Mr. Personality

Remember our eldest? Remember "Little B"?
He's like 12 now. Ok, not really -- but he's so big and there are moments when I look at him and see him 10 years from now.

He's funny. Like, little boy, "I tooted" and can't stop laughing funny.
He's sweet and so loving, I'm afraid he'll try to hide that side of him more and more as he gets older and I'm going to have a really hard time letting him.
He's particular and driven by routine.
He watches people. Yes, sometimes with his mouth open, just like his Mama.
We still have the same cry. sorry bud.

He loves:
Dance Parties
Going to the grocery store.
Finding something he really likes and then he incorporates it into his routine (little milks at dinner, a graham cracker in his red, mickey mouse chair before bath time).
Being independent - putting on his own shoes, no matter how long it's taking or if we're in a hurry.
Team Ummi Zoomi on Nick Jr. (a neighbor friend of mine told me about this show a long time ago and how it was like crack for kids, I never understood - but I do now.)
Looking at the pictures on the wall and seeing his big family that loves him so from near and far.
Talking about where everyone lives and is really trying to remember.
M&M's - like, picks them out of the trail mix first kind of loves. Or, will work for M&M's kind of loves.
His Daddy and all the silly games that they play together, especially Tuesday nights when they have some QT for swim lessons.
Leap Frog and London Bridges
Holding hands
Payton and knowing that he's getting bigger to play and laugh with.
Carbs: bagels have been added into the rotation of waffles/pancakes for morning "snacks" on the way to school.

It's funny, I try to remind myself that both Tim and I are the eldest child in our family, first born and all that, and being a new parent and trying every moment out first with that child makes things a bit high on the scale of importance, even when it's really not. I know his need for having things in order, or being particular come from our need for it also. 

We have such a special routine with Cameron at night and it makes my heart smile knowing that my sweet almostthreeyearold knows how to do/say the sign of the cross, knows how to say his prayers and knows which songs we sing before we go to bed. The routine itself has turned into one giant prayer that I want to hold on forever.  Before I leave his room, we do one bear hug and then he giggles and tells me it's time for lots of kisses as he kisses me on my cheeks, my ears, my nose and my head.  The first time he did that I walked into the kitchen shaking my head and then Tim reminded me, "he's not going to do that for very much longer so soak it up now". He's right. This kid that has moments of acting 12 will be 12 before I know it and then these little moments of wonderment will be discussions of Sportscenter or arguments about homework. 

So what that he hasn't mastered potty training. Sure the whole process should be something way easier than it is. But, you know what? It'll happen. I can't even begin to think about how long it might take to get him to pee standing up, or outside for that matter, when the time comes.  

Mr. Personality, I love you - oh so much - but, we're going to overcome this potty-training thing, and find a way to get a haircut too...in the meantime, is it time for too many kisses yet?

Non-Verbal Communication

A funny thing happened to me a couple of days ago and it has me smiling every time I think of it.  A lesson learned long ago about people and differences, but knowing that once you learn something you never really forget the basics.  It has my eyes glimmering as I remember my Great Aunt & Uncle and my heart smiling as I think back to college and my Foreign Language classes - American Sign Language (ASL).  At my high school ASL, wasn't offered as a Foreign Language, so I took Spanish, but once I got to college I knew I was going to take ASL. My Great Aunt & Uncle had both been Deaf and loved to teach me the alphabet when I was little.  I would practice it over and over, timing myself on how fast I could sign my name.  My Grandmother and I would hook up the phone line to a typewriter that sent messages back and forth with them -- pre-internet, pre-email, pre-text messaging, back when telephone land lines were all we had.  I was so intrigued by the community, by the thought of their lifestyle, by the communication.  When we visited, I loved seeing all the different systems that they had in place, lights flashing when the doorbell rang, closed captioning on the television, etc.  When I started taking classes with a good friend of mine we giggled at how this would come in handy when we wanted to talk to each other without anyone else knowing what we were saying (especially boys), but really we loved learning something new.  I wasn't sure if or when I would ever use it, but I loved it just the same.

