Conversation with a 3-year-old

On the way home today:
Brannon: Mommy, Ms. Sandra says we are supposed to pray before we go to bed.
Me: You're right Brannon. Let's do it now and practice what we want to say to God tonight. God Bless.... Who do you want to pray for Brannon?
Brannon: Baby Jane (She is in Taylor's class and the sister of a girl in Brannon's class.)
Me: Is Baby Jane sick?
Brannon: Yes. She had to go to the doctor.
Me: Is she okay? What's wrong with her?
Brannon: The doctor said......no more monkeys jumping on the bed!

So much for getting useful information from a 3 year old. By the way, we saw Baby Jane at school today so I'm pretty sure she's okay.

Brannon: Mommy, that Joseph has a stick. We're not supposed to play with sticks. When I'm bigger like Joseph I can play with sticks?

Christmas programs

Last week Brannon and Taylor had their Christmas programs at daycare. MeMe was in town for a couple of days so she got to go with us. I made a video of the whole thing but it is much too long to post here. Taylor's program was "Our Little Christmas Angels". That pretty much means they dressed in all white (try finding white pants for little boys in December) with angel wings, the teacher read a Christmas poem, and we all sang songs. Obviously there we no big speaking roles this year. This was Brannon's third year to have a Christmas program so it was fun to see how much they have grown up this year. Most of the kids are the same that he has been with throughout so they are all really good friends. Brannon's program was "The True Meaning of Christmas". They sang the song they sing every morning "We're So Happy You're Here Today", said The Lord's Prayer, had the program, and then ended with some songs. Much longer than any program so far. For the program, each kid walked up to the microphone holding a Christmas symbol, told the audience what their symbol was, and then placed it on the Christmas tree. Wreath, tree, candle, Jesus, holly, ornament, Mary and Joseph, star, angel, present, candy cane, present... (yes that was Brannon repeating "present" just to make sure no one missed the "true meaning of Christmas"). His real symbol was bell just in case anyone was curious. Oh well, maybe next time we'll work on his lines. Regardless of this I still thought both of my boys were so cute and I loved being able to be there to witness another special moment in their lives. I am so grateful that I'm able to spend this time with them! Good memories!

Quality time

Just thought this was a good idea for any couple that wants to spend time together but may not want to compromise. This is also good for guys who really want to watch Dancing with the Stars or So You Think You Can Dance but won't admit it.

The Biggest Loser

David and I are one week in to our version of The Biggest Loser (he won week 1). Maybe it is because he is actually trying. I wanted to record the one day any exercise has taken place during week one.

Warning: Don't read if you have a problem hearing about bodily fluids

Yesterday was interesting! Looking back on these events I see the error of my ways but at the time I was either naive or an idiot not to see what was coming. The day started off like many mornings with a trip to Waffle House. As I'm getting Brannon out of his carseat I hear him mumble, "Mommy I have a little poo poo in my underwear." Pause... I have a choice. 1.) go inside Waffle House and take care of the issue and let him finish his business or 2.) get back in the car and run the risk of him completing his business in his carseat. I chose option #1. I would like to believe it was because I was seriously concerned with the potential risk to the carseat and not because I was drooling over my future scattered, double covered, and diced hashbrowns. So on to the very clean (Ha!) Waffle House bathroom where "a little poo poo" turned into a leak through the underwear onto the pants. Well, while business was being completed I cleaned (not really sure if that word is appropriate) out the area of interest and dried the pants with the hand dryer (now I know why those things exist). One of my favorite earrings did drop in the toilet during the wiping process (and NO I did not retrieve it) but other than that I thought we came out okay in the end. So I'm sure some of you would have packed right back into the car but not us. We sat down, ordered, and enjoyed a wonderful breakfast. Brannon is acting fine at this point so we decide to go home, change clothes, and still meet our good friends at the science museum for our playdate. Brannon and Taylor have a great time playing with their friends and we have no accidents. So, when they ask if we can join them for lunch I say sure. Off to Chick-fil-A with our combined 5 kids. Get our food, sit down, and Brannon says "I need to go potty." I'm happy because we make it in time to avoid another disaster. Continue the meal when all of a sudden we are interrupted by Brannon spewing the entire contents of his meal all over the table and floor. I pick him up mid-vomit and carry him to the nearest door (to the playground) where he continues to heave. He hasn't thrown-up in over a year so he has no idea what's happening and is scared to death. While we're outside my friend brings out her daughter who begins vomiting beside Brannon. (She vomits when she sees vomit.) When they finish I leave them outside to go back and check on my screaming baby who is really mad that I stopped feeding him. I avoid eye contact with all the onlookers because I really don't want to know what they are thinking. Our friend comes back in from outside, sees the vomit again, and starts gagging. Her mom looked at me and I said "Go." She quickly rushes her to the bathroom and I stay with the remaining three kids while watching Brannon through the door, covered in vomit, shivering from the cold, and crying. Awesome! I pack screaming Taylor up in the carseat and shove a bottle in his mouth. My friend returns, we send all kids that can walk outside to the playground, and we attempt to clean up the mess. During this process one of the workers comes around and asks us if we would like to sample some brownies. REALLY? No thank you. The remaining minutes are a blur. The next thing I know we are back in the car on our way home and Brannon is in nothing but his underwear and socks smiling and acting like nothing is wrong. "Mom, can we go back and finish my fruit and go down the slide?" You have got to be kidding me.

