The age of wisdom ... err, something like that

When I was a freshman in high school I remember a conversation I had with my youth pastor.  He said "I can't wait until I'm 30."  By which I was really confused.  1) Because 30 seemed like 100 years away and really old and 2) who wants to get older??  So naturally I asked why?  

And he said something like "As you get older, you become wiser.  Just think how wise I will be when I'm 30!"

And that stuck with me.  (I'm sure he has no recollection of this conversation, but it clearly had an impact on me.)  So here I am.  Today.  On my 30th birthday.  And I, too, approached this day with anticipation.  I can say with fair certainly that I am indeed wiser, more mature, more seasoned than I was 10 years ago.  And certainly more so than when I had that conversation at the age of 14.  I've learned a lot of things, some of which the hard way, over the last three decades.  And for that, I'm thankful for 30.  Thankful for all the life experiences I've had.  It feels good to have a few more "grown-up years" under my belt.

Now I can only image how wise I'll be at 40.  But that's, like, 100 years away.  I don't need to think about that now.

five

And so it happened.  My dark, fuzzy headed, chubby cheeked baby who I knew for sure would be my baby forever turned five yesterday.  FIVE.  Five years ago I couldn't even imagine this day coming.

But it came.  And I couldn't be more proud of the young boy he's become!!

At five years old Brooks ....

has a tender heart

loves Jesus and going to his classes at church

is a great big brother

is a rule follower

does most things slowly

loves to ride his bike, play tennis, baseball, basketball & in general play outside

is very inquisitive

loves learning & reading books

plays often with his best friend, Jake

has an extensive vocabulary

adores his Daddy

approaches new things with caution

is very independent and loves to help around the house

is quite sensitive, both emotionally and physically

wants to be a "construction guy" when he grows up

is a "saver"

dives whole heatedly into things that interest him

is very friendly and sociable

loves going out and "doing things"

likes to watch movies and play video games

is really fun to talk to

Favorite things:

color green

hot dogs, chips, pineapple

candies & sweets

the Vikings

all things Mario

going to the arcarde

wearing no-sleeve shirts

Happy Birthday Brooks David.  I love you with all my heart and I am very proud to be your Mama.  I'm so glad that God made you a part of our family!!

the yo-yo

A few weeks ago the boys and I visited our favorite toy store downtown to play and read books.  While we were there, Brooks found a yo-yo that he decided he really wanted.  So I suggested that since his birthday was coming up, that he could ask for one for his birthday.  Then he says to me, "Mom, I want to earn some money and save up to buy a yo-yo."

Well, I guess I don't want to discourage that!  So we set up a "yo-yo" jar at home and he started asking for chores to do.  He's worked so hard for the last few weeks folding & putting away laundry, hanging up diapers on the line, setting the table, cleaning up his brother's giant toy mess in the living room (yes, that is worth paying Brooks $.50 to do) and other miscellaneous jobs around the house to earn the $5.00 he needed to buy a yo-yo.

A few days ago, he earned the last dollar he needed and today we headed back to the toy store.  He was so proud carrying in his jar filled with coins and dollars.  He told the owner, Nancy, and everyone else who would listen all about how he saved his money to buy that yo-yo.  He picked out a green one (his favorite color) and then counted out his dollars to pay for it.  She put it in a bag for him and he happily carried his green yo-yo all the way home.

It's such a small toy and he very easily could have just asked me to buy it for him, or even asked for it for his birthday.  But I was so proud of him for wanting to earn the money himself and then having the diligence to follow through on it!

 Now, for the next challenge .... figuring out how to actually use the yo-yo.

Things I don't want to forget

I've noticed as I'm writing in Bennett's baby book that there's places to write down when his teeth came in, how much he weighs and what his sleeping & eating patterns are.  And while that's all well and good, there are lots of other things I want to remember about him that have no place in his book to write about.  So I'm going to write it here.

4 months

• Bennett snorts.  He snorts when he laughs.  He snorts when he cries.  He snorts when he takes a deep breath.  It's hilarious.  He's done it since the moment he was born.  Literally.  When Chris lifted my freshly hatched baby boy onto my chest, he started crying ..... and snorting.  I love that about him.
• He has many nicknames.  Chunkamonk.  Chubbers.  Benny.  Dr. Cheeks.  (It's funny to hear Carter call him that!)
• The first few months of his life we called Bennett "Grumpy Cat", because all he did was scowl.  All the time.  Scowling.  Even when I'd nurse him, he would scowl.  I was truly afraid that we were going to have a little pessimist on our hands.  I didn't even know babies knew how to scowl like that.  Thankfully, he's turned a corner and smiles and laughs all the time now.

