Karate Chop

So when Tony turned 3 I thought he might like some type of martial art but all the studios here don't start teaching until 4 years old. Makes sense, 3 is pretty young for them to undertand the idea, but then I saw a summer program through a community center for karate tots. Only 30 bucks and no uniforms. I thought "perfect" it will be a fun Saturday morning teaching basic karate moves in a kid friendly environment. Or maybe not. We had missed the first class so I arrived early and asked if we could watch. The class was only 4 other boys and again I thought "perfect" lots of one on one. Let me say I undertand marial arts are serious and teach disipline and respect -both attributes I would like Tony to undertand but this guy was a bit harsh. He started simply enough by talking about the colored belts and how karate can help you in everyday life and even had some funny names for a few of the moves, but then he proceeded to bark out positions like these kids were supposed to automatically remember from last week. At one point I asked T if he wanted to stand near the back of the class and practice with them but he shook his head no and gave me the "big eyes" None of the other parents had any reaction so I thought I was being overly sensitive but near the end he wanted to teach a kidnapping hold. He was "trying" to demonstrate on a boy but the poor child was not following instructions or understanding (or maybe he was terrified) and the teacher was getting so frustrated he finally gave up and let the kids play basketball for the last 10 minutes...Huh Although it was the only time the kids looked like they were enjoying themelves!
Afterwords while we were driving to the park Tony said "That guy was mean I don't like karate." And I had to wonder what those other 4 boys said on the way home.
Maybe this was his first attempt at teaching or maybe I have no idea what to look for in a good teacher but I felt like it was karate boot camp instead of karate tots. I believe we will wait until Tony turns 4 and try again at a reputable place.

Happy to be home

I recently took a haitus away from Lubbock to visit my sister in Denver. I was able to sleep in,  not do any chores, laugh, hang out with my nieces, shop, and just simply relax from everyday life. While all of that was fantastic my heart literally ached for Tony. I would look at pictures before I went to bed and send prayers for him as soon as I woke up. I felt like every 10 minutes I was thinking about him and couldn't help but blurt out random facts about you. I have been away from T before and I am a believer that time away from your kids makes for a better Mommy. Even though I knew you were safe and having fun with Daddy for some reason this time seemed harder, blame the prego hormones but I have never been so happy to pick you up. You squeezed my neck so hard and told me over and over how much you loved me and missed me. And it was everything I needed to hear!

Ima gonna toot on you...

So apparantly the joys of farting are found at an early age. We have always been pretty open about bodily functions -I mean come on how can you not with a 3 year old around but lately Tony is obsessed with farting. And he has no shortage of it in fact I am rethinking what I feed him because of the amazing amount of gas this kid has. I remember when he was a baby and I too would giggle when he would let such a cute little toot out but now Tony will walk up to you turn around, fart on you, and then laugh this crazy laugh. Uuuuuhhhhh gross is my first reaction and then I thought maybe no reaction would squash this behavior but nope he does it for his own pure pleasure. To me, the dogs, stuffed animals, the tree, I just pray he doesnt start doing it to total strangers in walmart. I can assure you this is not something Jon and I do to each other so I am sort of dumfounded at his love of putting his hiney on anything that will sit still.So if you decide to visit consider yourself warned...

Mommyhood

Mothers day just passed and it was nice to have a day where my family stopped to say thanks. It made me think what I am thankful for and how different my priorities are. Just a few ways Tony has changed my outlook on life...

 -Snuggles and giggles in the morning
 -New appreciation for worms and bugs
 -Laughing even when you are angry
 -Being silly
 -Dancing to any and every song no matter where you are!
 -Never ending kisses and bear hugs
 -Weeds picked for me
 -Proud in every sense of the word
 -Someone who loves me just as I am
 -The sweetest and most honest prayers
 -His love already for his unborn brother
 -The cutest most spankable buns
 -Buying things just because it makes you smile
 -Not being a picky eater even to the extreme of picking it up off the ground (hello smooshed jelly bean in the parking lot)
 -Understanding each day brings new experiences to embrace
 -Weekly monster truck derby in our living room
 -Our walks around the park
 -Answering "WHY"
 -Keeping up with your energy
 -Watching you sleep
 -Watching you play with your dad

Thank you God for filling my life so full!!

