Happy New Year!

We are driving home from my sisters. It's 11:30pm on new years eve. The only nap Serif had today was around 8:00 tonight as we drove to Smyrna. It lasted about 20 minutes.

Serif: "Mommy. I want to sleep in the shark tent."

Me: "It's too late to set it up tonight but we can have it ready for your nap tomorrow."

Serif: "But I need it tonight because I'm getting ready to get really tired."

. . . and within two minutes he was out.

Happy new year!


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a tragedy

Spiderman was tragically crushed this morning by a box of toys.

Baby Jesus

sleep tight baby Jesus

what makes you glow like that?

Christmas Morning

When Serif got up Christmas morning he went through his normal routine of coming to our bedroom. I heard him coming and I met him in the hallway. I scooped him up and told him good morning and reminded him that it was Christmas. He grinned real big and asked said he wanted to go in there and see Santa. I told him that Santa wasn't here but we could see what he brought. He got to the living room and was a little disappointed that he couldn't find Santa. "Where is Santa?" he asked. I told him that he was too busy to stay and that he was very busy delivering all the presents. He was finally okay with it.

The only thing Serif has asked for for Christmas is a spiderman. He'll actually tell you "5 spiderman." I'm not sure why 5, but he will throw out numbers to things like that. The spiderman was hanging in the back living room window just next next to the tree. Serif never saw him when he came in the room. He was so focused on finding Santa and looking at the tree. I finally had to tell him to look around and look outside. He finally found it. He couldn't reach it real well, so I helped him get it down. He loved it!

He also got a spiderman costume, of which he wore the entire day . . . and the day after.

New Skates

Serif got roller blades from Uncle Don and Aunt Shannon this Christmas. He's loving them and is picking it up pretty quickly. When we got home Christmas night he wanted to wear them. He was doing great until all of a sudden he got a little discouraged. He fell several times in a row and would try to "fall like Pekka." He suddenly bursted in to tears. I went to him and asked him what was wrong. "Are you hurt or just frustrated?" He cleared up a minute and said, "When I get really really tall then I can fall like Pekka." It was so sweet and so sad at the same time. I felt terrible for the little guy. He's been "falling like Pekka" for a long time and I hated to see him discouraged. I had a talk with him and explained that even Pekka had to practice a lot and that he was not always able to block that goal like he does now. I also explained to him that when he (Serif) was a little and just starting to play hockey that he couldn't always hit the puck, but after all this practice, he's doing great and can hit that puck really well. I think that helped. He got back on the hardwoods ("the ice") and tried again. I was very proud.

Serif and Jeff will start ice skating lessons in January. I think he's going to do really well.

the Angel

Mommy, the Boy, and the Bird

Back in the Saddle Again

waiting patiently for Riders in the Sky

Guitars and Hockey Sticks

he's got quite a collection going on.

Homework

Serif moved to the Busy Bees class last month at school. He loves it and has blossomed since being in there. They just started sending homework home about every other week. It's been fun to watch what he can do. He matched these shadows right away and did a great job connecting them with a line.


It was amazing to watch him do the dot-dot page. He didn't read the numbers but he saw the shape and traced very well! He started to get in a hurry but when I suggested he slow down he did and got back on track right away.


Before he left the counter, I asked him if he could write his name. I was blown away when I saw him writing letters so carefully. He would write a letter then call it out. He knows how to spell his name; if you ask he'll spell it out for you like spelling bee. The second letter wrote was a "b" instead of and "e" and as soon as he drew it he said, "b!". I was impressed. This is the best I've seen him do with letters. I'm so proud. These are the times I feel good to have him in daycare. He learns so much!


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New hockey gloves

Serif discovered the left-over pull-ups the other day and they immediately became the gloves of choice for playing hockey!

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The next box

Weird.

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Today's Quote

Serif was just into in to the change jar by the front door. He kept getting handfuls of change and putting it in the planter saying, "I've got to put these in there so they can grow!"

I wish . . . sigh.

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Today's Quote

Serif's in the tub wirh the curtain closed so he can splash. He just hollered to me, "I'm fixing my hair because it's really whack and out of sight!"


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Just been crushed

I dropped Serif off at school this morning and everything went really well. As I was leaving, I realized I forgot to take in his extra clothes for his bin. I went on to the car, got his stuff and returned to his class. He was very content playing in the play pantry . . . until he saw me. He immediately came over and wanted to "hold you". I put away his clothes and explained what I was doing then gave him a quick hug and kiss and tried to get out the door. Well, he wouldn't let me go and kept blocking the door. His teacher was preparing breakfast for all the kids and so I was left to figure this out. After a couple attempts to get him to let go of my leg and let me get to work, I told him that he's not allowed to cross the line (the transition strip where his room has carpet and the hallway is tile). He looked at it and stood just behind it. I stepped over the line and started on my out and told him I loved him and I'll see him in a little bit. He stood in that same spot with his arms reached out to me and he got the pouty face that he gets just before he looses it. First i was surprised that he actually stayed but then it crushed me. I walked slower as i got out of site and i could here him crying. It was so sad, but I had to keep going. I wanted so bad to go back and squeeze him but I knew i couldn't. What a heart breaking start to a day.


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and so the questions begin

serif: what's daddy do?

mommy: daddy makes pretty books.

serif: what's mommy do?

mommy: i make hospitals pretty.

serif: what's daddy do?

mommy: daddy makes pretty books.

serif (to mommy): what your boobies do?

