Freddie

 
Each of these is probably deserving of a post, but if I don't get it down, it won't happen.  And I'm struggling to remember what he was like just last week.

• When I tuck Freddie into bed I always ask him what his favorite part of the day was.  It's a nice way for us to think about all we did during the day together or to hear about some of the things he did at school.  This week Freddie asked for the first time, "What was your favorite part of the day, Mama?"  The kid is a master at keeping the conversation going especially in the interest of delaying bed time but in this instance I think he was genuinely interested in my day.  
• He's noticing and asking about homeless people.  We see men sleeping in the subway with all of their belongings, and they often address the entire subway car in their pleas for money or food.  Freddie's asked to share his crackers or to give money.  I still have a hard time walking by someone (or some animal) suffering without at least acknowledging them with a smile or some change, and I suppose I'm grooming Freddie to do the same.  One day we'll tackle reasons why homelessness exists, but for now I love seeing his open heart.
• The kid's developing a sense of humor.  He'll say or do something silly but let everyone know "That was just a joke."  He'll also let me know it was "just a joke" if I get a serious look on my face if he's acting out of line.
• He's good at saying "excuse me" when interrupting or getting passed someone, as well as if he burps or poots.  Sometimes the "excuse me" is followed by "That was just my stomach."
• After our most recent flight he stepped off the plane and said he wanted to be a pilot.  That was the first time he's ever talked about being grown up.  Since then he's talked quite a bit about being a scientist but what he plans on studying changes daily...dinosaurs, volcanoes, planets, wolverines.
• He does now talk about being "big like dad."  He talks about getting tall and was very excited to be moving up into size 3 jeans this week.  It was nice to finally see him in some pants that covered his ankles although the waist needs to be cinched pretty tightly.  He wants a belt "like dad."  His shorts this summer are size 2.
• School is a place for him to be his own person.  I asked if Hans could come to his school, and he flatly said, "No.  Hans can go to his own school."  I even explained he'd be in the classroom with the babies, but that didn't change his feelings about it at all.  I'm glad he feels that way.  I'm thankful he has his own place and can learn and grow independent of us.  I don't need to be a part of everything and neither does Hans I suppose. 
• He knows almost all of his letters.  He points to them everywhere..."There's a D, Mom."  Sometimes he picks them out in books, or in signs, or in the cracks of the sidewalk.  He said the zig zags on the carpets in the elevators were Ms and then decided they were Ws.  He's also talking about the sounds the letters make and asking as well.  He knows the letters in his name and he can spell the F-R-E-D-D part, but forgets the I-E. He's aware of numbers but hasn't shown quite the interest in numbers. 
• His imagination is in full force.  We get lots of home cooked meals from his kitchen, he marches around the house pretending to be smashing cymbals together, he accepts phone calls to make plans with Dora to play outside, his legos become houses with beds and gardens, he jumps over pits of alligators...it is nonstop.  
• His drawings are now representations, although they still don't quite look like much to me.  Lately he's drawing a zoo, or museum, or playground.  He'll draw circles and squares.  He'll also draw things that he says are people but they don't really look much like people yet aside for the two dots which he says are eyes.
• He sings constantly and is learning so many new songs at school.  I love hearing him sing Puff the Magic Dragon.
• He knows his first and last name.  He knows Mama and Dada's names as well as Papi's name.  He knows his apartment number and the building number. He know his birthday.  He knows he lives in New York next to the East River, Papi lives in New Orleans next to the Mississippi River, Ian lives in Kemah, TX, and Gammie and Pudge live in Colorado.  He also says his "other skis" are in Vail and his fishing pole is at Pelican Lake.
• He can completely dress and undress himself, including shoes and coat.  He gets his shoes on the correct feet about 85% of the time.  We're working on buttons.  
• After learning about orphaned animals being taken to preserves to grow up with the help of scientists and caretakers, he asked while watching a film about sea turtles where the freshly hatched sea turtles' mother was as they made their way from the beach to the ocean.  I explained that not all animals need their mothers when they are born.  He looked at me and said, "You're going to die one day, Mama.  And I'm going to be sad."  Yes, baby boy, you're right, but that's a far way away.  We've got lots of living left to do together.