Recipe

Beckett: Mommy, do you know how to make gummy bears?
Me: No, do you know?
Beckett: Yes. You get flour, vinegar, and baking powder, and salt, and put in the blender and you blend it. then you put in some grass.

Who needs an M?

Decorating, etc.

Beckett has been very creative with our Christmas Tree.

Beckett has also been busy with pretending:

Mommy, lets pretend you're stuck in the mud, and I'll call the fire compartment.

And gossiping about his friends:

Charlie has an ear confection.

Address

Beckett: I live on Lorenzo Abenue, in California.
Me: Oh, what planet do you live on?
Beckett: The Nitro States of America

Sunday Fun part 2

Sunday Fun

Castles and Chainsaws

Here are some pictures for our fans.

Alden at Castle Rock State Park.

Note to self: There may be more than ONE marker on the floor.















Beckett in a REAL firefighter helmet and a fake chainsaw. (The tree is also real.)

The "I'm not ready for this" edition

This morning.

Beckett: Mommy, who do you think God is?
Me (thinking fast): Well, who do YOU think God is?
Beckett: I think God gave us the sun.

Bedtime on Thursday

Beckett: Mom, you don't say. "You're ugly."
Me: Umm. No. Where did you hear that word?
Beckett: Teacher said don't say it.
Me: Yes, but where did you hear it?
Beckett: On the internet.

(I swear this is true.)

5:30 am on Sunday

While watching Jack's Big Music Show this morning.
Beckett: Jack is my husband.
Me: Really?
Beckett: Ask me where he lives.
Me: Where does he live?
Beckett: In the North Pole with Santa Claus.


A little while later while wrestling.
Beckett: Mom, am I squishing your solar plexus?


Still later when my powers of entertainment were wearing thin.
Beckett: Mom, can I go and wake up your husband.
Me: Who?
Beckett: Daddy is your husband.

Tact for Preschoolers

This morning at 5 am...
Beckett: Mom, get up. Get Uuuuppppp.
Me: You're not the bosss. You're only 3 years old.
Beckett: How many are you, mama?
Me: 35.
Beckett: Whoa! That sure is a lot! It's more than 10.

Alden eats "Vegetable Risotto with Cheese" and Beckett dresses as "Handy Manny" (Disney's version of Bob the Builder)

Here is Beckett's Handy Manny costume.

Alden's been eating paper lately. Do you think he's trying to tell us something?

Preschool Confidential

At breakfast this morning.
Beckett: My friend said "Poo" during work-jobs.
Mom: Oohh. Which friend?
Beckett: Ruby. Teacher said that it wasn't a school word.
Mom: What else do you not say at school?
Beckett: Butt.

Cool Website

We found a cool website that allows kids to "read" books online before they buy them. The cool thing is you can see the whole book. Here's one by one of our favorite illustrators. Of course, there are tons of links to really buy the book, but what's a little marketing when it comes to kids entertainment.

Here are some more pix just for Polly. The doggies are Katie and Jeff's (L to R: The Boss Man aka Boss and Shady (sp?)). The fuzzy close up is Beckett's portrait of Alden: "Why the flash didn't go off, mommy?"

One liners

Here are some of Beckett's latest creations:

1. (holding some random remote control) Mom, don't ever, ever, touch my hard drive. Or push it's buttons.

2. Pooh is my husband. He just went to work. In his dump truck.

3. Mom, when you die, do you need a bandaid?

Katie and Jeff''s wedding

Here are some pictures

Update

Beckett had an MRI last Friday and everything is still stable. We get to take out his port! We will probably do it when he has his tonsils/adenoids out in a few weeks. We met with the pediatric endocrinologist a couple weeks ago. We should have complete results soon, but we need to redraw one of his labs. Becket also started occupational therapy last week and seems to really like it.

Beckett continues to soak up everything such as this:

Beckett: Dad, did you know racoons are nocturnal?
Dad: What's that mean?
Beckett:It means they come out at night, silly.

