The morning started as it always does – with a our alarm clock going off right on time, “MAAAAAAAWMMMMMEEEEEEEE. COME GET ME!!!!” through the monitor.

Then silence… then a tiny thud… some rustling and a click.

It took a while, but, we finally heard miniature footsteps headed up the stairs to our bedroom.

Then, there he was — a pajama-clad-tot with his Halloween-Jack-o-Lantern bucket held up near his face. Then he let out a wild ROAR at Marc and me, followed with a timid, “I got out of bed!”

Listening: The Pains of Being Pure At Heart

Just before Thanksgiving Harrison announced that he would no longer be wearing diapers – that he would only be wearing underpants – period.

Which is great in theory, but, we were pretty apprehensive. Even that night he refused diapers in favor of “I will wear my big boy underpants!” The night time bladder-control, surprisingly, was not a problem and hasn’t been to date – hooray for us! He had a few accidents at school the first week – they suggested pull-ups. We bought one package and didn’t even use them all.

I’d like to say I’m proud, but, really this just shows how willful this kid is. Since he was 18 months old we had been allowing him to run around naked on weekends so that as soon as he started to pee he could run to the potty – which actually worked well, but, as soon as we put on clothes he would have nothing to do with the potty. We did get a potty book that he loved – I think that might have helped. But, for almost a year we passively talked about the potty and about underpants to no avail until HE was ready. But, when he’s ready – watch out because he will go for it full-force. Hmmm… I wonder who that sounds like…?

Listening: Telekinesis

Gregor is 5.

Gregor went on a trip. He seems to go on a lot of trips.

Gregor goes to Harrison’s school.

Gregor is Harrison’s best friend.

Gregor is a bad guy.

Gregor is a good guy.

Harrison has eaten pizza and pretty much done anything else that he hears kids at school get to do – at Gregor’s house.

His house is new – not like ours. “We need a NEW house, mom. Our house is OLD.”

Despite Gregor filling Harrison’s head with the nonsense of our house being too old – I like him. I had an imaginary friend when I was Harrison’s age – Michael and I remember him fondly.

Listening: Wonder-Pets on TV because Harrison is home sick : (

And while we’re celebrating stuff… how about Baby’s First Roller Coaster?

Yep – Harrison experienced his first roller coaster while we were in California. And, had my mother (the one who is terrified of most things gravity-defying) not suggested it we would have sadly passed right on by.

He was just tall-enough-to-ride-this-ride with the help of his hat. I sat next to him while Marc captured the bewildered, then nervous, then full-fledged-scared, but, ultimately triumphant Harrison on video.

Please, as always, excuse the obnoxious woman with the screeching commentary.

About halfway through he asked to “I get off now”. But, as soon as it was over we got a “Go again!”

And while walking away we were treated to his two-year-old-impression of a roller coaster: “Super Fast… zoom – zoom – zoom – zoom!”

(and sorry that the videos are links outside of the site – for the life of me I cannot figure out how to embed them!)

Listening: The Suzan

Like the time I got stung by a bee down the street at the Hawkins house. Mrs. Hawkins asked if I was okay and I bravely told her yes, got on my big wheels and rode as fast as my scrawny legs could take me. It was a long street with a side court splitting the Hawkins’ house from ours and knowing that I was not allowed to cross the street I rode the entire way around the side court and then down the street to the very end where we lived. I ran into the house, found my mom and collapsed in her arms. The feeling of complete and utter safety knowing that everything is perfect and I will be okay was so intense that even writing about it now I am reliving it with tears in my eyes.

(FYI – that is a loooong way on a big wheels)

Seeing that in Harrison’s eyes yesterday broke my heart. Knowing that for him to feel that much happiness – so much that he couldn’t contain his sobs made me feel guilty and sad about putting him through a day of torture at school. I wanted to pull him out of school, sell our house, eliminate all of our financial responsibilities  and quit my job in order to keep him with me all day so that he would never feel that again.

And it wasn’t until just now – writing this – that I realized that without challenges and new experiences, new people and places and bee stings life wouldn’t be what it is. Without that bee sting I wouldn’t have one of my most precious memories of childhood… the best-ever mommy-hug.

And to be fair, school was not torturous for him. In fact this morning he was happy to go back. And when Marc (only Marc this time – I didn’t think I could take any more tears) took him to school today, Harrison put his lunch box away himself and began inside play. And there was no crying – a bit of “Daddy I need a hug…” but, then he went back to his activity and that was that.

