Okay.

by mennodaddy on December 14, 2009

Levi

Levi

The small one has reached that phase in his development where his vocabulary really starts to blossom.  Of course, he’s also benefitted from an older sister who likes nothing less than trying to get him to say certain things.  His vocabulary has increased to the point where he’s not only saying a lot of new words but also using a number of mangled phrases:  ”There you are!” “There it is!” “All done.” “I don’t know.” “Where is it?”  And naturally, there are the classics:  ball, keys, church, Papa, Mama, “Rorah,” ice, cracker.

But like his sister, he adopted quite a few words that are in his own language.  Much like Norah with her ubiquitous “Da,” Levi had adopted “Hnn!” as his “yes.”  As in:  Levi, would you like to go to Granna’s house?  ”Hnn!”  Would you like a cracker?  ”Hnn!”  Would you like to go play in traffic?  ”Hnn!”

Until recently.  He’s replaced “Hnn!” with the ridiculously cute “Okay!”  And the way he says it kinda makes it sound like a cross between the Geico Pothole Woman and <geekalert>the Peon from Warcraft II.</geekalert>

There are comedic pop culture possibilities here with training.  (Levi – Dilute!  Dilute! “Okay!” In what state does the Edwards family live? “O.K.!”)

Popularity: 6% [?]

Get social!
  • Print
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • email
  • RSS
  • Digg
  • Google Bookmarks
  • StumbleUpon
  • Posterous
  • Twitter

{ 0 comments }

Crotch rocket

by mennodaddy on December 14, 2009

Prescript:

Yes, I’ve been gone.  For a long time.  A long, long time.  I make no arguments. Jason Avant over at DadCentric – a group of dad-bloggers whom I constantly steal ideas from am inspired by – recently posted that there’s no such thing as writer’s block – only ennui.  And, well, I’ve had ennui in spades for about two months now.  My Wordpress dashboard is full of stupid notes, half-finished posts, and the random detritus of an overly-fettered mind.  Now I just need to figure out what ennui is and how to get rid of it.  Damned French.  It’s like they have a different word for EVERYTHING.

Church with a four-year old is an exercise in controlled multitasking.  You simultaneously try and socially engage with people who don’t wear diapers or pony underwear, listen to the service, sing, keep the small one from knocking over the advent wreath and fetch him from the rock pit at the front of the sanctuary, provide snacks, stave off preschool ennui (there’s that word again!), and commune with God.  And that’s just before children’s time.

Thank you, God, for sending your Son to be born, we ask on this third week of Advent.  And for Crayola.

My daughter’s getting pretty good at the whole drawing thing by now, sketching pictures on her knees using the chair as a drawing table.  She’s recently been joined by her three-year old cousin, a confirmed Mad Sribbler, and this Sunday they knelt side-by-side in front of their chairs, in abject worship of waxy color sticks and construction paper.  Amen.

This mostly went unnoticed by me this past Sunday as I continued to retrieve Levi from the rock pit.  After all, if they’re content, I can divert that segment of my brain to more important duties.  Like removing Levi from the rock pit.  Again.

Nothing really prepares you for that moment when your preschooler presents you with one of Those Pictures, though.

“Papa!” she shouted, over top of the scripture reading.  ”Look at this picture I made you!”

Shhh, child!  Inside voice! “It’s wonderful, honey.”  Followed by the eternal question with regards to preschool art: ” …Aaaaaand what is it?”

“It’s YOU,” she stage-whispered, quietly enough for only three rows around us to hear, “on the POTTY!”

Awesome.

“I… see.  And what’s this thing beside me?”

“A rocket ship!”

Okay, awesome! Nothing says “potty” like a picture of a launching space craft.  Based on the giggles from the rows surrounding us, there were other congregants who thought this was as funny as I.

I’m posting her handiwork.  It’s quite good.  I’m concerned with the size of my belly button, and with the fact that she so effortlessly captured the essence of me on the crapper.  But who can argue with a rocket ship?!  I’m keeping this one.

Potty time is AWESOME!

Potty time is AWESOME! (click for full size)

Popularity: 14% [?]

