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Todd on Christmas Eve 2017
CHRISTMAS TRIP 2017
DEC 20 – DEC 27
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20
We left home just after 9 AM to drive to Bend, Oregon for the holidays. Along the way, we decided to try a new place for lunch: Pete’s Pizza (Goldendale, Washington). I’m sure we’ll go back there again because of the interesting red decor, fun swivel chairs (that go up and down), and light, fluffy pizza crust. Todd was excited about the Frozen bean bag toss game.
Todd at Pete’s Pizza – 12/20/17
Pizza!! – December 20, 2017
For the first time in Todd’s life, we stayed overnight at my parents’ house. We spent three nights at their house before going to my sister’s house. My mom said she was going to “take good care of us” by cooking us lots of good (vegan) meals while we were there…and she did not disappoint!
We told Todd that he could open up his Christmas gift from Grammie (Eric’s mom) once we got to Grandma’s house. He knew what he was getting (Lego Ninjago set: Garmadon’s Volcano Lair) so he was excited with anticipation. In the week+ before we left for Bend, Todd had been repeatedly watching the video that accompanies the Lego set description on Amazon.com. He also repeatedly watched the following YouTube review of the set, by Jangbricks. Little did we know…Todd was memorizing full sentences from this review video word-for-word (more on this below!).
Once we arrived at my parents’ house, it actually took Todd a while to remember that he was going to open a present. For this reason, we didn’t quite get the whole set built before going to bed that night. After he got this set, Todd was a real chatterbox the rest of the night. The first 2 videos show him unwrapping and opening the box, and the third video shows him saying “Thank you.” He said it repeatedly that night…so genuine and sweet.
Holding the seeker clam drone – December 20, 2017
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21
Eric finished building the Volcano Lair before Todd woke up. Boy, did Todd play with this set! Here are the things he kept repeating…
- “Seeker clam drone that can actually fly off. So this has wings that deploy down and you see its little eyes in there and it has a laser on its head.”
- Todd basically memorized word-for-word that whole quote by Jangbricks (from the review video, at 5 minutes, 45 seconds)
- “This is my favorite figure by far.”
- Todd was talking about the figure, Steve. In the review video, Jangbricks said (at 11 minutes, 35 seconds), “Steve here is my personal favorite figure in this set by far” 😀 )
- “This is big box get for price. This is big build get for price.”
- In the review video, Jangbricks said (at 14 minutes, 18 seconds), “It’s a big box to get for its price. It’s a big build to get for its price.”
- “This set my favorite in the whole world.”
Seeker clam drone – December 21, 2017
Later this morning we went swimming at Juniper Swim and Fitness Center. Eric and Todd went in the kid’s pool while my dad and I did the deep water exercise class. After swimming, we all checked out one man’s train collection, on display at the library.
Trains at the library – December 21, 2017
Grandpa & Todd – December 21, 2017
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22
Just like the 21st, we went to the pool for swimming / water exercise in the morning. During Todd’s nap, Eric and I finished up our Christmas shopping. In the evening, Todd and Grandpa bonded over The Incredible Hulk. This was the last night staying overnight at my parent’s house.
Todd & Grandpa watching The Incredible Hulk – December 22, 2017
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23
We went up to Mt Bachelor to ski the free Carrousel chair. Todd did well and seemed happy, but he quickly had enough of the freezing rain. He asked to leave after just a few runs. He didn’t even want to go in the lodge, he was just ready for “Subaru car.”
Todd at Mt Bachelor – December 23, 2017
Family selfie on Carrousel chair – December 23, 2017
During Todd’s nap, my mom and I made the lemon coconut cake out of my 2007 edition of Veganomicon (by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero). This is a tried and true favorite cake recipe! After Todd woke up, we moved our ‘camp’ to my sister’s house.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24
Still in the mood for baking, I made snickerdoodle cookies out of Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar (by Isa Chandra Moskowitz) in the morning. That evening, we celebrated my dad’s birthday at Nana and Grampy’s house (Todd’s cousin’s grandparents). Nana got reindeer jammies for the kids…how cute!
New jammies! – December 24, 2017
Cousin Eli decided to run laps around the living room, hoping that the activity would make it easier for him to sleep that night. Of course, Todd followed suit.
Going through the furniture – December 24, 2017
Our usual Christmas Eve dinner is lasagna. My family has really perfected a vegan version! Todd tried some plain lasagna noodles. He also liked eating sourdough bread from The Village Baker. This year he did a great job staying seated at the table for all of our meals (unlike when he was younger!)…how nice! After dinner, Todd got some practice opening presents by helping my dad open his birthday gifts and then opening presents in a ‘white elephant’ game (the first annual?).
