From the Mouths of (Our) Babes

A: Mommy, I feel like I am growing. M: Really? What does it feel like? A: It feels like stretching. M: That sounds right. A: And I am just growing and growing and growing every day. I am going to be as big as Pop Tom.

Walker likes anchovies, so he impulse bought a few little tins of anchovies at Trader Joe's. Being the adventurous eater, Avery insisted on "just trying" them. And, it appears, he actually liked them, further supporting his nickname, Savory Avery. Warning: Do not watch this video on an empty stomach, or first thing in the morning. This video might not be for the faint of heart, or for those who do not like anchovies.

Avery and I had a snow day this morning. We were playing in the basement, and he was baking some fake cookies. When they were finished, I asked if I could try one. He told me, "No, mommy. They are hot, so they have to cool off. You need to eat growing foods first before cookies, and then they will be cool." He's learning something, even though we often cave to cookies BEFORE dinner! Yahoooo!

Avery had his first Creative Movement class today. He's been talking a bit about ballet lately, and twirls around the room "balleting" occasionally, so we thought he might like Creative Movement. At the end of the class, the Creative Movement teacher told his teacher that Avery was quite a clever little guy. I have no idea what he did in a Creative Movement class that was clever, but go our little dancing boy! And Avery's regular teacher said, "Avery certainly loves music, and loves to DANCE!" (Now who does that sound like????) This video is almost funnier without the sound....

Avery found a Christmas Carol book this morning and asked me, then Walker, to sing some songs. He is now jumping around, and singing, "Heaven and nature sing! Heaven and nature sing! Heaven and nature sing!"

Today was Avery's School's Pajama Party day. Kids were supposed to wear pajames, and could bring soft sleepy toys and blankets. They had special snacks and were going to tell bedtime stories and sing bedtime songs. So we've been talking about which pjs he'd wear, and what he'd bring, all week. Then, this morning, when I got up with Avery, he said he wanted to get dressed for the day. I told him he didn't need to, because it was pajama party day. He said, "Did Daddy wear his pajamas to work?" He learned that Daddy, in fact, did not. So he said that he didn't want to hear his pajamas to school. I brought his footy pajamas with us anyway, just in case, but his opinion did not change. When we arrived, his friend, Charlie, had also opted out. I like that he did his own thing, even after arriving and seeing that everyone else, even the lovely teachers, were wearing their pjs. His teacher repeated the story to all the other teachers and pare...

I was trying to capture the moment, with the kiddies squirming while we tried to soak in the events of the day. It was nice to have a little lunch time break! While Avery ran around like a little crazy, and needed several reminders to share with his friend, Olivia, we all got to (try to) watch the inauguration of our new president over some "tea sandwiches" and Obama cookies Avery and I tried to make. I think that the kids sort of understood what was happening, but were mostly interested in silver beads and pop up books, as almost 3 year olds should be. They keep us grounded, and the new prez keeps us optimistic. The only time O and A actually slowed down a bit was for the National Anthem, which was pretty cool, actually. They got totally quiet and watched the music and singing, almost in awe of it.

We had a little impromptu lunch for the inauguration today. More pics to come at the end of the day! Olivia and Avery were a wee bit more interested in doing ANYTHING but watch Obama...but hey, they are 2, almost 3. Maybe if they stuck Elmo or Ernie in there it would have spiced things up a bit for them.

So this letter to Obama, written by a little girl who apparently thinks he's too skinny, just cracked me up. It was posted in the NY Times, and of course, prompted me to ask Avery.... Sooooo, on the eve of the Inauguration of Barack Obama, I asked Avery what he would say if he met him. He told me, "I love you, Obama. You are a good person, Obama. You are going to be President. Mommy loves you, too. Do you love Obama, mommy?" Yes.

I was talking to Avery about when I was pregnant with him last night. I told him that occasionally we could feel him kick inside, and that that was how he said hello and moved around. He replied, "I kicked and punched you, mommy? I am sorry." I was going to explain that this sort of kicking was ok, but given his hard week in school, that apparently involved some pushing and hitting, I decided that I didn't want to confuse the lesson.

Avery made a mattress of diapers this morning. He looked like he was having so much fun just rolling around, like this was just something fun to do! Yay, roll around in my sort of padded underwear! I have to say, there is something about reckless abandon, while dressed only in a diaper, that should be indulged as frequently as possible (all safety, security, and life lessons aside). Sooooo...story of the day---Lately, Avery's been going downstairs on his own and getting snacks from his snack closet. He brings them back up to ask if he can have them, like the ice cream sandwich incident a couple of days ago. Today, he brought up two boxes of "fruit sauces", which sounds odd, but isn't. These are something new at Trader Joe's---squeezable little apple or apple & carrot sauce, that comes in a little pouch. He LOVES these. And BONUS, they are totally healthy. Well, this is what he brought up this morning. He was so excited...and then, he had three carrot...