Alden is getting so big. He's about 17 pounds. He's so sweet and mellow. We started giving him food and so far he's had peas (not a favorite), apples, pears, bananas, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, and zucchini. I just made him homemade apple/carrot sauce but he hasn't tried it. I also made him summer squash puree with some type of herb from my CSA box (farm share). I think it was thyme/ He loved it. He's only had rice cereal, but I think I'll try oatmeal soon. He's quie mobile now, though not quite crawling yet, he gets all over the place but without much intention (at least that's what I think).

I hope to have pictures soon.

Career Counseling for Toddlers

Beckett: Mom, what do you want to be when you grow up?
Me: An olympic swimmer.
Beckett: No, it's too late for that. You can be a digger.

(Nice, huh?)

Two Reasons for Early Weaning

Mechanics and Public Safety for Toddlers

On the way to school this morning:

Beckett: My other city bus is broken. I need to fix it.
Me:Oh... What do you need?
Beckett: I forgot.
Me: Maybe a wrench?
Beckett: Yeah and a big saw!

Me: Do you have two busses?
Beckett: Yeah, but Tolee took it.
Me: Did he go for a joyride? That's when you take a car that's not yours and go for a ride in it.
Beckett: If you steal a car your parents will be really mad at you. You might get a time out.

Human Resources for Toddlers

On the way home from school...

Beckett: I need a secretary.
Mom: Really. Why?
Beckett: A secretary helps you make phone calls.
Beckett: (after thoughtful pause)Rin-too needs a secretary.
Mom: Really? Why?
Beckett: He's worried because he hasn't finished his homework.

Later that day:
Beckett: Mom, you're going to be a juggler when you grow up.

For your viewing pleasure

Beckett and Alden are really starting play together. Beckett loves to hear Alden laugh...

All I want for Christmas and Random Funny Stuff

First of all... Alden has teeth! Well sort of. He has a nanometer of sharpness barely visible in his gummy smile and he's drooling like a ... like a... well like a baby. He's really mobile, too. Not crawling, just scooting everywhere.
Beckett continues to say funny stuff (in script form for Katie):

Mom: Beckett, I want to plant a garden. What should we plant?
Beckett: Cheerios!
Mom: Well, those won't really grow in the garden.
Beckett: Hmmm. How about corn dogs? (Just so everyone knows... they're veggie corn dogs.)

He recently found one of Polly's old reporter notebooks (about half the size longways of a stenopad.) He carried it to the store and told everyone who would listen that it was a "checklist". He also was using it to take dictation:

Beckett: Okay, mom. You say it and I'll write. Say "almond".

Mom: Almond.

Beckett: (scribbling furiously) Okay. One almond coming up.

(Beckett likes that word because Alden alsways laughs when he hears it.)

Also: I know we have mentioned before how much we LOVE Beckett's school. One of the cute things she does is Travelling Teddy. She has this Teddy Bear in a little bag. Different kids get to take TT home on the weekend. TT has a journal and we write about his adventures on the weekend. We can also read about his adventures with all the other kids. Benny (Beckett's friend) always has adventures finding bugs and such. Beckett's last adventure with TT started like this: (Dictated to John: TT felt cranky when he got home. I shared my book with him and he felt better....Teddy had a tantrum because he couldn't sleep in mommy and daddy's bed so he cuddled me and we snoozed and that made me happy.)

These pictures are from our attempt at a photoshoot for Traveling Teddy's album

Gizmos

Alden has a new toy. It's an exersaucer. Awesome bargain shopper that I am, I got it for $6 at the thrift store. (On half price day!) He really seems to like sitting up. I think he is getting some teeth though because he has been a bit fussy and (in the words of cousin Gillian) is "drooping" all over the place. (For the non-Hesses that means drooling!) It's been awhile since we had some Alden pics so here you go!


















Here is Beckett in his full pire-person regalia.












And here is another zoo pic. On another Beckett note. he has started saying "Why?" all the time. Variations include "What for?" and just "What?" among others.

Violin

Beckett's riddle for tonight:

Beckett: Mommy, I am thinking of something that you put on your chin, it has a case and you tune it.

(Hint: Look at the title of the post.)

