My son the story teller

Josh is pretty good at miming. You have to be when you can't talk. I did not realize just how good he was until this week. We went to watch the fireworks. We waited for 2 hours for them to start. By that time my son just knew we were at a park with his cousin and that was enough for him.

When the fireworks started he was so excited. He was yelling and cheering. You know the cheesy "Oooo"s and "Ahhhh"s? It can be pretty cute when it is real. He began turning around, hitting my leg (and anyone else in reach) and pointing in awe at the lit up sky. You could almost hear him say, "Are you seeing this?" It was like he thought we just happened to be sitting in a park in the dark and suddenly out of nowhere the sky started to explode and he wants to make sure we are all aware of the phenomenon happening before us.

Halfway through he couldn't help himself. He stood and turned to me. Starting with his hand near his waist he made the "shhhh!" rocket sound and brought his hand to the sky then down in front of him. Holding both arms open wide he looked at me quietly for a beat or two then he clapped his hands together and pulled his hands apart again.

It was amazing. Without saying a word he was telling me about what was happening so well there was no wondering. Anyone would know what he was saying. And the look on his face would tell you just how he felt about it. Elated. So excited he knew he couldn't hold it in any longer, he needed to tell someone about the miracle he was witnessing.

I had to remind him that the fireworks were still happening. "You can tell me about it later but first you need to watch it." I wanted to be selfish. I wanted him to tell me about it all night. I felt like I was witnessing a miracle too. Here is a child who can't say more than a handful of words most of which are two letter words, and he is telling a story. It reminds me of a movie we watched in my high school sign language class of two deaf people fighting. They use such passion in their motions that you can't mistake what they are saying. It was awesome.

You have been weighed...

Today Knight's Tale was on TV. I have loved this movie since the first time I watched it. I think I may have loved it even more this time though. I am sure everyone has had a time that they connected with a truth so deeply they knew they would never forget it, whether it was in a religious class, school class, a talk with your parents/friends or any other of the possible learning opportunities. I was recently in a women's religious meeting where they used Knight's Tale as a teaching tool.

We were all asked to bring our purses, whether they be a simple wallet we carry with us or a huge purse/diaper bag. During the mingling we were told to weigh and measure our purses and write the numbers down on a clip board. There was a lot of laughing and comparing.

The speaker opened with what she observed. We had checked our numbers with other numbers already written. We had commented half anxiously if our measurements were out of the "ordinary". We had complimented other's bags. Sometimes we berated or downplayed our own bags.

Then she told the outline of the movie A Knight's Tale. She commented on how we have people who tell us in many ways, "You have been weighed, you have been measured, and you have been found wanting." You know the people. You know that feeling. Maybe your bag is too big, too small, too light, too heavy. In whatever way, they say you are not enough.

We do this to each other, we do this to ourselves. Even as we become aware of this we will never fully escape it because it surrounds us. I see it in magazines, those perfect thighs that no human could possibly possess but I know I need to be beautiful. I see it in strangers faces when they disapprove of my son. I tell it to myself when I realize it has been almost a week and I haven't cooked a decent meal.

But in the movie, William does not believe this. He knows, deep in his heart, that he is enough. He makes mistakes, he doesn't always win, but he never doubts his ability to change his stars. He is not just some poor thatcher's son. He is someone more than that. He doesn't run when he is found out even when his friends plead with him to do so. He only replies, "I am a knight. I will not run." He never doubts that he is a knight. He knows it in his heart.

If you know the movie you will also know that he is saved by Prince Edward. Edward says that he has found that William is from noble decent.

We too come from noble decent. We can't forget it.

I know some people would disagree with the noble decent part. But I can't leave it out. I have heard stories of people who get a little religious with their blog and get crap for it. In reality though, who really reads this anyway? This is for me. And I need to remember it. I need to remember when I feel as though I am found "wanting" that I am a child of God.

So big!

So I have been sitting here writing and erasing what I have written over and over for 40 minutes. So I suppose here are the bare bones of what is going on in our lives. It is officially summer vacation. I love my little boy more each day even though he is so difficult at times. I have no idea how I am going to potty train him. But I am so glad that I have been blessed to be his mother. He is such a funny kid.

