we've come so far...

It's hard to believe that one year ago 15 months ago we were literally shoving GQ into his classroom and running the other direction.  He cried almost every morning before school, he didn't want to leave us.

Fast forward to 2013, Ohio, and now I barely see him until dinner.  School drop-offs are a breeze.  He hates to be late and is out of the car with a quick kiss and "I love you!"  Afternoon bus rides home are social time and then he gives us about 30 minutes of chat and snack, then he's off, running with his friends until dinner.

I can't tell you how good it makes me feel to know he loves school, where he's living and his friends.  His best friends.  They are one goofy bunch of boys, but they're a good little bunch.

What a difference a little growth, maturity, good friends and being closer to family makes!

warning: shameless bragging ahead...

My super-duper little student has scored nothing but 100% or better (bonus words) since he's begun taking spelling tests at school in first grade.  Now into second grade the streak continues.  

I'm amazed every Monday when we sit down to go over the set of words for the week and he is spelling them without issue.  Even the bonus words.  

I was and still am a good speller.  I know it's not always easy for everybody and with the reliance spell check functions in all our computer programs it's become easier to not be a good speller.  I'm reminded everyday at work how important spelling really is as I enter patient ailments into a computer for the entire emergency department physicians and nurses to see.  How embarrassing it would be to misspell diarrhea!  I sometimes wish I had spell check because words we don't often use are easy to forget how to spell or you spell them correctly but question yourself.  

Anyway...I'm relieved and so proud of my little guy being the speller he is.  His daddy, once a spelling bee finalist, is probably prouder than me.  Who knows, maybe one day he'll follow in his dad's footsteps and be on a stage spelling words we've never heard to an audience of people.  

say cheese...

Every year I try to get GQ's pictures taken.  Most of the time I've taken him for professional portraits, but this year, I thought I'd try my hand at it.  I love (LOVE) candid shots and I have a pretty fancy DSLR camera (which I'm only certain how to work about 10% of it) so, why not try them myself.  We had a beautiful fall November weekend, mild temperatures and sun...perfect for pictures!

My little bug is quite the little stinker, getting a smile that doesn't look too contrived is next to impossible.  Reason #1 why I love candid photo shoots, no posing (well, maybe a little) but just having fun and snapping pictures.  I got about 20 good pictures that I loved, too hard to narrow down which to put on our holiday card.  About 75% of the shots don't capture a smile.  At least not a traditional smile, just my ornery bug being himself...full of life and love and fun!  Those are my favorite kinds of smiles.

Hope you enjoy a few of my shots:

halloween...

I know ninjas aren't supposed to be cute, but I think this ninja is the cutest once I've seen!

Last night was absolutely perfect for trick-or-treating.  Weather was warm, 70ish at 6pm door-to-door time.  Not too many Ohio October nights like that.  We were out with out coats on, some people in shorts and t-shirts.  I think we were dressed more warmly last year for trick-or-treating in Las Vegas!

Now we have a big stash of candy and have put the costume and bags away until next year.  Seems crazy since it's not even official Halloween, but in our town, we celebrate the Thursday before Halloween.

One last picture...our Halloween pooch.  She wasn't too thrilled to be "dressed up" but she looked awfully cute, too, and the kids that saw her loved it!

8 is great!

Not really sure where the last eight years have gone?  I remember October 13, 2004, the night I went into labor, like it was yesterday.  I remember our lives changing and becoming a family of three -- holding a tiny little boy that changed our world forever...

My little bug has gone from a cuddly, active wee one to a cuddly, active and super-talkative eight year old.  He is smart, witty, funny, stubborn, ornery and quite precocious.  I love every bit of his orneriness, even though it can drive me crazy at the same time.  His heart is as big as can be and he offers up hugs and kisses freely...which I love!

GQ has been through lots of change in his eight years of life.  He's lived in several states (Nevada, Ohio, South Carolina, back to Nevada and finally Ohio again.)  Changing schools and friends is tough and he's has taken it all in stride, adjusting better than a lot of kids might.  And he thinks it's pretty cool that he can tell his friends about living in the desert and down south not too far from the ocean (3 hours inland.)  He's had his toes in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, driven across the country, seeing the mountains through Utah and Colorado.  Very cool stuff that a lot of adults haven't done.  He's my cup half-full kid.

At eight years old GQ seems to be the social director of the neighborhood.  He has friends on just about every street in the 'hood, which is awesome!  This mom is having a difficult time letting go and letting him venture out on his bike to go play.  I've even considered getting him a mobile phone so I can easily check in, but dad has helped me feel better about letting him go out and play.  I do occasionally hop in the car and drive-by or walk with the dog to check in; makes me feel a bit better.  Giving up control is difficult.

