Ridiculous

Monday morning he crawled into bed with me. Then he'd pop his head up, "Are you ready to get up yet?"  Then he told me, "you just put your head up, and then your feet up, and then put your feet down and sit up! That's how you get up!" 

In the early afternoon, Jenn and Houston Cox were here. Houston was playing with Andrew and jokingly told him that his name was Fred, not Houston. When I tried to tell Andrew that Houston was just playing with him and that his name was Houston - he thought for a second, smiled and said, "Noooo!"  as he laughed. The Houston pulled out his driver's license to let Andrew read that yes, his name really was Houston.  So Andrew said, "Okay. You're Fred Houston."  And from now on, he probably will be.  And Houston kept calling Andrew "Fredrew"  which he got a kick out of .

Monday late afternoon we were playing "What Time Is It Mr. Fox?" in the backyard.  Andrew was the fox and daddy and I would ask him the time. After a few rounds, Andrew suddenly would answer, "Let me check" and he'd make a "chickachickachicka" sound while making short burts of movements with his arms up and down from the elbow and moving them from right to left as he'd turn his body. Maybe he was being a robot somehow. Then he'd stop making the 'chicka' sound, look toward us and hold up 5 to 10 fingers and announce the time.  It was hilarious to watch and we have no idea where it came from.

Annelise was here in the evening and we were talking and Andrew would come up and say, "Excuse me. Excuse me mommy!"   .... "Can I talk to Annelise for a minute?"   And when she went to play Legos with him and I was still talking to her, he came back to me and told me to stop talking so she could play.

Tuesday morning he came to me for a hug and seemed like he didn't want to let go. So we sat on the floor cuddling. I told him I loved him and he said he loved me too. Then I whispered "you're my boy" in his ear. He very softly said, "and you're my girl" as he tighted his hug around my neck. 
Though on the drive to school, he saw a lady in her driveway and asked if it was grandma. I told him Grandma was in California and we were still in Tennessee.  Somehow we ended up in a conversation about daddy being grandma's boy all grown up, just like mommy was nana's girl all grown up. Then I told him daddy was grandma's boy just like Andrew is mommy and daddy's boy.  He said, "No.. I'm Papa's boy. I'm Papa Bruce's boy."   Okay.

While we were still getting ready for school, Andrew was playing on our bed. I walked in and he points to the cord hanging from our light and says, "yours works mommy. mine doesnt." I said okay and got him to come brush his teeth.  I didn't think anything else of it.

Hours later, I walk in the room, the light switch is already up but the lights are off. So I find the remote on the bed and I'm pushing the button and nothing is happening. I go back and check the light switch. THEN I remember what he'd told me. I pulled the cord on the light and then hit the remote, and the light worked.  I'd have never figured that out if he hadn't told me. lol

Thursday we toured the Tennessee Career Institute again. When we arrived, the director came out saying, "Hi Andrew!"  Andrew had his hands in his pockets and pulled one out at a time to introduce us, "This is Annelise. And this is Amanda.... my Aunt Annelise and mommy Amanda."  And put his hands back in his pockets.

I asked Andrew if he had a favorite word. He thought and said, "ridiculous."  I'd agree with that. He's been using it more lately and laughing.

A couple of weeks ago he asked me play "Annelise's phone"  (my ringtone for Annelise which is Fur Elise.)  So I showed him on the piano how to start the song.  This week, he went to the piano, pushed on a key and then worked his way up until he heard the right one. And started playing those first two notes of Fur Elise like I taught him!  I was impressed that he remembered the tone and matched it.


Friday he begged me to let him take his "delicate violin" (the real one) to school. I wouldn't let him, so he asked if he could take the toy one. I said yes but told him he'd have to teach everyone how to be gentle with it. He was so proud to show it off, and he let everyone who wanted to try it have a turn.
He is still very interested in learning the violin. I've asked a friend for their teacher's information, but she hasn't given it to me yet. I'm hoping that it will work out to get him lessons soon.

Saturday morning Ted introduced him to the amazing violinist Lindsey Stirling on YouTube video. He watched and listened to the Ice Castle one, completely mesmerized. When it was over, he looked up at daddy and said, "Wooow! Coool!"   Then we showed him the Shadows one and he enjoyed that too.  After nap, he asked if he could watch the girl playing the violin again. 

I just have to say - I'm so proud of him. He is so polite and kind. He has no problem sharing. He is helpful. We rarely have to ask more than once to get him to do something - he complies quickly. Age and race mean nothing to him when it comes to making friends. (Strangers don't mean anything either... he'll chat with anyone and tell them anything they want to know!)  He is just such a wonderful boy. 

"There's Satan!!"

