Just One Day

Following the footsteps of several other SMCs who have blogged about a day in their lives, I've decided to add a rundown in a day of the life of me and sweet Tate (check out Shannon at Chasing Rainbows  or Tiara at Me Plus One or Lara at This May Be a Dream Come True, and by the way Lara I'm way later than you!)  It was a bit eye-opening.  I have a bit more time in the evenings than I realized...I should start doing some sort of 15-20 minute exercise DVD!

Here's our day from Tuesday, October 9, 2012

6am Alarm goes off...hit snooze on phone.
6am and 30 seconds Realize I don't hear anything on the video monitor laying on the floor beside the bed!  I shoot straight up in bed panicked.  Pick up monitor (Damn thing wasn't plugged in so battery died!  Have no idea when!)  Plug it in and turn it on and this is what I see and hear...

He is singing 'I've Been Working on the Railroad'.  At the Top. Of. His. Lungs.  I have no idea how long he had been awake.  I fathom a guess for a while because usually he lays about for a few minutes before standing in the crib, but I don't know.  And it's just hilarious.  You can hear his inflections and humor and how much fun he's having.  He sang for a good 10 more minutes.  By the time I made it up there he had climbed out of the crib and was sitting on the floor by the door waiting patiently for me.


6:05 Drag self out of bed, do my business, put on contacts
6:09 Up in kitchen to prep Tate's oatmeal made with Coconut milk (measure it out and put in microwave to cook for a couple of minutes), put Cheerios in bowl, get out his cow milk, get out his plain yogurt and pour the probiotic in it.  Get oatmeal out of microwave.  Put everything on the table for him including ice in the oatmeal to cool it.  (The night before I get everything out I will need down to the paper towels to cover the oatmeal while cooking to expedite things in the mornings).
6:15 Go get child!
6:15:30  He insists we go downstairs to change his diaper (he tends to poop first thing in the mornings and will do so in his overnight diaper.  I'm not getting up any earlier to put him in the bathroom, so until he figures this out on his own, this works for me!)
6:15:50 I'm told I'm not moving fast enough.
6:16 Change diaper
6:20 Very excited to see his breakfast on the table.  He asks (ok demands) the milk now be poured into his Cheerios.
6:20:30 Throw 3 advil down my throat as I have a heinous sinus headache from my hideous allergies.  Feed cat. Put away breakfast makings.  Sit down beside Tate to start putting on my make-up
6:27 Tate wants a paper towel to wipe his face.
6:28 Get towel and come back and put my make-up on while he eats (sometimes I'll down a bowl of oatmeal with him and do my make-up;  I wasn't hungry this morning)
6:37 Try to call Christian in Germany to see how he's doing (He was hit by a car while on his bike on Monday...he's a very lucky man.  Lots of trauma to his face which hit the windshield and some bruises and sprains)
6:39 Done with breakfast and make-up.  Wash some dishes, the rest into the dishwasher. Tate watches pictures of himself and A from Saturday on the phone.  I add some Mucinex to the mix hoping to clear up my nose a bit.
6:44 Meltdown by the pre-schooler when I insist he give me the phone reminding him of our no phone, no tv, no computer, no screen time during the work week. (Since I pulled the phone out in front of him to call Christian I felt like I set a bad example so let him have a few minutes to look at his own photos/videos, but no commercial anything...I do not check email, FB or anything on my phone or computer during the precious minimal time we have in the mornings and evenings during the work week.  And the only time I'll answer my phone is when I'm on call or it's my family who will call twice if it's an emergency)
6:46 Meltdown over.  Thank goodness cause he can go on for 30-40 minutes if he's in the mood!  He's off to play for a bit.
6:51 He brushes his teeth (2 times!) while I get dressed.  I weigh myself.  Sigh.
6:55 Potty time for him.  He requests his Music Together CD be turned on.
6:57 Dancing to music while I dress him
7:01 Zyrtec into Tate then I brush his teeth.  I search for his one jacket that fits still as it's SLIGHTLY chilly outside.
7:05 Keith Urban is requested, so I race to change the music.  He wants Keith Urban...I will be late to work to oblige that request.  Brush my teeth. Finish dressing.  Change cat's water.
7:08 Time to go ... says TATE!  Finish drinking my water.  Grab Tate's lunchbox and my purse.  Turn off lights.  Quick check to make sure everything is unplugged or turned off and head downstairs.
7:14  Downstairs and putting on our shoes.  Tate snacks on snack baggie of cheerios and yogurt melts. There is no morning snack at school and he seems to be starving less than an hour after breakfast...it's about 1/2 cup of cheerios and 10-12 yogurt melts.  Go figure...it seems to get him through.
7:17 Fasten Tate in carseat and we get on our way.
7:24 Arrive at daycare.
7:26 Take lunchbox to classroom and put contents in fridge. Hang jacket on coat rack.  Take empty snack baggie from Tate.  Go to restroom...he brushes two times.  I brush one more time (yep I make him brush and brush well after he eats the second time too!!).  Walk Tate back into parish hall, get him settled coloring a picture and kiss him good-bye.
7:35 Pulling out of parking lot to head off to work.  Traffic light today for some reason.
7:53 Arrive at grocery store next door to office after deciding now I'm starving.  Run up to coffee bar and get a large frozen Vanilla Latte (very heavy on the vanilla and very light on the latter :)  ).  Also get a yummy piece of banana bread (ok cake)
8:01 Arrive at work just a tad bit late thanks to my stop.
8:02 Morning meeting
8:34 See my first patient. Drill.  Fill.  Bill.
12:11pm Finally finishing drilling and filling for the morning.  Some screamers!
