More of What is that Smell?

C has really been noticing bad smells lately. It is beginning to be a problem. I can just hear my parents snickering over this because I had similar problems when I was a kid, and I think my whole family was relieved when I grew out of it.

Recently, I bought a big package of toilet paper, and I divided among the bathrooms, and then told the kids where to put the toilet paper away. In some of our bathrooms, there is a cabinet under the sink, but in some them the cabinet is over the toilet. So I instructed them to close the lid to the toilet and stand on it so they could reach the cabinet overhead.

Well, C comes back to me and explains that he has thrown up all over the toilet seat, and gotten some on his feet. When I asked him about it, all he would say is that he smelled something really bad. I got out the disinfectant wipes (I'm so glad that those exist!) and I washed off his feet. I went into the bathroom and cleaned up the toilet. Then I raised the lid and found that someone had forgotten to flush.

C, next time could you just flush the toilet if you smell a bad smell and not vomit everywhere? I'm just asking.

School Shopping

One Saturday, my family and a friend headed for a day of food, movies and shopping. My loving husband took the kids to the park while my friend and I went shopping, and then the plan was to meet up later, I would take the kids, and my husband could go do whatever he wanted to do.

I had a great time shopping with my friend, and when we met up with my husband, my son had on a completely new outfit. He looked really cute, but I wondered where the clothes came from so here is the story that I got from my husband:

"Yeah, we went to the park near the shopping mall, and it had a river running through it. C fell into the river so I just took him over there to Gap Kids. I figured he needed some school clothes and they had what he's wearing on sale. Win-win situation."

Who knew that this is what it took for dear hubby to take the kids clothes shopping? I was so thrilled that I had one less thing to buy for the start of school, and I didn't get a single phone call interrupting my own shopping time with a screaming husband with a very wet child. At first, I was a little concerned over the money because when something like this happened before we took him to Walmart and I usually only buy such brands second-hand, but hey I decided to count my blessings. By the time, I found out about the problem, everything was already taken care of: Wonderful!

What is that smell?

Yesterday morning, I hugged my son and realized that he really needed a good scrubbing. He just reeked in a way that really active little boys can. So I told him that he was taking a quick shower before church. As I'm getting the water ready, and encouraging him to take off his clothes, he says,

Mom, can we light a candle? It really stinks in here.

C, it stinks in here because you stink. This is why you are taking a shower.

But MOM, can we light a candle? It stinks in here.

C, lighting a candle isn't going to help because you are what stinks.

MOM! Can we light a candle?

C, just get into the shower!

C's Survey about Mom

Ask your kid the questions and write them down exactly how they respond.

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Put your shoes and socks on and your coat on.

2. What makes mom happy?
When I do stuff that she says I have to do.

3. What makes mom sad?
Doing stuff that she says I can't do.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Juggling balls

5. What was your mom like as a child?
You liked to play.

6. How old is your mom?
I don't know.

7. How tall is your mom?
Kinda big.

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Play.

9. What does your mom do when you’re not around?
Go somewhere.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
You'll do a show.

11. What is your mom really good at?
Playing catch.

12. What is your mom not very good at?
I don't know ... tackling

13. What does your mom do for her job?
Take care of me and G.

14. What is your mom’s favorite food?
Toast

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
When you play catch with me.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
The Loony Tunes Bird that says "I did, I did see a pooty cat."

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Make crafts & take naps.

18. How are you and your mom the same?
We have bodies, hands, and faces.

19. How are you and your mom different?
You have long hair and I have short.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Because you play with me.

22. Where is your mom’s favorite place to go?
Shopping

For those of you who know me, does this really sound like me or is C in his own world?

C's Statements of Fact

C makes these wonderfully, obvious simple statements of fact:

"Sometimes when it gets really cold outside, the pond freezes into ice."
"It is cold outside during winter."
"Snow melts and makes my clothes wet."

I just love it when he does it. It is like I can see the gears in his head clicking. He just declares these statements one at a time out of the blue. You can't tell when one is coming, and an awful lot of them come after a ride in the car. He has been thinking and has finally figured something out. I can't wait until he gets in school and starts taking a science class. What kind of conversations are we going to have then?

Out of the mouth of babes

I conducted a New Year's Interview of my kids, and it was fairly enlightening.

C says his favorite toy, book & animal is FROGS.
G's favorite TV show is iCarly.
Their favorite restaurant is Denny's? Who knew?

Here is where I got the idea, and I plan on saving these and comparing year to year.

In fact, I think I'm going to have them sign their names so we can compare their autographs from year to year.

Moving Anxiety

I would say that C, my 4 yo boy, has had the most difficult adjustment to moving. He has regressed in potty training and has had a handful of aggression incidences that had never happened before, but his most obvious display of anxiety has been the wrinkling of his nose and mouth. Instead of greeting new people and new places with cries or screams, he has greeted them with a kind of twisted smile and a wrinkled nose. Gradually as our life has settled into routine, I've realized that the wrinkled nose has become less frequent. Thankfully, C is adjusting and settling in.

