joyboy loves visiting daddy in his office

Sheer MINUTES of entertainment for a 3.5-year-old (well, maybe there's an hour's worth of stuff to touch, explore, see, drop, investigate, pull-off, pull-down, taste, shake, ponder, remove, smell, wear, weigh, break, pick up, replace, enjoy, inquire, and wonder about).

his first oral poem

the windows are dark
now the people are sleeping
and I don't want them to sleep--
it's morning time!


Back story: we were hanging out in the living room one evening this week (Sunday?) when Kaemon Ze started to say this words, very much like a poem. I was rather surprised by the intention and the lyrical way he was speaking. When he finished, I asked him to repeat it. As I wrote down the words, and repeated it back to him for clarity, he said, "Yea! You got it right!" I went to hi-five him, but since he was eating an orange, he was reluctant to hi-five me. "My hand is messy." Instead, he elbow-bumped me. Such a crack-up!

daddy day

diaper-free for a (more than) year!

I've been thinking that it's been about a year since Kaemon Ze was diaper-free and indeed, it's been over a year. What a big boy!

Here's a post from a year ago:

Hi Gumpa! Looks like you were here with us!

"Big Boy Day" is underway!

This morning I gave JoyBoy a T-Rex balloon (orange, his fave color) to kick-start the celebration. He chose waffles for breakfast, then he boxed up all the baby things (diapers, small blankets, and the real target of today: bottles). Daddy disappeared the box while we celebrated with bubbles. Now we're off to a locally-owned toystore where he can choose a "big boy toy." He even got to choose which car we go in. Lots of choices...

Our growing boy continues to amaze us. We are so blessed. Our big boy woke up at 4am and used the potty! He's had two overnight accidents since going without diapers completely nearly a month ago. We remain in awe.

The idea of a Big Boy Day came from our friend Lucy, who successfully pulled this off with her daughter Elayna. Thanks for the inspiration, Lucy!

got a lil warm the other day

(now, though, it's snowing!)

one week of funny quotes

All this wonderment in just one week!
He makes us laugh everyday!

3/4, JoyBoy wanted to go dig in the dirt outside. I told him he would need to get dressed. Next thing I know, he brings me: underwear, warm pants, long-sleeve shirt, and a light jacket! After I dressed him (“No, Mama -- put my jacket on backwards.”), I told him he needed socks. He took off and came back with socks ~and~ shoes! So awesome! Is he ready for college now?

3/5, “I was doing some helping for ya; so you didn’t have to carry it.” (He carried my napkin to the dinner table.)

3/6, Me: “Did you take a nap with Grandpa?” JoyBoy: “I sure did.”

3/6, “I want to build a robot to make people laugh.”

3/7, Dad: “Where is my boy?” After a pause Kaemon Ze answered, “Your boy is in mama’s arms.” :)

3/8, JoyBoy: “That man is in a wheelchair. He can’t walk.” Me, impressed with his ascertain of the man: “Yes; it looks like he’s lost some of his legs.” JoyBoy: “Yeah - he can’t walk.” Me: “Nope. But it looks like he gets around real well.” JoyBoy: “Yes it does.” [This exchange made the young lady next to us at the train stop smiled at us.]

3/9, Kaemon Ze: “Pleeeeeease Mother? Today he called me “mother” for the first ever. I laughed at this and told him what my mom told me many years ago when, on a lark, I started calling her “mother.” I said, “I’m not your Mother; I’m your MOM.”

3/9, “Tell me your day, Daddy.” – after we all sat down at the dinner table.

3/9, Kaemon Ze: “Settle down everyone!” – while hubby and I were having a "clarifying" conversation. :D

3/9, “Mom! Daddy was reading the story and he thought the guy with the pointy head was the ogre, but he was mistaken. And I forgave him.”

3/9, (Later, the reading comes abruptly to an end when JoyBoy starts blowing raspberries): “Dad? Do you forgive me?” “Dad: I do, but I spent time with polite guys.”

3/10 Me: “Do you know how much I love you?” JoyBoy: “Really, really, really much!”

