Baby Boy, Bun365, Life

Four And a Half

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Four and a half is challenging. Its not the terrible twos…actually the twos weren’t that bad at all. The threes were a bit rough. But this has been the most challenging. Four and a half is defiance. four and a half is letting go off my hand and running off in the middle of the mall. Four and a half is back to back time outs. Four and a half is a constant state of negotiation. I can handle the dawdling over shoes or breakfast, I can handle the whining even. I can’t handle the defiance, that moment when he just says no when I ask him to do something. There are fewer and fewer cuddles, more and more jumping and wrestling.

But four and a half is also sweet. I adore the non stop chatter coming from the back seat when we drive around. I love that he wants to share everything with me and I’m still his favorite person. This conversation sums up all the awesomeness of four and a half

Me: Thanks for helping me with the laundry, you have been a really good helper today

Bun: yeah, I am a good helper Are you glad you borned me?

Me: Yes, I’m glad I borned you

Bun:I’m glad you picked me.

.:Heart Bursts:.

And the five minutes later we are back to the spitting and shouting and yelling.

Four and a half will also pass and maybe I’ll say it wasn’t so bad. But right now…its a challenge

Bun365, Mommyhood, Simple Things, Toddler

Staying In

We’ve been staying in all this week. The weather hasn’t been terrible, but my little man has been down with the sickies. Its not been very pleasant overall, but the upside of staying in is that we get to putter around the house doing things like baking pumpkin chocolate chip muffins and brownies. I’m going to gain 5 lbs well before the holidays this year!

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I love Bun’s Oooh Face!

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Mommyhood, Toddler, Uncategorized

After the Rain

Its been raining around here. A lot. So much that we have had to stay housebound the past few mornings. Its not all bad though, plenty of snuggling on the couch and watching movies and playing cars, and looking out of windows. I want to say that because I was home I got my house whipped into shape, but no I didn’t. It still looks like we just moved in. I’m hopeless.

But when it stops raining and it is time to kick off the blankets and the boots and just run and run and run outside.

Nothing makes Bun happier than rolling around the grass these days.

Scenes from the past few days:

20120919-153349.jpgThese two photos are my favorite. This is what two looks like to me on a good day. When there has been good naps, and good meals and no tantrums, Bun and I get to enjoy moments like this.

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Hands in his pockets is a new thing for fun. He is trying to put his hands down everyone’s pockets.A few years down the line, this might be a bit of a problem, but lately its cute!

Books, Mommyhood, Toddler

… That I shall miss you When you have grown

I love this little boy so much that sometimes I fear that my heart cannot bear such brutality. I try to remember this on days like today, when he has a cold and he is cranky, bossy, rude and demanding, when I’m snappy and short and impatient. But when he is in bed, asleep and I have calmed down his nerves and mine, and I look through our pictures from  my camera and I just want to sit and cry at how quickly all this is passing.

Today, I looked up as he followed J down the stairs and he looked like a kid, not my baby, not a toddler- a kid. In his navy shorts and  a bandaid on his finger and scrapes on his knee, there he was – a little boy. And with every fibre of my body, I willed time to pause.

He got down the stairs and called out “Mommy” in his sweet 2 year old voice and just like that he was my baby again. At least for today.

The title is from the last two lines of W.B Yeats A Cradle Song

A Cradle Song

The angels are stooping
Above your bed;
They weary of trooping
With the whimpering dead.
God’s laughing in Heaven
To see you so good;
The Sailing Seven
Are gay with His mood.
I sigh that kiss you,
For I must own
That I shall miss you
When you have grown

———-William Butler Yeats

Bun365, Toddler

Puddle Jumps

 

We had a terrific thunderstorm a few days ago and it woke Bun up in the middle of the night. He was scared and couldn’t sleep so we snuggled on the couch in the middle of the night while the storm raged. We sang songs, told each other’s stories. Bun’s story that he likes to tell is simple

“Once upon a time there was a digger. He lived on a job site with his mama. Digger played with the ball. There was a boss man.  I am a boss man. I build things too.”

Thats it, thats the whole story. I think I’ve got it down word for word.

