Bring on Spring!

There is a certain Boy Energy that accompanies Spring.  Lots of movement, lots of singing and dancing, lots of running and jumping, lots of boy.  It is a recipe for a dinner picnic in the park!  Keith wouldn't stand still long enough for me to actually take his picture... proving the point.

Seeking the Toddler Whisperer

Keith turns 3 in four short weeks.  He is so excited to have a birthday.  Ask him about it.... he wants a Storm Trooper helmet and a cake.  In preparation for big boyhood, we told him he has to stop sucking his finger.  He's obsessed.  Right now he is sitting on my lap explaining to me that he isn't going to preschool until he is five so he doesn't need to stop sucking his finger.

We've tried everything..... bribes, threats, ultimatums, gum, hot sauce, bandaids.......
Here's the bandaid therapy in action:

He is very exclusive to his pointer finger (aka spitty finger) on his right hand.  Until you wrap it up in a bandaid.

"See lady, I'll suck my pinky!" Desperate measures for all.

Gum on the other hand seems to work pretty well. Let's buy him some for his birthday.  When he gets gum, he usually brags, "See Mom, I not suck my finger."

Next step, hypnosis...... unless you have some other ideas.

So quiet.

It has been quiet around this blog.  I could tell you that I have been busy slaving over THE AFTER.  That wouldn't be a complete lie because I am going to reveal two "afters" soon.... Very, very soon. 

In the meantime, enjoy this Patrick story.....

Patrick has been in the midst of a major growth spurt, which of course means he is consuming food at an astonishing rate.  Everyone else was done eating dinner one night and he decided that he needed a piece of bread to finish his third serving of whatever we were eating.

Patrick: This is such good bread!  It smells gooood.
Mom: Yep, it smells yeasty.
Patrick: mmhmmm.... (with a "my mother has officially lost it" look on his face)
Mom: Do you know what yeast is?
Patrick: Sure.  It's that way.... No, that way......

Jokey Jokester

Keith's morning comedic routine has three parts.

Part 1:  You are putting on his shoes and socks.  He quietly swipes a sock or a shoe and hides it under his leg.  Ever tried to hide an Ugg boot under your leg?  Doesn't work.  Still funny.

Part 2: On the way to Grandpa's house, at the same spot every day he shouts, "Hey! Mom! Yook at that!"
"What is it Keith?"
"Nofing!  I just kidding!  I made you yook."

Part 3: Chatting with Grandpa, mom is getting ready to leave. 
"Mom, I hafta tell you someting."  That means he needs to whisper in your ear.
"Grandpa spank my bottom!................................................................................ hee hee"
Last night this joke went the other way when Keith called Grandpa and reported that "Mama. Pank. My. Bottom."

All jokes until someone gets hurt. 

You know you're the mother of boys if....

you return home from an overnight trip and get the exact same report from both kids.
"How was your day?"
"Great.  We wrestled with Dad!"

These pictures are from a couple of weeks ago.  Keith returned from his mud adventures with a rash all over his body.  good times, bad mommy

The Mommy Merit Badge

I used to think that there should be a Mommy Merit Badge for cleaning up vomit.    After yesterday, I believe that there should be a Mommy Merit Badge for catching puke in your hands.  Kevin and I both would get one.   Cleaning it up, that's Brownie stuff, we are definitely Scouts.

You do know that there is a Mommy Merit Badge system right?

Image from Mamameritbadge.com

I not sleepy

Once upon a time, there was a precious prince who loved to sleep.  He would sleep all night long.  No peeps, no squeaks, no protests... it was magical.  Then he didn't... it was not magical.  THE END.

Keith is not sleeping!  Last night he kept his brother up reading him books until 10:30!!!!  His brother can't turn away a "poor scared" boy.  So the party goes on.  Tonight I politely asked him to stay in his bed.  So far he's been in to see me three times. 

I miss the good old days when he would snuggle into his bed without protest and stay there until 8:00 in the morning. 

Kevin and I share memories of Patrick (age 2 through 4.75) tiptoeing into our room again and again, night after night.  His problem was nightmares.  I don't know what Keith's problem is but here we are.  Maybe I should cut back his coffee intake to two cups a day?  Limit him to only one spoonful of sugar at bedtime?

Of note, he spent the whole week prior to his first non-sleeping night sleeping on top of his comforter with his personalized KDI blanket on the wrong end of the bed.  He flat out refused to sleep any other way.  If this problem persists maybe I should make up the opposite end of the bed?