick up his toys when he's finished with them. Generally this refers to blocks and stuff, and he's great about putting them away when we're cleaning up. But recently we found something he just plain refuses to do. He has taken a liking to construction paper, and to little-kid scissors, and to markers - getting them out and doing "art." He spreads them all out on the floor and proceeds to cut/rip the paper into tiny shreds, color the tiny shreds (and his hands, shirt, floor, etc.) and then arrange them in some sort of meaningful (to him) pattern that takes up most of our living room. We're fine with all of this, obviously.
The stumbling block comes when we ask him to clean up. We offer to help, which doesn't work. We have told him about taking care of our house and our things and we have perfected the explanation that he is choosing to do this and that he could have been done already.
He's watched Tugboat fall down as she slips on a pair of plastic scissors left on the ground and Kitty gag as she tries to choke down a piece of paper. He really doesn't seem to care.
Okay, as I'm writing this I realize we sound so harsh! We're really not, I promise!
Anyway, the other night we took the stack of construction paper away from him and told him that he could get it back when he picked up the ones he was finished playing with. He started wailing that he wanted Santa Claus, or for us to take him to daycare. Now he seems better but when I'm reading him a story where a kid is being naughty, he asks me if they got their paper taken away. I have to say "maybe" even though I don't know anyone else who was mean enough to deprive their kids of construction paper. He'll thank us when he's older and disciplined.
Right????
Jack and geneology
Jack doesn't really get his geneology. And that's fine.
It just makes it all the more confusing when strangers hear him saying things like:
"Kiss me - I'm AAAARRRRSSSSSHHHH!"
(trying to tell us what his tattoo on his belly said - done in a pirate voice)
and
"Mommy, my Irsh is hiding."
(I think he meant that his tattoo had worn off, although he rejected that as the explanation for what he just said. Yeah right - and "Ginger" isn't the Gingerbread man. He's just messing with us.)
It just makes it all the more confusing when strangers hear him saying things like:
"Kiss me - I'm AAAARRRRSSSSSHHHH!"
(trying to tell us what his tattoo on his belly said - done in a pirate voice)
and
"Mommy, my Irsh is hiding."
(I think he meant that his tattoo had worn off, although he rejected that as the explanation for what he just said. Yeah right - and "Ginger" isn't the Gingerbread man. He's just messing with us.)
Friday, March 14, 2008
Song Lyrics According to Jack
Old MacDonald:
"Old Donno had farm, Yi-Yi-YOoooooooooo. On farm he had cow. Moo moo cow farm....
Old Donno had farm. On farm he had book..." (I got sick of the usual lyrics so I inserted that one.)
You are my Sunshine:
"You are sunshine, sunshine. Happy. Away."
Row Row Row Your Boat:
"Row row row boat steam. Merry merry. DREAM!"
Jingle Bells:
"Jeendle Bells, Jeendle Bells, Jeendle wayyyyy. Oh fun...ride sleighhhhh. Ha ha ha. Hey!"
The following songs have no lyrics, just movements - and you BETTER do the movements or he gets pretty peeved:
The Hokey Pokey, Looby Loo (spelling?), 10 in the Bed, If You're Happy and You Know It
Also, not a song but worthy of being included...Jack's version of what the giant says in Jack and the Beanstalk.
Real version (for those of you who don't have a toddler in the house):
Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum
I smell the blood of an Englishman.
Be he live or be he dead
I'll grind his bones to make my bread!
(Lovely, huh?!)
Jack's version (done in a creepy, scratchy, deep voice):
Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum
I smell bud enga-mesh.
Be live be dead
Gind bones - bed.
"Old Donno had farm, Yi-Yi-YOoooooooooo. On farm he had cow. Moo moo cow farm....
Old Donno had farm. On farm he had book..." (I got sick of the usual lyrics so I inserted that one.)
You are my Sunshine:
"You are sunshine, sunshine. Happy. Away."
Row Row Row Your Boat:
"Row row row boat steam. Merry merry. DREAM!"
