Last night was my first night with Zachary in a while (I have been gone for ten days at a show in Las Vegas) and I cheated and got KFC for the two of us. Chad had a presentation to do in Ft. Worth and wouldn't be back until after Z was in bed.
I spread his dinner in front of him - Chicken, Mac-N-Cheese, Corn on the Cob, and Blead (he sometimes uses an "L" instead of an "R" in certain words). I gave him his juice and then we bowed our heads to say the blessing.
As I started to take a bite from my sandwich, Zachary turns to me and says "Mommy, something is missing."
I looked around trying to imagine what he wanted -- PBJ? Squares? I asked him what was missing.
He looked at me and said "Daddy."
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Christmas ReCap (a bit on the lengthy side)
Only a few weeks overdue -- a very VERY brief (HA!!!) recap of our Christmas in Colorado. First and foremost -- Gold Stars to ALL of the Martins especially the one under 3. Sixteen or so hours in a car is a LONG time for anyone but to be strapped into a car seat YUCK. Needless to say Zachary did get his MacDonalds. (I think he says MACDonalds instead of McDonalds because of Old MacDonald's Farm song)
I was queezy and whining (shocking!) but Chad stayed in good spirits I think by focusing on the fact that he would be skiing. We got to my brother's house - Uncle The Jamey's House according to Z -- and started to relax. We were able to walk to mass on Christmas Eve and again Zachary did surprisingly well through church.
Opening presents was interesting. A Leonard tradition is opening gifts on Christmas Eve and then gifts from Santa on Christmas morning. Even though this was a "lean" Christmas there were gifts spilling out from under the tree. This Christmas was the first where Zachary understood what presents were about and that he gets toys and fun things. He was beside himself with excitement and was in other peoples business when it was their turn to open a gift. He constantly asked "WHAT IS IT?" "WHAT IS IT??!" I will have to have Chad insert some of Z's other funny comments. He would just be so happy and excited opening the gifts -- lots of oh my gosh type things.
He started losing patience toward the end. He only wanted to open his gifts and not wait on others. Another tradition is that we all take turns going from youngest to oldest opening gifts and the young ones deliver gifts to others. He was getting a bit tired but seeing that we had been opening for several hours (I told you a LEAN Christmas) it is understandable.
We woke up to a truly (and forgive the sacchrine nature of this comment) magical beautiful Christmas morning. It had snowed all night and was still snowing in the morning those big soft flakes you see in the movies. I think all of us were taken by the beauty of that morning. We spent more time opening gifts. Jamey cooked an amazing Christmas dinner and continued to stun me with his culinary skills.
Zachary didn't really get the Jesus connection to Christmas. I guess I thought he was getting old enough but he wasn't quite there. He didn't even really play with his Little People Manger set. We'll keep trying.
We left for Winter Park the next day but not before Z, Chad, and Uncle The Jamey were out in the snow. Jamey was clearing the cars and Z and Chad were "helping." The snow came up most of Z's leg (almost to his crotch) and he was a little unsettled about it. He said it was "deep" in a very concerned manner. He watched his dad make a snow angel and really wasn't sure what to make of it.
The condo in Winter Park was GREAT! Perfect for us. Gramma, Z, and I stayed indoors mostly while the big boys went skiing. Zachary was getting a little more irritable and ornery each day. I think the fact that he was cooped up and not eating right and not a good schedule all added to the mood issues.
I do think the highlight of Winter Park was watching Z sled down a tiny hill. His laugh was indescribable. Even the pictures do not do it justice. He really enjoyed himself. I wish I had gotten out with him earlier so he could have done it more days. I think the only reason he asked to go in after about ten trips down the hill was because he is a bit shorter than us and was again nearly waist deep in snow and got cold.
I will let Chad expand and elaborate on our Christmas shenanigans. He'll probably want to mention skiing a couple more times since I was the lazy one. Jamey has a funny story of Z sliding on the dining room floor in some dance move but I didn't see it so I can't do much with it but it made Jamey roar with laughter.
Two quick Z speak phrases that Uncle Jamey enjoyed:
After riding in Uncle Jamey's vehicle - Jamey said something about his car and Z corrected him: "Its not a car Uncle Jamey, it's a Jeep."
And after calling Z silly, Uncle Jamey was corrected again: "I'm not silly, I am funny."
Merry Christmas to all!
I was queezy and whining (shocking!) but Chad stayed in good spirits I think by focusing on the fact that he would be skiing. We got to my brother's house - Uncle The Jamey's House according to Z -- and started to relax. We were able to walk to mass on Christmas Eve and again Zachary did surprisingly well through church.
