The "after party"

After the school party, we went home and played outside while we waited for more birthday guests to arrive for dinner and presents. AJ had another cupcake and blew out his candle (with help from Daddy). He got another couple of books for his Little Leappad, a Little People barn (which he seems to LOVE), and an activity table that Mommy and Daddy are having trouble assembling. Gotta find a customer service help line to Fisher Price now. Can't wait for Christmas.....*SIGH*

Happy Birthday

I am now officially exhausted. AJ had a party celebrating his 2nd birthday yesterday at school with 15 other toddlers. We had balloons, Elmo hats and napkins, goodie cups, and cupcakes for everyone. The kids really seemed to enjoy it. We completely trashed his classroom, though. I understand now why they wanted cupcakes with white frosting!

Weekend

We got up and took AJ to the zoo on Saturday morning. His only other trip to the zoo was about this time last year, and he wasn't interested at all. This time he really seemed to enjoy himself. It's all about the elephants, bears, and monkeys...He was kinda cute waving and saying "bye" to each animal as we walked away.

"Aunt Marsha" and "Uncle Rafi" came over yesterday on their way home to San Antonio. They are getting married in January and want AJ to be their ring-bearer. AJ is such a ham that I don't think he will have a problem with that at all. And he'll look really cute in a tuxedo!

Miscellaneous Ramblings

Not many good stories lately....AJ has started being very clingy and doesn't want us to leave him at school. This is very unusual for us.

Yesterday AJ found a dead earthworm curled up on the sidewalk. He picked it up and tore it into pieces. I must admit, it was rather disturbing...

Two of AJ's school friends are almost potty-trained. Both of them were born the week of AJ's original due date, so they are 3 months younger than he is. We haven't even started trying to potty-train AJ yet. Are we behind? Do girls always do this faster than boys?

One week until AJ's second birthday and his party at school. Must remember not to bring cupcakes with colored frosting. Apparently the food coloring stains everything.

Puppies for Breakfast

I will be very glad when AJ finally begins to speak clearly. But life won't be nearly as funny.... On Saturday morning AJ starting pointing toward the kitchen saying "eat". I asked him what he wanted for breakfast. He said something that sounded like "puppies". I just stood there scratching my head wondering where the puppies were (since we only have a cat). So I asked him "what puppies?" He just kept repeating "puppies". After about the fifth time, I realized that maybe he was trying to say "breakfast". When I asked him "breakfast?", he got a big smile on his face and started applauding. He was so proud of his stupid Mommy finally figuring it out.

As for the "Mommy" thing...I apparently have a new name. Instead of saying Mommy now, AJ replaces the middle "m" sound with an "n". I am now "Money"! I hope that isn't prophetic. This child is already very expensive!

My new favorite picture of AJ

I think he looks so grown up in this one....it's hard to believe he will be two years old in a couple of weeks.

Early morning ...

If you spend any time around AJ, you will soon learn of his love for books. When we get home from school each evening, he immediately starts bringing out books for us to read. We are required to read at least 5 or 6 books before dinner.

This morning at 4:18am (jeez, that's early) AJ came into our room. Since he moved into his big boy bed, he can get up by himself without having to wait for someone to rescue him from his crib. He navigates very easily through the house in complete darkness to find his way into our bedroom.

Anyway, this morning he showed up next to my side of the bed at 4:20am. When I reached down to pick him up, he handed me a book!

(I should have known this was coming when he started "reading" so early in life...)

I'm Sorry

Last night I was tired and yelled at AJ when he picked up his plate at dinner and emptied it onto his lap and the floor. We took this as a sign that he was through eating and (after cleaning him up) he was sent away from the table. My own dinner put aside now, I got out the broom and started cleaning up the food, because AJ will just come eat it off the floor.

Daddy took him into the living room and explained to him that we don't throw food, that he had hurt Mommy's feelings, and that he needed to apologize. I heard this and immediately thought "Right...that'll happen....he's just a baby and won't understand."

AJ walked into the kitchen where I was standing and started hugging me around my leg. I got down on my knees and he gave me a really big hug....

Of course my eyes filled with tears and I felt about this small....

Like a day at the beach...

Since we are going on a cruise in November, we decided we should see how AJ would react to the beach. So we went down to Galveston on Saturday. He wasn't too sure about the water, but really enjoyed playing in the sand. Daddy took him out to wade in the water -- that was fun. AJ liked destroying Daddy's sand castles. I took him along the beach to pick up sea shells; until he ate one! I saw him put it in his mouth, but by the time I got him to open his mouth to let my fingers in, all I found was crunched up shell. Guess he needed some calcium is his diet!

Of course sand was EVERYWHERE! During his bath, he kept putting his hand under the running water, then reaching up to touch the faucet. After a while we realized he was copying what Daddy was doing....he'd put his hand under the water to test the temperature, then reach up to adjust the faucet.

Monday (Labor Day) was a trip downtown to the Children's Museum. That place is AWESOME! There is an area called the Tot Spot, designed especially for toddlers. AJ was able to touch and play with anything he wanted to without being told "no". There were all kinds of toys and developmental areas. Signs on the walls explain to parents how children play with certain objects and how they learn from their play. Some friends and their 15-month old daughter went with us, and the kids had a blast. There is also a play area outside with jungle gyms, duck ponds, etc. We bought a year's membership so we can take him back any time we get a chance. The museum had lots of different activities that should interest AJ for several years to come. It's indoors, so it makes a great place to take him to play when it's really hot and when it's really cold.

