Oh my it has been half of a year since i have been able to take a minute and fill in on this blog...oh how i have missed checking in!

Well lets go down the months

December- 

Christmas in our first house was AMAZING!
Our neighbors gave us an 8 foot Christmas tree and we hosted Christmas dinner with the family.  We had our house full of family, memories and love. It was amazing. 

My bug opened one present from his Papa (a set of three air planes) and then sat on the couch clutching his planes and would NOT open another present. I think he was afraid he would have to trade the planes, so he was clutching them for dear life saying "no my planes, i want planes" LOL  My dad has now decided that he will get one large bucket to open instead of individually wrapped presents.

The Bug did get a BIG present this year.  All the aunties and Uncles pitched in and bought a swing set (aka the playground/jungle gym) and my brother and i set it up in the backyard.  TOTALLY under estimated the size and effort to put this beast together but in the end its pretty amazing.  The Bug and all the kids love it.  Its also nice knowing they have something to play with, use their imaginations and energy on outside and not in front of the TV. 

January- 
New Years was only amazing because i closed out one great year with my Bug and we started a new one together, happy and healthy! When the clock struck 12 he ran from one side of the house to the other watching all of our neighbors and surrounding areas light fireworks... then promptly at 1:09am he said "night night mama" and went to sleep (in my bed)

Our Ravens won the super bowl and of course we said if they made it the house would be purple and black during our super bowl party sooo we went all out.  Someone was even nice enough to make us matching shirts for the day! 

February- 

After a year or trying different things, my brother FINALLY got the Bug to fall asleep in his own bed.  He still wakes up in the middle of the night to get in bed with me, but at least this is a start.

I took my bug for his first Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles trip. It was classic.  We went with one of his aunties (she calls the Bug "poopoo" so he started calling her TiTi Poo Poo LMBO) The bug ate all his waffle but didn't care for the chicken...That was fine with the auntie and i who then split his chicken on his "Country Boy Number 9"--to you REAL Roscoes fans it will always be a country boy and not an Obama :-P

March- 

The Titi came out for her first visit since she moved all the way to the other ended of the earth to be with her boo-thang and she brought the Bug a tent.  Not just a tent let me correct myself she bought him a gigantoid Circus tent.  It takes up a fourth of the Bugs room and he LOVES it.

I got the Bug peeling cuties. He wont eat one but he will peel it for me. When the cutie has the skin on it he says "mama look apple" i say no its an orange, "oh yea sure Orange"...then he peels it and with a gasp of excitement screams "MAMA LOOK a Pumpkin!" lol I was stumped the first time but i just explained its still and orange. Deep down i do not think he believes me.

April- 
Resurrection came and was amazing this year spiritually for me. I joined a lovely women's group at our church and i started new traditions. I made a resurrection tree this year. It was a tree with plastic eggs and each egg had a visual of a scripture, like am advent calendar counting down until Resurrection day.  I also had the nieces and nephews over for a day of pizza, dieing eggs, decorating paper baskets on Resurrection eve.  Family + Fellowship= Memories!

May-
Brings us up to date!

We are ending the Bugs FIRST organized sports venture.  It has been a funny funny season and i am exhausted, but my Bug had a blast and that is what counts. 

Next i am looking into preschools still (prices are just outrageous for me like 100 for two half days a week...not conducive for a single mom)...and looking at swim and tumbling classes for the Bug possibly Karate/Judo sooo who knows!







I do know that i REALLY hope i get to update sooner than later, dont think i could wait another six months to add to this book!


Oh some stats
38lbs
42 Inches (i think)
Size 4/5 in Boys (ekkk not toddlers anymore!)
and size 12.5 shoe

Sharks

Today is the day i realize my baby Bug is no longer a baby.  

The Bug

With his "Fish"

He can wear a Boys extra small or size 4 small shirt, and his pants size is just in the little boys category too. We are speaking and communicating with words and sentences more, which is fun because he still cant/wont say too much still but enough that you know he is learning and still trying.

