Happy Father's Day!

Here is a video tribute to Grandpa and Papa. Happy Father's Day! We love you! And, of course, Happy Father's Day to Caleb, who is an awesome Dad!





It's always fun when Grandpa (Papa) comes, when Grandpa (Papa) comes Hoo-ray!
He always says the kindest things, and in the kindest way.
He has a wrinkly, twinkly smile. He's happy all the day!
It's always fun, for everyone, when Grandpa (Papa) comes!

Address?

Today I was talking with Clark, who is almost 3, and we were working on memorizing our address. We started slow and he got the hang of it, so I tried a little role play.

"Let's pretend you get lost. I'll ask you a question. Hey, what is your name? (pause) You say Clark."
"Clark."
"Okay, let's try this again. What is your name?"
"You know my name!" (laughing)
"No, I'm pretending, remember? What is your name?"
"Caleb... Clark."
"No, just Clark."
"Clark."
"Okay, let's try your address. Where do you live?"
"Here."
"Where is your house?"
"This is my house, silly! (laughs) We're at my house."
"Okay, let's try saying our address like we practiced, remember? Where is your house? What is your address?"
"In the closet."
"What is your name?"
"Clark."
"What is your address, Clark?"
"No, your address."
"Say what we practiced. Do you remember?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, your address is where you live. It's where your house is. Let's try again. What is your address?"
"No, I don't wear a dress. I'm a boy. YOU wear a dress!"
"Okay, I think that's good enough for now. Good job, Clark!"

Maybe I should have started with our phone number...

Blast from the Past

Its fun to look at old photos. I found this in a box today while I was looking for something completely different. This was taken in the backyard where I grew up. We had just had a campout (hence the tent) and this is the next morning, I think. It reminds me that it has been a long time since I went back to visit. If anyone has a guess as to when this was taken and who that is on the back row, I would like to hear. I figure I was somewhere between 9 and 12. I think this may have been the last time I posed so brazenly in a swimsuit...

From Left to Right

(Back row) Erica, Sara, Kristy, ?, Penny, Carly (baby)

(Front row) Sarah, Wendy, Kelly, Me, Leah, Sheri, Jenny

Independence

You can't tell from the picture, but the shorts are backwards too.

A Little Bit of Song and Dance

Two posts in a row! I know, I can't believe it either...

Brucie likes to sing. Especially if it has to do with Thomas the Train. I think it is so cute. Here is his rendition of "It's Great to be an Engine". My favorite part is when he says, "Puff, puff, puffing along." (I thought I'd let you know in case you can't understand what he's saying.) That lump on the couch behind Bruce is Caleb, who got up early with Bruce this morning (but was sleeping while I filmed this video). There is nothing sweeter than an extra 30 minutes of sleep. Thanks Caleb!





Clark and Bruce are playing with one of those "noise making" toys that we had hidden somewhere and they found it again. (The kind of toys that scare you when you're walking by them at night and they start up suddenly. Creepy. Or when the batteries are dying and the song gets lower and slower. Even creepier.) It sings an alphabet song, but you can't hear it very well. In the first video Clark is dancing and doesn't know Caleb is filming him. In the second one, they're both dancing, but Clark is playing it up for the camera. Still cute enough that I had to post them both.

Scotty Potty

You can probably tell by now that I'm a better blog reader than a blog writer. I have a hard time thinking about what I'm going to write when I have a little boy (or boys) climbing up on my chair (like right now) trying to push some buttons.

We have been potty training. It was and is still a learning experience. Thank you to those character underpants, which eased our transition because Clark was so excited to wear them. I have to say that the tiny underpants are adorable and I love seeing them in the clean laundry (emphasis on the clean). Clark has got the hang of it, despite the "almost-made-it" experiences every once in a while including last week when he was sick (I guess they don't call it the runs for nothing). Now if I could only get him to not use all the soap and toilet paper... He's enjoying his newfound access into a mostly parent-supervised zone. He has even graduated from little potty to big potty of his own volition. I was surprised, since (as an almost 3 year old) he doesn't like change. He definitely wants to be a big boy, which has helped immensely with this new step for us. Officially, I cannot call him my "baby" anymore, which I still do despite his protests. He tells me, "Brucie is a baby! I'm a big boy!"