3/10, “I’m okay. I’m not hurt.” (He often says this after he falls or tumbles). I’m pretty good about not asking “Are you okay?” So…when he falls, a few beats pass and he lets me know he’s okay.”

3/10, “Take it off! Take it off! It might stain!” – wanting his shirt off after he spilled something on it.

3/10, Running round and round the house, Kaemon Ze’s been saying, “Habitat, habitat.”

3/10, Kaemon Ze’s been on a BIG “I want mama to” kick these past few months; e.g., buckle my seatbelt; wipe my bum; open the door; read the book; brush my teeth; dress me; etc. “No! Mama do it!”

3/11, “I need my blaster. It helps me remember.” – while playing Candyland

3/11, “Go away mom.”

Me: “Go away? Where?”

Kaemon Ze: “To the kitchen.

Me: “Why?”

Kaeon Ze: “’Cause I’m gonna do something I’m not supposed to do.”

3/11, “Mama? I...just...put...a...boog...er...in my ear!!”

Me: “No you didn’t! Did you REALLY?”

Son: “Yes I did!”

Me: “Ewwww! Get it out!” (He did.)

gift subscription from his great uncle & aunt

Thank you, Bill and Gail!
He's really enjoying the first issue!

sunday waffles - new waffle iron

Such a great Grandpa!
I love that he gets on the floor and plays with him.

rocks-in-a-box

treasures found in a hand-me-down board game:
rocks stowed away by a dear friend's son
found by my JoyBoy.

read this to me, mama

revisiting babyhood

Zoe's mama returned JoyBoy's playpen and he could hardly wait for us to se it up for him! He enjoyed being in it again. :)

playdate with zoe

Kaemon Ze enjoyed Zoe's visit but I suspect Zoe (who is 9-months and starting to crawl) enjoyed keeping up with the big boy more! Kaemon Ze was good about telling her, "Not for mouth," whenever anything headed that direction. I explained that somethings are okay for her to explore with her mouth, but we have to make sure she doesn't get ahold of anything small that would be a choking hazard. He seemed keen on learning to distinguish the two.

 (Got a nice shot of the two of them with my nice camera [above]; the other shots are from the camera on my phone). I love that they are holding hands in this shot!

 

I got them both to nap...at the same time!

 

Kaemon Ze gives Zoe a first "taste" of a lightsaber.

 

Kaemon Ze is flipping through a Star Wars book his Auntie Katie sent him. I'm not sure Zoe approves?

 

"Here Zoe." Kaemon Ze brings Zoe an assortment of items to explore.

an epic battle of light vs. dark, downtown

delicous meal

My Whimsy Guy took the yellow tomato curry I canned from our garden and made a delicious chicken wrap with it.

mom! come help me bury dad!

something for uncle ben

fun lil hike; massive tree

more water play

friday waterplay

more joyboy-isms

Sometime late 2011: JoyBoy started using "stupid" as a word. I asked him if he knew what it meant. He said, "It means you don't want to do something wrong." Interesting definition.

1/2/12, "I'm so glad I'm home."

1/8, "Do all fruits have seeds?"

1/11, I'm in bed, JoyBoy is coming to bed and wants water. I tell him if he wants it, he's got to get it himself...and he did! His cups are where he can reach, and if he stands on his tip-toes, he can reach the water spout on the fridge. :)

1/27, "Mom, why do you have so many shoes?"

1:27 "I'm gonna put it back in my pack-pack (back pack)."

1/24 "That's not a funny joke dad."

1/29 Me: "I'm thinking of painting. What are you thinking of?"
Kaemon Ze: "Im thinking of spraying cheese."

1/31, Text from Daddy: "He's saying, 'bye mama!' Expects you to talk back,  heh!! 'say bye mama!!' (waving goodbye from the living room window)."

1/31, Text from Grandma: "Gramma, it's hard to sleep when your nose is stuffy."

2/5, "That was a mean person who gave me this cold."

2/6 Dad: "Will you do me a favor and pick up my phone that just fell?"
Kaemon Ze: "Sure. I don't mind at all."