Today my Bug went fishing with his PahPah.  He was looking forward to using his "pishing pole" so much so that the other day when my dad was packing up the truck with all their gear.  I drive up to the house and see my bug sitting down at the foot of the garage crying. I mean crying like balling crying. I asked what was wrong and he pointed to his PahPah's truck saying "momma sit sit pishing". He thought they were going fishing and he wanted to make sure he was going with all the fishing stuff but when i showed up he knew that meant he was not going fishing right then and it broke his whole world.

With his "Shark"

The day came today and he got to go fishing.  I forgot to send a heavy coat and a hat but the bugs sweat suit was warm enough with his PahPah doing man stuff.   I was at work but i hear he had fun at the water and he even reeled in three fish! The first fish he reeled in he called it a fish, he held the line it was on, touched the fish, and looked so excited.  The second and third fish were bigger so he said those where "sharks".  I do not know if it was because he had already caught his "fish" or if it was the fact that the other two were bigger, but it was still funny to me.


All in all i know my Bug is not a baby any more and he had a great day.  Even if he does not remember this day i know it means a lot to my dad to have his smart as a whip grandson share an interest of his and do it well.

3 year old Stats

So our stats

The Bugs Weighs in at 33 lbs and is 38 Inches tall.  He wears a size 11 shoe in kids (and is just about out of those already).

PS my shoe complaint (yes i know i have many more shoes to buy for this boys growing foot)
MAY  i bought him a pair of shoes...3 weeks later they are to SMALL so my dad bought him a full size bigger and the girl said in about month he will be another half size.  AND NO LATER THAN 4 WEEKS PASS and he is in a FULL size bigger...UGH.

SO now we are three months past that and he is just about out of these...OH well some people put ten dollars away per pay check for tires i have to put money away per pay check for the Bugs shoes!

Bugs 4th Pumpkin Patch!

It was about that time again...PUMPKIN PATCH TIME!!

There are two things i LOVE Pumpkins and Penguins so Harvest/ Halloween season and Christmas season make me HAPPY!

A tradition the Bug and i have in October, is going to the Pumpkin Patch at Cal Poly Pomona.  We are two in the thousands who venture out early on Saturday morning to run up and down the field of pumpkins, run through the hay maze, and support the clubs and organizations.  This year we even hung out with the Bugs Auntie KC the entire time we were there.  P.S. im pretty sure she got some amazing pictures of my Baby bug having a blast in the patch so look for those to come soon!

This years patch was good, but not as a great as the previous years yet we still enjoyed our selves!  The Bug ran through a hay maze, painted a pumpkin, pulled his wagon, pee'd in a port-a-potty for the first time, photo bombed others pictures, and picked three great pumpkins!

When we left we had a snack, and he fell asleep in the car as always...after all its tradition hahah.

Later in the evening we cleaned and carved his pumpkin then put a tea light in it and watched it glow on our kitchen table.

It was a great day and as always  i am reminiscing on todays fun times while already looking forward to next years!!

Can you Say Friday?

My Bug does random things through out the day that reassure me he is a smart kid that is doing things on his terms...not mine.

I am trying to get him to use his words more so i say words and have him repeat them, but in a question and answer sort of format.  One of the things we do is going through the days of the week daily.  I say what day of the week is it...if he doesn't know what day it is he says "ummm what day is it"...this happens most of the time but in time i figure he will catch on. 

Oh and a little background, on Fridays for dinner i try to do pizza for dinner, he loves pizza. I think its a good family tradition to start something of this nature that he is excited about now, with the hopes that nights like this just continue as he gets older or as our family grows. 

So now onto this morning as i am driving him to his Nana's and this was our conversation:

M: What day of the week is it today?
B: Ummmm what day is it
M: Its Friday can you say Friday?
B: Umm Pizza
M: Yes pizza is for dinner on Fridays can you say Friday?
B: Oh Yummy

This little genus wont tell me its Friday but he will tell me whats happens on Friday because he KNOWS what he gets to eat at dinner on Fridays!

