Bubbles

Ok...enough of the manners already

You all know how this story goes...you teach your kids to do or say something nice, like "please" and "thank you" and then they try to get away with things BECAUSE they said "please" and "thank you".  Here is some dialogue from last night's battle (I mean, bath):

Mommy:  Salvatore, it is time to get out and dry off.

Salvatore: No, thank you mama.

Mommy:  We need to put on our pajamas.

Salvatore: No, thank you mama.

Mommy: (So I pull the plug and the water begins to drain)

Salvatore: (Through grinding teeth) NO THANK YOU MAMA!!!!!!!

Mommy: (Reaches in to get him-I won't argue with words)

Salvatore: (Like a slippery eel, he bucks and screams) NOOOOO THANKKKK YOUUUUU MAAAAMAAAAAAAA!!!!!

Mommy was soaking wet, but mommy won....at least he was trying to be nice about it!!!!!

I can just imagine what was going on in his head: Mommy may have won, but at least I got her soaking wet...hey, I WAS trying to be nice about it!

Manners

David was cleaning up Salvatore's room tonight and he sneezed.  Salvatore said, "Bless You," before I could and kept playing with his toys.  He also said, "No, thank you" instead of "NO" all weekend.  Our sweetheart.

Us

Mommy kisses...baby laughs

I'm too Sexy for my......

Looks like we have a couple of models on our hands...love the poses!

Prayers

Salvatore loves to say his prayers before bedtime.

David is teaching him the "Our Father" is Spanish.

This video made me cry as I recorded it.

Prayers are precious.

Mexico

2078

I log into my blog each morning and stare at my beautiful son and reread all of the stuff that I wrote because I miss him.  He is still asleep when I leave at 7 a.m. each school morning and this is the only way that I can "be with him."  As I logged in this morning, I noticed the number of people who have visited our blog, the "fans in attendance" and was shocked to see 2078!  Sara helped me start this over two months ago and I am glad to see you all on it and sharing in our joy.  That number started playing around in my head.....I will be long gone in 2078 (unless I really do make it to 103!) Salvatore will be 71 years old.  What will life be like for him at 71!  What will our country, our world, our EVERYTHING look like?  My dad always told me that he was young, circa 1950's, the predictions they had for the new millinium were that we would have a cure for cancer and we could live on the moon.  Not even close right?  They never predicted we would have AIDS or cell phones or T.V.'s that could pause a live show, but advancements and setbacks are here in ways no one could predict.  And we still have cancer and we only look at the moon.  What is in store for our kids and grandkids?  As a parent now, all you want to do is make this and them better............

More Independence

Last night, in the bath tub, Salvatore asked if he could wash himself.  He had his Mickey Mouse washcloth ready and practiced saying "soap" in Spanish, "jabon."  I would give him little squirts and told him what to wash first and next.  He was so careful and so serious at first that I wondered if he was even enjoying this new independence.  Then he smiled and laughed when he smelled his own foot and said, "clean mommy."  Next, he put his hand behind the Mickey Mouse face on his washcloth and opened and closed his hand as if to make the Mickey "talk."  I laughed so hard! Big mistake-this laughing so hard for them-because he then wanted to sleep with the wet, drippy washcloth all night just so he could keep making me laugh!  When the terrible two monster took over my sweet little guy, I knew it was definitely time for bed.  He fell asleep asking for Mickey.  Wonder what he dreamt of tonight......

Our SuperStar

See the star?

 David took him to get his haircut and surprised me with a "star" shaved into the back of his head.  I actually like it!!!!  Salvatore told me the story over and over again on the way home about getting his hair cut and how he got his special star.  

Style

Not many women can say that their husbands love to shop more than they do, but I can.  David not only loves shopping more than I do, he has a much better sense of style and fashion than I.  We went shopping for Salvatore this weekend and David bought these cute Polo shirts and even found himself a matching one.  We love the way Salvatore looks in this shirt and the smile on his face is so great!

Playdate with the Coopers

Sal copying everything Jack does!

The icky, sticky, messy ice cream.

Racing Jack down the street while he gave up his wagon seat to Salvatore.

Bubbles machine!!!!

On Friday night, David dropped Salvatore and I off at my good friend Sara's house for a playdate and picked us up after his shift.  Sara is a co-worker and the mother of Salvatore's girlfriend, Molly.  She picked up our favorite dinner and had the house ready with toys and goodies galore.  We had a great time taking care of our kids together.  Sal and Molly played upstairs and downstairs and Jack, 6, was a big brother to both of them!  Thank you, Cooper Party of 4, for having us and thank you, David, for happily dropping us off and picking us up. 

September 11th

September 11th still hurts me in a way that I don't even express to people. But like all grieving processes, it changes slowly....in ways you could not predict or even prepare for.  I HATE knowing that all of those people suffered in that scary way while we watched helplessly on TV.  I hate knowing that my godfather, Mike, lost his niece (she worked in one of the towers) and that our old friend, Megan, lost her roommate (she was one of the flight attendants). But mostly I hate to hear and see the terror in the footage they show and play again and again.  Like most of our tragedies and deaths, we must remember and suffer each day without that person, but we don't have it replayed on TV over and over on that day.  When I was a child, I used to keep and hide those "Have You Seen Me?" cards with missing kids on them under my bed and in my drawers because I felt that either A: I was really going to recognize one someday, or B: if I just threw it away, then that parent or family would have no one suffering with them so I suffered as much as I could with them by keeping them.  

Well, this year, I decided not to watch the TV on this unfortunate day.  Not because it no longer deserves my attention or prayers, and not because I am pretending that is it no longer there.  I tried not to watch the TV because I wanted to go through another, different grieving step...and see how it felt.  Knowing that all of those people who survived have plugged ahead and are still rebuilding their lives makes me feel prouder today than sad.  So,no TV for me today.  Still plenty of silent prayers going up.  But no TV.  It is not just the firefighters who are the heroes.  It is each and every one of them!

Time Out

Salvatore has a "time out" spot in the middle of the hallway.  He needs to sit there alone for two minutes when he deserves it.  So far, it works!  He never moves or tries to get up-yet! He always listens to me afterwards and gives me a hug and a kiss.  If only it were always this easy!!!!  

Mom Survived her First Week Back to School

See his latest bump on his forehead from falling down at the park?

Yes, that is chocolate on his lips.

Well, I survived my first week back! I really enjoy teaching, seeing the kids, and spending time with my co-workers whom I truly consider family.  I love making a difference and providing for my family.  I love the income and providing insurance for us.  I love that Salvatore gets such wonderful care from his dad and Lolo.  I hate leaving my son and missing some of the wonderful things that he does, sees, and says.  I say "some" because I rush home each day to spend as much time with him as I can, no matter how tired I am.  On Friday, when I got home, we sat outside on our swing and counted the cars that drove by.  Each day now, I learn something new that Salvatore has learned from his daddy or Lolo.  He constantly surprises me and I thrive on catching and keeping up!  

Fun in the Ball Pit

Loving every minute!

Molly (Salvatore's girlfriend)

Heaven!

Last week, Salvatore went to his friend Milan's 2nd birthday party! Milan is the first in our Richman Baby Club to turn two!  The kids had so much fun celebrating with Milan.  Salvatore, Molly, Mia and Reece spend most of their free time in the ball pit.  I need to get one of these for our backyard.  Only a few more years and we will all have sleepovers where the kids will be making forts!!!!