1.15.2015

Sawyer's Dragon Birthday














I don't even know where to begin with my Sawyer boy.  Even the lady at check-out the other day looked at him and said, "You're awesome! Do you know that?" If only words like awesome, amazing, and incredible could contain him, this would be easy!

Let's start with some of his own words.

"I'm not a listening, I'm a BOY!"

"I make you happy, with a kiss."

""You best my friend? Best my friend, Mama Rachel?"

"Yuck! That tastes like dirt!"

"No, it's alright Mama, I make you fly!" -as he throws pixie dust sand at me

"Peter Pan wears a leaf shirt."

"What's you name? What tolor you eyes?"

"Mama, what's the moon do at day?"

That's a meager sample, because Sawyer talks ALL THE TIME. He comes up with the most creative games, stories, explanations, and the most endearing expressions of love and kindness.

"It's ok mama, that happens."

"We tan tlean it up. I get the broom"

Potty training hasn't come easily.  He seems to be of the 'what train, and why should I care if I get on it, 'attitude.  There seems to be no way I can motivate him to care, either.  That would be the Jeff in him. My boys don't really respond to external motivation. When the time for peer pressure comes, I know I'll be really glad Sawyer has this trait, but now, when I'd really like him to respond to the promise of a big crane truck upon training completion, or the threat of taking toys away, or any promise or threat or non-issue, even, he does not.   Some days go great, others not so much. But when I don't react with my best, Sawyer hits me with this:

"I so sorry I make you mad, Mama. I so sorry. I'm sad too."  So you know, no big deal.  We'll keep plugging away at this thing.

Sawyer is amazing at nearly everything else.  He loves to paint, color, play with playdough, build things with boxes and blocks, pretend, pretend, pretend, play board games, make up games, sing ABCs, do puzzles, name some of the shapes, count to 20 in a very round about way, eat fruits and veggies of all kinds and colors, turn down cookies and doughnuts-both at home and when offered them at church or the store- and make treasure maps.  He's getting a strong sense of print awareness, and is picking up on "if, then" logic very well. He likes to try and identify how things turn on, turn off, and how they function. That's pretty cool.

Pirates, crocodiles, dinosaurs, castles, knights, and dragons are HUGE for him right now.  He thinks Jesus is in the sun, and God is in the moon.  If we forget to sing a song for him at night, he'll ask for one ("Hey, what bout my song?") He loves to crack eggs and kick icicles. He hides under my bed when he should be sleeping. 

He tells jokes.  When the doctor asked him what he likes for breakfast, he put his finger to the corner of his mouth and said, "Hmmm. Hmmm." Then he turned his head to the side, and with a gleam in his eye, said, "Marshmallows!" Then giggled, obviously pleased with himself. By the end of his 3rd year appointment the doctor told me how much she really liked him and how fun he was.

That's my Sawyer. Wonderful, fabulous, great, to strangers and friends alike.

1.05.2015

New Year, 2015









We just took a little visit to West Side Market, where you know, altercations happen regularly in the parking lot, so I was shouting out the window, putting people in their place, and Shane was backing me up, nearly ready to spend the Eve booked in the big house, and Jeff was exceedingly embarassed and my Mama was flustered by it all.

So Shane and I are trying to be less confrontational and more forgiving, starting at 12:01 a.m.

Putting all that ruckus behind us, we came home to have a safe, family-friendly, small, but lively celebration with the littles and lots of noise makers.

Hope you have a happy new year!