Rock Star

Josh's guitar was down to 3 strings, the outcome of rocking out a little too hard. He loves his guitar and plays with it at least once everyday. I don't think I can say that about any other toy (unless you count his "Little Sony" cassette player or certain books). His favorite thing to do is turn on the Sony and strum and sing while in front of a mirror.

So we needed to get it fixed. I let him carry it into the music store by himself. I wish you could have seen it. Here are all of these long haired tattooed hardcore music guys and Josh comes bouncing in (the way only Josh does) with his little red and white Elmo guitar.

The guys loved him. I think they may have seen a little of themselves in him. One guy said that Josh's guitar was the coolest one they had ever had dropped off to them. They marveled at how it was indeed a real guitar, not a ukulele. One guy tuned it up and started up a song. I have only heard Josh play it so I was surprised to hear how it could sing!

Josh had to walk around the store. He seemed truly amazed at all of the guitars, drums, microphones, etc. He had to be bribed to leave the store. He was upset and confused why he couldn't have his guitar back but we made it out.

Today we went back to pick it up. As soon we walked in Josh stared out in a dead run toward the back of the store where someone was playing an electric guitar in one of the rooms. Josh stopped right in the doorway and stared open mouthed at the man. I managed to grab an employee on the run. The guys were all so excited to give it back to him.

I managed to pull Josh away from the guitar player so I could pay up front but as soon as I handed over his guitar he bolted to the back again. I found him in the doorway, stoically strumming while the guy smiled and played.

Once again, bribing was necessary. He has been playing the guitar for me while I write this. He may not be an athlete, but he may be a musician. The coolest girls prefer musicians anyway.

Superman

Obviously this was a couple weeks ago because Josh doesn't have a broken arm but they are so cute I had to post them anyway. Josh has just decided he loves Superman. He runs around the house in his cape saying, "Fffffff!" (He's flying). He wants to watch Superman all the time now (he is watching one with Christopher Reeves in this picture). He is my little superhero.

On a side note...

You should have seen the nurse's face the other day. I was holding Josh's head still while he was getting a brain scan. As soon as they turned off their equipment a nurse walked in with an indescribable look on her face. "Has your son ever had any head trauma before?" Hee-hee-hee! I had completely forgotten to tell her! Okay okay, so I may be a little strange for thinking this is funny but if you think about it....it really is funny.

I guess this is growing up...

So, I have made some big plans to do something fun with my son everyday of Spring Break. I want to create memories and really be a mom before I have to go back to school and prepare for the final month of school.

So yesterday I took my sweet little boy to the park. We had a little picnic, played on the big toy, had an all around good time. Josh wanted to swing on the big boy swing. I hesitated because I worry but he is getting so big and I have been trying to let him be one. I don't want my son to feel frightened of the world. I don't want him to feel like he needs me for everything or that he needs to be a baby forever. So I let him.

He was having such a good time. He was doing so well. I was trying to keep him at a safe level...and than he fell. It was a scary, twisting fall and he hit the sand. I was able to calm him. He wanted to get on the little kid swings and soon he was laughing like his usual self.

I tried to get him to come with me to feed the ducks but he wouldn't walk. I picked him up and walked him to the ducks. He LOVED feeding the ducks. He was smiling and laughing while they clambered over each other. A Canadian Goose came up to him, he held out a piece of bread and before I could tell him that was a bad idea *CHOMP* the goose bit his little fingers. He totally freaked out.

I tried to get him to walk around the pond but he wouldn't. He wouldn't stop crying and whining and I figured he was just tired. Into the car. Getting out of the car he shrieked in pain as I was getting out of the car. I knew something was off then but when we got inside he started playing like normal.

I called my mom, I called his doctor. To the ER. 3 hours, 1 brain scan, 3 X rays, and a continuous screaming meltdown later we were going home. Nothing wrong. As soon as I got home I noticed his wrist was swollen. The only thing they didn't X ray. Mom said let him sleep and reevaluate in the morning.

This morning it was definitely swollen and he couldn't grasp anything tightly. Back to the ER. This time my lovely little sister and her husband came with. Thank goodness. They are the best distracters and the sweetest couple. I love them. 3 hours later, they told us he had a green stick brake. That is actually good news as far as breaks go.

So now he is sleeping with his little splint on. We'll get the cast next week. I guess this is growing up.