Clara

Our friend Clara is a gifted musician. She writes her own music, teaches kids to play guitar and drums and piano, and has a fantastically awesome children's CD, which we own. And which I finally dug out of a box in the office a few months ago, and put in to Dexter's CD player.

I used to just play the radio when Dex played in his room. The local country music station from Havre de Grace. Which John hates, and he wonders why we can't find another radio station to listen to.

But then I put in Clara. And I didn't think Dex was really paying very much attention to the CD. It's not like he was singing along or anything. But after a few days of Clara I turned on just the radio. And Dex vehemently shook his head NO. NO radio. Clara? I asked him. YES. OK, then. Clara it is.

Now green light (play time in his room) and Clara go hand in hand. He calls it "go ight, air-ah."

And he still doesn't sing along, or dance or anything. But I know he's listening. I know when Clara is playing the "Slow, Fast, Stop" song because Dex will randomly shout out "GO ight!" and "dae-dow ight!" I know when Clara is singing "Apples and Bananas" because Dex will start saying "MMMMMMMMMM." I know when she is singing "There was a teacher had a dog, and Samson was his name-ooo" because Dex will randomly start saying "N" and "O." I know when "Ring Around a Rosie" is on as Dex will shout out "DOWN!" and "UP!" And I know when I am dancing to the "Clippity Cloppity" song because Dexter and John both look at me like I have completely and totally lost my freaking mind.

So, yeah. Clara. We dig her. You can hear a few of her songs here.

And speaking of Clara, she's married to one of my very favorite people of all time - Cristin, my college room mate. Cristin is filled with awesome in her own right, and was recently nominated for an award in Marin County, CA. You can see the write-up here.

Miss these two. Wish they didn't live so far away. I so want Dex to meet "air-ah" in person. It may just blow his little mind.

Clara (left) and Cristin (right)

Dex listening to Clara. With his new fave pillow.

Gratuitous cute shot

Nap Time Notes

Let's see what I can fit in here before Dex wakes up from his nap... I have no idea what time he went to sleep, but I know his clock will turn yellow in exactly three minutes and if he's awake then, it shall be time to get up. Man, I love his clock. This morning, after we got up far too early to load up the truck for John, Dex slept til about 6:30, but stayed quiet until I went to get him. Why? His clock malfunctioned and didn't turn yellow at 6:30. So there he lay, quiet as a mouse. Thanks, clock. I got a little Ann Curry tsunami in Japan update because of you...

I do know that if Dex doesn't wake up soon, I shall eat all of the delicious guacamole I made for him. That took exactly 30 seconds to make. 1 avocado, a plop of salsa verde (I use Herdez salsa verde that I get for cheap at Wal-Mart. But I live in the Land of Rice and Beans, so it may not be available at your fine grocery shopping establishment. Trader Joe's has some good stuff, too. But not for cheap.), and a squirt of lemon juice from the plastic lemon. Stir. Eat. Try to save some for small child. Also, apparently if you leave the avocado pit in the bowl while you store your guac, it will not turn brown. I don't see ours lasting long enough outside my belly for that to be an issue.

Clock. Yellow. Child. Letting me know of said yellow-ness. Post. To be continued.

My delicious guacamole was a huge hit with the little man, who called it "meh-can go." Or, Mexican green. To differentiate it from the regular green he eats with his hot dogs. AKA, dill relish. He ate it with a spoon. Which is exactly what he did last week when we went to the Mexican restaurant for lunch and I got him a side of guac, because he likes it a lot better than the salsa they serve. He also ate every single piece of broccoli I had on my plate that day for lunch. And also some ice cream and some cheese cake. Chjeee. Everything with chjeee is automatically awesome.

Speaking of awesome, we have a new mail box. Made entirely of awesomeness. And installed by a husband filled with awesomeness. And assisted by the neighbor's post hole digger. And some Quick-crete, because only like 10 inches of the post was going to end up in the ground, and it didn't seem like that was quite going to hold a mail box post forever and ever and ever. Anyway, awesome. And, look! People can figure out where we live now. Which is, according to Dex, "oooh oh oh Oweee." So if he ever gets lost, no problem. The cops can ask him where he lives, he can tell them. They'll find us. Piece of cake.

Old crappy mail box, cute child in backpack shadow

See? Awesomeness.

