Fabulously Wealthy

Got a lot done this morning (laundry, quiet time, got dressed, planned the day, made breakfast, drank coffee, exercised) but my patience has been tried today. Four-year-olds ask endless questions to which only they know the correct answer. It must be the first teenage period - parents are never quite right. If we accidentally bump Xander, we have hurt him and it is an amazingly evil thing to do. If he jumps on our back while we are trying to write something and balance our coffee, he is hurt that we don't quite appreciate his enthusiasm.

And he's right. My responses to him are my responsibility. Deep breath. New cup of coffee. If I could have my most important wish come true, it would be to appreciate every interaction with him, Nick, Erik, and others.

It is not a bad thing that he is active, curious, engaged, smart, and loving.

Just please, please, please could someone else stay here for a day and field all the non-questions?

Nick has become more and more pleasant as he has learned to communicate better and sleep longer at a time. It is more and more a joy to see the boys play together. Thinking about it brings tears to my eyes.

I am fabulously wealthy in love.

Being Amused

This is Nick and me being amused by Xander pretending to be a dog during snack time:

The one of me was taken by accident when I swung the computer back around. ;) Oh, and here's Xander being the dog:

'Tis the Season

Xander is very proud of his new clothes from Aunt Pat and Grandma Bonnie. He told me he had never worn clothes like these before, and he pointed them out to his preschool director and friends. Today he is wearing a sporty long-sleeve shirt with those warm-up-type pants that have yellow and white stripes down the sides. I saw in his classroom that they posted each kid's gift wish on a poster. Xander's says, "A new toy knight. If Santa has one."

Nick had his 18 month check-up today and is healthy. He only had one shot - hurray! But the trip still knocked him out. He fell asleep on our ten-minute ride home. I was proud of how many words he's saying (I can think of 15 really quickly) and the pediatrician only asked if he was saying five words. But I think the range is tremendous at this age and there are plenty 18-month-olds who say more words than 15 or 20. He really, really wants to speak to us, as Erik noted today. He gets really mad when his exact message doesn't get across.

So far this Christmas season, we have decorated, listened to Christmas carols, gotten out advent calendars, read Christmas stories and books, and had hot cocoa together. The kids have also helped me make Christmas cards and wrapping paper.

At the moment, a medley from Robert Shaw's Festival of Carols is playing on the computer and Nick is nodding away to it. Music is still the last resort that will always quiet him when nothing else will.

Another Brag About Nick

I have to report that Nick played pretty well on a courtroom bench for over an hour this morning. I was subpoenaed to be a witness since the guy we got into a car accident with contested his ticket. Nick played well with the doctor kit and books, at least well for a 1.5-year-old. When I walked up to speak to the judge with the police officer and defendant, he said I could put Nick down and he could run around. He said, with a smile, that it was relatively safe in there. I said he would certainly run around but the judge indicated that was okay so I put him down to talk to the judge. Nick ran all around and basically greeted everyone from the other defendants to the bailiffs to the seating section for all the police officers. He hung out with the officers for a few minutes, as a matter of fact. He was probably one of the lightest moments in that docket, so it all went fine. We got to go first and leave relatively quickly compared to the other poor souls in there. They were very kind. I can't say Nick didn't scream at all, though.

Activities and Pictures

 

These are pictures I took this afternoon. First are some grainy, horrible pictures of some of Xander's soccer and school pictures. Perhaps some of you will get a chance soon to see them in person. ;) We did a painting activity and Xander really wanted me to paint a dragon on one cheek and a ladybug on the other. So I did. When I was done with my almost formless dragon, he checked himself out in the mirror and said, "Ha! A Westmin Dragon!" He thinks I'm good, at least. Nick hates having anything stuck to him, including paint, so I just got a couple pics of him in between Xander's activities.

"Yes" Day

I had an idea for something to do with the kids, based on this post: http://inspiredtoaction.com/2010/11/128-simple-family-activities%E2%80%A6be-a-rockstar-today

This can only be done every once in a great while because if I did it more often, I would come up with spoiled kids, but it makes me a little bit sad how often I say no to my kids. Saying no to dangerous or unhealthy or rude things is fine with me. I'm talking about the times that Xander wants to playfight or make cookies or Nick wants me to read a book to him for the 40th time or they want a little more of something good to eat or drink. Every once in a blue moon, I'd like to say yes to these things more often.

I think I will plan a "Yes" day where the rule is that Mommy has to say yes to all requests that day, as long as they don't endanger or harm anyone or make anyone else feel bad. It's an idea. I may have to refine it.

Letter to Santa

This is Xander's letter to Santa:

"Dear Santa,

I want a toy knight. Do you have any toy knights? I want a new toy Transformer. I want the Transformer with a sword. And this kind of Ironman toy, and this kind of Spiderman toy, and this kind of Captain America toy. [pointing to an advertisement]

That's all,
Xander Powers

P.S. I want the Marvel Superhero Squad figures with vehicles. You can find a picture in my The Amazing Spider-Man comic book."

Note to anyone looking for a Christmas present for him: This is not necessarily to be taken in a literal sense. He has a slightly different list every time I ask him. ;)

Some days he is kind and giving and forgiving and I am so pleased. Some days, like today, he has a "rude" day when he is not all that interested in being nice. We don't let him be overtly rude, it's just that on this kind of day he won't do voluntary things that are nice. I asked him if he wanted to sign his Santa letter with "Thank you" or "Love" and he said, "No, that's enough."