From the Mouths of (Our) Babes

We did pretty well in the snow today... And then finally convinced Avery that it was time to take a bath. I don't want to even think about how many days...ahem...have gone by without one. He insisted on 'shaving' and got really into our little fizzy blue ginger-bath guy...

Avery: Mom, I want to have a trusted guide. Me: What is a trusted guide, Avery? Avery: Well, a trusted guide is like, you have a mommy and a daddy, and then you all have a super hero that is your trusted guide. ... And he helps you learn to read. I think we've been watching too many cartoons in this snowicane.

We're watching Word Girl. They just asked kids what their favorite words were. I asked Avery, and his first reply was, "Word Up!" Then, he quickly revised to, "I-mag-in-a-tion. Imagination."

Avery woke up this morning, and traveled down into the basement. When he emerged, he told me he had made me something special. He plopped a huge hunk of different colored playdoh onto the table and said, "This is an angel cake with raspberry fluff frosting, and it's for YOU!"

We used to do this little trick when Avery was little, created by Hopie. To get down the stairs, instead of carrying Avery, we'd join by sitting on each step on the way down. We'd sing a song, called "Zoom Golly" and not have to carry him down. Today, when he woke up, he asked to be carried. I said I couldn't carry him because he's too big. He replied, "But mom, my legs are tired, and I can't zoom on my butt anymore. Also, my brain is telling me that I can't sing." He was clearly referencing Zoom Golly, which his legs, butt and brain told him he could not possibly do.

Walker was trying to discipline Avery and threatened to take a particular car away because Avery was throwing it, hitting, and being all kinds of unreasonable. Avery replied stomped his foot, looked at Walker, and threatened back, "If you do that, I am going to take all of your money and put it in my piggy bank." There are all sorts of analyses that can be done on this comment...

Avery's latest and most hilarious expression is "oy yoi yoi." He's been saying it at appropriate times for about three to five days now. This morning, when trying to get on his sock, which was stuck on a toe, he exclaimed, "Oy yoi yoi, how am I going to get my sock on?" Yesterday, in a similar predicament, while trying on a pair of pants, he said, "Oy yoi yoi, my pants are too short!"

Avery loves sitting on laps at mealtime. It's a bit complicated for me, but for Walker, he just climbs right up at the table. This morning, he did so while Walker was reading the paper. He sat in his lap and looked right up at him quite sweetly. He cleared his throat and wiggled around a bit. We thought he was about to say something loving. Instead, he turned his head to the side and said, "Daddy, you smell like cheese." Avery loves cheese, actually, so I am not sure that this was not loving , but just not what I had expected him to say.

We were just on the road where there were not many cars. Avery grew edgy and started making some whiney sounds in back seat. We asked what was wrong. He replied, "Why are there no cars on the road?". Before receiving an answer, he followed with, "We need to go somewhere that has more cars! I have noone to say hi to!" A few minutes later, as he was clearly in a social, saying hi mood, I asked Avery if he'd like to meet a new big (9 year old) boy tomorrow. He thought a second and asked, "Will he love me? I'm a nice little boy!" Not lacking in confidence, he is.

AHHHHHHHHHHH....

Avery dressed up as the Jolly Green Giant to go to Charlie's 4th birthday party. Apparently, Charlie decided at the last minute that he didn't really want to do a costume party. Avery was the only one dressed in costume. Luckily, he's only 3 3/4, so he didn't care. Actually, I think he found it fun. He also got tired of my taking shots with the flash, so started closing his eyes.

Avery was very specific about our snowperson. NO curly lights for hair, only curly chips. NO bird on the shoulder, only in front. NO, no, no, you can't use rocks for eyes, only cranberries. NOW that's a good snowman.

I told Avery that I was taking a walk to the pharmacy to pick up a few things. I asked he wanted to go. He said, "Not really, mama. It's too cold out. You go, and when you come back, you can tell me what's happening in the park."

Avery's ready to go to NYC (which we are not doing, only Walker is making the trip.) My favorite part is the generous use of lip gloss, or perhaps the cap on sideways. Well, maybe the pearls. .... OK, it's everything!

Avery's friend Charlie is turning four next weekend. First of all, this is big for us. This is the first party in which the invitation said that it's a 'drop off' party. Parents can stay for pizza, if they want to , but they don't have to. So "four" is the year of independent bday parties (so far). The other lovely and adorable detail about this party is that kids were asked to come in costume.? Isn't that the best? Avery already loves wearing costumes around all the time, so this is another excuse to go out in one. In preparation, Avery's trying out his options (much like his mama does sometimes, hmmmmm?)... How CUTE is this costume? We have to work on getting the little hat/head part to fit him a bit better. I love the Jr. League Thrift Shop(pe) for random little off season finds like this... Here is also a rejected costume choice, underwear on the head, a la Eric as the "lamb", in our rendition of "Mary Had a Littl...

Avery's beginning to understand the power of certain words. The two worst words he knows are "poop" (in any variation) and "gun". He uses the word poop all the time, as do his friends. But the funny side of this is that he uses them lately as sort of curse words. For example, when he gets mad at one of us, or frustrated, he'll say something like, "Mommy, you are a poopy GUN." Or if he can't get something done the way he wants to he'll just yell, "GUN! You are a gun!"

Avery woke up and looked out the window this morning. He said, "Doesn't our tree look beautiful with the snow? Don't all the trees on the block look beautiful with the snow?" Then, with his hands in the air, he exclaimed, "I love this city!" When we arrived downstairs, we opened the door and looked out the screen. We saw some animal prints in the snow. Avery asked what sort of animal prints they were, and I said I wasn't sure. He said, very seriously, "I think they are elephant prints. I heard an elephant go by when I was sleeping."

Is awareness the first step in acquiring some form of social etiquette?

(full of quotes this eve) Do you know my favorite thing to do with grandma? ROCK AND ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. I am not sure which grandma, as neither of Avery's grandmas are called "grandma" (Sashee or Nan), but hey...

..."Matter of fact." As in, "Dada, do I want any more ice cream? Matter of fact, I do!" Or, "Am I growing and growing day and night? Matter of fact, I am!" Or, "Look at this beautiful rock. Matter of fact, all of them are beautiful."