Virtual art class

Today in art class with Mrs.

Taylor

N: I need to write a word that keeps me going. Something meaningful.

Me: Ok. Like love? laugh? fun? (he shakes his head after each)

N: I’m thinking sleep.

Me: ...

Covid-schooling

Littlest dude is running around the house in full Stormtrooper gear.
Me: "Dude, take off your Stormtrooper costume and do some school work."
N: "Uhm. Why?"
Me: "Because it's school time"
N: "I'm doing my work in this."
Me: "Uhm. Why?"
N: "Because I don't have any Google Meets today. And I can."
Me: ...

Tears of joy

Tonight, we made N cry. By telling him he was going to Legoland next week.

He started squealing and then his eyes welled up and there were tears. I held him for a while.

This is apparently a dream come true.

Sweet boy.

My friends...

Nevin is in the bathroom.

“Please start brushing your teeth.”

“First I have to summon my friends who look like me. “

...

He has the cabinet open with the three mirrors pointed together so he can see dozens of himself. 

Who says that?

"I used a towel to wipe up the contents of my bladder"
"You what now?"
"I used a towel to wipe up the contents of my bladder"
"Why did you need a towel to wipe up the contents of your bladder. They belong in the toilet."
"A little bit of pee leaked out of me right here so I used this towel (pointing at my hand towel) to clean it up."
"And then you put that towel in the hamper so I don't wipe your pee all over my clean hands or my face."
(Stares at me. Grabs the towel. Walks and watches me.) "I'm going to put this towel in the hamper so it can get washed."

No more nunus

I think our breastfeeding journey may be at an end. It's been a couple of weeks since you came in and asked to nurse first thing in the morning. Even sick, you don't want it. I must confess some mixed emotions. I was beyond done with your siblings. With you, I had resigned myself to going as long as you wanted. I wondered if we would hit 5 years. Alas, it seems we will be a couple of months short. I confess, I will miss those snuggles. Thankfully, there are many, many other snuggles that you still desperately want so all is not over. Just this step.

When mom gives you ribbon spools

You clearly should build a car...

Favorite cup

Today you found your "favorite" cup in the give away box. You asked if you could have it back and I said that you were really too big for it. You got teary, found your iPod, and took a picture with it so you could remember it. Then you put it back in the box. Such a big, sweet boy. 

Milestones

You can buckle your own car seat now. And unbuckle. This is life changing for me. 

You have this pair of glasses you got in a Wendy's kid's meal. You are fully committed to them. When you wear them and I ask you to take them off, you insist that you can't see and walk around squinting. 

You no longer say "fider"; it's now spider. I still occasionally get "eldebaytor," but you occasionally sneak in elevator. 

You're starting to write letters. You can muster a decent copy of your name with some help. The N sometimes has some extra humps. 

You have so much personality. You are funny, often even on purpose. You mimic nearly everything your brother does. You build Legos with me on a regular basis - right now we are focused on the little buildings. You are a delight. 

"The bestest birthday ever"

Or so you said as I tucked you in for bed. You got a giant t-Rex that is nearly as big as you are. Or you are nearly as big as it is. You can't decide. 

You asked for a snowman cake. I managed to do that pretty well. 

You got some new Legos and stuffed Star Wars droids. Life is pretty sweet when you're four. 

You told everyone you saw today that it was your birthday. Random people at Target were wishing you happy birthday.

We exchanged the dump truck from grandma at Target and you got a gift card that you insisted on using yourself to buy the other set. You were SO proud of being able to buy it by yourself.

You also coined the term "poopbrush". The Amazon box had new toothbrushes in it. You insisted that you didn't need a new poopbrush.

I can't believe you're four. 

Building shelves

We are deep cleaning kid bedrooms this week. We decided to get you some shelves for your toys. We assembled them yesterday. They needed a screwdriver and hammer. You said, "I'll be right back," and took off. When you came back to your room, you had your screwdriver and hammer from your tool bench. You were ready to go and SO proud of yourself. I felt a little bad having to go get the real ones from downstairs, but you took using real tools as a nice consolation. 

Nevinisms

Dizzy is busy

Words that start with sp end up with an f

So...finning makes you busy.

I am going to miss those a bunch when they are gone.

Also, you've started swimming. You'll take a breath, put your head under water and kick and paddle about halfway across the shallow end. You're even working on lifting your head up to get a breath if you need to. You can also tiptoe across the shallow end. You call it "moonwalking" because you have to bounce a little to keep your mouth out of the water.

Writing on the wall

This says, "I love mommy and I want her to stay with me forever." Me, too, buddy. Me, too.

Growing up

Nevin got handed down Corin's bed this weekend. Corin upgraded to a loft and his old twin was free. Mattress was ordered and arrived today.

Between that and being day time potty trained, it appears our baby days are at an end. 

Car modifications

On Saturday we went for a drive (to get some breastfeeding pictures taken...can't wait to see them). You had just gotten Bumblebee for your birthday and you were playing with him.

Next thing I know, you tell me to get my gun out to shoot the zombies on the side of the road. I had to go through several iterations. Eventually, I had a noise for the gun coming out, the gun shooting, the gun getting put away that met your exacting specifications.

I'm pretty sure there are no zombies left on the side of I-87 between here and exit 8.

The only odd thing...where did you learn about zombies?

Naps on mommy

I treasure these naps. You don't nap much these days. When you do, it's usually in the car. The days when you fall asleep on me are precious. I can no longer move you to the crib without you waking so I choose to sit and enjoy it. Right now, that means watching Netflix or working on my BreastfeedingUSA lessons.

You'll be three next week. I cannot believe you are so big. Yet your little fists still ball up on my chest when we snuggle...still little.

I love you. You are obsessed with telling people that you love them. I love to hear it. I love to reply. I love you, Nevin.

Flipped

After 2.5 hours in the car, your legs were hurting...so we flipped your car seat to forward facing for the drive home. I guess you really are getting bigger...

Quotable

I want fluffy stuff.

As he climbs up on to the counter... You want lotion?

No! I want fluffy stuff on my elbow pits (pointing at his arm pits). 

You want deodorant. Got it.

Firsts

We went to the dentist for the first time today. You let them clean your teeth! You picked chocolate toothpaste for brushing, of course. 

I'm impressed at how wide you opened your mouth! You loved moving your tongue around to feel everything, too. 

She said we should definitely floss the ones that touch. 

Christmas

We went to Red Robin yesterday. They had garlands and lights up around the restaurant. Chrys and Nevin were talking about how it was decorated for Christmas. Chrys asked where the tree was. Nevin said there was no tree. Chrys asked him what it needed to look like Christmas. Nevin said, "Bells." "Where are the bells?" "In my mouf... Jingle bells, jingle bells..."