The Moon - always

Leaving this morning I show Declan "look there's the moon."

"There it is! Why is the moon out?"

"Well sometimes you can still see it in the morning."

We get in the car and start our drive.

"Can you still see the moon out your window?"

"Ya, it's right there! I love the moon. I want to go to the moon."

"You want to go to the moon? How come?"

"Because I love the moon."

"What do you think is there?"

"Two kids and they're in a ship and then there's aliens too."

I just love the 4 year old mind.

Toys Away

There have been toys all over the living room for days. For days! Finally we told Declan he needed to clean up some, he doesn't need everything out, just a couple he's playing with. As he is putting toys away he rediscovers them and it takes three times as long as it should.

"Don't forget to put your cat away."

"I don't have a cat toy!"

"Look behind you."

He turns and looks over his shoulder to see a lounging Hunter.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Great feeling making your kid laugh.

Toot Game

Little boys.

Four year old little boys think toots are hilarious.

New game. Declan sitting on the chair, Daddy on the couch. Declan toots. Then he looks over to see if Daddy heard. If he did hear Declan says "That was you Daddy!"

He thinks it's funny if he's getting dressed and he toots. He thinks it's funny standing in just his bath towel and he toots. He thinks it's funny getting his boots on and he toots.

Does this end? Ever? 

The Claws

"How was your day at Kelly's Declan?"

"It was a beautiful time."

"Well that's good. And who was there?"

"Baby Noah, Nicholas, Baby Mateo, Talya, Nihal and of course me!"

"And what did you do today?"

"I played, I went pee in the toilet, I had some food, I slept and then I played some more. I played two times."

For the most part kid has a pretty good day.

Started off rough when a frisky cat charged down the hallway, round the stairs and up and while doing so ran across Declan's foot. Claws out. There were some serious tears.

Meetings

Best part of my work trip days are the FaceTime meetings I have with Declan and Daddy. Then, of those times the very best part are the spontaneous times when Declan's says "I miss you Mommy!"

I can't wait to hug and squeeze him tomorrow night.

Missing Him Already

For the second day I've worked an 11am to 8pm shift. This means that I get a short time with Declan in the morning before missing the rest of his entire day. I snuck into his room last night and tonight to stare at him but that's all I get. Tomorrow morning I'm off on a work trip for three days. It will be Thursday morning before I get to see him again and really Thursday night before we can hang out. Miss him already. On the plus side he's getting in some serious Daddy Declan time which he loves.

Little pic from this morning. Guess he's getting a lot of screen time?

Fever

Declan was feeling a little under the weather today. A fever just shy of 100. Not too bad but enough to take it easy and stay at home. Daddy got out some more of his old GI Joe toys. I came home to what feels like a war room. 

Little man is fast sleep and hopefully feels better in the morning.

Am I #2?

Seems my level of importance has dropped. I mean, I know I'm more important than the cat still but it appears I land behind Daddy. Even when I creep in to wake Declan in the morning with a hug or kiss he just wants Daddy. He won't get out of bed until Daddy comes to get him.

They've got some silly routine they go through every day now and the giggles are many. Declan doesn't want to miss the opportunity so I get the morning cold shoulder. Daddy's #1.

Comedic Timing

Declan had a toy "fart" machine. Daddy got it for him a while back. It's one of Declan's favorites and we all pretty much get a kick out of it. He calls it the "toot phone."

Last night he chose the "toot phone" as his toy to bring to bed. I was certain I heard it slide of the side of the bed in the middle of the night. This morning I went in to Declan's room to wake him up as its a Kelly day. He was already on his side with monkey on his head but when he hears me coming he curls up even tighter. I reached over him and down the side of the bed and grab the "toot phone". Then pushed one of the buttons which solicited a cute giggle from the little man hidden under blankets and monkey. After giggling he keeps under the blankets but stretches one hand out over his head and demands the "toot phone" with his now outstretched Palm. He's so Rock 'n Roll. Truly an old soul and his timing is spot on.

Family Day

Family Day was really a Daddy-Declan day. Happy to hear how Declan sat on Daddy's knee and they watched the first half of Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation together.  Has to be one of Daddy's favourite things, just hanging out with his little boy.