Then i laugh and shake my head saying this is only the beginning of him taking his stubbornness to the limits.

Color, Cut and Paste!

Lately i have been trying to think of things to keep my Bug learning and challenged by using activities i know he enjoys. 

I came up with a matching put the puzzles together type of game with alphabets and numbers, so far it seems to be a fan favorite to him so i am sharing.

Here is what we did:
1. Using word art i made block letters A thru Z, big enough to fill the entire page. Then i printed two copies.

2. We took one copy of our alphabet sheets and colored each letter in.  We said each letter as we colored it and tried to do each letter a different color.

 

3. Then i let the Bug use his safety scissors and cut the letters out as i supervised. By the end he was getting good at making confetti so i just let him cut the extra strips of paper as i cut the letters out.  That was still a nice part of the activity because he had to work on hand eye coordination, plus using scissors is a good life long goal to know right hahah

4.  Then using a glue stick and the second page of the alpha bet sheet, we glued on the cut out letters to their correct letter.  Going in order, we said each letter we were looking for, we matched up up with the paper so he could see the letter, then we glued each letter on top of the correct letter on the blank paper.

This activity took little prep time, really i just had to type the alphabet on the computer and change the font then print.  The best part (beside the learning and bonding) was that my busy busy Bug did not get bored because we were not doing one montamous thing AND the skills he obtained from start to end were all learning tools.

By the end of the 45 minute activity the accomplishments i observed :
1. We repeated the alphabet 3 times, with sight recognition
2. His scissor skills became way more controlled
3. His "i can paste skills" were defined
4. We went through various speech and sight skills with colors
5. We had fun!


I also did this activity with numbers.  That one did not take so long as we only had 9 numbers we went through.  I know my bug loves puzzles so i think this was a good activity that allowed him to use his skills he likes while getting to learn some other skills. 


This did not take long, it was fun and bonding and we were learning. Some smooth music on in the background and no TV for an hour and half just Momma and Bug moments.  I can definitely see us doing an activity like this on a weekday when we both get home with not just numbers and letters but i can see it growing into works and shapes and so much more.

Learning to make the Sparks Fly!

Today I gave my Bug a disposable camera that I got from work, thinking of would be a fun 10 minute something to do. Boy was i wrong on how much he would learn and have fun with this thing.

He was using it for its correct function at first, advancing the film, turn on the flash, saying cheese and taking pictures. Then we got home and he ran out of pictures so the flash and button stopped working.

If this was me i would have been done and onto the next toy, but not my Bug.  What does he do next...try and figure out why it's no longer working duh. So the bug went to work. He ripped of the paper covering the camera, then split the camera in two by repeatedly dropping it on my tile floor. Once he got it open it kind of shattered into many pieces. A battery case, a battery, the front and back to camera, then the electronic board that the flash is connected to (note i have NO CLUE on the technical terms for these parts).

I was certain that the camera was trash and he was going to loose interest in it since it was all disassembled, but no the interesting part just started. My bug went to work and put the camera back together piece by piece. Not only did he put it together but he did it correctly! When he pressed the button after assembling the camera the flash went off. His face lite up he looked up clapped and said yaay! Truthfully my heart melted a little because that was a big accomplishment...well to me it is because HE IS ONLY THREE!!

He took it apart again, and when he was putting it together this time he learned that the with out the battery in the camera the flash wouldn't go off.  That's when he started messing with the wires in the camera. He moved the colors around, with the battery not in place and nothing happened.  Then he moved the wires around and put the battery in place and a big spark just popped off!

Total he had thirty more minutes with the camera experimenting on trail and error before he took it apart to build it again.  Then i ended up having to take it away...Yes I ended up taking it away and throwing it away when his engineering skills got too good. Once he started messing with the flash and the wires and a spark flew...I then confiscated it with the quickness and or disposable camera time was over.