One morning, Andrew woke up a little sad and upset. He told me he'd been crying, so I think that was in his dream.  I suggested he find his bear and snuggle back into bed with it. The next thing I hear is him crying outside my door. I leap from bed and he tells me he can't find his little bear. I go in his room where he has taken out all the stuffed animals from the basket. I am not sure where his little bear is, so I suggest he put ALL the other animals in bed with him. He got a huge smile on his face, "YeAH!"  As I'm picking up animals, I hold up a tiny stuffed sheep, "This looks like Ms. Clare's goat Grandfather!"  That got him excited too! He helped me put them on each side of his space and then he crawled in. Amazingly, he fell back asleep for a couple of hours!

Tuesday he wanted to take his stuffed "Grandfather goat" to school with him. He took the big basket too as a pen.  He really enjoyed sharing it with his school friends and teachers. That goat at school has become a special part of them all, and here Andrew had a stuffed toy that looked just like it!

Wednesday he helped me rearrange his room a bit and clean house. For a while now, he's had a little table next to the couch by the kitchen that he could eat his breakfast at or sit and do activities. He's big enough now that he can just do all of that at the regular dining table as far as I'm concerned. I wanted the little table out of the way. So I moved it into the office and set it up as his own desk and put his play computer on it.  Now, whenever I'm at my computer, he doesn't pester me with what I'm doing or what he'd rather do or see on my computer, he sits down as his computer and plays the games on it. Sadly, though, several of the keys on his keyboard don't work anymore, so even if he knows the right answer on the games (they're all educational) - he can't always get it right due to keys not working.  We're looking into getting him his own ipad computer setup kind of thing that he can play educational games on.

Not too long ago, he wanted to make a necklace from beads, and two of the beads broke that day. Ever since he's been asking if he can make a new one. Finally, we did on Thursday. I took his old one apart and let him make a new one. It looks really good!  It made him feel good when daddy asked to wear it when he got home.

At dinner on Thursday, Andrew did something and then reached up to ask daddy for a high-five. Daddy starts to put his hand up and Andrew swings his arm away and says, "Too slow!"  Then puts his hand up again. Daddy starts to go for it and Andrew takes it away and says, "Ya gotta be quick!" 
He sure learns fast! 

Well.. sometimes. Earlier on Thursday we were doing some math together. We started with 0+__ and he got all of them right. Then we did 1+___ and he got those right.  But then when I was doing ___+0 he seemed to start guessing instead of thinking about it. Even when I used his trains in his hands to show.. if he had two trains, and I add nothing, how many trains does he have... ' zero? one?'  Uhm.. no.  So I gave up. Usually he does really well and stays focused, but I think by my incorporating the trains he got excited and just wanted me to keep adding trains like it was a game. 

Friday at school, Andrew and Lucas were playing in the water table…and it was soooo cold…but
Lucas:  Scoop out more water.  We need more for the soup.
Andrew:  Sounds good.  Ms. Casey, we are doing important work.  Don’t bother us.
Me:  I was watching and taking notes.
Andrew:  Oh…well…thank you.

Andrew was carrying around a bag (purse).  Me: "So what do you keep in your bag?"  Andrew: "mmmm... just my phone."  



Earlier in the week, we started teaching him the story of Adam and Eve in depth. We read Bible passages and discussed pictures, and then reinacted the story with each of us changing rolls. We had to do it over two nights since there really is a lot of information in that story. 
Nearly every day this week he has asked to "play Adam and Eve"  One morning the two of us were playing it out. I was to be Jehovah and he ate the fruit.  But then when I got my stern voice, "Adam and Eve? Did you eat the fruit of the tree?"   He got a panicked look on his face and changed the story.  "No, it was icky! I spit it out!"   I tried not to laugh and said, "But I told you not to eat of the tree. You cannot live in this garden anymore."   Andrew desperately pleaded, "But I didn't eat it! I spit it out!!"   LOL 

He's really interested in Spiderman. He's never even seen it, but he gets excited about it. I'm guessing boys at school have introduced the idea of it. We've inherited a few clothing items with spiderman on them and he likes to wear those, and he also has a winter hat that covers his whole head and has holes for the eyes and mouth - and it is a spiderman mask with matching gloves. He likes putting that on and pretending to be scary. I keep trying to tell him Spiderman is friendly and nice... "No he isn't! He's scary!" 


Saturday morning I was up and working on my computer. Andrew comes in and says, "It's a pretty-a-ful day outside!" I agreed cheerily. Then he said, "The sun came back around the earth .... to the bright side!" 

