a ROCK star is born

Nate is insanely happy this Christmas. He got exactly what he wanted. An hour into the morning, we haven't opened a single present, which is just fine with Tom and me.

(He has been asking for a drum set since his birthday in May).

Merry Christmas from Nate and Nile

It was such a good picture I had to share.

Bouncing Boy

Nile has become a picky eater. Many times it's not unusual to have him eat nothing but peas for dinner, or a few bites of applesauce, or the ever popular mac 'n cheese. His favorite phrase over the last two months is "No like it!" (said no less than 25 times a day)

We've also found that he gets REALLY cranky when he is hungry (oddly enough, just like his mother). Today was no exception. After we decided that he did not need to have mac 'n cheese for the fifth time in six days, at lunch he refused to eat anything. And not because he couldn't eat it, because he wouldn't. Really. He actually ate a few bites then pitched a fit when we tried to help him spear a piece of pasta with his fork. Tom gave up and put him to bed early for his nap.

After this experience, and two hours of CRANKY NILE, I settled for a kid-friendly dinner. Rotini pasta, sauce to dip it, apples, and peas. And, we started dinner at 4:30. To our amazement, he ate everything on his plate and I had fun watching the boys be "apple robots" (that's another story) and polish off almost a whole apple.

Guess what happens when Nile eats?

He is insanely happy - he actually bounces around the house.

stereotype reversals...

Children learn a lot about the world from what they observe. And, having limited time to observe the world, they often make assumptions about the way the world works. Remember I am an engineer, and Tom is a principal, so Nate’s view of the world is very 21st century. And, to Nate, right now, any adult male is a “daddy.”

Nate: “Mommy, you sure know a lot about numbers.”
Me: “Yes, honey, that’s because I’m an engineer.”
Nate: “A train engineer?”
Me: “No, there are two types of engineers. One drives trains, and that’s not what I do. I am the type of engineer who solves problems.”
Nate: “Okay.”
Me: “So I know a lot about numbers because I really like math, and numbers. I took a lot of math classes in college, and that’s how I learned so much about numbers.”
Me: “I could teach you about numbers, too. Maybe when you get older you’ll want to learn math just like me? You can take math classes too.”
Nate: “But daddies don’t do that.”
Me: “Yes, they do.”
Nate: “Even at school?”
Me: “Yes, honey, even at school. Daddies can learn math too.”

I only hope if we have a daughter someday I can instill the same belief in her, that women can do math and science.

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This morning’s experience reminded me of another story from several months ago. I had taken the boys to the doctor’s office because Nile was sick. We were out in the parking lot and I was loading Nile up into the car. Nate was waiting patiently by the rear tire (his “assigned” spot). An older woman was standing nearby and we struck up a brief conversation about the weather or something. I think she was waiting for her daughter…anyway, that’s not relevant. She spoke to Nate, who was wearing one of his green John Deere shirts.

Lady: “Is that a John Deere shirt?”
Nate: “Yes.”
Lady: “Does your daddy work for John Deere?”
Nate: “No. My MOMMY does.”

I was so proud I could have burst! I think the lady was speechless. At least she didn’t say anything else to us…

seeing double

I don't think I have two sons. I think I have one that they cloned at the hospital and gave me 2 years later.

There's this shadow that follows Nate around, doing everything he does. If he picks up a toy, this creature does too. If he marches around the house chanting, the shadow does too. If he rolls on the floor while I tickle him, this smaller Nate rolls on the floor too.

I can almost hear Nate talking through this clone. It seems to mimic his voice, even his inflection. Sometimes I can hardly tell the two apart.

When Nate gets in trouble for running and yelling in the house and is told to sit down, the copycat does too. It's so weird. Look at the picture. Maybe you can see it too. I hope I'm not imagining it.

Oh, Christmas Tree

This morning when Nile woke up, I brought him into the kitchen as we normally do to get him his milk. I put him down to get into the fridge. From behind me I hear this little voice...


"Mommy... Kiss...muss...?"


You can see our Christmas tree from the kitchen. He had forgotten completely about setting it up yesterday, and was standing there amazed by the lights.

Christmas Cake

This year we have introduced an advent wreath as part of our holiday traditions. For the uninitiated, this (at least ours) is a ring of four candles, and each Sunday for the four weeks leading up to Christmas, you light the candle(s) from the prevous week and the next candle. The idea is that by the week of Christmas you have all four candles burning.

We have a beautiful Advent wreath that we got from Tom's mother. So this year we got it out, and last week we lit the first candle after Sunday dinner and talked with the boys about what the Christmas season is all about. We also discussed things we are thankful for. I was winging it as I hadn't found an Advent tradition that the boys would sit through. I mean, reading bible verses to our boys wouldn't resonate. In fact, I wasn't sure if anything had registered.

So on Saturday at dinner, Nile was begging to light the candles again. (Have I mentioned our children's obsession with fire? See my post from November 9).

I asked Nate if he remembered what the candles were for. They are for Christmas." I'm thinking, hey, he remembers something! Then I asked him what it would mean when all four candles are lit. "It will be Jesus's birthday." Even better... So I remind him that Christmas Day is Jesus's birthday. Slightly confused, he thinks for a moment. "Will we have birthday cake?"

I know that he's not the first kid to say this, but Tom and I were rolling on the floor laughing. (figuratively, for you literal types...)