Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Halloween Memories







Halloween, 2004 - still in the NICU.
Costume was a bib that was more of a blanket.


















Halloween, 2005 - Big hit as a cute scarecrow.













Halloween, 2006 - Wouldn't keep the clown nose on.
Of course NOW he wears it all the time.













Halloween, 2007 - A firefighter cute enough for his own calendar!

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

AJ's Big Adventure, Part Deux

After a HUGE day out with Thomas on Friday, we headed up to see Granny and PawPaw. They had some work that they needed some help with. Everyone pitched in to help - I was on the small tractor mowing, Hubby was weed-eating the pond-side of the dam, and AJ was helping Granny and PawPaw pick up the sticks and branches that had been knocked down by winds. AJ was often spotted dragging a branch much larger than himself and placing it in the front bucket of the tractor to be hauled away. His next chore was to help PawPaw drive the tractor around to dump the branches. (And yes, Hubby had to go up in the bucket of the tractor again with the chainsaw to trim branches back. He's starting to get the hang of it!)

Monday, October 29, 2007

AJ's Big Adventure, Part One


On Friday we took AJ to the Texas State Railroad to ride Thomas the Tank Engine at the Day Out With Thomas All Aboard Tour. We didn't tell him where we were going; he thought we were just going to spend the weekend with Granny and PawPaw. When we drove into the TSRR park, he saw a Thomas banner and got realy excited. When Thomas pulled into the depot, his little face just lit up! He was actually face to face with Thomas! Very cool. There were tents set up with different activities and entertainment to keep him busy until his time to board the train. The look on that child's face when he got on the train was absolutely PRICELESS!





When he went to bed last night, I turned to blow him a kiss as I closed the door.
He whispered, "Thank you, mommy."
Me: "What, sweetie?"
AJ: "Thank you for taking me on 'venture..."

Monday, October 22, 2007

Lack of Concentration

Daddy and AJ were (trying to) play a game of Memory/Concentration. Daddy explained the rules and the game began.

Daddy: " Okay, AJ, turn a card over...what's that?...oohh, a turtle. Turn over another one....oh, a crab....sorry no match."

(Daddy takes a turn with no match.)

Daddy: "Your turn...pick a card....Oh, look - it's a turtle. Where did you see a turtle before?"


AJ: (proudly) "In the water..."



Umm...yeah...but I don't think that was the answer Daddy was looking for...

Friday, October 12, 2007

HIJACKED - again!

I regret to inform the regular readers of the blog that the rightful blogger has suffered a Kafkaesque metamorphosis into a big ol' slimy germ. As a result she has been banished to the "Sickie room" until which time the germ decides to morph back into my lovely wife. I hope this happens soon, AJ and I are hungry.

Since germs are not allowed to write blogs (this would make them feel welcomed and we don't want to make the germ feel welcomed so it will go away soon) I have hijacked the blog again.


I want to tell everyone what great week AJ has had this week. It started Tuesday when both Mommy and AJ had dental appointments. AJ and I dropped Mommy off at her dentist and then drove over to AJ's dentist. If any of you are in the Katy or far west Houston area and need a Pediatric Dentist I highly reccomend Dr. Randy Hollenberg. Everyone over at his office is just fantastic. So this is AJ's first time in the "big chair." I'm seeing disaster written all over this. AJ, however, surprises me and is very interested in everything and extremely cooperative. He opens his mouth and allows the hygenist to clean his teeth and when the doctor comes he opens as wide as he can so the doctor can examine his teeth. In the end, I told AJ how proud I was of him and his little face just beamed. I know he was proud of himself.
After the dentist, since we were near AJ's pediatrician I decided we should go get AJ's flu shot. So AJ and I went over to pick up Mommy from the dentist and then drove over to Cinco Ranch Pediatrics (another great choice for parents in far west Houston or Katy). Before we go in, I tell AJ that he is going to get a shot and I need him to keep being a brave little boy. He says, "Ok".
Mommy gets a flu shot too (this is not what made caused the previously mentioned metamorphosis!!). Mommy goes first to show AJ that it isn't bad. AJ watches and then when it is his turn he bravely puts his arm out and receives his injection. A little flinch but no crying or whining. I beam proudly at my big boy.
Tuesday evening his Tae Kwon Do class. I tell AJ that he needs to listen to his instructor closely and do what is asked of him. AJ says, "Ok". During his Tae Kwon Do class AJ his marvelous and does everything that his asked of him. The instructor hands out tokens at the end of the class to the kids when they do well. The tokens can be saved to earn little prizes. AJ gets his first token!! He walks out of the class holding his token and just beaming. He knows that he has just accomplished something big and is once again very proud of himself.
On Wednesday AJ tells me that he was brave and he got his teeth cleaned. I never knew the dentist could be such a life changing event.
Thursday morning, Mommy's metamorphosis is complete. I am now a single parent. I have to 1) get myself out of bed (not an easy task), 2) get AJ out of bed (a little easier than me but not much), 3) get us both ready to leave, and 4) throw an antibiotic tablet at the germ in the "Sickie room". On this daunting morning my little boy is an absolute jewel. He wakes up, hops out of bed and is fully cooperative while I get him ready. He does, however, want to play with the germ because he thinks it looks like his Mommy. I try to explain that the germ is not his Mommy but I don't think he believes me.
Thursday night takes us back to Tae Kwon Do. Once again AJ "hits the ball out of the park." He listens to what all the instructors tell him and performs admirably. I beam proudly at my little boy. He is very excited and happy.
I like this little boy. Now how do I keep this one around instead of that stubborn, uncoopertive one that comes around every now and then?

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Continental Dinner

My (barely) three year old child spent dinner last night explaining to me that penguins live in Antarctica. Then he told me the names of the other continents.

This kid scares me sometimes...

Monday, October 08, 2007

Not nice

Conversation in my house on Saturday~~~

(Me snuggling with AJ and watching TV)
AJ reaches over and pokes me in the abdomen,
AJ: "Mommy, you squooshy.."
Me: "Umm...thank you sweetie."
(AJ crawls across my lap).
AJ: "Mommy, you got wrinkles."
Me: "I think I hear Daddy calling you."

Thursday, October 04, 2007

Birthday Party

Thursday the 27th was AJ's birthday. His day started off with a doughnut for breakfast at school. Then in the afternoon, Daddy and I took cupcakes and punch for a little party with his class. The kids all sang "Happy Birthday" to AJ before he blew out the candle.

Dinner was a trip to Chuck E. Cheese's for pizza and games with Mommy and Daddy. We had a great time. It was a VERY full day for him.

Saturday was his big party. We ordered a moonwalk, slushie machine, and catered fajitas. Some of his friends came and had a big Thomas-themed day. All of the kids were given conductor hats, train whistles, and noise-makers. AJ played in the moonwalk until way after dark. It wasn't picked up on time, so AJ and Daddy were even able to play in it on Sunday.





Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Little Ninja

AJ had his second Tae Kwan Do class last night. He is the smallest in the class (everyone else is 5), but he is doing his best to keep up. He alternates between a huge grin and an intense look of concentration. He did much better last night than last week. We still need to work on his listening skills...

But isn't he just the cutest thing!!


I'm still sorting through the pictures from last week's birthday festivities. Be on the lookout for a picture-laden post for that...