Get social!
  • Print
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • email
  • RSS
  • Digg
  • Google Bookmarks
  • StumbleUpon
  • Posterous
  • Twitter

{ 3 comments }

Mother Jones: Color and Gender Identity

October 13, 2009

I don’t often post links to articles on here, as I prefer this blog be a chronicle of my own experiences as opposed to others.  But Motherjones.com has an interesting article on the pink vs. blue debate and its cultural history and impact on childhood development and gender roles.  It’s a fascinating read.
I say this [...]

Get social!
  • Print
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • email
  • RSS
  • Digg
  • Google Bookmarks
  • StumbleUpon
  • Posterous
  • Twitter
(continued) →

Journey.

October 10, 2009

It’s nap time here at the MennoDaddy household, which gives me a little time to sit back with a glass of scotch and take stock of the past few weeks. I’ve got two sickies today as a single parent, which makes things a little more stressful than usual. But a man’s gotta blog, [...]

Get social!
  • Print
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • email
  • RSS
  • Digg
  • Google Bookmarks
  • StumbleUpon
  • Posterous
  • Twitter
(continued) →

And now, a musical interlude.

September 28, 2009

I sing to my son a lot. So this weekend, during a particularly nasty diaper change, I decided to whip out a special song that I remember fondly from the summers of my childhood, watching bad movies with my brother. I’d like to share it with you today.
I mean, okay, it’s not Brahms’ [...]

Get social!
  • Print
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • email
  • RSS
  • Digg
  • Google Bookmarks
  • StumbleUpon
  • Posterous
  • Twitter
(continued) →

Yarrr.

September 19, 2009

Just a quickie today, folks.
A bonny International Talk Like A Pirate Day.
Now GO an’ celebrate wit yer favorite wench and yer cabin boys an’ girls. For timbers need shiverin’, liiles need liverin’, all hands are t’ be hooked, and all eyes t’ be patched.
As fer my household, me bonny daughter has parleyed and banned the “pirate [...]

Get social!
  • Print
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • email
  • RSS
  • Digg
  • Google Bookmarks
  • StumbleUpon
  • Posterous
  • Twitter
(continued) →

My baby done gone

September 11, 2009

We crossed the Rubicon last week.
The little guy, ever in his own time, finally shuffled his barely ambulatory limbs without external support.  We crossed a threshold.  It’s over.
Our babies are gone.

When we decided to make Levi the last child in the MennoDaddy household, I knew his ascent to toddlerhood would come eventually.  (Truthfully, we thought [...]

Get social!
  • Print
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • email
  • RSS
  • Digg
  • Google Bookmarks
  • StumbleUpon
  • Posterous
  • Twitter
(continued) →

Preschool

September 9, 2009

The big one started preschool today.
I’m extremely nervous.
Norah is a highly-sensitive child.  She’s exhibited the classic signs of extreme sensitivity ever since she was very little.  She’s a sweet, charming, funny little girl, but she does NOT do well with change.  Of any kind.  Routine is her friend, and breaks in routine are grounds for [...]

Get social!
  • Print
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • email
  • RSS
  • Digg
  • Google Bookmarks
  • StumbleUpon
  • Posterous
  • Twitter
(continued) →

Liver & Onions Truck

August 22, 2009

Have you ever lied to your kids?
Shut up.  Of course you have.
And I don’t mean those little lies you tell because the truth is too complicated to explain, like “That cookie jar is just STUCK, honey, sorry,” or “The swimming pool closes after your nap time,” or “Can’t give you that, soda will give you [...]

Get social!
  • Print
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • email
  • RSS
  • Digg
  • Google Bookmarks
  • StumbleUpon
  • Posterous
  • Twitter
(continued) →

Winnar!!!!1!

August 15, 2009

I never win anything.  Ever.  Bupkis.  The last time I remember winning something meaningful was in the third grade when I won a blue ribbon in the science fair for my exhibit titled “What Puts the Fizz in Alka-Seltzer”  (Answer:  sodium bicarbonate and citric acid).  Okay, I also won my college’s Concerto-Aria competition my junior [...]

Get social!
  • Print
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • email
  • RSS
  • Digg
  • Google Bookmarks
  • StumbleUpon
  • Posterous
  • Twitter
(continued) →