He sure is a lot of fun at 4 years old. And funny. He really makes me laugh regularly. Today after Daddy "attacked" Declan with his stuffed Pooh Bear and then walked away, Declan looks at me and says "Remember when Pooh Bear tried to make me fall down and then I got real?" 

I got real?

He's gettin' all Gangsta on me...at FOUR!

And then, at bedtime he layer back quickly and bumped his head on the bed frame. Poor guy. It brought some tears. After he'd been in bed an hour I went to check on him and he was laying in bed wide awake. He asked why I was there to which I said to check on him. Declan said his head hurt but would be better in the morning from the pillow. He turned on his side so I kissed the back of his neck. 

"Why'd you do that?"

"Because it looked kissable."

"No. Kiss me here." as he points to the side of his face.

I gave him another kiss and headed out of his room. As I was pulling the closed he yelled "I love you Mommy!"

4 Rocks!!

Social Monkey

Daddy was having company over this evening. Declan wasn't happy about this as he like to go to "other people's houses."

I had to explain that Daddy's friend doesn't have children so there are no toys there to play with. Then he was ok with it.

When they arrived Declan was eating his dinner so he didn't pay them much attention. Once he was done however he stood up and announced that he would show them the upstairs. The tour commenced. He actually did a great job walking them room to room and describing many of the various items in each room. 

When it was bedtime he nearly went in for a hug from Ashleigh, you could see he wanted to but wasn't sure he should so then he just stopped, looked at her and said goodnight.

About 45 minutes after going to bed Daddy's friend Sean discovered a little hand on the railing. I went over to find Declan sitting quietly on the steps. He really didn't want to be in bed. I suppose he thought he was missing all the fun. He was back to bed easily though and sweetly fast asleep last I checked.

He Can Surprise Me

Came home to learn that Declan received two Valentine's today. How sweet that he got one from Baby Noah and from Talya, both from Kelly's. Sadly I didn't think to get him Valentines to hand out. I'll try to remember next year once he's in school.

While I was eating dinner Declan kept running down the hallway, through the kitchen and then he'd jump and land on the couch beside me. He was pretty proud of himself and he was pretty entertaining. The best came the one time he landed on the couch, got up ready to run again when he paused, looked back and me and said "I forgot something." I looked at him as he gave me a left eye wink.

I broke out laughing.

Where does this kid get this stuff?

Mornings

When we don't have to get up early, when he's first to rise he comes to us so chipper and rather demanding. On work days however, when we've been awake since 5am and its 5:40am and I'm creeping into his room to wake him up, Declan wants no part of it.

"It's still dark. You go back to bed."

Take this morning for example. I went into his room to see him all curled up on his right side. He's awake, I can tell by the little smile though he's staying as still as he can. I picked up MaMa Monkey and moved it closer to Declan. He quickly grabs him and flips over onto his left side and pulls the blankets up. He's being oh so stubbourn.

Lucky for me Daddy works normal hours so he's here too. He leaves earlier than we do it he's here for the waking up part. I watch him step into the darkness of Declan's room and then giggles erupt. Laughter fills the darkness from the both  of them, non-stop. Then Daddy heads on his way. Declan yells "Bye Daddy!" And crawls into MY bed now. Blankets pulled high, he wants to watch videos on my phone and be left alone in the darkness. 

I'm reminded again by the 4 year old. "It's still dark out Mommy. It's sleeping time."

4 Year Old Appointment

Declan was pretty excited to be going to the Drs. I think that because of his toy Dr. kit and watching Doc McStuffins TV show he was anticipating everything the Dr. would do. 

First thing, the nurse checked Declan's height and weight. At just over 40 lbs Declan is in the 85th percentile for weight. So for a kid who tells me he never eats at Kelly's and who tells Kelly he doesn't eat at home he weighs more than average. For height he stands 111 cm tall or just over 3 1/2 feet tall. That's puts Declan at the 97th percentile for height. He's tall but as the Dr. said, not concerning tall just tall. He just has to be eating.

After the nurse was done the Dr. came in and checked him over. She checked his ears, and monkeys ears too. She checked his mouth, nose and eyes, his reflexes, his belly, his heart, blood pressure and spine. Happy to report...he's lookin' great.

After she was done the nurse came back in. First question "do you like Lollipops?" 

"Yes." It was needle time.

