Reese made this Bunny face at school. He ran and grabbed it while he was watching "Max & Ruby" and started hopping all around the living room. =)
Thus far Reese has been a somewhat less than enthusiastic reader -only recently has he begun to sit through a whole book. The main problem we have at the library is the computer section is a major distraction to him. He just wants to sit and play games or watch other kids play computer games.
I found that Barnes & Noble does wonderful things for him though because there are no computers! I was excited that he picked this book up on his own and started flipping through the pages and wanted to read it! It's "There was an old lady who swallowed a fly" only it's a St. Patty's version. You can see Reese below as he was exclaiming, "Why dat lady eat bugs mom!?"
Reese came out dressed like this (with his boxer on his head) and gave me a martial arts bow.
We have one good swing branch that stretches out over the yard sufficiently -but it's not the strongest. I'm hoping it grows at about the same rate the boys grow or we may soon have to set a "one person" at-a-time swinging rule -and that makes for only half the fun!
This last picture was taken at The Rainforest Cafe. Reese was pretty scared of all the moving animals till I finally whispered in his ear that they were just robots. Then he got a big smile and started teasing the Alligator ;)
Hayden was sick on his Birthday so we celebrated later in the month with a cupcake and a balloon (Kinda lame I know -I'm not much of a party planner). Edward took him to the store to pick out a Birthday present and it was a toss up between a pink Barbie skateboard, and an imaginext r/c batbot. Hayden was favoring the pink skateboard, but I think his brother helped sway him the other way, and in the end he chose the bat-mobile. (Which happened to be the most expensive toy in the store, but I gotta admit it's pretty cool -I even had fun playing with it.)
Turning 3 was a big deal for Hayden because it meant he could go to school. He has a backpack he'd wear when we'd drop off and pick up Reese from preschool, and he'd beg to stay at school too. For the longest time we'd tell him "You have to learn how to go potty in the toilet first" to motivate him in that area, but for the last semester since he's been potty trained he's been growing impatient. He's even told Reese's teacher a couple times "I do go potty in da toilet now!" -like, common...let me in there already -what's the hold up! So now he gets to be in Reese's class and they go to school M,W,F, for 3hrs. And even though we have to pay for him (Reese gets in free for a speech IEP), it is so worth it! Hayden thrives in any type of learning environment, whether it's at church, school, or home. He's like a sponge and commits things to memory. I'm always amazed at the things he knows, like "That's not a Lizard Mom, dat's a Salamander". Or "Dat a polar bear Mom and dat a panda bear, see him hab black and white ones and him all white." I think "Well yeah -you are correct son, but where the heck did you learn that, cuz I sure didn't teach it to you!?" I thought he might be quite a bit behind the rest of the class, and he is in fine-motor skills since he is the youngest, but as far as his shapes, colors, numbers and letters he is right there if not ahead.
This video shows some of his gregarious personality:
Hayden is full of determination. He is stubborn and strong willed but along with that he is a hard worker and when he sets his mind to something he sticks with it till it's accomplished.
When I found him scaling the pantry I asked, "What're ya doin Hayden?"
He nonchalantly answered, "gettin my Gatoraid Mom"
He can be so independent at times it shocks me a bit.
Like he loves to cook his own eggs. He will often just get the carton out of the fridge and skillet out of the cupboard and just start cracking away without asking or alerting me beforehand. Thankfully he concedes that I need to be present to turn the burners on.
This boy has TALENT with a ball. He can kick-throw-toss-catch-pass a ball with incredible accuracy. And there's nothing he'd rather do, except for maybe read books (his other love). When he was little the way he wound his arm and elbow back to throw a ball -you would expect it to go completely caddywhompus to the side, but it would sail straight to you.
While shopping I heard a little voice behind me, "Wanna buy dis Mom."
And when I turned around, this was how he was decked out:
This is Hayden's "BIG-straw" or his "Five-straw" as he calls it. He made it himself by connecting a bunch of straws together, and he has to suck hard to get anything out of it -but millimeter by millimeter he drained his water bottle lol. He is very inventive and creative.