Opening presents was interesting. A Leonard tradition is opening gifts on Christmas Eve and then gifts from Santa on Christmas morning. Even though this was a "lean" Christmas there were gifts spilling out from under the tree. This Christmas was the first where Zachary understood what presents were about and that he gets toys and fun things. He was beside himself with excitement and was in other peoples business when it was their turn to open a gift. He constantly asked "WHAT IS IT?" "WHAT IS IT??!" I will have to have Chad insert some of Z's other funny comments. He would just be so happy and excited opening the gifts -- lots of oh my gosh type things.
He started losing patience toward the end. He only wanted to open his gifts and not wait on others. Another tradition is that we all take turns going from youngest to oldest opening gifts and the young ones deliver gifts to others. He was getting a bit tired but seeing that we had been opening for several hours (I told you a LEAN Christmas) it is understandable.
We woke up to a truly (and forgive the sacchrine nature of this comment) magical beautiful Christmas morning. It had snowed all night and was still snowing in the morning those big soft flakes you see in the movies. I think all of us were taken by the beauty of that morning. We spent more time opening gifts. Jamey cooked an amazing Christmas dinner and continued to stun me with his culinary skills.
Zachary didn't really get the Jesus connection to Christmas. I guess I thought he was getting old enough but he wasn't quite there. He didn't even really play with his Little People Manger set. We'll keep trying.
We left for Winter Park the next day but not before Z, Chad, and Uncle The Jamey were out in the snow. Jamey was clearing the cars and Z and Chad were "helping." The snow came up most of Z's leg (almost to his crotch) and he was a little unsettled about it. He said it was "deep" in a very concerned manner. He watched his dad make a snow angel and really wasn't sure what to make of it.
The condo in Winter Park was GREAT! Perfect for us. Gramma, Z, and I stayed indoors mostly while the big boys went skiing. Zachary was getting a little more irritable and ornery each day. I think the fact that he was cooped up and not eating right and not a good schedule all added to the mood issues.
I do think the highlight of Winter Park was watching Z sled down a tiny hill. His laugh was indescribable. Even the pictures do not do it justice. He really enjoyed himself. I wish I had gotten out with him earlier so he could have done it more days. I think the only reason he asked to go in after about ten trips down the hill was because he is a bit shorter than us and was again nearly waist deep in snow and got cold.
I will let Chad expand and elaborate on our Christmas shenanigans. He'll probably want to mention skiing a couple more times since I was the lazy one. Jamey has a funny story of Z sliding on the dining room floor in some dance move but I didn't see it so I can't do much with it but it made Jamey roar with laughter.
Two quick Z speak phrases that Uncle Jamey enjoyed:
After riding in Uncle Jamey's vehicle - Jamey said something about his car and Z corrected him: "Its not a car Uncle Jamey, it's a Jeep."
And after calling Z silly, Uncle Jamey was corrected again: "I'm not silly, I am funny."
Merry Christmas to all!
Neurosis of a Mother
I realize that this blog is for us to mark the memories and little moments that we swear we'll never forget yet somehow manage to let slip through our brains but I wonder if ten years or twenty years we will truly remember the sweetness of our little boy and his daily comments and actions. I am stunned at how much I can love him and his father but I don't sense this diary of sorts can truly capture it. Each story or blurb we type here has meaning -- whether making us laugh or shocking us at his insight or just too darn cute not too share but when I re-read I feel like I can not convey properly the emotions and feelings behind it. So my amazing son and dahling husband know that you are loved beyond measure even though I can not find the words to truly tell you so. This fact could explain why my novel has never been published.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
feathers
After a touching storytime between me, Mimi, and Zachary; Zachary looks up at Mimi and asks, " Mimi- do you have a penis?" [It took several repeats of the question for us to understand this] Once Mimi understood, she looked at me whimsically.
Zachary replies, "I have a penis, Daddy has a penis."
Mimi said, " no I don't have a penis."
Zachary matter-of-factly responds, "No Mimi you dont have a penis. You have feathers."
Mimi and I burst into laughter and tears.
Zachary replies, "I have a penis, Daddy has a penis."
Mimi said, " no I don't have a penis."
Zachary matter-of-factly responds, "No Mimi you dont have a penis. You have feathers."
Mimi and I burst into laughter and tears.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
It was a Happy Thanksgiving
I had hoped that we would return from Thanksgiving armed with all of the funny stuff Z did while we were in San Angelo but in all honesty it was a beautiful sweet holiday. Zachary played in a huge pile of leaves and built a gingerbread house and ate lots of green beans. So many great memories made this holiday. We did miss the Strosniders (especially MiMi) but it was warm and wonderful.
