My lil man...

Famani si'i is definitely an interesting little boy.  I don't know another child so willing and comfortable to sit down with a complete stranger and chat it up like they are old friends.  Since the day he was born he was this way.  Never fussy about who picked him up.  When we travel it drove me crazy that he'd walk up to a complete stranger and take a bite of their food  or  bring back their coffee mug.  Or just sit down with some random kid watching his DVD player and enjoy the show.  Seriously, who does that?  Oh, but how I love my sweet little boy.  I never thought I'd get the hang of raising a boy.  I've been surrounded by mostly women all my life.  Although raising ANY child is NEVER easy, he sure does keep it entertaining.  Here's some of his latest and greatest.

- He's very interested in the concept of school.  I think it's because one of the boys we live with goes to school and he has such a grown up fascination with it.  Just wants to write on paper with a pen, carry a backpack, get dropped off at school.  This makes me happy.  Very, very, happy.  Let's hope he stays this way when he's actually IN school.

- He loves Swordplay on the Wii games.  He thinks he is so COOL when he wins.  I know he has a definite competitive streak in him.  He gets this from his father because I am not one to compete with others obsessively.  Oh, but this kid does.  And if he's losing, he gives up.  I have to figure out a way to break that ugly cycle quick.  I always just say, it's okay, try again.  But he gets seriously frustrated when things don't go his way.  If only this kid knew...welcome to what we grown-ups call LIFE.  

- He is a total ladies man.  There's a little girl at church he's got his eye on.  As soon as he sees her he sits down next to her and grabs her hand.  She pulls it away and he just grabs it again and holds it on her lap, totally against her will.  He also likes to give her hugs and ask her what's wrongs.  The poor child really does NOT enjoy the attention at all.  And I have to tell my son to leave her alone, several times during Primary.  I don't know how I feel about this.  I hope it's just a PHASE as everyone says and that it doesn't carry into his teenage/adult years.

- In the numerous failed attempts to be potty trained, he has a really wierd tendency.  If we put underwear on him, he won't wet his pants, he won't poop in his underwear.  This is a good thing.  The problem is, he won't go on the toilet either.  He will hold it in until we put a diaper on him and then he'll go to town in the diaper.  What is up with that?  I don't know.  I think he's afraid to pee his pants because he'll get in trouble.  I feel bad and I don't want him to have bowel problems, so I'm hoping he'll snap out of this. :/

- He's a very healthy kid.  For this I'm SO grateful.  He eats A LOT, but he doesn't ever gain weight.  He's still so extremely active and I love that about him.  Because they are two tell  tale signs when he's actually, truly, SICK.  If he can't eat or he won't get up and run around and destroy our room, then I know something is up.  So far, his health has been great.  I'm so thankful for that.  

- He's a total word police.  By this I mean there are several words my son has learned that I can't stand him saying.  Words that on occasion when I or my hubby or some stranger says because we're angry we're allowed to say because we're adults.  You know, things like, stupid, shut up, what the heck, Freakin'.  Yeah...whenever he hears me say it, "Mom, don't say that word."  With his finger pointed like he's the parent.  Oh, it drives me nuts sometimes.  Especially when I'm really really pissed about something.  But never fails, as soon as I see it and I KNOW he means business, I crack up.  Practice what you preach and talk the talk, walk the walk.  That's what the kid is teaching me.  

- He loves to say I love you.  He says it to everyone.  Once, after checking our bags in at the airport and getting our tickets he said "thank you" to the ticket agent, she told him to have a great flight, he said, "okay, gotta go vakapuna now, I love you."  She just laughed with her co-worker how funny that he says I love you to strangers.  My hubby and I will have random conversations with him and with each other and out of no where, "I love you Mom" or "I love you Dad."  He has to say it at least a half a dozen times before we sleep.  Good night Mom, I love you and Good night Dad, I love you.  I love that he says, I love you.  I know he understands what it means.  He says it to everyone who makes him happy, he says it to people who are sad.  He says it to girls on the phone that he's talked to for all of 3 seconds...but I love that he does it, by himself, whenever he feels it.  All I see in him is love and so I hope that's what he brings to other people's lives always.  

It's such a joy to watch him grow, learn new things.  Say new things, do new things.  It makes us very aware of his surroundings and aware of our short comings as a parents.  There really is no better ride in life, than to watch your children grow and hope that they catch some of the teachings you throw in along the way.  

 

So...yeah,

I feel kind of like a 4 year old at pre-school on the first day, having made absolutely no friends and my favorite toy is being hogged by the class bully.  

Yeah, I miss my parents.

I don't know why.

I just do.

I can't explain it.

  I've been thinking about them a lot lately.

Feeling like I don't or won't have enough time with them? 

I don't even wanna go further into that thought, but the point is... 

I'm homesick.  Specifically for my Mom and Dad.  

I usually get homesick for my sisters, or my good friends.  

But this time and probably for the first time since I've been married, I honestly miss my parents.  

Oh, how I wish July would come sooner.  

I'm almost tempted to wrap it up and move with my son and let hubby stay back, but that would be a lose-lose situation.  

I just have to be patient.  

I don't know why I get myself like this.  

There are some things that once I set my mind to it, I don't care how much I plan and try to stick to the timeline.  

I always, ALWAYS jump the gun.  

In Tongan, we call it kai mu'a.  

Sort of like speaking before you think or leaping before you look.  

Yeah...I just do.  

It's because of my damn anxiety.  

If my sister Sia was here she'd slap me out of it.  

It's only a few more months.  

Then I can be close to home, close to my parents.  

There if they need me and near enough to drop in for no reason other than to see them and make sure they are okay.

Negative Nessie...

I'm feeling like a Negative Nessie today blog world.  Mostly because I still feel crappy despite the fact that I can breathe through my nose.  My body aches are finding their way back into my muscles and in the last 24 hours I've eaten two crackers because the thought of any food makes me want to vomit...and I'm at work.  It's probably that last one that really has me ticked.  LMBO...see I feel better all ready. 

I miss him at this age...

I loved watching every little thing my son did

when he was still a baby and couldn't express 

himself verbally.  I'm so glad I have this video.

I sooo miss him at this age.

Dancing/eating/dancing some more...

First time I heard of this song was in Tonga.

As soon as it came on the laptop, he started to DANCE.

I had to get it on video, not even realizing

he was also hungry, but that wasn't going to stop him.

Once the song starts, it is ON!

Great Grandma Lose in Tonga...

I wish I had taken the time to take more videos in Tonga.

Grateful for this one.

This is Lose Faeamani, Famani si'i's great grandmother.

My husband Famani is named after her husband.

And my son carries the same name.

He's a little afraid of much older people as the video shows

But this conversation between them is priceless.

And Lose may be in her 90's, but her brain is still sharp.

Ofa atu Grandma Lose.

laughing at grandpa

This was taken on his 1st birthday.

He's cracking up at his Grandpa Tonga.