Clipper Finger

Landon's term for a fingernail that needs to be trimmed: "clipper finger"

Aidyn Eat My Finger

Landon, waking from a bad dream in the middle of the night, was crying in his room and in a little bit of a panicked state.  Donnie went to his side and knelt down, trying to comfort him.  He asked what was wrong and Landon gave us a glimpse into a 3-year-old's nightmares: "Aidyn eat my finger!!!"

We Need Forks

AJ: "We need forks."
Me [prompting]: "May I please have a fork?"
AJ: "Yeah.  What you said."

And I Said to Him...

Aidyn, after school, in the midst of a story about one of her classmates: "...and I said to him, 'No offense, Tyler, but you're doing it wrong. He didn't like that very much."

Vacuum Shelf

We have a space heater in our room that the boys love to play with (it has lots of buttons for pushing, of course) under close supervision, obviously.  The unit is tall and thin with slats for the airflow.  It's appearance and the sound it makes has caused it to be dubbed "The Vacuum Shelf" by the boys.

If He Cries

About a month ago we accepted a new foster placement--a three-month-old baby boy.  AJ was absolutely enamored with the newest member of our family and spent the whole first day by his side.  He held his hand and sang to him and rocked him and tried to hug him more times than I could count.

By evening when Daddy came home, AJ had baby care down to a science.  We put Chase in the swing and AJ said his goodnights. As he went up to bed, in a moment of stunning clarity for our speech delayed boy, AJ said, "Daddy.  If he cries, just turn up his music, ok?"

That's not even the best part.  Shortly after AJ went to bed, Chase was crying and crying.  We picked him up, rocked him, tried to feed him, tried a pacifier.  For lack of any other option, we put him back in the swing and turned up the music.  And he went right to sleep.

My Tongue Did It

Me: Landon, go get a wipe for your face.

L: (walks away, comes back without wipe)

Me: Where's the wipe?  You need a wipe for your face.

L: (licks his lips and chin) But, my tongue did it!

School

I've been working with the boys at home this year since we decided to wait until next fall to enroll AJ in 4K.  Here's what "school" looks like at our house:

http://youtu.be/C3DzlQJfHcY

Duet

Aidyn is improving at piano!  She gets a little frustrated at the end, but she is working very hard.

http://youtu.be/LbaCE1YPdLY

When Landon Gets My Phone

This is what he does:

Two Starving

Me: "Are you hungry?"

Aidyn: "No!  I am STARVING."

Me (to Landon): "And what are you?"

Landon: "I'm two."

You Say...

When the kids play together one of them often tells another what to say.  It could be anything from playing trains together ("You say, 'choo-chooooooo!') to playing parts from movies ("You say, 'Does this count as annoying' and then I say, 'Very.'").  Last night it was a little different.

Landon: "I don't want to eat anymore."

Daddy: "You need to have a few more bites, buddy."

Landon: "You say, 'Nan can be all done.'"

What Does the Fox Say?

http://youtu.be/brX-wES0Foc

It's a little hard to hear because AJ is talking in the background, but this was Landon's response to the question "What does the fox say?"

If You're Happy and You Know It...

I play a listening game with the boys that's based around the song If You're Happy and You Know It. I add all kinds of silly things into the song besides the usual "clap your hands" and "stomp your feet."  Sometimes it's even "clean up the toys" or "eat your peas."  They respond well to it and they love singing it with me.

Last week, though, Landon turned the tables by singing, "If you're happy and you know it turn on a show of Mighty Machines for Landon!"  I had to do it.  It's only fair!

Konnichiwa

This morning at breakfast:

Landon: "Hi, AJ!"

AJ: "Konnichiwa!"

Monkey Bar Owie

Aidyn's school nurse called today to let me know that Aidyn had hit her head very hard on the playground at recess.  The nurse described a forehead injury but didn't suspect any other problems and Aidyn went back to class for the rest of her first day of second grade.

When she got home, I noticed the lump on her forehead and asked her how it happened. "Well," she said. "I am used to running under the monkey bars, but this time I was running and I just ran into it."  

I guess she grew a little over the summer!

Upstairs in Spanish

Daddy, to Aidyn: "How do you say 'upstairs' in Spanish?"

AJ, interjecting: "Up. Stairs. In. Spanish."

Funny Business

AJ, playing with the babies: "No funny business!!"

Play With AJ

Singing a silly song with Landon at nap time today: "It is time for N-A-P."

Landon, singing back: "It is time to go nite-nite."

Me: "It is time to go to sleep."

Landon: "It is time...to play with AJ!"

Thanks, Everybody

And we sing Happy Birthday.  And the sweet boy blows out his candles.  And we clap.  And he smiles and looks around and says, "Thanks, everybody." And then, "Thanks you for my happy birthday."

Oh man.  Love this kid.