Fast forward to present day and get ready to judge me a little.
Ready? I'm about to reveal something about myself.
Are you sure you're ready?
I'm not perfect. I can't do it all and I'm fully aware of that. To help me out - we have someone that comes occasionally to help give our home some clean attention. For the most part we keep it clean on a day-to-day basis, but twice a month this person comes to give it one good scrubbin'.
There. I said it out loud. Done judging yet?  You can go ahead and take my Mother of the Year award away, I didn't really want it anyway. :)

Ok good, now back to the story - recently I had to find a new person to come and help us out so I had to do a couple of meet and greets at our house to get some quotes and make sure that we were all on the same page.  Enter Ms. V. We had emailed and texted and finally we set up a time to meet.  One evening, literally as we are pulling into the garage I noticed her car waiting for us. Shoot - she was early and I, no we, were a hot mess:  two hungry and tired kids, backpacks, gym bag, purse, lunch bag - pretty much a bag lady. Tucker had wandered out of the garage and up to Ms. V who was getting out of her car. I yelled from the garage that Tucker was friendly, but old.  Then as Ms. V smiled and continued to walk up the driveway with her sweet baby while I was talking randomly and getting mine out of the car, I turned to her and she signed that she was Deaf.  Doh! There I was jabbering on and yelling about the dog, not even knowing that she was Deaf - but hey, wait -- I know ASL!

BAM! 

Here's my chance! It's only been 13-ish-years. 

You still remember it don't you? 

Uh, what was that? Can you sign it slower? 

Let's just say it was great. She was great. Seeing Cameron watch us as we signed and tried to communicate was even better. I tried to get him to show her some of the words that he knows, but he was a little shy and maybe a tiny bit scared. Later, I tried to explain to him that Ms. V couldn't hear and that's why we had to use our signs.  He followed us everywhere we went and just watched with his mouth open as we tried our best to understand each other. My signing was horrible and atrocious, but I loved being able to use it. Being able to try. I loved using another way to communicate to another Mama that was a lot like me.  After doing all of that signing and trying my best, I had that ASL love in my heart and when we said goodbye I had to hug her.
Judge me again: Why yes, I am a hugger -- even to potential housekeepers.

When I rambled the story to Tim later, he thought it was so funny - but really cool. When I texted Ms. V later to thank her for coming over and for her patience with my signs, she said she'd come help me practice any time! :) Two points for bringing that old joy back and knowing that even though it wasn't perfect I could still understand and communicate for the most part.  I know that my Great Aunt & Uncle would be thrilled to know that I was trying my best.

Dear Nugget

Ten Months. You're changing, growing, moving more every day.
You eat everything and anything we put in front of you.
If you can feed it to yourself (pick it up) you'll love us/it even more.
You like avocados!
It's hard to make you keep water in the bathtub.
You beeline for just about any kind of box or basket that you can empty.
You'll do it in half the time if it's something that Cameron is playing with.
You love to swing.
I'm pretty sure that you might have consumed gravel or a leaf last weekend. ok, it totally could have been both.

You have this grin right now that could go either way - it could be a happy grin, or like you're on the brink of being pissed. I'm not sure, but it's cute regardless.
You're pulling up on things and you know when I'm walking away.
We're trying to teach you signs, and I love that Cameron tries to help you do them too.
When you clap, we all clap.
We've introduced you to the sippy cup, but you're not sold on it yet.

You have 6 teeth. Big ones too.
You have sensitive skin. I hope you grow out of that quickly.
Your Daddy loves to snack on your cheeks and you reach for his nose.
You pose on your side just like Cameron did. It's one of my favorite things. Even the teachers at school recognize it.
You love when Cameron shares his goldfish with you. and I mean LOVE!

You are a joy and a blessing. I'm not sure how we got so lucky with not one but two incredibly loving boys, but we're better people because of you.

I don't know if we will say it enough when you're 16, or if you will listen to me... but Thank you for being you.
We love you to the moon & back.