The 3 Year Old Goth

My sister, Cicely, has this awesome tradition ofinterviewing her kids each year for their birthday. I tried it with Holden thisyear – just days after his third birthday (February 1.)  Yes, I'm REALLY behind on blog posts. As I recall we went on a Disney Cruise a year ago and I still have yet to write about it...

In the Utah Honeysuckle at our house

Any-who, before I get to the interview I just want to point out someof the things I really love about this kid… he gets sarcasm and irony. (Maybe that’s not something to be proud of, but between Danny and me, it’s needed for survival round these parts). He loves playing outside in the dirt, going to parks, rides at amusement parks, looking at and playing with animals, dinosaursand making friends.

He’s always introducing himself to strangers: “Hi, I’m Holden!”  Often followed by “That’s mymommy.” He refers to children he likes as “my kids” and if they are extraspecial to him, they get crowned “cousins.” I guess that speaks highly for hisreal cousins, because he really loves those people.

He helps me set the table.

He’s adorable with Zoe. “I think shers likes me!” (Shers of course is a cross between she and her = shers. Grammar is hard.)

He has super big emotions. He’s much more likely to cry fromhaving his feelings hurt (having to leave an activity before he’s ready) than falling off a rock wall (yes, both have happened… ah experience, the greatest teacher.)

He’s interested in good and bad. For instance, today at the Zoo he said “Mom are lions bad guys?”

“No, I replied, just misunderstood.” We find ourselvesusing that phrase a lot – to describe dinosaurs, and spiders, bees and monsters, et cetera, et cetera.

“Mom, is everything just misunderstood?” I paused, thinking that there was a lot more depth to this question than either of us could reallycomprehend.

“Yes, pretty much.” I responded.

Anyway, I love his questions – his mind, his delight in the world around. I love that he still asks to be held and there are few things that can’t be solved with a lovey, a kiss and perhaps milk in a sippy cup.(Funny fact – if you want to have a drink at my house, your options are pretty much a sippy cup or stemware. And yes, he uses both).

OK so back to the interview, a couple of things I noticedtranscribing the interview from my trusty iPhone mic: he pronounces “presents”as ‘peasants’ and the interview turned a bit gothic towards the end. I don’t particularly remember listening to The Cure that much whilst Holden was en utero, but it could always be a contributing factor.

Enjoy!

**************************************************************

With Cyclops at Universal Studios in Orlando 4/30/12

Me: Ok, how old are you?

Holden: Fee (three).

What’s your favorite show?

Transformers.

And what’s your favorite toy?

Some transformer toys.

Oh, ok. And tell me who’s in your family.

Um…. Anne!

Anne?

Yeah!

And who else?

And…..Thunderpants!

K.

We’re, were be superheroes.Here’s some superhero p-peasants to open.

Me: OK, and who’s your favorite superhero?

Ironman

Happiest Little Sister in the World - on the place to MCO 4/28/12

Me: What’s the name of your sister?

Zoë

What’s Zoë’s whole name?

Zoë Seet Mangum(suite)

Whats your whole name?

Holden Dan, Seet Mangum

(I laugh out loud at his confusion, for the record he’sHolden Daniel Mangum.)

And what are you thinking about?

I’m thinking about monsters

Ok is there anything you’re afraid of?

I’m fraid of dying inStarbursts caves.

OK, anything else you want to tell me on your birthday –around your birthday?

I did open thepeasants and there’s a bad thing to sleep with.

THE END

Bruce Banner (aka THE HULK) at Universal Studios 4/30/12

Holden 3 Year Review

Wow Bud, three years on February 1st?!?! Pretty awesome. Here are some things worth noting about you~

You are a terrific big brother to Zoë. You often ask where she is (usually sleeping). You call her “my baby.”

You ask to hold her sometimes and have often commented on the fact that she “has no teeth.”

Quirky and Fabulous

Instead of saying ‘she,’ you have a tendency to combine it with the word ‘her’…so when talking about females it often comes out “shers” (eg. Shers is eating some milt.)

You pronounce Milk – Milt. In fact a lot of your “k” sounds end with a “t” instead.

Things You LOVE

Transformers ~ Superheros ~Dinosaurs ~ Cars

(just in general, not specifically the Disney-Pixar themed toys,

but you play with those too.)

You like to steal my phone and watch “Weet Woo!” (For any parents out there with kiddos that find themselves on YouTube, this is the greatest invention…it filters content on the web specific to a child’s age… the biggest problem is that Holden can literally disappear with my phone and could entertain himself forever without my involvement. Not necessarily the “media policy” we’re striving for at the Mangum household.)

