the big switcheroo

Bryan's sister Michele is expecting twins so we've been sorting through all sorts of toys, clothes, books, etc. trying to pare things down to pass off to our new cousins. We got a big boy bed handed down to us from our good friend Ewan and we moved it to our place over the weekend. Since we're too lazy to store the bed in the basement and knew we'd be handing Simon's crib off to Michele, we decided to take the plunge and do the switch. Big milestones like this one usually take some planning in our house. I get the idea in my mind and then set a time frame in which I want to accomplish the goal. But this was more of a spontaneous decision. We didn't have Ella in her twin size bed till she was almost three! The only bad thing was, Simon has been really sick and our timing couldn't have been worse. The first three times we laid him down for bed, he snuck out over and over and over! And then, when he'd hear Bryan making his way up the stairs, he'd scurry back and snuggle down in the covers as if he hadn't been found out. But today, Simon is beginning to feel better and I'm so proud! He laid right down for his nap and didn't budge. I'm excited about the big boy bed. Even though it means he's not a baby any longer. *sniff* Gets me thinking...another baby soon? Hmmmmm....

catching up with Si-Mo

So, I haven't really kept up on my blog in the last few months. Life has been a sort of roller coaster as of late. But I just had to write a little something about my boy. Simon is nearing two (his birthday is in less than a month now) and he's been changing in the most wonderful ways. Not only does he look like a little boy now with his strong little physique and confidant swagger, he's really growing intellectually and emotionally. I love the way his blond hair is filling in and has a bit of a swoopy curl at the nape of his neck and I love his giggles! He loves to be tossed around and roughed up and tickled and teased (unless it's his sister of course!) He's quite a snuggler too and is still quick with a kiss. He is a bit of a loner sometimes...loves being with others and is the life of the party, but is content to wander off and play alone in his room. He's becoming good with puzzles and loves to pretend to write his name with a pen. He has favorite movies that he's constantly pulling out of the drawer and requests that they be played immediately although he never seems to sit through more than 15-20 minutes. His favorites right now are Peter Pan, Jungle Book, and Ella's Dora Adventures. He's saying a few more words now...At the park a couple of weeks ago, I had sat the kids by a tree to take their photo. I prompted them with the typical "Say Cheeeese!" And he said it! Clear as a bell! He also says "please", "yes" and "no" very clearly.

This is the moment where he said "CHEEEESE!"
Unfortunately, he didn't get that he was supposed
to be looking at me when he said it!

Simon has always been pretty coordinated and more physically adept. He loves jumping and will go from one end of the house to the other, hopping like a kangaroo. He goes up and down the stairs unassisted, still not using the handrail as he's been doing for several months now. Up until today, that was working out ok. But he feel head over feet down the stairs this morning! Scared the pudding out of me, but he dusted himself off and went right back to his old ways. That boy is a daredevil. Oh, but he's sweet one. Sweetest smile in town.

the key to her heart

Ella is four now. And she's all about communication. And emotion. Sometimes, the emotion cancels out the communication or skews the communication in such a way that I completely misunderstand my little girl and what motivates her. There have been points in the last several weeks where I've stopped short in the midst of an exchange with her feeling completely at a loss, thinking, "I seriously have no clue where to go from here." So over the last few days, I have been chewing on this thought: What is the key to opening Ella's heart? In the midst of anger or hurt, how do I get through to her? What breaks down the wall? I know what the key ISN'T...that's an easy one. What doesn't work is hugs or kisses. Sometimes she's just not in the mood for that. I know it's not spankings or stern words. That works for a second, but it doesn't really stick and we're back in the same predicament within ten minutes. What I am discovering about my dear Ella is that she is a quality time, connecting kind of person. When I spend lots of time engaged in her sweet games, reading books together, giggling and telling silly stories, she thrives. So with Ella, I'm thinking that its not about getting the key out once the lock is locked, it's about keeping the lock from closing. I'm doing my best dear one. Don't give up on me!

bloodsuckers hate hairy legs

Both of my kids get the most horrendous mosquito bites. Our outdoor adventures never last because we end up running back inside due to multiple expanding welts all over their poor little appendages! (Simon always ends up getting one right on his forehead, the little buggers.) So this afternoon, after having our morning outing to the front sidewalk end prematurely due to blood suckers, Ella requested to go in the back yard where her daddy was grilling.