Jackpot

Last weekend some of our neighbors had a garage sale. Since they have two older boys I figured they might have some stuff we wanted. Well they ended up giving us a ton of toys, books, and games. I was very grateful (even though I have no idea how their stuff was in such good condition and how all the puzzles and games have all the pieces). I loved getting all the new books but you can tell from the picture Brannon's favorite find. Isn't he such a rock star?

Fun at the park

One of our favorite places

One day Brannon is going to come to me and tell me he has high cholesterol and he's going to remember this picture and know why. We love Waffle House! I have created a monster! What really sealed the deal is when the workers started making him a chocolate-chip Mickey Mouse waffle. What's not to love?

New Ritual

Tonight we let Taylor and Brannon take a "bath" together for the first time. Taylor is pretty good at sitting up so we thought we would give it a go. I think they both loved it. Brannon talked to Taylor the whole time and helped to get him clean. Taylor just loved staring at Brannon in awe as usual. Every day I'm amazed at how fast Taylor is growing and it's a little unnerving.

Mistaken Identity

Tonight at dinner, Brannon picked up David's phone and said, "Daddy you're 3" (which means that David is #3 on speed dial on my phone). David told him that since it was his phone that mommy was #3 on the speed dial. After giving David a confused look he decided to call mommy (even though I was sitting directly across the table from him). So he calls and I answer,
"Hey, Brannon."
"MeMe?"
Are you kidding me, I'm sitting across the table from him and he's watching me talk on the phone.
"No, it's mommy" We continued to talk for a few seconds and then I got off the phone.
A few minutes later he decided to call mommy again.
Ring, ring, ring.... (I decided not to answer this time)... voicemail.
"Mommy's not there. I think she's at work."
I really don't get it!

Tonight we went to Newk's for dinner after Brannon's swimming lesson. We like it because they have packs of breadsticks that he can munch on until his food gets there. I asked Brannon if I could have one of his breadsticks (keep in mind that we had about 5 packs on the table). He held the pack up so I could see it and spelled out what was on the side "B-R-E-A-D-S-T-I-C-K-S". I said, "Good Brannon, that spells breadsticks." Brannon ran his finger along the word like he was reading it to me and replied, "No it says Grown-ups can't have this". I ended up opening my own pack. So much for sharing.

Not what I wanted to hear

Me: So Brannon do you want to go for a walk or go get ice cream?
Brannon: Go for a walk.

I guess it's obvious which one I wanted to do! Good thing Brannon keeps me in line.

Trick-or-treat

Halloween was so much fun this year! This is the first year that Brannon has grasped the concept of Halloween and trick-or-treating (especially the candy part). He wanted to be Buzz Lightyear and insisted that Taylor should be Woody. Brannon is very shy when he is in a new situation and around people he doesn't know well. So I was pretty shocked when he went up to that first house and very confidently said "Trick-or treat" when they opened the door. He also did not let us skip ANY houses along our route. We spent much of the night trick-or-treating with our cute neighbors which Brannon loved. Taylor spent most of the night lying on David's shoulder and he ended up having to take him home early. The next morning we took him to the doctor and found out he had RSV. Felt pretty bad about that!

My little cowboy!

Brannon and two of his best friends and neighbors, Wenston and Wesley.

What a pro!

They so love each other!

The last house was giving out hotdogs. I politely turned them down saying that we had already had supper. Brannon informed him that he was hungry and would like to have one. So back home and he demolished the whole hotdog and then proceeded to consume way too much candy.

Fall festival and Halloween party

Buzz and Woody

Okay, so this picture is terrible quality, but such a good memory. Brannon showing daddy how to fly.

Brannon loves candy!!!