You like to help me mop the floors and clean the toilets. (And truth be told the mopping of the hardwoods IS actually faster with your help then when I do it by myself. How about that?!?!)

You love taking showers/baths.

You are FINALLY wearing big boy pants (why did you hate them for so long?)

You like to help me bake…I need to remind myself to enjoy having your help more often; because how long does a boy ask to cook with his mom in the kitchen?

We’re working on – putting your coat on by yourself, getting dressed by yourself. For all the things you like to do independently, you have never been real interested in this.

You love whole wheat cinnamon rolls – you would eat them every day if given the option. Seems like we’re baking these about every week or so nowadays.

You like playing with paydough, fighting bad guys, anyone’s toys, making up songs and “watching shows.”

Some of my favorite phrases you use:

"You will never defeat me."

"The Hult is misunderstood." (Hult=Hulk)

"Come on!"

"That’s a great idea!"

"It’s a piece of my home planet."

"Spiderman helps us." (This is also often replaced with the Prophet, Jesus, etc.)

"Will you wipe my bottom?" (I know it sounds odd that I like this one, but to me it means my three year old has just gone #2 in the potty, by himself, without any coaxing from me and is just waiting in the bathroom...and I had no idea it had happened. Awesome.)

Life with you pretty much rules.

Holden at iFly for his 3rd birthday

Before the Birthday Month Ends...

I just wanted to make sure I had this moment from 2/1/11 accurately documented.

Don't Blink -Or- Holden's Officially Two

Seriously, don't blink. You might miss something. Or I might. Really, you're two? Holden? Already? It makes me feel extra super guilty I was trying to figure out how to get you to sleep through the night at 6 weeks. Ha! Seems so silly and ridiculous and exhausting all at the same time. Such a precious time... and now it's gone.

But I'm grateful for today. Still freaking out that you're two.

Six month's ago I posted a little bit about your likes and dislikes. Some things have changed; but you're pretty much the same guy... just with better hair and way cooler t-shirts (thank you Babinski's.)

But here are somethings I jotted down about you in the past six months (in no particular order).

Favorite foods of the past six months: dried and fresh blueberries, avocado, bananas, oats, (just plain oats, I don't even need to make them into oatmeal, though sometimes I do) olives, apples (eating them whole is your favorite way to partake),

grapes, cheese pizza (though you don't really eat the cheese), cupcakes (mostly just the frosting, though)

watermelon, those cracker-like orange "fish" (your Grandma gives them to you, not me), raisins, parmesan cheese (grated or slivered, but the REAL stuff...not that Kraft cheese-product), honeydew and broccoli.

Holden's order of broccoli and wheat toast at One Man band Diner (I was not so disciplined)

At the Real Game, you wanted to steal the olives from the burrito of the lady sitting next to us.

In the late summer -- harvest time-- it was pretty standard fare to see your shirts decorated with tomato seeds. You loved picking them from the vine and eating them straightaway. You also loved eating plums from our tree; but someone else would have to pick them for you.

At SLC's Gallery Stroll...he's so hip. I didn't go to a Gallery Stroll until I was in college.

During this past six months, you really started identifying pictures of Jesus and saying his name...oddly enough, pretty much anyone you see with a brown beard you seem to think is Jesus; and anyone with a white beard is "Ho Ho Ho" (what you call Santa.)

You're super attached to your father and have been for quite some time. You ask for him to put you to bed, and he's the first thing you ask for in the morning. One of the few sentences you put together is "Where my Dad?"

On August 12th (barely 18 months), you took all the pans and lids out of my pan/lid drawer. However, after being asked - you put them ALL back away. I was pretty impressed.

Around this time, you also started figuring out how to build your own train track--specifically the bridge portion of your track. You heart "toot-toot"... which I think means "Choo-Choo" with translates to "trains!"

In September, you would randomly move your hands in the "wheels on the bus" motion. We go to "Book Babies" at the Library about once a week for stories, songs and playtime with the other tots. You are always the most LIVELY of the bunch.

Same with yoga - at our Monday morning "Mommy & Me" class, you really seem most interested in hugging the Arjuna statue, feeding almonds to Ganesh and touching EVERYTHING on the alter. You also like tossing the blocks around the room (not part of the organized routine) and doing your own thing. I try to practice my patience and be in the moment... because like Book Babies, you are the most active little yogi in the room (though you do have a fierce Down Dog and melt my heart every time you bow in the "namaste" song.)