We were able to apply the lesson of Adam and Eve Saturday morning. He was sitting at the table started messing with something else. I told him to stop. He didn't so I yelled "Andrew!" and he stopped. He said, "I'll just do it one more time."  I reminded him of the story of Adam and Eve. I asked him something along the lines of how many times did Adam or Eve eat the fruit before getting in trouble, and did it matter to Jehovah? (I asked good questions, I just can't remember them)  He answered my questions correctly and totally got the point. I told him I shouldn't have to tell him to stop more than once. He needs to listen the first time, and that he deliberately disobeyed me when he heard me and chose to do it again. But - he did get the point.

Saturday afternoon we were in Nashville near the Opry Mills mall, so we stopped to introduce Andrew to the Rainforest Cafe. He found it fascinating. As soon as we got there, he saw a huge snake in the tree and yelled, "Hey! There's Satan!!"  (remember we'd been discussing Adam and Eve all week)  We were seated near the Tigers, which ended up being his favorite display (over gorillas, an elephant, aquariums, and who knows what else). He is really into robots too and was excited to learn that each of the displays were really robots.  He asked me where their roar comes from so I explained that they had computers inside them that are programmed to make the robot move every ten minutes, and to make that sound.  I told him that if they were real Tigers, they could have jumped down and eaten us since they're carnivores. So he made sure that the robots couldn't walk or jump or chase us, and all they could do is move their heads and roar.  He was a little nervous after that conversation, but still fascinated.
After lunch, I saw that there was a Lego store in this mall. He LOVES Legos but we only have one tiny box of them, and it didnt come with a large base to build on. So we went and got him two large bases, and a box with 650 building pieces, and two sets: monster trucks, and fire fighters.  He wanted the monster trucks as soon as we got home, so we put those together first, and told him we'd open the other later. He's really enjoying playing with them all.

Grandfather the Goat

Monday, April 8th, I agreed to do a senior drape photoshoot for a set of twin girls since that is all they needed. Andrew greeted them at the door and they were immediately drawn to him and engaged him in great conversation.  He got one to start reading a book to him while I was taking photos of the other, but after one page I got him to read it to her instead. The three of them hit it off so well they almost didn't want to leave here. Andrew kept asking them to stay and play, and then invited them to come to school with him tomorrow.  They just loved him!

Wednesday morning he was excited to learn that his friend Samantha Pingle was coming to gymnastics class too. He loved showing his friend how to do everything. He was so pleased, that he kept telling random people that she came to his gymnastics class.

Friday morning I had him ready for school and then went to take a shower. He came in the bathroom as I was starting to get dressed. I put my bra on and he gasped and pointed at my chest and said, "They match!!"  I said, 'Well of course they do."  but then realized he could be talking about anything. So I asked, "What matches?"  He used the tone as if he were stating the obvious, "Your bra matches your underwear!"  LOL  He's so perceptive. I hadn't even noticed they were the same color.

One of the teachers at school has goats and one had three babies. The runt is TINY, wobbly, and has to be bottle fed. So she also has to bring it to school and take care of it while she works.  He's about the size of a cat and so adorable! His name is Grandfather (the three goats were named after characters in the book Heidi).  Well, early Saturday morning Andrew came in the room. I said, "It's too early honey, can you go back to bed?"  He told me he was sad and that he had been crying (must have been in a dream) so I gave him a hug and suggested that he find his bear and snuggle back into bed with the bear.  A minute later he was outside my door crying. I get up and he says, "I can't find my little bear!"  I can see in his closet he's dug through the stuffed animal basket. I dig through also and say, "it'll turn up somewhere."  Then I see a stuffed lamb that looked just like Grandfather goat. I pick it up and show it to him and tell him that. He gets a big smile and says, "Yeaahh!!"  Then I suggest he just get all the stuffed animals in bed with him. He liked that idea so he helped me pile them on either side of his pillow, he crawled in giggling and I went back to bed. I could hear him talking a little bit, but soon - silence. He actually went back to sleep!! This was at 6am and he probably fell asleep again around 7 - but then slept til almost 9! 
  We had a pleasant morning in service. Andrew got to read a scripture at the door for the first time. He read Revelation 21:4 and did very well despite getting distracted by the man's phone ringing. We invited friends to come play in the afternoon. The Davis' brought their foster kids over (5yr boy and 7 yr girl) and then the Weavers came with the Brent kids too. They range from 8-15 I think. Oh and two small dogs.  They all had a wonderful time once they got over the initial fear of the dogs.

Flooay and Glued Hair

Sunday before going into the hall, Andrew gave the most heartwarming wonderful prayer. I can't remember it all, but he thanked Jehovah for the Kingdom Hall, and the Watchtower magazines, for "Paradise where we can pet the animals", (a lot of other wonderful things), and even prayed that we're not a distraction to others during the meeting.  We were both so touched.  He used to give really lengthy thankful prayers and then for a few months it was just, "Dear Jehovah, please and thank you for our food and for our things, in Jesus name we pray, Amen."  That was it. Every time.  We both have had talks with him about saying the same thing, and trying to speak what's in our heart, and that he can pray about anything. And I'd offer suggestions to things he can include in his prayers before we say them together.  He's finally starting to think about them again.

