Gems from today....

* Today started with this:
Nixon: Mommy, it's dark outside, I have to go back to sleep so the sun will come out and it will be a sunny day.
me: Sorry baby boy, but it's time to wake up.
Nixon: No Mom, that's wrong. It's time for sleep...see, the sun is still sleeping.
And with that he got back under his blankets.

* When I picked him up at school. the little girl who adores Nixon greeted me with "Nixon had a bad day today. He made a lot of bad choices.". *sigh* I was totally prepared for a meltdown when I found him. It wasn't bad. He was in the play kitchen area, with one of his teachers, putting away the plates/bowls they had played with.
His teacher told me "He had a good day. He came over and asked if he could cook me dinner. He set the table, made me food and then told me he had to clear the table and wash the dishes. He was very polite about it all.", with a big smile on her face!

As we made our way to the door, his teacher stopped and asked if I knew about the "painting situation". Oh boy, here it comes, I thought when I heard her say that to the other teacher. It wasn't that bad. The class was doing a painting project, but Nixon was insistent that he couldn't do it "because my hands will get yucky with all that messy paint". His teacher came up with a very good solution: she gave him a pair of gloves to wear. He put them on and had no problem with the paint.
So my kid likes to be clean and not make a mess? Most moms would kill for a kid like that, right? It's less the mess and more he doesn't like the feel of paint on his hands. Either way, he had a great week at school and I couldn't be happier!

* Driving in the car today, Nixon suddenly says "Mommy, someone is talking to you. It's a little boy named Nixon!" I had to laugh, because he was the only other person in the car with me, but because it was raining and kind of crappy out, I was so focused on driving I wasn't exactly listening to him.

"I'll tell him it's okay, Momma"

* Nixon woke up this morning and was overjoyed when he saw R2D2 waiting for him! He was a little more excited when he saw C3PO in the window. He tried telling me that C3PO needed to be with R2, but I assured him 3PO was fine where he was. "He's in the window to let Santa know there's a good little boy in the house. If he's gone he's probably talking to Santa, you don't want that."

* Santa was the theme of the day. Nixon and I went out together to grab dinner. On the drive there Nixon and I start talking about Santa and what he (Nixon) is going to ask for.
Nixon: Oh, I want a race track, for my cars. And new cars, for the race track so they are fast cars. And Fluttershy.
me: Sweetie, we've talked about this, Santa only brings one gift, remember?
Nixon: Well, I'll ask for one for me but I think I want Santa to bring you a gift too. You're a good mommy and you deserve it.
me: Thanks baby, but Santa can only bring gifts to boys and girls who are good. Not mommies and daddies.
Nixon: It's okay, I'll tell Santa it's okay, Momma. He'll bring you a gift.
me: That's sweet honey, but that would mean Santa has an extra gift that might mean less room for another child's toy. Is that nice?
Nixon: Oh no! See, mommy, it's like this: The elves make the toys with magic. They take something blank and *whoosh* magic makes it a toy. Santa brings the elves with him, so they make the *whoosh* at each house. See? Enough room!

I wanted so bad to argue with him about that, but man, that is some well thought out logic for a 5-year old!
Ultimately, Nixon settled on Fluttershy because he knows that Santa has elves who run a Build-A-Bear workshop at the North Pole, it's how he got his Iron Cub last Christmas from Santa *wink, wink*

...then Nixon met the neighbors and almost insulted them.

* We were heading out to the car, when this happened:
Nixon: Mommy, why'd that person spill coffee in the grass?
me: I'm not sure honey, maybe because the grass likes coffee like Mommy does?
Nixon: I wanna ask.
(he walks over to our neighbors and proceeds to look for where the coffee went)
Nixon: HI, I'm Nixon, where'd the coffee go?
neighbor: Hi Nixon, what a cool name *nods to me*. I'm S.
Nixon: HI S. Don't you like coffee?
S: *laughs* I do, but I pour some in the grass every day. I know it's kind of tacky.
Nixon: Oh, does the grass like the coffee?
me: *trying to help S get away from Nixon's sudden on-set of never ending questions* Honey, the grass LOVES the coffee, look hoe green and full it is!
Nixon: Oh yeah! Good job! *gives S a thumbs up* Bye S, nice meeting you.
And just like that, Nixon met one of our neighbors. Then got into my car and said "Mommy, the grass is pretty, but you're better when you drink your coffee."

* The rest of the day was relatively uneventful. Though Nixon did impress me, once again. Since I already wrote a blog about it, I'll just link it for you to read. Trust me, it's worth the read.

