Year 4, Day 179

Miles went through most of his infancy without really developing a tendency to cram things into his mouth. As such, it's been surprising recently to find that Miles is suddenly very interested in sucking on all of his fingers. And even though I've been paying very close attention to this behavior and have been trying … Continue reading Year 4, Day 179 →

Year 4, Day 118

Miles can read numbers now. For instance, he remembers that our mailbox is "eight one" and the page his favorite story starts on in his Disney bedtime book, even without looking directly at either stimulus. "Sure," you might say, "but so what? It's not like he can read words or sentences yet." This is true, … Continue reading Year 4, Day 118 →

Year 4, Day 105

Miles recently started swim classes again after taking last year off (for obvious reasons). While he wasn't having any of it the first evening, he's warmed up more and more with each successive class. It doesn't hurt that he gets a treat at the end of the session, food being the exceptional motivator it is … Continue reading Year 4, Day 105 →

Year 4, Day 99

Miles is getting increasingly good at playing mind games with us, learning our weaknesses and exploiting them in ways that are, frankly, horrifying considering he's only three. His primary tactic with me, which would surely get under my skin were it true, is exemplified by this recent exchange. I was introducing Miles to the Disney … Continue reading Year 4, Day 99 →

Year 4, Day 91

Me: "What did you learn about at school today?" Miles: "I didn't learn something at school." Either I need to reassess Miles's daycare or he's entered his teenage years a bit prematurely.

Year 4, Day 87

After stomping his first Goomba by himself in Super Mario Bros. 3: "I got this game!" He's just taken his first step (stomp?) into a larger world.

Year 4, Day 84

It's hard to explain death to a child. Miles is still figuring out what it means to exist; trying to rationalize ceasing to exist is impossible (not that it's much easier for adults, in all fairness). But this is where we've found ourselves this week, as Miles's Papa passed away this morning. Jaclyn left early … Continue reading Year 4, Day 84 →

Year 4, Day 82

It is with great sorrow that I must announce that Miles has learned "Are we there yet?" I'm not sure where he learned this, but I already heap curses upon this unknown source. Not only does he know the phrase, he also knows that saying it once will never do. No, it's a sentence that … Continue reading Year 4, Day 82 →

Year 4, Day 74

During some drawing/writing time this evening: Jaclyn: "What letter is that?" Miles: "What is it?" Jaclyn: "You tell me!" Miles: "No, YOU tell ME!" Later, to prove he knows some of his letters, he insisted on adding a 'h' to my name. I've got to hand it to him. Most people forget the 'h.'

Year 4, Day 56

Miles is learning about ocean life at daycare this week. The easiest way to find out about this is to ask him what the hell that thing on his head is. "It's a jellyfish."