Ted and Andrew were playing the Mr. Bump Memory Game. It was getting down to the last few cards and Andrew said, "Someone's gonna win, and it's gonna be me."  Even with both "Lose A Pair" matches (he doesn't seem to understand that you don't want to get those) he had 12 matches. Ted had 8 matches but was able to hang on to the Mr. Bump trophy and get an extra 4 points - so they tied. (I figured out later he was quoting a Magic Schoolbus episode where two teachers are racing, and that is what one of the teachers say in the triathalon.)

Monday when I was getting lunch ready, Andrew asked if he could have the sparkling water he picked out at the grocery before the assembly.  I consented and poured some into a cup. I hand it to him as it is still foaming and bubbling. "It looks like soap!!"  Then he tasted it.  He scrunched up his face and said, "It's kinda yucky."  ("yeah?")  "Yeah. I like it!"   He's so silly.  He was excited to have bubbly drink and said it was like Sprite. Then a few minutes later he decided, he really preferred milk and didn't like the sparkling water afterall.

Tuesday pretend cooking in Andrew's kitchen... "Are you going to have some floo-ay?"
Ted:Souffle'?    Andrew: "Yeah, floo-ay" 

he loves to play "steam-roller" and take turns rolling and being rolled over by daddy

Wednesday he had a blast at gymnastics, and then it was off to Herbal Health and Wellness for his own Chinese Medicine aromatherapy session.  I knew of three stressful events during pregnancy and then his concussion when he was two - any and all of which could have greatly impacted his body. Sure enough, he had an issue area with his stomach that started shortly after conception.  I can only guess that the stress and trauma I experienced when I miscarried the twin and thought I was losing him when I was two months pregnant might be the trigger.
Daddy came home not feeling very well so I suggested we get his oils and rub the areas that were bothering him. Andrew very gently started applying the oils to the back of daddy's knees and said, "It's okay. Deep breath."  Then after rubbing the oils in he said, "Okay, this knee is good to go!"  He helped apply the oils everywhere else daddy was feeling sore and then helped me give him a foot massage and hand massage. He was so tender and sweet. 

He has been remarkably sweet and kind lately. I don't know if it's because he was home with me over a week on Spring Break and had little outside influence (and no videos or electronics at all) or what. But I only have to ask him once to do something and he says, "Okay mommy!" in a cheerful voice. He has been so agreeable. He's been very kind and sweet and gentle.  Very enjoyable to be around.  Not that he's usually horrible or anything, but we've had moments here and there where he is not very kind and trying to get a reaction out of me or deliberately trying to drive Flash crazy.

Friday was really nice in the afternoon so we stayed on the playground for an extra hour and a half after school. Andrew wanted to be pushed on the swings so we started there. He was singing very loudly over and over again, "Let the heavens rejoice! Let the earth joyful be! For Jehovah has become our King!"  After about 25 rounds of that my arm was tired and I went to sit down. He stayed on for a couple of minutes and got off. Another little girl got on a swing and was yelling for her mom to come push her. Andrew turned around said, "I'll push you Elze" and very sweetly started pushing her on the swing. All the moms on the playground were touched by his kindness and how cute it was to see him doing that. 
It was also the first day for another little boy (Japanese I think but spoke English well) and the mom told me Andrew was very helpful all day and that her little boy was drawn to anything Andrew was doing.  Andrew also took the initiative to push him on the swings later as well.

After school Ted and Andrew were in the yard talking to the neighbors. They were talking about how kids say or repeat the funniest things. Ted thought of an example but couldn't remember what he'd told Andrew to say one time. So Ted turned to Andrew and asked, "Remember when we were in Target that one day and you were wearing your Spiderman mask and I told you to run up to a couple and say something? What did I tell you to say?"  Andrew looked down and thought for a second and then said in a gruff voice, "Who wants some?"    Ted was shocked Andrew could even remember.
Apparently, Andrew was wearing his full spiderman face mask, and Ted told him to run up to an  older couple with no kids near the toy department and hunch over and flex his arms under and say in a gruff voice, "Who wants some?!"  (I wasn't there for this)  Ted said he did it perfectly. 

Saturday, we went to a baby shower. As soon as Andrew walks in to the kitchen, the dad excitedly says to the expecting mom, "THAT is the hair I want!! I want that color hair - I want that hair!!" He was pointing at Andrew who now looked petrified as if he was going to be scalped. He very nervously replied, "My hair is glued to my head. You can't have it."  I explained that the man didn't actually want Andrew's hair, but he loves the color so much he wishes he had that color of hair.