The Dos Equis Man in Boy Form - The Most Nicest Boy in the World

Welcome, my friends.


He forced his Dad to buy me flowers. 
No, but really...The scene is the supermarket.  Jack saw the bouquets and asked his Dad if they could buy one for me.  He said no(?!).  Jack INSISTED.  "But Dad, Mommy LOVES flowers, we HAVE to get them!"  Matt relented.  As soon as they got home, I hear then see my son barreling down the hall, awkwardly running with his hand behind his back and an enormous smile on his face.  He said, "For you!"  He was four years old.  The sweetness of who he is was once more revealed, making me feel unworthy and so grateful.  I felt like little glittery pink and red hearts must have been bursting from my chest.

Then there's this...
At birthday parties, children fight off the urge to let him open all the presents.

His cereal never gets soggy, it sits there, staying crispy, just for him.

When one of his knock knock jokes doesn't follow the proper format, you can't help but laugh hysterically with, not at him.


When I stopped nursing him that final time he smiled and hugged me. Speaking of hugs, his bear hugs are actual hugs he gives to bears.

He actually struck gold picking his nose.

He has never filled up on chips.


Every time he goes for a swim dolphins appear.

Seriously, though...
When you put him to bed, he goes to sleep without 15 books and 5 songs, 3 jokes and me pantomiming what sleep looks like...just right to sleep.
When I put folded laundry on his dresser, he puts it away without being asked. 
He tells me his dinner is "delightful and delectable" almost every night.
Generous. 
He wants to do the right thing. 
Playful. 
He told me he loves me taller than space.
Honest.
He lets his sister open some of his presents.
He is a joyful optimist who leaves a trace of happiness wherever he goes.
~
"He's a lover, not a fighter, but he's also a fighter, so you better not get any ideas."
With a kid like this, you have to be careful.  He is low maintenance.  He is easy going.  His sister is much more intense and can take our time and energy.  You don't want to abuse who he is by taking it for granted.  We make sure we listen to him and give him time when he needs it. We teach him to make sure his needs are being met by standing up for himself when necessary.  One time, in soccer class, this rogue boy was going down the line kicking and hitting everyone.  For us, it's diplomacy first, then again in a stronger tone, then talk to an adult if you can.  If these steps fail, stop any emotional or physical abuse immediately however you need to.  Well, he asked this kid to stop in a strong voice, the kid didn't, so he picked him up and threw him a couple feet.  I was immediately impressed, yet I started walking over to intervene and ask Jack to apologize (moms are watching me), then I stopped and sat back down.  Nope.  He had nothing to apologize for.  He is learning to be who he is while being self-reliant, self-confident, heard and respected.  We respect and adore Jack.  He's developing into a great blend of playful good nature and assertive confidence. 

My love for this kid is beyond my realm of understanding. Jack, I raise my can of soda to you... the most nicest boy in the world. Cheers, sweet boy!

kiss hug kiss hug

An Homage to and an Explanation of our Roux

I am watching her walk away through the chain-link fence at her school.  She's got her new back pack on.  This is the third day of first grade.  I call out, "Do you want me to walk you to where you line up?" She answers, "No, I'm fine" (like pfft... whatever, Mom).  I blow her a kiss.  She catches it and eats it, "so it goes into her heart and fills it."  There she goes.  All grow'd up.  I'm happy and astonished.
~
At about 6 months along, I read an article somewhere about how there was a recent uptick in the occurence of dwarfism.  I was sure that Ella would be afflicted with a life of being eye level with the coffee table.  I pondered the cruel irony of this seeings as I measure in at 6 feet tall. 

At about 8 months along, I thought I made her deaf by listening to rap music too loud in the car.  I called the doctor to inquire. 

And, finally, near the end, my concern was that she may be albino.  I thought of how she may be affected socially, the overwhelming expense of sunscreen and whether or not the irises of her eyes would be red.

As it turns out, she is ectomorphic, she can hear (I know this because I hear myself talking through her sometimes. She is listening.) and while she is a fair-skinned beauty, she is made of many colors.  Brown, peach, red, orange, yellow, black and pink.

Wiggly tooth.

Ella is so many things.  She is bright and stubborn and incredibly proud and fickle and quick-witted and loyal and persistent and did I say stubborn and sweet and vulnerable and "difficult" and shy and smart and physical and creative and brave when she has to be and here's the big one...  She has a heart that literally has no end. 

This heart is a marvel.  She is so loyally in love with us and any animal that may cross the path of her mind.  She cries over beauty and love as well as pain, sorrow and anger.  This heart gives her a passion for life that is so raw.

Ella and I may end up having a complex relationship.  She is very independent and is 6 going on, not 16, but 26.  She wants a laptop, she wants to go to a Justin Bieber concert "with just her friends."  She wants an iPhone with ring tones and skinny jeans and knee boots.  I thought we would be dealing with all this pretty basic stuff at maybe 9 or 10 years old.

She wants to grow up really fast.  She's over it.  She's on to the next thing.  I want her to stay 6, not forever, just until this December when she turns 7.  I have a feeling we may always have a push and pull between us.  Me metaphorically saying.. "Ella, wait a minute" and her saying... "I'm fine, I want it this way, let's go."  It may get dicey but I know that if I am able to always keep a place in her heart, that she, we and I will be okay. More than that, that she will have a shot at fulfilling her potential and finding her way.  I will then be able to sit back, elbow Matt and say... "Would you look at her? She's awesome."  Actually, we already say that.  Nonetheless, I am securely buckled up because it's gonna be wild.

I love her so much.