My boys love carbs. Bread, muffins, and rolls are usually their favorite part of dinner. So, what I do is just give them 1/2 a roll, or 1/2 a muffin to start with dinner. After they've shown me they've tried the main course and the fruit or veggie, they can have the other half. Last night, TJ sat down at the table, saw 1/2 a roll on his plate and gave me the following lecture:
Mom, I really don't like it when you only give me half a roll. It makes me feel like a little kid. And I am not a little kid anymore. I am a seven-year-old MAN!
The lecture may have continued, but I didn't hear it. I was laughing too hard.
By the way, that 'seven-year-old man' had to do a time-out during dinner for misbehaving. Guess he isn't as grown up as he thinks he is.
Today, TJ went to the doctor for his annual well-child exam. He thought it was dumb that he had to go to the doctor when he wasn't even sick. But he was very cooperative, and after he learned I was telling the truth that there were NO shots today, he was quite friendly and chatty with Dr. Conner.
His stats:
Weight: 52.6 pounds (55th percentile)
Height: 46.5 inches (25th percentile)
I sure hope he has a growth spurt at some point. He's one of the oldest kids in his class, but one of the shortest.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
This weekend's tidbits
Tonight, while getting Nolan ready for bed, I yawned pretty loudly. Nolan looked up at me and said, "Good grief, Mommy. You should go to bed!"
I have started Christmas shopping. I have discovered Sam is terribly difficult to shop for. He doesn't want much of anything. I had him go through two toy catalogs, and he found only one toy he wanted. One thing he does want is his own Christmas tree. Of course, he will be getting one. He loves the lights and I am sure would be in heaven with a small tree of his own. I'll just have to get used to having a small Christmas tree being lugged around my house year-round.
I have started Christmas shopping. I have discovered Sam is terribly difficult to shop for. He doesn't want much of anything. I had him go through two toy catalogs, and he found only one toy he wanted. One thing he does want is his own Christmas tree. Of course, he will be getting one. He loves the lights and I am sure would be in heaven with a small tree of his own. I'll just have to get used to having a small Christmas tree being lugged around my house year-round.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Bedtime
I always check on the boys before I go to bed. I have to laugh at how different they are.
TJ: TJ always has his sheets and blankets pushed down to the foot of his bunk. He refuses to cover up with them. He says they are 'scary'. I have given up trying to explain why his bedding isn't scary. He will only cover himself up with a fleece duck blanket that was given to me at one of my baby showers. Thankfully, it's a pretty big blanket.
Sam: Sam is always asleep on his back. He often has a small Beanie Baby kitty perched on his shoulder while he sleeps. He loves his kitties. His blankets are neatly tucked in around him, up to his shoulders. I guess his bedding isn't scary.
Nolan: Oh, Nolan. The other night I peeked in his crib and couldn't find him. He was curled up, sound asleep UNDER his pillow. I'm not sure how much oxygen he was getting under there. And it doesn't matter how many blankets I put in there, he winds up on top of them and is always shivering. He's getting a big boy bedroom for Christmas. I have to figure out how to tuck him in tightly enough so he stays warm.
TJ: TJ always has his sheets and blankets pushed down to the foot of his bunk. He refuses to cover up with them. He says they are 'scary'. I have given up trying to explain why his bedding isn't scary. He will only cover himself up with a fleece duck blanket that was given to me at one of my baby showers. Thankfully, it's a pretty big blanket.
Sam: Sam is always asleep on his back. He often has a small Beanie Baby kitty perched on his shoulder while he sleeps. He loves his kitties. His blankets are neatly tucked in around him, up to his shoulders. I guess his bedding isn't scary.
Nolan: Oh, Nolan. The other night I peeked in his crib and couldn't find him. He was curled up, sound asleep UNDER his pillow. I'm not sure how much oxygen he was getting under there. And it doesn't matter how many blankets I put in there, he winds up on top of them and is always shivering. He's getting a big boy bedroom for Christmas. I have to figure out how to tuck him in tightly enough so he stays warm.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
More bath time drama
Some of you may remember this post from October 2008: http://barononlyboys.blogspot.com/2008/10/bathtime.html. Yesterday's bath time wasn't quite as bad, but it sure had its fair share of drama.