And I know that the kid will be fine. I know that he will better than fine. When I picked him up yesterday his teacher (the woman who has been running it for 30+ years) told me that he asked about Mommy throughout the day – calmly and never with tears – and she would tell him that I’d be back later and that he can play now… and he would respond, “OK – I was just joking.” Apparently she’d never heard that one before – first day and already making an impression.

Listening: Twin Sister

We have been talking about school… about how AWESOME it is… how there will be KIDS there! and GIRLS there! and you’ll get to have a nap with all the other kids… and there will be lunch – with a special school-cookie (yup, I promised him chocolate-chip-sugary-buttery-goodness to ease my own guilt about sending him off to school).

And all of this was working. He WAS excited. Until we got there and were ready to leave him and I could see it in his eyes. That he thought that SCHOOL was an activity that WE were going to experience TOGETHER.

I forgot to explain to him that school was what he would be doing while daddy would be working and while mommy would be scouring the internet to find information about how sending your kid to full-time day care at two years old will not scar them for life.

So, when we started to leave he looked confused. He cried and grabbed for me, begging for a hug. And I KNOW logically that you need to leave him there all nonchalant-like as to convince him that you trust the place, that it’s okay and that YOU are not nervous – but, the kid rarely cries when we leave him (granted the only place we’ve ever left him was at a familiar house where he had Finny to comfort him). I hugged and kissed him and turned and walked away. I blew a kiss and said “See ya! Love ya!” which is our standard goodbye. One of his teachers picked him up, which comforted him a bit, and when we got outside the gate he yelled through sobs “Bye Bye!” and waved.

Auntie Kylies was with us (because oh yeah, by the way – my sister and her husband BOUGHT A HOUSE. IN AUSTIN. PRACTICALLY AROUND THE CORNER FROM US. AND THEY ARE MOVING HERE… TODAY! More on that later… back to how I’m scarring my kid for life). So, Kylies turned to wave one last time – because I couldn’t (didn’t want him to see the tears streaming down my face) and she happily reported that he had stopped crying and was looking around the playground most likely scoping out his closest competition for that cute, little, curly-haired brunette we saw as we walked in.

Listening: The Sea & Cake

And today is the last day.

Harrison is graduating to pre-school – a Montessori school within walking/biking distance of our house! I cannot accurately express the joy of not having to commute – sometimes an hour – to take our kid to day care just to turn around and come back home for work.

I wasn’t sure about Montessori and we won’t really know until we give it some time, but, I believe that it is a great fit for H.

It is a sad day because it means that he is growing up and moving on to a new chapter, but, as with every ending – it means a new beginning. Harrison will miss Chelsea and Finny, but, he is, as we hoped he would be, a confident kid who is always ready for new adventures. We head to California tomorrow morning. We will be gone for three weeks – seeing family, friends, camping and hanging in Truckee and when we get back he starts school. Harrison is already talking about how at school there will be girls there. And lots of kids. And how they will sleep on the floor for naps – he’s excited. I’m concerned that they don’t serve organic snacks, but, if that’s my biggest concern – I think we’re going to be just fine.

Listening: Caribou

Finn: “I miss Daddy”

Harrison: “He’s at work.”

Finn: “I miss Daddy”

Harrison: “He’s at work.”

Finn: “I miss Daddy”

Harrison: “He’s. At. Work.”

Apparently there was a hint of frustration in H’s voice nearing the end of the exchange.

This is obviously barely a true conversation, but, oh my gosh do I think it’s amazing. And so darn cute considering they started together like a couple of virtually lifeless blobs, drooling on themselves and grunting out commands for food and the removal of soiled undergarments.

Listening: The Cults

It was fun. THANK YOU Bonnie Berry Photography!

Listening: Crocodiles

At Harrison’s 2-year-old checkup today he was great. He talked up a storm; helped the doc use her tools; and only had one shot, but, was not stoked. At the end of it he got a ginormous bouncy-ball that he is currently napping with, so all is now well with the world.

31 pounds. 35 inches. 75% for height and weight.

He eats great. Is obviously physically developing on track (I maybe shouldn’t have mentioned the skateboard tricks – the doc was a bit concerned for his safety – we should have pulled out the iPhone to show her a video to put her at ease). He has more than “enough” words (he started really using adverbs last week – “I’m SUPER hungry, mommy.” “I’m very sleepy.” He’s been trying for a while – “Watch a little bit TV?” but, he is finally using them correctly and not just to get to watch TV.)

Harrison is allllllright according to our doc, whom we LOVE!

Listening: Beach Fossils