Lily's first movie

Lily went to see her first movie a couple weeks ago on Sunday, it was Winnie the Pooh.   We specifically chose this movie because it's simple, even quaint, by today's standards.   We chose it specifically because it's NOT in 3D and sticks to regular animation, not the computer generated stuff.   I have nothing wrong with Pixar style movies (many of them are great), but she'll be exposed to plenty of that in her life.   There is no reason to rush it.

So, Cindy and I had a talk about who would take her, and I was awarded the task.   This is in large part because Nate has become a major Momma's boy, and it was trending towards nap time for him.   Lily and I went to the 12:40 showing at the AMC 30 movie theater.

At the theater it appeared that every other person there was there to see the new (and supposedly last) Harry Potter movie.  The employees at the theater were almost shocked that someone WASN'T there to see it, in fact.   We bought our tickets, a bottled water(her), large diet soda(me) and small popcorn(which had plenty for both of us).....and took our seats.    Then we waited, because we were early.   It was clear that she was getting bored.

Even when the movie started, she wasn't what you'd call entranced.   She watched the movie, and recognized the characters, but didn't seem fully involved.    It was about 30 minutes into the 63 minute movie when she started to look fidgety.   About 40 minutes in I asked if she wanted to leave and she did.    I asked again in the hallway outside, and she was sure she wanted to go.   We had lunch at Chipotle before heading home.

It was kind of a let down, in the sense that she didn't care too much for the whole experience, but maybe that's a good thing.   The truth is that Cindy and I almost never watch television and rarely watch movies, so maybe it's in her genes.   

Doing what needs to be done to free up shelf space

I'm going to see a Urologist on Friday.   It's for a consultation regarding a surgery which will make sure that Nate is the last of my children.   Other then some irrational fears and good deal of queasiness, I'm all behind this.  I already feel like Grandpa-daddy, and don't want to be having kid's into my 40's or changing diapers into my 50's.

The real motivating factor here is that we want to start giving away maternity & baby clothes, but will only feel 'safe' doing that once I'm shooting blanks.   So, in some odd way, I'm getting the surgery in large part just to free up shelf space.

Nate's new words, just in the past few days

I'm sure he's been saying a few of these things for a while, but in the past few days he's used the phrases prominently.

"Hello" (as a noun) - he refers to any cell phone shaped device as a 'hello'.  

"Me" - in response to the question "who wants to _____ ?"

"F(eed / ood)" (sounds like fff) - this means he's hungry

"Sissy" / "Lala" - his sister Lily


He's also taken up coloring.   I'm sure watching his sister color and write in her ABC book helped him pick this up as a hobby.   This is nice, because he appears to look at crayons as something other than a food source now.

Lily and our blurry second child

It's a well known fact that there is a precipitous drop in picture taking, with a second child.   You just don't have as much time.

Nate has two factors working against him though, because every picture of him tends to be blurry.    He doesn't stop moving.  Moving and climbing appear to be built into his very nature.....and staying still isn't.  The only exception are the short periods when he's strapped down to a chair.  

So you either get pictures like this (strapped into a chair, and trying to get out of it):

But more often are left with  (what is actually a relatively UNblurry picture) like this:

That's what she says

These are things our 3 year old likes to say....

"Look at what I can do (and demanding full attention)", before doing something like running and jumping onto the couch.

"Get out now", once she's situated on the toilet, and "shut the door when you leave, please".

"I'm done!", once she's done on the toilet.

"Can I roll up the window?", when she wants to roll the window down.

"Look dad, that's the letter __"  or "Look, that (the letter N) is for Nate (also L = Lily, D = Dad, M = Mom)"

Nate's Burgeoning Vocabulary

Yes - (pronunciation: 'yesh')  It's in the little guy's personality that he doesn't know the world 'no' (yet).   That doesn't mean he uses the affirmative indiscriminately.   Ask him if he wants to play outside or would like one of his favorite foods, and you'll definitely get this response.   Throw out trick questions 'is dad your favorite?', and he's not fooled.  This one word really shows that he understands far more than he lets on (as is often the case with kids).  

Baby - (pronunciation:  'bebe')  This is a catch all term for any living creature who he doesn't see as an adult.   So he'll point to other toddlers and call them baby, and also chase our cat around the house calling it 'baby'.   If he sees a bird outside, he'll point at it and call it 'baby'.

Thank You - (pronunciation:  'ehnk oo')  This is something he's been saying for a long time, anytime you hand him something.   It's possible that this was the first word he said.

Hi - (pronunciation: hi)

Bye - (pronunciation: bu-by)

Mom - (pronunciation:  'mama')  Mom.  Usually used because he wants his mom.

Dad - (pronunciation:  'dada')  Dad.  Usually used because he wants to talk to dad.

Water - (pronunciation:  'wawa') Water in any form, whether it's pouring into the sink or in a lake/pond/fountain.

Bottle - (pronunciation:  'baba')  Bottle or sippy or just a regular cup.

- (pronunciation:  babbling)   He loves to 'talk' on the phone.   He presses a toy to his ear and babbles.