When left to his own devices - say, by lazy parents trying to sneak an extra 30 minutes of sleep in on a Sunday morning - Ryker will prepare the following buffet for his breakfast:
2 lollipops
1 sleeve of Saltines
1 bag of Ruffles
1 bag of bread crumbs
Monday, March 28, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
4am? Really?
Ryker has been waking up crying. He's transitioning into the preschool room, which is stressing him out, and he just needs a little extra comfort. That's fine. For a few nights the crying has started at 11pm. I'm not asleep yet, so it's okay. I go in there and rock with him, then put him back down and he goes to sleep.
Last night he did not cry at 11. I thought he was maybe going to take the night off. Nope. He started crying at 3:45am. I decided to let him cry for awhile and see if he went back to sleep by himself. By 4am I heard Jack's door open. I heard Ryker's door open. (I don't think I've explained on the blog, but Jack has been springing Ryker from his crib every morning on weekends for several weeks now. I'll try to get a video of them reenacting this soon.) Then several doors opened and closed, and then there were two sets of feet running around and two voices whispering. They ran for a second, then Jack came in to our room and asked if I could turn a movie on for them. I went into the living room, and the light was on and Ryk was sitting on the couch. I said no, that it was THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT and to GET TO BED NOW. Jack went to turn the light off and I picked Ryker up to take him back to his room.
Jack said "As I was turning off the light, I was thinking that maybe Ryker would want to sleep in my bed with me." Ryker nodded. I was tired, and the thought of them sleeping together seemed perfectly adorable, so I agreed. ???
For the next 4 hours they were in and out of our room asking for things. At 4:40 I told them that they were NOT allowed out of Jack's room until the first number on the clock was an 8. Five minutes later Jack came in. "OUT!!!" I whisper-yelled and pointed at the door. "No Mommy, I'm in here because I think you said we could come out when the first number was a 4 and the others were 45. NO. That is NOT what I said. I said the first number had to be an 8. BACK TO BED. NOW.
I'm selling them.
Last night he did not cry at 11. I thought he was maybe going to take the night off. Nope. He started crying at 3:45am. I decided to let him cry for awhile and see if he went back to sleep by himself. By 4am I heard Jack's door open. I heard Ryker's door open. (I don't think I've explained on the blog, but Jack has been springing Ryker from his crib every morning on weekends for several weeks now. I'll try to get a video of them reenacting this soon.) Then several doors opened and closed, and then there were two sets of feet running around and two voices whispering. They ran for a second, then Jack came in to our room and asked if I could turn a movie on for them. I went into the living room, and the light was on and Ryk was sitting on the couch. I said no, that it was THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT and to GET TO BED NOW. Jack went to turn the light off and I picked Ryker up to take him back to his room.
Jack said "As I was turning off the light, I was thinking that maybe Ryker would want to sleep in my bed with me." Ryker nodded. I was tired, and the thought of them sleeping together seemed perfectly adorable, so I agreed. ???
For the next 4 hours they were in and out of our room asking for things. At 4:40 I told them that they were NOT allowed out of Jack's room until the first number on the clock was an 8. Five minutes later Jack came in. "OUT!!!" I whisper-yelled and pointed at the door. "No Mommy, I'm in here because I think you said we could come out when the first number was a 4 and the others were 45. NO. That is NOT what I said. I said the first number had to be an 8. BACK TO BED. NOW.
I'm selling them.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Random Things That Moms Encounter
Two of them, to be specific, and both occurred today.
1. When you are a mom, you sometimes will have a morning like this:
You will be preparing your two coffee cups for your morning journey to daycare and then to work. If you prepare less than two, you are likely to fall asleep and veer into a snow bank, because you live in Minnesota and it's March and there are obviously still 5 foot snow banks on the side of the road. So you're pouring your two travel mug-fulls and your toddler will come out of your 5 year old's room. He'll say that Joshun is 'tuck, but he'll say it so calmly that you will think he has used the wrong verb. You'll go into Joshun's room and at first glance only see the 5 year old's legs dangling from the top bunk, against the wall.