Jingle Bells:
"Jeendle Bells, Jeendle Bells, Jeendle wayyyyy. Oh fun...ride sleighhhhh. Ha ha ha. Hey!"
The following songs have no lyrics, just movements - and you BETTER do the movements or he gets pretty peeved:
The Hokey Pokey, Looby Loo (spelling?), 10 in the Bed, If You're Happy and You Know It
Also, not a song but worthy of being included...Jack's version of what the giant says in Jack and the Beanstalk.
Real version (for those of you who don't have a toddler in the house):
Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum
I smell the blood of an Englishman.
Be he live or be he dead
I'll grind his bones to make my bread!
(Lovely, huh?!)
Jack's version (done in a creepy, scratchy, deep voice):
Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum
I smell bud enga-mesh.
Be live be dead
Gind bones - bed.
Baby Update
Just a quick update on the baby - we had our 24 week appointment and everything looks great. His heartbeat was strong, I'm measuring right where I should be and my health is excellent. The baby was not thrilled with the probe being pushed into him during the sonogram, and gave it a pretty decent kick. Reminded me of how Jack was during his pregnancy.
For those that don't know - we're already scheduled for our c-section. Because of how my first delivery went and family history, we are opting to go ahead and do the section instead of "normal" labor and delivery. Anyway, it's scheduled for June 24 at 9am. Strange, huh? Our OB joked that we could do our birth announcements early. "Healthy baby boy born at 9:25am - blue eyes and good size."
The name remains a mystery to us. We have 19 names on the list right now. I'm not exagerrating. Jack is keeping his own list:
1) Baby Uncle Bob
2) Baby Bounce
3) Baby Nuh-fing (nothing in toddler-speak)
4) Baby Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum
For those that don't know - we're already scheduled for our c-section. Because of how my first delivery went and family history, we are opting to go ahead and do the section instead of "normal" labor and delivery. Anyway, it's scheduled for June 24 at 9am. Strange, huh? Our OB joked that we could do our birth announcements early. "Healthy baby boy born at 9:25am - blue eyes and good size."
The name remains a mystery to us. We have 19 names on the list right now. I'm not exagerrating. Jack is keeping his own list:
1) Baby Uncle Bob
2) Baby Bounce
3) Baby Nuh-fing (nothing in toddler-speak)
4) Baby Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum
Monday, March 10, 2008
For the love of Jamie and Chuck's Sanity
Ten bucks to the person who can explain to us what "Ginger" is. I have my money on Miss Kay, who in the last few weeks has been able to translate "ponky ponker" into "Clunker Clunker" from a book they read at daycare and "tacos" into "Goggles" from another book they read.
Clues collected thus far:
1. "Ginger" can be drawn or cut on paper as an art project.
2. "Ginger" can be broken, and apparently this is funny, not sad.
3. "Ginger" can be found in our backyard.
4. "Ginger" comes out in the summertime.
5. "Ginger" makes some sort of popping noise as it arrives.
6. "Ginger" sometimes pops up and sometimes pops down.
7. "Ginger" is NOT the ginger bread man.
That's all we have so far. Keep in mind, of course, that Jack tends to lie/make up his own truth (Momma pokes him in the eye, Kay had a hurt knee, he wakes up in the night and opens his door and is sad, Tugboat is the Muffin Man, no baby is coming to live with us, you can measure things with a fence and Momma's arm is "two and a half" and her chest is "apple", etc.) so I'm not sure how accurate these clues are.
Please help.
Clues collected thus far:
1. "Ginger" can be drawn or cut on paper as an art project.
2. "Ginger" can be broken, and apparently this is funny, not sad.
3. "Ginger" can be found in our backyard.
4. "Ginger" comes out in the summertime.
5. "Ginger" makes some sort of popping noise as it arrives.
6. "Ginger" sometimes pops up and sometimes pops down.
7. "Ginger" is NOT the ginger bread man.
That's all we have so far. Keep in mind, of course, that Jack tends to lie/make up his own truth (Momma pokes him in the eye, Kay had a hurt knee, he wakes up in the night and opens his door and is sad, Tugboat is the Muffin Man, no baby is coming to live with us, you can measure things with a fence and Momma's arm is "two and a half" and her chest is "apple", etc.) so I'm not sure how accurate these clues are.
