Footie Fan

Alex informed me that he would like to play soccer tomorrow. He was less into looking for bunnies and bugs or picking leaves and flowers. I thought I had at least a few more years before this...this...SPORTS THING started

August 31, 2009

Noggin Ponderables

Barring the obvious that many of these characters shouldn't be able to talk, wear clothing or use tools without opposable thumbs and all...

Where do Toot and Puddle get the money to travel as much as they do?
Where are Max and Ruby's guardians all day?
Why is Toodee hanging around with aliens and a robot? She's a cat and can't breathe in outer space.
Why does Kai-Lan hang out with a koala bear? It's not an Asian animal.
What, exactly, IS Uniqua's species? Is she a turtle with antlers? Some sort of spotted insect? What?

Yes, these are the weighty questions of my days lately.

August 27, 2009

Three Little Birds

Just recently, Alex had the Bob Marley song 'Three Little Birds' brought to his attention through a music video on Noggin. He was mesmerized by it, mostly because of the music. After it was over, I got my iPod and played the song for him to let him know that we have the song anytime he'd like to hear it. He asked for a few times, but mostly if the same music video reminded him of it.

This morning, he saw a bunch of sparrows on our lawn and he said 'Look Mama. Little birds on tha doorsep.' (Lyric from the song). So, I sang the song for him. Later in the day, in the park, he ran to a heavily shaded area where he could hear a ton of birds and started singing 'Don' worry....Ev'ry things gon' be awright' up to the birds and then came running up to me to have me put my arm out while he ducked underneath it, hugging my leg. He said 'Mama Bat and Baby bat!'

He was re-enacting the music video while he sang the song. There's a part in it in which a mother bat shields a baby bat from the rain with her wing."

August 27, 2009

Keep Tryin! Keep Tryin!

This evening after dinner, I followed Alex into his room to get him undressed for the shower and saw that his room was a toy disaster area. I told him that we would have to clean it up before Quiet Time and Story Time happened. When I got back into the room after the shower I noticed that he had also taken apart his train tracks. This set up is a PITA to put together because it's a descending circle built on towers of decreasing size. It took me at least an hour to figure it out the first time.

After asking him repeatedly if he wanted the circle gone and getting no answer, I decided to put it back together and discuss it with him the next day. I was mumbling and griping to myself while I tried to figure this thing out again, muttering things like 'Oh man, where does this go now?' and similar grumbles. Alex grabbed some of the tracks and came up to the table to put them back together with me and said 'Mama, don't give up. Keep trying.'

Then he broke into a song with those lyrics '...Don't give up. Keep tryy-ing. Don't give up...'

I told him that he was absolutely right. I should keep trying.

August 20, 2009 

Motivational Speaker

This evening after dinner, I followed Alex into his room to get him undressed for the shower and saw that his room was a toy disaster area. I told him that we would have to clean it up before Quiet Time and Story Time happened. When I got back into the room after the shower I noticed that he had also taken apart his train tracks. This set up is a PITA to put together because it's a descending circle built on towers of decreasing size. It took me at least an hour to figure it out the first time.

After asking him repeatedly if he wanted the circle gone and getting no answer, I decided to put it back together and discuss it with him the next day. I was mumbling and griping to myself while I tried to figure this thing out again, muttering things like 'Oh man, where does this go now?' and similar grumbles. Alex grabbed some of the tracks and came up to the table to put them back together with me and said 'Mama, don't give up. Keep trying.'

Then he broke into a song with those lyrics '...Don't give up. Keep tryy-ing. Don't give up...'

I told him that he was absolutely right. I should keep trying.

August 20, 2009

Alex the Artist

Alex painted for the first time today. He was so excited about it, he did two paintings and sat there for 90 minutes doing it.

August 12, 2009

Barbeque Fun

I got some recent pics of Alex, taken at a friend's BBQ that I didn't attend. (sniff!) Dan and his friend Chris took the photos.


Joining "the guys" in a game of ball.


Another ship shaped climbing gym! Dan says he was in his glory.

August 10, 2009