Spellbound

The Mud Puddle has hit yet another milestone on the pathway of life. He has correctly spelled his first word.

He has been spelling his name for some time now. He can tell you all of his letters, but seeing them all together and ‘reading’ them is a new trick.

The word he was able to spell was donuts. And I am now worried what the implications will be for his future waist size. (If there is something remotely relevant to worry about, I am SO there).

The kid loves donuts. He is not a big fan of candy per se (except white chocolate nonpareils with colored sprinkles which he has with Grammy and Grampy and which he thinks is appropriate breakfast food – I veto THAT vote) but he never met a powdered donut he didn’t like.

So it was not surprising that it would be his first word. It was a very exciting moment in the store when he told me each letter (verifying the “N”) and then said “That spells donuts!”

He was very proud of himself, and rightfully so. It was hard to contain my excitement – I am sure anyone passing by the soda aisle of Shaw’s wonder why that poorly dressed chubby woman was acting like a cheerleader by hooting, clapping and jumping up and down. They probably thought I was jonesing for a donut myself.


This may be one of my favorite experiences as his Mommy. I love to read and feel like the world is your pearl when you are able to read and write – you can achieve anything with the power of literacy (I should totally be the RIF spokes-mom!!).
I have been trying to work with him on his letter for some time (when we read things I have him say the letters to me) but as is my neurotic nature not to be a ‘Best in Show’ mother, I try not to push him too much.

Like every other milestone it seemed to come so quickly and will probably be all downhill from here with him reading “War and Peace” before kindergarten.

Cheerio Old Chap!

Hello everyone (or no-one, I wonder sometimes...).

I am sorry to say there will not be a blog posting this week as Scott and I are off to Merry Old England (he shall work, I shall shop and read trashy British magazines).

Don't worry your pretty little head about the Mud Puddle. He will be basking in the glow of Grammy and Grampy adoration until our return. I am sure he will be THRILLED for us to leave and less so for our return.

Have a great week and I will return next Wednesday with a new post!

Cheers!!

Hurray for Hollywoods!

The Mud Puddle speaks his own language. Most of the time it closely resembles English, but sometimes he completely departs the envelope.

This past weekend we were at my parents house (Scott was in Paris on business, so it was the two of us tag-teaming the Grandparents) and they have a pond out back which is a treasure trove of aquatic life. Grampy told the Mud Puddle that they could go Pollywog hunting and they got out a net, put on boots, and brought a fish bowl.

Somewhere between the living room and the pond the ‘things’ that they were hunting became Hollywoods. I of course had to ask if they were different from pollywogs b/c of their breast augmentation and eating disorders (I was the only one that laughed at that).

I think that we should continue to call them Hollywoods and start a movement try and get their names officially changed. For a three year old he is pretty smart. Knowing that most of the people in entertainment are slimy, half evolved creatures that swim in the muck end of the gene pool (clearly I read People and US Weekly too much, I have become jaded) at such an early age? The cynical wit is awesome.

I love that he has his own way of saying certain things; it is a great example of his individuality and creativity, more importantly it cracks me up every time. Here are some more examples of Mud Puddle speak:

Drum-ba-drum – a house made at the Holiday season out of cookie like planks usually decorated with gumdrops. A man shaped cookie. English Translation: Gingerbread

Chopsticks – soothing balm you rub on chapped lips. English Translation: Chapstick

Coop-aahhh – The Mud Puddle’s best friend. English Translation: Cooper

Gramia and Grampia – the two people he loves more than anything due only in part to the fact that they ‘accommodate’ his every whim. English translation: Grammy and Grampy

KEEKEE – me. English Translation: unique to the Mud Puddle dialect

Bah-heah – furry animal and UMaine mascot. English Translation: Bear

Super Star

The Mud Puddle continues to amaze and dazzle me with his myriad of interests. He can now add “Future Professional Bowler” to the ever growing list.

He has MAD bowling skills. Seriously. I never thought I would be excited about anyone being able to bowl well, but he has me all aflutter about his future as a fixture on Saturday morning basic cable.

What is even better is that he is good at taking turns. We went last weekend and being ultra competitive (SHOCKING) I had to have my turns. I knew Scott would beat me (I swear that being left handed is a candlepin handicap no matter what anyone else says) but I hope that I could at least take the three year old – told you I was competitive.

I am pretty good about letting him win at Hi-Ho Cheerios and Chutes and Ladders but the idea of having my pants beat by a toddler at the bowling alley in front of people was more than I could handle.
It wound up being a tie pretty much (our lane broke and wouldn’t reset pins before we were actually finished) but we all had a really great time.

It makes me happy to know that he is willing to try – not always with great success or without tears, but he is a good sport about giving something a go.

On the positive experience side we have skiing, bike riding, live theater, and bowling.
On the ‘not again anytime soon’ side we have the Tilt-a-Whirl and Flume ride. The utter look of terror on his face during the Flume ride was unbelievable.
It was captured on film but we opted against purchasing the pictures b/c I figured my parents would take him away from me if they saw the pictures.

His knack for remembering things means that he occasionally reminds me that I liked the Tilt-a-Whirl (he calls it the Turtle Ride because they were painted like turtles at StoryLand) and he and daddy did not.
And that he is never to be brought anywhere NEAR the ‘Water Coaster’ (Flume ride) ever again.

I love that he is game for trying new things and I am sure he will be whooping my butt at bowling in no time at all.