"Mother's" Day

7am wake up by a four year old who has made me (with Daddy's help of course) breakfast in bed. Tea, a banana and two pieces of toast with butter and raspberry jam. The Muffin Man then hopped into bed beside me to hang out while I ate my breakfast.

Daddy tells me how Declan wanted to put peanut butter too but he suggested they didn't. (Whew. No idea how I would have managed to eat it in front of Declan if they had. PB&J to me is just the worst. Declan also helped me eat the banana because he hasn't met a Banana he didn't want to "share".

All day he kept asking me if I had a Happy Mother's Day.

He also corrected me when I called it "Mommys" Day.

"Actually it's called Mother's Day."

Well whatever we call it I used the day as an excuse for some extra hugs and kisses. Especially since Declan showed me the xoxo in my card and told me they are for hugs and kisses.

 

He's Quite Proud

Sure am proud of the Muffin Man today. He tried really hard in his Lacrosse class. He was able to scoop the ball up correctly with his stick (not every time but numerous times-practice this week paid off) and he ran around and participated. He ran over to me to share his excitement about the action on the floor, he came over to fist bump me, he wanted back in when he had to sit on the bench and when the class was all over he ran to us yelling "I did it! It's all done and I didn't cry!!!"

From His Mouth

"I'm excited to go to school.

I'm going to learn about space.

I will need my own space suit though. They make them for four year olds you know.

Then I have to find a rocket because I can't bong enough to get all the way to the moon."

"I want to wear my cape. I can't fly but I can go fast like the flash. I need to wear my sunglasses because bad guys wear sunglasses."

Declan strikes a pose where one arm is outstretched and he's pointing toward the ground with just his index finger extended.

"This is how I'll look on my card."

"On your car?"

"No. On my card."

He means in his trading card. He thinks he's going to have his own trading card and he's figured out how he wants to look."

Declan's Style

Two weeks ago I tried to get Declan to practice "scooping" the ball with his Lacrosse stick. It didn't go well. I was trying to show him how and helped him hold the stick, even walked him through the needed movement to pick up and cradle the ball. 

He got frustrated. Frustrated by my coaching style and just stopped.

This evening I tried a different approach. I practiced with my own stick and ball while he practiced along side me with his. He observed what I was doing but how he learned was on his terms. I tried to take words he used while he talked about what he was doing to then support him with verbal encouragement. Of and of course each time he was successful we celebrated with a big high five.

The difference this type was clear. Declan didn't give up this time. He is rather determined and kept trying. He was able to scoop the ball numerous times. Declan is a very independent, stubbourn person who wants to succeed. If you push him though he's happy to push back but give him time, space and resources - he will do so well!

Tucked In

This evening Declan went off to bed without any issue. At 8pm, an hour after he'd gone to bed he got up and came downstairs. Daddy asked him why he had gotten out of bed.

Declan: "I wanted another toy, there's still room in my bed."

Daddy: "ok, pick one fast, then back to bed."

Declan looked around then decided he would bring a potato head. Once selected he says: "I'd like another kiss goodnight too."

So we obliged and kisses were given. Then Daddy told Declan to head on back to bed and tuck himself in.

Declan was on his way but after a few steps we heard the potato head hit the floor.

Declan:

"It's ok."

"Oh. It's broke."

"Yup. It broke."

"It's just a potato."

Mommy: "Do you need help Declan?"

Declan: "ya."

So the Potato head was repaired and then he was off. Went upstairs and tucked himself nicely back in bed.

My Bad

In the mail today we received the date and time for Declan's JK Information night in June. We get to meet the teachers, ask questions and visit the classrooms. Oh My God!! He's going to school in FOUR MONTHS!!!

Unreal.

Kelly texted me this evening to say: "It's a wonderful job and opportunity to see a child grow.  Big loss in September though.  I will miss declan.  My favorite baby boy by far.  What a treat to watch a child for this long.

He will do well in life".

Big changes ahead for this little guy.

Funny story: this evening he got up out of bed and wanted to tell Daddy about a dream he had. He said he was picking the skin around his thumbnails and his thumbs came off.

When Daddy told me this story I remembered how I'd told Declan to stop picking at the skin by his thumbnails or it would get infected and he could lose his thumbs. So I guess that was my fault.

Ooooops.

Reward Day

Soon as Declan got up he announced that today was Skedaddle Kids day.

Sure enough he earned it. He did a great job at Lacrosse Saturday and he had his first night without pull-ups and he didn't have an accident. Actually to be fair he's been dry every morning for at least 6 months. We were the hold outs.

Daddy had a talk with Declan before we left for Skedaddle. He asked him to be a good boy and to listen to Mommy. Well it worked. He was great. We went down the big slides together and then once I grew tired he kept going on his own.  He even danced a little from the bottom of the slide back over to wear he needed to climb up. There was that much happiness in this kid today.

So exhausted, he had a solid nap midday and first thing he said when he got up was that he'd had a fun time at Skedaddle.

During his bath tonight he looked at me and asked if he could kiss me. I said yes and leaned toward him for the sweetest little kiss on my cheek. Then he said "that means I love you." I'm so lucky.

At the end of his bedtime story tonight it says to make a wish. Declan said he wished Alex's house was closer to our house. I told him that was a very good wish. Then he said "I also wish this was a Lego world." (Heart AND Soul)

Also - new discovery this weekend: Declan likes the Beatles.