You'll adjust your eyes, hear the toddler repeat "Joshun 'tuck" and then you'll leap across the room. You'll get to where you can see the 5 year old, and yes, he is 'tuck - head and arms above the top bunk, mid-section wedged between the wall and the bars of the bed, and legs dangling down. You haven't DRANK your two cups of coffee yet, so the best and most immediate course of action that pops into your head is to pull on the bed frame so as to temporary dislodge the 5 year old. You'll do that, but of course he won't fall immediately down, he'll fall partway and then the frame will have fallen back into its original position and it will sort of hit him in the face and cause him to bite his lip. You'll finally get him un-'tuck and he'll start crying because of the lip and then your toddler will commence with reassuring him - hugging him tightly and petting his arm and saying "Joshun - you ok. You ok Joshun." Then he'll add "dare no monsters no. It ok."
All will be right again with the world, except your 5 year old will have blood on his chin when you drop him off at school.
2. When you are a mom, you will have Netflix suggest the following "Top 10" movies they think you will enjoy, based on your history with them:
-The Spectacular Spider-man: Volume 3
-Wallace and Gromit: Loaf and Death
-The Spectacular Spider-man: Volume 2
-Bob the Builder: Trains and Treehouses
-Touching the Void (a documentary about a mountaineering trek gone awry)
-The Strawberry Shortcake Movie: Sky's the Limit
-Johnny Test: Season 1
-Angelina Ballerina: Love to Dance
-The Art of the Steal (a documentary about a collection of post-Impressionist paintings)
-The Cool School (a documentary about the modern art movement)
1. When you are a mom, you sometimes will have a morning like this:
You will be preparing your two coffee cups for your morning journey to daycare and then to work. If you prepare less than two, you are likely to fall asleep and veer into a snow bank, because you live in Minnesota and it's March and there are obviously still 5 foot snow banks on the side of the road. So you're pouring your two travel mug-fulls and your toddler will come out of your 5 year old's room. He'll say that Joshun is 'tuck, but he'll say it so calmly that you will think he has used the wrong verb. You'll go into Joshun's room and at first glance only see the 5 year old's legs dangling from the top bunk, against the wall.
You'll adjust your eyes, hear the toddler repeat "Joshun 'tuck" and then you'll leap across the room. You'll get to where you can see the 5 year old, and yes, he is 'tuck - head and arms above the top bunk, mid-section wedged between the wall and the bars of the bed, and legs dangling down. You haven't DRANK your two cups of coffee yet, so the best and most immediate course of action that pops into your head is to pull on the bed frame so as to temporary dislodge the 5 year old. You'll do that, but of course he won't fall immediately down, he'll fall partway and then the frame will have fallen back into its original position and it will sort of hit him in the face and cause him to bite his lip. You'll finally get him un-'tuck and he'll start crying because of the lip and then your toddler will commence with reassuring him - hugging him tightly and petting his arm and saying "Joshun - you ok. You ok Joshun." Then he'll add "dare no monsters no. It ok."
All will be right again with the world, except your 5 year old will have blood on his chin when you drop him off at school.
2. When you are a mom, you will have Netflix suggest the following "Top 10" movies they think you will enjoy, based on your history with them:
-The Spectacular Spider-man: Volume 3
-Wallace and Gromit: Loaf and Death
-The Spectacular Spider-man: Volume 2
-Bob the Builder: Trains and Treehouses
-Touching the Void (a documentary about a mountaineering trek gone awry)
-The Strawberry Shortcake Movie: Sky's the Limit
-Johnny Test: Season 1
-Angelina Ballerina: Love to Dance
-The Art of the Steal (a documentary about a collection of post-Impressionist paintings)
-The Cool School (a documentary about the modern art movement)
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
My Baby's Growing Up
When I arrived at school this morning to drop the kids off, one of the teachers informed me that I was to leave Ryker in the preschool room instead of the toddler room. They've been transitioning him for about two weeks already but it still came as a surprise.
We were late getting there, so the kids had already begun their morning routine. They were all sitting in a circle around the edge of the big rug. Ryker looked confused, and a bit shy. I told Jack to make sure he helped Ryker and let him sit next to him. Jack circled the rug about 3 times, Ryker on his heels, trying to find an opening big enough for both of them. Then they settled down. Ryker smiled.
Every morning the kids sit in that circle and then they stand up and say the Pledge of Allegiance and then sing a couple patriotic songs with their hands over their hearts. They march around the circle too. It's hilarious. So Jack stood up and put his hand over his heart. Ryker had no idea what to do, so turned and faced Jack, right up next to him, to see what HE was doing. Then he put his left hand over his heart and pivoted back into his spot. He just stood there, and when they were singing he sort of swayed.
