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What Happened to November?

Wow, I know it's been a while, but I didn't think I missed a whole month! I think I know what happened...the afternoon nap is becoming a not-so-sure thing. Yesterday, as I was carrying him to his crib, he began to wail and sob, and in his sobbing voice, he said, "Idonwanna!" Now as I write this, he is sleeping. He requested it - "night night" - he said. However, he is stirring as if to wake up, so I have to update this quick with a list of new and/or funny things he is up to...

• He cries when we pass the tractor store but don't go into it.
• He likes country music songs about tractors - there are two on YouTube that we have viewed no less than 100 times since we found them in November.
• He says John Deere, green tractor, and race car (but he doesn't know yet that race car is palindrome)
• He wants to play in the snow, but we are waiting for his boots to come.
• He says "poop" before, during, and after he does it. So even though this is a sign that he may be ready for potty training, we need to get a potty that doesn't have a removable cushy seat (he thinks it's a big teething ring - whoever thought of such a stupid design?).
• He says rar when I ask him if he is a pirate or when I ask him what a tractor, truck, or Daddy says.
• He has said three sentences: Daddy's at work. George is a monkey. and Daddy says rar! I guess his yesterday's protest I donwanna! counts as number 4.
• He has started waking up again at night, and the only thing that will soothe him is if we sing songs about tractors.
• He knows who Santa is and recognizes him everywhere. He then says Sanna, ho ho! (I feel a bit guilty that he doesn't know Jesus as well - oh well, Catholic guilt trip.)
• He likes to make funny faces at us and laughs when we make them back at him.
• He has stopped eating vegetables.
• He throws some wicked temper tantrums, but has learned to lay himself down on the floor gently before thrashing.
• His curls seem to be growing out )-:
• He gives great hugs, but usually mostly to the cats or when I tell him I am going to "get" him. He loves to play chase, but instead of running away, he runs right at me like a linebacker. That's when I then get a hug.
• He says, "IknowIknow" as he cries when he is hurt (shots, wicked temper tantrums, after running into things, or hugging the cat without the cat's consent) because that is what I have said to him to try to soothe him.
• We are all looking forward to Christmas. Daddy, I mean Carson, already has one cool toy which I had to prevent Daddy from opening early.

That's all for now.

He's a Maniac

Flashdance? - Watch This!

The Nature of Carson

The A-B's

"Our son is a deviant," said my husband earlier today as he told me of their adventures outside. "He waited until I wasn't looking to eat a shovel full of sand!" he explained, exasperatedly.

"He is NOT!" my motherly defense kicked in, even though as I held him he had started beating on my head with a stick he had picked up from the ground earlier. I flinched and defended him, and smiled like having my head serve as a drum was perfectly acceptable. And in the back of my mind a thought flickered and froze me in my tracks, "Am I going to be one of those moms!"

Everyone knows this mom. Everything her baby does is right or just misunderstood. He is always perfect to her and always dreaded by every teacher, coach, lifeguard, fellow classmate, and anyone who is forced to work with him. "He just has his own style," this mother explains to excuse rude and obnoxious behavior.

Yes, I know, he's only 1 and 1/2 years old, so I am jumping the gun here. He's too young to really, truly understand right from wrong. Even though he says "No, No, No" as he is breaking past barriers we put up for his safety around the fireplace and as he is sneakily grabbing a sharp knife from the dishwasher while I am emptying it, it doesn't mean he knows it's wrong or dangerous and is doing it anyway. He is just repeating what we have said. I would like to know at what age does this sense or "common sense" kick in? And how long will I have to tell him "No" for those situations we have deemed more harmful than the use of that word (No) before he has learned.

At the same time, I have many examples of how this kid is his own person and does his own thing, no matter what we say. The latest examples are that he made up his own word for pumpkins (mock-o's), and instead of saying his A-B-C's, he points to the letters and calls them the "A-B's". Also, it's not "Twinkle, Twinkle" little star, it's "Tickle, Tickle." He is so cute! And now I'm back to adoring mother mode. I can't help it. Maybe I can blame it on brain damage suffered from blows to the head. He is perfect to me. I just hope he continues to be nice to the outside world too.

our own little photo shoot

Who needs a photo booth?

Carson's First Math Lesson

I'm so cute, why do I need to know anything???

A neighbor recently commented to me, "Well, you're a teacher, so you should be able to teach your son really easily." I wasn't sure how to respond, and I thought of my first attempted math lesson.

I try to teach Carson how to count. I say one, and he says two, and that's as far as we get.

I try a different approach and ask Carson how old he is. I tell him, "You're one year old, Carson, O-N-E."

He looks me right in the eyes and almost defiantly says, "TWO!" And so it begins. We'll try again the next day.