My parents – December 24, 2017
Elisa & Eric – December 24, 2017
Todd eating plain lasagna noodles – December 24, 2017
MONDAY, DECEMBER 25
Todd didn’t wake up particularly early on Christmas morning, which was nice because my parents were able to arrive before he came out to see all the presents. Remember from the “Todd is Three (Month 4)” post that his number one (and only), highly anticipated gift from Santa was the Lego Ninjago Master Falls set. After he opened it, he wanted to build it immediately. Of course, this meant waiting until later in the morning to open any other presents!
Master Falls!! – December 25, 2017
Eventually– Todd got interested in the process of opening all his other gifts. The rest of the family was just about done with present-opening by that time! Todd was surprised and **super excited** when he opened the ‘Hulk hands’ that Santa sent him. His reaction was priceless (melt my heart)! (He’d been asking for Hulk hands on and off for several months prior to Christmas).
One cool toy that Todd received from my sister was the Snap N’ Glow Trax Light Racer Set. You run battery-powered cars on a flexible track that can be configured in various ways. Todd’s favorite part is when the cars crash into each other.
Todd on Christmas Day 2017
We spent the evening at my parents’ house. It was the Creature (from the Black Lagoon) against Hulk…
Eric (Creature) & Todd (Hulk) – December 25, 2017
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26
This was a day for play! After Todd’s nap we had Christmas dinner at my parent’s house.
Cousin Ashley gave Todd a new look – December 26, 2017
The Spooner was a gift from Todd’s grandma (my mom) – December 26, 2017
December 26, 2017
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27
Oh, how Todd loves Kaiser! He wanted to make sure he said goodbye to him before we left for home. I let Todd spend a good long time with him because Kaiser is quite elderly. I really hope this visit wasn’t their last time together. A picture is better than a 1000 words…
Saying goodbye to Kaiser before we had to go – December 27, 2017
Saying goodbye to Kaiser before we had to go – December 27, 2017
December 27, 2017
Todd at ~3 years, 4 months – December 15, 2017
3 YEARS OLD…MONTH 4
NOV 21, 2017 – DEC 20, 2017
TODD SAID…
- “You call me you need me”
- “I love my mama. I love my dada. Me love everybody.” (in the morning)
- “Are you okay? You feel better?” (and he patted my arm)
- “us together” (he was so happy about all three of us being together)
- he likes to point out how one thing is the same as something else (i.e., “that like ___”)
- “Thanksgiving means everyone together”
- “I guarantee it”
THANKSGIVING
- (see the last post for the full Thanksgiving 2017 trip report)
- we went to Bend, OR to visit my parents & my sister’s family (11/22 – 11/26)
- activities: nature walk at Shevlin Park (11/23); walk along the river by Old Mill (11/24); swimming at Juniper Swim & Fitness Center (11/24); visiting Santa this year (11/25)
- he said:
- “I need to ask you something/”I need to tell you something” (to cousin Eli)
- “It’s a scary one. You sure you want to watch it?” (to Eli regarding a YouTube video)
Old Mill – November 24, 2017
ANTICIPATING CHRISTMAS
- “Chriffen time” is how it sounds when he says ‘Christmas time’
- this is the first year he understands what is coming up for the holidays
- he had fun decorating the “Chriffen tree” (11/28) & he was pretty good about keeping it safe all month (i.e., it only tipped over once & only one ornament broke!)
- #1 highly anticipated gift from Santa: Lego Ninjago Master Falls set
Decorating our tree – November 28, 2017
THIS MONTH’S PREFERENCES
- Books:
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Stick Man, Peekaboo Sophie, I Love You, Baby, Ultimate Dinopedia, his ‘red books’ and ‘black books’ (Me Readers), In the Tall, Tall Grass, Night Creatures, and Because It’s My Body.
- he likes to go to certain pages & ‘read’ the same page over & over
- he likes to count things in books (this month he counted up to eleven)
- in one of the ‘red books’ he goes to a page where he likes to “act out” the story for ‘knocking me over with his power punch’
- when we read Stick Man one night, he said that stick man was “sad…like at preschool…I miss daddy”
- Shows:
- PBS Kids: Dinosaur Train, Super Why!
- He likes to watch the “making of” segment on the Creature From the Black Lagoon
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (sounds like, “Gitch”)
- Ghostbusters (while watching he said, “Those guys save the day…yay!” and he clapped)
- Santa Clause 3 (especially the Jack Frost character played by Martin Short)
- he’s still a big fan of The Incredible Hulk (Season 1)!
Todd at open gym – December 4, 2017
WEEKDAY ACTIVITIES & PRESCHOOL
- Eric takes Todd to open gym every Monday; they regularly see the same friends
- he loves to fight with lightsabers with Eric
- Todd doesn’t complain about going to preschool too much; in the mornings he’ll have his boots on at the door even before Eric’s completely ready.