It was completely adorable. Ryker fits right into that group size-wise, but still seemed so LITTLE because he had no idea what to do. And Jack seemed so BIG, knowing everything and looking after his brother. What a cute pair.
We were late getting there, so the kids had already begun their morning routine. They were all sitting in a circle around the edge of the big rug. Ryker looked confused, and a bit shy. I told Jack to make sure he helped Ryker and let him sit next to him. Jack circled the rug about 3 times, Ryker on his heels, trying to find an opening big enough for both of them. Then they settled down. Ryker smiled.
Every morning the kids sit in that circle and then they stand up and say the Pledge of Allegiance and then sing a couple patriotic songs with their hands over their hearts. They march around the circle too. It's hilarious. So Jack stood up and put his hand over his heart. Ryker had no idea what to do, so turned and faced Jack, right up next to him, to see what HE was doing. Then he put his left hand over his heart and pivoted back into his spot. He just stood there, and when they were singing he sort of swayed.
It was completely adorable. Ryker fits right into that group size-wise, but still seemed so LITTLE because he had no idea what to do. And Jack seemed so BIG, knowing everything and looking after his brother. What a cute pair.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Ryker - A Video
I've been trying to take videos of Ryker for awhile, but he always resists. And a two year old resisting sounds something like "AHHHH! NOOOOOO! Momma I no want dat now! Put away!"
Tonight I tricked him, hidden camera style. He had no idea. I have to preface this video though, after watching it myself. I sound like a total goof, and here's why. Over the weekend he pretended to talk on the phone, and said he was talking to "Muddah" (Mother). I said that I was Mother and he said "No, you Mommy. I talkin to Muddah." It was funny and intriguing all at the same time, so I tried to get him to do it again. That's why I keep asking him about it.
A few words of translation:
Muddah = Mother
Fu-Fub = Phineas and Ferb
And finally, for those of you who are not Elf fans, the ending is us practicing our quotes from the movie.
Enjoy!
Tonight I tricked him, hidden camera style. He had no idea. I have to preface this video though, after watching it myself. I sound like a total goof, and here's why. Over the weekend he pretended to talk on the phone, and said he was talking to "Muddah" (Mother). I said that I was Mother and he said "No, you Mommy. I talkin to Muddah." It was funny and intriguing all at the same time, so I tried to get him to do it again. That's why I keep asking him about it.
A few words of translation:
Muddah = Mother
Fu-Fub = Phineas and Ferb
And finally, for those of you who are not Elf fans, the ending is us practicing our quotes from the movie.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Walking the Walk
You wanna know what's crazy? Talking to your kid about fear when you have had panic disorder for as long as you can remember.
Jack is in a fearful stage. He's scared of the dark, scared to be places by himself. He makes Ryker tag along, or Tugboat, or one of us. It generally is fine, and I know it's a stage that he'll pass through. Even if he doesn't, I know the warning signs all too well and will be able to help him.
But assuming it's just normal kid-fear, I am trying to work him through it. Some days it's harder than others, and some days my patience is just not there. The other day he was throwing a huge tantrum, and I told him to go to his room to calm down. He refused, and said he was scared (while stomping and yelling). I was pretty close to the end of my rope with him already, so I made him go. I told him he had nothing to fear and it would be fine. He sat in his room and guilt swept over me. Fear is a sore subject with me - it pushes my buttons.
So I brought him out when it was time and we talked about why he was sent to his room in the first place. Apologies, hugs, all the Super Nanny stuff. Then I sat down on the ground to talk to him about his fears. "I get scared all the time," I told him. "Someday I'll tell you more about that, but for now, you just have to trust me that you are going to be fine."
He brought up that someone could come into our house and take things. True. I don't want to lie to the kid about stuff like that - so I said yes, that someone could do that. But I told him that worrying about it isn't going to help anything. Worrying about it won't make it happen, or keep it from happening. It's never happened before, and we make good choices about safety, and we can know that and focus on positive things instead.
I'm blatantly stealing talking points from my therapist, watering them down, and spitting them back out at Jack. I don't think I'm doing a very good job of it, to be honest. It's going to be a tough road, trying to not be a hypocrite. But he and Ryker are the best motivation I could hope for to keep going working on my own issues with anxiety. I need to lead by example. And my speech will get better, I hope.
