The Norm

This morning, I tied a two week old helium balloon to Trent's wrist, and he was so enamored that he babbled endlessly.  Of course, soon as the camera came out, he stopped... but also, we were invaded by the two olders... which goes to show how and why Trent will NEVER have his own video footage or have a moment to himself.  Also, I kept filming the sibling argument... or how and why Mommy Trent will need therapy.

A Quick Conversation

Drowning Avoidance

Well, today was my last official day of employment. I didn't actually report for duty today, since I'd already turned in my keys and gone through my exit interview. It's a weird feeling, knowing that all of the "stuff" you've cared about for 16 years doesn't matter anymore. But the prospect of learning new "stuff" (hopefully sooner than later) makes it feel OK.

I've been doing some phone interviews, which I pretty much detest. I understand their purpose, but I really dislike talking on the phone...for anything. The added stress of having it be the gateway to future employment makes it even more intolerable.

My prior employer has provided me access to a "career counselor" of sorts as part of my parting gift. He suggested last week that you don't want to say anything to give the potential employer the "creepy factor" over the phone. I suggested that perhaps I should no longer use "Gee, I rarely talk to someone on the phone for free while sitting at home in my underpants" as my opener. He didn't know how to respond.

Between watching the "Price Is Right" and "Regis & The Wirey Blond Chick" in my down time, I've been taking Grant to swim lessons at the local high school. We're going to the beach in a few weeks, and we wanted to make sure Grant had some basic skills in the water. We really weren't concerned about the lessons, in part because Grant has been exposed to the pool quite a bit already. He swims with us on every vacation, and he's always been a trooper in the bath tub. Boy, did we misjudge this.

On the first day, Grant spent most of the time in the pool screaming, "Get me out of this pool!" and "I want my mommy!" (Daddy never seems to get any love in these situations...of course, it's hard to hear him when you're on the ground laughing.) The picture at the top of the post was taken on Day One, albeit from a distance. As a parent, you have to let your kid learn to face these fears alone. At least that's what my dad told me as he watched me bubble under in the pool where he coached swimming.

Here are a few videos from the early days of swim lessons. In the first one, you can watch as the toddlers recreate the Bataan Death March into the pool. My favorite part is when, disgusted, Grant spots me shooting the video.

At the suggestion of another parent, we decided that bribery was the only way Grant would conquer his fears. The parent with the questionable judgment who made this suggestion stated that his daughter preferred ice cream. We knew that food wasn't the way to Grant's heart, but weaponry from the Dollar Tree probably was instead.

Part of the deal was that if Grant didn't cry during swim lessons, he'd get some new ammo or a new "gat" from the dollar store. In an effort to fully comply, Grant would turn around occasionally and make sure we saw him smiling from ear to ear. Even if he cried, he'd break for long enough to turn around. I caught a couple of examples below.

(You can see Grant's wonderful swim instructor in this photo, giving the camera a suspicious "Dateline Special" look as a very white dude shoots her picture in the pool, not knowing that Grant is, indeed, adopted.)

In the end, Grant has enjoyed the swimming lessons, and at least now we know he can scream at the top of his lungs if something were to happen on vacation. Additionally, we now have the world's most complete arsenal of plastic dollar store weaponry, all made in China. For me, it's a misty eyed reminder of my days of employment past and nights spent at the Holiday Inn Donghua. Farewell, old friend...

Oh, Grant...

Grant started swim lessons this week, but I'll let Bret blog about that craziness. Let's just say that there's always one child screaming his head off. This week--that's my boy! We have pictures and such, so more to come.

But for now, here is a video of Grant talking about one of his favorite topics: dinosaurs. Grant loves dinosaurs, Star Wars, and Batman, but I think dinos (he makes me say dinosaur; he doesn't like abbreviated words [same with mayo]) are the current favorite.

Grant Does the Propellor

"Look Daddy, I'm Batman!"
(And yes, he came up with that on his own...)

