Houston... we have a ROCKSTAR

Having a three year-old means enduring some pretty good laughs during our day. Seriously, before I had kids if someone had told me you would laugh constantly, I would not believe them, but E has definitely dispelled that myth. 

He is always up to 'something' and its usually not making trouble, but rather inventing new ways to get a laugh out his Dad and me.

These pics are from a few weeks ago, but I just got to posting them now.  He got this rockin' guitar from his Auntie Erin for Christmas, and it sparked a rockstar cord in him. I am not sure what his stage name might be, but judging by the second pic, it may be something like 'Safety Dawg'! Keep your ears open for his first hit!

That's stupid, your stupid - who's stupid now?

So... I knew it would happen, but I wasn't sure when. And then it happened, my son said 'stupid' followed by 'you're stupid Mommy'.

Last Saturday as we were getting ready for skating, E promptly told me 'I don't want to go to skating, I want to go for pancakes' (which is our Saturday morning tradition post skating lessons). The conversation went like this:

Me: You have to go to skating first, before we can go the restaurant.
E: No we don't.
Me: Yes, we do.

E: But I don't want to do that. I just want to go for pancakes.
Me: Well maybe next week we can go before skating, but this week, we are going aftewards.
E: (mumbling to himself) That's stupid.
E: (even quieter) Your stupid Mommy.

Me: (silently freaking out but acting cool) Excuse me Emery, would you like to repeat that over here in front of me?
E: (with a surprised look) No thank you, Mommy.

Me: I heard what you said Emery, and we don't use that word, it is not nice, and you can use other words if your upset instead of that one.
E: (with a look of horror) Okay Mommmmmmeeeeeeey
E: (on the verge of tears) But I'm sorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry.

You can't win with this kid, he likes to assert himself at times, but the moment he thinks he's done something wrong, it turns to tears. He's a sensitive soul. Lately, we are in the battles of 'no I don't, yes you do' or 'yes I can, no you can't'. It's frustrating from a parenting perspective, but I can't help but remember my thirst for independence and defiance at a young age - he comes by that trait honestly!

Anyways... we had the mild discussion about stupid, and I mentioned it to PC just so he was aware of it. PC even reinforced not to talk like that... so we were all on the same page. I thought we moving on, until half an hour later, we are loaded and in the car for skating and driving to the rink. PC is in the front seat, and E is in the back with H. I am about to pull in the parking lot, when a van coming the other way decides to cross in front of me and beat me to the turn... PC is shaking his head but keeps his mouth shut, until this van decides to slam on its brakes to pull into a parking spot near the front door, but overshoots that turn, and has to reverse in front of us.  As this unfolds PC shakes his head in disgust and out flys  'what a stupid idiot'.

 Apple, tree... tree, apple.

And now we've introduced 'idiot' to the three-year old vocabulary list.

Awesome.  Totally awesome.

The taxman drives a....

Tonight while waiting for dinner to finish cooking, PC, and the boys, and I were down stairs playing in the basement...enjoying a few minutes of downtime after a long day.

E seems to be in quite the 'good guys vs. bad guys' phase right now.

He is always asking us... is that guy a good guy or a bad guy?

As a parent it seems like a pretty straight forward game... and we all recall the basic scenario:
cops = good guys
robbers = bad guys.

E has a ride around Fisher Price police car with a siren, and he is often chasing someone down in his very imaginative make-believe world. He always wants to know 'who can I chase now?' ... and you have to get creative with a three year-old or else he will call you on it... 'but I already chased that guy Mommy'.

Tonight... he wanted to know who he can chase... so for kicks, I threw out, 'how about the taxman?'.

Immediately E asks for clarification 'is he a good guy or a bad guy?' I chuckled and immediately said bad guy, while PC (a civil servant taxman) corrects me and says 'good guy'. Good or bad issue aside, E gets all distraught and insists...

'but I can't chase the taxman, because... cause... cause... the taxman drives a ... a... a...a taxi - and he'll get away on me.'

