Ear Wax

Here's a short post, thanks to my "shorty," Eli.

This morning, while my husband and I were packing the suitcases and getting ready to head to the Phoenix airport, Eli was picking at his ear. At one point, Eli exclaimed, "I had some junk in my ear. It was an EAR WACK!"

Despite several attempts to explain the idea of ear WAX to Eli, he claimed that it was "an ear WACK, because it was only one."

The teacher in me really wanted to take the time to teach a mini lesson on singular vs. plural...but I resisted the temptation. He is only 3, you know.

End of the Arizona Trip

Our mini-vacation is coming to an end. We've definitely had some adventures over the last four days. Here are a few things I've learned on this trip:

-When Eli says he has to pee, and that he can't hold it...he is NOT joking.
-The only place where Eli will truly relax is on a lazy river at a water park.
-Eli can understand the lady's voice on the navigation/GPS system better than we can...and he repeats the directions pretty much every time.
-Japanese girls LOVE Eli. (They wouldn't stop ooh-ing and ah-ing over him at the Grand Canyon...)
-When Eli experiences something cool, he almost always says, "Whoa! Look at THIS!"

The unfortunate thing is...I just can't remember all of the silly yet insightful things my little guy has said over the last few days. I've been a bit too busy packing and repacking the backpack, organizing snacks, filling and refilling sippy cups, and holding hands with Eli to recall it all. Such is the life of a mom, I suppose.

Go Cubbies Go!

I am typing this post on my husband's toy...err, iPad, from a hotel room in Phoenix, Arizona. The three of us are on a mini-vacation with only two main objectives: see a Cubs spring training game (check!) and see the Grand Canyon (yet to be checked off the list).

Now Eli is a pretty big Cubs fan...for a three-year old. It might have something to do with being born into a family of Cubs fans. The fact that we painted his nursery/bedroom in official "Cubs red" paint and covered the walls with pictures of Wrigley Field may have been the clincher, though. Even the mobile that used to hang above the crib consisted of several bears dressed in complete Cubs uniforms. It also played "Take Me Out To the Ballgame." Yes, we really do love those Cubbies!

So today when we got to the ballpark in Mesa, Eli was pretty riled up and excited for the game to start. So intense was his enthusiasm, that he apparently could not contain his extreme love for the Cubs any longer. While walking the concourse, passing by countless food counters and shops, Eli spotted a fellow Cubs fan (a complete stranger, mind you), ran up, high-fived him, and yelled, "Go Cubbies, go!" The man was nice enough to put his hand up to accept the high-five...and really, who wouldn't want to high-five a cutie pie completely decked out in Cubs gear?

Tune in next time to hear all about our trip to the Grand Canyon!

A Secret Revealed

Just the other day, I was telling a friend that Eli has never tasted chocolate milk. He really doesn't even know that milk comes in any other flavor/color than white...and that's the way I would like to keep it.

Yet, as I type, we are watching a fairly high quality, educational program on television, and what's the topic? You guessed it! Chocolate and strawberry milk. Seriously? Ugh.

So I suppose it's a wake up call for me, right? God (and satellite television) is reminding me that I cannot guard and shelter him from everything "evil" and impure. I guess I was just hoping that he could wait and learn about flavored milk when he went to school...sort of like how I learned the "F" word when I started riding the bus to school.

Poop Talk

I'm not sure if it's because Eli's my first/only child, but I just don't ever get tired of listening to him speak (except for when he's whining, perhaps).

Today, after I went to work but before my husband left for the office, Eli informed him that he had to poop (see my earlier disclaimer if you're unhappy about my content/use of the word "poop"). Eli proceeded to run toward the bathroom, then stopped---and ran back to my husband. Eli gave him a very intense look and shouted out, "Daddy, sometimes when you gotta poop, you just need to get it done!" And with that profound statement, he ran off, back to the bathroom (where he did, in fact, poop).

When I arrived home from work, the first words out of my mom's (and full-time babysitter/dishwasher) mouth were, "Eli pooped 3 times today!" Nope, there's no escaping the daily poop talk. And believe me, I've tried.

Happy pooping, everyone!

Today I...

*woke up a bit late

*rubbed Eli's tummy and whispered, "Good morning. It's still early, go back to sleep," as he was beginning to wake up

*took a deep breath of Eli's toddler scent before leaving his still-dark room

*sang along (hoarse voice and all) with AC/DC and Foo Fighters songs on the way to school

*slid (and nearly fell) on the frosty ice patch in the school parking lot

*made coffee for myself and a friend/teacher ("freacher" :) )

*cherished my steaming hot, rich, black Starbucks coffee

*was reminded of a dear friend

*prayed silently

*wondered if I made the right decision

*took several deep breaths

*attempted to ease some test-taking anxiety (for my students AND myself)

*administered "THE TEST"

*read 2 Dr. Seuss books to my class

*challenged my students to accept (and continue) the SOL writing challenge

*tried to focus on all that is right and good, and to filter out the negativity and pessimism

*referred to myself as "a work in progress"

Shorty Quotes

Life has been moving a bit too fast for me lately. I'm attempting to slow down and enjoy the small things in life. Thus, I am making this post short and (hopefully) sweet.

Here are a few recent quotes from Eli, the 3-year old cutie:

*"Thank you, Mommy, for making this dinner for me."

*"You gotta see this video on the iPad. It's CRAAAAZY!"

*"I gonna pitch for the Cubs!"

*"My tummy says, (in a very deep, grumbly voice) 'I need a green ice pop!'"

*When I said, "Wow, that's great," Eli replied (with the level of enthusiasm only a 3-year old can create), "I KNOW it is WOW, Mommy!"

*"So Puck is up in heaven with God? I KNOW Him!" :)

Even when life (especially work/school) gets tough, I always have this little guy to cherish when I finally get home. Thank goodness.