Anyway, after four hours, as the storm subsided we finally fell back asleep. We woke to up more dark skies, but lovely big puddles all over our neighborhood. And so we did what  everyone should, spent our morning splashing and jumping in every puddle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Very few things make little boys happier than hours of puddle jumping.

Mommyhood, Toddler

Small Happy Things

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Is there anything cuter than a toddler eating a pink cupcake?

Its been a quiet week around here.Bun and I haven’t had too many exciting outdoor adventures, but we have spent a lot of time snuggling. And hugs from a snuggly warm toddler is one of the best feelings in the world

Also, everyday Bun amazes me with how much he is talking. Sometimes I can’t believe that I’m having real conversations with him. Usually he says phrases that he has heard me say and repeats them in the right context and I am so shocked that I feel the need to text J or my mom and share immediately. Almost like if I didn’t record it, it mustn’t have happened.

Some faves of this week:

Bun: (wearing his conductor hat) I conductor mama

Me: That is neat. What do conductors say

Bun: Hello, Ride the Train please

I was expecting him to say “all aboard” or “choo choo” but no his conductor tells passengers to ride the train please.

At target, while I hold up a shirt for him

Me: What do you think, will this be cute for Valentine’s day?

Bun: With these pants?

I don’t think he really understands what “with these pants” means, but I realized he has heard me say this phrase a lot when I’m getting ready or getting him ready.

Other little things making me happy right now

– J bought me chocolates as a belated valentine’s day treat. And I love that he got it at 50%off. I love when he is frugal like that

– I had coffee for the first time this week a) because I finally felt better and I was actually motivated enough to make it! Coffee is one of my greatest pleasures

– I have been running enough that not running this week has been nagging me. My body notices it and it makes me happy to know that I have created a healthy habit for myself.

– V-day cupcakes and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies from my mom on v-day. It so cheered us up from our sickie induced misery.

Life, Mommyhood, Toddler

Not Resolutions. But Other

I have a major case of the blaaahs this afternoon. I’m so over this cold weather, so this post is much needed. You know to motivate me. Also, I found this great pic of Bun at 24 months in my Picasa Stream. I love photo surprises

I’m not doing resolutions…don’t think I ever really have. Of course there are always goals that I’m working towards, but I don’t think they are related to the new year- Lose baby weight has been a goal since before I had a baby…its just that there is more of it now.

However, there are a few things I do want to do this year and just want a reminder for self.

***Send Holiday cards- Completely dropped the ball on this one, this year and it is making me sad. I love getting other people’s holiday cards and photos and I love sending them too.

***Ensure the existence of 4 family pictures taken in 2012. Meaning photos not taken with the iphone by me or J. It can be taken either by self timer or another person. Also, I’d like one for each season, please

***Do not wait till July to buy a swimsuit for Bun or self. All the cute ones are gone and they are still not on post season sale yet

***Cut bangs again or color hair again. Only not a boring brown.

***Cute flats. They are my best friend. I didnt’ really embrace being on the short side until this year. But there is now no going back. Comfort- Check. Style -Check

***More blog posts like this. A photo I’m loving of my kid, plus random thoughts. Some of the the big milestone blog posts stress me out because there are just too many photos to sort through. Like Bun’s party. Must post those soon.

***Find Answers. I need some about life, love, career, motherhood. I need to learn more and actively find answers

***Print. Frame. Display Photos. In my house. I have so many pretty frames with no photos

***Garden Again. This Summer.

***Disconnect Cable. Or think really long and hard about it. At least make the phone call.

Hmmm…I wonder if I’ll remember more once I hit publish.

Bun365, Mommyhood, Toddler

Almost 2 {22/23 Months}

A few more weeks, and Bun will leave behind even more of babyhood far far behind.

I told J the other day that everyday that the better I am at my job, the more obsolete I become. As Bun grows and gets smarter and funnier and more capable, the more I fade from his life. I wouldn’t have it any other way though,  Its a bittersweet existence- being a mom.

These past few weeks, before he turns the Big 2 have been some of my favorite and most most frustrating times with Bun. He is willful and stubborn and pushes his boundaries all the time but he is also sweet and funny and he still loves me best in the world!

The most amazing thing has been seeing Bun transition from just repeating words, to forming phrases and this week putting together sentences. He wants to have conversations, recall the day’s events and even make toddler jokes! He also loves snuggles and hugs and kisses and will give them voluntarily.