A Special Night

We all got to go to the Predator's game last night. It was an awesome game! Predator's scores 3 goals in the last 5 minutes to win the game 3-0!!! They say it was Pekka's best game yet! Go Pekka Rinne!!!



We also found out that Blake Geoffrion and Matt Halischuck were going to be at the Dollar General store at Rivergate tonight! Serif has been looking forward to it all day. When I picked him up from school, I told him we were going to meet Aunt Shannon and then we were going to go . . . "See Blake Geoffrion!" Serif said. Ever since Aunt Gerrie and Uncle Bubba got him the signed stick from him, he has been totally in to him. He even took the place of Pekka for a while! (Serif is almost always Pekka when he plays hockey).

So, Jeff had to work late and Shannon and I took him out there.






We got both players and Gnash to sign his jersey! So awesome! The players also volunteered to come out from behind the table so we could get a photo! Serif was a bit shy to go back there with them.


We also got their signature on photo if them . . . And a couple of great photos with Gnash!





Totally worth the trip!

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Movember

Mustache Fun

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New Muffs

Serif and Jeff are at the game tonight. I just got this text. :)


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A new bike

This was Serif's birthday present from me and Jeff. It's a balance bike, which is a bike without peddles. It's suppose to help him learn to balance better than a tricycle. It's taking him a little bit to get use to it but I think he's liking it. We walked up to the golf course and he "rode" it the entire way. He was so proud of himself. He didn't want to wear his helmut at first but when he saw "that guy on the big bike" riding with one, he insisted he wear it.

Any time we go to the golf course, he wants to run around. It's like big backyard. rarely are there people playing this section so we can do it with no problems. We really enjoy living this close to everything, it's so nice to just get out and walk.

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"God" made that

Every night for the past 2 weeks Serif has asked for our last bedtime book be "the ocean one." This is one that I had made through iPhoto of our Florida vacation last year. Tonight he noticed that there was a sand dollar on one of the pages. He asked me what it was and I told him a sand dollar. He then asked, "Who made that?" I first said Jesus but quickly corrected myself to say God. There was a slight pause in our conversation and he said, " Serif God-by . . . so, I made that!"

To explain a little further, we have also been reading another book that goes through all the letters of his name and spells it out a letter at a time (each page building on the next.) So one page has "God" spelled out as we spell "Godby." I assume this is what triggered that in his head. So funny!

Developmental note: He's been spelling "Serif" for a couple of months now but "Godby's" been slower. He does recognize both on paper though and can find his name on things at school.

3 Year Well Visit

Friday was your 3 year well visit with Dr. Ladd. We waited to tell you about the appointment until we were almost there. You hadn't shown much interest when we would mention it weeks prior. You would get real nervous and would quickly shake your head and say, "I don't want to see Dr. Ladd."

You did a lot better than we expected though. You were very clingy, which is to be expected these days, in particular around a lot of people or unfamiliar surroundings. You would only let me hold you and never wanted daddy until it was over.

Daddy measured you in your doorway on your birthday and we showed you how much you had grown. We couldn't belief that you'd grown nearly 2-1/2" in just 6 months! This did help when the nusre wanted to weigh and measure you. With just a small amount of encouragement from me and the nurse, you let her do both! You measured 38" tall (75th percentile) and 33 pounds (55th percentile). You are growing so fast!!! Daddy won the guessing game for your weight. He'd guessed 33.25 lbs and I guessed 35 lbs. After that was done the nurse, Ms. Wendy, took your blood pressure. you weren't too sure of what she was going to do but you did great and didn't cry!

Dr. Ladd came in after Ms. Wendy was done and you told me that you were nervous. It's funny when you use words like that but learn a lot of them from your bedtime story books. You were very clingy when he came in and it took a while for you to relax and let go of me. Dr. Ladd like sitting up on the table as he talks to us and his legs dangle down. We talked for a while about discipline and what to expect for 3. You're right on track and it was encouraging to hear we're doing a good job with you and all things are normal. We always get nervous about all of that. We want so bad to do a good job raising you! We talked a while then he checked your ears, throat and stomach and said everything looked good! Before he left he shook our hands, including yours. You were very cooperative and you even looked him in the eye like Uncle Don taught you. When he closed the door, you looked at me with a grin and said, "That was really nice of Dr. Ladd."

Ms. Wendy did have to come back and give you 2 shots. That did not end the visit well and you cried for a little bit afterwards. The one thing that helped clear you up was . . . "rocket heads!" (as you liked to call it.)



We promised you some Sweet Cici's ice cream after the visit so we went downstairs for your chocolate ice cream with strawberries and rock candy. It was a fun treat.



I chose this photo of you because it represents your clinginess very well. "Hold you. Hold you . . . ". but you do un-cling, see! You are also going through a phase of fake burps . . . "BUUUUURP, Excuse me!"



The next day you we're trying to go down from a nap. You were starting to get up and as I lay in the floor next to your bed, I see your feet come down and dangle off the side. I looked up at you and asked what you were doing and you said, "I am Dr. Ladd." Ir was so funny but I was so glad that you didn't have bad memories of him.





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Masquerade

We had a bit of fun as we shopped for Serif's birthday party.




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SUCK

Happy Birthday, Buddy!

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