Happy Birthday, Christopher!

Our little guy, Christopher, turned SIX today!!!! Not that we needed "any" reminders, but he's been anticipating this birthday like none before, and he's been asking and counting down for several months now.

We had a good day, we had "the best day ever" and still loving it.

Started by waking up early after going to bed too late, then he joined us downstairs and everyone fell back asleep. Sure, we can't keep this up, but since he has afternoon school and we've been on an alternate schedule in an alternate existence, it's working out okay for now.

He and I made those strawberry cupcakes last night to take in for his class today and share with all his friends. Of course....when it came down to pouring the cupcakes into the holders is when I realized that where I "thought" I had put the cupcake pans is not where they are. I suspect they are in a storage unit, but certainly they are not at the house. So....we doubled all the papers and put them on a cookie sheet, and poured away! Now, it may not have been the best looking set of cupcakes we've ever made, but they worked well enough. Good in a pinch, but not recommended.

Had an unrushed morning, took him to school and dropped him off, went to pick up the game and a card, and got stuck in traffic on the way back. We were supposed to be there by 2 pm, but let's just say that Jersey traffic at 1:30 on a Friday afternoon is ridiculous. Worked out okay, since his school had field day and were still outside playing games when we arrived. He helped pass out all the cupcakes and stood with his teachers when his new friends all sang the birthday song. He was supposed to put up his hand when they got to his birthday number, but he likes to play jokes now, so he told them he was 7 now! Then, he said, "just kidding!"

We took him to lunch at AppleBee's, and we had his gift bad sitting on the table...where he never noticed it until we had inched it to only about 4 inches from his hands. He was excited, it was PokeMon for DS. He had brought in his birthday card, so he was proudly putting it on the table so all the staff there could see. Needless to say, he loved when they brought him dessert and sang the birthday song for him. I think that was his favorite part.

When we returned home, we took the bike out and Mike put it on the front step with a big bow on it. Then, when I went outside, Christopher asked me where I was going, so I said I was taking Maya for a walk. So, he put on his shoes and tried to follow me, all the while squeezing his way around the bike up on the front step...and never noticing it or the ribbon. Then, we told him we were on the search for another birthday present, so he wanted in on that gig. Looking all around, he almost gave up, until he was back up on the top step and realized there was a big blue bike taking up all the room! Then, he was very excited and wanted to try it right away. His last bike left a few months ago, much outgrown and this one came without training wheels. He's ready, even if it takes him a little while to catch on. We all had to learn, huh? Mike just took him to the park, so he could practice in the grass. Even with a helmet, the sidewalks are still hard, so at least he can get the hang of the balancing and some practice in. It's supposed to go back to raining for the next two days.

And since we had cupcakes and chocolate cake, And I have way too much homework to do that has to be finished by tomorrow, we are not baking any more cakes tonight. He'll get his candle in a cupcake, which I don't think he'll mind.

We'll post pictures here soon. When I took the memory chip out of our camera to put in a new one, I realized the "new" one was actually already full. See the fallout from moving too dang much...important things get pushed to the side. But, we'll fix that as soon as I'm caught up on homework.

And now our little sunshine, as I loved to call him when he was little and so innocent and laughing and just the best part of being here, is growing up again! He told us he's now in the "six club", a takeoff of how I'm in the fo-fo club, and Papa is in the fo-five club. I swear, he doesn't forget anything!

Welcome, life with a six-yr older!

Little Guy Likes to Draw

This makes me happy...he's starting to draw on his own, and no longer into the stick figures.

This is "Teddy" his little teddy bear!

Catch the Bunny!

Christopher was outside last weekend playing with his friends, when he came running back into the house, in a hurry and frantic to get some carrots. We asked what he was doing, and he said, "I gotta get carrots to feed the bunny! We found a bunny, we're trying to catch it!"

We helped him get some tiny carrots as quickly as possible, and also gave him the camera and told him to try to take a picture of the bunny. I figured it would have run away by then, but you never know. I just love to see pictures from a little kids perspective. Here's what we got, keeping in mind, he was on a mission! Catch the bunny! Or at least, feed the bunny!