As much as I'd like to stop time and keep GQ eight years old forever, I realize it's not possible and watching him grow up is so fun.  I'm amazed every night when we sit down for homework and I see him do math, some parts algebra-type problems and reading and spelling words that I know I wasn't reading or spelling in 2nd grade.  He's just amazing and I really can't wait to see what the next eight years have in store for him.

Happy 8th birthday, bug!

summer...

I'm so glad it's here.  I can't believe we're two weeks into it already.  Maybe I can believe it, I'm reminded of all the days to fill with activity every time GQ's friends aren't home or able to play. 

"mom, I am so bored.  I want to play, nobody can play, will you play with me?"

"what would you like to do GQ?"

"I don't knowwwwwwww....something." 

So we go through the list: Wii, Legos, coloring, swinging, picking up dog messes (I have to try, right?), watch a movie, go for a walk, bike ride, etc.  When he really wants to play with friends there isn't much that will satisfy other than finding him a friend to play with.  I'm just not that cool anymore. 

Thankfully we have lots of friends closeby.  And we have a community pool for those days it's too hot to do much else. 

T-80 (ish) days left to fill...let's hope that between the pool and friends, they're days filled with lots of fun things to do!

take me out to the ball game...

Opening day for our baseball season was Saturday.  It was a gorgeous day...maybe a touch on the hot side, but weather was ball game perfect! 

GQ has grown into a good little ball player.  His is quite the slugger, a 2 for 3 record on Saturday.  (If you're like me and not sure what that means or are slowly learning, it means he got two hits and made it to base of the three times he was up.)  I would say he was 3 for 3, because he hit all three times, just didn't make it to 1st base in time on one hit, but the husband tells me that's not correct statistics.  Those are mom statistics.  :)

There is still lots of room for improvement for the little bug, he still needs to feel more comfortable knowing where the play is and how to play his position, but that will come with time.  It was the first game and for only about four practices, with a gang of 12-13 first and second graders, they did a fantastic job.  And huge cudos to his coach and the other parent volunteers (including the husband) for helping teach the kiddos! 

Here is my very favorite picture from Saturday's game... it shows what this game is all about:

FUN!  Look at the smile on his face... priceless!

Photo credits to my father-in-law, thanks for shooting the game.

nothing cuter...

than a group of 1st and 2nd graders at their first baseball practice of the season.  The team is filled with kids that are naturally talented, those that don't care how well they play but they want to play and have fun and those that aren't so sure they want to play...they're testing the waters to see if they like the game they're going to learn.  Seeing them out in the field w/their ill-fitting hats, new cleats that aren't quite broken in and holding their mitt open ready to catch a ball that is coming at their face, wondering if maybe they should just step aside and let it fall or see if it hits the mitt.  

Can't wait to see how the season goes....hoping it's filled with lots of friends, games, and lessons about winning gracefully and losing gracefully.

I'm not above bribery...

To get this kid a hair cut!

Not certain why he has a fear of getting his hair cut?  I suppose it could be the time I told him I was going to trim it and didn't put the attachment on the clippers correctly...turned into a shave.  Shocking you didn't hear the screams when I saw the chunks of hair fall.  Oops.

Lesson learned; I don't use clippers on his hair.  I don't know that GQ would even come in the same room with me if I had them in my hand.  

About a month ago we talked GQ into letting me trim his hair.  He was refusing to go have it cut.  He refused the $20 offered to him from daddy to let him buzz it.  He requested I cut it.  It looked bad.  I awkwardly trimmed hacked away at his hair and came up w/a semi-decent cut, at least in the dark it was semi-decent, in the light...not so much.  

GQ told me last night he wanted a new shirt.  Fine, he can get a new shirt, but there will be a string attached.    I bought the shirt while he was at school, presented it to him after school but told him he couldn't wear it unless he got a hair cut.  

"you should have told me this morning that I had to get a haircut to get my new shirt.  I don't want my hair cut today!"

"too bad, kiddo, we're getting it cut."

Long story short, the cut wasn't nearly as traumatic as I (or GQ) thought it might be.  It wasn't a cut really, it was a trim.  GQ wants a longer skater-surfer-type hair cut, so we just had some shape cut into it really.  He was pleased and chatted with the stylist about highlights while she was cutting his hair.  GQ has decided on blue or green highlights.  I can live with blue highlights.  We'll have to see though, I won't let just anybody put chemicals on my kiddo's hair.  We'll have to wait until we see Aunt Michelle and have her do it for us.  She knows what she's doing and how to keep GQ from wiggling around while he gets it done.  Plus, she's cheaper :)

"mom, when can I get a brother?"