He did have a few moments where we looked at him and wondered if he was really only 2 1/2 (actually closer to 3 these days!! YIKES!) For example - when we pulled up to Chad's grandmother's house he said "we are at G-nanny's house!" because he recognized it or on Wednesday when MiMi said Happy Thanksgiving and he looked at her and said "No Mimi. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving."
Z added a new word to the Z speak language - hollilop. Chad and I LOVE this one -- hollilop! We have started using it because we think it is sooo very cute. When we visited MiMi at the bank where she works, someone was passing out lollipops and Zachary asked her for an orange hollilop. We laughed -- great word -- you should say it about five times - it is guaranteed to make you smile.
MiMi and I did giggle at another Z speak incident when he was talking to us about trains and weather. To retell this story via blog will not do it justice at all but I will do my best. Zachary wanted to go play and he told MiMi and me that he would play with the trains and the weather. I said "Weather?" He said "No Mommy - weather." MiMi and I both looked at each other, shrugged our shoulders and MiMi repeated "weather?" Zachary shook his head and said "Weather!" Despite all my expertise in this difficult language and all my translation skills I have acquired over the past year, I was at a complete lost. So I made one more desperate attempt to communicate with my son "Zachary what do you mean weather?" My son now completely frustrated said slow and phonetically "WEA - THER!" So I gave up and said something like Oh OK or oh yea or oh right. Something to convince him that we understood. I actually think he was more frustrated than we were. So he left the dining room to play and I followed him to the end of the hall to the TREASURE chest that held his trains. Context and visual aids are quite enlightening.
He did have a few moments where we looked at him and wondered if he was really only 2 1/2 (actually closer to 3 these days!! YIKES!) For example - when we pulled up to Chad's grandmother's house he said "we are at G-nanny's house!" because he recognized it or on Wednesday when MiMi said Happy Thanksgiving and he looked at her and said "No Mimi. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving."
Z added a new word to the Z speak language - hollilop. Chad and I LOVE this one -- hollilop! We have started using it because we think it is sooo very cute. When we visited MiMi at the bank where she works, someone was passing out lollipops and Zachary asked her for an orange hollilop. We laughed -- great word -- you should say it about five times - it is guaranteed to make you smile.
MiMi and I did giggle at another Z speak incident when he was talking to us about trains and weather. To retell this story via blog will not do it justice at all but I will do my best. Zachary wanted to go play and he told MiMi and me that he would play with the trains and the weather. I said "Weather?" He said "No Mommy - weather." MiMi and I both looked at each other, shrugged our shoulders and MiMi repeated "weather?" Zachary shook his head and said "Weather!" Despite all my expertise in this difficult language and all my translation skills I have acquired over the past year, I was at a complete lost. So I made one more desperate attempt to communicate with my son "Zachary what do you mean weather?" My son now completely frustrated said slow and phonetically "WEA - THER!" So I gave up and said something like Oh OK or oh yea or oh right. Something to convince him that we understood. I actually think he was more frustrated than we were. So he left the dining room to play and I followed him to the end of the hall to the TREASURE chest that held his trains. Context and visual aids are quite enlightening.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Time to call CPS
My sister-in-law had her baby late Monday night -- Congrats to the Strosniders and welcome to the world sweet little Kendall - so last night after work the Martins made their way down town to visit the latest edition to the fam. I came from work and Chad left work picked up Z and we skipped dinner and met up at the hospital.
After sufficiant oooing and ahhhing -- she is beautiful really -- we decided to get some dinner with MiMi and PaPa (Chad's folks) and pick up some dinner for the new parents. So we all (yes that is four adults and one child in a large carseat for those counting at home) squeeze into our SUV that doesn't really feel like an SUV with all of us piled in there. We then began the debate -- where do we eat? There were shouts of Mexican or Vietnamese (HUH?) so MiMi asks Zachary "Where should we eat?" and he responds "McDonalds."
I can't even begin to express the color my face turns at this point. McDonalds? WHAT? We have probably eaten at McDonalds FIVE times in his life -- how does he know McDonalds? My mother-in-law is already a little worried about what I feed my child. I am a lazy lazy mom and use the microwave for a lot of meals - all about frozen veggies (you can buy vegetables fresh?) -- did you know you can buy premade meatloaf? And tend to feed him a lot of PBJ with baby carrots...and you wonder why MiMi has some nutritional concerns for her grandson. So this restaurant choice by my son is shocking to me (again how on earth did he know about McDonalds????) and of all the people to say it in front of -- really Zachary did you have to say that in front of MiMi????