Today, a new friend of mine mentioned the wrinkled nose, and how it had almost disappeared. Earlier in the day, I had a conversation with my SIL about how it is hard to find ourselves in our boys. Our boys are just so overtly our husbands that we can't find ourselves. Tonight in the quiet (after the kids had gone to bed) I remembered a picture of a little boy with a wrinkled nose and a soft scowl. The picture is an old black and white photo from a previous generation. That little boy grew up to be my dad. So I'm guessing C's wrinkled nose at uncomfortable situations must come from my side of the family. Maybe there's some of me in him afterall.

I'm back

Well we've moved in to our new house. I think that N & I are in a bit of shock over moving. Even though, we're pros at the the moving thing. There are still things that take us off guard, like it just takes so much energy to learn all the everyday things. We're pretty much unpacked, but we've been sick twice. I caught a nasty sinus infection the week after we moved, and then I've had migraines for the last 3 days. I'm not sure if the migraines are stress related or disease related, but I spent Friday and Saturday napping and watching movies. That seemed to help a lot.

C learned to ride his bike last week. He is so thrilled.

Syrup???

Should I be nervous when C asks me how to make syrup? Going into the kitchen, I find him taking bites of apple and stuffing them into my mini food prep. He just can't understand why he can't get it turned on to make apple syrup. Thank goodness for safety features. I sure wish he'd get over his fascination with kitchen appliances.

My Big Turtle ... The Day at the Zoo

Overheard Today

C, I'll always be your best friend.

Awww...

(C & G were playing.  I'm not sure what they were playing, but from the other room, G says, "C, I'll always be your best friend."  I'm hoping that this means that it is sinking in to some extent that brothers and sisters are around more than friends.  Friends come and go, but if you can get along with your family, they'll be around your whole life.  The key is to know how to get along.) 

Valentine's Memories & C's Questions

I've spent today planning for C's Birthday & Valentine's Day. It has brought back memories of Valentine's Day while I was growing up. My mom would put little heart shaped chocolate crispies in our lunches, and my dad would bring home flowers. He would give a single blossom, usually a carnation to D & I, and he would give several flowers to my mom. Depending on how much money we had at the time, she might get roses or just 6 carnations. She would always put them in a vase in the kitchen window. I just thought it was so cool that he brought D & I flowers, and that he gave more to our mom. It felt like everything was in its place. I don't remember if he kept doing this after B & S were born. Y'all will have to chime in with what you remember.

C's Question of the Day:
Why do you pick up a spider with a tissue? (I haven't seen a spider in weeks so I have no idea where this came from.)

That one is always thinking.

G was at home today because it was Election Day, and they use the schools in MD for the polls. We were working on her homework, and C comes running down the stairs. He tells me that he has something to show me so I go up the stairs. For Christmas, I bought him a hot wheels car organizer that hangs over his door. It is covered with car-sized plastic pockets. Well, he had collected enough cars to fill the bottom row. He was so proud of himself that he was just beaming. So of course, I gave him a huge hug. His birthday will be Cars themed, but he is also very much into space. My parents and siblings gave him his birthday presents this past weekend. So for the last 2 days, he has been playing with Planet Heroes and asking space questions. Although, my brother did give him Cars (from the movie), and this is what he was lining up on his door. I will be giving him Cars bed linens as well as a rug for his bedroom floor that has roads on it so he can drive his cars all over town. He picked everything out on a trip to Wal-Mart. He also has requested Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Broccoli for his birthday dinner with Cars cupcakes for dessert. He has become quite opinionated since Christmas when I couldn't get him to say anything about what he might want for Christmas. It is amazing what a couple of months does.

New Year, New Me, Old Me, It's just me.

On Jan 1st, I went to a yoga class, and then on Jan 2nd I went to Body Pump. Today I am stiff and sore and a bit out of sorts. I am determined to have some impact on my health, and stick it out this time until a difference is made in my body. I knew it was going to get tough, and today was tough. I accidentally set off the security alarm and had to call our previous owners to get the code to shut it off. I hit my head hard on the bathroom sink while helping C put his pants back on, and C has been testing the limits all day. I know that all of these are very minor obstacles and it will pass, but I think I'll go knit for a while.

BTW, I finished my scarf.

Oh the funny things that C says ...

This weekend we had a visit from Aunt M who is just showing (read: pregnant). M was showing us her ultrasound pictures, and explaining to C that they were pictures of the baby in her tummy. C's first response was: "The baby doesn't look much like you." This was quickly followed by "How did you eat that baby?"

This morning I was strongly encouraging C to get dressed. He comes up to me in his birthday suit with his blanket wrapped around him and says, "These are the clothes that I'm wearing today." So of course I laughed, and then told him "Go put your pants on!" I have been keeping the house fairly cool, and I was amazed at how long he could stay in nothing before he actually wanted to put clothes on. I guess the boy has a few of my genes in spite of the fact that he looks just like his dad.

Actually, I just screamed ...