12:21 Head off to lunch and grocery store.
1:12 Return to work and nap in my freezing cold office.
1:24 Struggle to open my eyes as I'm so tired.  And so cold.
1:26 Brush and floss.
1:33 See first afternoon patient.  Drill.  Fill.  Bill.  More screamers.
4:58 Finally finished for the day.  More didn't scream than did scream, but one only remembers the screamers.
5:02-5:25 Drive (quickly) to Tate's school while talking (on my car-run bluetooth!) to girlfriend
5:25-5:34 Go into school/daycare, heat up Tate's dinner (chicken, peas, plain yogurt, Happy Tot pouch, grapes and milk) then go out to playground to say hi, give him a kiss and get him situated with his dinner.
5:35-6  PTO meeting (I'm the secretary!)
6-6:06 Gather up Tate and his belongings, say good-bye and get in our car where he begs to watch the videos of him and A from Saturday at Dewberry Farm.  I remind him he is not allowed to look at anything else as this is a slight infraction of our no screen time on school days.
6:14 Arrive home, gather stuff, get upstairs.  Tate goes in living room/playroom to continue watching himself while I: rinse and put all dirty dishes from his lunch and dinner in dishwasher, prepare his lunch for tomorrow, get out all the dishes, dry food items, utensils and paper towels to have ready to go for breakfast in the morning.
6:21 Ask for phone back, he happily obliges but begs for more yogurt.  He's denied and then asks for more milk..that's a big sure.
6:24 I give him his Singulair
6:26 We play together on the floor...well he runs his trains around and I push cars around and just simply hang out.
6:41  Tell Tate it's time for bath, books and bed.  He begs for yogurt again.  I offer him a cheese stick since he can carry this upstairs with no chance of a mess.  He scampers to the fridge and gets out a stick and gobbles it down while I start his bath water.
6:43 Together we load the washing machine with a huge load of dark clothes.  Tate potties.  I turn off the water and he gets in the tub.  He happily lays about and gets his hair and body washed.
6:55  Out of the tub, nightly cuddle time on the towel laden floor (love this!).  Tooth brushing commences and a meltdown ensues when he's not allowed to put a HUGE amount of toothpaste on the brush for his second (last) brushing on his own (he gets to brush two times).  While he was brushing his first time I've lotioned him up and gotten his pajamas top on.
7:04 He's laying about whining while I put the towels away, straighten up a bit, turn on lullaby CD, air purifier and video monitor
7:06  I pick him up off the floor, put him on my bed, hug him tightly for a few minutes and convince him to get his diaper and pajama bottoms on.  He fights letting  me brushing his teeth for a good 10 seconds. (FWIW I do not believe in allowing the word "LET" into our toothbrushing at all.  There is no let.  It is getting done...the hard way or the easy way.  And by hard way I mean holding him down.  He acquiesces every single time.)
7:15 He reads a Thomas book to me, hippo and Sue-Y Bear followed by Curious George.  He then demands I read Curious George.  We turn off lights.
7:27 We climb into the glider after he looks out the window to see the UT flag hanging from Uncle Ryan's house next door. I rock him a bit.  I say 'I love you Baby Tate.'  He sits up offended and for the first time says 'I'm not a baby.'  :(  We say our prayers, sing a song and I tell him good-night in the same exact words I've been saying since the day he was born....
Night Night Tate Tate
I love you
As big as the sky
As far as the moon
And as long as time
I rock him a bit more and he then asks to get in his crib (not his usual MO, usually we rock 15-20 minutes).  He walks over and climbs in.  I get him situated..blanket and loveys and kisses good night.
7:39 I walk out of the room
7:40 Put water on to boil for my dinner.  Piddle around on FB and my SMC forum
8:00 Eat my dinner..spaghetti and meatballs (made sauce and meatballs on Sunday).  Go through a list of 100 private schools trying to figure out deadlines, prices and dates for open houses...panicking at how much it's going to cost and wondering how I'll ever make this decision.  Pick about 10 to really do some research on. Spar with my sister on FB.  Watch Tate toss and turn on video monitor.  He falls asleep around 8:20.
8:58 Go upstairs to fold laundry. Clean up a bit as my housekeeper comes on Thursday, don't want her to see a dirty house LOL! Bring our clothes downstairs for tomorrow, complete with underwear, socks...everything.  Yes we dress in the living room, well I dress him, but I get dressed right down here with him.  Start writing this on my blog.
9:20  Clean up my dinner dishes.  Finish making and packing Tate's lunch.  I have lunch plans tomorrow, so no lunch packing for me.  Organize my purse and bags for tomorrow.  Take everything down and into my car that I can except my purse and Tate's lunch bag.  Empty trash.  Empty cat litter.  Realize I forgot to print some pictures for Tate's school project on "My Family" (so much for being in bed by 10! :(  )  Have to scour hundreds pictures in Shutterfly to find good pics of our cat, his cousins, Christian, Christian's parents and sister.  End up reminiscing as I'm looking through the pics.  Get pics downloaded and ordered to be picked up tomorrow (hope I can make it!)  Check on Tate...make sure his lovey can't fall out of the crib by strategically placing large books around the perimeter of the crib.  Rub his head and whisper 'I love you.'  Come back downstairs and brush teeth. Look at FB.  Shut everything down for the night.
10:20  Head downstairs.  Put trashbag in trashcan in garage.  Turn on alarm. Take shower.  Wash face.  Floss teeth.  Wrap hair.
10:46  In bed!  This time check and be sure monitor is turned on AND is plugged in.  Snuggle in under the covers.  Can't wait to see Tate in the morning!