"Well, GQ, a little brother for you isn't going to happen.  I'm sorry."

"But I want one, mom."  

"Sorry, GQ, mommy and daddy can't have more babies.  You and Macy (the four-legged-ornery one) are our babies.  And even if mommy had another baby, you wouldn't be guaranteed a brother."

"Really?  Why can't you and daddy have more babies?  Daddy doesn't have them, you would have it, so you don't need him."

Silent pause...

Dad jumps in "It takes a mommy and a daddy to make the baby, GQ."

"How?"

Jumping in and changing the direction of the conversation, I add "Do you really want to share all your toys?  And if we have a girl, that would mean lots of pink and dolls."

Whew...crisis averted.  Not that the Where Do Babies Come From? conversation is a crisis, it's just not something we have time to discuss at 7pm on a school night.  Bed time is just an hour away and as curious as GQ is, I know the conversation and absorption of details might take that hour and more.  

The husband and I have always said we were going to be very honest with GQ about sex and answer his questions as they come, but now that we occasionally get them, I don't know if I'm prepared.  And it's not really preparedness, it's that I don't know what other kids know and I DO know how much GQ talks, so I worry (probably unnecessarily) about his spreading the wealth of his knowledge at recess.  Like I said, I'm sure I'm worrying to much.  I think recess time is time for playing Modern Warfare.  I think that's what he calls it, not sciences lessons.  But as the mother of a child that yelled out the window to our neighbor one day "Hey Nick!  My mommy said the Easter Bunny isn't real, it's just somebody in a costume!"  I worry about these things.  

After doing a little bit of math with GQ, he realized a brother (or sister) in nine months wouldn't mean instant playmate.  It would mean diapers and crying and pacifiers and baby-proofing.  And by the time the baby is seven, like GQ is, GQ would be almost driving.  

YIKES!  Driving!

at least he's honest...

Watching Fleet Foxes on Austin City Limits last night with the family.  Fleet Foxes, if you've never heard, are a pretty awesome indie folk band.

Fleet Foxes wardrobe choices are a little on the quirky side.  I expect that from them, but on this episode their clothes were a bit ill-fitting.  It just looked like they tossed their clothes in the dryer too long and lost some serious inches in the pant length department.

"It looks like one of the members (male) is wearing a pair of too-short mom-jeans and weird sandals." I commented.

 GQ quickly agreed, then added "Yes, they look like mom-skinny-jeans.  Skinny moms wear those, not moms like you."

Shocked pause here.  Jaw dropping.

As I give a not so thrilled glance, I responded  "That's awesome, GQ.  You don't always have to say everything you think..."

"What?"  GQ said smiling.  (little shit)

I'm glad he's honest but I guess we now need to work on honesty and keeping opinions to yourself.  ;)

save the drama for your mama...

Wait.  I guess he actually does save the drama for me.  I should be thankful, but this mama needs a break from it.  Who knew 7 year old boys could be so dang moody sometimes?  "Some people piss me off.  Sorry, mom, I know I shouldn't say that, but they do."  At least he knows pissed isn't an everyday vocabulary word, right?

I'm thinking it's growth spurt time.  I'm hoping that's what it is.  GQ is hungry ALL.THE.TIME. He's whiney because I think he needs more sleep.  He disagrees, he wants less.  Bedtime is still 8pm, I'm not budging.  Pants are getting shorter but I don't know if that's growth or the dryer.  Time to get out the measuring stick...

thankful...

I am thankful for so many things in my life, but most of all, I'm thankful for my family.  With out them, I wouldn't be me.

Happy Thanksgiving...

halloween costume...

I think I forgot to post a picture of G.Q. in his costume on Halloween.  Perry the Platypus was a hit!  Kids loved it, adults loved it, G.Q. loved it!  And he was the only one out that night.  Not the greatest quality pics; getting an excited kid to stand still for a picture when he'd rather be gathering candy, is like trying to nail down Jell-O!

"There you are, Perry!"

must be time to grocery shop...

This morning G.Q. asked his dad... "Dad, can you please go to the grocery store and get some food?  Mom is being a jack-in-the-box and won't buy any."

Not true, it was just a very busy week of running around and I never fit grocery shopping in.  And you are so lucky you said "jack-in-the-box" and not what I was waiting to follow "jack!"

Time to make a shopping list...

adios, separation anxiety...

