From the Mouths of (Our) Babes

Over dinner last night, Avery told Walker it wasn't nice manners to clink his fork against the plate. We asked what nice manners were. He said, "You say please and then people give you stuff."

Avery had a really REALLY hard time this morning. First, he wanted chocolate for breakfast and was trying every argument he knew to get some. Then, there was much resistance and trouble getting out of the house. It's not that he said he didn't want to go to school (like he used to), he just didn't want to get dressed, didn't want to wear a new shirt, didn't want to wear a new pull up, didn't want to leave without a specific truck, was arguing the whole way and took about 30 minutes to find just the right items for his bookbag. Then he said he didn't like his clothes (which I hope does not come from me!!!) I tried EVERYTHING...and was eventually very frustrated. Then I worry that his morning was stressful because I got so frustrated and made him come upstairs from the basement o' trucks to leave for school..at like 8:50 (school starts at 9am). BUT then we were on the way to school and he was very calm. He had chosen two trucks, one he said was for ha...

We're working on the potty training, but are not there yet. So sometimes, we have to 'check' Avery by peering into his pants. Sounds very intrusive, perhaps it is, but it's what we have to do. So tonight, we were out for dinner. Avery got up, went over to Walker and peered into his pants. Surprised, Walker asked, "What are you doing?" Avery replied, "Checking to see if we have to change daddy." Seems only fair.

Avery heard the kids playing outside the other evening and insisted on going out to join. When the door open, he burst forward, toward the 8 and 10 year olds. He had to look straight up to watch them speak. They were playing some complicated game that they made up, which involved a lot of running...and yelling. And they were totally and completely ignoring him. Avery: Hey, guys! The Guys: So then, Arthur is going to run up the side and that tree is homebase! (lots of other yelling and chaos...) Then, they started to RUN down the street. Avery had no idea what they were doing, but he had a huge smile on his face, as he ran after them, way behind. I was somewhere in the middle, with Walker and some of the other parents. Avery reached us, still at a fast run, huge grin, and exclaimed, "MAMA! This is SO MUCH FUN!" Booking down the street---while other kids ignore you. I just love that. I think I'll always have that scene in my mind. Avery totally happy, runni...

Some nice snaps that Jane took this afternoon. Whoa.

Before school, 7am Avery: I don't want to go to school. Me: Avery, today is a school day. You love school! Avery: I don't want to go to school. Me: Here is your day: You go play with your friends at school. You have lunch. Hopie picks you up and you do anything you want. You nap. Maybe we see Sashee and Pop Tom tonight. It will be a great day. Avery: Sounds good. But I don't like that first part about school. On the way up the steps to school, 8:15ish Avery: Mommy, I am not going to cry. I am not going to cry. Me: Thank you for saying that Avery. That makes me happy. Avery runs in the classroom to wash his hands, big smile on his face. Later in the day, 1pm pick up. Anyone: Time to go Avery! Avery: I don't want to go. I want to stay at school. This has been our conversation every morning & every afternoon for the last week. I decided to look at this positively. Avery doesn't want to leave home in the morning...and then doesn't want to leave sc...

I want to sign Avery up for clay classes.

YUM.

May be a bit private, but I can't resist. Avery told me the other day that he was having trouble pooping because he was disappointed.

Avery said this morning, "I really don't like gravity. It makes things fall, and sometimes they break."

Avery was doing some zen meditation this morning, and really wanted me to GO AWAY and leave him in peace.

So all six people who follow our blog have recently asked, "Where have all the photos gone?" We really HAVEN'T been taking so many. And it's not that there are not as many momentous occasions or photo opportunities. Most of the interesting stuff lately DOES seem to be language related, but... Truth is, about two months ago, Walker got a brand new camera, which takes such awesome shots...plus, he borrowed the memory card from one of our our ones---so we were simply taking fewer photos. I am taking back our camera routine, however, starting NOW... Walker and Avery are building something right now, and Avery is helping find the "screws"....which he calls "scuruuuues".

We were out for dinner last night with Avery. We're trying to teach him good manners for dining out, like eating with your mouth closed, napkin on the lap...and...saying the magic word. So last night, Walker, prompting Avery to say please when he asked for some ketchup for his (amazing Pub and Kitchen) french fries, asked the question, "Avery, what's the magic word?" Avery replied, "Abracadabra and bippity boppity boo!"

In the car this evening, Avery announced, "There are two kinds of "WINES". There is the wine that you drink, and the wine/whine that you do in the car." Also, he reported, "Mommy, I am recognizing all of the A's all around. There's an A. There's another A. There's an A. There are A's all around." I love that he used the word 'recognizing' to announce that he knows a letter of the alphabet. Now why, oh, why can't he get potty trained once and for all? Seriously, the kid is going to be reading before he uses the toilet.

There were so many firsts on Monday that we were feeling sentimental about Avery's younger days. Avery had a first dentist appt....and first cavity-boo. I am a little freaked out about that---I feel really (really) guilty! The doctor said it was 'developmental', which I have never heard of. A developmental tooth decay? How did that happen? Darn. But on the bright side, the dentist was great. And Avery was a fabulous patient. He answered all the doctor's questions, was not scared at all, and got a silly penguin on a surfboard toy that he seems to love. He didn't seem upset at all when he learned we need to go back again soon. THEN, he had his first haircut a barber called Groom with Daddy. I will try to post a picture soon. He's a bit sheared, but as always, you can't really go wrong. And his hair grows very quickly. Finally, he asked to go to the potty to poop---and then declared it was his first. He also made an O with his fingers and s...