Well, they didn't get to feed him, but they had fun on the exciting neighborhood adventure. We're pretty sure the bunny was on the verge of a heart attack when trapped and pursued by little guys.

When Christopher brought back the camera, he told me they didn't get to feed the bunny, and "Well, I ate the carrots myself."

Feeding the Birdies

Sure, it's easier to just put birdseed into a bird feeder or just put out a bowl, but then Christopher wouldn't get to put his hands into the pan and feel all the seed all around his growing fingers. He's very tactile, so projects like this have extra benefits. Any tactile play is really good for him.

So we found two large pine cones and covered them with peanutbutter. Then, I gave the pine cones to him to cover in birdseed.He did a great job!

They are significantly heavier when loaded with peanut butter and seeds, surprisingly so.

He picked the branches, we hung them up, now we wait. We don't have any of the critter cams yet, or a very powerful camera, so we may not get any good pictures of the birdies, but I can tell you there are some really strikingly beautiful cardinals that love to feast around here. They were on the back deck this morning trying to grab some of the peanuts we have out for the squirrels.


UPDATE: We also put peanuts out for the squirrels, but seems the birds really dig the peanuts! Sorry, squirrels. There's a squirrel literally hanging upside down on the side of the huge oak tree (this tree is at least 4 feet in diameter, maybe more!) just lingering and he is not even trying to approach the deck. Maybe he's afraid of the birds, hmmm. Seems also the blue jays are the dominant birds. Some smaller ones came by and some cardinals, but then 4 or 5 blue jays keep swarming down and the others all went away.



We hope this humungous oak tree stays standing strong while we're living here...it truly is huge!


Now: peanuts are almost gone, that was quick! birdseed it is...

This one seems to be a woodpecker:

one of several lucky bluejays:


not sure what kind this is:

check out the robin:

Visit to the Pediatrician

The secret to getting a pediatrician in an office where you want, when you are new to town, is to sign up with the general/family practice office first. Do the first appointment, then when you call to reschedule, you ask to be seen in pediatrics.

Of course, we didn't have this problem prior to coming to this new town. In Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, children get to see pediatricians immediately. They are fit into the schedule when there is an urgent visit, or they are scheduled when it's not urgent.

But here...not so easy! Last fall, I had to call almost a dozen doctor's offices, all of them part of a larger network, before I could find an office that would fit our son in. Jeez! The doctor he saw was "okay", meaning she wasn't outright stupid, her studies of the American culture here must not be complete for her mannerisms were not necessarily matched up with family medicine or pediatrics. For example, when I told her that Chris had had a low-grade fever, she said, "how do you know". "Well, I checked him." "What was the temperature?" "I don't know, it was a low-grade temperature." "Then, how do you know it was a fever, how did you check?" "I did the 'kiss test'." You know, where you kiss the forehead with your lips, as the lips are so sensitive, they can tell you immediately if your child has a fever! Well, her response was, "What is a kiss test? So, you didn't use a thermometer?!", at which time she raised her eyebrows and bugged her eyes out and continued with her abrasive mannerisms. Hmmmm....not such a good match with mom's like me! But, then again, she was not a pediatrician, she was a general practice doctor, apparently lacking in the area of being sensitive to children and their mannerisms and needs, or in what parents need when taking care of their children. Putting a parent on the hot seat for no good reason is a very confrontational move on her part, whether she intended on this outcome or not. It did not help that I had to repeat myself for everything I tried to explain to her, and not once, but at least two more times for Everything!

So, yesterday, here we go again! Seriously dreading a re-encounter with this woman, I took a chance and called the pediatrics department to see if they could schedule our son in, and transfer his files from family practice to pediatrics. Bingo! And we were scheduled for a few hours later!

Move ahead to the 12:50 PM appt.