Please help.
Ball-ball adventures
Chuck and I are relentlessly dedicated Carleton alumns - especially when it comes to their sports teams. Apparently Jack has picked up on this. Anytime he hears the word "Carleton" he yells "Go Knights!" at the top of his lungs. He asks to go to "ball-ball games" all the time too. As if we needed more reasons to love him!
Anyway, we made a trip down to Iowa to see the Knights in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Jack couldn't have scripted the day any better. We started out Friday morning at home eating waffles, made a Go Knights sign, saw Grandma Bernice for a short visit, loaded into the car for a roadtrip (meaning he got to eat new, fun snacks in his carseat while singing and counting and dancing and measuring things with his "measuring fence"), arrived at the hotel, met up with Grandmommy, went to a ball-ball game in a ball-ball sweatshirt with a ball-ball sign, etc. He really had a blast. I was sad that they lost, but the trip was fun anyway.
Pictures:
Jack and the last Carleton Football sweatshirt they were selling at the Homecoming Football game. He LOVES it even though is head is too big for the opening and he ends up with scrapes all across his face when we take it off.
Jack and his Go Knights sign...
Carrying it everywhere...
Displaying it for Sydney.
And finally, dancing with Dada after the game. Dada, by the way, is wearing his "Bumble-Bee Man Shirt."
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Things you don't want to hear from your 2 year old
1. "Momma, you have big neck."
2. "Momma, you poop your underwear?" (The answer is emphatically "NO" to this, in case you are wondering. He just likes to ask because we ask him all the time.)
3. "Ahhh snap!"
4. "Momma, you wicked witch."
5. (Pointing to his Mr. Night doll in the morning) "Dat man woke ME up in night! HE did it!"
6. "Dada wash my clothes? Dada wash my sheets? Dada clean my tray? Dada make dinner?" (I swear I do chores too! He cannot fathom that I do a single thing to keep the house running.)
7. "Dada, Momma poked me in eye. Me sad." (I did NOT!)
8. (Holding a baby doll in one arm and hammering its head ever so gently - while I'm 5 months pregnant) "Me putting him to sleep."
2. "Momma, you poop your underwear?" (The answer is emphatically "NO" to this, in case you are wondering. He just likes to ask because we ask him all the time.)
3. "Ahhh snap!"
4. "Momma, you wicked witch."
5. (Pointing to his Mr. Night doll in the morning) "Dat man woke ME up in night! HE did it!"
6. "Dada wash my clothes? Dada wash my sheets? Dada clean my tray? Dada make dinner?" (I swear I do chores too! He cannot fathom that I do a single thing to keep the house running.)
7. "Dada, Momma poked me in eye. Me sad." (I did NOT!)
8. (Holding a baby doll in one arm and hammering its head ever so gently - while I'm 5 months pregnant) "Me putting him to sleep."
Monday, March 3, 2008
Obama-mania
Okay, I swear we don't sit around talking about Barack all day long, or quizzing Jack about him either. We did buy a t-shirt for Jack and one for the Baby-To-Be-Named-Later. See picture below - the shirt has a sheep saying "Baa", then a plus, and then a rock. Get it?
But aside from that he really doesn't come up in every day conversation. However, we DO listen to MPR quite a bit and Jack has an uncanny knack for completely blocking out everything they say until the words "Barack Obama" come up. Jack's focus immediately returns and he starts talking about Barackobama, how we went to a caucus and how we pick leaders.
But aside from that he really doesn't come up in every day conversation. However, we DO listen to MPR quite a bit and Jack has an uncanny knack for completely blocking out everything they say until the words "Barack Obama" come up. Jack's focus immediately returns and he starts talking about Barackobama, how we went to a caucus and how we pick leaders.So my question is this - when does a cute little story like this turn into an obsession that we really need to nip in the bud?
Ummm, maybe when Jack looks up from his easel and announces to us that he just drew Barackobama arms?
I mean really, is that normal?
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