That's my guy!

Every nite Triston goes off to bed on his own while I chill downstairs or in my bed til he passes out (I am referring to the nites when he does NOT pass out right after dinner by 6 pm. These are the nites he has taken an afternoon nap and I am trying my darnedest to stay awake til 9 or 10 til he falls asleep. These are hard nites for me. I have not been sleeping much or enuf as of late). So on these nites he is working his best game to stall the process he typically comes in with 2 or 3 stories he needs to whisper to me-"I need to tell you something, mom." Once he gets these stories off his chest he cuddles into his bed and passes out. It is amazing to me that that is all it takes. Time for him to wind down and give in. As if he is listening to his own body. Anyway, back to funny part. These stories are not books (which I need to get in a habit again of reading everyday with him...bad mommy). They are stories he comes up with. Literally on the spot. They often make no sense and ramble on but are too cute. Last nite's story...'the walk'. ...
I am lying in my bed as he entered and whispered, "Mom, I have to tell you something. " I tell him to go ahead but then he has to go to sleep. He continues...

One time there was a boy walking down the street. I was a baby boy last week. You remember, mom? Yes, you do. The boy keep walking and never find his ice cream again.

The end. Goodnite, mom.

He kissed my cheek and proceeded to leave my room. As he did I heard him whisper to himself, " That story was so awesome!"

I had to cover my mouth and laugh into my pillow before I spit all over the place. He IS my forever entertainment!

Wishes

It's early morn on my bday and I just have to jot this down. I do not have birthday wishes for myself. I have wishes for others. Others I don't even know and some I do and have been lucky to have met and let into my life in recent yrs. My wishes are for less sadder days, harder days, painful days, and can't get out of bed my heart hurts so much kinda days. I am talking about my friend Alysa's dear friends. She received word this weekend that a dear friend of her family's took his life. He left behind a wife and 3 children. Undoubtedly a beautiful family bc God makes only beautiful things. The whys and hows of this tragedy are not my business and I do not need to know. All I know is that every member of the troubled, suffering father and husband are missing him very much today and always. I am thinking of all them today. Sure I don't know them, know what they look like but I know what hurt and confusion are like. So, I will picture silhouettes of loved ones missing their family member ever so dearly. I pray their pain slowly pulls away as they try and move on with their lives.
As for me, today, I am only reminded of how wonderful a family I have. So what if we all woke up super crabby and not ready to start the day...but at least I have a day to start with my family and end with my family. I appreciate every moment I have with them. We are a healthy, silly, goofy and one of a kind family. Charito and I have created this. I am thankful God. Thank you and look after those hurting right now, please.

First school moments

Triston has only been in school about a week and I am already on the lookout for my baby boy. Where did he go? If any of you see him around can you send him my way? It's kinda bittersweet. I will say it again...he is a lil man.

I have decided to blog about our school moments that only a mom would dwell on and think are small but unforgettable.

• First day of school-dinner table, he had so much to say. "School is fun" was the phrase of the evening.
• 2nd day of school-he tripped on the playground and scraped his knee. His teacher wrote me a note and visited me across the hall to let me know. She stated he was hesitant for a band-aid. If she hadn't of noticed it needed a band-aid he would not have said anything or been bothered. That's T! He falls down and keeps on going. She wanted to put a band-aid bc it was still bleeding. I let her know the fear of the band-aid is all my fault. Every kid remembers their first encounter with Bactine and the dreaded RRIIIIPPPP off the bandaid and I have scarred him. Put a bandaid on the kid and he limps and milks it. Leave it off and it it's as if the tumble never took place. Oddball. Later that night, Triston told me his scab was "shaped like a steak". I took a glance...yup, like a New York Strip.
• My first school gift-a fruit loop necklace. I just adored how he presented it to me, "Here, Mommy...this is for you" as he placed it over my head. He smiled with such pride and I did, too. I told him how special it made me feel and he responded, " Tomorrow I have more. I painted for you, but it needs to dry first". You mean there was more to look forward to?!





• First official school painting. A cute little hodge podge of colors.
  