After changing into his pajamas (himself) he fell asleep like this. I feel like this captures another aspect of his personality. He is very poised like his Daddy. Notice his clasped hands. He always sits very erect with his head held high. (Reese and I are more slouchy in general, and likely to have one leg hanging off the couch and bit of drool pooling on our pillow when we conk out lol.)
I will admit that of my three children, Hayden is the biggest mystery to me. From early on he has kept me guessing about what parenting methods are most effective with his personality. Sometimes nothing I try works. I have the most qualms about my skills as a Mother with him. Being the middle child he craves attention, and often as much as I give him I don't feel that it's enough, which pangs my heart as I know this sweet cuddly stage he is in won't last forever. He is definitely my most affectionate child, always wanting to hold my hand or rub my arm and be next to me. I can see in his eyes how much he absolutely adores me, but at the same time sometimes I infuriate him. I am a little afraid for when he's a teenager haha. But this post is not supposed to be about me and my insecurities. I know that Hayden will be a force to be reckoned with in this world and will do great things. I hope and pray that he will choose to follow Christ (and it will have to be his choice -for no amount of compelling on my part can convince him to do anything he does not want to), and strive to do what's right. If so the very gates of Hell will tremble at his strength and determination.
I love this kid so much more than words could ever express.
It is such a blessing that I get to be his Mom.
In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Reese, like every other kid, kept asking, "Is it Christmas yet?" I would tell him, "No. Not yet. But it's getting closer!" We were driving to the store and Edward and I were talking, when from the back seat Reese exclaimed, "IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME! I heard it on de radio Mom!" The song "It's Christmas time" was playing. Boy was he excited. I told him "Yep. It's super close now!" Then as we were unloading out of the car and walking across the store parking lot the song came on again. (You know how some shopping centers play music in the parking lots now). Reese looked up at me as he held my hand and said softly, "I hear dat again Mom. You hear it too?" (I think he thought the music was coming from heaven or something.) Listening I nodded, "Yes. I hear it too." This deeply contented smile settled on his face. It's a moment I will always remember.
I was making the boys pancakes for breakfast this morning and Reese kept asking "Are you done yet Mom?" After the third or fourth time of me saying "Not yet Reese." He responded, "Taking a long-time Mom. My tummy getting wowied (worried)." And he looked down and patted his tummy like he was reassuring it.
Anytime Hayden wants to eat more of something he likes, like pizza or chocolate milk, he tells me, "I need eat more Mom. Need get reawy high. Big tall wike Daddy!" and he stretches his hand up as high as he can to emphasize his point.
Today I was trying to get him to eat some vegetables and he told me, "I can't eat dem Mom. I no want get big tall -break Mommy's house!" and he pointed at the ceiling. Little stinker ;)
Reese was watching Max and Ruby, and kept saying "I want come in der and play cars wif you Max." Perplexed, he came and asked me, "Hey Mom, why Max not hear me?" I didn't know what he was talking about, so he went and danced in front of the TV, "See Mom. Max not see me!" I explained that it was just a cartoon, they weren't real. Still confused he said, "Mickey Mouse see me." I was just as confused as he was and said, "No. Mickey can't see you either." A couple days later when he was watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse they asked, "Do you see the triangle?" Reese said, "It's right there!" and pointed. Then Mickey went on "That's right! There's the triangle!" (The new jr shows ask the audience questions and then pause to give them time to answer.) Reese smiled and looked up at me, "See Mom! Mickey does see me!" And then our previous conversation finally made sense to me.
Today at the playground Hayden was pushing the empty swing. He told me there was a Ghost in it. He told me the Ghost was trying to get him "wif it's sharp teefs". I told him I had never seen a ghost with sharp teeth before. He responded, "Well dat's cuz it's a puppy-dog-ghost Mom! Dem do hab sharp teefs".
