john's mom works

i'm not sure why, but i never grow tired of pictures of a naked child in big shoes. john obliges on a regular basis. three unrelated notes of recent adorable behavior. just little vignettes that color our lives everyday! dad's shoes sunday afternoon, we were getting ready to go to my cousin's baby shower. my husband and i were getting dressed, while john ran around still unclothed. he ran into our bedroom and put on his daddy's sandals and walked out into the living room. he looked at me, a big grin on his face, and said, "i wear dad's shoes!" it's the first time he's ever said "dad" instead of "daddy," and i instantly thought - when did you turn 15?!? hugs finally - FINALLY - john has gotten back into the school routine and doesn't cry when i drop him off at school. and this week he even started in a new class, with the other two year olds (so big!) and he's been doing great. it helps that he know...

this morning, as we waited for the daycare to open, i said to john, "i don't know why i'm so tired, boo. i got nothing." and i looked back at him and saw: and he said, "here, mommy," as he handed me a cheerio. "now mommy have cereal!"

playing with daddy before school this is such an age of change for john - for all two-year-olds, i suppose, but he's the one i know the best! next week he will be moved up to the two-year-old class at his daycare. that means no sippy cups at school - big kid cups instead! - and starting toward potty training with his peers. it means a new teacher, though john's been visiting with that class for a while and loves all the teachers at the daycare. it means more organized learning, which is awesome ... and crazy, since i still so clearly remember bringing my barely-six-pound infant to the baby room almost exactly two years ago when i started back to work after john was born. but there is an even larger shift afoot, which i knew was coming ...  since john was born, i've been assuring my husband, "a day is coming when mommy will be chopped liver and all john will want to do is follow daddy around. don't feel bad that he is so mommy-centered now ... the daddy s...

these sleepy blue eyes melt me so. i (barely) made it to the gym again this morning. i say this not to brag, but because it's the backdrop for this morning's sweetness.  i got up early (not early enough to be on time) and when i was all ready except for john, i went into his room singing the silly little morning song i use on the days i have to wake him up. he didn't stir. i turned on the lamp and went to his crib and started rubbing his back. a little movement, but not a peep. and heavy eyes that didn't open. finally i picked up his not-quite-24-lbs of dead weight and carried him to his changing table. i lay him down and began changing his diaper. he rubbed his eyes, looked at me, smiled, and said, "oh, hi!" as if he was surprised to see me there! he cooperatively got dressed, sat up and asked for his shoes. i asked if he wanted to give daddy hugs goodbye and he did, along with kisses and an i love you or three. as we walked out the door, he sa...

big boy eating goldfish. hey parents, john's mom could use some advice! john has recently been having some problems with sharing. i know, that's pretty universal two-year-old stuff. i'm not concerned, per se, but i am interested in how other people have helped coach their kids into being better sharers. here's how the problems show up:  seems to only be at daycare/sunday school. with cousins/friends/etc, he seems ok when another kiddo has something john wants, he will, of course try to take it. when a teacher or the child says no, he will throw himself to the floor for a massive fit. when he doesn't get his way, he will cool off quickly (a matter of minutes) and then be totally fine. if another kiddo comes to play with something john has (even if it is big enough to share, like the toy house or kitchen etc), john will "defend" his toy - he will say the child's name, say no, and sometimes even push the other child away. when a teacher co...

i'm banking on the fact that one day, john will be very mad at be for publishing this photo. but come on, naked baby doing somersaults. how could i pass it up? it was a pretty standard busy weekend. laundry, family time, a little bit of rest. my husband and i did get to go see "dark knight rises" together, which was an awesome date. (i have been a huge batman fan since i was about three. in fact, i was batman something like six halloweens in a row as a kid. not batgirl - batman. get it right.) but it was a lovely weekend. nothing earthshattering ... just nice. so here is the monday morning highlight reel. first row : left/middle - john works on his ball handling. right - "mommy, i ride a TIGER!" second row:  study of a boy and his dog. and no,  i didn't tell him to take  his clothes off. he's just a naked sort of kid.

i dare you resist that grin. hard to believe it was hysterical tears three minutes later. every since we got back from alaska, john's been struggling with me leaving him at daycare each morning. the first morning, he cried from the time we parked the car, through the walk in the door, to his classroom, and i had to put him straight into his teacher's arms because he wasn't staying there voluntarily. it's gotten somewhat better each day. one morning, instead of walking to his room, we danced to his room - hey, anything to keep the kiddo happy. by now, we talk about school on the way, and he seems ok with it. when we park, he gladly gets out of the car. he even seems excited to see his teachers, play with his friends, and eat breakfast (not necessarily in that order). he'll let me carry him - or sometimes walk - to his room, right up to the table where he normally eats. but then, then it all falls apart. he can't stand to let go of me, won't sit...