I bathe Sam and Nolan together. Sam got over his fear of baths about a year ago (his fear began after the episode I referenced above), and thoroughly enjoys playing in the tub with Nolan. I have to watch to make sure they keep the water IN the tub, but they have fun. We either have bubbles or Crayola color tablets. Sam likes the bubbles, Nolan likes the colors. So we alternate to keep the peace. (TJ has declared himself too old for baths and takes nice hot showers instead)
Yesterday was a bubble day. Sam went potty about five minutes before I started prepping for baths. Nolan saw me getting the tub toys out and informed me that he needed to go potty first. That's a little weird, since he never uses the toilet for me. But I humored him. I stripped him down, put him on the toilet and finished getting the water in the tub. Sam undressed and climbed in. Nolan watched him for a minute, then decided he didn't have to go potty after all. So, I moved him to the tub. Five minutes later, Nolan wanted to sit on the potty again. Weird. But I got him out, dried him off, and had him try again. Nothing. I put him back in the tub. Five minutes later, he wanted out again. Argh! This was very unusual behavior for him.
I finally decided to just quickly wash him up and dress him. I didn't think he was brave enough to use the potty for me, but he also did not want to go potty in the tub. Just as I was rinsing his hair, Sam starts shrieking that HE was to go potty. What?? Sam has a big bladder and can go hours and hours between trips to the bathroom. He had gone right before I got him in the tub. And I didn't have his hair washed yet. But once an idea is in Sam's head, he can't let go. I looked anxiously at Nolan, but he seemed calm at the moment. So I dried Sam off a bit, put him on the toilet, then turned just in time to see Nolan pee and pee and pee all over the bathtub.
I scooped him out, passed him off to Bill, drained the tub, got Sam back in there, washed his hair, and called it a day.
In an effort to look at the bright side, Nolan WAS right. He really did have to go. And there's always that slim possibility that if I had had the opportunity to get him on the potty one last time, he might have gone for me. So I will cling to that bit of optimism....
I bathe Sam and Nolan together. Sam got over his fear of baths about a year ago (his fear began after the episode I referenced above), and thoroughly enjoys playing in the tub with Nolan. I have to watch to make sure they keep the water IN the tub, but they have fun. We either have bubbles or Crayola color tablets. Sam likes the bubbles, Nolan likes the colors. So we alternate to keep the peace. (TJ has declared himself too old for baths and takes nice hot showers instead)
Yesterday was a bubble day. Sam went potty about five minutes before I started prepping for baths. Nolan saw me getting the tub toys out and informed me that he needed to go potty first. That's a little weird, since he never uses the toilet for me. But I humored him. I stripped him down, put him on the toilet and finished getting the water in the tub. Sam undressed and climbed in. Nolan watched him for a minute, then decided he didn't have to go potty after all. So, I moved him to the tub. Five minutes later, Nolan wanted to sit on the potty again. Weird. But I got him out, dried him off, and had him try again. Nothing. I put him back in the tub. Five minutes later, he wanted out again. Argh! This was very unusual behavior for him.
I finally decided to just quickly wash him up and dress him. I didn't think he was brave enough to use the potty for me, but he also did not want to go potty in the tub. Just as I was rinsing his hair, Sam starts shrieking that HE was to go potty. What?? Sam has a big bladder and can go hours and hours between trips to the bathroom. He had gone right before I got him in the tub. And I didn't have his hair washed yet. But once an idea is in Sam's head, he can't let go. I looked anxiously at Nolan, but he seemed calm at the moment. So I dried Sam off a bit, put him on the toilet, then turned just in time to see Nolan pee and pee and pee all over the bathtub.
I scooped him out, passed him off to Bill, drained the tub, got Sam back in there, washed his hair, and called it a day.
In an effort to look at the bright side, Nolan WAS right. He really did have to go. And there's always that slim possibility that if I had had the opportunity to get him on the potty one last time, he might have gone for me. So I will cling to that bit of optimism....
Saturday, November 13, 2010
TJ
TJ turns 7 next week. I would imagine it is marked on all of your calendars, as it is a national holiday (at least, TJ seems to think it is). I did not intend to have a party for TJ with his friends yet this year. I was considering letting TJ do something like that next year.
But TJ had other ideas. He was in the midst of inviting friends over for a sleepover when I finally convinced him that he doesn't get to plan parties without his parent's permission. We reached a compromise. He invited 3 friends to come home with him after school on Friday. We are going to go see "Megamind" the movie, eat pizza and cake, and then the boys are leaving before bedtime.
TJ was satisfied with this compromise and is very excited. So far, though, only one child is coming. I haven't heard from the parents of the other two. For TJ's sake, I hope they can come.