Dewberry Farm 2012

We made our annual pilgrimage to  Dewberry Farm yesterday morning.  This is our third year going.  It's a fantastic 100 acre farm about 35 miles outside Houston.  There is tons and I mean tons of stuff for kids to do there from a farm themed playground to pony rides to a cowtrain pulled by a tractor to a corn maze and a huge pumpkin patch.

This year we took one of Tate's little friends from school, A and her mom S.  We met at our house and headed out around 9am!

This is the first time Tate and I have gone with another child;  it was so much more fun for him to have a playmate this year.  We went just the two of us when he was 14 months old and my mom joined us last year when he was just over 2.  And that was just fine, but now at 3 it's so much fun for him to run around with a friend.  And I love watching him interact and playing with his friends.  And sweet A is in his little class of 5 kids at school, so he spends about 45 hours a week with her.  She's almost family to him in a way.

So here's just a pictorial of our day.  These pictures and videos capture our day in a way my words cannot.

Yay!  We're here!

First stop...Pony Rides!

Face Painting!

A little exercise on the bouncers!

A little slide action...

And if there's any sort of train on the premises, my son will find it.  Here's the cowtrain ride!

Of course we must climb the model train!

 Then we were off to the pumpkin patch on a trailer pulled by a tractor!!

Fun in the patch!!

Such the cool guy.  Got the girl, but I ain't gonna acknowledge her! 

AWWWWW!!!

Dancing in the patch!

Just a couple of kids and their mommies!

Heading home...