Roller skating!

That's right I took Tony roller skating. Ok not willingly, we have a friend with and older son who invited us. I did not intend to skate but Tony started asking and it was included with the "party" so I strapped a pair of skates on and said a prayer. We made it around twice (very slowly) without falling and Tony was done. I took pics but haven't downloaded them yet. I even started to keep my balance after awhile and enjoy it. I halfway expected Paula Abdul to start singing so I could be transported to 5th grade. Tony didnt seem to think it was anything special he was much more interested in knowing when we were gonna eat the giant cookie. And he kept telling me this was not his party and he was only going to watch as the presents were opened. Let me tell you that kid racked in $200 -he's saving up for a skateboard or something.

Unfortunately I have kept Tony hostage for the last few weeks. If I even step outside I go into a sneezing and itching fit so we have spent our weekends doing crafts, watching too many movies, and playing indoor baseball. We talk about the baby growing inside me and Tony isin't sure what to think of being a brother some days he looks at me like "yeah we've been over this why are we talking about the baby in your belly again" and other times he gets mad at the mention of the word brother, and then there are times he wants to put his fingers in my belly button so he can "touch" the baby. I guess its hard for a three year old mind to understand what I am talking about. But one thing he has always said from the beginning is "it's a boy".

Daddy's boy

There has been a definate shift in Tonys attitude-he is all about Daddy! He used to request me for every little task but now I am only good for baths and bedtime snuggles. If Jon is in the garage, so is Tony. If Jon is watching TV so is Tony. If Jon is vacuuming or doing ANYTHING here at the house, well you get the idea. And if he isin't here I will be asked no less than 20 times an hour where Daddy is. We temporarily have two cars and if I have to drop him off or pick him up he is immediatly is asking why I am there and bursts into tears. If I am sitting on the floor playing with him and Jon walks in the room, he jumps up and begs him to come and play. I know some women who might get their feeling hurt, but it actually makes me so happy to see their bond. They have always been close but now Tony thinks Jon is alot more fun than me an I'm ok with that.
So to up the Daddy's cooler than me quotient. Jon built a sandbox this weekend, and I have never seen a pile of dirt make someone so happy. He did the complete giggle hot dog happy dance! Jon let Tony help build it, drill in some screws, and fill it with sand. So all day Saturday he kept telling me that Daddy AND Tony build a sandbox. This afternoon when he woke up from his nap,I asked if he wanted to go to the park, and he beelined it past me with his trucks in tow and sad "No, sandbox". My next post may be ranting about all the sand thats in my house but for now I will sit and watch Tony play (with Daddy) in his sandbox

Tonylove

Since I was shamed into writing a new entry I'll give an update of that past month... j/k I truly intended to post new things every couple of weeks but time evaporated.

So we celebrated Tony's birthday at McDonalds and let me just say it was chaos! We had the slowest McD worker you have ever seen I wanted to jump behind the counter and slap the cheeseburgers together for her. So 45 minutes later when the food was delivered I went ahead and asked for the cake and she said "already?" So another 45 minutes later she was able to find a lighter and we were singing Happy Birthday to a wide eyed little boy. I thoght 3 was a little young to host a birthday party but watching the joy on his face was so heartwarming. He really felt special and he is.

                                

Making guac for our taco tuesday.

Tony is my big helper in the kitchen. Almost everynight he pulls up a stool next to the stove and asks if he can stir or add ingredients. He eats or licks everything including sticks of butter, garlic, uncooked pasta... I like the fact that he is not afraid to try anything but I have to be careful where I put the raw meat! But his favorite thing to help with is anything dough. Pizza dough, bread dough, whatever he loves rolling it out, and of course eating it raw. He likes to make cresent rolls, first he loosly rolls them up and they sort of resemble a cresent but then he smooshes them into  lump that looks like a pile of ____ they aren't pretty but he's facinated to sit in front of the oven and watch them bake. (and we eat every last bite of them) When he's in the kitchen the mess is bigger than normal but I actually dont mind sweeping up the pile of flour. It's my time to bond with him after not seeing him all day.