Our Little Brainiac

Tonight, while doing workbooks, we learned that apparently Cade is retaining information on phonics, despite the fact that he refuses to let on to us that he ever learns anything. And he's so modest about his brilliance...

Aaron: Wow! Cade! How did you get so smart?
Cade: Just lucky, I guess.

What's in a Name - Part II

We are a big nickname family. In fact, virtually none of us (including our extended family) go by our real names. We're a crazy cast of characters that include Goopy, Grumpy, Mug, Boots, Bubbe, Tari, and Mr. Aaron. Basically the only ones in the family with normal names are my sister's dogs - Chloe, Bonnie, and Macy.

Cade's in utero nickname was Kid Fox. When he was born we started calling him "Bird" because he was covered with soft, downy hair and opened his mouth like a baby bird when he was hungry. I now realize this is not horribly original and basically describes all infants, but hey - we were first time parents. And so he is Bird to this day.

And then along came Drew. His fetal nickname was Bob. When he was born, Cade called him "Bubbo" instead of "Brother", and eventually that got shortened to "Bub". Which, ironically, is pretty close to Bob - he came full circle.

Enter Josh. The boys named him "Pawl" (Paul with a VERY southern drawl) before we even knew if he was a boy or a girl. Now he goes by one of two names. Sometimes he is "Baby" (see this post for the backstory on the origination of this name). And of late, Aaron has been calling him "Toad" because of his melancholy nature and his startling physical resemblance to Toad in Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad children's book series (a Fox Family Favorite).

Here is a side-by-side comparison:




Uncanny, huh?

Syndicated Again - Woohoo!

Another one of my Deep South posts was picked up for MCT syndication! Thanks to Bubbe and Goopy for the material.

The Swiffer People Think I'm Stupid

I have written before about how motherhood is making me an idiot. Unfortunately, I can't remember where or I would link it. But yesterday I reached a new low.

A commercial came on for the Swiffer mop. Clearly targeted towards my demographic, the commercial featured a mom-ish looking woman about my age. In fact, I think I may actually own the outfit she was wearing. But I digress.

The commercial was talking about how the Swiffer mop was so great that this mom was finally ready to leave her old mop. Just then, her doorbell rang and there was a flower delivery man at the door bearing flowers for her. From her old mop. Which was peeking out from behind a tree. The mom rolled her eyes and shut the door.

And I laughed. Out loud. For several minutes.

Really?! Has my sense of humor finally eroded to the point where I find a mop sending flowers so funny that I laugh out loud?

But I gotta say, were I not so loyal to my Clorox mop, I would dump it for a Swiffer just because their marketing people obviously have some uncanny glimpse into my psyche....

Introducing Baby Josh

Since Baby Josh hasn't gotten much publicity on this blog, I thought I'd take a minute to introduce you to him. Yes, I already introduced him by name. But now that he has been here with us for a few weeks, we're starting to get to know what his personality is like. Just thought we'd share with you...

Joshie is an old soul. Life is very serious when you're only seven weeks old, you know. There's not much to smile about, especially when you fear for your life on a daily basis because your two older brothers cavort about your personal space like a bunch of mentally ill chimpanzees. As I've mentioned in other posts, poor Josh is having some reflux issues which, for awhile, caused him to scream for about 23 hours out of each day. That also did not leave a lot of time for smiling.

Thankfully, we've made progress in resolving (or at least reducing) those problems and he is a MUCH happier boy now. We've broken him down and the craziness of our family has finally cracked his serious facade somewhat. He smiled (in a non gas-related manner) for the first time last week! This was, of course, the highlight of our year. There is nothing more precious than a toothless baby grin, especially when directed in your general vicinity.

His favorite activities include:

• Staring impassively into space. If I try to coo at or talk silly baby talk to him, he stares sternly back at me with a look that says, "I'm a baby, not an idiot, you blithering dolt."
• Reading a family favorite - Friends of All Sizes - with his dad. It is the Fox Family tradition that introduction to literacy begins with this six-page, cloth-covered tome.
• Watching his brothers in a disapproving manner. Sometimes their idiocy gets the best of him and he cracks a smile.
• Taking a bath. Preferably without the "help" of his brothers.
• Watching the Glo-Worm "video" crib toy in his crib. This scrolling Glo-Worm screen with music was one of Cade's favorite toys and he generously released it to Josh for his temporary use.
• Eating. Definitely a boob man.
• Staying up late. He typically does not retire for the night before 1 am.
• Being held by anyone who will hold him. This is his activity of choice.
  

More on Josh later as his personality continues to evolve!

My New Personal Assistant

Once upon a time, I was organized. Maybe a little too organized. My own mother threatened to shove my Daytimer up my ass at one point, when she asked when I might be available to do something and I gave her a two-hour window three weeks out. That was my junior year of college.

I still have a Daytimer (nope - can't make the leap to electronic calendars). And I even write stuff in it sometimes. But then I forget to look at it. Which is why I am screwing up a lot of things these days. Like the time I sent Cade to school an hour late on the first day of school because I thought he was only supposed to go for one hour instead of the full three. Turns out, the one-hour deal was for Meet and Greet day. Oops. But hey - I'm sure I can make it up to the school with my uber-volunteering, since at said Meet and Greet day I signed up to work the Christmas party for both of the boys' classes. On the same day. At the same time.

Anyway, my point is that I've been so scatterbrained of late that even my children have very little faith in my memory. Just to be on the safe side, Cade decided to take the bull by the horns tonight and leave me a reminder taped to his school bag.


Just in case you can't read it, it says, "Don't forget to take Cade to choir practice tomorrow (Wednesday). 5 pm. You moron. "

Fun for the Whole Family!

Today I'm blogging at Atlanta Parent about our adventures last weekend at the Decatur Book Festival.

Them Against Each Other

It all started when Cade was practicing his back float during bathtime and apparently hogging too much room in the tub. Drew tackled Cade, sat on his stomach to pin him down, and spit a mouthful of water into Cade's open mouth. Nice.

Cade retaliated by waiting until Drew was lying on the floor getting his nighttime diaper put on after bath. Then he took a flying leap and stomped on Drew's stomach.

The worst part is that in neither instance did the "injured" party cry. In fact, they laughed hysterically.

Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread...

So the (big) boys have discovered a new game. Last night as a special treat, they got a bubble bath in the big jacuzzi tub in the master bath. They used this as an opportunity to cover the entire bathroom in bubbles. Why? Because they were scooping up bubbles and throwing them at each other, pie-in-the-face-style, while screaming, "Daily Bread!".

Huh?

I guess they have been paying attention in church after all.

Us Against Them

Anyone who has siblings can attest that no matter how nuts you make each other, there is a certain camaraderie that develops by nature of the fact that you are allies against common enemies - your parents.

The big boys have definitely solidified their alliance. Recently heard at our house:

A few weeks ago, as they heard Aaron stomping up the stairs to yell at them to stop goofing off and go to bed for the five THOUSANDTH time that night...
Cade to Drew: Hurry! Get down! He's coming!!!

Tonight, Cade sent his emissary (Drew) down from the playroom to ask if we would come up and type in the password to unlock the computer so they could play pbskids.org. We told Drew no, as it was time to do bath and bedtime stories.
Cade (screaming down the stairs): Drew! Did they say they would come set it up?
Drew: No. They said they would not set it up.

I must say, it was kind of a rude awakening. It definitely feels weird to be old enough to be "them" and not "us".