- the preschool teacher said he doesn’t try to do his pencil worksheets much, so we tested him out on some line drawing & tracing skills & he did just fine
- he is showing some more interest in water painting on Water Wow reveal pad & coloring with magic pens (high interest); when he does want to do it his focus is good & he uses a supinate dagger or quadrupod grasp (he’s probably right handed but he does switch to his left) (sorry folks..I’m a school-based occupational therapist!!)
- he likes to peel & stick stickers
November 27, 2017
Preschool craft! -December 7, 2017
PRESCHOOL HOLIDAY PERFORMANCE
- Todd’s preschool had a holiday performance at the Numerica Performing Arts Center (12/13)
- he seemed excited to go; first we went out for a pizza dinner
- during his part of the show, he walked out with his class wearing reindeer antlers (so cute!); all the ‘Sprouts’ sat down & he appeared content while the group sang the first song
- after the first song, he addressed the audience, “Dada?” & Eric responded. He smiled big & put both closed fists to his cheeks, then appeared to get emotional. For the rest of the performance (multiple songs!), he fought back tears or cried. His teacher motioned him over to her so she could comfort him.
- when the class filed off the stage, he asked “Dada?” again & Eric made contact with him briefly. Once we were able to pick him up at the stage door, he was all smiles again.
All dressed up for his preschool holiday performance – December 13, 2017
Elisa & Todd at Saddle Rock Pub & Brewery – December 13, 2017
Saddle Rock Pub & Brewery – December 13, 2017
Before the performance – December 13, 2017
SKIING – MISSION RIDGE
- the three of us skied together 4x (12/2, 12/3, 12/10, 12/16, 12/19)
- Eric & Todd skied together 2x (12/8, 12/15)
- it’s been easier getting him geared up at the parking lot this season (so far, anyway!)
- he turns back & forth while on reins & he goes alone down the slope at the rope tow area (like last season)
- the videos this month show how well he can turn & stop
- he likes to get ‘yellow chips’ in the lodge (Lay’s potato chips)
December 2, 2017
December 10, 2017
December 15, 2017
December 19, 2017
MISC NOTES
- this is the first month I noticed that he’s developed his unique ‘smile for the camera’; this creates dimples way up by his eyes
- he is really getting taller, it seems!
- Eric trimmed his hair
December 16, 2017
FIRST DAY OF OUR CHRISTMAS TRIP (BEND, OREGON)
- on 12/20 we drove to Bend, Oregon for the holidays
- on the way there, we had pizza at Pete’s Pizza (Goldendale, Washington)
- we stayed overnight at my parent’s house for the first time
- Todd opened up his Christmas gift from his Grammie (Eric’s mom) that evening: the Lego Ninjago set, Garmadon’s Volcano Lair
- (all of the details of this trip (covering 12/20 – 12/27) will be the focus of the next blog post…)
Todd at Pete’s Pizza – December 20, 2017
Grandpa (my dad) & Todd – December 20, 2017
Todd & Elisa building Garmadon’s Volcano Lair – December 20, 2017
FOOD NOTES & DINING OUT
- he still drinks a lot of Goppa & eats a very low variety diet
- he’s perfectly capable of feeding himself with a spoon but he insists on being fed his beans & rice when we go out for ‘chips, salsa’
- Dining out: Saddle Rock Pub & Brewery (11/29, 12/13), Casa Tapatia (12/8), Pete’s Pizza (12/20)
DAY TIME NAPS
- not much as changed; he can still sleep for solid 2-hour naps (+/-)
Still tired after his nap on a ski day – December 2, 2017
NIGHT TIME SLEEP
- At 3 years, 4 months I’ve decided this is the last month I’m keeping track of how often he wakes up at night. I started slacking off, so I don’t have an exact count for this month, but he woke up at least 12 times this month (possibly more).
- during Thanksgiving (away from home), he woke up every night (even twice a night), whereas at home he was more likely to not wake up.
- he did have a solid 6-night stretch of not waking up at night, which was nice! (12/12-12/17)
- before he falls asleep he says either “go, not close door” or “hold my hand, keep me safe” (mostly hand holding)
- Sleeping in the travel tent is working well! I leave the bottom part of the door unzipped so he can slip out if he needs to. He usually stays in, though. In the middle of the night he always calls for me (i.e., “mama come in here”), whereas in the morning he either calls for me or gets out of bed by himself
- he says, “morning time?” when he wakes up & wants to know if it’s morning time yet; next he asks to have the lights turned on in the living room
December 3, 2017
POTTY TALK
- status quo: he’s potty trained for daytime but wears diapers during naps & night time
- he had a few misses this month (when he waited too long to get to the toilet & ended up peeing on the bathroom floor)
Silly face Todd – December 10, 2017
Freeheel Vegan 