Things in Our Future #6

Catherine just told me this story that happened to almost-three-year-old Will (who loves trains), while we were away in France. Will had a particularly tough evening one night when he insisted that Catherine put on Thomas the Tank Engine immediately. ("I want to watch Trains! Right now. I want trains! Put it on now!")

Fifteen minute of watching "Trains" is part of his nightly going to bed ritual, but his mom was not particularly excited about his barking tone. She's been working hard lately on his getting his "may I's" and "pleases" and "thank yous." So she whisked him off into his bedroom to have a serious conversation with him.

Will cried a bit, and his mom insisted over and over that he couldn't demand to do things, he had to ask for them: "It's not a statement. It's a question. Do you understand? It's a question." Once, Will had calmed down, he and his mother emerged from his bedroom, for round #2.

A teary-eyed Will looked up at Catherine and said, "I want to watch trains. . . It's a question!"

Party Tricks: Fish Face!

We are just back from a glorious, two-week trip to France, and I will put up more photos soon. Besides eating just a whole bunch of bread, bread, and more bread, the Bug learned a lot of new tricks this trip. Here's his fish face!

Separation

I was away last week for my cousin's wedding and I left The Bug home. I think it was harder on me than it was on Ben. Not only did he get extra special Dad time, but he got lots of grandma time.

New Toys

Steve has been muttering around for weeks about how the Bug needs blocks, and balls, and big boy toys. So he finally got online last week and got him some. Ben loves them. . . and, of course, you know exactly what he thinks is the best way to play with them -- into the mouth!