2011 January

When Daddy was down with a cold, and Mommy was busy working and taking care of E-Ling, Grandma and Grandpa took PJ to Santa Cruz for a few days.  Observations from Grandpa follow:

• I buckle him in, ask, do you think someone else might fit in the PJ seat? He looks at me slyly, grinning, in his sing-song voice, "Would somebody be - you?"

• He walked up to A through D gates at the Harbor, pulled on them. They opened! So Peej allowed us to tour the slips down close by the boats.

• He tripped once. Cried a little, but not much. Later I saw him pull up his left pants leg to see if there were any marks. Just like adults might do. Seems like only yesterday we had to check him for wounds.

• He is very avid and animated while we build the ant track. We have two levels and bridges now, and action is fierce. Peej is a very hands-on God; he monitors closely, handles the ants, closes gates and helps stragglers up the long ramp. But especially I liked how he contributed to the construction, when none of us knew how to go about it. Was very definite about what we should do; kept asking, is it done?

• He isn't at all shy, nor is he concerned about his own place in the pattern out on the playground. If other kids are sliding and climbing the rails, younger or older, he won't unless he judges it right. This is one very strong character trait, I think. Lots of trouble follows from following the pack.

• Very strong sense of his own space. He loves Grandma, and will come up and hug her own his own, and he's beginning to do that with me, a little. But he will unconsciously move my arm from around his shoulders more often. We're watching Wonder Pets (We learn dental hygiene tricks of crocodiles!) and I'm holding his hand and he will gently without thinking about it thrust my hand away after a while.

• I already told of his asking for chocolate milk, and Grandma says, 'Maybe when you wake up from your nap,' and Peej says, 'But I'm awake now!'

• Peej told a story, and it evolved like this. 'Someone was mad in my school.' You mean (and I imitated a baby whining).  No, not 'Wyyy-wyyy-wyyyy.' We asked him who. No comment. Another kid. An adult? Not a teacher? A parent.  We were left with the impression a parent was angry, but we were unable to learn how it was expressed.  Finally, on the way home, Peej told more of the story. HE was the angry one. He said he was playing in the classroom, and somebody came in. Impression was that it was two somebodies; other kids. Peej ordered 'Out - out - out!' and the trouble began when they didn't, I suppose.  Em thinks the story may be imaginative. He definitely blew up, though, and nobody could pacify him. He was off for 45 minutes or so.  He's a marvelously complex little critter, and there are phases along the way for everybody, but I'd sure like to know what goes on in that little head to make him so sad and mad sometimes.

Just some impressions of Mr Superb  I miss the little guy  Can't wait to become acquainted with Sydney Mae.

Daddy's observations for January are:

• On his first day of school, PJ was pushed by Ben and got quite upset.  Then at lunchtime, he ate too fast and threw up, causing the second crying episode.

• Sometimes we read a tractor book, which shows a tractor scooping a big load of mulch and PJ asks if the mulch can turn into mochi.  I say no, but explain how the mulch can turn into apple juice, if you plant an apple seed.  He understands this, since last fall we made apple juice after picking and pressing apples at Auntie Mel's.

Dressed up for his second day of preschool.  Click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

PJ, in "Rocket Jams", and Daddy on the couch.  Click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

PJ checking out the new wall of photos.  Click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

 

PJ self portrait.  Click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

 

E-ling (also know as Mae-Mae, Pepper, Payton, and Sydney) enjoying naked belly time in the sun.  Click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

Daddy and E-Ling in the alpenglow.  Click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

Swinging.  Click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

Naked time before bath.  Click here for a high resolution version of this photo.

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