Christian loves Daddy and wants to marry Mama

June 2008 - Christian imitates the "baby kiss"
Today when Christian woke up, he walked into our bedroom where Eric was still sleeping. After he cuddled with Daddy for a while, Christian started telling Eric to get dressed. Eric was still groggy, so Christian said it again, with the further specification to put on his "day clothes." And then he added earnestly, "Don't put on your good-bye clothes!" Eric wears scrubs to work every day, and Christian knows that means he's going to work. Eric assured him that he wasn't going anywhere today.

We went out tonight to buy Christian some new shoes in a size 9, as he has just grown out of all his size 8 shoes from last year. We got him some really comfortable sandal/sneaker shoes from Stride Rite that should be great for playing, and then Eric bought him some Vans, just like the ones he got last year. Christian really loves his Vans and frequently requests them. And he can put them on all by himself!

After buying shoes, Christian started asking for ice cream. I was thinking, "Oh, boy. Here we go. Now our son is starting to think of things he wants on his own and ask for them." But he asked so politely, that I couldn't help but be impressed and swayed. He kept saying it over and over, but in the most polite and nice voice, "Please? Pleeease?" Apparently, he was so busy asking, he wasn't listening to us, and didn't hear Eric say that we should go to Joe's Diner for a milkshake. So Christian continued to ask, "Please, MAY I have some ice cream...Please? Pleease?" still in a sweet voice. It was so cute. I really try hard to teach him to be polite, but saying "may I" I cannot take credit for. I'm not even sure how he learned it. (Sidenote: Last night he was wearing his chaps and playing his harmonica, and as he put his harmonica in the little leather pocket in the chaps, he said, "What's this doo-hickey?" I'm also not sure where he got that. But it was very funny.)

We did end up going to Joe's where Eric and Christian shared a chocolate and a strawberry milkshake. As usual, Christian was hilariously friendly with the waitress, Jennifer, and spoke to her several times and said, "Thanks, Jennifer!" without even being prompted. He is such a crack-up. He also asked her where Joe was. I guess last time he went there with Eric, they met Joe.

When we came home, Eric and Christian were sitting at the table, and Eric told Christian he was going to have a P.P.I. with him where they talked about how he was doing in his life. Eric said, "So. How do you feel about Mama?" Christian didn't quite know what to say.

Eric tried a different angle. "What do you like about Mama?" After thinking for a minute, Christian said, "She's gorgeous." Eric has been teaching him to tell me I'm gorgeous for a long time. Sometimes he even has Christian say "We're thankful that Mama's so gorgeous" in his prayer. Not totally reverent, perhaps, but still extremely sweet.

September 2007

Eric asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. Christian said, "A big fadder (father)" He asked what kind of wife he was going to have. He said, "A wife like Mama." Eric tried to explain to him that I was already his wife, and that I would be a grandma by the time he was old enough to get married (although that would be entirely backwards, and I hope I'm not a grandma until after Christian is old enough and married . I'm sure he just meant that I would be too old). Christian would have none of it, and insisted that he was going to marry me, and that his wife's name would be Melanie (he frequently calls me Melanie, since he hears his cousins and everyone else call me that).

I asked him if he knew why Daddy went to work every day. Christian said, "To fix hurty teeth." And then he said, "But I don't want you to go to work." And Eric said, "I know, buddy. I hate to leave you every day too. But you know what? It's a blessing to have a good job and to be able to go to work every day." To that Christian replied, "No, it's NOT a blessing. It's a blessing for you to come HOME!" Eric tried to argue that Christian was really lucky to be able to stay home with me all day, and that there were lots and lots of guys that would love to spend all day alone with me (he is incorrigible). But truly, it's just not the same without Daddy. He really brings home the fun.

Christian: A Man of Many Disguises

If there is anything Christian loves, it's a costume. Maybe second only to a hat. If it can go on his head, it's a hat.

Of course, there is the ubiquitous cowboy hat and boots (with spurs...and chaps) from last year's Halloween costume. He wears those almost every day. He has been known to refuse to come downstairs in the morning until he locates and dons his cowboy hat and boots. And the hat has to be just right. Christian carefully positions it so that the brim is propped up by his ears, thereby bending his ears forward - nearly in half. Much to my chagrin. I guess he can see better that way.

But in moments where Christian is not wearing his cowboy hat and boots, he readily creates his own costumes. These creative and unusual undertakings have brought us nearly constant amusement. Several times a day I hear something like, "Mom! I'm a Doctor! I'm a Rudolph Doctor!" "Mom! I'm a MEAN cowboy!" "Mom! I'm MEAN King Saul!" "Mom! I'm MEAN Goliath!" And MEAN is said with impressive gusto. Just recently, he has developed an obsession with mean characters. I'm assuming that this is a typical boy thing. Otherwise, it's those blasted violent Living Scriptures videos we bought. But sometimes he's just a doggy, or a baby bird, and I get to be the mama bird. Or sometimes, I'll just hear him acting out something, like his interpretation of "The Grand Old Duke of York." That's the one with the blue mask jauntily placed on the side of his head. What a character! Anyway, I have tried over the last month or so to capture some of his daily outfits so that we could all share.

Note to Christian: When you read this someday in the future, know that you find a way to crack us up every single day! If I could figure out a way to have a camera running to catch your every antic, and every amazing or hilarious sentence that comes out of your mouth with that adorable little helium voice (that I will miss desperately someday), I would do it. Someone asked me recently if my home was filled with joy every day. Well, you're it, buddy! You're the joy.