Ace!

This is one of my bestest friends in the world - Pamela.  We have known each other since grade 9.  We were a group of four besties in high school.  We graced one another with nick names that we never actually used.  She was Ace.  I was Lola.  Now Pamela lives far away, but when I am treated to a visit from her it is as though not a day has gone by... I love that.  Especially since I kinda stink as a friend, I'm terrible at "keeping in touch", returning phone calls and all of that stuff (thank goodness for the internet!).  

Pamela is a very talented artist, and she has recently started a new venture, smashable art... creating custom, one-of-a-kind pinatas.  You can view her wonderful creations here.  Sometimes scary, sometimes funny... enjoy!

jbxo

Crazy River.

You may have picked up on this by now, but Julian is a very sensitive soul.  He also has a keen musical ear.  He memorizes songs almost instantly, and will let you know immediately whether he is fond of a tune or not.  His taste in music is pretty fantastic for a 4 year old, ranging from jazz to rock and a few old english tunes mixed in (there is nothing creepier than hearing your child sing "My Grandfather's Clock"... trust me).  The Beatles are his favourite (which makes daddy smile).  

He has pretty cheesy taste in radio stations, however.  His station of choice is a local "easy rock" number.  He loves it.  He can often be heard in his room belting out a little Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston... Unfortunately the station also has Robbie Robertson's:  "Somewhere Down the Crazy River" on rotation.  We discovered this at 10pm one night, when we found him screaming in his room, hands over his ears, saying:  "SCARY VOICES!".  This song totally, completely and utterly freaks him out.

Believe it or not, Andrew's best friend is the music director at said radio station, so we were able to pull some strings and have it removed from the 8pm to 10pm time slot.  This has solved a lot of bed time stress in our house.  Unfortunately every once in a while it sneaks its way on the air at 8:30pm... wreaking havoc on our nightly routine.

Would it be wrong to start using it as a "time out theme tune"?...

jbxo

i love her.

determined

stubborn

single-minded & silly...

isn't she lovely?

jbxo

best compliment. ever.

Tonight before bed, Julian to me:

"Mommy, are you a ballerina?"

I know what you are thinking, how could he possibly think I'm a ballerina, when I am obviously a world-famous chalk artist...

jbxo

Cargo.

Julian has discovered the ancient art of the "knock-knock" joke.  Truly a joyful moment in every parent's life.  Most of the time the jokes he puts together make absolutely no sense whatsoever.  He has, however, recently found a gem:

Knock-knock.

Who's there?

Cargo.

Cargo who?

Cargo beep beep!

We went to a 4th birthday party for his friend Matteo last weekend and I watched him literally work the room with this joke.  Unfortunately Nora (who doesn't quite understand nor appreciate the true artistry that is the well-timed-delivery-set-up of the knock-knock joke) has gotten in on the action.  This is how it has been playing out:

Julian:  "Knock-knock."

Nora:  "BEEP BEEP!"

It usually ends in tears.

jbxo

Doin' his Do.

Julian has CRAZY hair.  Don't get me wrong.  I love it, but it is crazy.  When his hair first began to grow as a baby it stood straight up in the air, completely defying the laws of gravity... and it has never stopped standing up.  He can also thank both of his parents for the cowlicks (by the way, I have always detested that term, impossible not to imagine a cow actually licking your head).

We keep his hair fairly short - mainly because I'm not sure what would really happen if it actually grew long - would it just keep going up?

As I said though, I love it.  It is crazy, it is kooky, it is Julian.

Last night as we were "having a little talk" (as he calls it) before bed he said:  "Mommy... why does my hair go up?  I want flat hair like the boys at school.  I want hair like Alexander's.".  I swear, it absolutely broke my heart.  How is it possible that even at the age of 4, children are already capable of noticing what is "different" about themselves... and even sadder is they are already so desperate to be just like everyone else.  

I told Julian he has magic hair, and it is beautiful.  I hope he believed me, because it's true.

jbxo

Place of Origin.

Discussion in the car this morning:

Julian:  "Mommy, where was Nora when I was a baby?"

Me:  "Ummmm, she didn't really exist... yet."

Julian:  "Was she in Daddy's belly?"

Me:  "No, not really..."

Julian:  "Where was she, Mommy?"

Me:  "Maybe she was with God."

Julian:  "Did God make my sister?"

Me:  "Yes, kind-of."

Julian:  (laughing) "That's silly, Mommy.  God made my sister like people making race cars!"

He then burst into hysterics.

I was just pleased we didn't have to venture into the "baby in Daddy's belly" territory.

jbxo

happy heart day.

Photo lovingly borrowed from:  amala.

Funny Julian story tonight.  During his bath he stood up, held "himself" and began to sing quite loudly.  Then he said:  "mommy, my penis is a microphone."

I didn't really know how to respond, so I said:  "I'm glad you like music."

jbxo

dee-doo.... out.

Nora loves her soother.  Of course no child ever calls it a "soother", do they?  Nora calls hers a "dee-doo".  I don't know who needs it more, her or us.  We have come close to breaking the habit before, but we broke down each time.  She would bang into something and scream:  "DEEEEEE-DOOOOOO", or she would get sick and pathetically whimper:  "dee-doo" :(  How can you possibly say no?!  The most frustrating part was that Miss Anna (her lovely daycare teacher) informed us that she goes the ENTIRE DAY there (including nap time) without it.  Humph.  Enough is enough I say.

Today Nanny picked up Julian and Nora.  They got back to her house.  Nora said:  "Dee-doo, Nanny?"... Nanny looked around.  No dee-doo.  Nora got over it - quickly.  Then I arrived to pick them up.  Nora SCREAMED:  "DEE-DOO!"... I didn't have one either.  I momentarily felt a real sense of panic.  Then I thought, I can do this!  She cried for a moment, but again she got over it.  We drove home and walked in the door, Nora ran to daddy:  "DEE-DOO!"... and believe it or not, there actually wasn't one in our entire house.  It also happens to be incredibly cold out today.  Terrible dee-doo shopping weather.  So, this was it.  It was time.  The forecast said so.  I "pretended" to look around for said dee-doo with Nora.  I explained to her that there wasn't one anywhere... then I said:  "Oh, Nora!  Do you know what this means?"  She looked at me, wide-eyed.  "This means you are a BIG GIRL NOW!"  Guess what?  She bought it.  Tonight, for the first time in two years she went to bed without a dee-doo, and before she fell asleep she actually carried on a conversation with me.  Amazing what a two-year old can say without a dee-doo in her mouth!

jbxo

Baby Daddy.

Today Julian turned 4 years old. 

Crazy.

This photo was taken in August of 2005.  We were in New York City, and he was 6 months old (and no, that was not his Corona).  How is it possible that he is 4 years old?  We celebrated his birthday tonight with music, nachos and home made organic brownies - yum!

Notes from Julian in regards to turning 4:

Me:  "Julian, I can't believe you are 4 years old!"

Julian:  "Mommy, do I have to be a daddy now?"

Love you Jbug.

mommy jbxo