Brannon's cute little classmates.

Birthday present

David and I got Brannon a 12" bike for his birthday. We took the first one back because the quality was terrible and got the "upgrade". The second one the chain kept falling off so David "fixed" it. Obviously this one ended up having to go back to the store. So then we got the third bike and two weeks after his birthday Brannon actually got his assembled present. He did a great job riding it for the first time and was soon going up and down the driveway. His second day riding it he took a turn a little too wide, ran up on the curb, and fell over. Well, it's a lot farther to the ground then it was on his Big Wheel. He scraped up his knee pretty bad and now has no interest in the bike. I guess we'll put it up for a couple of months and pull it back out at Christmas.
*Side note: Brannon has milked this wound for about two weeks now. When he takes his pants off and remembers it is there he will suddenly acquire a limp. It looks like he is riding a horse while walking on his tiptoes. I have made so much fun of his limp that he does it to make me laugh now. I guess it's better than hearing him cry about it!

Random pictures around the house

The daddy is in

Tonight Brannon and I were having our nightly conversation with him on the john and me perched on the edge of the tub.
Brannon: Mommy, you need to have that white part cut off of your toes. (He means I need my toenails cut and yes I agree they need some serious tending to. Maybe I see a pedicure in my future... hardly.)
Me: Well, I guess I will cut them later.
Brannon: No I think Daddy needs to do it... he's a DOCTOR.

I guess I need to let Daddy know what his job entails.

Blast from the past

Do you all remember Pop Rocks and slap bracelets? Brannon got a slap bracelet last week from a fall carnival and has had so much fun with it. I do however remember why they were banned from schools when we were kids... they HURT! He also got some Pop Rocks from a birthday party today. I usually don't encourage candy eating in kids for obvious reasons but if you haven't watched your kids try Pop Rocks for the first time I highly recommend it. It's pretty entertaining!

On the subject of food

Do any of you with boys ever sit and wonder how much food your kids will consume when they are teenagers? The shear volume of food Brannon puts away amazes me. Reports from his teachers at school have always been: 1.) He's a good sleeper 2.) He's a great eater. He is a legend among the teachers at daycare. This is not necessarily something I'm proud of but it's just the way it is. The only times my child has ever thrown up are not from being sick but from purely overeating. Sad I know. Here is a running tab of today's menu: oatmeal, Cheerios with milk, goldfish, cake, ice cream, (extra goldfish that he asked the mom for before we left the party), cheese, waffle, PB&J sandwich, apple. Not to mention the milk, juice, and water he washed it all down with. Keep in mind this is all before 12:30 nap time! It has me wondering what two boys (or more) will do to a kitchen and your wallet when they get a little older.

Obsessed with Diego

When Brannon finished his oatmeal for breakfast this morning he looked up from his bowl and said "Delicioso". I don't know if it is good that he is speaking Spanish or if it lets me know he is watching WAY too much Dora and Diego.

Typical

It's really cold in our house this morning. Brannon, of course, is running around in only his underwear. I am dressed in socks, long pants, and a sweatshirt.
Me: Brannon, I am really cold. Do you know anyone I could get to snuggle me to get me warm? (Hint, hint)
Brannon: Uhhhh.... Daddy?
Thanks a lot!

Phone etiquette

Brannon loves talking on the phone. He knows all the numbers in my speed dial and who they belong to. He usually talks on the phone on the way home from school most days (unless he can't get anyone and then he will sadly talk to me). Yesterday he was talking to his MeMe and I was reminding him of a couple of things he had done that day that he should share with her. He put his hand over the phone and in the sweetest voice said "Mommy, I'm talking on the phone and you're not supposed to talk while I'm on the phone." Then he went back on with his conversation. I guess he was listening when I gave him that lecture the day before. I guess I'll have to start practicing what I preach!

Other pictures from the weekend

First pumpkin carving experience.

Birthday parties are exhausting!

Birthday present from Angie. He wanted to write Taylor's name.

Birthday party = huge success

Curious George cake. I love Kroger!

Brannon and his friend Miles.

Mom felt like the actual birthday girl needed her picture taken.

Fun on the inflatable obstacle course.

The birthday celebration has come to a close

He loved feeding the animals!

Fun on the roller coaster.

Trying to entertain himself while waiting for a hot dog.

It was worth it!!!

We had a great weekend! The fair on Friday (just me and Brannon), a day of fall festivals on Saturday, out to dinner with my husband Saturday night, and my birthday and Brannon's birthday party on Sunday. Very busy but so much fun. MeMe was in town which was great and a huge help!