March 6, 2011
Jacob has been getting impatient with us not understanding his words. He'll say it once and then, when asked to repeat himself, he'll yell the words. I can't help laugh to myself a bit. It's pretty cute to us but understandably frustrating to him.
Today, Jacob wanted to go outside and hang out. He likes to explore. Or chase the kitty. I put on his boots and coat and let him out. He's perfectly happy to just be out there by himself. On the deck, in the grass, the leaves, the mud. He'd come to the window every now and then and we'd talk a bit, but mostly, he was just hanging out. Had a blueberry snack out there that just made his day.
Went downtown to have a nice little afternoon together. We wanted to go to the Portland Grill which is a bar/restaurant high up in one of the buildings dowtown so you get a really great view of the city. We get there only to be told that Jacob is not allowed in because he's a minor. Unreal! They claimed it was due to Oregon state laws but we were under the impression that that was only bars. This place sure seemed to be a restaurant also, especially with the word "grill" in your name. So, boo to Portland Grill. And boo to this "law". Truly silly when a minor is accompanied by an adult, namely a parent. We ended up at Rogue Brewery which definitely serves alcohol but we had no problems sitting and eating. A bit more of an adventure than I was hoping for but it was good to just do it.
Getting closer to Jacob and my departure date makes both of us sad. I'm excited to see the family but I will miss Fraser lots.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Day 160
March 5, 2011
Warmish day. Sun.
I don't remember anything else at this point (it's now March 10th).
Been planning for our trip.
Warmish day. Sun.
I don't remember anything else at this point (it's now March 10th).
Been planning for our trip.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Day 159
March 4, 2011
Fraser took the day off today which meant only a very small amount of working. We went to the "muse-mum-um" together (OMSI). We arrived to find about 12 school buses parked all around. Oh, goodness. Fraser was ready to turn around and head home. But we went in and it wasn't all that bad. The place is just so huge that it spreads people out. Jacob's favourite part remains the balls. I saw places I hadn't yet seen. It was very fun. We wore the boy out; he took a two and a half hour nap from which I had to wake him because it was getting late (around 4:40 when I woke him). To have any hope of getting him down before 9 he had to get up. And by "getting him down" I really mean putting him in his bed. He oftentimes stays awake longer talking, singing, jumping, you name it. One of these days I know I'll go in there and find him naked again.
I went to a book sale while he was sleeping. Put on by the library so pretty cheap. I found some more books for Jacob. One of my new favourites is Harold and the Purple Crayon. I've read the original book long ago. This one is a compilation of four stories all dealing with the imagination and exploring. He always has a safe means to come home from his adventures too. I really like them.
Reading kids' books can just be irritating. Jacob loves the Thomas books because he has the train set and because they're trains. But the stories are horrible! I'm sorry to anyone who actually likes them but I find very few of them enjoyable. The trains are all arrogant, rude, mean, bossy... the list goes on! I'd love to "lose" the book but would also feel bad because he likes them so much. Anyway, it's always refreshing to find truly good children's books. And always amazing at what actually gets published.
Random Jacob "story": He tells me that I'm soft. Or mushy. Usually when he's telling me he loves me. He'll put his hands on my face and say, "Mush, mush, mush". "Mommy soft," he'll say. I say, "I think it's nice to have a soft mommy, too."
Now the boys are upstairs taking a bath. Very sweet. I love hearing them play together. The different things Fraser comes up to play, how excited Jacob gets playing with him. Really heart melting.
Fraser took the day off today which meant only a very small amount of working. We went to the "muse-mum-um" together (OMSI). We arrived to find about 12 school buses parked all around. Oh, goodness. Fraser was ready to turn around and head home. But we went in and it wasn't all that bad. The place is just so huge that it spreads people out. Jacob's favourite part remains the balls. I saw places I hadn't yet seen. It was very fun. We wore the boy out; he took a two and a half hour nap from which I had to wake him because it was getting late (around 4:40 when I woke him). To have any hope of getting him down before 9 he had to get up. And by "getting him down" I really mean putting him in his bed. He oftentimes stays awake longer talking, singing, jumping, you name it. One of these days I know I'll go in there and find him naked again.