I understand more now why this guy gets bored in school. In the schools he was in they sang the days of the week or they are required to sit still on a shape on the carpet.  He could not use trial and error doing things like taking apart a camera or working with things that give him a reward when he built it right like "making the camera flash".  So i am now on the hunt to find things to nurture my Bugs intellect and curiosity to learn in a positive growing way. 

This morning i am glad to say I have a step in the right direction.  I shared my story with my friend at work who hipped me to littleBits . The idea behind these came because the CEO saw that Lego's helped with kids with construction and architecture skills, but there was nothing circuit and electricity wise.  THIS is exactly what my Bug needs, its just a bit pricey for my single mom budget, but if it going to be something that aids in educating my Bug i will make it happen! 

Busy Busy Learning

So i had to take my Bug out of the head start school he was just in, it just wasn't the right program for him. 
Through the couple months he was there i did learn a few things...

A. My child is super smart
       -He puts together puzzles three at time (like mix three different puzzle pieces up in one pile) while all the other kids are trying to do one AND he still finishes before they do! BOMB.COM

B. He gets bored at mundane tasks
       -sitting on the mat of shapes and going through a list of 12 kids to each have a turn to point out a color or shape on the bored...he sees no point. Instead the bug starts handing out books to the kids like hey guys lets keep busy and read. 

C. He likes to stay busy and challenged
     -He sits still at challenges trying to concur them, like trying to use the safety scissor and cut shapes out. Its new and he wants to figure it out and complete the task before you move on to something new.

D. He will act out and find something to occupy him if he is bored. 
     -Everyone is sitting at the table waiting on a kid to finish their food, my Bug decides to go get a toy and sit quietly and play.  (this was a problem with his teachers because it was not the scheduled activity) So when he is told to put it all away and sit at the table break down occurs because he is being forced back into boredom

I think i am going to have a challenge with finding the right school, program and teachers for him as our public education journey begins so i am trying to  find new things to do in between to prepare us for this next step. 

I am grateful that the grandparents is with during the day teach him and show him things that he would not be able to do at school.  which makes me sad for some of the kids who have to only learn within those walls. For example i know the teach kids animals and the sounds they make.  I do the same with the Bug at home like other parents do as well (i assume).  My Bug went to PaPa's and he not only reinforced the names and sounds BUT he took him to the zoo to see and hear.  

My Bug knows snakes say ssssssssssss, but now when you ask him what snakes do he says "Snakes Bite".  He knows now that he can read about lizards and see one behind a glass with no issue, but if it one outside the glass or able to be touched, he is cool and content looking only while he stands behind closest adult.

I guess its through the mud that's where our clear water lies. We will keep filling his mind and satisfying curiosity's in learning.

Happy Birthday Mama

My Bug never ceases to amaze me.

Yesterday was my birthday and i have to say how amazing it was because of all of those in my life who took the time to just wish me well as a start another year in my life.  Apparently i think my bug heard this a lot through the day, because today on the way to Nana's house he surprised me.

This is our conversation this morning:

Bug: MAMA!

Me: Yes Sir

Bug: Ummm (singing) Happy Birthday Happy Birthday Happy Birthday you.

Me: Happy Birthday me?

Bug: YES! (singing) Happy Birthday Happy Birthday Happy Birthday you.


I said thank you grinning from ear to ear because it was the cutest thing. He is learning, he knew the tune to sing to, he knew the words (kinda) and he wasn't being told or prompted he just did it.  Maybe he will think everyday is my birthday and do it everyday HAHAHA

Animal Sounds

Lately i have been working with the bug on recognizing animals and the sounds the make. We are getting good too.

I say what sounds does a Dog Make?
The Bug says Woof

I say what sound does a cat make
The Bug Says Meow

...And we go down the list Dog, Cat, Snake, Bear, Lion, Mouse, Monkey, Bird then we get to fish.

I say what sound does a fish make
The Bug runs around in a circle with his hands at his side saying fishy fishy fishy, THEN he puts one hand on the top of his head (imitated a shark fin) and he starts humming the jaws theme song...Dahdah daahdaah (faster) Dahdah dahdah dahdah!! Then LUNGINGS at you.