Monkeys with typewriters

I now believe a little more in the theory that if you park a monkey in front of a typewriter long enough, he will eventually type the works of Shakespeare.

AJ picked up Daddy's cell phone from the table yesterday. During the course of the 15 minutes or so that he was playing with it, AJ managed to turn the phone on, and make two phone calls to numbers in the address book. Of course, we didn't know that's what he had done until we started getting phone calls later in the evening from friends returning our calls.

Kid is getting too smart too fast....

Peaceful Sleep

I'm afraid this next bit may make me sound a little insane.

Last night we went to check on AJ before we went to sleep. Looking at him lying there so peaceful and small actually brought tears to my eyes. Maybe it's everything that we've gone through with him.....maybe he's growing up too fast....maybe I miss that little tiny dependent miracle baby.....or maybe I'm just crazy and sleep deprived......

Paper Clips

I always knew someday having a paper clip around would come in handy. AJ locked himself in the master bathroom on Saturday. I never dreamed he would have already figured out how to twist the lock on the doorknob. I was cleaning house and heard Daddy calling from the bedroom that we had a problem. He couldn't figure out how we were going to get AJ out of a locked room with no windows. Luckily, I remembered that you could poke a straightened paper clip into the small hole in the door knob to release the lock.

Found a paper clip and went back to the door. AJ was knocking on the door from the inside and having a great time. The paper clip worked, and AJ was released from his "cage" -- none the wiser.

Paying Attention in Class

Apparently my son has an eye for the ladies. His teacher told us yesterday that AJ and one of his little girlfriends are not allowed to sit next to each other during circle time anymore. They spend all of their time playing with each other and not paying attention. This is the same little girl who shares her donut holes with him at breakfast and used to hold hands with him during breakfast in their previous class together. Aaahhhhh....young love......

Tales of Nerd Boy

With the parents that AJ has, I fear he is doomed to become a little nerd boy. He already spends a lot of time "reading" books or having them read to him. And although his adjusted age is only 19 months, his problem-solving skills tested at 22 months. Apparently he has a knack for puzzles.

Anyway, I got an email from Dad a couple of weeks ago declaring that nerd boy had returned. He had logged into the daycare class to watch -- while all of the other children were running everywhere playing, AJ was in the back corner sitting on the floor reading a book.

When I logged in, the classroom was empty. They had either gone outside to play, or AJ was having them create a diversion while he plotted their escape!

You decide --- nerd boy or genius?!

Self Recognition

AJ now loves to look at pictures of himself. He will wander through the house, see a picture, then stop, point and yell "AJ!" with a big grin on his face.

In his classroom at school, they have posted photo collages of all of the kids. When I went to pick him up the other day, he was standing in front of his collage and kissing it. A couple of his little girlfriends came up to look and he just pushed them aside and said "MINE!".

I don't know whether to be concerned about this or not.... :)

Feeding the Kitty

AJ is becoming quite the little helper. The other day he decided he wanted to feed the cat. A little background on the cat -- she doesn't know she's a cat, and she doesn't like people. She doesn't even particularly want to be in the same room with AJ. He, on the other hand, is completely fascinated with the cat.

He opened the cabinet where we keep all the cat stuff. Took out a couple of bowls and lined them up on the floor. Then he grabbed a can of food and placed it (can and all) into the bowl. Then into the living room where he held a very animated conversation with the cat lounging on the back of the couch.

When the cat ignored him (as cats are often wont to do...) he came back into the kitchen, picked up a can of food and took it with him. I found him standing next to the couch holding up the can of food to the kitty.

Another quick AJ/Kitty story:
A couple of days later, Daddy and kitty were playing with a straw. They tired of the game, and the straw was laid down....somewhere....Next thing we know, AJ is chasing the cat while waving the straw at her.

Favorite Sayings

I read a hilarious blog entry yesterday about some of the most common phrases said in the toddler household. http://blogs.chron.com/mamadrama/ These are too funny. It seems I spend all of my time telling AJ to "put it down", "get down", and "be careful". The ladies who author that blog are quickly becoming my daily pick-me-up!

My little Myna Bird

AJ is really mimicing everything now. He has a little stuffed bear that wears pajamas and is laying on a pillow. When you push a button, the bear says a little goodnight prayer and begins to snore. My husband and I fell out laughing last week when AJ started saying AMEN about halfway through the prayer and started making snoring noises. It was just too cute.

He already sings along with my husband's cell phone ring tone. The phone plays the theme to "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly". When AJ hears the "doodle loodle loo..." he sings "wah, wah, wah".

Last night I swear he was trying to sing the alphabet song along with one of his toys. Keep in mind... this is a child who only says a few words now and then. I just know any day now, he's going to start a full-blown conversation with us...

I'm sure this is all normal and boring for other people, but hey, gimme a break, this is my first kid! :)

How I got here...

My son AJ was born at only 26 weeks gestation. He weighed only 18 ounces at birth and measured only 10 inches long. The doctors only gave him a 50% chance of survival. AJ spent the first 2 1/2 months of his life in the hospital's NICU. After 71 days, AJ came home with us weighing 4 pounds.
I had no clue what was in store for us. I had never even spent any time around babies, much less had one of my own that was so tiny and dependent!
I am happy to say that AJ is a true miracle. He has been released by all but one of his specialists, and is testing in the normal range developmentally for his adjusted age. (Adjusted age is how old he would be if he had been full term.)
Every day is a new adventure, hence the beginning of this blog...