Bedtime Talk

Halloween 2008

Age 3

I've found with Fudge that he asks the most profound questions of the day once it is over and he is snuggling into bed at night...maybe he is a "processor" like his Mama. The past few nights the questions have given me a giggle...

"Mom, why do rappers wear their drippy drawers so low that you can see their hiney cracks?" (No idea my child even knew what a "rapper" is, and he couldn't answer that question for me, except to tell me our neighbor thinks he can rap and "no, really, he can't.")

After reading a bedtime devotion on the creation of Adam and Eve: "Oh, I get it...when you see someone who doesn't have a full body part, like some people are missing an arm, it's still stuck in their rib, right? Can they just pull it out of their rib?"

And finally, last night's chuckle came from me reading Cinderella to Fudge at bedtime. When I got to the part of the Fairy Grandmother, I asked Fudge if he remembered what she says, to which he replied, "BOOGEDY, BOOGEDY, BOO!"

We All Need Friends Like This...

Last night I was at C's baseball practice and it is a whole new game this year. Gone is the tee to hit from and now it is machine pitch for the 6 year olds. As you can imagine, this is quite an adjustment and none of the kids are adept at getting hits off the machine yet. So, we have many swings and many misses, but the boys are looking better each practice.

It was C's turn at bat and his best buddy was on third waiting for him to get a hit. Two older kids were on the first row of bleachers and started talking some trash about C not getting a hit yet, out of earshot of C, but not out of earshot of his buddy B. I had to stifle myself for a moment, debated saying something to the kids, but then, before I could finish the thought, B stepped off third base and yelled over to the two kids, looked them square in the eye and said:

"HEY, THAT'S MY FRIEND! YOU STOP SAYING THAT!"

And wouldn't you know, those two older kids went silent after that. Thank goodness for a 6 year old with enough spirit and courage to do the right thing!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

We're a little weary around here...it's been a rough week full of the unexpected, including a hospital stay, and the job is a bit cuh-razy...so let's go to something lighthearted and I'll post on the other stuff another time.

Tonight, at C's bedtime, I read the story of Joshua and the walls of Jericho. The story told of the Israelites carrying the Ark with them on their journey...

Me: "C, do you know what the Ark is? What it holds?"

C: "It has the Ten Commandments."

Me: (Impressed!) "You're right! Where did you learn that? Sunday school?"

C: "No, Indiana Jones!"

Out of the Mouths of Babes

C was asking about someone this morning, but he was a little confused with the cast of characters we all know. I wasn't quite sure who he was asking me about and he did not know the woman's name, so he finally said...

"You know, the woman who kind of has the Frankenstein head!"

And while I hate to admit it and I'd never made THAT connection before, I knew exactly who he was talking about once he phrased it that way. Gotta love how kids see the world!

Star Student

C is "star student" in his class next week, so his homework this weekend was to complete a poster about himself, answering the questions provided. I just loved his responses and wanted to capture them:

My Favorite...

Ice Cream: cookie dough

Color: red

Book: One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

Sport: Baseball

Toy: Dragon Castle

Holiday: Christmas

TV Show: Caillou

Movie: Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein

Food: Candy

Pet: Dog

School Subject: Recess

Ice Cream: Cookie Dough

Pizza Topping: Cheese

I am happiest when..."on vacation." (I have no idea where he gets this from ;)

My proudest accomplishment..."making baskets in basketball."

Random Thoughts

Tonight's dinner is curry and coconut chicken with rice and Tuscan melon. My son thinks I am out to get him; I think I may be the only one enjoying this dinner, with a glass of wine of course.

Christmas is 47 days away and I already feel "behind."

Vacationing for Thanksgiving is a nice idea, but after cooking a Sunday dinner last night, I called it quits. Actually, I called Fresh Market, and since they are on island, they will be catering my TG dinner.

A split vacation is a concept we are going to test out this year- we'll enjoy 1/2 a week of just me, hubs, and C prior to family chaos arriving and ensuing.

I am packing wine for the trip- lots of it. And my bike. However, I will not be drinking wine on the bike.

