Oh, No.....

I need to ask Gabe's teacher for a copy of the class roster in order to figure out if this story has any truth to it.  Here's the story:

This morning, Gabe was saying (over and over and over), "Joey Pizza."  When I asked him what Joey Pizza was, this is how things went:

Gabe:  The teacher tells us not to.  But Zu Zu and I call Joey Piazza, "Joey Pizza."  We say, "Joey Pizza, Joey Pizza, Joey Pizza."

Me:  Who's Zu Zu?

Gabe:  She's in my class.

Me:  Is Zu Zu her name?

Gabe: Yes.

Me:  Okay.  Well, does Joey Piazza like it when you call him "Joey Pizza"?

Gabe:  No.

Me:  Would you like it if someone called you, "Gabe Pizza"?

Gabe:  No!  And I would hit them and tell them not to call me that.  And I'd be very angry.

Obviously, this conversation goes on for a while, with me reminding Gabe that we don't hit, etc.  But, seriously....is this a true story?  I wonder....  Zu Zu?  And are kids this young really able to taunt about a name?  If this is true, poor Joey.  He's going to have a long school life of being referred to as Joey Pizza, I'm afraid.

Zach's Diaper Rocks

We had a playdate this morning with Gabe's best friend, Jay, (who goes to a different preschool now) and another friend from preschool, Nicole.  It was fun to talk with their moms, who are so familiar with Lynnfield, the school system, etc.  I'm really looking forward to getting more involved in our new community. 

Anyway, we met up at a park close to our neighborhood - a park that the boys and I just discovered last month.  The park has small pebbles (rather than wood chips) all over the ground.  At the end of the playdate, Jay, Gabe, and Zach were sitting under one of the play structures, playing quietly and happily.  When we told the boys that it was time to go home, Zach wouldn't come.  I walked over to get him and he stood up funny (pitched forward) and said that he had a boo boo on his bum.  When I investigated, I found a zillion rocks down his pants.  Turns out, the boys were playing so quietly because they were putting rocks down the back of Zach's shirt; and Zach was just letting them do it, without protest.

I scooped the rocks out of his pants, only to find another zillion rocks in his diaper!  Poor bub!  That could NOT have felt good.  Luckily I had a diaper in the car, so I changed him right away.  When we got home, rocks were still falling out of places that I must have missed.  Boys!!!

Picture Day At School

Today was picture day at Gabe's preschool.  We went out the other day and shopped for a special outfit.  I told him that he looked just like his dad.  In response, Gabe said, "I look even handsomer than Dad."  Love his self esteem!

When I picked him up from school, I asked him how picture day went, and he said that he made "this" face.  The face that he was referring to was some contorted mess of hands and tongue and creepiness.  I truly hope that the picture people put the lid on that one.  We'll have to see.  The pictures won't come home with him for another month....

Here's what the big boy looked like on picture day:

dapper from head to toe

the lovey!

What Zach Looks Like At Dessert Time

It's amazing to me how different my two boys are.  The difference is best illustrated when they eat.  Gabe always asks for a napkin, and he's very cautious about getting any crumbs or sauce on him.  Zach, on the other hand, could care less where the food goes, as long as some of it makes it into his mouth. 

Here's what Zach looked like last night, after eating a simple chocolate cookie.

I think he was wondering why his mom was taking a picture of him

seriously?  it was a small chocolate cookie!!  He cracks me up.

Vigorously

We played outside this afternoon, and the boys were playing in the dirt (shocking, I know).  Their hands were filthy, so we went straight to the bathroom to wash them when we came inside.  As I was scrubbing Gabe's hands, he said, "Mom, you have to wash them bigorously (i.e. vigorously)." 

Seriously?  Does a four year old really know about the word, vigorously??

Married

The conversation of marriage came up again tonight, as we were listening to a Laurie Berkner song.  Gabe asked what married was, and I told him that it means that you love someone and live with them forever and ever.  He said, "like us?" 

I replied that it's like Daddy and Mommy and that one day when he was older, he'd probably get married to someone and live with that person forever and ever; but that I'd still be his mom and would still love him forever and ever.

Gabe thought about it for a second and said, "I'm going to marry Zachie when he's older."

Gah!!   My heart just melted.

One Of The Huge Gifts Of Parenthood

I'm in the process of getting Gabe's birthday thank you notes out, and I turned to look at the boys, who are watching a movie on this very rainy Tuesday morning.  Zach was rocking on the rocking horse while watching the movie; just watching him rock seemed like the cutest thing in the world.  That, I believe, is parenthood's best gift; that the mere existence of your child can make you smile and feel so much love and happiness.  They only have to be rocking on a rocking horse, and all you see is cuteness. 

Those moments are so nice----since there are a lot of hard moments these days in toddlerland at the Fredette Home.

Oh, and Gabe was very sweet this morning.  I had him make homemade thank you notes for his friends.  He was LESS than thrilled to do it.  He's just not a coloring/crafting type of guy.  Anyway, after we were done with the 4 cards, he said, "Mom, we need to make another one for the clown."  So thoughtful, right?  He wanted to make a card for the clown who came to his party!