Here are some Ryder updates:
- Ryder has learned to say "No!" to requests that he deems unnecessary
- Says "go" if sitting in the car at a stop light
- Other words he says: Bus, Bird, More (but it sounds more like "Me", Bike, I wanna go, Why? (he loves that one).
- Ryder has begun tattling on us all. If I do something he doesn't appreciate, he'll go up to Kia and say "Momma... Dada." He'll do the same to Zoe and Kia.
- He and Zoe get along well for the most part. They definitely love eachother but go through the usual sibling issues.
- Songs he likes:
Maybe - from the movie "Annie"
The sun will come out - also from "Annie"
Sandy "Dumb Dog" - Yes, "Annie" again. He loves that movie!
Buffalo Soldier - He loves to sing along at the "Ya ya ya... yayayaya..." part.
Don't worry bout a thing
*He also is very particular about his songs. If you start to sing a song that he isn't particularly feeling, he'll say "No". And keep doing so until you get to the song he's after. - He loves to smell his feet and then he cracks up
- Tells the following "knock knock joke": Knock Knock. Who's there? Poo Poo. Poo Poo who? Ahhh Poo Poo. And then cracks himself up.
- Seems to be graduating from playing w/ Zoes ballet outfits, pink hats and headbands to playing w/ cars and choo choos and balls. :)
- Per Zoe who is sitting beside us eating dinner: He like to hold my hand and hug me and kiss me
He likes to copy me; We fight when he hits me - Today when Kia picked the kids up she was talking to Zoe on the ride home. They were discussing what a great Daddy then have. He works hard to pay the bills, etc... Kia said, you have the best daddy in the world. Zoe replies, "becaue he buys me presents? And if someone messes with me, he'll beat their asses."
- He likes to sit on Zoes back and tummy and rides her like a horse.
- Speaking of sitting on tummys, yesterday me Zoe and Ryder were playing in Zoes room. Just screwing around. Ryder sat on my tummy facing my feet. At the time he had one of those super bouncy balls in his hand. Out of nowhere, he decided to slam the ball down onto my... you know. I laid there writhing in pain and Zoe asked me if I was crying. That is pretty much the 1st time something like that has happened to me w/ either kid. So I guess I can't complain too much.
- When we drop Zoe off he says "i wanna go" and then sayhs "Bye yaya" (his nickname for her).
- He has been eating w/ a fork for some time now.
And Zoe updates:
- Zoe is learning Spanish at her school. Hope Montessori. She sings a few songs in spanish and has some basic words down.
- As I stated, for the most part Zoe and Ryder get along great and they play really well together. However sometimes they disagree, argue and get generally annoyed w/ eachother. And sometimes when Zoe is really tired and frustrated, she breaks down and cries really hard and says: "Sometimes its really hard to have a baby brother".
- A few weeks ago, we got a note from Zoes school/teacher Mrs. Dadavi. It read: "Mr. and Mrs. Birdsong, Zoe and another girl got into touching eachothers work in an antagonizing manner. Im not sure how it started, but Zoe ended up poking the girl on the arm. Fortunately, it didnt break the skin. I talked with her about what happened and how we need to use our words, because we cannot take the hurt away once it is done. She was receptive."
- Zoe has been listening really well and she helps Kia w/ Ryder; sometimes she undermines Kia when she has to reprimand Ryder. Zoe will come up to Ryder afterwards and comfort him.
- Zoe and Kia had a girls day last weekend where they got pedicures (yes, Zoe had her 1st professional pedicure) and then went to a ceramic art store and made mugs for hot cocoa.
- Zoe loves to make her own Salads for dinner (thanks for introducing her to Salad Grandma!)
- Zoe recently reunited with an old friend. Zoe met Stella in Costa Rica when she was 6 months old. Stellas parents recently moved to the area and they've had a few playdates already.
- Zoe often gets up in the middle of the night, stumbles out of her room half awake and summons Kia to have "sleepovers".
- I took Zoe to see the owl movie:
Halfway through the movie she asked me when the movie was going to be over. For half a second, I considered walking out, but I was somewhat invested and just spent about $40.00 on tickets and candy. So we stayed.
And finally, an example of what a great Daddy/provider I am: We have lived in our current home for over 1 year now. Since we moved in, we've had "hot water" issues. i.e. the water is luke warm. It has really sucked. Last week, Kia asked "Is there anything we can do about the water situation?". To which I replied "No".
Well, over this past weekend, I was cleaning out/re-organizing the basement and decided to take a look at the hot water heater. And... wouldn't you know it, there is a nozzle where you can turn to turn up the heat. Who knew????
The good news: We now have hot water
The bad news: We suffered for over a year unnecessarily.
Yes, I suck.