When we did this in front of grandpa and i asked the bug "what does a fish make" my dad looked at me and said fish do not have a sound i said well my in my bugs word they do!

I do not know where we we picked this up, but its pretty funny.

Casting like a Pro

My Bug has graduated from learning how to cast and now we on to the more technical things.

He "pish"-es so much at my house that he broke his reel and we had to have PawPaw fix it for him. When my dad was finished fixing it my bug was so excited he started casting in my dads house. He is not use to casting in a smaller area and he sent his line straight through family room, through the kitchen and hit my dad on the head on the dining room.

OF course i found it to be hilarious, my dad well not so much. He shoveled my bug and i out the door with the quickness.  When we were outside my bug did get show him how well he casts. All my dad dropped his jaw, and popped his eyes out saying wow.  I think he casted about 20 feet or so...for a three year old that's something special apparently (can you tell i am a non fishing mommy). 

Now PawPaw has giving us a bobber, so the bug can cast into water.  This way he can visually see what he is doing and maybe it will make the next step of waiting on a fish to bite a little easier.  So this weekend we are going to try and make our way up to a lake or some kind of water for the bug to practice his casting skills!

Thankful for ASL

Today I'm so thankful I taught my son sign language as he was a baby.

I'm observing him in school and all though I have that mom ability to speak with out speaking, by using my language and eye contact, our ability to speak through ASL comes in handy too. I can couple my mom eyes, with hand signs and we get the job done.

Today through a little window in the door I told my bug to sit, and was able to give him praise when he say down. It was nice to see his face light up in accomplishment that he understood DVDs did a good job.Instead of him looking as if he disappointed me or was getting upset.

So again today I say, our sign language will continue to grow and be used because its a language that its aiding both of us in different situations.

The challenge has begun...

So i need feedback

Any suggestions on how to get your 3 year old kid to listen to teachers?

I have taken away toys, put my bug on time out when he gets home, striped away "privileges", spanked, and i reiterate "No hitting, no spitting, and be a good listener that means listen to the teachers when they talk to you and be a good boy" EVERYDAY (to the point where he repeats that mantra every time i leave him with someone new) BUT still my little bug defeats the teachers every time. 

He challenges new authority like crazy.  I know where he gets his stubborn strong will, i mean look at my situation refusing to have an abortion and his donor refusing to step in as a dad, so i am not trying to say i am confused at all about it.  I just do not know what else to do beyond stick with consistency because he acts out with other people. 

So i guess i just have enter the difficult part of raising a boy, and i understand its only the beginning, so i will stay in pray and keep on with consistency and time will tell.

Fishing with old socks

So i came home tonight and decided to craft.  Found another cool something on pinterest.  



I took old socks, sewed a magnet in the toe. Cut the ankle part of the sock off and stuffed it in the sock for some body, then ties the end of the sock in a knot to close it off leaving a little at the end for my tails. Then i hot glued one eye on each side of the socks and WAAAALAAAAAAHHH fishes!

For poles i bought a 49 cent dowel from Micheal's and cut it in half, braided some yarn together for string and duct taped the string to one end of each of the dowels.  On the end of the hanging yard and attached two magnets wrapped in duct tape.  This way the magnets stay in place (hence why i stitched the ones in the fishes) so no need to worry about anyone accidentally swallowing them.





My Bug has played with these non stop, and everyone who has come to our house has been fishing too... This is a fun easy craft that cost me 49 cents and gave me a use for those mismatched and old socks my Bug has grown out of in the drawer!

Apple Pies In Apples

This weekend i made the delicious little apple pies in apples.  Yes in apples!

Thought i would share because 1. i got my bug to take a bite out of it, and 2. i think i am going to use these to make cider and drink out of this fall at a party.