PC and I cried laughing.... of course it makes perfect sense to a three year old ... taxman - taxi - of course a taxi would be the taxman's gettaway car!

You just never know what to expect from the mouth of a three year-old!

I had to post this little snippet from tonight as I know these are the little moments that I will enjoy reading in 12 years, when he's giving me some major teenaged attitude! 

Tonight's bedtime conversation...

Tonight at bedtime, the conversation went like this...

E: What we gonna do tomorrow Mommy?
Me: We are going to celebrate your birthday tomorrow at home, let balloons go in the sky, eat cupcakes, and open some presents.

E: And then I'm gonna be three.
Me: Yes... and then you will be three.

E: But not two?
Me: No... you will three.

E: Two? or Three?
Me: Three.

E: I have fun being two eh?
Me: Yes, but three will just as fun.

E: Will I still have to brush my teeth.
Me: Most definitely.

E: I wanna be two still.

I love his honesty. It was my last night tucking in my two year old boy.... I wonder what three will bring for this little wingman?

And so it begins...

This past week we registered E for CANSKATE, so that he can learn to skate on his own. I saw when the registration night was and I asked him about whether or not he wanted to do it, and his first response was 'but I gonna fall Mommy'. I explained that this is why he would go to the lessons, so that a teacher would help him, and he can learn to fall down and get back up on his own. He agreed it was a good thing and is now super excited about it... (I'm betting that wears off the minute he has to part ways with us as he gets onto the ice, but we'll see)!

At any rate... when we went to register him for the program, we had pay for the lessons, pay a membership fee to the skating club, and then we got our fundraising kit. Umm... excuse me? Fundraising? He's 2 (almost 3, but for the sake of this post, 2).

I know I know... every organization (and their dog) does fundraising, and I know why they do it, and how important it is to these organizations, but for the LOVE OF GOD, do we need to be smacked in the face with fundraising the first time we sign 'our very first child' up for anything. I had a bit of a shocked look on my face... and the woman who was helping me kind of rolled her eyes too, but did explain what it was for and pushed it in front my take home pile. It's only $40 per kid, and I know we have grandparents and aunts and uncles and friends who will probably buy the tickets, but at the same time... he's 2, and he has to fund raise.

Welcome to the world of extra-circular activities... would you like to buy a ticket?

I didn't have girls but...

I love my boys to pieces, but every once and a while when I am in a kids clothing store, I find myself wandering to the little girls section and admiring all the girly-girl outfits and accessories. Flat out, I am blessed to have two boys, but even more so when it comes to accessorizing, as I would probably go wild with all the hair stuff for baby girls.

However, just because I don't have girls... doesn't mean I can't have fun with my boys!!

While PC took Saturday morning to sleep in an extra hour, and I was busy feeding H, E decided to entertain himself in our bathroom.

It was pretty hilarious! Much to PC's dismay, E does love his lulu headbands... a boy after my own heart!

Big Boy Underwear!

Today is a big day.

Its the first day that I have E in big boy underwear... just underwear, no diaper, no pull-up, just his a thin pair of Cars underwear between his bare bum and his jeans.  

E has been wearing a pull-up since just after his 2nd birthday (back in October) and has been doing really well going on the potty.  I would go as far as to say he is fully trained for the potty when it comes to number twos, but still has some inconsistency when it comes to peeing on a regular basis. He recently discovered some underwear I have had in his drawer for several months and on Monday, he showed a real interest in wearing them.  PC decided to put them over his pull-up at his request the other night and he was very excited about it. The light switch went on for both of us that maybe we can go to just underwear now.

I have to say, the whole potty training thing was something I was really reluctant to get into, but with some encouragement from our daycare provider back in October, I came to see that E was ready, willing, and able. The thing about diapers is that although its a pain to change a diaper, at least its on your schedule when you decide to do it.  In potty training mode, when E says he has to go pee, he has to go, whether we're at the grocery store, in the car, or elbow deep in pizza dough.