Things I want to remember

I gotcha – I have no idea where he learned this but he says this when he finds one of his cars that have been “hiding”

Too Many- According to Bun , he has too many cars, too many toys and too many “Nacks” (Snacks). There are too many babies at the library and too many fire trucks in his book. Too many in his world is a good thing.

Where is ____? Avi, feet, toys. Anything that he hides and then recovers.

He has also discovered negatives, so he is proud to point out when something isn’t what it is. So he says things like “Not baby tummy, mumma tummy” and of course many other variations on this….”Not red couch, brown couch”…etc etc.

Hol ma hand peez- Hold my Hand please- said in a very stern voice

Boos Boos Watch now peez- Blues Clues watch now please

Momma Nuggles- Snuggles with Momma. He asks for these all the time lately. He was getting up in the middle of the night for a few days in a row while he was teething and I asked him why he kept waking up and he answered “Momma Nuggles”

Mamma Naina-  This is what he calls me now. I don’t know how many moms he thinks he has, that he needs to specify me by name.

He is still obsessed with cars, trucks, bull dozer and any and all kinds of farm machinery and construction vehicles. He lines up all his vehicles very very carefully and then randomly just messes them up.

He also has a strong love for all farm animals and we have many conversations about what the animals that live in the barn at our local musuem might be doing at a given time.

He is still not crazy about slides but he loves running around playing in the park and every once in a while he’ll even go down the slide a few times. His favorite thing in the park our outside is to throw the leaves in the air or collect pinecones and sticks.

I have seen him do some pretend play lately too. He pretends our couch is an ozeen (ocean) and his cars are boats. He pretends his frosted mini wheats are cars. I’m getting so excited for him to create more and more elaborate pretend play scenarios.

Jumping on furniture is another favorite activity and I have a really tough time keeping him from hurting himself as he “bounce” on our couch and bed.

He still hates 90% of all food – His only acceptable food choices are Chocolate Milk ( I mix carnation into his milk as per peds instructions) Wagula Milk (Regular White Milk) Pumpkin Bad (Bread), Idli (Indian rice cakes), Apple sauce and Hot Dogs. He will however eat any kind of fruit and yogurt. So thats what he eats on most days.

He is a really good sleeper and usually doesn’t wake up during the night but nap times have been really hard. I’m lucky if I get a 40 minute nap or one at all most days. Hence the lack of blogging. He is good about quiet time and will play in his crib for an hour or so but it still makes him really cranky in the afternoon and if we aren’t out at a play date it can quickly become meltdown central. Thankfully this week he has napped a little more consistently. I’m really hoping we can get back on track again.

Bun365, Discovering Durham, Toddler

Fire Station + New Park

Yesterday felt like the last warm day of 2011. Today is cold and gloomy and Bun and I were cooped up inside almost all day.

I’m glad we made the most of it yesterday. Since it was Fire Safety Month, we toured our local fire station and then after nap time we explored a brand new park in our area.

Besides, I had to test out my iPhone 4S. It is so much cooler than my old clunky blackberry. I absolutely adore the flipview camera feature.

I was unsure if Bun would have fun, since we were in a group of slightly older kids, but he absolutely loved the fire station or as he calls it – Fire Truck House.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also downloaded instagram on my iPhone. I am hooked!

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Missing from pictures was the Fire Station’s Ambulance- Or Bun’s new love. He has been talking about the fire station non stop today, especially the Ambulance (Bun word- Adumance)

The Park

I read about Old Chapel Hill Park on this great website for Durham Moms and after nap time drove out to check it out with the Bun.  It had cool modern equipment that I haven’t seen in any other park in our area.

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I don’t know if it was the time of day, but we didn’t really see too many kids Bun’s age, they were all older, so we mostly played by ourselves. But we had a great time anyway.

When we drove home, Bun didn’t want to go inside so we headed out to the trail behind our house for some leaf stomping fun.


Because iphone uploads the photo on iPhoto on my mac, I played around in iPhoto for the first time today. I don’t care for it too much- I still prefer Picasa and Photoshop, but it was fun to play around.

Hence the overload of filters and effects.