Buddy shall soon be SOL with his across the street wandering. As well as his fun game of "run the fence line and chase the rotten instigating Thoroughbred mare in the pasture." I think the little mare is going to be sad. Anyway, John installed some invisible fence this weekend, and hooked it up tonight. The collar beeps, and as John found out, also shocks. Hehe. Funny. You had to be there. So, the flags are up and the training shall begin tomorrow. I think it might not take too long. Buddy is a little bit wary of the flags already from when we had them up last fall. I think the driveway is going to be his nemesis, though.

Little does Buddy know what this innocent-looking trench has in store for him...

But he seems to respect the flags already

It's supposed to be 70 on Friday. 70! We're planning a trip to Longwood. Not because I think there will be any flowers outside. Because mine are not anywhere near ready to bloom. But because it's going to be 70. Where else would you go when it's going to be 70 degrees?

Had to wear far too many clothes to Longwood last time we went...

Look! Almost spring!

I have lots of pictures I never really use. Sometimes barely look at, if I'm just looking for a shot that can go in my 365 album. There's lots of cute shots. I'll pull out a few for ya here:

Fascinating light

Got milk? And cookie dough?

Faster than a speeding snow flake

Apparently I was taking too many pictures because Dex did this and said "Mama light"

And then John peed his pants

I lock them out there when they're bad...

Dex helping me make grilled cheese. Which essentially means he eats everything within reach on the counter. Oh, yeah. And we were just finger painting.

Hella cute

Still

Watching Hokie basketball. Or, as Dex calls it, "ba-hoop."

Measuring

Buddy Mountain. I think both boys will be sad when the mountain disappears this spring.

Who knows. Tiger blood?

Driving the "eh-DAH ca." Or, the red truck.

Running

Daddy come home early from work today, just to swing on the dae-dow swing

And the Nominees Are..

I have far too many cute pictures of Dexter from yesterday to choose JUST ONE for my 365 project. I mean, really. How can you choose between these?

Dex came down to breakfast yesterday morning wearing the striped polo in the background. John was wearing this green one. Then he insisted on switching. OMG cute. Also, no matter how big I think the little man is, he looks tiny when Daddy's shirts go down to the ground.

And then I have to choose from this round of after-nap cuteness while playing with Thomas the Train. Who has TWO "1's" on him. Did you know that?

More cute

Workin it for the camera. Love that I captured his little pout...

As well as his winning smile

A little giggle

And we finish up with a couple serious shots

Which to choose, which to choose... I think, as far as quality of photo, framing, etc the last two are the winners. Even if they don't capture the winning smile.

Hmmm. In other news, one of these days I am going to ditch half the crap in my cupboards and freezer and go full-fledged Primal in this house. Which essentially means no grains and no sugar. No processed crap. Shop the edges of the grocery store. We're not there yet, but I've been trying some Primal-friendly recipes and they are most excellent. Creamy Dijon Pork Chops with cream and dijon mustard. Cauliflower rice sauted in butter. Broiled chicken breast and roasted broccoli. And. AND! How have I never known before how absolutely delish roasted veggies are? And how easy? I'm on a roasted veggie kick here and I don't see it ending any time soon. In the summer it will switch over to a grilled veggie kick, and the grilling basket shall be in frequent rotation.

Speaking of grilling, we're having grilled pork chops with bbq sauce tonight, and I am hoping the wind isn't going to blow out my grill seven thousand times. Winds at 25 to 30 mph. We need a wind block. Can I bring a wind block with me while we go for a walk? Between the 35 pound kid on my back and the dog who doesn't want to heel, walks are already difficult. Adding in the 30 mph headwind is going to SUUUUUCK.

Nothing Much

That's what we've been doing. Nothing much. It's nice, really. We go about out little daily routines - play dates, swimming lessons, Sunday mornings at the gym with Daddy and Dex swimming and Mama trying not to fall on her ass in Zumba class. Grocery shopping, trips to Wal-Mart, playing outside when we can. Nothing much.

John had his sock hand removed last week. His wrist is still stiff and tender, but he's fairly well back to normal save for a few "OWWs" yelled out several times a day.

We went to New York last week, just Dex and I, to see Grandma and Grandpa and see how Grandma's owie is doing. The new knee is doing much better than last time we visited, and if Grandma could just maybe get a BACK replacement she'd be good as new. I think full back replacements might be a year or two down the scientific road, however, so Grandma will have to make do with what she's got for a while. We had a nice time, and Buddy had a lovely time getting his face scratched off by the cat. It was good for him.