2/6, "Goodness!"

2/10, "Mom? Do you want to play? (Me: "Sure!") "I'll be the snake, you be the dinner." 

2/11, "That was a chocolate burp! Excuse me!" (Later he had a "pizza burp" and decided he liked the chocolate burb better.)

2/11, JoyBoy and I were driving home and appreciating a very beautiful sunset (brilliant orange/yellow) when JoyBoy said, "I wish Daddy was with us so he could see the sunset."

2/16, Text from Daddy: "Kaemon Ze was awake since 4:30 (am)... He asked me to turn on the light after the alarm. Then, fell asleep. Heh!"

2:16, Text from Grandma: 

"Success! JoyBoy, while eating lunch, 'Gramma, I have to go potty' 'You do? Well thank you for telling me! Did your body tell you?' 'Yah, I was wiggling, that's how I knew.' Woot! Congratulations, you guys are turning it around! 

(He's been waiting until the last possible minute to go potty and he starts dancing and wiggling all over. I'm guessing he waits because it's a bother [he has to wash his hands every time, too] and takes away from his play.) :)

2/17, "Aw man, snap!" (Says the word "snap" like he's snapping his fingers.)

2/19, "Those people made me bored."

2/19, "Tell me about your adventure." JoyBoy asking how our overnight away was. So cool he stepped out of his own head and asked us about our trip! Later, after I sent a text about this to his Grandma, she replied:

So cool! I was hoping he'd ask! When we were driving away from your house I told him you were going on an adventure! At first he teared up, he wanted to go too! We talked a lot about how this was special time for you two, that we'd have an adventure too, and you could each share about them when you got back. How fun that he remembered!)

2/20, Text from Grandma: "Gramma, I'm having a hard time sleeping" "I see. Well .. would you like to sit with me?" "No, that would make it even worser"  !!! :p

2/21, Today's heart-tugger as reported by Grandma: "(Super Why [tv cartoon] show topic is scared of the dark). 'Sometimes when I get scared of the dark I snuggle with my mommy and then I feel all better!'  aaawww! :)"

1/24, Watching a motorcycle jump over a car (on a car commercial we caught on the Internet), Kaemon Ze said, "Hey! I didn't know they could do that!"

2/26, "Tanks, Dad-du!" (Telling Daddy 'thank you.')

2/26, "We joked ourselves!"

2/25, "I wish I could tell Uncle Dan about the bones." Me: "You mean  Godfather Dan? Because he's a nurse? (JoyBoy nods) Do you want him to tell you about bones?" JoyBoy: "No -- I want to tell HIM about bones!" (Hear that, Dan?)

2/28, "Hey! I have an idea! I'll sit on it!" (laundry basket)

2/28, "I wonder...is this just junk?"

2/29, "What in the heck just happened?"

2/29, "Mom? I don't know what I want to be when I grow up. I thought about something, but then I thought of something else. Maybe I'll be a person who digs up bones [a paleontologist]. Maybe there will be dinosaur bones in our yard!"

Me: "You can be anything you want to be: a policeman; a fireman; a paleontologist; a surfer; a doctor; a teacher; a veternarian..."
JoyBoy: "I want to be a pirate! They take things!" 
Me: "They are not nice, you know. They do mean things.
JoyBoy: I'll have to eat a LOT to get big. 
Me, not wanting to re-nig on having just said that he can be anything he wants... "You can be a pirate if you want, but they are mean and dad and I would be sad about that."
He thought about that and a moment later he said he didn't want to be a pirate. "Maybe a police officer and I'll catch bad guys who take things and hit people." 
Me: "You can be anything you'd like to be: a police officer, a dancer, a singer..."

2/29, "Mommy? Why do I keep growing all the time?"

3/1, (Remembering a dream he had) "I couldn't defeat him (Darth Vadar). It was just a Jedi Dream."


3/1 (Turning on the kitchen light) "If something falls and crashes, you can turn this on [the light] and then you can see! You can see in the dark."