I Have to Park These Conversations Here

The last few days have really underscored how C is firmly out of the toddler stage and hurtling towards being a proper little boy.  Case in point, a few of the conversations I've had with him in the past day or so.

I tend to lean into the catagory of a "fall-cleaner" vs "spring-cleaner" and made C's room my project yesterday; a ginormous map from IKEA put together, new "nice" bedding for the bunk beds that I bought two years ago (before N was born) got washed, and actual nails went into the walls to hang pictures and momentos.  It looks 100% better albeit a bit psychotic from a decorating perspective as I try to pull together a Nautical/Hockey theme (yikes - it looks as interesting as it sounds.) 

He ran upstairs when we get home.  I walk into his room and he says "So.......where is my surprise?"

Sigh.

E.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g has changed in his room.  Including the massive map that now takes up a whole wall.  And a shrine to his favorite hockey players by his bed.  So as I deliberately point out these things (through gritted teeth), I ask "So what do you think, do you love it?"

He thinks about it for a couple of seconds and says to me-

C:  (pointing to the top bunk of his bed) "Mom, so like, when I'm 5 or maybe 6 will I sleep up there?"
Me:  "Yes honey, sure, 5 or 6, whenever you are ready."
C:  (pointing to the bottom bunk) "And N will sleep down there?"
Me:  "Yes, exactly."
C:  (thinking some more) "Mom, if N cries when he first sleeps there, is it ok if I get down from my bed and go into his bed to give him snuggies?  And then when he stops crying, I'll go back into my bed.  Is that ok?"
Me:  (stunned)  "Yes, absolutely."
C:  "Ok, good."

So.Adorable.

Now, let's contrast this heart melting story with the conversation I had with him tonight as I was putting him to bed.  C wants to be a fireman (again) for halloween, but wants to add fireman "accessories" to his costume from last year -

Me:  "Tell me again what you want for your halloween costume?"
C:  "Oh, ok, sooooooooo I want fireman pants, fireman boots, a fireman hose and a fireplace."
Me:  "Ok - wait, a fireplace?"
C:  "Yes, a fireplace mom, I need one."
Me:  "Uhhh, why?"
C:  "Well, I'll explain it to you next time we're on a plane."
Me:  "WHAT?  Why do I have to wait!"
*cue enormous set of giggles*

Annnnnnnnnnnnndddddd it wasn't until I was writing this post that I realized by fireplace, he meant a fire PLANE (which is derived from the fact my brother used to be on the CDF Helitac crew.)

I wish there was a way to go back to thinking like an almost four year old.  Pure awesomeness (most of the time.)

SMKS - 8/15/12 edition

Warning:  I am tired; this post may not make any sense as a result.  Reader beware!

So with that caveat in place...

It's safe to say we're a bit Pinkberry obsessed in our household lately.  As soon as the kids are tucked in tight, Andy zooms out to pick up our favorite combos (me - original/strawberry, he - original/chocolate.)  We actually didn't realize how often we were eating it until one night C threw a tantrum because he wanted "to watch daddy leave from the driveway!"  His bedroom window looks out over the driveway and apparently he's been sneaking out of bed to watch him leave.

We told him that daddy doesn't leave from the driveway every night and then made that oft made mistake of trying to debate with a 3.5 year old.

C: "Yes, you do!"
A:  "No, I don't" (!)
C:  "You DO"
A:  "Look buddy -- daddy doesn't go to Pinkberry every night because it would cost $200 a month if I did.  That's a lot of money!" 
C:  "You DO"
A:  [brow furrow]
C:  "yodoyodoyodoyodoyodoooooooo"
A:  "Listen, I don't --"
C:  [jumps up, narrowly missing slamming his head into the top bunk] "I KNOW...daddy, daddy!" [throws hands in air like he's a genius] "I will go work at Nana's"
A:  "What?"
C:  "Yes, at Nana's.  I will work and make 5"
A:  "Work where at Nana's?  Make 5?"
C:  [pauses to think]  "Upstairs.  In the office store.  And she will pay me 5 and then you can go buy yogurt and I can watch you leave from the driveway."

I may or may not have immediately started calculating how many visits to my parents house, where C could make "5", it would take in order to pay off at least one year of college.  NOW who's the genius!

SMKS - 6/6/12 Edition

Scene {1}  Sitting around the dinner tonight, I ask C why he didn't finish his lunch at school today.

Me:  "Why didn't you finish your lunch today?"
C:  "Well, I wasn't that hungry."
Me:  "Why weren't you hungry?"
C:  (sigh) "NO MOM, I didn't say I wasn't hungry, I just wasn't THAT hungry." (eye roll)
Me:  "Oh.  Right then."

Scene {2}  Having bedtime snuggles in C's bed.  We are talking about his day.  Or trying to. (Note: C still wears a diaper at night...the kid insists in drinking a huge thing of milk right before bed and sleeps like a log aka doesn't wake up with the urge to pee yet.)

Me:  "What are you doing?"
C: (pulls hand out of diaper) "Trying to feel my pee."
Me:  "Ugh, please don't do that.  You've never done that before."
C:  "Why not?"
(yes...I should have known better at this point to keep this conversation going.  End of day exhaustion is known to lead to poor parental decision making.)
Me:  "Because it's yucky."
C:  "Why is it yucky?"
Me:  "Because it's dirty."
C:  "Why is it dirty?"
Me:  "Because it's full of bacteria."
C:  "What is bacteria?"
Me:  "It's like germs."
C:  (now entering spaz voice mode) "Ohhhhhhhhh like diarrheaaaaaa MAMAAAAAAA"
Me:  "Okay, time for bed."

Scene {3}  Saying our final goodnights

C:  "Good night mom...mom...mom mom mom hey MOM...hey, why do we have bones, mom?"
Me:  "Ok, goodnight!  Sweet dreams!  Love you!"

In summary:

1.  Have you figured out what "SMKS" yet?
2.  I'm super glad the timing of Scene {2} did not occur at the same time as Scene {1}.  Small miracles and all that.