From Tricycle to Pedals

When Cedric turned three his Aunt and Uncle gave him a pedal bike and helmet.  Cedric was over the moon for it and in no time we were passing on his tricycle to his cousin.  This Spring when the weather turned nice we started riding the pedal bike with training wheels outside on a regular basis.

In my experience training wheels are of the devil.  Yes it sounds extreme but for us training wheels only taught Cedric to fear.  He was afraid of falling, he had a hard time keeping his balance and was afraid of the rocking motion that happens with training wheels.  Then one time he clipped the curb with a training wheel and it got bent.  Now the wobbling and fear of falling was multiplied. 

This all came to a head one afternoon not long after having Eli, Cedric was riding his bike down the block, I’m pushing the baby in the stroller, and walking the dog.  After the third or fourth wipe out, Cedric just gave up.  His confidence was just worn down to nothing.  That left me pushing a stroller, holding a leash, and coasting the bike back home.  I marched in the door in a huff and immediately bought a balance bike.

With the balance bike Cedric learned to balance overnight.  Literally.  In the span of a couple hours he got the hang of coasting.  He rode this bike everywhere over the summer.  His ability to coast on the balance bike is pretty cool – he can go a long way.  The balance bike increased his confidence.  He believed he could ride a bike!

After a few feats of daring on the balance bike (speeding down long ramps, jumping off of low steps) Zach thought we should give the pedal bike another try.  He took off the training wheels and took Cedric out to the school parking lot across the street.

Just watch the video.  Ignore my giddy voice.  I’m a giant dork.

Mr. C Turns 4

For Cedric’s fourth birthday we had two small gatherings, rather than one large party.  We celebrated at my parents farm and had a dinner at our house with Zach’s family.  Cedric specifically wanted a few things, a cake with monster trucks on it (see above picture – yes I did this myself), Gordon, Old Hiro, and a rock throwing machine.  When asked for more details about the rock throwing machine, he described it as something with a long arm that would throw rocks into the sea. 

Anybody?

Since we live in a land locked state, that was one wish unfulfilled.

Here is the birthday boy sporting his headphones.  These have greatly increased his quality of life!  Normally he would be stuck inside whenever the lawnmower or tractor are running (not to mention chainsaw and wood splitter) because of the noise.  But with the headphones he now has in his words, “Big, Strong Ears!”

We had a lovely little party at our home the following weekend.  Cousin Eden gladly helped Cedric open presents.  And since the monster truck cake had been made, I whipped up a batch of these cupcakes.  They may be the best cupcakes I’ve ever made.

Cedric and Eden love books.  Here they are reading at Cedric’s party.  When books were opened they both just stopped and looked.

Here they are at Eden’s 3rd birthday party.  Same thing happening.  Present opening stops to look at books.  Hilarious.  And awesome too.

Here are Cedric’s stats from his 4 year well-baby visit, where he did call our pediatrician (Dr. Molitor) Sir Topham Hatt.  Our pediatrician looks NOTHING like Sir Topham Hatt.  It was hilarious.

Height: 42.5 inches (90th percentile), Weight: 40 lbs (75th percentile)

Eli’s Four Month Review

Help my baby is growing!  Just kidding.  About the help part – growing babies are a-okay.  It must be intense to be a baby though; to go from a mass of cells to a squealing, arm flinging, feet kicking, smiling baby of four months is pretty amazing.  Eli’s four month well-baby visit was actually about a month ago, he will be five months on October 11th.  Crazy.

He was not very happy about being weighed and measured this time around so I don’t think these stats are accurate.  But nevertheless, here they are: (percentiles)

Weight: 17lbs 2oz (80%),  Length: 25 inches (50%),  Head Circ: 42cm (60%)

His pediatrician gave us the green light to start baby food but I haven’t yet.  Eli just did not seem ready at four months.  He has just started showing intense interest in what we are eating and making grabs for plates, cups, forks, etc.  I recently got Tyler Florence’s book Start Fresh and I am excited to make some baby food for Eli soon.  I’m thinking next week…

One of my favorite things about this baby?  The way his ears turn out at the top.

First Day of School

This morning was Cedric's first day of pre-school. And I am a hot mess. But its not what you're thinking. I wasn't super emotional or weepy or even nostalgic over the fact that what was once a mass of cells in my abdomen is now going to school.

Nope, I'm a hot mess because .... well its a long story. It starts last Friday when Cedric went to his school for a few hours for new student orientation. When I picked him up his teacher told me that he had used his fingers as guns to shoot at another student. Then when she tried to correct him, something along the lines of "We leave our guns at home..." Cedric told her no and swung his hand through the air. Like, if she had been closer or he more inclined, he would have walloped her good.

My reaction was shock and dismay. How could my sweet, gentle giant of a child be violent. How could what was once a mass of cells in my belly be so disrespectful to authority. In about 30 seconds I questioned every decision I had made and blamed his Dad for ever playing a video game in front of him, as well as every boy in daycare who was obsessed with Iron Man, and his Uncle Peter who one time let him watch about 10 minutes of Band of Brothers.

On top of this I already felt like a child intruding on a grown-up party. Seriously I feel about a decade younger than the other parents who are dropping off 3-5 year olds. Its weird.

So that brings us to Monday morning. I plan to arrive good 15 minutes early to give Cedric time to acclimate to his classroom and exchange a few words with his teacher. Its really important to me that she know that I am a competent and responsible (read "good") parent who isn't letting TV raise her kid.

Instead I am frantically searching the house for my car keys, only to realize that more than likely they are with Zach on a flight to Baltimore. I put Cedric in the stroller, strap Eli to me in the Ergo and hoof it the 6 or so blocks to his school. Instead of being there early we arrive just in time. Instead of having time to adjust to his classroom, I basically army march my baby into the room and sit him down in the first gap I find for circle time. Then I rush a goodbye, love you, no guns, be kind, etc. and dash out. Then its the awkward walk through the other parents who in my opinion have their acts together, whose house keys are not crossing over the Appalachians, who are sipping coffee, chatting about their Summers.

Walking home it starts to rain. Literally. So by the time I get home I am no longer just a hot mess but wet too.

***********************

Update: Zach just called. My keys were hanging on a key hook by the front door. But in my defense they were under Cedric's Cardinal's hat.

Eli at 2 Months

Stats (percentile):

Weight: 14lbs 4oz (90th)

Length: 23 1/2 inches (75th)

Head Circ: 40cm (75th)

Summer Time...

and the livin' is easy.

First Weight Check

Eli had his first week weight check at the pediatrician's on Tuesday. His lowest weight at the hospital was 7lb 8oz. Four days later he weighed in at 8lbs 7oz. It made me smile too.