You got another hair cut in September; I think I'm going to let it grow until the summer. I love your curly locks...and you don't really love getting your hair cut; so it works both ways.

You love your cousins. You especially like to give your cousins Faye (6 weeks your elder) hugs. She likes about one form you; and then needs her space. You think her pushing you away is a game...she doesn't.

Second ear infection of your life at 23 months. You figured out that bubble gum antibiotics taste way better than Children's tylenol.

Despite how adorable you look in them, you do not like footie pajamas. We tried 2 pair for Christmas; and it was a struggle to get you into them... and usually involved tears if you had to keep them on. So no more footie PJs. (Who doesn't like footie pajamas?!?!?!)

You finally learned the word "no." Just 2 1/2 weeks ago, you learned it. You picked it up and decided you enjoy saying it in a sing-song manner. It doesn't come out very often, but it always catches me off guard when you say it...I'm used to 'Uh-uh." (Which seems a little easier to stomach to me than no, for some reason.)

You still love sports -- playing them, watching them with Dad. You love watching movies...I pretty much always feel guilty about it, but we let you (especially with your ear infection and this crappy weather!)

You loves animals -- especially horses, elephants, dogs, gorillas, and giraffes.

We're still EC-ing. No diaper-FREEdom to announce just yet. But I just keep reminding myself to 'trust the process.' Because being patient has paid off for us in other areas, like:

You are finally sleeping through the night! In your BIG BOY BED! Not three hours and then sneaking into Mommy & Daddy's bed; not six hours or eight hours (and calling it sleeping through the night)...but 10 hour stretches! No sleep training. No crying it out. Just laying down, tucking you in at night and taking the time....

Don't blink. But I love you....and Happy Birthday Little Bits.

The Way You Do the Things you Do (at 18 months)

Happy 18 months Holden!

Tomorrow makes it official: you are One-and-a-half. Here are some of the highlights of your current life.

Your Love Of...
Well, Dogs are easily your favorite animal - you can say 'woof woof'...you also like to say 'doodle-doodle-do' when we ask you what a rooster says. You are also good at picking out giraffes.

You L-O-V-E books. We go to the library at least once a week for Book Baby, and you love to be read to. Especially, on the potty

• From the Library: Sheep Out to Eat, The Turnip Tale, I Like Trains
• From Your Collection: A is for Ark, Your Counting Book
  
• From My Collection:Stephen Colbert's "I Am America and So Can You," Kate Spade's "Manners" & "Style" and Andy Warhols "Flowers, Flowers, Flowers." (You are such a young little hipster)

You love spending time with your cousins -- and often favor your Aunt Cassandra, Mama Suite AND Grandma to me. I try to not let it upset me.
You love ALL music. It's funny when I change it to KRCL and Reggae is playing... you dig the rasta.

Picking the petals off of roses... oddly enough you also like picking tomatoes that aren't ripe and our peppers from the salsa garden that are few and far between. The lettuce has also been a little blitzed under your tutelage.

You love pulling out the beets and carrying them in a bunch to the kitchen. I find this to be seven varieties of adorableness.

Sleeping


We just recently moved to one nap a day (yes, Mommy is part of this process.). It's one less bed-time snuggle we get during the day, but we seem to make up cuddle time with book reading.

You've been sleeping in your own bed for a while now (a twin mattress on the floor of the nursery... so much for all the co-sleeping non-believers who said "You'll never get that kid out of your bed!") Though I'll often join you in your room for an extra hour or two of shut eye in the mornings since you enjoy a cup of milk to top-off the morning.

Now you're also doing this thing where you wake up and don't even come into our room to get into bed with us. You just walk into the kitchen and stand by the fridge until we join you either making an odd whinning-fake-crying noise or yessling "Maaaam. Maaam." (Daddy says we should just start putting milk-on-ice in your room.)

That Whole EC/Potty Thing
You are doing awesome with your Potty Learning. I can't believe we've been at it for a year now. Just giving you 'pottytunities.' Your mornings are pretty much clockwork. There's still plenty of 'misses' but it's been so low key, and it just seems a part of the communication process we have.
You are really good at telling us when you're wet, AND you've even made it to the potty by yourself when you're having diaper free time. I don't think it will be long before we make the full transition out of diapers and training pants. This "experiment" has been a nice gentle-parenting technique for us to try. I feel like it gives us a love of face-to-face time; not to mention their are days it has been one comedy or errors after another.