But TJ had other ideas. He was in the midst of inviting friends over for a sleepover when I finally convinced him that he doesn't get to plan parties without his parent's permission. We reached a compromise. He invited 3 friends to come home with him after school on Friday. We are going to go see "Megamind" the movie, eat pizza and cake, and then the boys are leaving before bedtime.
TJ was satisfied with this compromise and is very excited. So far, though, only one child is coming. I haven't heard from the parents of the other two. For TJ's sake, I hope they can come.
Sam
My parents got some new furniture last weekend. A tall bookcase, one end table (the one hasn't arrived yet), and a short bookcase. It's very nice furniture and completely changes how the living room looks. Sam walked in the living room Monday morning and said in amazement, "Grandma! You got two new candles!" He did not notice ANY of the new furniture. My mom had to play a game of Hot and Cold with him before he noticed the end table.
That same day, Sam observed my sister's dog Mia as she played with my mom's dog Toby. Sam commented, "Mia is a mutt meadle." My mom wasn't sure if she had heard him correctly. Awhile later, Sam said it again. "Mia is a mutt meadle." My mom asked him what a 'mutt meadle' was. Sam calmly said, "I don't know. I will learn it in kindergarten."
That same day, Sam observed my sister's dog Mia as she played with my mom's dog Toby. Sam commented, "Mia is a mutt meadle." My mom wasn't sure if she had heard him correctly. Awhile later, Sam said it again. "Mia is a mutt meadle." My mom asked him what a 'mutt meadle' was. Sam calmly said, "I don't know. I will learn it in kindergarten."
Nolan
Nolan has been full of it lately. The things he says just crack me up.
This morning I was undressing him to put him in the bathtub. I rubbed his chubby tummy and asked him what was in there. "My hot cookie" was his reply (that's what my boys still call Pop Tarts). I said, "Oh? Your cereal isn't in your tummy?" "Nope. That's in my belly button."
After his bath, Bill lifted a cold, protesting Nolan out of the tub, laid him in the hallway and started dressing him. Nolan continued fussing and loudly informed us, "I don't WANT to take a bath!". Sweetie, bath time is over. Your complaints are a little late.
Nolan gets apple juice with his breakfast every morning. Right now, we have Mott's Natural Apple Juice. I think it's really tasty, but the boys don't seem to like it very much. It's also a bit darker than regular apple juice. It looks more like cider. I poured some in Nolan's cup the other morning. He picked up the cup and said in pure disgust, "Hey! You gave me coffee!!"
This morning I was undressing him to put him in the bathtub. I rubbed his chubby tummy and asked him what was in there. "My hot cookie" was his reply (that's what my boys still call Pop Tarts). I said, "Oh? Your cereal isn't in your tummy?" "Nope. That's in my belly button."
After his bath, Bill lifted a cold, protesting Nolan out of the tub, laid him in the hallway and started dressing him. Nolan continued fussing and loudly informed us, "I don't WANT to take a bath!". Sweetie, bath time is over. Your complaints are a little late.
Nolan gets apple juice with his breakfast every morning. Right now, we have Mott's Natural Apple Juice. I think it's really tasty, but the boys don't seem to like it very much. It's also a bit darker than regular apple juice. It looks more like cider. I poured some in Nolan's cup the other morning. He picked up the cup and said in pure disgust, "Hey! You gave me coffee!!"
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Playing with his food
Sam has absolutely blossomed since he started preschool. He is writing his name, and is very interested in learning how to spell. He's also gotten hooked on Spaghettios and Cheeze-its. This works out nicely, as I can get him the Alphabet Spaghettios and my mom discovered there are now Scrabble Cheeze-its (they have one letter stamped on each cracker). So now while he eats, Sam spells words. It takes him FOREVER to eat those crackers, as he continues to re-arrange them and try to spell different words.
My mom also taught Sam how to type, so he is spelling words like "kitty", "puppy", "Mom", "Daddy", etc.
Part of me feels so proud and happy when I watch Sam spell. Part of me worries that he is going to have to endure the terrible teasing I did throughout junior high and part of high school. Being smart can be such a black mark for a child. I am praying Sam's cheerfulness and friendliness will help keep the bullies at bay.
My mom also taught Sam how to type, so he is spelling words like "kitty", "puppy", "Mom", "Daddy", etc.
Part of me feels so proud and happy when I watch Sam spell. Part of me worries that he is going to have to endure the terrible teasing I did throughout junior high and part of high school. Being smart can be such a black mark for a child. I am praying Sam's cheerfulness and friendliness will help keep the bullies at bay.
Can I see your candles?