Ella: I'm going to put my shoes on to go outside with Daddy.
Me: No, Ella. There are bad mosquitoes out there and you already got eaten up once today.
Ella: Oh yeah. (Then reasoning it out sort of to herself...) If I go outside, I get mosquito bites. But Daddy doesn't. Daddy can go outside and he doesn't get mosquito bites because he has hair on him.

Somehow, it kind of makes sense, doesn't it?

lip service

Simon has only a handful of words and a couple of animal sounds (he would make a great snake as previously posted here, and his cat meow is impeccable) but he loves to lip sync! And he does it with flair and attitude. I find this phase incredibly enjoyable. I never get tired of watching him do this...



* Featuring: The Monkees: "I'm Not Your Steppin' Stone" from "The Monkees Greatest Hits".
This album has great significance in that it gets blared whenever Simon throws a fit about being strapped into his car seat. This particular video however was filmed under no duress. No toddlers were harmed during the filming of this production.

little drummer boy

Simon loves drums. He loves banging on things which I know is a definite boy thing, but I do think this boy has some God-given rhythm. And coordination. What he lacks in verbal skills, he makes up in movement and dexterity. Anyway, we just got back from a meeting at the church and, after meetings end, I always have a significant time of chasing the kids around, giving them their freedom while Bryan has conversations with various folks. What I find the most challenging during these times is keeping Simon away from the drum kit. He so wants to play those drums! And I can't allow it because, just being the preacher's kid doesn't mean you can do whatever you want in the church building. When I told him 'no' this time, he tried a couple more times, but then finally settled for a pair of drum sticks he found laying off to the side and began tapping on various things. So, I thought I'd go ahead and mark this down as a possible future talent and see what may come. And, I'll throw in a video just for good measure. This video was taken just after he turned ONE.

ella on marriage

I'm not sure if it's from over-exposure to Disney films, fairy tale stories, or what, but Ella has had an awareness of marriage for quite a while now. When she was just over three years old, she was in our bedroom looking at the flowers on the table by our bed. Her daddy was resting on the bed with her when she asked if the flowers came from my wedding. This sparked a conversation about marriage with her father.

Dad: Ella, do you know who Mommy's husband is?
Ella: No.
Dad: I'm your mommy's husband, Ella.
Ella thinks about this for a moment, and then as her thoughts shift, her face falls and her lip begins to quiver.
Ella: Daddy? Who is MY husband?
Dad: Ella, you are too little to have a husband. You're only three years old!
Ella: But what is his name? How will I know who he is?
Dad: When you are old enough, Daddy will tell you. (quite a funny notion...)
Ella: Well, when I meet my husband I will bring him to this house and he'll say 'hi!'
Dad: He'd better say more than that!

Shortly after this conversation, Ella decided that she was going to marry her daddy. This is a very sweet idea that makes Daddy feel very loved so we never tried to explain to her that that really wouldn't work out too well. Other people have tried to correct her on this notion asking things like, "If you marry your Daddy, who will be your mommy's husband?" She doesn't really have an answer to this question.

From that notion of marriage, she moved on to say that when she grew up she'd marry Simon and they would have their own house. I know later, this statement will give her the willies, but it's just so sweet to me to think that her understanding of being married is being with the men you love most in your life. To her, that's her Daddy and brother. I'm so happy that's the case for her.

This last week, her marital plans shifted. We have a young man living with us for nine months while he does an internship (called the Frontier Year Team) at our church. He's a great guy by the name of Elijah and he is so sweet with the kids. He's like an honorary older brother to them. The other day, we were playing music and the kids were dancing and Elijah was twirling Ella around. She loves this sort of thing and it really made an impression on her. That night as I was chatting with her after lights were out, she told me of her new wedding plans:

Ella: Mommy, when I get big, I want to marry Elijah.
Me: Don't you think he might be a little too old for you Ella? Wouldn't you like to marry someone more your own age?
Ella: Hmmmm....I have a good idea. How about when I get big, I'll marry Elliott!
Me: Well, he'll have to ask you first Ella. The boy asks the girl. Girls don't ask boys to get married.
Ella: (thinking) I have a good idea....When I get big, I'll say, 'I'll marry you Elliott.'

I don't think she quite got the concept of being asked...only that she wanted to make sure he knew she'd be willing. Funny girl. I think we might have to put away our princess movies for a while till this fascination dies down a bit...Girls will be girls I suppose. No use fighting it!