Symptoms: experiencing residuals of a cold, with raspy and heavy coughing in the mornings, but now coupled with repeat occurances of hives each day this week. Unknown source for the hives, but causing a discomfort for the little guy, and making him scratch all over. Have checked home environment for any changes that may have triggered this outbreak, made a few changes, but alas, still have hives. Next step: check with allergist to see what we need to avoid with him. No sense in making him suffer through adolescence and into adult life with something we could address now.

At 5 and a half, he's over 4' tall now, and 57 lbs, and lean as can be (at least he didn't inherit our "fatness"! ha ha!)! We suspect he will make it to 6' tall before long!

First thing he asked the nurse: "Do I need to get a shot today?"
We hadn't planned on any shots, so we both told him, probably not.

They made him get down to his underclothes and put on a paper gown. His first paper gown! He tried it out...didn't like it and took it off after a short time. Then the resident doctor came in and checked him out. At one point, she used the term "butt", which is a trigger word for Chris. Given his repetitive nature, he can say almost anything he wants, but he's not allowed to keep repeating things over and over. "Butt" was one of his words he liked repeating, so now we encourage him to use other words, and for this one, it's "bottom". Well, he also likes to play with words, so he picks up new ones all the time. When this doctor told him something about sitting on his butt, he replied back immediately with, "Awwwww! You Said Butt! A Better word to use would be 'gluteus maximus'!" Wish I had a picture of her expression, because even I didn't expect him to say that, I was prepared for "bottom" and am used to his set of rules he carries with him everywhere. She told him that he must be a smart fellow to use words like that, and he said, "Well, my Papa is smart, he told me." She laughed, and I could tell that, even besides his curly hair that everyone loves so much, she took a genuine liking to him. He also knows that the bottom has three parts, gluteus minimus and gluteus medium, because he plays with Mike and he like to sing the song on the kids' channel, "Everybody has a Butt!" but he changes the words out. At this point, I was almost expecting him to come out with my all-time favorite word: onomatopoeia (a word that imitates the sound(s) it is describing, such as "buzz" or "bang"). We did purposely teach him this one, and I was happy when he learned to say it on his own after awhile, and even happier that he knows what it means. Next: how to spell it! O-no-MA-to-POE-I-A, break it up and it's easier that way!

Later, when the primary doctor came in with the resident, they were asking questions of this new patient of theirs, and the words "excema" and "asthma" came up. Excema being dry skin, asthma being what we all know. Dry skin causing itching, so recommended initial treatment is more lotion on a daily basis, too young to diagnose as asthma. Little ears were all over this! "Excema! Asthma! They sound the same! Are they the same?" "Why? What is excema and asthma?" So the doctor did a quick explanation and showed him pictures.

Then, next the question, "Am I going to get a shot?" At this point, we had discussed the flu shot for him, which he hadn't gotten yet this season. So, we said, just a little one, you won't hardly feel it. Wrong answer! Then came the LOUD crying. Inconsolable! When the nurse came in, we quickly realized she and I couldn't do it alone. In comes another nurse. Still no good. First nurse takes Chris in her lap, wraps her legs around his legs, holds his arms in a lock hold while I help hold his hands and arm. Then goes the shot, which was over quickly, but not before the curdling screams in all of our ears, at close range! One thing for sure: his lungs are healthy!

I tell him when it's over, that we can go get a reward for his bravery, and does he want an ice cream. Of course! But he asks me if it's an award, because you get tropies when you win things. I tell him yes, an award for you being so strong. "But, I cried and screamed because it hurt." So, I told him it was a Major Award! I know, we watched too many re-runs of A Christmas Story this year, but it slipped out. He enjoyed his ice cream, I enjoyed the little joke, and we went back home after dropping of his Rx.

Later, when Mike returned home, first thing he told him was about getting his shot, crying and screaming about it, getting "an award!" for being so brave. Then, he told him, "Well, we talked about excema and asthma at the doctor's office today." Now, that was about 6 hours earlier when we left the office, and we didn't discuss it again after that. Just goes to show, the little guys have Great memories and pickup the darndest things!