At least I hope.

The last time I posted about G.Q.'s separation anxiety was almost six weeks ago.  In those past six weeks, our mornings at school drop-off have become so incredibly easy!

G.Q. has always thrived with routine.  Even if we couldn't have a routine, having a reminder about what is coming next always made the transition into the next task much easier.  So morning routine around here is pretty much the same everything.  G.Q. gets up, like clock-work, most days right about 7am.  He watches some cartoons, eats breakfast, showers, dresses and we head out to school.  Most days we park in the same spot, we get out of the car, he takes his vitamin, then hops on my back for a piggy-back ride across the field up to the school.  As we make our way to his classes line-up spot, which we generally get to with about two minutes till the bell rings, every day.  Once his teacher comes out, we hug, we kiss and do our "I love you!" and then he's into class, happy and ready to learn.

If any day was going to throw a wrench into our string of great mornings, it was going to be today, G.Q.'s teacher was absent.  A sub... "oh, no.  G.Q. isn't going to like this."  I immediately think.  I hear another first grade teacher that "we don't have a sub for your class, so you'll have different teachers taking shifts in your class today."  That made me breathe easier.  At least they'll be familiar faces.  G.Q. still had that look, that uneasy look, like he was thinking about not going to school today.

I think what saved G.Q. from "causing a scene" and trying to leave the school with me was the fact that I was going to be back for lunch with him.  He still gets his weekly lunch with mom if he's had five good mornings going to school.  And mom brings McDonald's!  I guess a Happy Meal is a great motivator!

Now, we have a new "issue" to work on...clothing.  It's been an ongoing issue, really.  G.Q. can be quite particular about where the collar on his shirt falls or where the hem of the sleeve or shirt bottom fall.  He has three shirts that are his go-to shirts and wants to rotate through them.  I'm trying to figure out clever ways to make choosing a shirt from the other 30 shirts in his closet much easier and tear-free.

Never a dull moment here...

wordless wednesday...

why I love him so daggone much...

There are a million different reasons why I love my buggy, but here area a few...

• because little things excite him...a rock, a stick, a pine cone, etc.
• because he's a great eater.  I can feed him pretty much anything and he'll eat it.  He'll even eat stuff I won't touch, like sushi.  blek!
• because whatever he does, it's done at full-steam ahead and no fear.  Sometimes that's not so good, but he has fun!
• because he runs to me when I pick him up from school, throws his arms around me and gives the best hug.
• because he can build almost anything with his Legos.
• because he talks and talks and talks and talks.
• because he loves school and learning.
• because he still gives me hugs and kisses in front of his friends.
• because he loves for me to come have lunch with him at school.
• because he thinks me making him rice topped with sugar and milk is the best treat ever.
• because he takes his punishments in stride, for the most part.  Losing TV privileges today wasn't easy, but he understood and dealt with it.
• because he yelled "mom, I hurt my nuts!" at the park as all the kids simultaneously fell silent, like they knew something funny and inappropriate was going to come out of his mouth. 
• because he signs "I love you" to me every morning when I drop him off for school.
• because he cuddles with me every morning, even if it's just for a minute, before he gets up and going.
• because he's helped me learn so much about myself.
• because he is just like his daddy...as crazy as that can sometimes drive me, they are quite a pair.
• because he's an animal lover with a HUGE heart.
• because he has a goofy fashion sense... he's trying to bring back the glove on one hand look.  
• because he is my silly, smart, lovable little guy.  As stubborn and ornery as he can be, he's my little man and really a great kid.  I love him!

Thanks for letting me gush!

drama...

Not sure what happened on G.Q.'s seventh birthday but I'm pretty sure somebody threw a switch and turned on the drama with a little extra attitude and a whole lot of appetite!  I'm figuring out that seven is a tough age...wanting to be a big kid and be independent but also still wanting to be little and have the comfort of mom and dad doing thing for him or helping a great deal.  Each day is different, some hours are different and boy do I get confused.  One moment we're holding hands walking on the side walk and then next we're at the park, he's playing with friends and I'm cramping his style. 

I did some googling to see if I was crazy or if being seven years old can be a little crazy.  Turns out I'm not crazy.  (unless you ask my family, they might tell you otherwise.)  As far as daily-routines, nutrition, etc. G.Q. seems to be right on.  He's growing like a weed, becoming and even taller string bean, looking like he's all legs, which is very normal for a seven year old.  As I was reading about independence of a seven year old I was seeing my G.Q. 