* Nixon asked me today to put one of his missiles back into his Star Wars speedracer. I did, because I've done it multiple times already and Nixon hasn't figured out the trick which only frustrates him and makes him *almost* throw his toy.
   When I handed it back to him, Nixon says "Thanks mom, you're my hero!" Best.Thanks.Ever!

When you get down to the logic behind the things he says, he really is a sweet and caring child! Sometimes he is shockingly deep for his age.

* Nixon, Mac and I had a very interesting conversation today.
Nixon's had an odd borderline obsession with telling me he wants to be back in my belly and be a baby again. It's crazy, because he never says he wants a baby brother or sister, it's always he wants to be a baby again. So, this afternoon after Mac woke up and we were all just kind of laying around in our bed, I asked Nixon about it.
me: Nixon, how come you want to be a baby in my belly again?
Nixon: because you want a baby.
me: What?!? NO! I really do not want another baby!
Nixon: No, you miss baby me.
me: Oh! I see....
Nixon: So, I can be a baby again for you and you won't miss baby me any more.
me: Oh baby....I do miss you being a baby, some days, but I LOVE the you, you are now. You're so fun and talkative and you are wiping your own butt now!
Nixon: Yeah, I do wipe my own butt!
me: If you were a baby, you couldn't eat by yourself or walk and you'd have to wear diapers...that's not fun, right?
Nixon: No. That's not fun at all.
me: Honey, I do sometimes miss you, as a baby, but not enough to want to lose the you you are now! I love how silly and awesome you have become.
Babies are boring.
Nixon: But you call me "baby" a lot.
me: I call you "baby" because you are, and forever will be, my baby boy. It doesn't mean I want you to be a baby again. But, it's very thoughtful that you wanted to be a baby again because you thought I wanted that.
Nixon: Yeah.
me: But buddy, your dad and I...we don't want any more babies. You are it for us, okay? You are the only baby we need and want!
Mac: Yeah, we're not doing that again!
Nixon: Okay....can we go downstairs and watch TV now?
me: *to Mac*...and he's over it all now.

* Nixon was wearing a Nike tee today. He asked me to help him read it. He spelled the words and I told him what the word was. It was kind of cool that Nixon noticed his shirt had words on it and wanted to read it.
   He needs to stop growing up!

* Anyone who has cats will know that they tend to put their asses in your face almost any chance they get. Evidently, Nixon has been watching the cats do this, because as we were relaxing together before Mac left for work, Nixon used the "ass in face slide" move on Mac.
   Mac was sitting on the floor, in front of me, while Nixon and I were on the sofa. Nixon decides he wants to get off the sofa, and rather than get off closest to me where there is lots of room, he puts his ass in Mac's face and slides by him in the most awkward and inconvenient way possible!
    Mac and I both sat with stunned looks on our faces, and Nixon finally says "Oh, excuse me", and goes about his business!

It's a two-for post today!

   Since my laptop was acting like an ass last night, I couldn't get the post done.

*Saturday:
~Nixon had a trip to the thrift store with Mac & I, that resulted in him finding a twin for BeBe. It's an identical bear in every way as his beloved BeBe, except this one is blue. He is now known as Blue BeBe and Nixon has 3 bears in bed with him plus Pinkie Pie.

showing off his thrift store finds: Pinkie Pie (G3 version) and Blue BeBe

~Nixon is telling me he has a secret note. It says "To my baby boy, I love you." I say that to him daily, and it's now his secret note!

~ I asked Nixon "If you have a boy, when you grow up, what would you name him?"
Nixon: My name, Nixon.
me: You'll name him Nixon?
Nixon: Yeah!
me: So, Nixon Junior?
Nixon: No. I changed my mind. I'll name him Junior. Just Junior.
me: If you have a boy, you're going to just name him Junior.
Nixon: Yeah, that's a good name for a boy!

*Sunday
~ I love Nixon giving me awesome compliments like "You look good mom" while I'm making his breakfast or "Mommy, you do that well" as I make him a sandwich. The best happened today (sadly I was out getting some alone time, while Mac and Nixon were home together), when Nixon was napping. He sat up and sat "Mommy, you look good" and went back to sleep.
Complimenting me in his sleep, even when I'm not around? He is perfect!

* Nixon got a Happy Meal last night. The toy is a Power Ranger toy, which is a piece of a larger toy (to of course get you to buy more Happy Meals). Nixon comes in to wake me up today and says "Mommy, I have a big problem. I have one arm but I need: 1,2,3,4 more pieces....you need to take me to get more Happy Meals!"
   Yeah, I see that happening...you wake me up and and start demanding Happy Meals?!? How about getting me some coffee first? Geesh, I thought I had him trained better than that!

