Archive for » March, 2010 «

This is a picture of my son, Big A.

Chipmunk with full cheeks

Portrait of Big A

Big A is also known as “Chipmunk” or “Munk” for short by The Doc.

Why?

Because he likes to chipmunk his food. I don’t know why. I can’t even remember exactly when it started. He wasn’t always like this.

Here is our typical suppertime conversation:

Me: Big A! Chew your food.

Me: A! Chew and swallow your food.

Me: Chew and swallow, A.

Me: Hello? Munk? Chew and swallow your food. Now.

Me (you’re seeing a pattern here, I’m guessing): Chew. Aaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnd swallow.

Me: Did you chew?

Big A: mumble, muffle, mumble

Me: Let me see your mouth.

Big A: (opening wide with bits and pieces tumbling out)

Me: Oh, that is so gross. Chew and swallow. Right now!

Me: A! Let me see again. Have you chewed anymore? Oooh, yuck. That can’t feel comfortable. It’s just gross. Swallow already. Please!

Me: Swaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh-loooooooooooooooooooh.

The scene can go on for 20 minutes, I kid you not. And even when I think he’s actually finished his meal, he sometimes surprises me later. Like a lot later. Bedtime even.

It’s probably been a week or so, but I remember an incident when we were getting ready to brush teeth and read books at bedtime. This is about 8:30pm. Supper is at 6:30.

I told Big A to brush his teeth and he grabbed the cup and filled it with water. I reminded him that rinsing came after brushing. So he promptly opened his mouth wide, like a hippo on a NatGeo nature special, and showed me some gnarly mass of something that he claimed was chicken.

Two Hour Old Chicken Mush.

In his mouth. Hence, he is our little chipmunk.

chipmunk with full cheeks

Say "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh"

Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous. Sixty-five degrees of sunny bliss.

The wee beasts were at daycare, but between fetching them and having supper, we took them on a Nature Walk around the neighborhood. We spotted several kinds of pine cones, new leaves, and even a bird’s egg that had fallen to the ground. It was cracked open and oozing yellow yolk which made the Beasts even more intrigued. We cracked it open and saw little birdy guts. Thrilling.

Then at bed time I made a promise that we would go to the park to play today since they would be home with me. I had checked the forecast. Honest. It was supposed to be a repeat of that day. But alas…anyone who lives in the Midwest should know not to make promises based on weather forecasts that are more than 20 minutes in the future. Sometimes even 20 minutes is a stretch.

So today it’s now dreary and raining. I expected to hear cries, have a wailing and flailing fest, and deal with poutiness all day. But they have actually been pretty good.

Big A even announced “It’s such a happy day because the rain grows flowers and worms.”

Hmmm, quite profound. I never thought about the rain growing worms, but he might be on to something there. They do pop out of the ground and wriggle all around the sidewalk when it rains.

Of course, he was also peeking over my shoulder this morning when I was getting my daily dose of The Pioneer Woman and she had instructions for making flower and worm cake and ice cream treats.

The Pioneer Woman's flower treats

And her worm version for boys

If the beasts are still good this afternoon, we might have to make a run to the store for ingredients. The rain might grow some worms for him after all.

Does anyone know of an Internet addiction program for 2-year-olds? Based on Little A’s meltdown today, I think we’ll need professional intervention to kick his Nick Jr. game habit.

This is what he looked like when I had to drag him away from the computer to take a nap this afternoon.

exorcist movie still

Image still: The Exorcist

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