Independence
Seven-year-olds are more likely to let you still cuddle with them at bedtime but squirm out of your hugs during the day, especially if you’re anywhere near his friends or school. Children this age can often veer between wanting to accomplish tasks, such as homework assignments or chores, completely by themselves, and then just as quickly ask an adult to help.

Many 7-year-olds will still love playing with friends but may begin to enjoy spending more time alone, playing by themselves or reading. Alone time and down time, can, in fact, be an important part of a 7-year-old’s development of a sense of self and his relations to others.

There are so many times where G.Q. doesn't need or want help.  He'll get angry if I offer and then suddenly he needs help doing the simplest task.  And he's gotten so much better at playing by himself.  He can build Lego creations for hours on end.   Amazing what he can create, too, I'm continually blown away by the things he makes, from buildings to vehicles to mazes for the hamster he hopes to get sometime in the future. (not happening, by the way.)

Another interesting bit of information I read on seven year olds was about friendships:

Friends
As 7-year-olds grow up and expand their social horizons, they often naturally become attached to other adults besides their parents, such as a teacher, an uncle, or even a friend’s parent.

Maybe this explains why G.Q. loves to takes gifts to his teacher any chance he gets.  The husband just said the other day "I know I really liked some of my teachers in elementary school, but I don't remember wanting to take them gifts."  G.Q. has taken in apples, erasers (Halloween themed), a lanyard for her keys and flowers.  It's super-sweet that he loves her so much because I think she's a great teacher and he looks forward to seeing her every day.  She's made 1st grade a great experience so far for him!

Really, we have a pretty awesome seven year old kiddo!  I'm amazed at what he knows and what he's learning, his curiosity about all things science, his math skills, etc.  And he's such a loving, sensitive and outgoing little man that is becoming more independent and confident each and every day.  We have our moments, nobody is perfect, but I can't tell you how proud I feel when somebody tells me how well-behaved he is or how sweet he is. 

Even though some days it seems like it's drama all day long, I sit and write this post and realize how really it's such a small part of the day.  Drama or no drama, he's amazing and we're lucky parents to have him in our lives teaching us so much, too much to name.  Love you buggy!

our sad pumpkin...

Guess what happens when you forget to buy a pumpkin to carve until the day before Halloween?  You get your pick from about five sorry looking pumpkins, that's what happens.  I told G.Q. we'd buy and carve a pumpkin on Thursday but come Sunday afternoon we still hadn't gotten the pumpkin.  We had been too busy to remember to buy a pumpkin and now the only pumpkins we could find, with out driving all around town to every store that might carry pumpkins, was a lonely cart full partially filled with five pumpkins.  Three of the five were 1/2 rotten and the other two had "ZITS!" and G.Q. thought they were not carving worthy. 

After a trip to two other groceries, we came back to the original store with the cart of sorry-looking pumpkins.  As we walked up the pumpkin cart I saw two ladies eying the pumpkins, too, trying to figure out which one might be the best.  Me, wanting G.Q. to get the best pumpkin swooped in and grabbed the two best while they were looking at a couple others.  Since we had already been there once, I knew which two were the best to pick from.  I held the tightly and made G.Q. pick from those two and made sure he was sure before placing one back in the cart for the ladies to swoop up.  Probably not my finest moment, but he's 7 and they were like 47, so him having the perfect pumpkin was more important, at least to this mommy.

Our pumpkin in hand, we paid, $1.67!  Not having the pick of the pumpkin patch was sort of forgotten about when I only had to pay $1.67 for the pumpkin.  What a bargain!  Yeah, I'm cheap, but it's for one day and we're going to cut holes in it, I don't think a big, perfectly round and blemish-free pumpkin for $9 is necessary. 

G.Q. forgot about the "ZITS!" and the sort of dark, birth-mark type spot on the pumpkin as soon as we got in the car and headed for home.  He was thinking about what side to carve and what design he wanted.  We voted on a silly face and he thought a tongue sticking out would be fun.  So a bowl to gather the guts, a dry-erase marker for designing, a safety knife and spoon to scrape in hand, we headed out to carve.  This might be the first year we've actually carved a pumpkin.  Weird, huh?  Years before we've painted faces, but G.Q. is old enough now to use a safety knife and cut through the pumpkin. 

It was fun to sit and snap pictures of the carving process.  G.Q. used the marker to create the design.  The marker was perfect because it it easily wiped off if he changed his mind and it was a great guideline for him while carving.  I was pretty impressed with his carving skills.  He stayed right on the lines and has one pretty cute pumpkin.  Can't wait to put a candle in it tomorrow and watch it glow for all the trick-or-treaters to see!