We had already told Declan early in the room that part of his visit would be a needle. We tried to explain that it would hurt, kind of a sharp pinch but that it wouldn't last. We reminded him again as the nurse prepped him arm. 

When he got his first needle he was a little surprised as the pain set in but all he did was lower his head and his face turned a little red as tears than ran down his face. He let out some little sobs as he leaned into Daddy for comfort. Daddy wiped his tears and told him it wouldn't hurt long. Rather quickly Declan was recovered and the nurse gave him two suckers...as she said "Two, one for each needle."

So then came needle number two. This time Declan knew it would hurt and he was trying to watch the needle as it approached his arm. I held his arm still and told him to look at me. Needle number two - zero tears. He still wasn't pleased but he sure was tough. Declan did tell us that he didn't like the needles.

Successful visit. Yellow sucker on the ride home. Great job!

I Have a Four Year Old Son

Maybe it's because for 37 years I didn't have him.

Maybe it's because of all the Moms I know and I see how hard they work to be such great Moms and I don't feel like that's me.

Maybe it's because every day I can't believe my luck that he is mine.

Well whatever the reason. It just feels weird to say "I have a 4 year old son."

A 4 year old that thinks he's 30 and I'm going to need to find someway to trick him into snuggling with me and falling asleep in my arms because he is 4 and I can hardly remember what it was like to hold my little baby Declan in my arms.

Already.

I have a 4 year old son.

Goodnight 3

Early this morning Declan and I are laying side by side in bed. He turns into me and says "I really like you!"

I reply with "I really like YOU."

Then Declan asks "Does Daddy really like you?"

"Yes he does."

This evening, after a fun filled 4th Birthday in Ottawa with family, Daddy says to Declan "You're my favourite little boy."

Declan replies with "hmmmmm.....Mommy."

And now as I write this I think about where I was four years ago this very moment. Just starting what would be our last 2 hrs 45 minutes as one. The home stretch before getting to see your little face for the first time. Your Grandma May, your Daddy and Auntie T were right there to welcome you. Right now I'm just stealing one last look at you fast asleep in your Darth Vader pjs before I too fall asleep. Goodnight my 3 year old. See you as 4 in the morning. 

The Ripper

Getting Declan ready at the front door and he toots. "Declan did you just rip one?"

"No I tooted."

"I know but it's slang to say you 'ripped one' or 'let one rip'. You know, because of the sound. It's kindof sounds like you tore your pants."

"Oh."

Two minutes pass. Now Declan is ready and walks up to Daddy outside. 

"Daddy I ripped a toot in my pants. It's like a tore in my pants. I ripped it Daddy."

Daddy looks at me.

"Exactly."

On the long drive to Ottawa Declan needed to pee. We stopped first place we could which was the side of the road. Daddy opened both doors to give Declan some privacy, got him all set up and then waited. Declan had his first roadside pee!! SUCCESS if you don't think about how Declan said he would pee on the grass at Grandmas when we got there.

Little Sweetness

Switched things up for one day. Daddy did the morning drop to Daycare and I surprised Declan and picked him up. I was also a little earlier than the usual time so I waited while Declan put the toys he'd been playing with away.

When I got there he excitedly ran to meet me at the door. Moments after his little friend Natalya came over. When Declan had turned to go back and clean up I looked at Natalya and said "Hi". She happily said "Hi" back. Declan heard, he turned back around, grabbed her arms in his and said "you said hi to my mom!" He was thrilled. What ever goes on in the little brains of the wee ones I don't know but it was quite precious.

He then kept telling me all night how he got to spend the "whole day" with me. Which he did not but the extra hour and a half today made a real difference to him.

Happy

My little Monkey is currently preoccupied with whether or not I'm happy.

Not just in general, or am I happy at work, with friends, around the house....

No very specifically he wants to know if I'm happy as in with and around him. Maybe it was the few days we focused on toilet training, or my displeasure with the manner he speaks to me sometimes (the nearly four year old can be mouthy). I'm not certain but for the last week he often looks at me and asks "are you happy?"

It catches one off guard and truth be I'm not always happy (again, I really don't appreciate the lip) but I make sure he knows I love him. It does remind me to calmly explain how I'm feeling and to really experience the moment. 

My "medium" size Muffin Man sure adds to my life.

Secret

"Daddy. Remember when I was eating and you burped really loud and it was our secret and then I told Mommy?"