SusieJ: Niftyness

February 3: Now he is four

For his fourth birthday, we taught Jake the theme song of the Spider-Man television series. He promptly made a version for Batman:

Batman, Batman
In his Batmobile
Zooming along
The road so fast
Going high
and flying past
Lookout!
Here comes the BATMOBILE.

Which he happily sang at top volume for me (thank goodness his top volume is really fairly quiet). Then he told me that Batman, Superman and Spider-Man were coming for a sleep-over.

January 30: Marathon man

And Sarah's in there too!

January 25: By himself

If he wants, Jake can dress himself, including buttoning his shirt, pulling on gloves and zipping his jacket. The key is him wanting to do it. It is often less stressful and faster for me to dress him. Some days I don't want the huge fight it is to get him to do what he doesn't want to do. I really am trying to use more carrot than stick disciplining — have you seen my Jakob Tried It dance?

He's never been one for "I'll do it!" but more and more, he's been doing things independently (and not just running into traffic, although that's still a favorite).

jakob

(Jake wanted to write his name somewhere.)

He can go to the bathroom by himself, although he needs to be reminded to flush, wash his hands, and turn out the lights. He opens the refrigerator, contemplates the drink choices, and heaves a half gallon of his chosen beverage onto the counter.

Jakob wants to type again: oooooojj

He can unbuckle the seatbelt (and never does that while moving). The iPhone and iPod Touch hold no secrets, and he knows the difference between them. He feeds the cat and recently began helping me clean the kitchen after dinner. He'll wipe (most of) a counter, then stand on it to clean off the cabinets. If I'm washing dishes, he'll want to help, which involves lots of careful consideration on my part of what can he wipe down without breaking or getting dirty dish water all over the dishes in the rack.

For Christmas, he got a real bike, bat and baseball. The bat is so heavy he chokes halfway up the whole bat, but he still hits them. The seat is lowered to the bottom but he can pedal (uphill even), turn and brake. The two training wheels are the same level as the ground, our driveway is mostly potholes, and the back wheel frequently loses all contact with the ground, leaving him spinning.

He also plays by himself. Last night, I suggested he could play with the Duplos all over the floor when he woke up. At 8:30 this morning, I awoke, sun streaming through my window, I woke up from a full night's sleep to absolute quiet. Was he still asleep? Or ... playing Legos! As much as I am enjoying my newfound self time, I realized I'm one step closer to not wanting to be seen with me.

Still wears a diaper at night.

July 30: Working that nighttime potty training

What else can I say? He loves plums, he's trying more new foods (gazpacho! tomato salad!). He's loving and kind. Plays super heros. Wants to chop heads off.

June 27: First baseball glove

Jake now owns his first baseball glove, a 9.5-inch Louisville Slugger. He pitched and I batted, one ball, two strikes and a hit on the bounce while the rain and thunderstorm started. He was so excited, no rain would keep us from playing.

The glove was for making it through his first week in a new room at his school. He and Sam moved into the young pre-schooler room Monday, and it's been rough for him, coming on top of Elias returning to California for the summer. Had more of his classed moved up with him, it would have been easier. Mornings are hard, but no actual tears, and he's happy to stay five more minutes when he gets picked up.

He is, however, avoiding the swimming pool, one of the benefits of the preschool room. He has much (too much) of my own timidity. Jorj is encouraging him every day to go in, but so far, nothing doing. I just want to open my mouth and let Frieda roll out and yell "Don't make the same mistakes I did! You'll regret this. Just do it right now!"

He was eligible to move to the preschooler room and go in the pool because he's fully potty trained during the day. We managed this with a combination of television bribery and letting him have accidents wearing his big-boy underwear. Now we are working on waking up dry (more bribery), and washing and dressing himself.

June 26: Penn as playground

Great-aunt Anne came down to us today, and we four spent the day on Penn's campus, which turns out to be a great playground for a three year old!

We began with a train ride to 30th Street Station. The train ride is so much better (and cheaper and more relaxing) than driving into the city. Jake loves watching the houses and stations go past. During off-peak hours, conductors will often punch a "ticket" for Jake. As we rode peak, the conductors were too busy, but we did see and wave to the mom of a school friend.

