Monday, March 9, 2009

Interview with my 4-year-old

I stole this from my friend Helena off of Facebook. It was really funny to see his thought processes, or lack there of. Most of the questions he immediately answered "I don't know", about 20 times, until I made him think about it. Then, he'd stop for two seconds and seemingly say whatever popped into his head first. It was fun to do together. I may have to do it again in another year and see how his answers change. Either way it will be cool for him to look back on and remember.

Oh, and before I forget, we just got the application for free UPK (universal pre-kindergarten) and the school we loved the most on our tours is on the list for the year! Keep your fingers crossed for us. It's done mostly by lottery and it's random who gets accepted, but it would be awesome if he could get in. Every time we go past the center he asks to go in to play, but we can't afford the $224 a week fee. It doesn't get any better than free, especially when it's the best school around.

1. What is something mom always says to you?
I love you.

2. What makes mom happy?
ME!

3. What makes mom sad?
When I do things I'm not supposed to.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Tells me jokes.

5. What was your mom like as a child?
Mean. No, um I mean, I think you were happy.

6. How old is your mom?
(waving his fingers wildly in front of my face which I assume was several times signaling the decades)
10... no wait, mommy, how old are you again?

7. How tall is your mom?
You're a big girl.

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Knitting

9. What does your mom do when you're not here?
You wait for me.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
A shooting star.

11. What is your mom really good at?
Knitting. (It's sitting right beside me, within his eye shot.)

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

13. What does your mom do for a job?
Work with people.

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Dipping (he means Indian, he only dunks the bread).

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
When I color pictures for you.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Bob the Builder. (interesting, we never watch it)

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Color.

18. How are you and your mom the same?
We love ourselves.

19. How are you and your mom different?
I like superheros.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
I like you.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
(he's now on the floor very bored of answering questions) I don't know, you just love him.

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
The zoo.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

To my baby boy

I've never taken the time to sit down and write anything to you. I feel bad about that. I was going to do it for your fourth birthday, and here I am, almost a week late. Better late than never.

You are the light of my life. I don't tell you that enough. I don't show you that enough. I try hard to make time for you every day. Time where I won't get frustrated with you, or angry, or raise my voice, or beg you to follow my directions. Where it's just you and I, engaged in the wonder that is being mommy and son. But since I have to specify that I have to make that time might mean I spend too much time in a negative space around you and I hate that.

You are an amazing kid. I know you're mine and I have to say that, but in this case it's true. You're out-going, kind, sensitive, polite, a good friend, and an inquisitive child who constantly wants to know why - particularly when I have no good answers because they questions are just too complicated. The things that come out of your mouth sometimes astound me. Where did that come from in that little 4-year-old brain. That couldn't possibly be what you just asked, could it? Yes, it typically was.

It's been a tough year for daddy and I. I know you've felt that and I am so sorry. We both love you and know that you are the most important thing in our lives. Making sure you are doing well is priority number one. Even when we are not feeling so loving toward one another, we both love you. To the point where I sometimes feel it brimming over and I get a tear in my eye.

I can't believe that the tall, skinny, talkative, social butterfly who fills my life is the same baby who caused me such distress while pregnant. Let's not even get into the delivery. I'd do it all again though if it meant I got to have you. Seeing your tiny knee over the incubator, not even knowing if you were a boy or girl, if you were ok, breathing, even alive, was the most momentous moment in my life. Hearing you first cry brought tears to my eye, as the memory of it is now. It will permanently be imprinted in my brain. I can't imagine anything ever coming close to that moment. Except every moment since that I have had with you.

My baby bean, super kitty, kiddo, love, sweetheart, baby boy. You are my world. I love you.

Mommy

Friday, January 30, 2009

OMG he's bald. And the only pics I got from Richmond.

There are some things about raising a boy that I have very little interest in or need for input on. Circumcision for instance. I don't own a penis and never will, and I had no strong feelings one way or the other about it, so I let Mark decide. He decided to do it, and I was fine with that as long as he went with him.

Hair is also one of those things I give little consideration to. It's not of major consequence, so, I gave Mark the go ahead to get Ry's hair cut. It has been sticking up in the back where his cowlick is no matter how many times I tried to contain it, and although beyond cute, it always looks messy. But, it was adorable on my not quite yet 4 year-old. I'm a firm believer in bald being beautiful on the right person, at the right age and stage in life, but on my little boy with his blond little waves??? I almost burst into tears when they came home from the barber shop. The only reason I didn't was because Ry got so upset when he saw me upset that I knew I had to contain it. No need to make both of us cry.

Let's see who agrees with me, shall we? The before (taken last night with his"Wonder Woman" cake he made for Auntie Lissa who is leaving to go back to school tomorrow, *sniff*):
The after:

The hair! Or lack there of! He looks so much older and I hate it. At least it grows back, right?! Maybe I need to have firmer opinions about some things.


On a separate, completely unrelated note, I went to Richmond a couple weekend's ago, in a pre-Obama celebration/reason to get drunk and stay up talking all day and night situation with 5 friend's from all over the country. It was awesome! I did not take many photos as I know I am far from a good photographer and quite honestly was just enjoying the ambiance so much I didn't think of it. So here is the few I did get and a video that kind of sums it all up for me:
Not exactly sure why Cristina was voguing in a diner booth, but she was (as we all did afterward, followers that we are).


Dueling Photographers with Annita

Beautious Jess

No, I was not drunk nor hungover. Just that un-photogenic.

But I'm much better with video, and I think this very much displays how most of our weekend was spent...

Also known as "Annita makes moist panties sound SO hot!"

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

100 Things

Stolen from Alicia, because I am out of things to say right now and haven't blogged in a while. And My child is driving me slooooowly insane with his "dance party" afternoon. Good thing I love the little monster.

Put the ones you've done in bold.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo (not well mind you)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (someday...)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (NYTimes even. Love the Yankees!)
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (if fish count)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit (My own father... longggg story for a different day and time. Let's just say I won)
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Explaining the Inauguration to a 3 Year Old

This is Mark attempting to explain to Ry the importance of today (paraphrased):

Mark: Do you know why today is so important Ry?
Ryan: Yes.
Mark: Do you know that we are swearing in a new President today?
Ryan: Yes.
Mark: Do you know who it is?
Ryan (with a really weird look on his face): Ahhhh, no.
Mark: It's Barack Obama. And it's a big day for our country. The president makes all the rules that big people in our country have to follow.
Ryan: Ok.
Mark: It's really important because President Obama is black, and this means that no matter who you are, male or female, black or white, that you can be anything you want. It's a great thing.
Ryan: Ok..... Dad, can I go back to making my girl's (Wonder Woman) birthday cake?
Mark (seriously, while shaking his head, as I am in the background trying to hold in my giggles): Sure Ryan.
Ryan (to me): I want to get married with you mommy. (Awwweee).

Ah.... the wonder that is youth. He can say he watched this momentous event even though he has not a clue what it's about.

I am going to go cry tears of joy now - and plan my second wedding.