Grumpy Cat - 2 months old

• He's a thumb sucker.  But he will only suck on his left thumb, which I think is funny.  At first I was very against allowing him to suck his thumb.  "That will be a terrible habit to break" I kept telling myself.  But then I noticed that when he'd start to fuss in his crib (usually right after laying him down), he'd pop his thumb in his mouth and fall right back asleep.  Yeah.  This kid can keep sucking his thumb. Plus, he's my third and all my preconceived ideas regarding raising kids are slowly disappearing.  I'll probably regret it later, but for now I'll enjoy the sleep it brings.
• He went through an awkward phase.  He was born with a genuine mullet - loooong hair in the back and almost nothing on top.  Then, what little hair he did have on top all fell out.  And around 10 days old he developed some of the worst infant acne I'd ever seen.  Poor kiddo.  (Maybe it would be ok if I did forget this phase.)  Thankfully, his face eventually cleared up and his hair grows super fast.



1 month old

• Bennett hates lying on his back.  We call him our Turtle.  When we hold him, it has to be upright.  Not even reclined on our lap.  Bolt upright.  If we do cradle him, it has to be on his side.  And even then he's not a super big fan.  And he sleeps on his tummy.  (shhhh, don't tell the AAP) He will lay on his back on the floor, but only for short periods of time.  Unless he's in the bathroom ....... because
• He loves the shower curtain.  Loves loves loves the shower curtain.  I lay him on the bath mat and he just talks and coos and plays with the curtain.  I don't know if it's the colors or the patterns or the fact that it looks 100 feet tall from his perspective, but I'm usually guaranteed at least 15-20 minutes of happy baby time if I lay him down in the bathroom.  

• He recognizes his brothers.  And he knows them well.  Whenever Brooks comes by, he smiles and laughs and talks to him.  When Carter comes near, Bennett almost always scowls.  But that's probably because Carter is the one who pokes his eyes, bites his fingers and rolls on top of him. (true story)

Brooks LOVES Bennett :)

• Bennett loves to be moving.  Whether it's in the car seat, stroller, or in my carrier, he wants to be moving.  He will loudly inform you if you've stopped moving.
• To date, I've lost 20lbs since he's been born.  (see above)
• Last weekend, his first two teeth came in.  At 4 months old.  I may have cried ... just a little.  My other two boys got teeth rather early (between 5 and 6 months) but never at 4 months!  My baby is just growing up too fast!!  Plus, now with two little razor blades in his mouth, I have to be extra cautious while nursing him.
• Bennett will take a bottle, but only if there's fresh pumped milk in it.  He does NOT like drinking milk that has been previously frozen.  High maintenance, much?
• He likes to sleep by himself.  It took me a while to figure this out, but at night I'll lay him in bed to nurse him.  And normally we would should both just fall back asleep.  But when Bennett's done eating, he'll start kicking me and fussing.  So I'd pull him in closer to try and settle him.  Then he'd start screaming at me.  Finally, I'd back away to see what the matter was and as soon as I wasn't touching him, he'd roll over and go to sleep.  Oh.  I guess you don't want to snuggle.  So I'd lay him in his bed, he'd stick his thumb in his mouth and go back to sleep.  I guess it's a good thing.  I really do sleep better without a tiny human attached to me.  But I kinda miss the squishy baby snuggles.
• Bennett won't comfort nurse.  With the other two, whenever they were sad or hurt or upset for any reason, I'd latch them on and all would be well in the world.  But not Bennett.  If he's not hungry, he won't nurse (which is hard to believe, really, given that at 4 months old, he already weighs 17lb!)  That also makes calming him down more challenging.  Nursing was my trump card ... the "easy" way to get my babies to sleep.  Now we have to bounce and rock and pacify and use white noise and do whatever else it takes to calm him down to sleep.

Thursday

A few random notes from this very average Thursday ....

...this morning my boys played "nap time".  I've decided I like that game very much.

...then they played "hide and seek" where they both hid, waiting for the other to find them.  I like that game too.

...Brooks begged to mop the dining room floor.  How could I say no?  It's amazing what gets cleaned when two little boys armed with vinegar spray are let loose in your house.

...I'm very thankful we live in a rental house.  Then I don't feel so bad when the above mentioned boys leave puddles of vinegar spray on the crappy hardwood floors.

... it's not a good idea to put your face near an angry toddler.  Being head butted by a 2 year old really really hurts.

... I love coffee.  Especially on rainy days when you have a headache from being headbutted.

...It's 1:30 pm.  I need to shower.  Badly.  For real, I stink.

...I baked a batch of cookies after lunch and neither of the boys noticed.  Is that a boy thing?  Or a distracted kid thing?

... the boys want to go outside and dig in the freshly rained on dirt.  I know I should let them.  But I'm dreading cleaning up muddy boys in my house I just cleaned 2 hours ago.

... I'm going out to see a movie with some friends tonight.  I really need a night off and I'm excited to go, but am also feeling guilty for leaving.  Is that normal?