Special thanks to Aunt Kristy and Scott, who visited this weekend and brought the Wall-E shoes (and "Aunt C" who sent them on from her boys). Clark is in love with them and would wear them to bed if I let him. Not that he really knows who Wall-E is, but that doesn't seem to matter. (He doesn't have the attention span for Disney movies yet.)

We also competed in a friendly cheesecake competition. This was the first time making a cheesecake for me and it turned out fairly well. I came in 4th of 6 entries, but mine wasn't as fancy as the goat milk and toffee cheesecake that won first... I made a plain cheesecake with blueberry topping for Caleb who likes 'em plain. We all had a good time and I'm wishing I was more of a camera person because then I would have a picture. I'll have to see if I can rustle one up for all three of my loyal readers. :) And here are some recent pictures that I do have...

"Big Boy" Clark w/ his new shoes. Do you think he likes them? Does this say something about how exciting our average day is?

Jumping to show me the lights on the side of his shoes. (I couldn't get it in the picture. Tricky.)

Brucie, who is still a "baby".

Cheeeeeeeese!

Reading with Daddy.

The Illusion of Control

I remember as a new mother asking the women who attended my local mothers' group when they finally felt they had things "under control." They then exchanged knowing glances, patted my hand and broke the news that from now on things would be a "new normal." I still feel that is the simplest way to describe the ever-changing, hectic life of parenthood.

That being said, we are learning about potty training, potty learning, toilet training, whatever you may call it... Transitioning into another "new normal." Clark is finally gaining some interest in that little potty in the bathroom that has lain, dusty and unused, under our bathroom sink. We have had one unsuccessful attempt at potty training a few months ago, but I decided that we would both be a lot happier if we waited for some more interest and understanding regarding the potty. We have talked about "big boys" using the potty, observing which friends "use the potty", checking out books, familiarizing ourselves with the parts and functions, recognizing the need to "go", handwashing, etc... I always thought Clark would train early since he could speak and communicate so well from an early age. Well, either I missed my window early-on, or he just wasn't ready because the first attempt had less potty-sitting and more floor cleaning. So, here we are at 2-1/2 just starting our potty adventures. I wonder how Bruce will do since he wants to be a part of whatever "Bubba" (big brother) is doing.

It's interesting to think about parenthood, which is in my opinion a "learn as you go" type of thing. You can try to be as prepared as possible, but individual circumstances will inevitably prevail and experience becomes your new teacher. Recently I've felt this way about night time and sleeping/waking children. We have a routine, we have a regular bedtime, getting to sleep is not usually a problem for us, but still we have good nights and bad nights, and some nights I have to admit I have no idea why my child has woken up. I quickly run down the list of past problems: too hot, too cold, teething, air is too dry, limb fell asleep, sick, recently in contact with a sick child, took a late nap, too long of a nap, did not have a nap and is overtired, bad dream, gas, constipation, went to bed too late, sleep schedule disrupted from traveling, traveling and sleeping in a new place, hungry, thirsty, bug bite, dirty diaper, dropped something, too light, too dark, too loud, too quiet... Scrambling sleepily through the darkness, you hope to find the right one before they are awake for too long. And then... they're up. Sometimes nothing will soothe or console them in time and out they come - awake. I try to avoid getting them out of bed (if at all possible), and don't let them sleep in our bed (not that I haven't tried this in desperation without success), but this has been a frustrating reality of parenthood for us (and certainly others) and a reason why our sleep is constantly interrupted and naptimes/bedtimes are sacred. Because no one wants to be the one on the couch with an awake child at 3 a.m.

When I was a new mother, I used to think that other mothers were judging me on my parenting abilities. I know there are some who feel there is only one "right" way, but I believe most people, especially parents who have "been there", understand the learn-as-you-go dynamic of parenthood. As your child collapses in a fit of frustration on the floor of a store there may be some judging glances, but also some knowing and sympathetic glances. No one will be able to tell you what will work for you, although most will be willing to tell you what worked for them. You will get a lot of advice as a parent; keep the good advice and disregard the bad, as someone once said. I appreciate the advice I've received from good friends who help me find a different approach to my continuing parenting dillemas.