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

You make me feel...

Tonight before bed:

Me:  "Julian, I have to tell you a secret."

Julian:  "What, mommy?"

Me:  "You make me so happy!"

Julian:  "Mommy, I have to tell you a secret."

Me:  "What, Julian?"

Julian:  "You make me so grumpy."

then he saw the look on my face

Julian:  "I love you mommy."

jbxo

Photo:  Self-portrait, courtesy of Julian

Bless you.

Today I came home tired and hungry... very hungry.  I was pleased to find that Andrew had dinner prepared, and was getting Julian and Nora situated at the dining room table.  He asked me to put together a salad... it was a yummy one.  Baby spinach, beans, chickpeas, eggs... mmmmmm.  We sat down for a lovely family meal.  Music playing softly in the background.  All was well.  For about 30 seconds.  Nora started crying, which quickly turned into screaming.  She didn't want to eat.  Well, she didn't want to eat from her chair, she wanted to sit on mommy's lap (who could blame her?).  Honestly, I would have let her sit on top of my head if I could just keep eating (so very hungry).  So, Nora on my lap, pleased as punch... me munching away, trying to avoid getting pieces of egg in her hair, when it happened.  Nora sneezed.  A big, wet sneeze.  Right over my plate.  The room was silent.  Andrew looked up from his plate, but I could tell he did not want our eyes to meet.  He didn't want to be aware of what he knew would happen next.

Yes, I....

just

kept

eating.

jbxo

A glimpse of beauty...

This takes my breath away.

Last fall mom was here for a weekend visit, and we took Julian and Nora to a local festival.  We found these two girls (ladies, really) doing a chalk drawing in the middle of the festivities.  They call themselves:  "chalk chicks".  I literally stood there, amazed, mouth agape, for about 5 minutes (or long enough for mom to come back to find me, and ask if I planned to join her for the rest of the day).  

What I loved the most about this, wasn't how stunning the piece itself actually was, but the fact that something so beautiful was also so temporary as it would be washed away with the first rainfall.  It made me feel special just for having seen it.

jbxo

Noo-Noo 2.

Today is Nora's second birthday.  I was in the shower this morning when she popped into the bathroom for a visit:

Me:  "Happy Birthday Nora!"

Nora:  "Santa come?"

Poor girl, her birthday will forever be shadowed by all of the glory that is Christmas.

Here she is in her new birthday toque... a must-have for winter birthdays in Canada.

Happy birthday, my little one.

jbxo