Jack is in a fearful stage. He's scared of the dark, scared to be places by himself. He makes Ryker tag along, or Tugboat, or one of us. It generally is fine, and I know it's a stage that he'll pass through. Even if he doesn't, I know the warning signs all too well and will be able to help him.
But assuming it's just normal kid-fear, I am trying to work him through it. Some days it's harder than others, and some days my patience is just not there. The other day he was throwing a huge tantrum, and I told him to go to his room to calm down. He refused, and said he was scared (while stomping and yelling). I was pretty close to the end of my rope with him already, so I made him go. I told him he had nothing to fear and it would be fine. He sat in his room and guilt swept over me. Fear is a sore subject with me - it pushes my buttons.
So I brought him out when it was time and we talked about why he was sent to his room in the first place. Apologies, hugs, all the Super Nanny stuff. Then I sat down on the ground to talk to him about his fears. "I get scared all the time," I told him. "Someday I'll tell you more about that, but for now, you just have to trust me that you are going to be fine."
He brought up that someone could come into our house and take things. True. I don't want to lie to the kid about stuff like that - so I said yes, that someone could do that. But I told him that worrying about it isn't going to help anything. Worrying about it won't make it happen, or keep it from happening. It's never happened before, and we make good choices about safety, and we can know that and focus on positive things instead.
I'm blatantly stealing talking points from my therapist, watering them down, and spitting them back out at Jack. I don't think I'm doing a very good job of it, to be honest. It's going to be a tough road, trying to not be a hypocrite. But he and Ryker are the best motivation I could hope for to keep going working on my own issues with anxiety. I need to lead by example. And my speech will get better, I hope.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Note to Bullies
A word of warning to any bullies out there that might want to pick on Jack when he gets older:
He has a gigantic "little" brother who takes it extremely seriously if you do anything remotely threatening.
Jack likes to play this game with me where he says "you can NEVER kiss me!" and I have to chase him and grab him and hold him down until he says "Okay, you can ALWAYS kiss me!" Then I release him and the game starts all over again. It's his favorite.
I tried to play the game once with him tonight, in the hallway, and Ryker shrieked and wound up like he was going to hit me. I put Jack back down and made him explain to Ryk that he was just fine. He did, and Ryker seemed okay again. About 10 minutes later I took off chasing Jack, a sneak attack, which made Jack yell with excitement, and I grabbed him and held him down on the couch. Ryker came racing over, screaming at the top of his lungs. He raised both hands over his head and started beating me on the shoulder until I let go of Jack. Then he just stood there with a sad look on his face until I scooped him up and hugged him. He was SO sad. Jack kept saying "Ryker, it's okay. Mommy wasn't hurting me. Mommy would never hurt me."
That, of course, is the moment Chuck came out from our bedroom. I'm sure he was wondering why Jack was having to convince Ryker that I would never hurt him.
Anyway, take note, everyone. Don't lay a hand on Jack or Ryker will personally beat the crap out of you.
He has a gigantic "little" brother who takes it extremely seriously if you do anything remotely threatening.
Jack likes to play this game with me where he says "you can NEVER kiss me!" and I have to chase him and grab him and hold him down until he says "Okay, you can ALWAYS kiss me!" Then I release him and the game starts all over again. It's his favorite.
I tried to play the game once with him tonight, in the hallway, and Ryker shrieked and wound up like he was going to hit me. I put Jack back down and made him explain to Ryk that he was just fine. He did, and Ryker seemed okay again. About 10 minutes later I took off chasing Jack, a sneak attack, which made Jack yell with excitement, and I grabbed him and held him down on the couch. Ryker came racing over, screaming at the top of his lungs. He raised both hands over his head and started beating me on the shoulder until I let go of Jack. Then he just stood there with a sad look on his face until I scooped him up and hugged him. He was SO sad. Jack kept saying "Ryker, it's okay. Mommy wasn't hurting me. Mommy would never hurt me."
That, of course, is the moment Chuck came out from our bedroom. I'm sure he was wondering why Jack was having to convince Ryker that I would never hurt him.
Anyway, take note, everyone. Don't lay a hand on Jack or Ryker will personally beat the crap out of you.
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