We have new next-door neighbors and Dex and I are going to try valiantly to be far more welcoming to them than our neighbors were to us. Our neighbors who we finally took cookies to (aren't THEY supposed to do that for US?) after three months of wondering if we actually had neighbors. Anyway, it's on our to-do list this week to make cookies and deliver them to the new neighbors before Daddy eats them all. The cookies, I mean. Not the neighbors.

Also not new - I took a billion photos over the last week. Although I am realizing as I just typed that - I have not turned on the camera today. Damn this 365 project. What kind of crap do we have lying around the house today that I can photograph? Give me a second - I'll be back to post a few pictures from the last week...

Winter is still hanging on here. Although this week is looking more promising. I shall be glad when Dex can get rid of the hat and the mittens.

Still going down the slide like a big boy. It's harder on the curly slide at the playground to go down like this - feet stick to the slide.

This was the day that Dex learned to say "poopie." As he helped me clean up "Buh-hee oop-hee." He thinks the word poopie is hilarious. Such a boy.

Posted for humiliation of the small child when he brings his first girl friend home. And also of the mother - what the hell did you dress your kid in??

Playing with Grandma's BIG ball. Four pounds is a lot of weight when you're two.

Dex gives Grandma a fabulous demonstration on "yellow light" in which he walks s-l-o-w-l-y across the floor, lifting his legs up high with each step. Hard to give it justice on film.

Reading "Hand Hand Fingers Thumb" with Aunt Jeanne. Am I weird to freak out when Aunt Jeanne doesn't read the words exactly as written? I am such a rule follower. Aunt Jeanne is a rebel.

Getting Dex dressed to go outside in the snow. So over-rated. Such a pain in the ass for 20 minutes of whining child.

He at least pretended to be happy here. Then immediately said "All done. In." The deck was covered with 6 inches of new snow the next day. Grandpa swears it was 10 inches, but I swear he's nuts. It always looks deeper when you're behind the snow shovel.

Throughout the course of the week we played about ten billion different games of "UP DOWN" with these pool noodles. I have no idea what the rules are. I just did what I was told.

Shhhhhh. Don't tell Mama I am sucking my fingers. I can totally get away with it because I am pretending to sleep...

So have you noticed lately that Dex doesn't have his fingers in his mouth for every picture? We started, in November, I think, telling him he could only suck his fingers when his clock was blue (so, sleep time, basically). It took a couple months to click, but it's rare that I have to remind him these days. Usually when I walk in to his room after his nap now he will put his fingers near his mouth, then say no and pull them away.

Ah, the balloon. God damn all the balloons in this world. ALL WEEK I heard about how Dex has two balloons at home, and Grandma has one balloon here, and then the balloon went up and down, and then the balloon was handed to me and I was told when, and where, I should shake it.

I think Grandma's balloon is going in the trash after all the damage we caused it...

More UP DOWN game. It made the boy happy.

Dex also helped us make cookies. At his request. Actually, he requested star cookies. These are not star cookies. These are I Love You cookies. But, still yummy.

Fabulous stir-er

Cooks must always taste test. I have taught the boy well.

And the finished product was pretty darn good, too.

Yeah, I dunno what's going on here. Practicing his dinosaur face? Oh, he did learn to say "roar." It's almost as cute as him saying "meow."

Buddy watching Grandpa snow blow the driveway. For some reason Buddy LOVED Grandpa. I know, I know - what's not to love? But from the fear Buddy had of John for so long, I thought he didn't like men. Turns out he just didn't like John...

Following Buddy's lead, Dex watches Grandpa snow blow the driveway. And then when we got home later than day, he told John all about how Grandpa's big snow blower has a light, while his little snow blower has no light. The details this child picks up on - it boggles the mind.

Practicing for more cookie stirring. It might happen tomorrow, kiddo. We have all the makings for more I Love You cookies to make for the new neighbors.

Sunday morning after breakfast sun room time

Apparently too sunny for Buddy - he must hang out in the shade of the tent.

Dex has actual clothes on. We are slackers. In our pj's. Our sexy, way too short for our long legs, pj's.

Despite what you may think from this look you're getting, Buddy, John LOVES it when you lick his face...

Tent buddies

You'll see this one again, next time I post 365 Project photos.