As much I want him to be fully potty trained, I also dread the 'situations' we will get ourselves into when we don't have the pull-up to fall back on. As well, going with just underwear in a social setting will no doubt create some embarrassing situations for him, and it will break my heart to see him upset about the accidents he is bound to have, but I know, this is the only way for him to really learn and process the consequences of not telling us he has to go pee.

It's only noon, and so far he's on his third pair of underwear. We've gone through Cars, Thomas, and are now onto woof-woofs... and every ten minutes I am asking him 'is woof-woof still dry?', to which he answers a confident 'YES Mom-mee!'.

I am hoping after a few days of accidents at home and at daycare he'll have caught on that having wet underwear, pants, and socks, is no fun - and that he's got to tell us when he has to pee all the time, no just when he's prompted or its convenient to him.

Fingers crossed this is right approach... (double crossed actually)!

UPDATE: E has done fantastic in the big boy underwear.  The first day was probably his worst day...  in the last week and a bit we have had many accident free days. I am very proud Mommy!

No more nice Mommy!

So, its official.
I'm not longer that nice Mommy... I'm the 'tough shit. listen to me now. I mean business' type Mommy.

Somewhere between the 'no-no babe' and 'please, don't do that' Mommy, emerged the 'STOP THAT RIGHT NOW', 'THAT IS ENOUGH' and 'THAT'S IT, GO TO YOUR ROOM' Mommy. It's like the latter has always been there, but I didn't realize it was only a simple flick of the switch for ... SHOW TIME!

Last week, as I mentioned in a previous post, was a trying week. E is generally a good kid, and I know all parents want to believe that their kids are good, when in fact some are not, but I really do know that, right now, E is fairly easy going, easy to please, not overly demanding, and listens for the most part, which in my books, makes him a good kid.  However, last week, he was really testing the limits. He was sick, and tired, and I was sick and tired of him being sick and tired, and so, with patience wearing mighty thin, I had raised my voice at him a couple of times to hammer home the point that I was no longer going to tolerate his acting out and most of all his not listening when I ask him to do something or stop doing something.

Now, I can make all the excuses in the book I want, but I know that he is just wanting attention for us, and more specifically me, because he knows my first obligation right now is to his baby brother (for obvious reasons). Its like three months ago E would have killed for more independence and now that I'm willing to give it to him (because frankly I have no other choice when I'm on my own with the two of them), he is reverting back to the 'Help Help Help' phase.

In addition when he doesn't get the attention he wants from me, he has started to do things that he knows are wrong and knows will create a reaction, like dumping an entire bag of goldfish crackers all over the coffee table, or fillng a glass of water from the water cooler and 'accidently' dumping some of it on the floor and then announcing 'uh-oh Mom-meeee'.

Cue out of nowhere: 'THAT IS ENOUGH EMERY, YOUR NOT LISTENING, YOU WILL GO TO YOUR ROOM IF THIS KEEPS UP'

To which I think to myself: Holy shit... where did that come from?
To which E thinks to himself: Holy shit... where did that come from?

Nonetheless he continues to push the limits with one thing after another and I finally snap... put his brother down mid-feeding (much to E's surprise) and march him up to his room, where I proceed to tell him to sit on his bed until he can listen. He defys and says No, and I persist with, Yes, and we go back and forth until he realizes I am not joking, I'm SERIOUS Mommy, and I'm upset. I close the door and tell him, you stay in here until you can say sorry and start listening to Mommy.

The screaming and whining continues from his room, while I watch from the video monitor to see he will do, and eventually (10 minutes later) he goes quiet and just stares at the door.  Finally he gets up the nerve to get off his bed, and opens the door quietly, to which he says in the most apologetic voice possible:

"Mom-mee... I saw-ree"

Talk about knocking me down a peg or too with that line. I wanted to cry just hearing the sympathy in his voice... but then I remember how I use to try and work my parents over with a sweet thing or two only long enough to piss them off again, and so I wisely said in a stern voice:

DO you think you can start listening to Mommy now?

