Half-pint's Activities...

The weather has been REALLY nice here lately...we've had temperatures in the 50-70s! We've been to the zoo, skiing, and playing at the park. We've also been playing inside with Half-pint's "rocket". Aren't BIG cardboard boxes great?

Quarter-pint Around the House...

I know, it's been a little while since I posted anything...there just hasn't been anything really crazy going on; just the typical boy stuff.
So I thought I would put some pictures of the boys up...

As you can see, Quarter-pint's stitches are healing nicely!

Quarter-pint Gets Stitches...

We spent a wonderful evening with family last night for a little Super Bowl Party. We had a really good meal and the cousins played, and played, and played together; we even celebrated Uncle R's birthday. But as we were getting ready to leave, Quarter-pint tripped and whacked his head on the metal heating grate on the floor. We knew immediately that he needed stitches, so Daddy and I whisked him to the car while Grammy and Pappa C kept Half-pint with them. THANK YOU Grammy!!! Quarter-pint fussed about the ice pack and pressure I was applying to his forehead, and as I relented enough to see that the bleeding had stopped, he was quiet. The second half of the trip to the hospital, Quarter-pint rode quietly. When we arrived at the ER I was relieved to see that the hospital we choose also had an after-hours satellite for the local Children's Hospital. Yeah! Before we were seen, Quarter-pint walked into the waiting room and played-with a big gash in his forehead. He didn't seem to notice, or maybe he didn't care. A nurse came to apply a numbing cream to his wound and bandaged his head up while we waited for the medication to take effect. Thankfully that was all the numbing medication he needed-NO SHOTS!!! The staff was great with him-taking his vitals and visiting with their little patient. Quarter-pint didn't like the cleaning-or the stitches, but who can blame him? By the time the NP was finishing the last few stitches, Quarter-pint was sleeping; he was so tired! Daddy and I were shocked to see how deep the cut really was-to the bone- but he only required one layer of external stitched. It took 9 stitches to close the laceration. It came together nicely, so hopefully it will heal well; with minimal scarring. He's so little to have stitches already (he turns 18 months in a few days). He was calm and awake by the time we left; thankfully we were in and out in 2 hours. We headed back to Gramm'ys house to retrieve a sleeping Half-pint and we all got home about midnight. It was a little more excitement than we expected on Super Bowl Sunday, but I guess that's what happens when you have 2 active boys.

Half-pint Turns 4...

I know, this post is nearly a month late, but better late than never, right?

Half-pint was really excited to celebrate his birthday this year. He was quite set on a few particulars, namely an ice cream cake (with chocolate cake on the bottom and "white" ice cream on top, and a layer of mini chocolate chips in the middle) and having a pinata. Both very do-able. We celebrated with a simple family dinner and then cake, presents and the always favorite pinata. I let him choose one from a party store and he picked a traditional bull. We let all the cousins and Aunt C6 take turns whacking that bull, even Quarter-pint and Cousin H. The kids thought it was great, but the darn thing wouldn't break. We laid it on the ground and let the boys really whack it, but eventually we had them pull it apart-each taking a hold on one foot. The poor bull was quartered! All the Kids, and especially Half-pint had a great time. Thanks to everyone who helped Half-pint celebrate his birthday!

It's continually amazing to me how quickly Half-pint has grown. He has truly turned into an adorable little boy. I am enjoying his personality more and more every day. He continually amazes me; with the things he says, the the things he understands. He has blossomed into a sweet, compassionate, social, happy, obedient, kind, fun, clever, smart, imaginative, helpful, loving boy. The list could go on and on... We are SO blessed to have him a part of our little family! Happy Fourth Birthday Half-pint!!! We love you!

Half-pint's Imagination...

As Half-pint crawled into bed tonight we was talking about different instruments. I was only half listening until he said something about me having a saxophone. I didn't even know he knew what a saxophone is!
"A saxophone?"
"Yeah Mom, like this..." and he played the air-sax.
"Where did you learn about saxophones?"
"I can't know. When I was a little boy, in Ak-carka (Africa). My Grandmother teach me about sacrahones (saxophones), and dums (drums), and dutes (flutes), and istruments like this... (and he played the air-violin)."
"A violin? In Africa? When you were a little boy? Grandma taught you?"
"Yep, in Ak-carka Grandmother, he (Half-pint still has trouble remembering gender specific pronouns) teach it to me."
Matter of fact, just like that.
I love his imagination!


At dinner tonight, I was telling Daddy a little bit about my day. I had a little trouble getting into a gated community. Half-pint was listening enough to pipe into our conversation...
"Mom, when you have a po-wabem (problem) you have to use your imagination to figure it out."
What a clever boy!

Boys Will Be BOYS...

Tonight for story time during our bed-time routine, Half-pint chose "The Potty Book". Fine, I thought, he's been doing a good job keeping his pants clean and dry, so a little more encouragement which hasn't originated from me is great! We read through it once (and thankfully) the button which makes a flushing sound is broken; so it wasn't too obnoxious. Then Half-pint wanted to read it to me. He's been interested in reading books to me for a few weeks. We read together with both of us pointing at the words and he repeats after me. I think it's great that he's beginning to show an interest in reading, especially because he doesn't have full letter recognition mastered yet. On the second page Half-pint accidentally said "toot" instead of "to". The pun was not lost on such a little soul. He instantly started giggling as only a child can. His laugh is truly contagious (at least for me). Unfortunately my giggling only encouraged him; by the last few pages, he was injecting either "toot" or "gas" about every third word and laughing hysterically every time. What a kid!

Quarter-pint Gets a Black eye...

Yep, it's finally happened...Quarter-pint ran into the dining room table-eye first as we were trying to get out the door for a birthday party. Of course, I was in the other room and didn't actually see the accident happen, but I heard his blood-curdling cries. When I got to him, he was doubled over on the floor. His little eyebrow was bleeding, but he quickly calmed down and the bleeding never really got going. Thankfully I realized quickly he didn't need stitches and he seemed to be getting around just fine. We went to the party anyway and he had a wonderful time at Chuck E. Cheese with his brother and cousins. The next morning, he woke up screaming! When Daddy got him out of his crib, his eye was swollen shut. No wonder he was screaming! I took him to our favorite pediatrician, who checked him out and gave him (and most importantly, his eye) a clean bill of health. She warned us the swelling would be bad for a few days and the bruise would probably spread towards the bridge of his nose and run through the rainbow of bruise colors. I was fully expecting the worst, but to my slight disappointment we never got to see the full spectrum of bruise colors. It healed quickly; after a week, the scabs were falling off and it's nearly completely healed. I had several strangers tell me it looked like he had been in a bar fight. Poor kid! He looks pretty tough, don't you think?