I went to a book sale while he was sleeping. Put on by the library so pretty cheap. I found some more books for Jacob. One of my new favourites is Harold and the Purple Crayon. I've read the original book long ago. This one is a compilation of four stories all dealing with the imagination and exploring. He always has a safe means to come home from his adventures too. I really like them.
Reading kids' books can just be irritating. Jacob loves the Thomas books because he has the train set and because they're trains. But the stories are horrible! I'm sorry to anyone who actually likes them but I find very few of them enjoyable. The trains are all arrogant, rude, mean, bossy... the list goes on! I'd love to "lose" the book but would also feel bad because he likes them so much. Anyway, it's always refreshing to find truly good children's books. And always amazing at what actually gets published.
Random Jacob "story": He tells me that I'm soft. Or mushy. Usually when he's telling me he loves me. He'll put his hands on my face and say, "Mush, mush, mush". "Mommy soft," he'll say. I say, "I think it's nice to have a soft mommy, too."
Now the boys are upstairs taking a bath. Very sweet. I love hearing them play together. The different things Fraser comes up to play, how excited Jacob gets playing with him. Really heart melting.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Day 158
March 3, 2011
I was making dinner tonight (potato cheese soup - yum) and Jacob was playing by himself. He had the little Fisher Price house out and his horse and pig hand puppets. He would ring the doorbell and tell the dog to come in, all in a little high-pitched voice. Not just his own high-pitched voice but one that was made up for the characters. He had his own little storyline going on over there. It was adorable.
More books I'm reading:
Peaceful Parents, Peaceful Children - just starting this one but it's right in line with my philosophies it seems like. Taking time to envision what your goals are as a parent, envisioning this happening, peace begins within yourself.
Brain Rules for Baby - SO fascinating. This one is written by a molecular biologist so it's very scientific which I like. He goes into the physiological ways the brain forms and how it reacts to things in its environment, giving more insight into why babies/kids are the way they are and what they need at different times. He starts in utero and goes through age 5. I'm in the relationship chapter. Again, I would strongly recommend this one.
I was making dinner tonight (potato cheese soup - yum) and Jacob was playing by himself. He had the little Fisher Price house out and his horse and pig hand puppets. He would ring the doorbell and tell the dog to come in, all in a little high-pitched voice. Not just his own high-pitched voice but one that was made up for the characters. He had his own little storyline going on over there. It was adorable.
More books I'm reading:
Peaceful Parents, Peaceful Children - just starting this one but it's right in line with my philosophies it seems like. Taking time to envision what your goals are as a parent, envisioning this happening, peace begins within yourself.
Brain Rules for Baby - SO fascinating. This one is written by a molecular biologist so it's very scientific which I like. He goes into the physiological ways the brain forms and how it reacts to things in its environment, giving more insight into why babies/kids are the way they are and what they need at different times. He starts in utero and goes through age 5. I'm in the relationship chapter. Again, I would strongly recommend this one.
Day 157
March 2, 2011
Our big event today was after Jacob's three hour nap, I go in to get him and he's almost entirely naked. His feet are still in his jammies. That's it. He wanted his jammies on for nap which I don't normally do but today we did. He was very proud of himself. "Ga-cob take off bugs. Ga-cob take off animal diaper." I told him he should never do that when he has poop in his diaper. Other than that, I told him it was quite an achievement.
Made some broccoli cheese soup for dinner from Cook's Illustrated. Very easy and very tasty. Jacob was not into it, though. Nor was he into the homemade chicken pot pie I made the other night. Blast. Oh well, Fraser and I enjoyed them.
I mostly finished my boy psychology book, Raising Cain. A very interesting read. I like a lot of what they have to say about giving boys the emotional vocabulary that we give girls. Boys have emotions too and when they don't know how to deal with them during all their stages of life, it can lead to greater challenges for everyone. Moodiness, depression, aggression.
My friend told me a story the other day that was unnerving in light of my reading of this book. She went to pick up her almost 5 year old from preschool. A dad of one of the boys came in at the same time and said, "I have good news. My son's not gay." Obvious issue number one but anyway... The teacher asks how he knows this. He says, "I told my son the babysitter was coming and he said, 'Great. She has a hot body just like a girl in my class'. So, I was pretty happy about that." Wow. Where do you start, really?