After meeting Anne, we bought a mid-morning snack (or breakfast, or morning caffeine) from the Tech Truck on Drexel's campus, showing Jake off to Stephanous. What could be better than truck food? I don't think had a single nutritious bite all day.

Jake and I walked around Drexel's campus, investigating the new fountain, the dragon statue and the copper beeches. It was a good way to cut off the mid-morning whinies.

After a brief interlude for potty and Blue's Clues, we met colleague Dominus for lunch at White Dog. While White Dog has a children's menu, their execution of grilled cheese leaves much to be desired by the under-five set. You and I might appreciate country-bread with cheddar, but Jake would have preferred both elements separately, especially as they were cold by the time he tried the sandwich.

Now, the sandwich being cold was my fault, as I took Jake to the Penn Book Center on 34th between Sansom and Walnut. They do have a children's section. Like the store, it's small. Like the store, the selection is grade-A. We read The Man with Caps, bought a Beatrix Potter, and reserved a re-telling of Sinbad. When I returned for the Sinbad book, I also picked up two kids gardening books. Just irresistable!

On to the Mediterranean Cafe in the food court at 34th & Walnut for ice cream (lovely, lovely selection; you can also go to Scoop de Ville in Houston Hall basement). We all got single-scoop cones (mint-choc, choc, coconut, coffee), and Jake got an extra bowl and spoon at no charge, for when the inevetable melting occurred.

Then walking to the BioPond below the Quad to see the turtles, near-dozen ducklings and monster koi. But first we passed the new trolley shelter at 37th and Spruce. Well, not really 37th; because Penn had that closed off years ago. Anyhoo, the surface shelter was replaced two years ago with a replica of the early 20th-century trolley cars, and includes old controls. What fun to "drive." Then the pond; then my office.

Jorj returned to his office (Jake had already visited nearly every colleague there), while Anne, Jake and I detoured ot the garden at the Penn Museum, which anne remembered as having a lovely goldfish pond. Pond, yes. Goldfish, maybe. Public access, no.

Jake wanted to return to the button in front of Van Pelt Library. I let him walk along the top of the wall around the museum (shoulder height) to get him to stop asking me to pick him up. He really did walk far, but he was also carried often. I was off by a block and we cut in back of Irvine (or Annenberg? whatever's on 33rd) and found a fantastic pair of ancient pillars donated by Lebanon for the US Bicentennial). Then we crossed 34th between Furness and the Design School, and I encouraged Jake to run through the Calder sculpture. Finally reaching the button, Jake climbed and slide and crawled over/under/through it, while Anne and I rested in the shade.

(Interlude for iced tea and non-decaf Chai latte at Starbucks.)

We grabbed Jorj from his weekly conference call and headed back to 30th St. for all of us to catch return transportation. Jorj saw the 42 was pulling up to the stop we were walking past, and hopped on with Jake. We waved as they sped past on Chestnut. Then goodbyes and boarding the train home. I read Jake's new books to him and a gregarious preschooler, who was returning with her mother from the airport. They'd awakened at 5 a.m. to fly to PHilly! Poor things.

At Jenki, we spend fifteen minutes at the playground before heading home. (Tookany Creek is also a favorite play spot.)

All in all, a day that was just one big playground for Jake.

May 6: He takes a 4T in big boy underwear

This is now an important piece of information to know, as Jake is potty trained during the day. Next goal: potty right after waking up.

Going out is still nerve wracking (I forget the diaper bag), but I can get him on to the potty to avoid accidents, and he really has learned what a full bladder feels like. We've watched more Diego than should be allowed to the stop we were walking past, and hopped on with Jake. We waved as they sped past on Chestnut. Then goodbyes and boarding the train home. I read Jake's new books to him and a gregarious preschooler, who was returning with her mother from the airport. They'd awakened at 5 a.m. to fly to PHilly! Poor things.

At Jenki, we spend fifteen minutes at the playground before heading home. (Tookany Creek is also a favorite play spot.)

All in all, a day that was just one big playground for Jake.

May 6: He takes a 4T in big boy underwear

This is now an important piece of information to know, as Jake is potty trained during the day. Next goal: potty right after waking up.

Also: sleeping through three or four nights a week. Still wants Mommy to sleep with him when he wakes up. Ugh, the guilt that goes with that one!

He's still asking for Uncle Jens and Tobi.