A Heavy Heart

My heart was so heavy today.  And I think it was obvious all day to my patients, my staff and truly anyone who ran into me.  I was out of sorts all day.  And not for any big reason, well not big for anyone else.  But it was HUGE for me.

I've decided to enroll Tate in a new school next year.  Problem is I just don't know which one.  And I do not, do not want to leave his current school.  Gosh I'm about to cry even thinking about leaving the wonderful teachers at Messiah.  I can barely read this screen.  He's so very happy there, so happy.  They let the kids be kids.  And yet they still learn so very much.  It's not the fanciest, it's not the hippest, newest place, but it's full of love.  Every single teacher knows every single child.  Every single teacher that sees us in the mornings says hello.  Every single one.  And they say Tate's name.  Every single one.  All the kids know each other and know everyone else's parents.  

But I live in the city.  A huge city.  And the public school system is overworked, understaffed and under financed.  This is Rick Perry's Texas, don't forget.  Education is not high on his list of important entities.  I believe I'm going to have to continue living here in town for the foreseeable future as it's where my job is.   I can't see driving 30-60 minutes home every night in hideous, and I mean hideous traffic to get home to my child.  Trying to make it to soccer practice or football practice (bite my tongue!) or parent/teacher conference or just to spend time with my beautiful boy.  The possible stress of that paralyzes me.

So, I'm looking into private schools for Tate, and I feel that he has a better chance of getting in if I move him in preschool rather than kindergarten.  Gosh I don't know.  I just don't know.  Maybe it is better to move him when he starts kindergarten when all of his other friends are moving from Messiah.  Sigh.  I do not know the right answer here.

In any event, I'm looking at new schools.  I attended an open house type event a couple of Sundays ago where over 100 private schools were handing out information of their schools.  It wasn't anything in depth, just scores of tables with brochures and minimal information.  And included in this minimal information was lists of dates for open houses for all of these schools.  And they're always in the evenings right after work (as they should be).  Most of them request 'parents only', though why you would bring your kid escapes me.  Tate would not sit through a 2 hour open house at 6:30 in the evening for any sort of reason, bribe or promise.

So, tonight was the open house for one of the schools I'm considering...an Episcopal Montessori school.  I'm looking for a school which seems relaxed and not too snobby, diverse not only racially and ethnically, though that is of utmost importance to me, but one that has many different family structures...one mom, one dad, mom and dad, two dads etc.  I want a place with extended care which has the kids divided into age appropriate groups...not the various ages all together.  I'd like a place where I can provide meals and snacks...my list runs the gamut here.  

And I don't want to spend a quarter of a million dollars for my child to go to school BEFORE college.  Because the average private school education kindergarten-12th grade is about $225,000-250,000.  That figure includes all the donations that are usually requested, application fees, book fees, class trip fees, uniform fees, sports fees...fees, fees, fees.

Sigh.

But my dilemma today, what was laying on my heart all day today, was that after dropping Tate at school at 7:30 happy as a clam reading a book I would not see him until tomorrow morning.  We have never gone that long without seeing each other.  He has been put to bed at night a couple of times by someone else when I went out, but I never left before 6:30 or so, so though he went to sleep without me he saw me really close to bedtime, and knew I would be back later that evening.  Dropping him off at school and not seeing him until tomorrow morning was just unfathomable to me.  And he's spent the night at my parents' twice so far, but again I've left around 3pm and returned by 10am the next day.  I can't put my finger on why this was so different, so difficult.  Probably because this entire choosing a school process is so overwhelming, scary and just so HUGE to me.  I'm so completely befuddled.  I was almost in tears all day.  Which made me on edge with all of my patients.  Oh, it's so very hard.  Lindsey picked Tate up from school, played with him, fed him, read him stories, brushed his teeth and had an absolute great time with him, and I knew he would be just fine with her.   He absolutely adores her.  And last night as I was lamenting having to not see him tonight she told me I needed to do this.  What I was doing I was doing FOR HIM.  I didn't need to rush home as I was telling her I was planning on doing.  She told me I needed to stay and get the information I needed because this could feasibly be for the next 12 years for him.    And I know she's right.  It didn't make it easier though.  But I stayed for 90 minutes.  90 whole minutes.  And actually most people were trying to leave when I was.  I saw what I needed to see and I'll be going back for a private tour.  I'd like to see the entire school, not just the room he would be in next year.  There will be several more open houses in my future and I need to make peace with this.  This entire process.  I need to pray.  That's what I need to do.  I need to pray.  