Summer Trips

Beckett, Cassie, Alden and I went to the Oakland Zoo last week. Beckett was a bit apprehensive beforehand, at first saying he didn't want to go (he seemed to be a bit scared of the tiger). We gradually convinced him that it would be fun, and he said to a stranger at the pool, "I'm going to the zoo tomorrow!" and then added tentatively, "The tiger's not going to eat me up."

But Beckett had fun at the zoo. This week, we went with his preschool on a field trip to the Felton Fire Station. Beckett and the other kids seemed awed by all the fire engine, but unlike some of his classmates, Beckett was not at all shy about trying on the fire jacket.

Riddles

At Beckett's school, the teacher has a riddle bag. The kids get to take it home and hide something in it. The parents and kids write down three clues to what is in the bag. The next morning, the teacher shares the clues and the other kids guess what's there. When it was Beckett's turn he put in a toy dinosaur. These were his clues: They're big. They're not real anymore. They say, "Roar".

Now Beckett is really into riddles. He loves to tell them and hear them. This was the conversation this morning as Beckett opened the fridge.

Beckett: Mommy I want a snack.

Me: Let's wait till lunch time.

Beckett: I want something that's green and in a jar.

Later that day...

Beckett: Dad, I want to drink something that's white.

His other language skills are coming along too. After lunch today he said, "I will put my dishes away very carefully, Mommy. Yes, I will."

In other news, Alden is doing great. He just smiles and laughs all the time. We've discovered a sibling similarity. Alden loves to hear silly words. Beckett's favorite was "couch". He just cracked up whenever he heard it. Alden seems to prefer "pistachio". He also loves to look at Beckett and I am sure he recognizes him.

PS: In case you didn't get Beckett's riddle, he was asking for 1. Pickles and 2. Milk ; )

Alden and Beckett, July 2008

Bumbo Seat and Enjoying "Nature"

Here Alden is enjoying the Bumbo seat (honestly, Alden has more chairs than anyone else in the house including bouncy, swing, bumbo, and car seat). Beckett hams it up in my Firecracker 10k Tee-Shirt (not meant to be a shameless plug.

















Also (John is going to kill me...) Beckett got a lesson in outdoor elimination. Notice the coppertone bum? So cute.

Latest MRI results

Beckett's last MRI showed that his tumor was completely stable, which is great news. Trish (NP at Lucile Packard Neurooncology) said that she and Dr. Fisher wanted to wait to remove his port until the next MRI, mostly because Beckett has trouble with anesthesia and it would be a real drag if we had to take the port out and then immediately put it back in. Unfortunately, that means Beckett's port has to get flushed monthly, and he hates, as he says, to "do his port."

We're still just a little bit concerned about his lag in gross motor skills-- he still can't jump, and he doesn't really run, at least not very fast. One thing that is really helping is that Cassie is taking him to the pool almost every night, and he is coming along quite nicely with his swimming. He can kick and "scoop," although not really at the same time too well, and he does need to be held afloat. Still, he will jump into the pool, which is a huge step forward.

Family Planning for Toddlers

Beckett has been asking where everything came from. He even asks perfect strangers where they got their stuff. Like in the park yesterday he asked another kid's dad where he got his shirt and then reported back to me, "His shirt come from Goodwill store."

So after a day of him asking where everything was from this was the scene:

Beckett: Where'd (fill in the blank) come from?

Me: I don't know. Where do babies come from?

Dad (aghast): Honey!

Beckett: Babies come from bassinettes!

Classroom Management for Toddlers

Beckett (holding up three fingers): How many?

Mom: Three.

Beckett: No, don't just shout out the answer. Say, "How many?"

Mom: How many?

Beckett: Okay, now say, "Three."

Mom: Three.

Beckett: Good job, mom.

MRI Update

All is stable! (Not sure when we'll be taking out his port, but soon!)

Beckett's MRI

Beckett's MRI on Wednesday went well, but we haven't heard anything back yet, which is probably good news in itself. We will probably hear results Monday or early next week. Wednesday was a very long day, even as days at the hospital go-- we arrived at 11:30 and left at 6:30. This scan included his chest as well since the pulmonologist wanted a baseline in case he developed any neurofibromas on his lungs.

