Friday, May 11, 2012

Monthly Update: 39

Dear Foster,

I wasn't planning on writing an update until after your baby sister was born, but there is just too much material here lately.

Like, you just walked into the kitchen where I am sitting, and said "Watch dis!"  Then proceeded to pull your pants down.  Twice.

What the heck?

Our day starts off between 6:00 and 7:00 with you climbing out of your big boy bed - THUD - and pouncing into my and your daddy's room holding as many of your "fwends" as you can.

We immediately greet you with a loving chorus of good mornings and then tentatively wait to see what side of the bed you woke up on.

Usually you're in a good mood and climb into bed with us to watch cartoons.  Sometimes, though, you have to pee and will handle the whole process by yourself.  And, I do mean, the whole process...pulling your pants down, pulling your DRY pull up down, peeing, emptying your potty into the big potty, rinsing out your potty, washing and drying your hands and then getting yourself a candy corn - your treat of choice.

I'm equal parts loving this new found independence, even if it does take us eight times longer to get anything done around here, and terrified that you're going to spill pee all over the bathroom floor and then slip in it and bust your head open.

Sometimes, though, you wake up on the WRONG side of the bed and your alter ego, Fuss-ter, comes for a visit.

I don't know what it is about your fussing, but I literally, can. not. handle. it.

Those are the days I am so thankful you attend Mother's Day Out and go to Grandma's house a few days a week so that I can work part-time.

Perhaps there are other mothers who can deal with the fussing with grace and patience, but I am not that kind of mother and right now dealing with your fussing is my biggest challenge because when you start in, I really just want to scream and stomp and slam and WOULD YOU PLEASE JUST SHUT UP ALREADY?!  UUUGGGHHH!

Your daddy loves to point out that you get your temper from me.  And I like to point out that I am nine months pregnant and he better WATCH OUT!

The other day I was feeling so hormonal that I actually rolled down my window and screamed at another driver to USE YOUR BLINKER!

That is not typically how I handle bad drivers - normally I just take a deep breath and go on my way - but again, I am nine months pregnant.  WATCH OUT!

So, once you're good and awake you start asking me to take you downstairs for breakfast.  Usually I make you wait until 7:00, when Curious George comes on, and then we head downstairs so you can watch while I get breakfast ready.

We have a really good routine and your breakfast of choice is a pancake with nothing on it and a side of fruit.  You choose to have a dry pancake so that you can eat it in the den while you watch cartoons.

Meanwhile, I get to have a quiet start to the day in the kitchen with my coffee.

I'm the type of person that is not awake until I've had coffee and food.  It's not that I'm in a bad mood, I'm simply not ready to talk.  To anyone.  About anything.

This personality trait of mine does not correlate well with Fuss-ter, as you can imagine.

Once Cat in the Hat (your favorite cartoon) is over at 8:00, we head upstairs to get ready for the day.  You usually play well while I get dressed and then have to do everything yourself when it's your turn.  From putting the toothpaste on your toothbrush to putting your socks on.

This routine involves a lot of patience and praise on my part and it isn't lost on me how hard you're working to do it all by yourself.  Good job, bud!  I am so proud.

On more than one occasion you have worn your underwear backward because that is how you wanted to wear them and you know what, that is fine.  You look like you're wearing bikini underwear from the back and you have to pick a wedgie out of your butt all day, but it's your choice and it's not a battle your daddy and I think we should fight.  Go us!  Aren't you proud?!


Thankfully you still nap most days.  Not necessarily at school, but that just means when you're at Grandma's house or home, we can usually count on a 2-3 hour nap after lunch!

Seriously, I am so thankful for that quiet time and I'm praying you continue that habit for a while after your baby sister arrives so that I can get some rest too.

On the days you refuse to sleep, we ask that you play quietly with your "fwends" and if you get too loud we go into your room and take them one by one.  Sometimes this tactic works to our advantage and you go to sleep, but other days, we spend the whole 2 hours in and out of your room taking friends.  Sigh.


The last time this happened you blamed me for not being able to sleep, "Mommy kept coming into my woom!" is what you told your daddy.

I love hearing your stories about school.  Whether you're telling on your classmates or yourself, it is always eye opening to hear what really goes on there.

You recently told me that you have to say "Yes Ma'am" to your teacher.  This came as a surprise to me, but not one that I mind.  Your daddy and I don't require you to say Sir and Ma'am to us, but it is a good habit to have here in the South, and especially when we visit your Papa and Nonni.

I was required to say it to my parents when I was growing up, but your daddy wasn't.  His yes had to be "yes" and his no had to be "no", but his dad (your Grandpa) was an officer in the Army and was called Sir all day long.  He didn't want to come home to his children calling him Sir too.

We simply require you to say "Yes, please" and "No, thank you".  Or, in your case, "No, sank you."  Until recently you were even still signing, please!

As soon as we get home from school, or if we're spending the day at home, you want your pajamas on.  My little Hugh Hefner.  I have no idea what the deal is with pj's, but this is another battle we don't fight.  So, most days when your daddy comes home from work, you're in your jammies.  We make you get dressed to go most places, but the marina to feed the ducks and the library after dinner are fair game.

Your sound effects are getting better and better and I am truly impressed by how much your Mac truck sounds like a tractor trailer truck and your airplane sounds like an airplane.  This skill has always impressed me about your daddy, and boys in general, and I'm loving it's development in you.

Dinner time is interesting around here, as you rarely eat your meal when it is first served, but rather, you wait until it's time to go upstairs for your bath and then decide you're still hungry.  Unlucky for you, my mom (your Patty Mama), taught me to leave your food out and that is what is offered.  You usually finish eating your dinner at that point and then ever so politely ask for a "tweat".

Bath (bass) time is one of your favorite times of day and your daddy is now the official bath giver since my belly is too big to bathe you comfortably.  And, after bath time is bed time, of course, and that is one of my favorite times of day!  I am exhausted by the time bed time rolls around.

Your daddy and I take turns putting you down and the routine consists of a few books, a few cuddles and a prayer.  Then just as we're leaving your room, you sit up and remind us to put your milk in the refrigerator and leave the light on under your door.

This is a request that your daddy and I repeat to each other in your voice just to make the other smile.

Foster, you are such a delightful child.  Full of surprises and demands that we never expected.  Equal parts sweet and sassy, fun and fussy.  There really is never a dull moment.

I am so excited to welcome your baby sister into our little family and I can't wait to get to know her!  I'm even more excited to introduce the two of you, though, and I know she's gonna love you so much.

I hope you teach her all the cool stuff you know, except how to fuss.  And, I hope to teach her all the cool stuff I know, except how to fuss.  Maybe she'll be like your daddy - calm, cool and collected.

You and I, we're like peas in a pod.  I get you.  You get me.  We get on each other's nerves, but we love each other like no one else can.

We've spent the past two days together hanging out at home and it has been great!  It's days like these that remind me to write about how wonderful you are and how much I love you.

xoxo,

Mama
































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