Owen is 3!

Week of June 30, 2004

“I playing Hide and Seek”
“You be good Pinchy, or I’ll get the sugar”
“You no fight” “I hit Daddy” “I sorry”
“My bottom hurts. I fell down on my bottom”
“Hi ants! I have Lady/Thomas/Diesel. Here is some breakfast, ants.” “Daddy frustrated” “No, I don’t want to go to Brueggers/Rao’s/Town” “I want to go inside Brueggers” “I want scrambled eggs.” “Cake!” “Presents?” “Presents” “I have Muffle Mountain set” “Let’s go do laundry!” “I do laundry, little chick” “Baby chick is hatching!” (reenacts hatching etc.) “Little chick wants some worms. Little chick wants breakfast.” “I want cake. Can I have some cake….pleeeease?”
“Let’s blow out candles!” “Mummy, light candles”
“I want Christopher Robin Song” “I have a rash on my bottom” (Once, not true, another time true – from the heat I think.” “I have a poopy diaper” (each time it’s reported, it’s been untrue. However, if he’s got a messy diaper and we ask him if he has a poopy diaper, he vehemently shakes his head, and shrieks “No!”

 

Owen turned 3 on Friday. It’s been a birthday extravaganza. Having parties with Scott’s parents, than our family party on Owen’s birthday, then a celebration with my mother…all this created a heightened sense of excitement and an expectation that cake and presents would become part of our every day world. By the time it started to wind down, Scott and I were relieved and Owen ended up in a state of withdrawal. We thought the expectation of cake would be a harder habit to break, but we’ve eased into pudding for a night or two and now, if we don’t offer anything, it’s likely he won’t ask. Phew. The present thing has taken a little longer. While he’s thrilled with all his new trains, I think he’s addicted to the thrill of opening new ones. He’s been unhappy with our telling him we have none, and resorted to repackaging some of his new trains and pretending to open them up. I caught him kissing one in its package.

In the bathtub, we wrap presents with a wet wash cloth to be opened with much delight. I notice the objects inside are presents he’s gotten in the last few weeks, so clearly we have to relive the past if nothing more is going to be coming.

Monday we had our 3 year doctor’s appointment. He got through in with flying colors, and to our delight, he was much more good natured and tolerant of the process. All our other visits have been filled with horrible tears. We mentioned to his pediatrician that he had a splinter in his palm, and her face fell as she said “I was hoping we’d have a tear free visit!”

Scott and Maggie and I had tried to get the splinter out the day before, but he thrashed wildly with two of us holding him and a 3 rd wielding a needle. After an agonizing period where all three of us tried to get it out, we had to give up. The nurse and Scott held Owen the next day, and the Doctor was able to get it out relatively quickly. I think Owen was so relieved that it was easier than the day before, that he gave the Doctor a big smile and all I could think of was the story of Androcles getting the thorn out of the lion’s paw. I guess we’ll be investing an a top of the line, narrow tip pair of scissors.

 

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