As usual, Beckett had some trouble breathing under anaesthesia, but, as the doctor pointed out, he has trouble breathing when he goes to sleep as well. It's odd that we don't remember this, but apparently the pulmonologist left a note on his chart for a referral for his tonsils and adenoids. The ENT we saw certainly didn't mention it. Anyway, this is probably another appointment in the offing.

Beckett provided plenty of entertainment (and/or annoyance) for everyone in the hospital waiting rooms we lingered in Wednesday, going up to everyone and asking, "What's your name?" When the person responded with "I'm x, and what's your name?" Beckett would fix his target with a blank stare, wait for a moment, and then try to scam some object off of them ("What's that? Who gave that to you? You said 'thank you'").

Within two hours after the procedure, he had recovered enough to eat a pancake dinner.

Bartending for Toddlers

Scene: In the bath

Beckett (playing with his bath toys): Here mom, here's your hot chocolate.

Me: Mmmmm. Such delicious hot chocolate.

Beckett: No, its not hot chocolate. It's beer.

Me: Beer?

Beckett: I don't drink beer. Beer is for grown ups, not for toddlers. When I'm a grown up I drink beer.

(Dad arrives on the scene.)

Mom: Beckett gave me some beer, but it's not for toddlers.

Beckett: I don't drink Scotch (He learned this from Uncle Larry.) Scotch is for grown ups.

Mom: Not all grownups. I don' t drink it. I drink water, and juice and sometimes wine. So does daddy. And sometimes daddy drinks hair of the dog.

Beckett: That would make you very sick. We don't eat dog hair.

(Okay: I know this is kind of a "you had to be there" thing. No where else to remember to write it down.)

(Here is Beckett with his cowboy hat, sunglasses, tie, phone and binoculars. But I think he for got his clothes.)

Alden Laughs

Alden Laughs, etc.

Here's what we've been up to.

Singing and playing guitar














"Sharing" Alden's gym (my newest yardsale find)














Swimming



















Snoozing

Swinging

Alden's Conversation Skills (edited)

Pictures

It has been pretty exciting around here with the primary campaign (which ended on June 3). As part of the final GOTV effort, Beckett participated in a gay pride parade. (He also added to his collection of scammed items). He has such an outgoing personality that he talks to all kinds of people and they just give him things. So far he has these items: binoculars and a stuffed sheep from the lady at the thrift store, a whistle from a guy at the park, a hat from another guy at the park, sunglasses from someone in a very interesting costume at the Pride parade, countless snacks from friends at the park, and several books (free) from a yardsale.

Beckett likes to have all his things with him and wants to bring something along everywhere he goes in a little container or bag. He has lots of little bags and is even still carrying around a Choxie box that had truffles in it for mothers day. Here he is ready for school this morning wearing three or four bags. What you don't see is the tupperware box that contains his yellow camera from Daniel, his yellow change purse (it's inside the lunch box), and his binoculars. The hat on his head is the one acquiredat the park from a guy that I am presuming to be homeless(washed, of course). I swear that this was NOT staged. He actually came out of his room with all that stuff and proclaimed himself ready!

Alden is getting really big! I have been putting him down on his tummy and on election day he rolled over! Twice... and hasn't done it since. Here is how he looks now.

Hygiene for Toddlers

This was the scene after Beckett just went to the bathroom.

Me: Okay, what do we do after we poop in the potty? (Correct answer: Wash Hands.)

Beckett: Pee!

Me: Okay, then. After we pee what do we do?

Beckett: Poop!

Me: Okay, but what do we do in the sink?

Beckett: Spit!

Not much to report...

In which I become domesticated...

My friend Kim recently had a baby and I wanted to make her a quilt. My mother in law showed me some tricks of the trade as well as some really cool tools for quilting. I also learned a lot from the internet. You can find videos of ANYTHING on youtube. So this is the quilt.
A close up to see the pattern.

And a back view...
Notice there is no super close up? There's a reason for that. I need to work on straight seams.