Too Many P's

Vash is a smart boy. He has a great memory and he loves nicknaming things. He's still learning to talk though, and will make small, but hilarious, mistakes. Papa took Vash to visit Grampi in the Recovery Center after a surgery. Papa wanted to bring Grampi a pepper plant. So if you were to ask Vash what it was they did, he would have told you that Papa took him to give "Peepee" (Grampi) a "Poo Poo" (Pepper) plant.

Relief Society

Before Vash was old enough for Nursery, he used to come with me to Relief Society most Sundays. We'd sit in the back, nicknamed Mommy Row, and snuggle. He's sit on my lap and eat treats, look at books, and  occasionally play with a toy. I remember, I'd always wait until the last fifteen minutes to give him a mish mash, his favorite treat. They're like applesauce in a pouch, but you can have lots of flavors and different ingredients. I remember thinking, if I can just hold him off until then, he'll take the rest of the time eating and then we'll go home without any fussing! It was an art form. Getting through Relief Society with a toddler and no tears or whining. He really enjoys nursery now, and I'm glad he's there. But I sort of miss those days of mish mash. (Rhyla has always just napped or run around during Relief Society. She's a pleasant baby, but there's no sitting there for her if she's not sleeping.)

Who needs an Ipod?

We sing to the kids every night to help them fall asleep now that we're in our new place. We sang before, but they seem to like it better now because it's something familiar in a world of change. When Vash was a baby he loved all the Disney classics, particularly songs from Pocahontas( Colors of the Wind), Hunchback of Notre Dame(God Help the Outcasts), and Willy Wonka's "pure imagination". Now we sing a mix of kid song and adult songs because Vash understands more and wants more complicated words than Twinkle Twinkle can offer. Our current playlist:
You are my sunshine
One Song (Snow White)
Meet me in the middle
Song Bird
Reflection
A dream is a wish your heart makes
Rainbow connection
Death cab for cutie's "Follow you into the dark"
Dashboard confessionals "Hand down"
I am a child of God
As I have loved you (Rhyla's Fave)
If ever I would leave you (Camelot)
When you wish upon a star
and Vash's current fave, the Beatles "Blackbird". He calls it "Black eye." and thinks the words are "fly into the light," instead of "Into the light of a dark black night." *smirks*

Artist

Vash is really getting good at drawing. He's always been interested in coloring and the like since he was able to grasp a pencil. But now he's actually drawing things that you can see what he's trying to create. When he tells me he drew a whale, I can see the head and tail. He puts the eyes, nose, and mouth in the right place on all of his people. He drew a Vash pumpkin and put hair on top. He draws lines of different heights, and explains that the tallest line is a daddy line, the next is a mommy line, the next a Vash line, and Rhyla is always the shortest of the lines. My three year old is into impressionist art! LOL. His love for art has actually rubbed off on Rhyla. She'll put down her books occasionally to sit and color with us. Sometimes she scribbles all over the pages, but usually she tries to stay in the lines and color like me and Vash. We joke that if he get's an art degree he could go and work as a story board artist for Pixar or something one day. We only joke because as parents we hope his art is a hobby that he finds much pleasure in, but chooses to get a degree and work in a field that's a little more stable. They don't call them starving artists for nothing!

Vash the Builder

Vash loves building things. He loves making legos into a house, he loves stacking boxes and using them as slides. This week Vash got to help Craig build a step attachment that he will use with a ladder when he paints areas from the stairs. Vash enjoyed this activity immensly. He was sweating, handing Craig his tools. He learned what a screw is, he learned that a square is not only a shape but a tool. And he learned to step far back when Daddy uses the saw. (He didn't get hurt, he just knew by the sound it made that staying away was a good idea.) It fills me with joy to see my son spending quality time with his dad while he learns to do something productive and fun. And Craig had so much fun teaching Vash that I think he'll be letting Vash helped whenever something needs to be built in the future.

The Great Protector

Vash's middle name is Alexander, which means defender of the people. I know for sure, after the story I'm about to tell you, that the names we give our children, must have some effect on how they behave. (After all, Rhyla's middle name is Belle, like beauty and the beast, and she LOVES to read. LOL.) Anyway, when Vash is miss behaving, we'll try and talk to him about why what he did was wrong and if he understands why he's not allowed to do it. EX: Vash pushes over Rhyla. We say, "Vash, you need to sit in time out. We never push other people, especially not our baby sister. Do you understand me? Do you understand that it is unkind to push baby Rhyla?" So anyway. Craig and I were talking about something and I got the hiccups. Vash thought I was crying. So he comes running to my side saying, "It's OK mommy. It's OK," then turning on Craig he says," No Daddy! We don't speakin to mommy and crying. Understand me? Mommy's crying." He pulls me down for a hug and I am laughing so hard, that I can hardly breathe. Vash thinks I'm crying more. "Daddy! NO. See mommy cry? Understand me? No, daddy. No speakin to mommy. Say sorry."
It was so adorable. My little defender. We've explained hiccups to him since though.

Lap Sitting

When Vash was just weeks old, my favorite thing to do with him was just sit. We have an amazing rocking chair. So comfortable and the envy of anyone whose's had little babies. Any how, I'd sit there with my legs pulled up, rest Vash on my knees, facing me, and sing to him. (Ok, so I really only know Disney songs, but what's better than that?) He'd smile in his sleep, or watch me intently if he was awake. I'd hold his hands and this is how we'd pass the hours. Just me and my baby.