Laughtastic

Jack's favorite knock-knock joke:
Knock knock!
Who's there?
Someone.
Someone who?
Someone who knocks on everyone's door!

Mmmmm.... Salad

I love this salad with a food passion that I usually reserve for things with bacon in them. Come to think of it, bacon would probably taste pretty good in this salad.

This is the original recipe. I believe I got it from "Cook This, Not That." These days I just throw this salad together willy nilly, ignoring the measurements. Still always yummy!

Yummy Salad:
12 oz cooked chicken (I cut mine into chunks, then brown in a bit of olive oil)
1 bag arugula (or other lettuce, but not Iceberg)
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1 avocado pitted, peeled, and sliced
1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese (sometimes I use feta)
1/4 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
/4 cup Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
salt and black pepper to taste

Honey Mustard Vinaigrette:
1/2 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
2 Tbsp red or white wine vinegar (I use red)
1/4 cup canola oil (I use vegetable oil)
salt and pepper

Toss. Eat. Try to restrain Self from eating more. Then remind Self that it is, after all, salad. Eat more. Be happy.

He gets this from his Dad, NOT me!

Alexander (this morning, catching a glimpse of his reflection in the entertainment center glass): What is up with my hair today?!

Now THAT'S logic

Alexander: Mom, can I have a piece of lemon meringue pie?
Me: No, you need to have something healthy.
Alexander: But lemon meringue pie has lemons in it and lemons are fruit.

I seem to remember a certain brother of mine who argued that pickles should count as a vegetable. Right with ya, bro. Pickles and ketchup.

Someone Needs More Culture...

Upon seeing the Olympic rings symbol...
Alexander: Hey, look! This is the Mario and Sonic Olympic picture!
Me: No, that is the symbol for the actual Olympics. Do you know what the Olympics are?
Alexander: No.
Me: It is when athletes from a bunch of different countries get together to participate in different competitions. It is a way that countries are friends with each other. Like in the Summer Olympics, they have volleyball competitions and running races and in the Winter Olympics they have skiing and ice skating.
Alexander: The Winter Olympics? Is that like that show we saw when there was that grown-up named Charlie Brown and he kept falling off stuff?
Me: Ummm.... No. You're thinking of Winter Wipe-Out. **hangs head in shame that child thinks Olympic Rings are about a video game, and that the Olympics are actually a ridiculous game show**

(This one probably loses something in the telling, but I have to record it for ME! Alexander watched one episode of Winter Wipe-Out, which stuck in his mind because the hosts were joking that a contestant's name was Charlie Brown.)

My Child: The Prophet

This was a totally random "announcement" by Alexander the other day.

"Today I went on a field trip to God and I said a prayer and I asked God a question. And I heard a voice, loud and thick, that no one has ever heard and it said, 'Yes, Alexander.' And it must have been God, because God knows everyone's name."

Um... okay, then.

Happy Birthday, Kai! (The Party)

We threw Kai a Sesame Street themed birthday party this weekend. We were joined by his grandparents, cousins, and his BFF Zachary. He was sufficiently spoiled, loved, cuddled, adored, admired, praised, and entertained. He certainly konked out easily for me when the fun was over!
Cake-face pictures first! He really dug in!

And the decor (made by yours truly, while licensed characters are, of course, the property of Sesame Street!):

Thanks to everyone for coming and for all the wonderful gifts. Kai will be well-dressed while he ponders what to purchase with his newfound riches. Happy Birthday, Kai!

Happy Birthday, Kai! (The Stats)

Kai is ONE YEAR OLD! He turned one on Thursday and had his one year well visit that day and was, as usual, pronounced perfectly healthy. He got 4 immunizations, a blood draw (not anemic!) and was approved to drink whole milk and continue with everything else we're doing.

He has still gained very little weight. In the past six months he has only gained one pound. He's dropped down from above the 99th percentile in weight to the 48th percentile. He also went from being my biggest newborn to my lightest one-year-old. However, his doctor is still not concerned since he is clearly very healthy, obviously not wasting away to nothing, and developing on track. He now weighs 22 pounds, 10 ounces (48th percentile) and is 31.5 inches tall (93rd percentile).

We got Kai this adorable little walker that converts to a ride-on for his birthday, along with two big bouncy balls, all of which he has really enjoyed.

Kai has been an AMAZING little boy this first year and I have truly treasured his babyhood and am excited for his toddlerhood. As his pediatrician said to him, "I can't wait to hear all the words you'll say to me next time I see you!" It should be another amazing year. Love you, Kai Baby!

Kids say...

Alexander: I don't like sneaky unless I am the one doing the sneaking.
*****
Jack: We should have anteater. And stinkbug eater.

Iron Man!

Alexander (to Jack, who was wearing Iron Man pajamas): Hey, Iron Man! Go iron my clothes!

He was completely serious... as in, I am pretty sure that he thinks that Iron Man's super power is to iron.