Spring is Coming

I've been jotting down some of Joaquin's "moments" on sticky-notes this past month, here goes.


"Mom, am I twenty four?"
"No, J. How old do you think you are?"
-sigh-
"I'm five. But I'm getting bigger."

One night after tucking J in bed.
"Hey Mom, happy good night!"

He'll often say, "Are you gonna do yoga and watch a movie (meaning watch TV)?" This kid knows what I'm doing even as he sleeps.

"Mom, scribble scrabble is not pretty. Stay in the lines."


Phrases he uses that amuse me:

"There might gonna be," as in "There might gonna be rain tomorrow?"

"Yesterday long time ago" = the distant past, ie. last week or earlier

"Hey, I have a great idea. How about go park?"

One morning we were walking to the bus stop right before dawn (the bus comes at 6:45 a.m.) and I was humming a little tune, something I do subconsciously most of the time. J was not impressed. "Mommy, no more singing before sky up."

Today we had such a good day together. Sometimes Sundays are the best day of the week for us. We got up, had a little breakfast (though Mommy can't eat much because I had a visit to the orthodontist this week). He helped me get some tortilla soup going in the crock pot, then he helped me make a cheesecake. He loves to dump whatever I measure out into the bowl and stir it, set the timer, and remind me when something is still in the oven. We are starting to spell out simple words together during the day, 0-v-e-n. I'm also helping him remember to use articles of speech like to, the, for, at, etc. He almost always uses subject, verbs, direct objects, etc. but it's just those crazy articles he forgets. We then had a little lunch, and went to the park. It was still in the 40's and chilly, but he was so excited to get outside today. We took a frisbee and soccer ball, and he chattered to himself the whole way. Sometimes he sings little melodies that he's learned from one of his children's CD's. Right now his favorite songs are anything "Yo Gabba Gabba." I highly recommend this group, as the lyrics are catchy and the music itself is something an adult not only can withstand but even enjoy after multiple listenings. Great beats and selection of musical genres. Anyway, on the way home, J decided to stop every few feet to pick out a little pebble to put inside the frisbee. By the time we got home he had enough "treasures" to put in his Spiderman lunchbox. He was so proud of himself. After this, we napped, ran some errands, watched a little Jungle Book movie, ate dinner, read books, took a bath, and went to bed. Every night he says, "Mommy, tell me something." I then review our day, starting with breakfast, all the way to bedtime. We always talk about everything he ate (this child will always have a special relationship with food), and he is starting to tell me his favorite parts of the day, what he did in school that day, etc. Then we talk about tomorrow, which usually consists of "bus and school." He resists going to school a lot, but loves the bus. I think a lot of this resistance is for show. Tonight he said his tummy hurt, he couldn't go to school tomorrow. First time he's used that one! Anyway, then we snuggle and I tell him I love him and say good night in Chinese.

That's our simple life and it is so precious to me. I love watching the joy in his face and his pure excitement over the smallest pleasures. His "default" mood is happiness and I'm so grateful.

Yesterday was parent observation day at his dance class. I cannot believe how far those little five year-olds have come in two months. They are learning two little routines for a recital in June. J has no sense of rhythm that he subscribes to, but he mimics most of the moves of his dance instructor and misses little. He loves changing from his tap to ballet shoes during class. He also loves grabbing the girls' hair and tu-tu's - something that did not go unnoticed when Mommy visited. He's the only boy in there, he's got it made. He really is a natural at the tumbling portion, I'm considering getting him started with Karate in the fall or another martial art, I think he'd be a natural. Also Chinese language classes. I'm all about balance, we'll see what he's up for. I don't want to be one of those families that just runs from organized activity to organized activity. Oh, spring soccer starts in a month. Forgot to mention that part. Ah well.