Left to his own devices, Jamie would get up at first hint of light in the morning. So we have managed to institute a (mostly) successful system whereby both boys are meant to stay in bed until 7:00. Jamie is pretty good about this. He has a digital clock that he watches very carefully, waiting for the magic 7 to pop up. For his part, Connor seems to understand that he doesn't get up until Jamie does. Because he goes to sleep so much later than Jamie, even though they go to bed at the same time, he also not infrequently just snoozes right through until 7:30 or even 8 on the weekends.
This morning, for whatever reason, they were both up and chirping starting about 6. Sarah and I each went down once to quiet Connor. He was rarin' to go at 7 when I came down, but it was quiet in Jamie's room. I looked in and saw that he had fallen back asleep in his bed. As usual he had his woobie and his chosen stuffed animals nearby, but he also had the clock, which was sitting on the bed about 2 inches from his nose. He woke up when I made a little noise however and was quite gleeful to see: 7:04.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Our media savvy boy
While Jamie is no stranger to television shows, we have managed to keep him blessedly free from commercials. A few have slipped through on kids channels and the usual reaction of "I want that!", even when he doesn't quite know what "that", is has been produced.
But he has seen almost no adult tv at all of course. One day Sarah was upstairs getting ready to go out and had the tv on for a minute. Jamie came up in time to see a commercial for the Swiffer. He marched into the bathroom where Sarah was drying her hair and said with a kind of awe: "Mom, you HAVE to get this broom! They said it's the greatest floor cleaner in the world!" Sarah, gently said "Well, yes, honey they say that but..." Jamie insisted, however, "You HAVE to have it!" So Sarah took the opportunity to explain a bit about commercials and media and how they are trying to sell things to people and Jamie seemed to listen. He left the bathroom only to return moments later, predictably, with news of a set of knives that we really needed to buy.
But he has seen almost no adult tv at all of course. One day Sarah was upstairs getting ready to go out and had the tv on for a minute. Jamie came up in time to see a commercial for the Swiffer. He marched into the bathroom where Sarah was drying her hair and said with a kind of awe: "Mom, you HAVE to get this broom! They said it's the greatest floor cleaner in the world!" Sarah, gently said "Well, yes, honey they say that but..." Jamie insisted, however, "You HAVE to have it!" So Sarah took the opportunity to explain a bit about commercials and media and how they are trying to sell things to people and Jamie seemed to listen. He left the bathroom only to return moments later, predictably, with news of a set of knives that we really needed to buy.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Momma's boys
Well, Mommy is away in Leiden for a conference, so it's me and da boyz. All in all it's gone pretty well. When we took Sarah to the airport on Tuesday Jamie fell asleep in the car, which is always a recipe for trouble because he usually wakes up cranky. He didn't do so until more or less the moment Sarah was getting out, so she sort of said goodbye before he knew what had happened. For his part, Connor began saying, "We going with Mommy!!" as we pulled up to the terminal. We gently tried to suggest that this was not the case, but he cheerfully reasserted his point, sure that he could make it true by saying it.
So, suffice it to say, as we pulled away from the curb without Mommy reality hit both boys hard and I had a chorus of crying, in stereo from the back seat. But since then they have adapted well as usual. Jamie, of course, likes that have sleepovers and Connor has been a good mood all week. At moments of stress, however, the truth comes out. Yesterday we went to dinner at his friend Little Max's house. They bumped heads rather hard and as he was crying Jamie called for Mommy repeatedly.
Today we had soccer in the morning. We got hit with a very rare late March cold snap and it was very windy. Jamie rather bravely went out to play but Connor was NOT happy and every gust of wind made him cry (real Texas boys we have!), and he kept repeating "I want go HOME!" Finally, as it became clear that I wasn't listening, he too resorted to "Mommy!!! I want MOMMY!!!" I love when he does this in front of other people. Makes me feel like I've kidnapped them.
So, suffice it to say, as we pulled away from the curb without Mommy reality hit both boys hard and I had a chorus of crying, in stereo from the back seat. But since then they have adapted well as usual. Jamie, of course, likes that have sleepovers and Connor has been a good mood all week. At moments of stress, however, the truth comes out. Yesterday we went to dinner at his friend Little Max's house. They bumped heads rather hard and as he was crying Jamie called for Mommy repeatedly.