... at C "Boy, get out of the kitchen or I'll hurt you!" Of course this was provoked. I swept and mopped the kitchen floor, and then half an hour later, C pulled a baggie of cinnamon sugar off the counter and sprinkled it all over the floor. I was right there watching him with mouth hanging open. I got up, figuring it was my fault for not putting the baggie away when I was finished using it, and swept the floor. While I was sweeping, C pulled a spice bottle out the pantry, which was open because I had just pulled the broom out of it, and opened the bottle and started pouring it out. That's when I grabbed the bottle and pointed to the basement stairs while screaming .... I try very hard not to scream at the kids, but I honestly think that that would have tempted the most patient souls, and God knows I am not the most patient of souls.

Happy 3rd Birthday C!!!

Yesterday we had C's birthday party at Pump It Up Party. Everyone had a great time. I will be posting some pictures in an album in a minute.

HELP!!! I'm Stuck

I think the picture tells it all.

Note: It took G and I a full 10 minutes to remove C from the back of the chair.

From the Annals of C (or the Trials of K)

I wish I had better news to report, but C has continued his rampage. It started yesterday morning with a broken toilet tank cover. I ran upstairs to use the bathroom and left my two children happily eating breakfast. As I was coming down the stairs, I hear "Mom, I break it. Mom, I break it." I go into the bathroom to find that the cover has a huge chip out of it. C never could tell me how exactly it happened. I guess the moral of the story is that I just can't go to the bathroom.

I'm pretty sure something else happened yesterday, but I 'm just too tired to remember it. I guess it wasn't unusual enough to stick in my brain. This morning C woke up with swollen eye lids and green gunk in his eye. That didn't slow him down and DING, DING, DING ... C got into the bathroom soap pump. I wish I could just put door safety latches on all the bathrooms, but then G couldn't get in to use them. That could be an even worse disaster. I don't know ... at this point that could be a close call.

I took C to the doctor, and he does have pink eye so I can't send him to school tomorrow. N had to move a meeting because I have a doctor's checkup tomorrow and I begged him not to make me take the kids. I have had a few days of light-headedness and I can't seem to get rid of a sore throat. I suspect I could be anemic and maybe have strep throat, but I'll see what the doctor says. Sometimes my anxiety makes me believe things are worse than they actually are. Sorry this post isn't all that hilarious. I think I'm just tired but hey I've earned it.

P.S. I'm half way through JH's wrap. I'm trying to finish a few things, but I start a knitting class on Saturday. I'm so excited. It's going to be so great.

What in the world has C gotten into today?

C, my sweet, sweet son, decided to empty a tube of Boudreaux's Butt Creme.

Have you got the picture in your mind yet? Let me help ...

He found it in the bottom of his drawer when he was supposed to be taking a nap. Anyway, he washed his window with it and then coated his trains and track. (His room doesn't smell like poop anymore.)

To his credit, he did get out a bunch of wipes (a whole package) and try to clean everything up (wipes everywhere). (I found all of this ...)When I went upstairs to put him to bed, he cheerfully showed me the empty tube because I thought he had gotten into the yogurt again. He didn't want me to ban him from yogurt so he showed me the empty tube of diaper ointment. G and C helped me clean everything up with such a good attitude -- they were getting to stay out of bed for a few more minutes. I did draw the line when C wanted to eat some raisins that had been on the ointment covered train table. He just doesn't understand why a little diaper creme would prevent him from eating his favorite raisins. (What I want to know is how a kid can eat diaper creme covered raisins but refuses to eat vegetable soup? Could the vegetable soup really be that bad?)

G wanted to know if she ever got into things the way C does. I don't think anyone gets into things the way C does.

Oh shoot, I should have taken some pictures. I have many, many pictures showing what in the world C has gotten into. I am glad that I can still find the humor in it. One especially memorable time was when he climbed into the fireplace full of ashes although it was G who took a marker and wrote all over the back of his brand new shirt while I went to the bathroom. And I thought it was a good thing when my kids finally let me go to the bathroom by myself.

Just another evening in the H's House

Well, I've been working on the computer trying to balance the Christmas bills. N had to go into work today because this is crunch time at work, and I will need to go see my mom at the end of January by myself.

G is running around crying: it's a cry that alternates between "I can't find the remote. The world is coming to a horrible end because the remote is missing." and "Oh my God, I'm going to throw up because C has pooped in his diaper again. Please Mom change him IMMEDIATELY."

For a few seconds there was a small silence, like the eye of a bad storm, and then came:
"uh ... uh... uh... MOM, C IS CUTTING YOUR YARN!!!"

Personally, I think the world froze as I ran to the couch to see C with a little pair of scissors cutting a string of yarn that was attached to something I was knitting. At that moment, I could definitely understand child abuse. I had to hold myself back from picking him up and shaking him violently. I know the yarn isn't worth him having brain damage, but for a minute there it was a close call. Anyway, I discovered that the damage is repairable and we have all calmed down. C has survived the day with only the typical bumps and bruises.