During a rousing game of Candyland tonight, my son yells out "AW- THAT SUCKS." Not a proud moment around here, not a word we use. Couldn't get from him where he'd heard that, but I guess it resonated that we don't say it when C asked, "so, is it bad like 'shit'?" Mother.of.the.Year.

I am hosting a baby shower in less than a month- really need to get this place cleaned up and ready to entertain...and the invitations out!

Hoping to get rid of this underlying feeling of intense stress right now!

The First Week

Where has this sweet little babe gone? (August 2008, age 3 1/2)

Two days of Kindergarten down and I don't know who is more tired, the little man or me. It's been a mix around here with school starting- excitement and hesitation, bliss and sadness, joyful and tiring. Right now, mostly tiring. I'm exhausted, but I'm not the only one. C was used to coming home from school at 1:30pm four days a week, and 3pm one day a week. Now he gets on the bus at 8:30am and I don't see his sweet little face again until 3:45pm! Here's what he had to say:

How was the first day? "Fine."
What was the best part? "Recess."
What was the worst part? "Mason cut his hand and some girl wouldn't stop crying."
What do you like about your teacher? "She teaches me things."
How was lunchtime? "I want to buy lunch like the other kids."
Why are you so sweaty? "Mr. PE had us running around a gym."

And there you have it. Today, he came home and I asked "how was your 2nd day?" to which he rolled his eyes and replied. "I survived." Where does he get this stuff?

On another note, fall ball started tonight, church/choir is on Wednesday nights, a school event is tomorrow night, and piano is now scheduled for afterschool on Fridays, plus more ball scheduled for this weekend. Somewhere in here I'm supposed to fit swimming back in to C's schedule, plus the basics of working a 45+ hour week, grocery shopping, cleaning house, laundry, meal prep., exercise, etc. Will I ever read a book again? Did I mention I'm exhausted?

Ready to go...all kids in this class had to wear brown shirts the first day of school (yuck!) for the "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" story.

Off he goes!

Riding the Big Cheese!

Settled in at his desk.

We survived!

Roses for Mama

Ready for Day Two. I had to pinky swear I'd not make him wear these shorts EVER again.

A beautiful sunset closed out our day.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

We are taking a class at church on Wednesday nights and C is in class at the same time as us. Their theme for the summer is heroes of the Bible, so we've heard all about Moses, Daniel, David, etc. I have to say, I was stumped with tonight's hero...

Me: "Who did you learn about tonight?"

C: "Chester."

Me: "Chester???"

C: "YES! CHESTER! She was a princess and she had to get everything straightened out, and she had to be brave."

Me: "You mean Queen Esther?"

C: "YES! THAT IS WHAT I SAID, PRINCESS CHESTER!"

Compassion

I love how younger kids think- unfiltered, uninfluenced, and straightforward. Without going into the details, suffice it to say that M and I have struggled, and continue to struggle, with infertility. We like to say our little miracle, above, was five years in the making. And while we'd love to welcome another little miracle, it just hasn't happened yet. For well over a year, C has been intently focused on... "when will Mama have a baby? When will I be a big brother? Mama, can you have four more babies?" And so on...

On a drive home this evening, C asked if he could have a baby sister, and when would one come out of Mama's belly? We gave our standard response, along the lines of we'd love to welcome another baby too, we don't always know God's plans and timing, and we understand C's disappointment with not having a sibling yet. His response floored me:

"Mama, aren't there babies out there who have mommies and daddies who can't take care of them? Can we take care of them? That's a good way to get a brother or sister too."

How I love my boy!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Some recent ones...

We were riding in the car when I heard...
C: "Mom, peel back the roof!"
I had to stop and think a minute about that one. Turns out C was asking me to open the sunroof.

For those parents who have children that do not sleep through the night, I can relate, and I completely empathize with you. C is 5 and still does not sleep through; usually between 1-2am he wakes up and comes looking for us. Last night was no different, and as he stumbled into the bathroom at 2:40am to take care of business he asked me:
"Does seaweed have iodine in it?"

Seriously, who ponders that, and in the middle of the night no less? I had to respond that I didn't know and I'd find out for him...in the morning. Turns out that indeed, seaweed does have iodine in it! Who knew?

Out of the Mouths of Babes

At prayer time tonight:

C: "Mama, I really wish you had a baby sister in your belly."