Today we had soccer in the morning. We got hit with a very rare late March cold snap and it was very windy. Jamie rather bravely went out to play but Connor was NOT happy and every gust of wind made him cry (real Texas boys we have!), and he kept repeating "I want go HOME!" Finally, as it became clear that I wasn't listening, he too resorted to "Mommy!!! I want MOMMY!!!" I love when he does this in front of other people. Makes me feel like I've kidnapped them.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Our photo correspondent
There is much to blog about, given that we are just back from a vacation on St. Simon's Island with cousins Liam and Finn. For the moment however, I am pleased to offer a sampling of photographs taken by Jamie Costello, who got a camera for Christmas. I think that there is a real range here, in subject from portraits to still-lives to abstractions and in expression from the mundane to the profound, though with rather more of the latter.
He is nothing if not prolific as well. What I am offering here is maybe 1% of his total oeuvre (as we say in the art history business). He filled up the memory card in a few days.
Enjoy and know that Sarah and I had exactly no hand whatsoever in any of these.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Mr. Sensitive
We have been very impressed lately and Jamie's increasing ability to be empathetic. He is much into the Clone Wars these days and when we went to Connecticut a few weeks ago I got him a clone action figure for the plane ride. When Nonni and Diddy came recently, however, they brought a whole troop of clones. These had the advantage over the one I gave a) in numbers b) in that their blasters (very important) were glued to their hands, so they didn't get lost and c)they have little platforms to stand on so they don't fall over. My clone literally couldn't stand up to the competition.
After a couple of days, he came over and asked quietly if it was OK that he played more with the clones that Nonni and Diddy gave because he didn't want me to feel sad that he didn't play with mine. Sweet boy.
After a couple of days, he came over and asked quietly if it was OK that he played more with the clones that Nonni and Diddy gave because he didn't want me to feel sad that he didn't play with mine. Sweet boy.
Portrait of a two-year old
We've said often that Connor is a lot more laid back as a baby and now a toddler than Jamie was. As a two-year old though there is an interesting mix at work for Connor between his agreeable nature and the rebellious streak that comes with the age. We never quite know which Connor we're going to get and the difference is pronounced.
Say for instance, Connor wants to play with some cars in his crib at night-time and we go down to explain that he has to go to sleep. Two possibilities exist: either he will very sweetly say OKAAAAY and roll over on his pillow and try to go to sleep or he will completely FREAK OUT and go to the mattresses as they say in Godfather, meaning he will scream his head off in anger for the next twenty minutes. So things tend to either be no problem whatsoever or the end of the world. It does put some suspense into relatively mundane matters.
He is also very fierce. When we get mad at him now, often because he steadfastly refuses to do something we've asked, he gives us the angry dinosaur look and says "DON'T TALK TO ME THAT WAAAAY!" It's quite impressive really.
Say for instance, Connor wants to play with some cars in his crib at night-time and we go down to explain that he has to go to sleep. Two possibilities exist: either he will very sweetly say OKAAAAY and roll over on his pillow and try to go to sleep or he will completely FREAK OUT and go to the mattresses as they say in Godfather, meaning he will scream his head off in anger for the next twenty minutes. So things tend to either be no problem whatsoever or the end of the world. It does put some suspense into relatively mundane matters.
He is also very fierce. When we get mad at him now, often because he steadfastly refuses to do something we've asked, he gives us the angry dinosaur look and says "DON'T TALK TO ME THAT WAAAAY!" It's quite impressive really.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
More on marriage
As we rode home after school yesterday, Jamie was silent for a little while (this is news in itself) and then asked, "Dad, when will I be a grownup?" In 13 years I said. Quickly, he asked "And when will Carson be a grownup?" In 12 years I said. There was a pause and then he said with some concern, "Dad I want to be a grownup in 12 years too, because Carson might marry someone else!"
I tried to reassure him that people didn't necessarily get married the minute they became grownups. He asked why and I demurred. Of course, I also didn't mention that we want to give Carson's parents plenty of time to get the dowry together.
I tried to reassure him that people didn't necessarily get married the minute they became grownups. He asked why and I demurred. Of course, I also didn't mention that we want to give Carson's parents plenty of time to get the dowry together.
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