Here is how you do it:



5 Apples, 1/4 cup of sugar, 1 table spoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1 ready made pie crust (or u can make it)






Cored 4 apples, peel the fifth apple and sliced it then put those slices(chunks) in a bowl. Add sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon in the bowl, mix it up good, stuff the cored apples with the mixture. The use the pie crust how you see fit to top the apples and bake on 375 until the crust is golden brown (not to long because your apples will get firm and turn brownish if you do it to long) THEN ENJOY!!


I had extra apple stuffing so i rolled it in some extra crust and made little apple pie egg roll things.

"Pish"-ing

A while ago i bought my bug a play fishing pole, i amamzed to say this toy is not only still in rotation but it is one his favorite toys to play with!

Now we are getting good to, he can cast about 10 feet away from where he stands! Last weekend i was folding clothes and i went to check on him in his room only to find him sitting at the edge of the stairs.  He had moved one of the chairs from his room to the top of the stairs and was casting down the the stairs fishing. When i asked him what he was doing he said "pish" and i just about laughed my butt off.  He knew what he was doing and i was interrupting his concentration.  When he was done he moved his "pish"-ing to my room. He moved his chair onto my bed and was casting from one end of my room to the other, having a conversation with me as he "pish"-ed this time.


He is getting the hand of it all and doing a GREAT job too.  In no time he is gonna be allowed on his Pa-Pa's boat again to do some good ole' fishing soon.

Ice Age 4 & Brave

Another great summer evening came and you know where we went...the drive in!

This is our third time this summer and it is as great as the first time we ever went. This weekend we saw Ice Age 4 and Brave. I cant express in words how much i LOVE the drive in, i but i really really enjoy the drive in!  $5 pizza, popped popcorn at the house and packed up my cooler with drinks and other snacks then off we went on our Momma and Bug summer date night.

My Bug loves the drive in, he can sit in the front seat pretend to drive, bop around to the back seat ask me a question, get a snack, and then go right back t watching the movie.  I love it because i can relax, it is VERY cost efficient, and we are not bothering anyone if we talk sing or whatever during the movie.

Gardening

I think we take things for granted because to us they are normal.  For example it is normal for some people just to hire a Gardner today to take care of their yard.  for what ever reason this is something that doesn't get questioned but i remember people looking at my mom like she was crazy because she wanted to hire a gardener when i was growing up.  Everyone looked at her like umm thats a waste you have to kids who should doing some yard work with you.

Being a kid i was not gonna argue with her wanting a gardener because i did not want to go to any work out side especially if she was already thinking of giving that job to someone else.  Now as a parent i understand it a bit more.  Not only is it keeping your kid busy but simple things like gardening teach kids so much.  Structure, patience, discipline ...i am glad my brother has that drive because it is being instilled in my Bug.

Potty training

Praise to God we have been pooping in the toilet for a whole week!

Now we just need work on potty training during sleep.  This is gonna be difficult because my Bug sleeps HARD when he sleeps.  He wakes up to 1. come snuggle and 2. eat....Hopefully soon we will add a third reason he wakes up...to POTTY!

No Hit No Bit and Good Listen

Last night i discovered my Bug has a major attitude!

I told him to do something and he say ahh man, did his little hulk flex of the muscles, which was normal, but as he turned to walk away he punched the wall twice and kicked a door open.  I was in shock, but not in to much shock that i neglected my job as a parent.  We correct this bad behavior with the swiftness and then reiterated our mantra we say when we pray, when we go to Sunday school and just about all the time when we leave the house with an aunt uncle or sitter..." No Hit, No Bite, and Listen Good".

Its at the point now when i talk to him about his behavior and i say one of those he holds his head down and says "ahh man no hit, no bit and good listen" in disappointment as if he knows he did something wrong.  I believe he does know too. I have introduced it to him he knows what not to do i just have to be patient and consistent with him so he learns how to use those three things (with some please and thank you's thrown in) in all the situations he is faced with. 

I just got to thinking this is a whole new chapter and this little 3 year old is going to have some issues in his life if he doesn't get it together.

Just one more thing that we will be working on together...patience and consistency was and is this years motto still!