Toddler Tales

Parenting 101 - Do not laugh when your kid does something socially inappropriate.

During dinner last night Andrew took a drink of soda (not pop!). Afterward, he burped. Caleb proceeded to pick up his cup of milk, take a drink, then make an intentional sound that was similar to daddy's burp.

How do you not laugh at that?

Tonight's Favorite Moments

Tonight's theme is Caleb {surprise, surprise}

1. Watching Caleb head off excitedly with the tween boy who lives next door to go hang out at the neighbor's house with a bunch of neighborhood kids. He didn't even look back. Sad to see my baby growing up, but so very happy that he is coming out of his shell and making friends!
2. Hearing Caleb say, "Sit on the grass with me mommy!" as we walked to the car with our Farmer's market purchases of strawberries and peaches. Perfect opportunity to break out the fresh strawberries for a snack on the grass. The weather was absolutely perfect for our little snack-nic {did ya catch that play on "picnic?"}
   
3. Seeing Caleb's face covered in strawberry juice and watching peach juice stream down his arm and drip off his elbow as he ate a peach like an apple.
4. Back at the apartment when Caleb realized that we'd already moved all his games {which he usually plays during our nightly chats with GranB and Pop Pop on Skype}, so instead he broke out his Toy Story dress up clothes and proceeded to dress GranB and Pop Pop {aka. my computer} in the Woody costume.
   

Toddler Tales

I'm starting a new series on the blog called "Toddler Tales" where I recount funny things Caleb has done in recent days.

Today's tale begins after last night's dinner. I got a pear out of the fridge for Caleb and took a bite out of it before giving it to him.

He immediately said, "What the heck, mommy!"

Guess I better watch what I saya little more.

But Boys are Sweet Too

Caleb spent most of last weekend giving HUGE hugs and saying the most adorable phrase I've ever heard, "Mommy, you're my buddy."

Sunday morning when I went into his room to get him he said "Mommy, come cuds with me." So glad he has a full size bed and I can sneak in a few cuddles in the morning still even if it does only last a minute or two.

Boys are Gross

While driving in the car I look in the rear view mirror to see Caleb rubbing his nose. The following conversation ensued...

Me: "Caleb, what are you doing to your nose."

Caleb: "I'm just picking it."

Me: try to hide laughter so he doesn't think picking your nose is funny

... a minute passes with silence...

Caleb: "I ate the whole thing."

Lovely isn't it?

Second Languages

So Caleb goes to a daycare at a Jewish Synagogue. Not because we are Jewish. Not because I was even concerned with him being in a daycare with any kind of religious education. Just because they were educationally accredited and because both Caleb and I loved it when we visited. Anyway, at the school/daycare they teach about the Jewish holidays and customs in addition to teaching about other cultures and customs.

On Friday before their lunch, they have a Shabbat Blessing Over Candles {complete with little electric tea lights}. One of his teachers is Jewish, and she says the prayer that accompanies this ceremony. The other day I heard Caleb mumbling followed by "Aaaaaaa...men!" The words leading up to the big "Aaaaaaa...men" did not sound like the prayer we say at mealtime, so I wasn't sure what he was doing. Later that day while we were sitting down for dinner I heard the "mumbling" again, but this time I was able to pull out some of the Hebrew words that I remember from my Lutheran Catechism classes {like Adonai}. Darn if that kid wasn't saying the Shabbat prayer. He even repeated it for us.

So there it is, my 28 month old has learned a second language in just a few days. Yes, a few days. They only do this prayer on Fridays and he's missed a few Fridays since he started there a month ago. I gotta get this kid into language classes for a useful language {like Spanish or Chineese} ASAP!

You Can't Make This Stuff Up

Me: "Caleb did you make a craft at school today?"

{dead silence}

Me: "Caleb did you paint today at school?"

Caleb: "No, I did not paint. I crap-ed at school today."

I'm pretty sure "crap-ed" translates to "crafted," but if not I'm sure his teachers had some fun doing "crap" with a bunch of 2-year olds.