4 year old interview about himself

Recently, my sister-in-law suggested I conduct this interview or something similar with Colton (almost 4), like Amber at Parenting: Illustrated with Crappy Pictures. I think it's safe to say we're pretty big fans of hers. :) Given his typically boisterous personality, I decided this could be entertaining, so I did. This was the result. 

What do you love most? 

     "Cupcakes"

If you could have one wish, what would you wish for? 

     "A Spaceship"

What is the meaning of life? 

    "What is life?"

What are you supposed to do when you're alive? 

     "Play"

What do you want to be when you grow up? 

    "A Daddy"

What are you most afraid of?

    "Monsters"

What is the funniest word you've ever heard? 

     "Juggle"

If you had all the money in the world, what would you do with it? 

     “Pay it to the pay guy” 

Who’s the pay guy? 

     “Daddy”

What makes you mad? 

    “When Lincoln (1yr old brother) takes my toys.”

What’s really hard to do? 

      “To obey.”

What’s really easy to do? 

     “cleaning up my room”

What is the meaning of love? 

     “It means, I love you forever”

Who do you love most? 

     "You"

What makes you happy? 

     "You"

The answers weren't as crazy as I would have expected from him. They were rather tame, actually. The last three, though, were my favorite. <3

Testament to human kindness

At the grocery store this evening, I decided to treat myself and purchase premade cookies, something I haven't done in months. After spending some time reading labels, I realized there are startlingly few which are peanut-allergy friendly. Besides the overtly peanut butter ones (nutter butters, and those with peanut butter cups in them, etc.), most are made in facilities that also process peanuts. During my reading, Colton kept taking different boxes off the shelf and asking for different types of cookies. After about the tenth time of explaining why we couldn't buy each one, I opted to just make my own. There was a woman in the aisle with me who mentioned her conversations with her young daughter were similar to ours, and food allergies are the worst. I agreed with her. At this time,it dawned on me I was out of chocolate chips and told Colton so, and that we were going to buy some. Sadly, I found most chocolate chips are also processed in facilities that process peanuts. I was so disappointed. I wanted cookies, and it wasn't supposed to be this hard. I stood in front of the chocolate chips trying to read labels faster than my older son could open the bags and boxes of food already in the cart and the younger could get turned around and tangled up in the seat, and I saw the same woman walking down the baking aisle. She had clearly followed me as she didn't stop anywhere else in the aisle. She handed me a box of chocolate chip cookies, and said, "here are the ones I've found to be the best. My daughter has allergies to peanuts, eggs, gluten and dairy. These are the ones that comply and taste the best, even if they are a little crunchy. I hope this helps. Food allergies were a learning process for us too." I just about broke into tears at the kindness shown to me by a total stranger. I thanked her and she went her way and I went mine. I don't even know her name, but she took an overwhelming prospect and made it into a manageable one for me. I can only hope she knows the difference she made.

As an FYI, the brand of cookie is Back To Nature . I did find a chocolate chip brand that said their chips are processed in a gluten and peanut free facility right on the package: Guittard. See pic below.

We've come a long way, Baby!

I don't do too many posts focusing solely on my kids, but I thought it would be a good idea to chronicle their progress. I may want this someday. :)

Colton has come so far in this past week. He can officially take care of bathroom business-including handwashing, fully dress himself including shoes (not socks though-they're hard!), and pour juice and water ALL BY HIMSELF. He is an excellent cleaner-even separates toys into appropriate bins without help. He can successfully manipulate stickers and is getting better about coloring and painting in the lines. He LOVES watercolors and play dough. He can use scissors and dispense appropriate amounts of glue for googly eyes and pom poms and also put the right amount of toothpaste on his toothbrush. We're still working on the handsoap as he creates a slick on the counter every time he washes his hands. (For the record, I've tried the rubber band thing so he can only push the plunger down a little bit, but he absolutely refuses to stop at one pump. ugh.) He can even match correct letters 100% of the time to make sight-words in an iPad app I just acquired. He doesn't know letters by name or sound yet, just matches shapes, but the app sounds the letters out and pronounces the words for him, making it the first step in recognition. He can also recite several of his books, as well as the rhyme, "Little Miss Muffet" which I presented orally (no pics), by rote.

Lincoln is jabbering away, cruising and standing independently (although not yet walking) and can recognize several words and tries to repeat them. Even though he's not walking independently, he likes to walk behind his walker toy and gets angry when he runs it into a wall or door jamb. He's totally into putting things in boxes and buckets and taking them out again. We have a box full of bean bags for that purpose. He eats about 15 oz of food per meal four times per day. He is fully weaned (for almost a month) and is eating mostly solid food now. I only feed him purees when I feel lazy and don't want to clean up a mess. He still won't drink milk, but eats yogurt and cheese like it's going out of style. He gave me a high five for the first time yesterday too. He has all 8 front teeth (and has since he was about 9 months old), and his 1 year molars are poised to come out. The top left one is already through, and the others are painfully swollen and red. He is fearless and ready to follow big brother anywhere no matter the consequences. He also loves to horseplay.

Thank you all for listening to my enthusiasm for my children's accomplishments. Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming. :)