Me: "Me too C, me too..."

C: "I'd even give her the really big room."

C: " Mom, guess how many days it took God to build the world? Six, it took Him six. And on the 7th day, He took a break!"

Out of the Mouths of Babes

This week is "community helpers" week in C's kindergarten class, which is just another way to say career day for the little people set. I'm a consultant in the financial services industry; bet you've never heard a kid say "I want to grow up and do that!" No? Me neither. I am so very thankful my presentation does not follow the police's...how much of a killjoy would that be? I thought I'd ask C what he knows about my job.

Me: "C, what kind of work does Mama do?"

C: "You play on your computer and talk on the phone all day."

Me: "Is that all?"

C: "You tell people what to do. Sometimes you think they need a time out."

Me: "Ok, well, I also work to help people get the money they need to buy a home. How much do you think a house costs?"

C: "28,000 dollars."

How I wish!

More Out of the Mouths of Babes

Taking C to the doctor this afternoon...

C: "When is Uncle Rudy's birthday?"

Me: "In seven days...what would you like to give him as a gift?"

C: "A country club shirt and a razor."

Me: "A razor?"

C: "Yes, a razor! He needs to shave!"

Me: "Where does he need to shave?"

C: "I don't know, but he needs to shave. He's got hair everywhere."

And there you go- who would have thought of a Gillette as a birthday gift?

Out of the Mouths of Babes

C walked in on us talking about M's surgery tomorrow...

"Daddy's having surgery?"

"Yes, remember? They have to fix his throat."

Silence...thinking...

"Are they gonna cut his head off to get to it? Will they stich it back on when they're done?"

Out of the Mouths of Babes

C and our neighbor were playing outside on this beautiful day, and C asked if they could come inside to play a game. I said no, that it was nice out and we were staying outside. The boys pushed the issue and I told them no again, that it was nice, we were staying outside, and C could not have friends in to play since he's not cleaned his bedroom or his playroom, to which his playmate replied...

"Doesn't C's maid clean his room?"

Me: "C doesn't have a maid; he has to clean his own room."

"Oh, well I don't have my OWN maid; she's my mom's maid, but she still cleans my room."

Me: "I don't have a maid."

Neighbor looked at me like I was out of my ever loving mind and says...

"Well, sometimes my mom cleans my room. I bet you could clean C's?"

Nice try.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Told to me by an adorable 4 year old at C's party today:

"C is my boyfriend...he just doesn't know that yet."

And so it begins!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Last week was Dr. Seuss week at school and I had the pleasure of reading to C's class. With all of their celebrations and fanfare, Dr. Seuss has been on our minds. Tonight at dinner, C was looking at a cup we purchased a few years ago that has Dr. Seuss characters on it. C kept turning the cup and naming characters, but this one had me laughing...bet you've never met this character before!

C: "Hey Mama, look! It's Urinal the Turtle on my cup!"

Me: "You mean Yertle the Turtle?"

Out of the Mouths of Babes

While doing homework tonight, C had to draw the four seasons and an activity he likes during each season. Working on summer, I see that he'd drawn himself and friends in water, swimming. What I could not decipher was the black string coming out of each mouth, so I asked C. His exasperated response:

"MOM! That's my snorkel!" (followed by indignant air bagging)

Out of the Mouths of Babes

I've been volunteering in C's Kindergarten class this week and heard...

"Hannah Montana is big; she's as tall as corn!"

"I want to marry C- he's going to be my husband some day!"

"Do you like unicorns with rainbows and glitter?"

There were much funnier ones, but my mind's a little slow tonight!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

C started asking about a year ago, "where do babies come from?" and we told him that God sends you one, to your belly. Not the most anatomically accurate answer, but I don't see the need for the sex talk yet, so it's the answer that has been perfectly accepted in our home. Once he had that down, C wanted to know when God was going to send us more babies; C thinks we need 4 more! I explained to C what a little miracle he is and he is more than enough, but if God wants us to have another baby, we just need to see if it is part of His plan. After that, bedtime prayers have consistenly ended like this:

"Amen. And God bless Nonna, Poppy, [a whole litany of others]...and please send me a sister AND a brother. Amen!"