Cute Quote

When trying to pep talk X into liking the idea of being pottytrained, I asked him if he wanted to get pottytrained like his cousin. Xavier responded, "Where'd the potty train go? Downstairs?" It made me laugh because he was trying to associate the word I was using (pottytrained) to what he knows (the potty, and trains). I wonder how many times we miscommunicate like this ourselves? Well, let's hop on the potty train...choo, choo!

A blog is a blog is a blog

After a hectic but successful move, the three of us are settling in to life in southern California. One of my friends who helped us move told me unpacking was harder than packing and I'm finding it is true! I think this is because you finally just got all your stuff to fit somewhat nicely into the boxes and into the truck and it seems silly to undo all of your hard work so quickly. So a lot of boxes sit there waiting for you to decide if they are important enough to get opened. In our case, most of our things went into storage so that made the unpacking easier to manage.

Xavier is loving life at Neema and Grandpa's house. This is such a great way to transition to whatever life brings us next because X has been here many times before and was comfortable and excited from the start. Occasionally he mentions something about "mom's house", meaning our old apartment, and was very excited when he saw pictures of it, so I know he misses it but he has been very calm about all the changes. He did have one night where he woke up disoriented, saying that we were in the "wrong bed" but otherwise it has been a pretty easy adjustment. Now that it has been a week, he is even making some headway with the two big dogs here. Normally he climbs up as high as he can on the closest adult until the dogs are put outside, but tonight it was raining so the dogs were in the house. X really wanted to play though, so as long as the "big dogs" weren't in the room or were visibly sleeping he stayed on the ground. Yeah for progress!

An added bonus this week was that his close-in-age-cousin ("Z") was sick and got to play with us (wait, I mean, recuperate with us) rather than go to her daycare. We all watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse together in the mornings, checked out nearby libraries, did art projects, read stories, and just played with all the fun things around the house. One favorite of mine was watching them take turns filling up a small watering can and pouring it on the "garden" (a random patch of dirt in the yard) while the other person dug around the wet dirt with a little plastic tool. They play so much better together now that they are older; they are even each other's accomplices. One day Z showed X where to hide from us (in the pantry) and they didn't make a peep for what felt like a long, heartpounding time while Joe and I searched the house in a panic!

Today, Xavier surprised me during our art project time. He took a Sharpie and was making squiggles all over his paper but when I looked again he was tracing all the letters on a flyer (he was tracing UPGRADE $99, etc.). I didn't even know he could do that!

Xavier loved being a "builder" at My Museum

Tonight I took Xavier outside to visit Grandpa's garage. Minus the dogs, I think X was in heaven! Xavier loves all the tractors and motorcycles and things Grandpa is fixing up. He got a huge kick out of sitting on a green tractor and pretending to drive and "fix" the tractor, even asking for "Turner" (a flathead screwdriver from Bob the Builder). We are definitely going to have to invest in some little toy tools and projects that X can do out there.

And should you wonder how our Christmas went, here are a few pictures of X on Christmas morning. The rest are on Joe's computer. I have to say that holidays are much more fun with a little one around! X got to open his Handy Manny pajamas on Christmas Eve (mostly because I was dying to have him open something...waiting is not my strong suit!). The pjs have the little feet and he looked so cute in them. He had to unzip them at night, though, because he likes me to rub his back and belly while he falls asleep!

He loved opening presents and eating the Clementines and chocolate in his stocking.

Joe's splurge for X--an I Spy Wall-E book

Very cool Buzz Lightyear glasses from the Gensels

My splurge for X--a drumset! We have a great drum solo to post when we get a chance.

X's size 3 soccerball. He tried it out on several soccer fields and basketball courts.

X's grandma and grandpa came up to spend Christmas with us and we got to see lots of fun things (like the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary and the sunset on the coast) and open lots of presents (like his remote control truck and a puppet theater). Xavier loved every present this year and hasn't stopped having fun with them yet!

Christmas in Monterey

Merry Christmas from Monterey! We hope you all have a wonderful Holiday Season and we wish we could be with you. You are all in our hearts and prayers this year and we wish you a Merry Christmas.

Love,

Joseph, Stacy, and Xavier



P.S. This video was filmed at a secret government location. Please make little to no attempts to reveal the precise location should you feel as if you've seen this place before. Because you haven't. Really.