Little bunny foo foo sitting in the backyard, munching on the clover as Nixon quietly watches

* Sometimes Nixon does the most surprisingly random thing that just blows me away. Tonight, I noticed a small brown bunny in our backyard. We watched it for a moment then went inside. A few minutes later it was still there, so I grabbed my camera and went outside to quietly get some pictures of it. Nixon begged to come outside as well, and I honestly thought "Well, there goes the bunny". I was so, so wrong. Nixon sat behind me, in a lawn chair and quietly spoke to the bunny while I took the photos. We were out there for about 10 minutes, before I had to go inside (I was getting eaten alive by those damned mosquitoes). That bunny was in our yard, that I was aware of, for over half an hour. Nixon even set BeBe up in front of the sliding glass door because "BeBe would like to see the bunny too and he promises not to make a sound, mommy!"
   Isn't he just the cutest?!?!

* Nixon: You forgot my baby song.
me: It's late, way past your bedtime. You'll have to go to sleep without the baby song.
Nixon: But mom, babies still need their baby songs. It's very important for babies to have their baby songs.
me: Nixon, you're not a baby.
Nixon: But you said I'l always be your baby. *cue pouty face*
well played, Nixon, well played. 

"you forgotted me!"

* Nixon today, on our way out of the post office, sees a dog walking by with his/her owner. He decides, in true I-must-be-a-total-pain-in-mom's-ass-about-everything fashion, he doesn't like dogs. He continues to lament about this new found dislike of dogs as we walk from the Post Office to Dunkin Donuts. After getting our donuts and Nixon's chocolate milk, the same dog is taking a rest next to the DD storefront. Nixon notices the dog and says "Aww..mommy I love dogs! I love cats. I love all animals. Except the stupid birds that poop on you green car."
Moral of this tale? Nixon is like a teenage girl. Give him 3 minutes and he's done a total change of mind about something, for no reason at all.

* Mac and I are on the sofa, next to each other, Nixon comes over to us and says "We all kiss!", but he points at Mac and I, so I think he means that he wants us to kiss each other while Mac thinks he wants us to kiss him together. So we kiss each other and Nixon says "NO! You forgotted me!". I'll be damned, Mac was right! We quickly kissed his face, together, and he was a happy child again.

Explaining old age without offending anyone isn't as easy as you'd think it would be....

* Leaving the Post Office today, Nixon points out an elderly gent using a cane.
Nixon: What's wrong with him?
me: *trying not to cringe as he'd said this loudly and there were 2 other patrons nearby* Nothing's wrong with him, baby. He's just old....umm, he's lived a long life.
Nixon: Why's he walking funny?
me: Well, part of living a long life means your body doesn't stay fresh. He's using a cane because his body needs help.
Nixon: Oh.
me: But he's also really lucky. He's lived to see a lot of birthdays! And that's pretty cool, right?
Nixon: He's had a lot of cakes?! That's awesome!

He has a twin bed, but seems to only need the top portion where his pillows are...

1130pm and he's still awake!!

* We're snuggling in my bed tonight. We watched Ice Age and Nixon was his usual overly-emotional self during the cave drawing scene. He started crying and saying he missed Daddy. We cuddled and I gave him kisses, after a few minutes he was okay but he's still having a hard time falling asleep.
Oh well, tomorrow is Sunday and we can always
take a nap if needed.

"I'm a big brave boy but I need my sleep"

* There's something about the movie BOLT that just sends Nixon to tears. Tonight it was the squeaker carrot toy. Nixon curled up on my lap crying because "Mr. Carrot" was sad and missed Bolt. He was a sad little boy for about 10 minutes all because of that squeaker carrot toy. Then, he starts crying at the end of the movie because he was so happy Bolt and Penny (the little girl) were together again.
He really is an emotional mess sometimes. But he's MY emotional mess.

* Nixon walked over to me, cocked his head sideways and just stared at me. It got a little creepy. I asked him of everything was okay and he said "Yeah. I'm just being a zombie." Then he walked away, only to do it all over again a couple more times.

* After Nixon went to bed, on time without a single fight. Less than 10 minutes later I hear him at the bedroom window saying "Excuse me, can you keep it down? I am trying to sleep it is bedtime now be quiet!" to the noisy passersby on the sidewalk below. I went upstairs to check on him and he says "Mommy, did you hear me? I was nice but they need to keep it down."
Of course, no one outside could hear him, but I wasn't going to take his pride away. He was adorable! Climbed right back into bed, under the covers and said "Mommy, I'm a big, brave boy. But I need my sleep too."  

