Alphabet Hunt

Both kids have colds again. This is the third time within a three month period and it's entirely frustrating because we can't go to Mom's gym, Xander's gym or try story time with snot running down their faces. We're hoping this round clears up so we can go to the Thanksgiving dinner we were invited to.

In the meantime, we're stuck around the house a lot more. In a moment of inspiration I decided we'd go on an Alphabet Hunt. We put on jackets and shoes and I had Xander tell me the alphabet and I wrote it down.

My original idea was that we'd find things out side, like a tree, and Xander would circle the letter at the beginning of the word. So tree would get a 't' circled on the list. Instead we just looked around for letters. We started with some license plates, Xander would read a letter and then circle it on his list (kind of hard to do with nothing under the paper, but we muddled through). There were street signs and road signs and even letters on the garbage bins.

Xander had a good time, he'd point and get excited when a new sign came up. I didn't let him circle every letter on signs like 'Not a through street' but we'd get a few from every one he pointed to.

Josie was not as excited and became increasingly frustrated that we were stopped. Towards the end of the walk I had to tell Xander that the hunt was over and we'd head home when done. Still, it was fun to do something different than just walk.

Josie Speak

It occurred to me a few weeks ago that Josie doesn't use many words. Her favorite two words are 'no' and 'mine.' It's a little frustrating because Xander didn't use 'no' until he was almost two and 'mine' was a little bit after that. I guess that is what happens when you have an older sibling, you learn the survival words first.

Josie doesn't say 'yes' but she definitely gets her point across when she agrees to what you say or what you are offering her. She makes a noise that is a little like this....but without the 'doughnut'.




"Josie, would you like some yogurt?" "Mmmmmmmm!"
"Josie, would you like to hold Curious George?" "Mmmm-mmmm!"
"Josie, would you like to wear your slippers?" "Mmm-mm!"

There are a few other words that she 'says' but only we understand, because as her parents we have the secret codes to know what she is saying.
"Easssssss" is please
"Day" is thank you
"Maa" is more
"Ba" is bottle - thought she is getting better with "Bott"

I've been attempting to have her repeat new words.
Squirrel is now "S-wirl"
Elmo is "Momo"
Bob the Builder is "Bobbie"

You get the idea. She did put together her first sentence of "More Bottle," which sounded like "Maa bott." You get the idea.

The best is when she tries to sing along with songs that are making nonsense sounds. For instance, out of the blue Xander asked me to sing the Batman song (how does he know these things?) so I started 'ne-ne-ne'ing. Next thing I know, Josie is singing right along.

Headlines from Golden Gate Bridge

Bridge in San Francisco is Huge

People Walk on Big Bridge

Bridge is High Above the Water

Mother Threatens to Throw Child Into Water

Little Sister Worries for Brother's Safety

Bridge Has Cables Thicker than Child's Arm

Bridge Looks Small from Far Away

aaah parenting

This morning after showering I stepped out of the bathroom and noticed that the kids' bedroom door was open. That means Xander was up and about. Usually he goes into our room and bothers Amanda, however this morning I had gone into the kitchen and on the way turned on the dining room light --and left it on while I showered.

I go into our room and Amanda asks me if Xander is up. Ah ha! So that means the little scamp saw the light on and is in the kitchen trying to play with my phone while it's on the charger. I head that way and Xander leaves the kitchen and meets me halfway in the dining room with a huge smile on his face (which means he heard me, stopped what he was doing in the kitchen and left). This is typically what he does when he is nearly caught in the act. But, he's got something white on his chin???

Dad: Xander, what's on your chin?
X: Lotion!
Dad thinks: there's no lotion in the kitchen, what's he talking about?
Dad: What lotion? Show me.
Xander leads me into the kitchen and points to the Elmer's glue.
Xander: That lotion.
Dad: Xander, that's not lotion it's glue!
Xander: Oh!

That Darn Pigeon

When I find a book that the kids (or I) like, I tend to go online to the library and request more books by that author. Right now we have the Pigeon books by Mo Willems. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog, and The Pigeon Wants a Puppy are what we have read so far and more are on the waiting list.

Xander has picked up enough about picture books that after reading a book only once he can go back through on his own and tell the story. It might not be word for word but it's the same story line and hits the important parts. Like on the page with the huge lettering he will yell "Let me drive the bus!"

Now Xander has extended what he reads to real world circumstances. For instance, while I'm driving somewhere he will ask if he can drive the car.

X: Can I drive?
Hugs: No.
X: Can I drive?
Hugs: No.
X: Can I drive?
Hugs: No.
X: Can I drive?
Hugs: No.
X: Can I drive?
Hugs: No.
X: Can I drive?
Hugs: No.
X: Can I drive?
Hugs: No.
X: Can I drive?
Hugs: ............No.

You would think it would get annoying but so far it has been a fun game. After all, that's what happens in the book. The pigeon keeps asking to drive the bus (although he tries other methods than just asking) and we tell the pigeon 'no.'

The best was after we read the Hot Dog book. In it a duckling keeps asking the pigeon what a hot dog tastes like, going so far as to ask if it tastes like chicken.

We sat down to dinner the other night and Xander asked what we were eating.

Hugs: This is chicken.
X: Does it taste like a hot dog?

The grin on his face was hilarious.

Halloween

Xander was old enough to really participate in Halloween this year. I asked him what he wanted to dress up as for Halloween and his immediate response was "Buzz!" It didn't help that there were commercials for Disneyland with little kids dressed as Buzz giving the 'real' Buzz high fives. Xander kept repeating that he wanted to be Buzz and get a high five.

Since I have almost no craft supplies and I knew Xander would wear it enough to be worth it, I bought him a Buzz costume. It involved going to four different stores to find, surprisingly. There was also lots of waffling on Xander's part. "I want to be Buzz! Spider-man, I want to be Spider-man. Oh, Super Why!" The store we bought it at was a Halloween store with many scary props around, so Xander had his first real dose of 'scary.' We talked about how it was pretend and make believe but he still closed his eyes as we walked out of the store past a child-sized doll with rotating skull. When we arrived at the car, Xander asked if that was a witch. Not wanting to go into zombie/skeleton/possessed details, I said that it was a witch. Xander turned in his seat and yelled "Bye, witch, have a good day!"

I have to get a video of Xander wearing this and post it.

And by the way, this costume, it's tag says 'Toy Story 2'. And it is absolutely falling apart already. The wings were totally worth it though. Josie agrees.


I found a butterfly costume for Josie. She was ok with it, but none of the pictures turned out well because she was tired and cranky.


On Halloween day we went out to the stores by the local farmers market to trick-or-treat in the afternoon. Josie slept. Xander was fascinated that he could walk up to someone and get candy. I spent most of the time holding his wings back because the sidewalks were crowded.



In the evening we trick-or-treated around the neighborhood. Xander had a blast and was so excited that he'd yell "Trick or treat" or "Happy Halloween" before people even opened the door. There were a few houses that were a little too scary for him, but nothing bad enough to give him nightmares.

My favorite part of the evening was when we ran into a family with a little Sheriff Woody. I so wanted to take a picture, but figured it would be rude. Xander was all excited and jumped up and down and yelled "Hi Sheriff Woody!" Woody was a little more reserved.

Overall, it was a good time. Monday morning, after breakfast, Xander asked to go trick-or-treating again.