E: Huh? Ya.

Me: Okay then, you can come out. Bring a book and we'll read it together.

Whoa! My first major discipline scene completed.... just like that! I didn't know I had it in me, but now that I do, I'm afraid of how often I'll be acting this one out. Probably only one or twice right? RIGHT?

Baby Huddy!

E is a talking machine lately, not just words, but strings of words coming together, more little phrases all the time.  The other night he was on fire with his words... and out of nowhere he said his brother's name.

It was a pretty special moment at our house. PC was in the room too with H, and we were grinning from ear to ear, as only proud parents can!

I caught this little short clip on video... and I'm so happy I did as I could watch it over and over again!

What will Ho Ho Bring You?

Putting E down for the last time tonight as an only child! We had a short little bedtime conversation about what is to come tomorrow...

Move over Tim the Tool Man!

Maybe this is why The Sequel is a little reluctant to come out... E was on the loose over the weekend helping Daddy with some minor household repairs!

It reminds me of the scene from Problem Child where the kid announces with a devilish grin: 'I hope you guys are insured'!!!

2010: A visit with Santa... or NOT!

This year with E, he is right into Santa or as he likes to call him 'Ho-Ho'. We have a pop-up book that we started reading a few weeks back and it makes the sound 'Ho Ho Ho' as Santa pops out of a chimney. I think this is where it all started. But now, every time he sees anything Santa related, its a 'Ho-Ho' festival in his world!

We took him to see Santa in the mall, with little success. He definitely talked a good game all the way to the mall. He even waved at Santa as we entered the line, but when it was his turn to get his picture taken sitting beside Santa on his chair - NO WAY IN HELL was it going to happen.  Santa offered him a candy cane, he grabbed it and bolted to the nearest exit.  We left without a picture, and three minutes later as we were in the GAP, he's back to saying 'Ho-Ho' with a devilish grin. All very typical for a two-year old I guess, and I am actually comforted that he is leery of odd looking men dressed up in weird costumes, but nonetheless, the photo-op would have been nice.

Instead, this was the pic I got pre-Santa meltdown!

I am not quite sure how E plans to be 'Head Elf' if he and Santa aren't exactly on good terms, but he must figure he's been a good boy for most of the year so that record has to count for something despite his little episode at the mall!!

I guess we'll find out in a couple of weeks if Santa took it personally or not!

Big Boy Bed Transition!

With the impending arrival of The Sequel in a little over (or under) a month, we have been working hard around here to set up a new Big Boy room for E. 

PC did the honours of painting our spare room.  I choose a fire engine red for the paint - it was actually called 'High Drama' by Behr.  I am hoping to high heaven that the name of the paint colour is not a premonition of what's to come in that room - the last thing I need is 'drama drama drama'! 

Over the last two weeks we have been slowly getting the furniture arranged and set up.  There are still a few elements in the room to organize, but for the most part its livable.  I am less concerned with perfecting the room and finalizing the decorating and more concerned with actually getting E comfortably sleeping in his big boy bed before the baby arrives.

I had an idea to start E napping in the big boy bed over the coming weekend, but the other night, when I said it was bedtime, he wandered into the new room and I offered to read his bedtime stories in there. Once we got through our five books, I asked him if he wanted to sleep there and to my surprise, he said 'YES!'.  So I followed his lead and got his blankets and comfort items from the crib and said goodnight as I usually do.

I must have checked on him at least 15 times through the night, but the point is, he slept a full night in the bed, without blinking an eye (or falling out of bed). And the last couple nights have been much of the same.  I don't know if I am speaking too soon (and I may eat my words eventually), but for now it is going really well in his new room and new biggie bed.

I can't be more excited about this... and hope that much of the same patterns continue! Once we get a little more organized I will post some pictures of the final product - but for now, you'll have to settle for some cute pics of E helping Daddy setup his new bed. He's quite the little helper!