Amber photobomb.

...and then I helped him with math and explained belly buttons

* Nixon: Can I have 2 vitamin cars?
me: Nixon, you already had your 2 vitamin cars today.
Nixon: Oh.
me: *holding up 2 fingers* You had your 2 vitamins today, so now you have zero left.
Nixon: Mommy, may I have zero vitamin cars?
me: Yes, you may have zero vitamin cars.
Nixon: I can?!
me: Yes.
this went on for quite a while before Nixon got frustrated and realized he was not going to get more vitamin cars.
Fun with Math.

* Nixon, looking at a photo of a friend's newborn baby, asked me about the umbilical cord. I don't think I scarred him too badly:
"Well, when a baby is inside it's mommy's belly, that big white cord is how it gets food. After it's born, the cord gets cut and in a few days it will dry out and fall off. Leaving behind a belly button, which is a little piece of forever proof of the time you lived in mommy's belly."
Nixon looked at his belly button and said "I see it!"  

Snow day = Happy day, if you are Nixon.

* In Target today, Nixon and I walked by a baby who was crying in the cart. Nixon says to me "Mommy, why is that baby so upset?" like I'm magically supposed to know why every child in the world is upset. I tell him I don't know and he says back to me, as serious as he could "Mommy, we should try to make that baby smile. It's not happy when it's crying and today should be a happy day. It's snowing outside!"
The women walking behind us were laughing as Nixon explained this reasoning!

"whoop, whoop sucha lady"- Nixon

* Nixon loves to sing PSY's song "Gungam Style", but he makes up his own words. Instead of "sexy lady" he says "whoop whoop sucha lady". I'm not complaining about that because it really is better than my 4-year old singing "sexy lady" all day. It's just random when he decides, out of nowhere, to start singing it and hasn't even heard the song recently. Makes me wonder what goes on in his head!

* Nixon says he's afraid of the dark. He has a nightlight in his room, but he tells me tonight "it's not bright enough". So I offer to put his aquarium moving picture light in his room, and he says okay...but leave the nightlight too, for BeBe. So now Nixon and BeBe are afraid of the dark and they both need their own nightlights??

He gets his rewards and entertains people all day long

* Nixon got his TMNT reward today! He was overjoyed and practically ran to the back of the store to see the toys and choose his prize. He ultimately chose the blue one (Leonardo), with only one choice before. He happily carried around the store and showed it to anyone who paid attention to him.

* Nixon answered the door with me when our pizza delivery arrived. The delivery guy was awesome and friendly not in a creepy manner towards him.
Pizza guy: How old are you? (to Nixon)
Nixon: Uh.....crap on a stick!
PG: What's your name?
Nixon: I'm Nixon!
me: Nix, how old are you?
Nixon: I'm 4.
PG: My daughter is the same age.
me: Does she say "crap on a stick" to random people?
PG: No, but...
me:....it's better than the other more colorful alternatives, right?
PG: *chuckling* Yep, sure is. Have a great night!

Nixon, dinosaur slayer and savior!

* Nixon has been a little mouthy and overly disobedient lately. Today was the day I took stand, drew a line in the sand, and refused to bend. He is not happy about it, but by bedtime he stopped talking back and started listening. I may be laid back, but I'm not going to be my child's doormat!


* Nixon was playing with his dinosaurs. He says there is a mommy, a daddy, a grandpa and a baby one. He was lining all his dinos up to kill, then asked me to keep the baby one safe "because he's so cute". A few minutes later he brings me the rest of the family to keep safe "because the family needs to keep the baby safe and not be dead".  He's so random!

Sometimes, I take a picture of Nixon and just fall in love with him a little bit more. This is one of those photos. I can't explain why, but I am in love with him because of it.....he is just perfect!

He's a sweetheart...and he's all mine, for as long as he wants to be mine!

* Nixon says to me this morning "Mommy, I need energy. Do we have cookies?" I like how he knows food gives him energy, but I'm not giving him sugary snacks for energy. He got peanut butter and jelly plus oranges and a glass of water.

* We watched Finding Nemo tonight and Nixon came over at the very beginning of the movie to give me a hug and kiss. Why? Because he wanted me to not be sad when Nemo's mommy "gets lost" as Nixon says. I love that he thought to comfort me during a part of the movie he knew was sad.

TMNT update: smiles and frowns hit a dead-heat today, at 5 each.

He's a nudist and a comedian in the making....and he's a normal 4-year old with normal 4 year old fears.

*Nixon's first "knock, knock" joke
Nixon: knock knock mom
me: who's there?
Nixon: it's me package Nixon, from the mail truck
me: It's me package Nixon from the mail truck who?
Nixon: here, I have a delivery for you...it's a frog!