She is very gracious and said "Oh don't worry. He probably knows it from commercials." She then turns to him and says "What would you want from McDonalds?"
Without missing a beat he says "Chicken, fries, and milk."
I believe MiMi has Child Protective Services on speed dial.
After sufficiant oooing and ahhhing -- she is beautiful really -- we decided to get some dinner with MiMi and PaPa (Chad's folks) and pick up some dinner for the new parents. So we all (yes that is four adults and one child in a large carseat for those counting at home) squeeze into our SUV that doesn't really feel like an SUV with all of us piled in there. We then began the debate -- where do we eat? There were shouts of Mexican or Vietnamese (HUH?) so MiMi asks Zachary "Where should we eat?" and he responds "McDonalds."
I can't even begin to express the color my face turns at this point. McDonalds? WHAT? We have probably eaten at McDonalds FIVE times in his life -- how does he know McDonalds? My mother-in-law is already a little worried about what I feed my child. I am a lazy lazy mom and use the microwave for a lot of meals - all about frozen veggies (you can buy vegetables fresh?) -- did you know you can buy premade meatloaf? And tend to feed him a lot of PBJ with baby carrots...and you wonder why MiMi has some nutritional concerns for her grandson. So this restaurant choice by my son is shocking to me (again how on earth did he know about McDonalds????) and of all the people to say it in front of -- really Zachary did you have to say that in front of MiMi????
She is very gracious and said "Oh don't worry. He probably knows it from commercials." She then turns to him and says "What would you want from McDonalds?"
Without missing a beat he says "Chicken, fries, and milk."
I believe MiMi has Child Protective Services on speed dial.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Tummy Troubles
For some reason on the way home from Ms. Carries house yesterday, Zachary said over and over "I need to go to the doctors." I know that Ms. Carrie hasn't been feeling well so maybe she said it and he overheard? I decided to explore this comment. So I asked "Why do you need to go to the doctor? Does your head hurt?"
He said no and that he needed to go to the doctor. So I asked "Does your tummy hurt?" and he responded with a very definite yes -- his tummy hurt.
I continued quizzing him - did his toe hurt? His finger? His ear? I was just wanting to see what he would say. He answered no to all of the above with the exception of his tummy.
He just repeat "I need to go to the doctor - my tummy hurts." I was still not convinced that his tummy truly hurt - it was merely the power of suggestion. So I asked him what would make it feel better and his answer was milk. I told him I didn't think that milk was very good for a hurting tummy.
By this time we had arrived home and he walks in the kitchen looking for his hunkin (z speak) and his candies (z speak again.) I told him that he could not have candy with a hurting tummy. He agreed that it wouldn't be a good idea to eat his Halloween candy when his tummy hurts.
He ran in to his room and called for me. I walk in and his shirt is up and he is rubbing his tummy. I start to wonder if maybe I have misread this whole thing and his tummy really does hurt (BAD MOMMY!) I asked him if I could rub his stomach or hold him or help. He said "I need a wipe."
I am confused at this point and ask him "What?" And he points to his Pamper wet wipes and asks for a wipe please. So I hand him the wipe and he rubs his tummy with it. He throws the "used" wipe in the trash, looks up at me and says "WOW! My tummy feels all better! I need candy please."
He said no and that he needed to go to the doctor. So I asked "Does your tummy hurt?" and he responded with a very definite yes -- his tummy hurt.
I continued quizzing him - did his toe hurt? His finger? His ear? I was just wanting to see what he would say. He answered no to all of the above with the exception of his tummy.
He just repeat "I need to go to the doctor - my tummy hurts." I was still not convinced that his tummy truly hurt - it was merely the power of suggestion. So I asked him what would make it feel better and his answer was milk. I told him I didn't think that milk was very good for a hurting tummy.
By this time we had arrived home and he walks in the kitchen looking for his hunkin (z speak) and his candies (z speak again.) I told him that he could not have candy with a hurting tummy. He agreed that it wouldn't be a good idea to eat his Halloween candy when his tummy hurts.
He ran in to his room and called for me. I walk in and his shirt is up and he is rubbing his tummy. I start to wonder if maybe I have misread this whole thing and his tummy really does hurt (BAD MOMMY!) I asked him if I could rub his stomach or hold him or help. He said "I need a wipe."
I am confused at this point and ask him "What?" And he points to his Pamper wet wipes and asks for a wipe please. So I hand him the wipe and he rubs his tummy with it. He throws the "used" wipe in the trash, looks up at me and says "WOW! My tummy feels all better! I need candy please."
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