So we're at the tail end of what we believe to be our 2nd case of the flu this year. Three of the four of us has had fevers, sore throats...the whole nine yards. But despite his illness, each night about an hour after the Tylenol, Grant would begin to dance. Please ignore the various tubes of ointment on the floor around him. We're a house in distress.

A Conversation with Grace

Considering she heard Mandarin for the first 14 months of her life (and she's only been in the states for 7 months or so), I think Grace's language skills are amazing. She knows more English in 7 months than I would Mandarin!

Sorry for the poor quality; I don't have time to wait around while a better version uploads!

Grant Interview

Thoughts on Grace, China and presents...

Eat the Beater

It's finally cool enough to turn the oven on (when it's over 85, I don't even open the curtains), so we decided to bake some cookies. Grant loves to bake with me, and I love to bake, so we're a good team. Really, Grant just likes to eat brown sugar lumps, scoop flour from the bowl to the floor, and eat the beater at the end of the process, but when you're two, baking shouldn't be about unsalted butter, real vanilla extract, and fluted edges.

Our Little Comic

Grant is growing into quite the comedian. As you'll see in the video, his current mode of joke is switching the words in songs, changing your name, or messing up on purpose. But, my favorite thing Grant does comes after he's said something funny. If you laugh at something he says, he immediately turns around and asks, "what did I say?" because he's just dying to know how he can make you laugh. But, don't you dare tell him because then he will, with no exaggeration, say it 100 times. If you laughed once, people, you're bound to laugh again!

Here's a video to prove my point. He insists on calling me Mamaw (his grandmother), which he thinks is just the funniest thing ever. He switches the words in both "Jesus Loves Me" and "Raindrops on Roses" (don't know official title, which is sad because I know every single word from the Sound of Music, much to Bret's chagrin. It's a long video, so it's really only for grandparents, and even then, only if they are bored or lonely.

Conversations

Here's a conversation with Grant from a few weeks ago. Topics covered: preschool, family, food and other toddler fun.

A Not So Short Conversation

I think it'll speak for itself.

Our Morning Breakfast

Here's a long, long interview with Grant, mostly about trains (as that is what we talk about most). It's really only for time-honored fans! I'm trying like mad to get a video of Grant singing some Christmas songs (or his version of Christmas songs which usually only includes about the first four lines), but this will have to do for now. There is talk about that mysterious penguin who lives in his ear... and plenty of talk about trains. He does mention Kai, as he calls her, which is JaKai, his birthsister we just visited with last week. It was a great visit with his birthmom and two sisters! It's such a joy seeing them, and Grant loves them tons and tons. Other conversations include Africa, school and his breakfast of choice. It's fun times in the Hawkins' home.

Grant does love his youtube songs, and if you have kids, they're nice: green anaconda, the umbrella bird, the iguana, mr. rhino, etc. He loves them, and if you have tivo, you can pull them up via the TV... nice touch.

My Little Guy

Today, after picking up Grant from his little Thursday morning pre-school class, we had the following conversation:

Grant: (complaining) I dropped my manifying (magnifying) glass. Mommy get it.
Mommy: I can't get it, Grant. Mommy's driving. (much wailing [from Grant, of course].)
Mommy: (after a bit) Grant, what were you looking at with your magnifying glass?
Grant: Angels.
Mommy: Oh, where do angels live?
Grant: In Africa.
Mommy: Oh.
Grant: (a stop sign later) I see a penguin.
Mommy: Where?
Grant: Over there.
Mommy: Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo (Grant laughs; this "I see a _________ over there" is his current form of joke telling).
Grant: Now the penguin is in my ear.
Mommy: You have a penguin living in your ear?
Grant: No, now he lives in Africa.

It all makes sense now.

Here's a video from the wedding. I know it's dark, but here's a little sneak peek at Grant dancing it up at Bret's cousin's wedding. Too cute!

Happy Thanksgiving

From our home to yours: with talk about trains, Oprah, Jesus, and his teachers (Miss Carla and Leigh.

We are thankful for so many things this year--for family and friends, for a God who loves us, and for our little family.

