Tales from the 2

This hasn't stopped making me laugh to myself-

I have a student who talks incessantly.  I actually have several, but this one is more extreme you could say.  When I actually have it together and remember, I let her talk to me a couple minutes about whatever  after dismissal.  The other day she talked about her new toenail polish.  She was out with strep Monday and Tuesday, so this was her first day back at school.

Student: Yea my babysitter painted my nails.  Do you like them?

Me:  Love them!  They look fantastic.  I love purple.

Student:  Yea, I love purple too.  It's my favorite color.

Me:  I thought pink was your favorite color?

Student:  Well, I've changed a lot since I got sick.

Me:  (Bahahahahhahahaha in my head) So you're like a new person now?  Is the new 'student' going to talk less when I'm teaching?

It.  Was.  Funny.  I love overly smart kids because they sometimes say things that sound so 'adultish' like changing who they are but are still so 'kiddish' because the change occurred over nail polish and a favorite color.

An Update? Say What?

I know I haven't done one of these updates in months, but I am just so amazed lately by the things Jude is doing.  So enjoy this bulleted list of Fun Facts.

* Jude likes to say 'hug' now.  Which is his request for you to hug him.
* He is really into dinosaurs (dyesoar).  I dug some figurines out from an old teaching unit I used to do.  He went on and on and on about them.  And then roared several times.
* I quit counting the words he knew at the end of July because he got too 100.  I suppose I should have started monitoring the 2-3 word sentences he knows, but even those he knows so many of, I literally cannot keep track.  He's very verbal.
* He knows all his animal sounds.  My favorite is listening to him say meow.
* He knows many of his body parts.
* He knows many of the color names, but the his favorites are orange and blue.  Especially orange.  He points it out everywhere we go.  I'm thinking of bringing that color in for his big boy room because of this.
* He counts to about 5.  He's actually been counting for awhile...
* He loves music.  Still.
* He loves trains.  Still.
* I love rocking him to sleep.  He makes the sweetest faces.  And he has such full lips, it's fun to watch him perse them together while he falls asleep.
* He's also becoming defiant and has been saying no a lot.  Two is gonna be fun.
* I've started reading Harry Potter to him at night.  Destined for nerdiness greatness right here.
* And along the same lines of nerdiness greatness, we had to go to the Dr this week bc I was afraid he had caught my strep (he hadn't).  Anyway, he weighs 25.4 lbs.  He's so awesomely skinny.  I love how he is like turning out to be the quintessential hipster kid.  Music. Tall. Skinny. Awesome.  Seriously.  I'm so proud!

Sweet Jude

I love this picture of Jude.  So poetic.  Michael took it last night while he had Jude, and sent it to me.  I'm glad he did.  I love pictures that show Jude's personality more than anything.  He loves music so much.  Lately, he has started to get the concept of 'instruments are meant to be played together'.  I'm sure this is from Michael as they spend most of their time together 'jamming' from what I've gathered.  Anyway, Jude has a guitar and a drum here at the house.  If he is playing the guitar, you can bet he will want me to play the drum.  If he is playing the drum, I better rock the guitar.  My favorite though is that when he is done playing the guitar, he throws it.  Where did my little rock star pick that up I wonder?

All the Young Punks

Jude Dylan is a punk by nature.  At least I think so.  He loves to yell for the sheer thrill of hearing himself scream.  He loves to throw things and smash things.  Especially his play guitar.  He loves to fight fight fight for what he wants.  And I hope that in time I can train this to be a proactive approach to changing what he thinks is wrong.

One of my favorite bands of all time, is The Clash.  They've been called the only band that really mattered, and when you read their lyrics, it becomes obvious why.  What a way to be remembered.  I love punks approach to calling attention to 'the man' and the general screwed up way the world is controlled, and really, how people are controlled.  But I really love The Clash because instead of oh so eloquently yelling expletives at the government, they poetically state their opinion.  I admire that, and thus, love their music.

How do you train a child to think like that?  How do you train a child to share their opinion in a way 'that really matters'?  My dream for Jude is to be both loving and willing to stand up when he needs to... To know when its time to let it ride, and when it's time to 'clash'....

Schroeder

Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me....

Sing us a song, you're the piano man....

Take a sad song and make it better....

Veda

This is Veda, Jude's birthday present.  Actually probably more like Christmas present.  Veda showed up at my future sister in laws house in pretty sad shape.  Jamie, being the animal whisperer she is, nursed Veda back to health.  Since she was lucky, she originally named her Vegas.

I hadn't even considered getting a dog yet.  But then Kyah (below) moved in.  Her beauty captured Jude's heart in a way that can only be compared to trains, which have similarly captivated him.  After one week with Kyah, the first thing he said when saw our street was "oooo Kyah".  I began to realize that a dog would be necessary when Megan moved out next August.

A few weekends later, my mom was up talking about how much she loved 'Vegas' and wished she could keep her.  My mom is not like this about many dogs.  I was intrigued.  This dog is perfect for us basically.  She was the runt, so she is going to be small.  But she's a lab so she's 'a real dog'.  She loves to lay at your feet, but also loves to play.  She was already house broken.  Bonus: Jamie is going to train her for me and my parents will let her stay at their house until Kyah moves out.  Win win win.

And once I met her, she stole my heart.  But the name Vegas had to go because I will be danged if I'm giving my male child a dog named Vegas.  So she became Veda.  And I think she is adorable.

My Favorite Day of the Year

My favorite day of the year is always the same.  It's been the same since I was 3 years old.  Maybe I was four.  I remember the day it became my favorite day.  I had been at school and the weather changed.  I couldn't wait to get home.  I remember going out in our backyard as soon as possible.  I climbed onto our big ole picnic table my dad had built.  I danced.  And probably sang.  I twirled with my arms out.  I am 90% sure I was wearing a dress.  On that day, I fell in love with fall.  That was the first time I knew my favorite day of the year.

Every year since then, the first day the wind changed from dreadful scorching wind on the Sahara to crisp, breezy fall wind, I remember the time I danced on the picnic table because it was fall.  Growing up, I have countless memories sitting on the porch swing in my childhood home on this day.  If I had homework, I always did it outside on this day.  If I was lucky, I read a book, probably Little House on the Prairie.

I remember the first fall day when we moved to Algiers, LA when I was in high school.  That time I just sat on a rocking chair and watched the big, huge Spanish Oaks sway in the wind, and thought about how wonderful life is.

I remember the first fall day of college, and I was actually excited to get up for my 9:30 English class.  Not excited enough to NOT go in my pajamas however.

And the best first fall day was in 2004 when I moved to Denton.  I had gone to church that morning, heard Tommy talk for the first time, and that was the day I became a Christian.  That was the day I finally gave up the fight, because I was one of those people who fought being a Christian pretty hard.  I suppose it was fitting that it happen on such a day, because there is no other day of the year I love more.  And on that day more than any other, my little 3 year old self danced around in celebration.

This year is no different.  I am so thankful for fall, for the countless memories of myself as a little girl, and an older girl that flood me, for the reminder that some days you gotta dance and sing your heart out because life is good, because God never lets the desert heat scorch you forever.  And once your done thanking God because HE is Good, you have to have a pumpkin spice latte.... Can't wait for those to be out!

Conversations

Conversations with a Toddler....

Ashley:  Aww man, Jude.  Now I remember what else I needed at Target!

Jude:  a train?

Ashley: Uh no.....

PS- sorry for the photobooth quality photo.