Which makes me all the more determined to be extra patient at other times when I think something should be easy for him to grasp and he just can't or won't focus. We can see that he gets it, especially when he is interested or wants something.

One of the secret keys to raising a kid is to find interesting ways to help them learn the important stuff. Some of the techniques we learned as children come back in full force when we are in these situations, but I have found that they are not always the most effective. Sometimes, quite the opposite, and thus forcing me out of my own rules and expectations box, to try other things.

And so, today was a good day, got some answers, hope for future answers, and some unexpected entertainment mixed in. Oh, and a flu shot that was overdue. Best of all, we got moved to a pediatrician, even if it was a round-about way of doing it. (As I shake my head...)

Kids really make the holidays fun!

The Christmas calendar helped, but this little guy just asked everyday about how many more days. He loves to sit and admire his decorations and the lights. We are so lucky!

In between, he's been playing more and more on his drawing pad, although the renditions of the family make us look a little heavy above the shoulders.

The day the kids were waiting for! Let's make cookies!

These guys all worked very hard, payed attention to how to roll out the dough, and how to get their sheets ready for the oven.



Proud bakers, with their final products!

"Mommy, can I eat this one?"




Anxious about what could possibly be in this present that was found under the tree, from his friend Julian. "Can I open it?" "Why not? I need to know what is inside of it."

Maya doing what she loves to do best, lay around and maintain protection over the family. Here she is actually chewing on a rawhide, not something we see very often!

Cookies, milk and carrots ready by the fireplace.

Amazingly enough, he fell asleep right away!

Ahhh, Raggedy Andy has come to live in our house. He will be a lot of fun when we start reading the Raggedy Andy stories. We are having a blast right now with Raggedy Ann, and her clean soft white cotton stuffing.


For a guy fascinated with how the body works and what is inside, he's sure to have a lot of fun with this anatomical puzzle. Thanks, Mar-Ran & Par-Ran! xoxo


Dad, resting after a long trip to get here on Christmas day, we are so glad they were able to make it and get to stay awhile! YAY!

Mom & Chris...they keep saying he's gotten so much taller, grown up so much.

Cousins Pearl and Xavia, enjoying a sit with Santa!
Soooo....tell the truth: have you been naughty or nice?!

And for the finale of the night: birthday wishes and candles. Didn't get the real birthday cake done until today, and it came out nice! Mom's recipe for spice cake with buttercream frosting on top. Sweet potato pie worked fine as a fill-in!

Happy #45, Babe!


Playing nice with his Indiana Jones mini legos.


Merry Christmas to all of you! Our Christmas was peaceful and relaxing, and spent with loved ones, who could ask for more. We hope that all of you are having a wonderful holiday season, and doing what you want!

Fun Holiday Weekend!

Started the weekend with a "Breakfast with Santa" at Chris' school. Breakfast being Krispy Kreme donuts, but hey!

He told Santa he wants a "Star Wars video game". That's it. 5-yr olds can be so easy sometimes!



Mike put up outside decorations and lights, while we also did a yard sale. We managed to clear out about 20 big boxes from our moving, YAY!!!



Christopher was happiest to see that our decorations were finally going up! Of course, he didn't understand we couldn't put them up until we found all the boxes that had the decorations. We couldn't get to all the boxes until we worked our way around the room of boxes, one by one. Thank goodness that chore is done. And, in the process, many things made it to the yard sale, and many things have found better homes now. And we have less to have to go thru now.

Mike & Chris, posing after some decorating.

found the wooden box that goes back into his truck. one less thing in the garage now.

Mommy's little helper at the yard sale, taking a break. he was very good about "Mommy, another customer!"


So, as we found the boxes of Christmas decorations, the little guy started helping himself to taking things out and finding places for them around the house. Some of the fun ones found a place in his bedroom! :)


He was very concerned about making sure the Angel was put on top of his tree in his bedroom. In fact, he kept asking about where is the angel, we need to put it on the tree, do you know where the angel is? Well, here she is!
Made with love by my Mom!

Playing with toys after a very busy and productive weekend.