Mom Remembers

Last week, Carl figured out how to take off and put on his shirts all by himself !  He was so excited, he bragged about it to everyone he saw all day long.  And then he told me, "Tomorrow I am going to put on my shirt all by myself!" Because he has been putting on his own pants and underwear for a long time, this was the last step in learning to dress independently.  Since he has mastered this, I have been able to be totally hands off during his morning ready.  Unless he is trying to get on a particularly tight shirt, he can do it all!  And he couldn't be happier about that. This does mean that he often goes out with his clothes on backwards.  If I catch it, I will have him turn the clothes around.  But I am hardly paying any attention now so it takes me awhile to notice.  We are often walking down the sidewalk and I see him run ahead of me, zipper clearly visible on his butt.  Oh well.

1. His birth was awesome!  Story to come. 2. He has one pointy elf ear 3. and an inny belly button! 4. Sometimes he smiles in his sleep.  I know it's just gas but he looks really sweet. 5. He loves to cuddle and so do I. 6. He's warm 7. and he smells nice. 8. He likes to be carried in the sling, which is nice since we have been out and about a lot. 9. He really freaks out the cat.  It's hilarious. 10. He brings out a sweet side of Carl (who loves to gently touch his head), 11. Soren (who prayed last night that the baby would learn to read and write someday), 12. and his dad (who jumps up to walk him around whenever he fusses). 13. He is nursing well.  After a slow start, it is such a pleasure to see him chowing down.  I like it when he falls asleep and drools a little milk.  Awwww. 14. He has been really hardy from the get-go.  My mom commented over and over again on what a healthy baby he was and she's a nurse.  She would know. 15...

I sent Soren to my neighbors house to return a game he had borrowed.  He was gone for about 5 minutes, then dutifully return home.  When he opened the door he said: SOREN: I have a message for you. ME: Oh, thank you.  What is it? SOREN: I sent it to you with my mind. ME:  Well, I didn't get it.  Will you please tell me out loud? SOREN:  I think this language is better: sign language. ME: But I don't speak your sign language.  Will you please tell me in English? SOREN: I will tell you in English and  sign language. ME:  Ok. SOREN: (pausing between each word to make up a sign)  I ... have ... a ... message ... to ... How do you make a t-o in sign language? ME: (showing him the signs in ASL)  This is a "t" and this is an "o". SOREN: ... to ... give ... you. ... Sister ... Cowart ... says .... (making air quotes)  "hi."

Sven Immanuel Duede March 7, 2013 at 3:56 am 8 pounds, 2 ounces and 22 inches

Monday morning, Soren told me that his tooth was wiggling.  I thought this was some psychosomatic thing he was doing to get attention because who ever heard of a 5 year old with a loose tooth?  I thought I had another year to get cute kindergarten pictures before he had missing teeth! However, I dutifully checked his mouth and sure enough  he was telling the truth! It's the front bottom tooth on the right and it is very loose. I remember my  first loose tooth.  I had it when I was 6 years old and my dad was reading The Hobbit  to me.  He would read 5 pages every night and then wiggle my tooth 5 times.  The funny thing about this is that Scott and Soren are in fact reading The Hobbit  right now, about 5-10 pages every night.