A totally rational fear of toilets

A little over a week ago we went to a friend's house for a play date, where the big kids play together (mostly) and the mamas enjoy disjointed conversation while holding our littlest ones and refereeing the big ones.  On this particular morning, my littlest one was extra fussy and really needed a nap - something not easily accomplished when there are half a dozen other kids (mostly boys) running around yelling at a ball they're chasing.  But after much bouncing, nursing, rocking and shushing, I finally got him to sleep in my arms.  I settled in on the overstuffed arm chair to relax with a sleeping baby in my arms and engage in much needed adult conversation.

Buuuuut, then the toddler declares that he has to go potty, an event that still requires my assistance and at the very least, my supervision.  So I carefully stand up with the sleeping baby cradled in my left arm and with my right arm guide my very distracted toddler to the bathroom.  I help Carter pull down his pants and underwear, slip my free arm under his arms and hoist him onto the potty.  I glance at the baby.  Still sleeping.  This is going pretty well.

But then it didn't.  I quickly realized that I overlooked a very crucial little detail.  His penis was not pointed down.  And as if in slow motion, I see the pee start flowing.  Everywhere.  It's arching over the side of the toilet, onto his pants, onto his underwear and of course, onto the floor.  (why, oh why, are little boys the ones given fire hoses out of which to pee???)  I panicked!  I needed to stop the pee!!

By now, my left arm is now nearly numb from holding a gigantic baby, but I can't put him down.  Because, did I mention that this friend has a cat?  And that the cat's litter box is in the bathroom?  And that there's litter all over the bathroom floor?  Yeah, there was no way this baby was going on the floor.  So again, with one arm, I reach around Carter and try to scoot him back further on the toilet.  Which I successfully did.  But in the process I also dunked his little butt into the cold toilet water.  He's yelling, I'm yelling and the baby, my some miracle, is still sleeping.

Carter has this terrified look on his face and I, quite honestly, had no idea what to do.  I mean, there was a hundred things that needed to be done, but what to do first?  Well, in my good judgement, I decided that first I should haul Carter out of the toilet.  I set him on the ground, instruct him not to step in the pee (yeah right) and leave.  I go back out to the living room where I finally set the baby down (after which he immediately woke up - great), grab the extra pair of pants and underwear from the diaper bag and head back to the bathroom.  My poor Carter is still standing there with sopping wet pants around his ankles with a puddle of pee next to his feet.  And I can now hear Bennett voicing his displeasure of being put down in the other room.  I grab a handful of toilet paper & mop up the floor as best as I could then proceed to peel Carter's pants off.  I didn't want him sitting on the kitty litter floor, so I helped him put on new underwear & pants while standing up.  (not easy, by the way)  I succeed in redressing the toddler and we both head back out to rejoin our play date.  I pick the baby back up to start the rocking, bouncing, shushing, please go to sleep routine again.  I inform my friend that my son peed on the floor.  She just smiled an understanding smile and told me not to worry about it.  I was so glad to have that behind us.

Except that it wasn't.  Just this last week we were at another friend's house for preschool.  Carter needed to go potty, so once again, I help him in the bathroom. (this time with no baby in my arms)  I pull down his pants and as I'm helping him sit on the toilet, he sticks his legs out, stiff as a board and refuses to sit down.  I try a few more times and he protests every time saying "I don't have to go potty!!".  Um, you just said you did.  You're doing the potty dance and your underwear already have a few drops of pee on them.  Clearly you need to go potty.  I try to again to set him on the toilet.  Still stiff legged, he states, more emphatically "I don't HAVE to go potty." And then it comes out.

"I don wanna fall in da potty".

Ah.  There it is.  My child is afraid to sit on the toilet.  I guess I can't blame him.  If my mother dropped me in a toilet, I'd be a little skeptical too.

I try assuring him that I won't let him fall, but he's not buying it.  I threaten that if he pees in his pants we'll have to go home, but still he won't budge.  And because I can't make Carter do what Carter doesn't want to do, I pull up his pants and allow him to leave the bathroom, praying he doesn't pee in his pants.  Thankfully this mama had a potty training chair that we were able to use so he could finally pee.

I've tried a few more times at home this week to have him sit on the big toilet, but he absolutely will.not. do it.  I'm just hoping he overcomes this fear before we're stuck in, say, Target and he won't use the bathroom.  Oh, the adventures of parenthood.

shave and a haircut

Well, Bennett hasn't had his first shave yet (although with how hairy this boy is, it may not be long) but he did get his first haircut this weekend.  I know.  He's only 12 weeks old.  But his hair really was getting kind of outta control.  He was born with a legit mullet and it's only grown longer since.

before

So we decided it was time.  I was sad, but didn't cry this time.  That's a first too.

after

after the bath

To be honest, I like it trimmed up.  He looks very handsome and he didn't really lose that baby look.  But let me just tell ya, it's not that easy cutting the hair of someone who can't even hold up their own head.  His hair line in the back isn't perfectly straight, but I'm just thankful I didn't cut off an ear!!