I got home around 7:45.  I threw my shoes off and tiptoed upstairs and slowly opened our bedroom door.  The lights were out and the lullaby CD was softly playing.  Tate was lying in his Aunt Lindsey's arms in the glider, curled up content.  I gathered him up as she quietly left the room.  I whispered "How was school?"  He responded in his sweet voice "Leo was there!"  All was right in his world.  I asked if he wanted Mommy to rock and hold him a bit more and he said "Yes."  And rocked him for a bit more I did.  

He and Aunt Lindsey did just fine.  He was awesome she said.  And I think they had a great time....

And I can't wait to see this face tomorrow morning....

This is him from breakfast this morning;  note
his homework right beside him!

It's Beginning to Look a little Like Fall!

Finally!  Some fall weather has come to Houston.  Since yesterday :)  We shall see how long this lasts.  We've had quite a busy few days.  So, I'll play a little catch up!

Thursday after work, Tate's godfather, Uncle Roland came by to hang out for a couple of hours.  He was in town for business, so it was great to have him come over.  He got here right after Tate finished dinner, so while the two of us chatted and caught up, Tate played around us regaling Roland with his trains and assortment of toys and books.  I was really impressed with Tate's behavior.  He was content to play with his trains et. al. truly allowing Roland and me some time to really talk for almost 30 minutes.  Certainly, our conversation was interspersed with "Watch this!" or "Look at Thomas, Uncle Roland!", but otherwise he was happy as a clam, even simply climbing up to sit beside me on the couch.  I was so impressed I let him watch a bit of his beloved steam trains on YouTube on my phone on a school night :)  We headed up to get bathed and Roland came along, thus Tate was over the moon.     After Tate was bathed and teeth brushed, Roland headed out to one more meeting that evening before heading back home on Friday.  Hugs all around and promises for Tate and me to try to make it to Atlanta for a visit were made.  Tate continued to talk about Roland for the rest of the weekend.  Everything we did from swim lessons to birthday parties were certain to have Uncle Roland in attendance according to Tate.  "Uncle Roland's going to be at swimming with me!"  or "Uncle Roland's gonna be at Christian's birf-day party and Sammi too!"  (oh yes Sammi is still mentioned and well thought of every single day).

Swim lessons on Friday per our usual, then I dropped Tate at school and I attended my office's annual summer party.  I picked him up later that rainy afternoon, and we just hung out at home.  Saturday we went to music class which I'm so surprised he still loves so very much.  He's so very cute while we're there.  He dances around, plays the instruments and insists I lay down with him on the floor during the singing of the lullaby each week (all parents are encouraged to really connect with their kids during the lullaby, by holding them close or laying down with them etc.  It's really lovely.)  We came home and napped together in the glider after lunch...well it took him almost an hour to finally go to sleep, but he finally did and I dozed of as well.  It was a short nap, but definitely needed by both of us.

We then headed off in the still pouring rain (2 days of this!) for his friend from daycare, Christian's, 3rd birthday party.  As soon as Tate saw his BFF at the party he was in heaven.  The kids played like little mad people and much chaos ensued.  Candles were blown out, cake was eaten (and Christian's parents went to the trouble of going to Whole Foods and purchasing a vegan slice of cake for Tate!!!  Beyond thoughtful of them!) and presents were opened.

Home again! Home again! Jiggety Jig!

So said Tate as we drove back into the garage.  So very cute.  I've been saying that since he was born almost every time we arrived back home and were pulling into our garage.  He's just started saying it the past few days.

Sunday morning we got up and dressed to sing at his school's church for Education Sunday.  The kids were just precious and Tate sang up a storm.  And it was still drizzling!

Tate and his BFF all dressed up and ready!

A quick trip to Whole Foods garnered us nourishment for the week.  We ate some lunch and then skyped with Tate's Oma, Opa (it was his birthday), his Aunt Katha (Christian's sister), and  Uncle Sebastian (Christian's brother-in-law).  Baby Phillip was turning one on Monday, but he was asleep by the time we were able to skype.  Tate was a bit shy at first, but quickly warmed up and was showing them all his tricks including somersaults and hide and go seek behind the love seat.  It was great to see everyone, but hard as we speak no German and their English (especially his grandparents) is minimal, Sebastian and I did most of the talking.  When Christian has been with them he will interpret for everyone, so everyone feels like part of the conversation, so this was a bit different, but I'm glad they were able to see Tate.  