When Bill was a child, his parents tell me that when they'd be over at a friend's house, Bill would go around and investigate all of the light switches in the house. He had to know how they all worked. Now that he's all grown up (or pretends to be), he has installed light switches in our basement that seem to have no purpose. At least, I can't figure out what they are for. But, I'm off the subject.
Sam has an obsession too. Candles. He absolutely loves them. It's common for me to walk into my mom's house after work, and discover she has lit half a dozen candles for Sam. They are all different scents, so it smells rather confusing in her house. We have a few in the kitchen that Sam will ask me to light, and he has several votives he lugs around the house with him. Weird.
Now when we visit people, Sam will ask me where I think they keep their candles. He hit the jackpot at Grandma Cindy's house yesterday. He discovered she keeps a rather impressive candle stash in the cupboard of the bathroom by the kitchen. He stood in there and sniffed candles for quite some time last night. Then he brought out his favorite (a large, brand-new candle) and asked her to light it. She told him she was saving that, but she lit a nice pumpkin-scented one for him.
In case this makes any of you nervous, Sam is a very bright boy. He understands candles are dangerous, and never messes with them once they are lit. I taught him how to strike a match (with my assistance) and he never goes anywhere near the matches without an adult's permission and assistance. He's a unique child. The more knowledge he has, the happier he is, and the less questions I get. So, I teach him things that most children don't need to know about until they are older.
Sam has an obsession too. Candles. He absolutely loves them. It's common for me to walk into my mom's house after work, and discover she has lit half a dozen candles for Sam. They are all different scents, so it smells rather confusing in her house. We have a few in the kitchen that Sam will ask me to light, and he has several votives he lugs around the house with him. Weird.
Now when we visit people, Sam will ask me where I think they keep their candles. He hit the jackpot at Grandma Cindy's house yesterday. He discovered she keeps a rather impressive candle stash in the cupboard of the bathroom by the kitchen. He stood in there and sniffed candles for quite some time last night. Then he brought out his favorite (a large, brand-new candle) and asked her to light it. She told him she was saving that, but she lit a nice pumpkin-scented one for him.
In case this makes any of you nervous, Sam is a very bright boy. He understands candles are dangerous, and never messes with them once they are lit. I taught him how to strike a match (with my assistance) and he never goes anywhere near the matches without an adult's permission and assistance. He's a unique child. The more knowledge he has, the happier he is, and the less questions I get. So, I teach him things that most children don't need to know about until they are older.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Halloween 2010
I helped out at TJ's Halloween party at school last week Friday. I believe it is the only party I am able to help out at this school year. I just have to put this in writing. When I walked into his classroom, TJ's face lit up and he ran across the room to give me a hug. Six or seven years from now, I suspect he will probably ignore me...
I got the best compliment shortly after I arrived in his class. One of TJ's friends said, "TJ, is that your mom or your sister?" I could have hugged him!
TJ thoroughly enjoyed Halloween this year. He loved trick-or-treating. It was so helpful that we were out on Saturday night. He had a good night's sleep and was ready to go. Last year, we were out on a Friday night and he could hardly keep his eyes open.
Sam loved trick-or-treating too. He really didn't care much about the candy. He told me he had enough after about 4 houses. What Sam enjoyed was checking out the candles inside pumpkins. I had to drag him off of more than one porch because he was spending way too much time studying candles.
Nolan enjoyed collecting the candy and charmed everyone. But he got tired quickly and had to be carried most of the way. I had brought a stroller along, but Sam plunked himself in that. I had informed Bill that he had to come and help me this year, and I was so thankful he was there.
Here are my boys with Amanda's little girl, Charlotte:
I got the best compliment shortly after I arrived in his class. One of TJ's friends said, "TJ, is that your mom or your sister?" I could have hugged him!
TJ thoroughly enjoyed Halloween this year. He loved trick-or-treating. It was so helpful that we were out on Saturday night. He had a good night's sleep and was ready to go. Last year, we were out on a Friday night and he could hardly keep his eyes open.
Sam loved trick-or-treating too. He really didn't care much about the candy. He told me he had enough after about 4 houses. What Sam enjoyed was checking out the candles inside pumpkins. I had to drag him off of more than one porch because he was spending way too much time studying candles.
Nolan enjoyed collecting the candy and charmed everyone. But he got tired quickly and had to be carried most of the way. I had brought a stroller along, but Sam plunked himself in that. I had informed Bill that he had to come and help me this year, and I was so thankful he was there.
Here are my boys with Amanda's little girl, Charlotte:
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