I had to miss Justin's Bday celebration this AM because I didn't feel well, but Pop Tom kindly sent along photos already! Avery fell asleep on the way home, too, which is clearly the sign of a good party when you are 2, almost 3. I have to say, I am quite pleased with the hair cut I gave Avery in the bath tub the other night. Now, it is no longer as clear that I used to run around with scissors trying to quickly cut off clumps of Avery's hair while he zoomed his trucks. Here is a cute picture of Avery with his soon-to-be-Auntie, Aimme. I am convinced I can do it, give Avery his childhood haircuts without having to resort to a "hair dresser", just like Nan was able to give us when we were little. I've learned perhaps the Shore-Gilmore toddler-haircutting trick is to give the cut while he's distracted, and not running around...what a better spot than in the tub.

I found Avery balancing precariously on the side of the crib this morning. He said he needed help getting down. I think we are on the edge of putting him in an actual big boy bed, which is going to be a huge transition for everyone.

Apparently Avery had a hard day at school today. He was not sharing, and not playing well with his friends. He had to be separated, which has never happened. And it might be because he had a sort of hectic morning, as I got a call that Popi had to got to the hospital again. I think he sensed it, as tonight he told me, "Mommy, I think that Nan is worried right now." I asked him why, and he said, "Nan is worried that Popi might fall off." I am not sure what he might fall off, but I think it is the bed, and I think Nan IS worried. Pretty sensitive translation. So, we talked about his hard day, and how he shouldn't hit, and should share. And the deal was that he also needs to say he's sorry to Olivia, because he apparently took her blanket. And after our deal, he was able to have some spaghetti. I think he enjoyed it, but I am having trouble uploading the video--annoying. He was just slurping it up in big bites, with sauce all over his face and a big s...

Avery just gave me a tissue and said, "You have some snots, mommy. You need to wipe your nose." Gee, thanks. We've been letting him watch some videos I take out of the library, and he's gotten into them. We have gotten two movies, one was, "Big Bird in China," and the other, "Elmo in Grouchland." Clearly, a theme here. Anyway, the thing about watching a movie vs. just a short Elmo clip or some other clip is that the movies have plots and tension, albeit tension that equates to Elmo losing his blanket because Telly roller skates into it and whisks it away. Avery gets very upset at these points. Very. Upset. He screams and cries and says the same thing over and over again, "Why did he doooo that? He took Elmo's blanket. He took it. Why did he take it? Why?" There is no explaining, either. The thing about those smart Sesame people is, though, that at these crucial, and clearly incredibly toddler-stressful parts, they stop the ...

Avery just said, "The freezer is cold, like the wind." Also, we put up a painting that Hopie gave us a few years ago. When Avery saw it, he said, "Hopie has that painting in her tv room." Recognizing artwork at 2 1/2!

Avery loves They Might Be Giants ABC video, and enjoys watching it with his headphones on. A preview of what to expect as a teen.

Avery made a little concoction today and wanted me to take a picture. He told me, "It's popcorn, cookies and stems." I asked where he found the ingredients, and he replied, "On the floor upstairs." Gee, great, a tribute to our cleanliness. I then asked what he called this little dish, and he looked at me quizzically. "It's a PAN, mommy. It's called a PAN." duh.

Avery has taken to pulling Walker out of bed, and convincing him that he needs to share the upstair's bed. So they sleep together, Avery taking up most of the space. I asked Avery why he continued to do this, even though he's "not a baby, he's a big boy." He replied, "I like Daddy's snoring." Ha. So the fact that he sleeps in a bed means he can get out of the bed on his own. This morning, he took full advantage of this. He plodded down the stairs in the dark at 5:30 in the morning, and opened up the freezer. He found an ice cream sandwich and, being the obedient boy that he *sometimes* is, he brought it all the way back up and asked Walker if he could have it for breakfast. As I recall, Grandma Anne used to serve Uncle Eric and me waffles and ice cream for breakfast, so this isn't that much different. And you have to give the kid credit for being so independent, especially at that early hour.

After taking a nap, in which daddy served as the pillow/mattress, today, Avery woke up famished. He requested a chocolate star, of course, but was persuaded to go with something better for him. He settled for making his own sandwich. This was the first time he ever constructed a sandwich, and did really well! I tried to post a video of Avery explaining his sandwich, but I think it's too large. It's funny because he explains what he put on the sandwich (salami, cheese and turkey sandwich with ketchup and mayo on rye) and then says, "because you have to grow, everybody!" It was HUGE and he ate half in about 3 minutes. He told us we could also have some if we wanted.

Avery was so excited that his good pal Olivia and her little sis, Harper, were coming over this morning, that he had trouble sleeping last evening. He and his dad even made some little beads and pendants out of sculpey clay for Olivia, and for Nan and Sashee. Olivia and her family arrived, and Avery ran through the house yelling, "Olivia!". She, with the same enthusiasm, bounded in the door at 10am. Olivia was carrying a little purse with mod, sparkley swirlies on it, filled with My Little Pony. She was wearing her sparkly pink shoes. There's clearly something about all the little girl accessories and toys that is just TOO adorable. When we were ready all take a frigid walk to the park, we asked Olivia and Avery to give us the thumbs up. I have learned that this was a harder to do if 1) you wearing mittens 2) you haven't quite learned what your thumb is.