While we were talking though I happened to notice that Tate had some dried blood in his right ear.  I tried to pin him down to get a good look with not much success.  I didn't see any superficial scratches though.  He has been rubbing that ear though for the past week quite regularly.  I had chalked up the discomfort to the loosening of the tube in that ear...I thought it might be feeling 'ticklish.'  But the dried blood was a bit worrisome, so I asked my parents to take him to the ped for me on Monday.  He's been afebrile and nothing has changed at all in his behavior with the exception of him crying out around 330/4am every night for 4-5 minutes.  I've never gone in to check on him, just let him sort himself out, but it was some good crying a couple of nights for a few minutes.  It had been going on for a week.  The crying stopped on Saturday night.

Skype seemed to wear Tate out, and as we drove down to my parents' for the afternoon he fell asleep as soon as I got out of our neighborhood and napped a good hour after refusing to at home.  He hung out with Grandmommy and Papa while the Texans whooped up on the Titans! (Take that Bud Adams!)  Puzzles, books and trains were played with.

Monday rolled around and the weather was FANTASTIC!  The rain finally let up late Sunday afternoon and brought in some fabulous weather.  It was so cool I sent Tate to school in a long sleeved shirt and jacket.  (He's been wearing long pants to school all summer to prevent mosquito bites on his legs...been very effective. I felt bad when it was 110 degrees out, but the first few days of summer his legs were eaten alive and he would scratch them til they bled.  The pants along with mosquito spray was our best defense).  

My parents picked him up after naptime (of which he napped ZERO!) and took him to the pediatrician. The tube in his left ear is completely out of the canal and non-functional.  I suppose we're just waiting for it to come out completely.  The tube in the right ear is displaced but still in the canal and covered with wax.  It's positioned such that the drum is difficult to see.  My ped said she saw some blood in the canal, but no pus, so she thinks it's the dislodgment of the tube and its resulting position irritating the ear causing the blood.  But she has us putting antibiotic drops in that ear for a few days to preclude any sort of infection from starting or worsening.  Fingers crossed.  Last night as I was rocking Tate he suddenly sat up, clutched his right ear and said "I need to see Dr. Ro-wand about my ear.  It hurts.  We need to go see Dr. Ro-wand."  Then he laid his sweet little head back down on my shoulder when I said we would see if the medicine would help first.

And now it's Tuesday night and I need to go dry my hair! :)  Tate napped really well at daycare today, almost too well because he fought going to sleep like noone's business.  Oh and he had his first homework tonight.  It was a worksheet and he had to count the objects and tell  me how many and I wrote it down. I had him also color the little objects (puppy dogs).  He was so excited he insisted upon sleeping with his paper which added to his going-to-sleep delay.

Homework.  At 3y2m old!  Wow!!  I'm glad he was so excited.  I'll remind him of this excitement when he's 15 and up at 2am finishing his English paper.

Yep!  That's his homework!  He wanted to sleep with it!

I gave away one of Tate's bouncy seats today.  It was so difficult for me to part with it.  It's so hard for me to give away Tate's babyhood.  That's what it feels like to me.  And I know, I know in my heart I don't need these things to remember his infancy, but it's just like giving up part of him.  I don't know why.  Anyway, my assistant has a 7 week old little boy, and she can ill afford all the 'extras' for her wee one that came so easily to me.  So I'm very glad to know Tate's baby gear is going to someone who will truly appreciate them.  

It's so funny though, it seems like Tate was reminiscing himself just a few weeks ago.  All of a sudden I heard the sounds of a baby toy that I heard for months on end that had gone quiet about 2 years ago.  And all of a sudden I could smell infant Tate, I could hear his coos and laughs.  My baby was right back in the house with me....

Tate on September 3, 2012 (3 years 1 month 11days old )

t

That's my sweet little boy.  But when I see him in this chair, this is what I really see......

 Tate on October 5, 2009 (2 months 12 days old ) 

He will always, always be my baby.

Trains and Princesses

Just some fun Tate tidbits at 3y2m3d old!