• Every night I lay out his clothes for the next day ( we really haven't gotten into that battle of "I WANT TO WEAR THIS NOW" so I just pick an outfit out for him or choose 2 and he makes the choice). Our morning routine has gone so well since day one. My favorite part right before I walk out the door is, "Mommy, what shoes do I wear today? Hmm, let's see...." as he opens the closet and we choose together. What can I say? He loves shoes just as much as a lady! And believe me, I thought 2 pairs were a good start for the school year (seeing as he will be ready for new size by December. He is the typical every 3 mos feet grower!) So, we picked out the Merrels that were casual but autumn-like tough and the laced gym shoes to get him practicing how to tie. Both on sale ( a great sale!) at Stride Rite. The third pair popped up when Charito went looking for a new pair of gym shoes this weekend and ended up at Famous Footwear and the buy one get one half off sale. I glanced for myself but I am not one to go for me. When I see a deal or have the money I opt to spend on the kids. It is just how I am. I don't care too much bout myself (for proof, see how I show up to work on some days). I mosied over to the kids section and found a pair of Nikes that were on sale and I could still take advantage of the half off incentive. I got those babies for $13. How does anyone pass up these deal on shoes? No one should. So, until he grows up a size he is happy in shoe land each morning.
  


• Yesterday was a big day for him. He had gym class for the first time, had to bring snack and had show and tell. We prepared all of this on Sunday. At Jewel I asked him if he wanted to bring his friends a fruit or a vegetable. He said both. So we chose raisins and carrot sticks. For gym class I explained to him that Mr. G, the gym teacher, wants kids to wear red on gym day. I pulled out 2 red (with various prints on them. We will buy our Farnsworth tee next week) shirts for him to pick one. He chose his Elmo shirt (and his newest pair of gym shoes. Which makes me think about the day he was was about 1.5 and I found him working his tiny legs into my knee high, black boots and walking round his bedroom in them. Priceless!). Then for show and tell I picked out 5 fav items (that were not the size of enormous pirate ships or train tunnels or dinosaurs) for him to choose from. It was a done deal as soon as he saw his bullet train. So I previewed the typical questions with him-What is it? Who gave it to you? Why do you like it? He was ready! After school I asked him how it went and he told me he told them lots of things and it was fun. There is a recurring theme here-FUN. I later asked his teachers how he did and they told me he shared the bullet train from Uncle Joel all the way from Japan. What a big day for the books.


• I am so thrilled he is enjoying it as much as he does. It is so wierd to see my chatterbox so serious when he is in school, though. Anytime I see him in the halls or in his classroom (I stop in to give him a message or conference with my coworkers) he is so busy. Too busy to even notice my staredown to get his attention. He is SO attentive to the teachers. I like that. He cares what they think and seems to understand it is important...and FUN. I am pleased to see and hear that he is as good a boy there (so far) as he is at home. It really makes me feel like I am doing my job the right way (if there is a right way?). He is branching out in his getting-bigger world and soaking up life. As my girlfriend Becky put it, we are 'sharing him with others"'. What a wise statement, Becky! So true. Letting him go to touch others with his awsomeness, compassion, intelligence and FISH-flair.

The Surreal Life

Taken the day we went shopping for new school shoes and a backpack. He really wanted to get a green one (it's his fav color...of the month)

It really is hard to believe my lil man is off to school! Since May we haveprepared for this day and I guess I didn't think it would come so quickly. He is so ready! I am even ready for it. I just continue to be shocked on how fast these moments have come about. Even with the luxury of REALLY knowing his teachers ( I have worked w/ them for several yrs) and having his classroom right down the hallway, there are moments Triston crosses my mind during the day and I have to REMIND myself he is in school (not at home). I am also SO fortunate to have Charito's work schedule in tune with T's dropoff time AND my caring friend Alysa to bring T home everyday. So lucky. It really has been a smooth process.

Here is my lil secret-I KNEW daddy would forget to take a pic of T on his first day so I suggested we take a picnic at school the day before he started, Labor Day (thanks for the idea, Alysa). We started the day out with a bike ride at the Milwaukee/Devon Forest Preserve bike trails. That was so nice. Then we packed up our McDonalds (that's what I call a fast lunch) and headed to campus. After munching ( even Grayson had his own FIRST-first chix nugget and fry. That lil animal ate 3 nuggets!) we enjoyed the playground and walked over to "his wall". This is the wall he would be lining up on each day. We had to distinguish which line he would see mommy at (for my own students) and which line would be his. While going through the motions of what would occur the very next day, I wondered how he would react to seeing me at school. Would his teacher discover his escape plans to my classroom?!

The morning of his first big day (before I left for work).

Well, I am happy to report that after a week of school he has done great and constantly tells me school is fun. I am so proud of him. And the ironic thing is-today was the first time we saw each other. I popped into his classroom to remind him to paint today (I guess he didn't want to yesterday) and he kissed me on the cheek as I whispered in his ear. Then rushed to tell his teacher, " I want to paint today!". Then I crept away. It was so wierd to see a BIG man sitting in his chair ready for snack. What a great feeling it was!

Now I just have to get used to this surreal life of working mom w/ a child in school along w/ a baby at home ready to take off on his own 2 feet! Yikes!