how many lollipops..

have I removed from Pepe's hair thus far? 3.

This am Pepe comes to the bedroom wakes me up and says: "Mommy, I have a lollipop in my hair". He turns his head and a tiny lollipop is indeed stuck in Pepe's hair. "I want to see the circle, mommy", Pepe keeps saying, but of course he is not ready to sit still so that I can take the lollipop out. Eventually we put detangler in and I cut a large chunk of Pepe's hair - good think his hair is always on the long side...

The morale: Parents, make sure there are no lollipops in your son's bed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

weekend in september

We've had a load of rain this weekend, but we coped well, by keeping busy. Friday night we did the usual - games with Charlie & Sonia, post lasagna (thanks Chris) and brownies and icecream. Pepe was super energetic and went to bed at 10pm. Saturday we all got up at 6am, as I got a call from a friend to cancel our morning run bc of the rain. We had my boot camp barbecue in the afternoon and Pepe got to play around (in the rain). Sunday we went raspberry picking - Pepe was not into it as he really wanted strawberries, but got into is after Chris started carrying him and throwing him all over and around. We had dinner with the neighbours and the kids played nicely - the 3 of them are so grown up.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that Pepe started piano on Saturday. V basic class and no actual music yet, which is probably why Pepe was not into it - oh, and also bc the class was close to one of Pepe's favorite places, "Henry Bear's Park"!

Likes and dislikes

Some likes
Tugging trains
Crosswalks, including making crosswalks - brown tape pieces on the floor, buildings made of blocks at the "intersection", and "lights" made of blocks with pieces of paper on which we color or make a "hand" or a person "walking".
Toy stores - he could spend an entire day there playing - no need to buy any toys...
Books, including catalogues
Playing guitar and compozing - last night I was told to go away and he brought the big guitar into his room, closed the door and started playing...a pick into the teenage years...
Talking to ALi the aligator about his day.

Some Dislikes
Rain - "I don't like the water comning out from the sky on me, it has to stop".
Being stopped in traffic - "It has to go. Go, go.."
Loud noises, like the fire alarm - "No, Stop".
Going to be - "I don't want to go to bed. I am not tired. It's not nap time. It's sunny out today".
Being transitions into another activity - "I am still using this. I am still playing".

preschooler talk

I had this cold for a few days. This morning was really bad. Pepe and Chris brought me to the train station in the am. I kissed Pepe good bye, and he said : "It's OK, mom, you'll feel better soon"...

*

I picked Pepe from daycare today and we drove on Mass Ave to get home. I stopped to take a L on Appleton, and this woman just could not make up her mind about taking a L from Appleton onto Mass Ave. I ended up going around her and raised my voice and commented a bit about her driving. Pepe said: "Mom, it happens sometimes, there are cars that can't drive, so you have to wait"...

Ali the aligator

Tuesday am Pepe accompanied Chris to Ikea, as Chris needed to buy a few things for his classroom. They returned with Ali, a 7-8 feet alligator. Both Pepe and Ali were black-dirty, as Pepe draged Ali all over the floors of Ikea, and then hugged Ali...

I have never thought that Pepe would ever be interested in stuffed animals. I mean, he got tons of them as a baby and did not pay any attention to them. I actually told Chris to tell Papi to stop bringing the stuffies to Pepe as they all ended up in the basement or goodwill. But now, it's all about Ali. Ali sleeps with Pepe. Ali has a blankie. I have to cover Ali and Pepe when in the crib. Ali gets to eat whatever Pepe eats. Pepe talks to Ali. It is truly cute...

first day as a preschooler

Pepe started his new school today. He is no longer a toddler, but a Preschooler I. He was very excited about his new school and the drop off was easy. Chris got a call from one of the teachers who said that Pepe was having lots of fun, playing and talking up a storm. We heard that Pepe went up to one of the teachers and said: "Hi, you work with my daddy!". Chris told me that indeed he had told Pepe that that particular teacher is working with him, but it was a long time ago.

So the boy is adjusting well. Or this is the honeymoon, the excitement of having new toys to play with. Will see. So far so good:)

what's been happening

We had a rather eventful weekend. We visited Charlie and Sonia in their new house, and Pepe took over their CD player putting "Life would be a dream" on replay, and calling their living room "the playroom", and did lots of swimming and walking at Walden. On Sunday we drove to NH and I did the craziest things of my entire life (I think), ran the Wapack race, and 18 miler over 4 mountains each way, with a total climb of over 3700 feet one way, which I completed in 4:15, as the 5th woman overall (out of 13, in a male dominated race). Pepe and Chris had a nice time at a nearby playground, and hiking in the woods. At the half way point Chris and Pepe waited for me with a peanut butter sandwich and Pepe looked at me surprised and said: "Are you running again, why?", as if he was reading my mind. Overall Pepe had a blast. The race volunteers kept filling up his cup with M&Ms, and his face got more colorful as the hours went by. next, we drove to Grandma's, who took over as I was completely useless the rest of the day. On Monday Grandma Pepe and I went on a boat ride and Pepe was mesmerized. He was in a trance the entire hour and a half, taking everything in, running from one side of the boat to the other, looking for boats and cranes and lighthouses. The highlight was seeing daddy wave at us from a bridge, during his run. Pepe was a bit confused but finally things clicked for him and he waved to daddy. We returned home Monday night and I got to witness the duet Pepe (guitar)-Chris (drums), composing and singing together the lighthouse song. Too bad our video camera is still not working.
Now back to reality. Both Pepe and I have colds, and Pepe starts his new school tomorrow!

P.S. I am writing about my races for you, Pepe, to remember your mommy as being young and tough!