In the past 2 weeks he has started breaking into song.  It's so very cute!!  He routinely sings "I've Been Working on the Railroad" (this should shock noone), "The Farmer and the Dell" (of which I have no idea where he heard it;  I suppose at school...he gets frustrated because I can't help with the words when he misses some!),  "A Ram Sam Sam" (song from our music class) and a few others.  It's so super cute and I love hearing his little voice sing relatively on key.

He is still in love with Sammi.  110%.  Tonight he told me "I'm going to Sammi's birthday this weekend" (nope not her birthday, nor do I know when it is).  "I'm going to be funny with Sammi, Isla (Sammi's age appropriate sister) and Noah (the newly turned 7 year old son of one my dear friends).   Everything he does at school he's going to show to Sammi.

Just today, he started ended all of his sentences with "...right, pal?"  Yep calling me pal.  So funny.

He readily climbs in and out of the crib at night when going to sleep to pick up a dropped stuffed animal, turn the lullaby music on or off depending on his mood or to go to the bathroom.  He always climbs right back in.  It seems to have totally escaped him that he could just stay out and play.  Apparently, he listened when I told him he needs to stay in his crib until I come get him after night or nap time.  During the naps when he doesn't sleep, but stands and piddles around for the required hour in the crib, he does not climb out.  Love this child.

He's still just so very polite.  So sweet.  If he feels he has wronged you or made a mistake, he is quick with a "Sorry Mommy, sorry."  Always at the appropriate moment;  well sometimes an apology is not necessary, but I so appreciate his thinking he needs to apologize...what an amazing heart he has.

He's becoming more cuddly and I of course love that.  He wants to snuggle after he gets out of the tub as soon as I get the towel on him.  He burrows into my chest for some amazing hugs.

He loves putting on make-up with me.  He has his favorite brush that he holds and dips into my Chanel powder (I can't believe I let him play with my Chanel!).  He doesn't usually put it on his face, but like to swipe it across the lid a few times to get some powder particles on it.

At nighttime, after dinner has been eaten and dishes cleaned, we hang out in the living room for a bit...sometimes for 10-15 minutes sometimes just for 5 minutes.  It all depends on how quickly we got home, and whether we've skyped with my parents.  I'll head on upstairs to put the water in the tub and get everything ready for his bath.  I simply tell him "You can play with 'whatever he's playing with that night' for 2 more minutes, then come upstairs for your bath bath please".  "Ok Mommy."  Every. Single. Time. He's always upstairs before the water is finished filling the tub!  I cannot remember when he's refused to come upstairs.  How awesome is that?

I could go on and on about this fantastic child of mine.  And though our mornings have been a bit challenging lately...I can't even usually figure out what the tears are about...not enough oatmeal, the wrong spoon was laid out, there wasn't enough milk in the bowl, why can't I watch Thomas on a school day (I do not allow any television, computer/phone video, screen time during the week), or sometimes I'm absolutely in the dark.  But we've had tears every morning for almost 2 weeks.  I've stopped getting upset and simply walk away and get myself dressed and/or feed the cat.  He usually calms down and will eat once I suggest we simply leave breakfast and go ahead and get dressed for school.  The tears and crying ratchet up for a couple more minutes when that is threatened and usually calm and relent and breakfast is finished.  Who knows?

But otherwise he's so very funny, loving, happy, so easy to be around.  I simply love hanging out with him.  Going to the grocery store is fun....he sits in the cart happily, always has...insists upon riding in it...he dances to the music being played and hugs me as we toodle around the store.  Playing outside and watching him pedal with all his might brings me so much joy.  Watching him play with our little 7 year old neighbor whom he adores makes me laugh.  He will get out his little trike to 'go riding' but inevitably rides to her house, looks back at me shyly whilst walking up the steps to her house.  Though I tell him to knock first for some reason he thinks he can simply open the doors to other people's homes.  He's done that since before he was 2...so funny.  

And the trains.  The trains.  This boy loves, loves, loves himself some trains.  Any and all trains.  Thomas the Train, steam trains, trams, cabooses, freight trains.  Train tracks and train signals.  He could spend hours like this.  On the floor.  It's his mecca.

Oh and he loves anything and everything princess.  He got that Belle figurine from a birthday party last week for his little friend Sofia.   

Motherhood is better than I could have imagined.

Life is good.

God is great.