Bliss or Miss

This is bliss, seeing X smile--this smile was after waiting two hours for his picture session during which mom, dad, aunt and grandma tried to keep X and cousin Z entertained, and kept getting to clean up cousin Z who was throwing up but insisted on staying so she could have her pictures taken too.

And this is miss, the times in life (like this month) when it feels like everything is falling apart. This month has, so far, brought shrinking bank accounts, a statistics final and project, a malfunctioning modem and random internet service, unpredictable weather, a monster cold that had me out flat for several days, and job rejections for Joe. Still, we have amazing friends who helped watch X for us, and Joe helped me out with everything--from cooking and taking X on outings to tutoring me in stats and working out my paper. And we just keep applying for more jobs. Joe's theory is that if you don't apply, you definitely won't get the job. Smarty! This week is "apply for Kaiser" week (at least for me). Maybe I'll get some use out of my bachelor's degree (Community Hlth Ed) after all!

Now that I actually have a second to blog, although X really wants me to play cars with him, I'll show you the highlight of our Thanksgiving...Disneyland! Xavier was not sick this time around and it felt so good seeing him excited and amazed at everything. His favorites were: Mark Twain's island (is that what it's called?), the teacups, the carousel (he told us it was like being on Mary Poppins), Dumbo, and the ultimate favorite was "the castle" known to most as the It's a Small World boat ride. Everything was decorated for Christmas and it even "snowed" at certain points in the park at set hours. Very cool. We got there just as it opened and got through a ton of rides before lines started forming and then we stayed there until nine at night, I think. It was a lot of fun and a tradition we are all happy to repeat!

Treasure looting on Mark Twain's island. X did not want to leave this place until he serenaded everyone with a loud rendition of "We are the Pirates Who Don't do Anything" from Veggies Tales. Xavier did actually find a dime on the ground and very carefully put the treasure in his pocket.

The wiggly pirate bridge.

Ready for Winnie the Pooh ride after X had just gotten to meet pictures with Pooh and Eeyore.
His review of the ride consisted of putting his hands over his ears and repeating "Too loud."

Wheeeeeee! On the boat ride for "It's a Small World" with cousin Z.

X's review: "I like teacups." So there you have it.

Honey Grilled Sweet Potato recipe

If anyone wants to try a non-marshmallow, non-buttery sweet potato recipe that is yummy, try these Honey Grilled Sweet Potatoes. This recipe's directions were for the grill but since we don't have a grill, I tried to adapt it to the stove. Trial #1 sweet potatoes got an "okay". Trial #2 sweet potatoes got "mmmmm"s (as in yummmmm). I used the ingredients in bold.

Ingredients:
2 sweet potatoes OR 1 can cooked sweet potatoes
1 can of pineapple chunks* (drained)
1/2 cup pecan halves
1/4 cup honey OR 1/4 cup organic blue agave nectar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp garlic salt

Directions:
Cook sweet potatoes in microwave or oven until soft, then take off skin and cut into cubes (or use already prepared sweet potatoes in a can). Spray large frying pan with cooking spray and add cooked sweet potatoes, drained pineapple chunks, and pecan halves. Heat on medium, turning often. Drizzle most of the agave (or honey) on top of ingredients and let it heat through, marinating, for a few minutes. Add the rest of the agave (or honey), sprinkle with the cinnamon and garlic salt and stir while it bubbles for about one minute. Cover and serve warm!

*For less sugar, use unsweetened pineapple chunks.

Pillowcases for gifts ala my sister

My sister is a stay-at-home mom of five and is known in our family for making fun pillowcases as gifts. I love having new pillowcases that go with the holidays and she is finally taking her pillowcases (and other hand-made items) public. She also takes special requests. Get your order in early, as time and fabric is limited!

See the Blog Pillow Case Place or PillowCasePlace at Etsy.

My Big Boy

Xavier made this Lincoln Log creation all by himself about a month ago. I didn't notice him making it, so when I turned around I was amazed at his imagination and building skills! Each log is close together and he even balanced a second row.

One of my favorite nicknames for Xavier is "Baby Boy" because to me, no matter how old he is getting, he really is my baby boy. However, he often reminds me that he is not a baby anymore. At the grocery store the other day, a little girl younger than he was pointed to him and said "Baby boy!" He was polite enough not to push her over for saying that, but he quickly came back to me and told me, mostly to reassure himself, "I not a baby boy. I a BIG BOY." So there you have it. Xavier is not a baby anymore. He's a big boy, and only his mommy gets by with occasionally calling him "baby boy".