Feb 25: That's a year of therapy right there

or, Bad answers to simple questions

As Jake was going to sleep, and we had our usual conversation-before-bed, the subject of my birthday came up. Jake asked a typical toddler question, "Why will you be forty?"

The smart answer was, I'm thirty-nine, what comes after that? I did not give the smart answer. I gave the smart aleck answer.

"Because I haven't died."

Then I had to explain that while I will die, it won't be for a long time (I plan to live to 95, if you're wondering). I had enough sense to sidestep the "Then I won't have a mommy?" question by saying that I will always love him and will always be his mommy. This went on for a good ten minutes. He was near tears before we just settled into a quiet snuggle. It might have been the snuggle, or me saying that I won't die for a time so long he can't even imagine it, but he finally calmed down.

Jake, if you're reading this when you're, say, thirty-eight or thirty-nine, and wondering why you dread your fortieth birthday so much, now you know why.

Underpants update: back in pull-ups this week after two accidents on Saturday, both immediately after being asked if he needed to use the potty. We're using Seventh Generation, which have a nasty tendency to tear partway up the leg seam, but hold after the partial tear. Go figure.

Feb 22: Someone learns to walk!

Underpants update: Refused to wear them in the morning three days this week, but I was able to convince him to use the potty at 10 a.m. and put on underwear. The working threat seems to be, wear the underpants or I'll put a new diaper on you. How soon to college?

Feb. 16: Big boy underpants

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday Jake work "big boy" underpants (size 3T -- they are really "tiny boy" underpants) to school. He had no accidents on Wednesday or Friday. Today, he wore underwear all day, even at John and Marianne's beach party. (I didn't tell her; she would have freaked.) We are now seriously potty training.

For the last six months we've just worked on him wanting to use the potty, convincing him that it's okay to take a break and sit on the toilet. Even now it's still a battle in the morning to get him to sit on the potty. The thrill of big-boy underwear seems to be overcoming his reluctance.

He does ask to wear his big boy underwear to bed. "When you have a dry diaper in the morning" Jorj says. "And when you go potty after getting up!" I add. The last thing I want is cleaning up piddle puddles before work. This will take longer, and we'll probably still be carrying a diaper bag in Germany in October.

February 8: Wherein your author finally allows you an updated glimpse of the hero

Or, more photos at Flickr. Yes, I finally made a yahoo account. Yes, I'm upgrading my exporting software. yes, I'll get some watermarks on them soon.

February 5: We are loving three

Daycare has two great results: first, Jake is being socialized, even without the baby sibling he so desperately wants. (No, he doesn't understand that siblings mean sharing all the time.) Secondly, we can watch the other kids and see how normal and age-approriate Jake's behavior is! Meltdown at birthday party? Check! Refusal to share? Check! Won't try new foods? Check!

However, three is a great age! It's even better than two, which I thought was wonderful.

When I picked up Jake yesterday, Alana, Leah and Sam told me how much fun they'd had at Jake's party on Saturday. I was talking to people! Not babies, people! Short, cuddly people! It was quite wonderful. Then they asked about my ear warmers ("they fit under my bike helmet"). Then they asked about my bike helmet ("it's at home"). Then they asked about Jake's bike, so I got to ask about them biking at school, which they all like.

He sleeps. Not every night, but usually once a week or more. He'll wake only once at night, and returns to sleep with merely a hug and a kiss, and a promise to see him in the morning. Usually wake-ups happen about 4 a.m., enough time for both of us to return to sleep, but yesterday he woke at 6 a.m. With little hope, I put him back to bed and tried to get another half hour (hah). Stumbling to the shower, I saw a light under his door. After not falling asleep, he turned on his light and read his new dinosaur book!

He doesn't have the obsessions other kids have -- no dinosaurs, cars, Nemo, princesses or Duplos. Maybe Dora, but we buy few things with licensed characters, and he doesn't fret so much. If anything, he is obsessed with books. As we opened birthday presents, every book had to be read then and there, leading to the first two-minute Are You My Mother? I really need to take him to the library!

He eats more, most likely because of the "Jakob tried it" dance, or, watch me manipulate my mother into making a fool of herself. Hey, at least he swallows after trying foods, rather than spitting them on his plate. He does like four veggies: cherry tomatoes, carrot sticks, red pepper sticks, and peas. That's one up on Uncle Steve.

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