My Mathematician

X wowed his teachers at VBS tonight.  However, it wasn't by his superior biblical knowledge or profound religious thoughts.  His teacher gave a 3 minute warning for a transition.  Without missing a beat, X piped up, "That is 180 seconds!" Everyone was astonished.  I guess most pre-k students don't know that random fact.

When they got home, Jut started quizzing him.  A few made him think for a couple moments, but he made it all the way up to 10 minutes is 600 seconds  I think that is pretty impressive for a 5.5 year old that is starting grade k this fall. 

I forget how well his mathematical abilities are since I see them every day. He knows his addition facts almost as well as his sister.  I forget that many of my eighth graders couldn't have done what he exhibited this evening. He is my mathematician.

4 Month old M

M is four months! He is to that fun baby stage.  No longer a sleepy newborn but interactive and showing off his personality.

He is a smiley guy (despite all the serious pictures) that loves to drool and drool and drool. He however, doesn't like to sleep.  Naps are much better this month.  He usually sleeps between 45 minutes to 2 hours.  But, he's up 5-6 times between 8 and 8. The nights are pretty short around here.  He had his second full night of sleep on July 4th.  VBS and Aunt Stacey's house wore him right out.  I guess we don't make him tired enough on a frequent basis.

The big kids love to make him giggle.  C loves jumping at him trying to illicit that response. X and E are not quite as abrasive in their attempts but they love talking to him and entertaining him as well.

While spending the week at Rock Lake last week, M learned that he could roll from his back to his tummy. He loves to practice that trick any time that he is laid down.  He is even starting it during diaper changes.  Fun times.

He is also figuring out that he can move.  Mobility has begun.  He doesn't stay on his blanket any longer.  He scoots backwards and can rotate ninety degrees or so in addition to rolling over. I came out of the bathroom at camp and found him half under the couch and very upset about it. Made me laugh when I determined that he wasn't hurt but just mad.

The older kids love giving him toys. He can hold them and chew on them.  He's beginning to throw them on the floor and so they'll pick them up. Sofia the Giraffe is back and squeaking all the time. It is obnoxious enough that it even stops his crying sometimes. But, grasping objects is a new skill this month that makes it fun for the older kids to 'play' with him.  I got my hair cut this month because I was tired of him pulling it constantly. It is the shortest that I've had it since college, I think. Keeps him from pulling it though, even if I'm still not certain how much I like it.

 

Realization about #3

I love my third child.  He is so different from his older brother.  C is a force to be reckoned with at all times.  Today, Jut used a word to describe him that I hadn't thought of before...and yet it is so accurate. 

We were driving to church this evening and C was 'pu-pu'ing 'asterdroids' (aka asteroids).  He was so focused in his imaginary game that Jut felt like he needed to be dodging them in the minivan too.  He looked at me and said, "He is so intense."

"Intense"...that is the word that describes C. When he is playing, he is playing to 100% of his ability. He runs at full speed everywhere.  He lightsabers anything that moves when he is a Jedi.  There is no half way with that little man.  It is all or nothing.  He'll talk your ear off...or he'll be completely non-communicative with you and just growl or scowl.

If he's a cat, he licks you...and licks food off of his plate. If he loves you, he showers you with hugs and sloppy kisses. If he claims he's upset with you, he'll "not talk to you until Christmas".

He's loud all the time.  Teaching him to use his 'quiet' voice is like bashing your head into a wall.  He loves his little brother and yet 'gentle' isn't in his vocabulary when he's playing with M. When he talks, he'll use 100% of his voice.  When he's being a big brother, he does it with 100% of his strength.  The olders like to pretend fight...but C doesn't understand how to not hurt them because he plays with 100% of everything thing he has...including his strength. "Intense" is so accurate.

We were waiting for Jut to finish up checking out campers on Saturday and C and I were hanging out in the cabin. He was sitting on the couch with a couch pillow in front and behind him.  He was in a speeder bike chase.  I tried talking to him a couple of times but it was like I wasn't even in the room as he was dodging trees and Imperials. It was fun to watch his imagination...and he was so 'intense' with his game that M and I didn't even exist.

"Intense" is a great descriptor of C. It will be interesting to see how it evolves as he grows. I'm hoping we can learn to channel it a bit more.