Having a toddler is like everyday awaiting a new adventure…you’re unsure of just what can pop out of their mouth, unsure of just what new skill they may acquire that you had no clue existed the day before…
My adventures lately seem to be all verbal. Of course, Kwabena’s been able to speak really well for quite a while. But the type of things he’s saying now never cease to amaze me. Some of the things are not quite that good; other things are funny as shit.
Yesterday we went to my nephew’s baseball game. I had to run to the car for a minute, and asked Mom to watch Kwabena for a minute. As I crossed the parking lot, I heard Mom yell out, “Stop it, Kwabena!” Apparently he was in the process of licking the dirty hand rail (!!!!). (I figured he just needed some iron in his diet, lol). When Mom told him to stop, he turned to her and said, “I will throw you down the stairs!”
Um….excuse me??
Okay, I have to admit that my first response when I heard he had said this, was to laugh because it was so outlandish and abrupt. Of course, I quickly collected myself and talked to him about not saying those types of things. Ay yay yay….. Sometimes he tries to act like such a smart-ass tough-guy, I have to wonder where he gets it from. We surely don’t say anything like that at home! Daycare, perhaps? Sorry, Kwabena, there will not be any tossing of any grown-ups down the stairs……*snicker* (Sorry, couldn’t help it!)
He’s also very interested in PENISES right now….particularly MY penis (and I don’t even have one!!). Yesterday he commented after I had gone to the bathroom, “I was looking at your penis.” Well, first of all, he couldn’t see anything, because I wasn’t showing him. But I think he was just looking in that direction, and wanted to share that he had been looking. LOL. I replied, “Kwabena, I don’t have a penis. Only boys have penises.” I wasn’t sure if I should follow-up with “girls have vaginas” (does a toddler really need to know that part?). But I did add it on after a moment when he commented that I *do* have a penis. He didn’t focus on the new vocab word, and I let it go.
This morning he commented again (when I got out of bed naked, that is, which I rarely sleep that way) that he “saw my penis.” Well, I explained to him again about “penis vs. vagina” but the conversation ended there.
I’m not at all shy about telling him about proper terms for genitalia. I have heard that children that use proper terminology are more likely to be believed in cases of molestation, etc. That bit of information always stuck with me, and so, I believe in telling kids exactly what things are. It makes me irritated when people tell their kids their vaginas are “Susie Q”s or their penises are “pee-pees.”
Anyhow…..
Another thing Kwabena is into nowadays is music…particularly my obsession with Coldplay, and my latest interest in Lady Gaga. He even loves jammin’ to the Black Eyed Peas’ “Boom Boom Pow” and requests “play it again!” He even knows some of the WORDS! Funny! He walks around say, “Yeah, yeah, yeah! Rock-and-roll! Rock-and-roll!” It’s the funniest thing EVER! 🙂
He says the funniest things….the other day we were driving and he said, “Mommy, look at that super fast car!” (He’s obsessed with fast cars). I told him, “Kwabena, I’m sorry, I didn’t see it; I wasn’t paying attention.” He responded, “Mommy, you have to pay attention to where you’re going!!” HA! How’s that for backseat driver??
We have our tender moments, too. This morning in bed I told him I always want to be close to him, and explained to him, while he was lying on my chest, that I will always be there for him, no matter what. That, even when he’s a grown-up, and he needs help from me, just ask, because I will be there for him always. He interrupted and said, “Mommy, I love you.”
Awwww….melts my heart!
There is so much more to update on Kwabena and our life, but I can’t get into the nitty-gritty details. It’s 1 a.m., and I had to rest up for our Memorial Day activities tomorrow! But a couple things….
Last week we went to the Andrews Air Force Base (AFB) air show. Amazing! We had never been there before. Kwasi took off work, and we drove to Fed Ex field and parked. They had awesome shuttle services, and we got there without a hitch. The weather was cold (um…60 degrees??) and windy, but we still enjoyed the flips and turns and death-defying stunts. We walked through huge aircraft, munched on snacks, and waiting anxiously to see the Air Force Thunderbirds. Seeing them perform was awesome! I felt so much pride watching them, amazing that men and women actually fly those aircraft for our military service! We’ll definitely make the air show as part of our annual ritual now! 🙂
This weekend we’ve been spending a lot of family time together! We went to help Mom with a yard sale yesterday, and had a great time just hanging out. Poor thing….I forgot sunblock and he BURNED on his back and shoulders!! I felt like a terrible mother. I totally didn’t even realize that (duh!) we’re sitting outside at a yard sale all day–MAYBE we should cover up. *slapping my forehead*. Luckily, it wasn’t TOO bad, and the aloe vera is helping. Kwabena insists on calling it “the burnies” and not “sunburn.” He says it’s funnier. 🙂
Today Kwasi took off from work and we went on a long walk this morning…watched ducklings and their mama…watched a softball game briefly….and enjoyed the beautiful day. Later, we went to my friend’s cook-out and Kwabena had a blast playing in the back yard. Poor thing got SPLINTERS (about 4 of them!) stuck in his foot, which he’s been giving me an awful time about being able to get them out!
So that’s what’s new with the Appiahs!
More later…..
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