Talking Up a Storm

This video cracks me up because it's so random. Sorry for the bad camera work, but I was holding the camera, talking, and trying to deal with an all-too-mobile toddler.

A couple of cute things to notice: further discussion of his birthmom, which makes me happy. His reference to God (who was Grant's final decision for president). I asked Grant tonight: "Grant, who is going to be the new president." His answer: God. That's deep. I think it comes from his first memorized Bible verse: "God is light" found in 1 John 1:5. He says it all the time now, and it just melts my heart. But, if you wait until the end of the video, you'll notice that God does have his place... and in Grant's world, it's pretty close to cheese. I think cheese is pretty darn important too.

The Piano Man

Grant loves to sing, but getting a complete song that can actually be understood has been a long time coming. Here's a quick video (so many more cute ones to come in the next week) of him playing the piano (he likes the accompaniment) singing his version of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." See if you can follow along at home.

Learning His Letters and Fall Fun

Recently, Grant has taken up a love for pointing out letters and numbers; sometimes, he's right, and sometimes, he's wrong, but he's getting better and better. Here's a short video clip of Grant identifying letters (and sounds too). My favorite part comes later in the video (and you've got to listen closely) when Grant says "thank you" and "welcome" (Grant speak for "you're welcome") back to back. He knows they go together, so sometimes, he just does your work for you by saying both of them.

He's also starting to speak in sentences more than words, which as an English teacher, I just love. Yesterday, while hiding from Bret, Grant said, "Daddy, I see you over there." Now, if I could just get him to identify the subject and the verb, I think we'll be on to something.

Here are also a few pictures from a week or so ago. I wanted to try a pumpkin patch suggested by a friend, one with all kinds of fun stuff for kids. We got there as it was closing (which I now realize is the trick), so there was no charge to go in. We spent about 30 minutes roaming around as the last of the paying patrons made their exit. It was perfect... and cheap.

WWW--better late than never

So, yesterday, my mom and I were driving to Kohls when my mom looked out the window and asked Grant, "What's that?" Grant responded, "Walmart." Clear as day. He was right, and I was scared. Another tad bit scary thing is that we've heard Grant calling Mommy and Daddy by the names Erin and Bret. Kind of freaky.

Grant's alphabet is coming along. His favorite letters right now: B, I, N, G, O... but not in that order. He still likes "couning" (counting) as he says it, and he now counts up to 7, but he usually needs help with the number 4. Go figure.

Here's a little of Elmo's song that Grant would like to sing for you. The words (at least according to Grant): la, la, la Elmo's song.

I'm a garage sale junkie

It's true. I love garage sales. I don't think I have ever purchased Grant a new toy, and I don't think I've spent--in his lifetime--over 35 dollars (I'm not kidding) on new clothes and shoes for Grant. It's not that I don't want Grant to look cute or to have fun stuff, but it is because I don't think stuff matters, especially toys and clothes. And, I have other goals for that money: like college for Grant, paying off our house, and such. And, let's be honest, Grant looks cute in a dirty diaper, so I don't think he's hurting. I know there will come a day when we have to fight over designer shoes, but I'm not going to start that fight until I have to do so. So, until then, it's two dollar tricycles for Grant.

Daddy's trick and WWW Thursday edition

I think Bret has been giving Grant pointers on how to "ignore" Mommy all under the guise of being very interested in the moving pictures on the screen.

My favorite of Grant's words this week: Thomas, James and Percy. Grant is taking after his cousin Aidan because Grant is in love with all things train. This is good news since I've decided to decorate Grant's big boy room (coming this January) in trains (recently bought this decal for the wall). I'm not going to go overboard: this decal, a garage sale rug I bought for 5 bucks and some Thomas the Train sheets for a Christmas present.



Other new words: church. When asked, "Who do we learn about at church?" Grant responds, "Jesus." Melts my heart. Then he responds, "people." That too, I guess. He says every body part, now including tongue, elbow, knee, and just today I heard, "I did it." He can't throw a ball or run with any real skill, but the boy can talk it up.