Thanks to the Grandparents?

Around his birthday, Aid picked out this big encyclopedia type book about dinosaurs from the used book shop. It is really too much to read, but has the names pointed out. This really didn't mean too much to him at the time. He just liked looking at all the dinosaurs.

Yesterday, we went to Toys R Us to use what was left of a birthday gift certificate from Bob's parents. He picked out a bin of dinosaurs complete with rocks and trees and a plastic play mat. He was super excited to line up everything on his mat and play.

Upon returning from this venture we pulled up to see a Grandma Box! Inside? A dinosaur movie!

Needless to say Aid is in heaven. He now makes us find the named dinosaur in his book so that he can match it to his dinosaur figure. All this while the dinosaur movie is playing. I came down this morning to Aid yelling at the tv, "You are a triceratops!"

Blessing? Curse? You be the judge.

My Arm is Your Arm

My arm belongs to Aid. From the very first day, Aid was a cuddler. He snuggled right in and never left. To this day, he will climb into our bud, pull the blankets all around him and ask, "Mom can I have your arm?" Then he basically curls himself around it. There are times where I find myself irritated and snapping, "Aid give me my arm, I need it."

But it's his. My right arm will forever belong to Aid.

Pictures Don't Lie

Bob has a theory that pictures are lies. He says this when he is being dramatic and pessimistic. But after I took the boys raspberry picking with my mommy group I realized that he could be a little right. Although whether the pictures capture the actual moment in all it's glory or slightly misrepresent....they are memories I want to hold onto.

But look:


Looks like Aid is picking raspberries! In truth, he would not come over to the raspberry picking and was yelling at me. And these are the only 5 raspberries he picked.


And here is is feeding his beloved animals.


When in truth, the stupid goat would not come down from the perch despite repeated urges with food. Aid started to get upset because really this is all he wanted to do. Only when we threatened to leave did the diva goat come down.


Seemingly adorable little baby cow. But I actually felt sorry for the little thing. She would not eat any of the offered corn and seemed scared and was huddled in the corner of her pen.


And little Grant looks adorable and all ready to join the fun. But I had to leave him sitting by himself while I hurriedly tried to pick my raspberries.


He did like the raspberries though. I think it may have been too early for them and he got a rash all over...no raspberries for Grant for a little while longer...


And right before we were gonna leave I spotted the haystacks and thought it would make an adorable picture. Which it did. But Grant was screaming moments before this picture was taken and neither would look at me until my friend Sara threw hay in the air behind me.

And then when it came time to go I realized that someone had stolen a pint of my picked raspberries and skimmed off the top of the other two. I don't know who steals some one's picked raspberries and can feel good but so be it.

So true....these pictures don't necessarily represent exactly what happened. But they are good enough.

School

I realized something today. Aid has grown up a little bit. He is suddenly being less of a toddler and more of a kid. He is suddenly so eager to learn. Going to school (ECFE) has motivated Aid. We even talked about perhaps going to the potty. It is unclear when he will tell me he's ready. But we are now talking about it.

The topic of the parenting room was "observing" your child. And it forced me to take a step back and just watch Aid, or reflect on things that I have already observed. For example, it has in the past been frustrating when Aid did not instantly jump into an activity. Today I watched him not participate in the singing of the song (Wheels on the Bus) in the circle. He sat right outside the circle. But he was watching and engaged. And damn if he wasn't singing the entire song all day long!

He's a thoughtful kid. But when he is finally confident enough to take a step, it's a big one. He has so much fun at school. I peered into the window to find him talking to his teachers about the animals. Imagine that.



He packed his bag....full of animals.




It is going to be so much fun watching this kid grow up.

The Golden Rule

Dear Aid and Grant,

For no reason at all, every once in awhile send your mama a bouquet of flowers. She loves flowers. Your dad does not get them as often as he should. You are welcome to get them for the other girls in your life. I won't be jealous. Unless you don't get any for me.

Love,
Mom

Who Says?

Who says that with second babies you don't take as many pictures? I have made it my mission to make sure that Grant's photo album is just as complete and full as Aid's is. Of coarse Aid now yells, "No mommy! No more pictures!" Some day they will be happy that I was so proud of them and wanted to capture as much of their childhood as I could. But then Bob tells me they won't. They are boys. They won't look at their baby pictures, they will only call on Sundays, and they won't want to talk to me about girls.

Killjoy.

One of Those Moments

We met up with some friends at a playground this evening. There were other children that were there. One kid came up to Aid and asked what his name was. Aid answered boldly, "I Aiden is Bures and this (he points to me) is my mommmy!"

It was all I could do to not cry. I am regularly proud of Aid and who he is. He is a free spirit. He is sweet,kind, funny and headstrong. I am proud to call him my son. Tonight there was a moment where I realized he was proud to have me as his mommy too.