Retrospect

I know, I know. It's been a while since we've posted. There's lots of catching up to do. But I had to write this one out.

We've put up a ton of pictures in our stairway and sometimes, J-Dawg and I talk about the pictures when we're going downstairs in the morning. We were working on the concept of happy/sad yesterday. I was asking him if he were happy or sad in pictures, when we came across this shot from a year and a half ago.

-Are you happy or sad?

-Sad.

-Why are you sad?

-I don't like sitting on pumpkins, papa. I like sitting on chairs.

Flabbergasted 11 hours and 9 minutes into 2008

It is now 2008. The new year has arrived! Here at HQ, we are having a quiet morning before heading over to start the year off right by celebrating with friends.

The collards and black-eyed peas are bubbling away on the stove, white chocolate banana bread is browning in the oven, and the J-Dawg is coloring. A few minutes ago, the three of us had this conversation:

J: Mama, I'm looking for your phone number

M: Oh really?

J: Papa, I'm looking for your phone number too

P: Yeah?

J: Mama, where is your phone number?

M: My phone number is 617...

J: (interrupting proudly) Your phone number is 617-555-1212*

P and M: (in unison and flabbergastation) WHAT?!

J: Your phone number is 617-555-1212*

P: What?! (to Mama) How does he know our phone number?!

M: Um....

So yeah. Neither of us knows how the J-Dawg knows what our phone number is, unless he's heard us telling people when leaving messages or something. Thinking it might've been a fluke, we have since asked him several times what the number is, and he has consistently rattled off the correct number. We are both mystified and proud.


*not our actual phone number, though the area code is correct

A Little Gift

Lately, we've been giving Jasper some space when he's taking a bath. Often, I just go into his room and lay out his clothes and his bed, while he's in there, as it's right next door.

The other night, Auntie W. was visiting from New York. Jen, Auntie and I were just chatting in Jasper's room when suddenly, we hear a distressed little cry from the next room.

-Papa? (in very sad little voice) I pooped.

I come rushing in to pick him up and get him dried off so I can clean the tub. As I reach into the tub for him, he hands me something. Instinctively, I take it. It's poop.

Sigh.

Note to self. Look at what the dude is giving you, dummy.

Back in time for Thanksgiving

After a bit of technical difficulty, this blog is back.

Last week, J-Dawg's Auntie W sent a him a handmade Thanksgiving card with a construction paper turkey on the front. When he opened it up, he shouted "Big brown chicken!"

Lots of stuff to catch up on. As you can see from the picture, Ngin-Ngin and Yeh-Yeh were here. That was last month. My mom's birthday fell during their visit and she loved the Happy Birthday serenade from her grandson.

The Dude's been into singing and dancing lately. I think he's got a natural propensity for it, but I have to credit the most ridiculously cool kids show I've ever seen. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Yo Gabba Gabba:

Where birdies go?

The J-Dawg was getting ready for bed the other night when we saw a formation of geese out of his window.

-Papa, where birdies go?
-Um. They're going to Florida, for the winter.
-Go Florida? See Ngin-ngin, Yeh-yeh?
-Yes. They're going to visit your Ngin-ngin and Yeh-yeh.
-Call Ngin-ngin, Yeh-yeh.
-OK.

So we get my mom on speaker phone.

-Ngin-ngin!
-Hello, Jasper. How are you?
-I good. Ngin-ngin. Birdies fly Florida?

Mom thinks about this for a second.

-No. Not yet, sweetie. They're on their way, but they have to keep stopping for food and water. I'll call and let you know when they get here, ok?
-Ok. I love you.
-I love you too. Good night.

Brave New World

Labor day is over and we are now looking toward a whole new world for the three of us. J-Dawg's first day of school!

This morning, the boy's new teachers, Ms. M and Ms. R, came over to our house for a play date. The reasoning behind them coming here is to let him see them on his turf so when we go to school on Monday they are more familiar to him. I can't believe my baby is going to be starting school!!!

Ms. M and Ms. R brought us a little photo album that we are going to fill with pictures of people and other things that are important to the boy to keep in his cubby in his classroom. He had a grand time playing, and we were also able to speak with them about several things, including the fact that we use cloth diapers. They were very supportive, especially when they saw how they are just as easy to use as disposables. I do love spreading the word about cloth!

Come Monday, both W and I will be taking the boy to school. Again, since they want to give him time to acclimate we are only going to be staying a little while - long enough for him to get a feel for the space and his classmates, and maybe play a little. Then Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday we (just the boy and I) will go back for a little longer. My job on these days is to be a passive observer, letting J-man do his thing. The hope is that we only need these three days, but in reality it's all about the J-Dawg, so we'll work with his schedule no matter how long it takes.



I know I already said it, but I cannot believe this time has come. I cannot believe that my baby is now such a big boy!

Hours of Enjoyment

J-Dawg has always enjoyed books, but recently, his interest has heightened to a whole new level.

This past weekend, the whole family was lounging around in the J-Man's room. He was busily playing with different toys and games: Ice Cream Truck, Matchbox cars, Duplo building blocks, Uncle Ming Ming's John Deere farm toy. Every so often he'd switch it up, and choose a new toy, and in between different bouts of play, he would pick up one of his many books that were also strewn about on the floor and ask Papa to read it.

- Gro Gro book, Papa!
- Monster at the End of this Book? Sure, let's read it!

So Papa reads the book with the boy happily turning the pages in spite of Grover's warnings to not turn the page. Upon finishing, J-Dawg merrily returns to his blocks so he can finish his sculpture. Once done with the building, he begins rummaging through his pile of books again, clearly he's got an agenda, and nothing will make him waver.

- Papa? Argadildo?
- Um, what?!
- ARGADILDO!

So, about a year ago we were at a mall and it was lunchtime. The food court happened to have a Chick-Fil-A. Since it's so rare for us to eat something like that (and because I love their soup), we decided to eat there, ordering the boy a kid's meal. For those of you who don't know, Chik-Fil-A is a company that prides itself on virtue and it's founders are very - let's just say they're not open on Sundays for a reason. And as such, they don't provide meaningless, mind-melting toys, they provide uplifting, thought-provoking toys...

...when we got J-Man's kid's meal, the toy inside was a mini-book entitled, A Tale of Resourcefulness with Armadillo.

Or should I say Argadildo?