Of course now I'm ultra sensitive to this and see all sorts of faux pas in the books I'm reading Jacob and probably overcompensating by explaining things. I would recommend this book to others out there, though. It's really helpful for those of us with boys for children. Raising Cain - Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys by Dan Kindlon and Michael Thompson.
Our big event today was after Jacob's three hour nap, I go in to get him and he's almost entirely naked. His feet are still in his jammies. That's it. He wanted his jammies on for nap which I don't normally do but today we did. He was very proud of himself. "Ga-cob take off bugs. Ga-cob take off animal diaper." I told him he should never do that when he has poop in his diaper. Other than that, I told him it was quite an achievement.
Made some broccoli cheese soup for dinner from Cook's Illustrated. Very easy and very tasty. Jacob was not into it, though. Nor was he into the homemade chicken pot pie I made the other night. Blast. Oh well, Fraser and I enjoyed them.
I mostly finished my boy psychology book, Raising Cain. A very interesting read. I like a lot of what they have to say about giving boys the emotional vocabulary that we give girls. Boys have emotions too and when they don't know how to deal with them during all their stages of life, it can lead to greater challenges for everyone. Moodiness, depression, aggression.
My friend told me a story the other day that was unnerving in light of my reading of this book. She went to pick up her almost 5 year old from preschool. A dad of one of the boys came in at the same time and said, "I have good news. My son's not gay." Obvious issue number one but anyway... The teacher asks how he knows this. He says, "I told my son the babysitter was coming and he said, 'Great. She has a hot body just like a girl in my class'. So, I was pretty happy about that." Wow. Where do you start, really?
Of course now I'm ultra sensitive to this and see all sorts of faux pas in the books I'm reading Jacob and probably overcompensating by explaining things. I would recommend this book to others out there, though. It's really helpful for those of us with boys for children. Raising Cain - Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys by Dan Kindlon and Michael Thompson.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Day 156
March 1, 2011
Museum with Karen and Charlie. Trying to get things straightened out here before I leave for three weeks. Library. I love how Jacob has a sense of humour and likes books he thinks are funny. "Take this one home," he says.
Bed time with Daddy. Much better. No screaming. They even came down to kiss me goodnight. Whew.
Museum with Karen and Charlie. Trying to get things straightened out here before I leave for three weeks. Library. I love how Jacob has a sense of humour and likes books he thinks are funny. "Take this one home," he says.
Bed time with Daddy. Much better. No screaming. They even came down to kiss me goodnight. Whew.
Day 155
February 28, 2011
Jacobisms:
Standing on the stool at the kitchen counter, Jacob almost loses his balance. He regains it, then looks at me.
"Ga-cob making Mommy a little nervous."
I burst out laughing. "Yes, you make me a little nervous up there sometimes."
Over at his little table, I hear a little grunting.
"Working on a poop," Jacob says.
"Ah, good," I say. "Better out than in."
"This is mine!"
"That's enough!"
"Mmm.. donuts." While looking at the cover of a magazine with donuts on it.
Me: Please don't bang your plate like that. The food might fly off into the air.
Jacob: Go up, up, up in the air. (He raises his hands to show me)
Me: Yep, like that.
Jacob: Goes up and comes down all over like rain. Like snow.
Me: You're right. It would come down all over just like that.
Jacobisms:
Standing on the stool at the kitchen counter, Jacob almost loses his balance. He regains it, then looks at me.
"Ga-cob making Mommy a little nervous."
I burst out laughing. "Yes, you make me a little nervous up there sometimes."
Over at his little table, I hear a little grunting.
"Working on a poop," Jacob says.
"Ah, good," I say. "Better out than in."
"This is mine!"
"That's enough!"
"Mmm.. donuts." While looking at the cover of a magazine with donuts on it.
Me: Please don't bang your plate like that. The food might fly off into the air.
Jacob: Go up, up, up in the air. (He raises his hands to show me)
Me: Yep, like that.
Jacob: Goes up and comes down all over like rain. Like snow.
Me: You're right. It would come down all over just like that.
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