Eh, it's a work in progress but he's trying!

* Nixon asked if he could get naked and run around wild before bed. Since the curtains are closed and it's just us, I told him to go for it. I don't know why but this kid loves being naked! He asked for a "fun hug" and I told him he couldn't have one while naked. So he put on undies and a tee shirt, walked over to me and said "Mommy, I have clothes on, fun hug now please!" haha

* In the car today..
me: Nixon, what's your name?
Nixon: 4
me: No. Nixon, what are you called?
Nixon: I am Nixon.
me: Yes, that's your name. What's Daddy's name?
Nixon: Daddy.
me: No, Nixon, Daddy's name is Mac. Do you know Mommy's name?
Nixon: Mac?
me: *laughing* No, my name is Rea.
Nixon: Really? It's not Mommy?
me: Only you call me mommy. But it's important that you know mommy and daddy's names, so if you ever get lost you can tell a police officer and they can help you find us.
Nixon: You are going to lost me?!
me: Not today, but some day it might happen, but never on purpose.
Nixon: Okay.
me: What's Daddy's name?
Nixon: Daddy's name is MAC!
me: And what is my name?
Nixon: Rea! Your name is Rea! And I am Nixon Mathieu!

TMNT update: today was a frowny day. He was fine until bedtime when I found him sucking his fingers hard and fast while I was reading his story. Total count- 5 smiles, 4 frowns

The random things he says over the span of one day...

* Nixon randomly starts saying "nah-nahna-na-nah cry babies". There's no rhyme or reason for the things that come out of his mouth.

* Nixon: I love you, mom
me: I love you too, baby.
Nixon: Why did you call me baby? I'm a big boy!
me: I know. You are a big boy, but you will always be my baby. So I call you baby.
Nixon: Oh. I like it when you call me baby.
me: You will be my baby forever, no matter how big, old or grown up you get.

* Nixon touches my face and looks at my eyes and says: Mommy, what color are you eyes?
me: My eyes? They are green.
Nixon: What color are my eyes?
me: Your eyes are brown.
Nixon: Not green like yours?
me: Nope, you've got daddy's brown eyes.
Nixon: But why? I like you green eyes.
me: I do too, but you got daddy's brown eyes because they were stronger when we made you.
Nixon: Green eyes are weak?
me: No, they aren't weak but they don't fight well against brown.
Nixon: I have strong brown eyes, like Daddy!

TMNT update: I'm going to call it a bad day. One warning before nap time and 2 after his nap. It's a frowny day.

I adore his randomness!

Apparently, according to my 4-year old, I need a job....and then he offered me job security.

* Nixon spent the morning in his brand new, built by mommy, movie fort! Complete with pillows, blankets, snacks delivery service and his privacy. At one point he had Amber in there...and half his toy box. I told Mac he is a hoarder in the making. I was only half-joking.

* Nixon (to me this evening):you can get a job
me:I have a job. I take care of you.
Nixon:I'm not a job.
me:So if I don't take care of you what do I do?
Nixon: Nothing, that's why you get a job.
me:But if I get a job who will take care of you?
Nixon:BeBe.
me:BeBe will take care of you (BeBe is his stuffed teddy bear, NOT proper supervision) And who will feed you?
Nixon:Amber.
me:Amber's going to feed you?
Nixon:No. Amber is eating her food.
me:Why did you tell me to get a job? That made me sad. (he goofs off for a few seconds)
Nixon:You do take care of me...I so sorry mom.
me: (I look up and suddenly realize....)Why are you naked?
Nixon:Because I want your job to dress me and carry me.
me:Can I turn down that job offer??

* Sorry, Iron Man you've been replaced. "Hawkeye is the best hero" says Nixon today.

I caught him as he was going to the bathroom, so I asked him if he wanted to hold the sign. He did, then he was fast asleep again. 

The random things that amaze him and amuse me

* Nixon: Wow! I have bones...in my body!

me: you have bones?
Nixon: uh-huh. In my body. *gives me his arm* Feel. Those are all my bones!

* Nixon couldn't find his stuffed teddy bear, BeBe. He was searching upstairs and downstairs, getting more and more frantic as he went. He stopped in front of me and said "Mommy, what if BeBe ran away?" with genuine concern in his voice. I asked him if he thought BeBe ran away and he says "I have been bossy." 

 We found BeBe, Nixon gave her a giant hug....and never once mentioned the bossiness that led him to think she ran away. haha Maybe he's decided it's best not to give her any reason to runaway in the future?