Brown Cake

For Landon's birthday I made an elaborate train cake and for Aidyn's birthday it was an intricate polka dot cake.  For AJ's birthday I brought out the cake books and sat down with him, irrationally envisioning a bonding session over cake choices.  Here's how it went:

Me: "Look at all of these cool birthday cakes!  Your birthday is Sunday--what kind of cake do you want?"

AJ: [flips through the first book a little and then throws it down with a sigh] "I just want a brown cake."

Me: "Um...ok...we could do a brown football or a brown teddy bear or..."

AJ: "NO!  Just a brown cake. With candles."

Me: "Ok.  How about a brown cake with M&M's or..."

AJ: "NO!  Just. A. Brown. Cake."

Me: "Ok, buddy."

Today I convinced him to choose a shape at least, so he has a brown triangle cake with four candles.  And he's happy :)

Soaking

On vacation at the lake, AJ overheard lots of references to things being "soaking wet."  He somehow made the   connection about how to use an adjective and since we've been home he's put it to good use:

"I am soaking tired!"

"I am soaking hungry!"

Yes, Nan

At our house the retort, "FINE!!" is disrespectful and not allowed. I usually respond, "Don't say 'fine,' say 'yes, Mommy."  

Recently Landon asked me for something and I said it was fine and he said, "Don't say 'fine.'  Say 'yes, Nan.'"

It's only fair, I suppose!

Or Fairies

AJ: "There's a monster in my room."

Daddy: "There's no such thing as monsters, buddy."

Aidyn: "Yeah, there's no such things as monsters, AJ... [sighs heavily, leans against door frame, sad face ensues]...or fairies."

Your Face Is Pretty

Landon: "Mommy, your face is pretty."

Me: "Oh, thanks buddy!"

Landon: "And your nose is big."

Me: "...thanks..."

Probably Fishing

When we woke up this morning...

Landon: "Where's Daddy?"

Me: "Probably fishing."

Landon: "Can I go Probably Fishing, too?"

Anxious

We're out at the lake today and went on a nice long pontoon ride.  After the ride we made lunch and sat down to eat.  Suddenly, AJ took his cup and threw it behind him and then took his plate of food and tossed it onto the floor.  Daddy yelled, "AJ!!  Why did you do that!?"  AJ just looked up and said, "I was anxious."  

Hug With

Landon: "I want to hug with Daddy!"

Landon-isms

Things I don't want to forget that Landon says:

"I meed" instead of "I need"

"In a little minute"

"That's not nice!"

"Sweephowt" for "sweetheart"

Bring Your Oranges

Sometimes I just have to record these things:

Me: "Buenos noches!"

Aidyn: "Buenos noches!"

AJ: "Bring your oranges!"

All was quiet after bedtime then this was overheard from their bedroom:

L: "AJ! Where's your feet!!"
AJ: "They're right here!"
L: "Oh...they're in your bed?"
AJ: "Yes!"
L: "Oh. Ok."

Then the quiet resumes. Random check, maybe?

You Not a Man

Me [in a low, gravelly voice]: "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair."

AJ: "No!  You not a man. You a mommy. You say [changes to a high, singsong voice], 'Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair."

Me [repeats in the high, singsong voice]

AJ: "That's it!  You got it!  Good job!"

Frustrating

AJ is getting much better at telling me his feelings.  He can tell me how happy or sad he is which is a big help.  His most recent one is my favorite, though.  He is trying to tell me how frustrated he is but every time he says, "I am so frustrating!!"

Jelly Beans

For some reason Landon calls baked beans "jelly beans."  I'm not sure if he misheard or is confused, but it's pretty darn cute.  Today he's having cheese, peaches, and jelly beans for lunch!

Somebody Dump It

I feel bad that AJ doesn't have as many posts as the others.  So much of what he says is unintelligible and much of the rest is nonsense.  For example, a typical conversation with AJ goes like this:

Me: Whatcha doing buddy?

AJ: Nuffing.  Dugga dugga dugga dugga dugga dugga dugga dugga sharks.  

But tonight as I got to the top of the stairs to put AJ to bed, I had to step over a spilled bucket of toys.  It was clear that AJ had spilled them since he was the only one playing upstairs, nevertheless he gestured toward the mess and exclaimed, "Oh man!  Somebody dump it!"  Sure buddy...tell "somebody" to clean it up, too!

Flightflush

Landon has progressed from calling a flashlight a "flightflush" to now calling it a "flightswitch."  

I Just Kidding

Donnie: You tired?

Landon [with very sleepy eyes]: Yeah...no...I not tired.

Donnie: You sure?  You look pretty sleepy.

Landon: Yeah, I tired.

Donnie: You are?  I thought so.

Landon: No, I not tired.  I just kidding.

