Monday, December 31, 2012

Chwistmas with a Two Yea Old

If I haven''t said it before, I'll say it again.  I wish I could spend every Christmas with a two year old.  They have a basic understanding of the decorations, the reindeer, the big man.  They can sing along to the music and point out the "decowations" from the back seat.  They get excited about the tree and most certainly, the pwesents.  They don't have that gimme gimme attitude just yet either.
 
The gimme gimme doesn't arrive until Christmas Eve when they get their first taste of present opening.  For Bennett, it didn't so much matter what was in the box, as long as it meant shredding of paper and moving on to the next package.  In fact, it didn't matter if the gift was for him, as long as it meant more, more!
 

 
Now, this is a good thing because I knew between the grandparents, aunts and cousins this kid was going to be spoiled and wouldn't give much credit to Santa or his parents.  Mommydaddy (we're frequently one word around here) gifted clothes and books.  Santa got a break with the requested hard hat, (play) food, fireman rainboots (that he won't wear), and play dough.  I suppose we shouldn't be surprised that the biggest hit was the $5 assorted play dough accessories.


 
There were many other winners this Christmas.  A cash register, "It works!" McQueen cars, two "hammas," a bowling set, and a socca ball.


 Guess what the socca ball is now used for! 

Occassionally, two yea olds remember to say "gank you."  If not, a hug will suffice.
 
And this will be the only family photo captured for all prosperity.
 
If you haven't already experienced a Christmas season with a two-year old, I highly recommend you do it .  At least once.  Maybe a few times.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

What We Learned: 26 Months

 
I probably shouldn't admit this, but there was a time I didn't think my child was all that smart.  When he was about ten months old and didn't give two hoots about crawling, never the less rolling over, I figured this kid to be a lazy one.  He would be enamored with an old box of junk for 40 minutes but wasn't too interested in age appropriate toys.  We all know he wasn't much of a talker until about a year ago.  But at 26 months, I am constantly impressed with his new skills and understanding. 
 
Yesterday, I explained to him that we had to put on his socks because it was cold in the house.  He said, "the air come out?"  I asked him "what air came out?"  "Outta the frigerator!"  Tell me, this kid isn't a genius.
 
Bennett learned not to be afraid of the bathtub or the barber.
 
We learned that it is possible to be cough and runny nose free during cold season. 
 
Bennett learned bilingual songs in preschool.
 
We learned Bennett knows more Spanish than his 1/4 Panamanian father.
 
Bennett learned how to fix everything in the house.
 
We learned a child can never have too many tools.
 
Bennett learned the words to Rudolph and Jingle Bells.
 
We learned that he really only likes to sing "HAY!"
 
Bennett learned that while Santa is a nice man, you don't want to get too close.
 
We learned that we should listen when he says, "no thank you."
 


Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Wishing You Joy...


...hope, and peace.  And a two year old at every Christmas feast!

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Twas the Fifth Day Before Christmas When

The Wreaths Were Picked
 
The Bows Tied
 
The Stockings Hung

The Tree Trimmed

The Halls Decked

The Tables Set

An Atticus on Watch
 
And a long shopping list left untouched...
 

Monday, December 17, 2012

The Scared List

Our first trip to Santa was successful. At just five weeks old, Bennett woke up, smiled on cue and fell back asleep. Last year, he was too scared to even cry.
 
I tried to prepare Bennett this year. I told him Santa is a nice man; he brings good kids toys. He laughs like a bowl full of jelly.
  
When we arrived at the Country Music Hall of Fame to tell the big man about his desire for a hard hat, he waved from a distance. He whispered his wish list ("hard hat, toys, food"). When we got to the front of the line, his legs gripped my waist and his little fingers pinched my skin. As we approached, he started screaming. I couldn't even set him on the old man's lap. 
 
 
Maybe next year?

Friday, December 14, 2012

If I were the type of person that wrote Christmas newsletters...

I can barely get my cards out the door before New Year’s, despite the fact that the photos were taken in September and the printer delivered them to me a month ago.  Ignoring that fact, when I sat back to reflect on life since my last Christmas card, I was reminded why I don’t bother.  It would go something like this:


 

Monday, December 3, 2012

He's on the Smart List

 
Yesterday morning, Bennett and I were playing with his talking dump truck.  (Everyone has one of those, right?).  The dump truck told Bennett to put his hard hat on.  Bennett looked at me with a confused face and said, "I want a hard hat."  I asked him if he would like one for Christams and if so, he should ask Santa Claus when we see him next.  His confused face returned, then he ran into the dining room, looked at the framed picture of Baby Bennett sitting on Santa's lap and said, "Hard hat please!"

And then I died. And then, I put one in my shopping cart.