Month Forty

Dear Emery, Parker and Isaac,

                               

Lately you have been having VERY interesting conversations in the back seat of the car.  In particular you have been working out family relationships, like son, daughter, cousin, brother, sister, etc.  Emery, although clear she is a girl and that Isaac and Parker are her brothers, is still convinced she is a father... we clearly still have some work to do:).

We have separated you at night.  Into three separate rooms.  We didn't separate you after you poured buckets of water all over the bathroom floor (our fault for having turned the water back on temporarily and then forgetting to shut it off).  We also didn't separate you after weeks of partying for two hours after bed time, or the time you slathered the bathroom counter and mirrors with lotion.  Nor the numerous times you have completely dismantled the room.  No, the final straw came last Monday (of course, the day of your Christmas program at school... first thing in the morning), when one of you (and yes, I have a good guess...)  managed to climb up into the closet and get to my stash of kiddie shampoo and toothpaste.  And then proceeded to dump it all over the bathroom floor (as well as some of the bedroom carpet), creating a standing layer of slippery goo.  Plus, you were creative enough to completely cover the cabinets and mirrors with toothpaste.  Nice.  Sorry, kids, the party is OVER! 

Emery: Darling, you have something to say about everything.  And it is often PRESSING that you express it:).  Right now.  And it often has something to do with what your brothers have done or are doing.  Which may come in handy as you all get older:). 

Headbands are your new favorite "princess ballerina" accessory.  I bought you a new pair of "Princess shoes" last week (your old ones had nearly disintegrated from heavy use), and you insisted on taking them into your room at night, but promised not to wear them in your bed.  So when checking on you, I snapped this photo.  What you can't see in this picture is that you are also wearing (as has become your habit), a "princess skirt" over your pajamas:).

                               

You start your first dance class tomorrow.  I haven't told you because I am convinced that you would explode from sheer anticipation overnight.  But I am so looking forward to seeing your excitement when I put on your leotard tomorrow!




Parker:  If someone enters the home with something your are interested in, you simply claim it as yours.  For example, my phone, (now with a red case) is known to you as "Parker's red phone", my briefcase is "Parker's suitcase".  And when last week your Father came home with a bag that looked interesting to you, you named it "Parker's bag".  The only problem is that you ACTUALLY consider these things yours and get upset when we don't let you have what you clearly believe to be your rightful property:).

Baseball.  Basketball.  Football.  If a ball is involved, you are interested.  I like college football, and you would get excited when a game came on (calling it, of course, "Parker's football!") and would sit and watch it with us for long periods of time.

My son, you wander.  In and out of people.  You are right next to me one minute, and the next you are across a crowded room of people, just weaving in and out, exploring the terrain.  Ugh!  We have to keep a close eye on you:).   You love to have us play with you.  And one of us has been gone for a period of time, we will be met not only with a huge smile and big hug, but also a tugging on the hand and the request: "Do you want to come play with me?".  Of course, we do.




Isaac:  You are independent and generally easy-going.  But WATCH OUT when you get mad.  It doesn't happen often, but when it does (usually fueled by much activity and no nap)... Katy bar the door!  You become seemingly inconsolable.  I have found after I give you a minute or two to calm down, a nice back rub, lullaby and your favorite blankets usually do the trick:).

Last night we exchanged gifts with your cousins in town.  The cousin who chose your name picked out a truck carrier complete with monster trucks.  You insisted it be opened immediately.  I declined as there were many small parts included in the package.  As a compromise, I pulled out one of the monster trucks for you to play with until we got home.  Clearly not good enough, you threw a major tantrum (see reaction to sleep-deprivation above...).  After you calmed down and realized the truck really wouldn't get opened until we got home, you carried the large package around with you until we left, periodically stopping to gaze through the clear plastic lovingly at the truck, running your hands along the packaging.  True love:).

Last year you wanted nothing to do with your Santa hat.  This year, you found them when scouring the Christmas box I was going through.  And (that is, until I put them in the suitcase to take to Grandma and Grandpa's house...) insisted on wearing it all of your waking (and sleeping for that matter... I got a picture!) hours.








Your new favorite activity is to play with alphabet cans.  I am ashamed to say I have had these cans for about 18 months.  In fact, I "gave" them to you for Christmas last year... but didn't actually break them out into action until a few weeks ago.  You all heart them.  We take them one can at a time, taking turns naming the pictures found inside.  I love watching your faces beam with pride as you get them right.

I went to your FIRST Christmas program at preschool last week.  I have become that typical mother, sitting on the front row, finger at the iPhone video record button (as was, to be fair, every other parent on the front row...), waiting anxiously for your entrance.  But let me be clear.  Participation was not your strong suit.  Any of you.  But at least Isaac sang  a little and managed to do a few actions before becoming preoccupied with a sticker near his feet on the risers.  But I can't complain, seeing as that video I shot alternately includes Emery with her finger up her nose and sweater dress hiked up with thumbs tucked into her leggings.  Oh, and Parker.  I guess I should just be glad he stood there nicely instead of screaming like the girl next to him.  Entertainment at its finest!


This Christmas season has been enjoyable so far.  You get excited about seeing Santa Claus at activities (i.e., Preschool program), but want nothing to do with sitting on his lap.  You have developed a true appreciation for candy canes (Emery managed to finagle three in one day!).   You gladly indulge my love of Christmas music and sit quietly while it plays in the car.  And every day I find the figures from our plastic nativity set organized in some new and often odd manner.  But most of all... you "get" presents.  You love to rip off the wrapping, nearly jumping with excitement.  This Christmas should be fun!


Love,
Mom