AJ Took My Love

Landon has a monster blanket that we call his lovey.  Today AJ swiped it out of his hands and I heard Landon yell, "Mom!!  AJ took my love!!"

Spill

One of my favorite things about kids with great verbal skills is the way they use their limited vocabulary to communicate.

Landon tonight: "I feel yucky in my mouth. I spill in my bed."

Daddy Joseph James

"AJ" is short for Aaron Joseph James. It's a name he really only hears when he's in trouble (and that can be several times a day!). Recently, though, he was upset with Daddy and hollered, "Daddy Joseph James!!!"

Venn Diagrams and Parallelograms

Aidyn, at breakfast this morning:
"I like Venn diagrams. And I like parallelograms."

October 25, 2012

We made a list for the neuromuscular appointment that he had last fall. Here's Landon's words as of 23 months old:

Raining
Hi, James. How are you?
Moon
Book
Truck
Car
Train/choo-choo
Ouch
More
All done
Cup/ba-ba
Thanks
You're welcome
Please
Yes, no
Happy
Sad
Oh darn it.
Window
Outside
Ready, set, go
Green
Blue
Yellow
Purple
Pink
Aidyn/sissy
AJ
Daddy/dad
Mama/mom
Eat
Lunch
Dinner
Hair
Nose
Mouth
Teeth
Belly
Toes
Finger
Open
Night night
Wake up
Sheep
Cow
Pig
Bear
Blues clues
Despicable me
Broccoli
Noodles
Milk
Shoes
Socks
Shirt
Hat
Fun
Funny
Ride
Out
Down
Up
Hi
Bye bye
Cookie
Cupcake
Cheerios
Ooo bar
Chair
Pillow
Blankie
Bed
Fishy
Kitty
Dog
Porch
Horsey
Diaper
Mess
Keys
Some
Potty
Cream
Powder
Remote
Thomas
Percy
Colors
Frances
Abbey
Jenna
Ashie
Seth
Mark
Nana
Papa
Mamie
Pappy
Jessie
Oh my goodness
Twinkle
Star
Circle
Triangle
In
Me
I love you
Backpack
This
Phone
Birds
Girls
Stroller
Chicken
Seat
Motorcycle
Jeep
Go kart
Juice
Cheese
Butter
Bread
Yogurt
Peaches
Apple
Banana
Hot
Water
Swing
Slide
Mine
Hooray
A, B, C, E, F, G, H, K, L, M, O, R, S, T, U, W, X
See/ I see it
I know/ I don't know
I can't get it
Reach it
Baby
Mia
Maya
Sticker
Bubbles
Go bye bye. Get shoes. Bye friends. See you later!
Crash
Freight car
Where
Find it
What happened
See mommy
Bouncy ball
Piano
Car car stuck. Can't reach it. Help. Come here.
Where is it?
You're welcome
Oh my goodness
Fine, mom!
What doing?
How doing?
What's up
Hey, dude!
Penguin
See me, Dad.
My fork.
Pancake
Cupcake
Pumpkin
Sit down
Couch
Floor
Knee
Neck
What's the problem?

Humpty Dumpty

At speech therapy a couple weeks ago AJ was playing Humpty Dumpty with his teacher and speech class. His teacher had to laugh because AJ was so very concerned each time Humpty had his great fall. Then they played a game where they were carrying a plastic egg on a spoon and AJ was so traumatized by the image of a broken Humpty that he was overly careful carrying his egg!

Seahorse

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151607050504602

Facebook Catch-Up

A few Facebook posts from recently (so I don't have to copy everything over to here):

http://www.facebook.com/tracy.mingo/posts/10151613359979602

http://www.facebook.com/tracy.mingo/posts/10151613780174602

http://www.facebook.com/tracy.mingo/posts/10151608889759602

http://www.facebook.com/tracy.mingo/posts/10151608881314602

http://www.facebook.com/tracy.mingo/posts/10151607336489602

Chuffed Away

Landon has learned how to put his own tracks together and makes up wonderful little stories about his engines.

The other day he exclaimed, "And they all chuffed away to the docks!!"

Figure 8

Landon noticed that his toast was the shape of an eight and poked holes to complete the look.

Frog

Aidyn got out all of her art supplies the other night just to draw the life cycle of a frog.

AJ

Daddy: "I'm gonna jump in the shower."

AJ [very concerned]: "You can't jump in the shower.  It's too high!"

Landon

Landon is getting old enough now to be saying hilarious things.  I've decided that it's a shame that I'm not writing them down for the boys the way I did for Aidyn, so here goes:

The other night:
Daddy: "Landon, say 'Sawubona.'"
Landon: "I can't not say it."
Daddy: "Why?"
Landon: "I'm too busy!"

Non-Fiction

[insert lame apology for not blogging in forever here]

Aidyn, tonight: "I need to tell you something important and it's non-fiction!"