Signing Time with... Just Us
You can 'sign' the following words: please, finished, milk, more, shoes (looks like milk) and occasionally you'll throw out a 'potty' and 'bird' or 'cat.' We haven't been real committed to the signing thing, but the please and finished signals have been exceptionally helpful.

Things You're Working Out

You try to do the actions to Itsy-Bitsy (Eensy-Weensy?) Spider.

You throw things... a lot of things (especially food -- I am trying to figure out what to do with about this). You think EVERYTHING IS A BASEBALL....I blame your father.

You try to sing Darth Vader's March from Star Wars with your cousins: Duh-duh-duh duh-da-dun, duh-da-dun.

You like sprinklers but the randomness of slash-pads (like at Gateway) kind of doesn't thrill you at all.

Our Little Foodie
Food-wise you're still a pretty good eater though outside of dairy and cheese you're not really into eating animal: meat, chicken, fish, eggs -- you really don't like it (I am reading this as a reverence for creation and the environmental concerns associated with mass consumption of animals... but that could be my own bias.)

Your favorite food right now is watermelon. You have developed an aversion for all things citrus - which is odd since you used to eat a bucket of tangelos/cutie oranges a week.

You like to bite cherry tomatoes and chocolate chips and then spit them out as soon as they're in your mouth.

You like to help me cook. As soon as I start baking or cooking anything you'll go into the dining room and try and push a chair into the kitchen to help me. I know it's just going to keep getting easier for you to help me. I really enjoy this time together. I hope you continue to love to cook with me - it is something that will help you and your family throughout your life.

Just Some Other Stuff
I think you're pretty good at following directions.

You think if we put on shoes it means you get to go outside (which is usually true).

It's easiest to dress you in front of our 9 x 4 foot mirror. You like to check yourself out from all angles after.

You're a climber.

You make the sound when the garage door comes up - you love to wave to people in trucks.

Your blonder than blond, and have eyes that are bluer than blue, and we love you Mr Holden. Thanks for joining our team.

15-months and growing

Oh Little Bits,

Happy Birthday today! What a busy, inquisitive, delightful, funny and joyful little toddler you have become!

So it's been a few months since I've recapped your 'progress' (though I know there have been plenty of posts about what we've been 'up to.') I've worked in a few pictures though out the post... not really having anything to do with the content, just a few of my favorites.


Soooo, you seem to be right on track developmentally -- you've gone from walking to walking fast, you think you can 'do stairs' by yourself, but I still prefer you to crawl up and down them because you're not quite brilliant at bending your knees all the time. (I remember when you learned you could walk backwards instead of falling when you'd get off balance.)

You love pretending to talk on the phone, pointing any remote at electronic devices (mostly the television).

You love crawling into laundry baskets, under tables and hiding in closets.

You like opening--though mostly closing--doors, cupboards, cabinets, etc. I find it adorable when you "knock" to get in to places.

You had your first haircut.

Your Favorite Foods are avocados/guacamole, wheat waffles and clementines/oranges and you prefer purple grapes to any dessert.

Your palate has expanded immensely:

I made you wheat and rye crackers with garlic red pepper dip. You tore up turkey meatloaf with whipped garlic potatoes. You've recently grown fond of asparagus and developed a liking for grilled mushrooms (mmmm, garlic butter makes everything better.) In fact, you eat a lot of garlic. Grandma Stevie has said on more than one occasion that you smell "like Burts Bees and garlic."



You're always surprising us with new words: "Amen," "cat," "Ought-oh" and "thank you" ...my favorite was when you said this to a bus boy in Maui over breakfast as he was wiping off our table. "Right on! Little Guy," he reposnded back.

You also do a sing-song 'thank you' often at night or for naps when I give you a sippy cup of water and you're snuggling into sleep time.

You don't really 'sign,' though you're an excellent communicator. You'll throw both hands up in the air to signal you're finished. This most often happens when you're done eating; but has also happened on road trips, long airplane rides, etc.

We've been trying to work on manners... so along with your delightful 'thank yous,' you just signed your first 'please' on April 15th. Although it's a two handed action for you (though I think technically the ASL sign is one hand in a circular motion around the upper chest?)... When I say "Say please" you take both hands across your chest in an outward motion. It's awesome!!!

When you 'give loves' you lean into the person (or animal). You do this a lot with random little girls your age/size. Sometimes they don't know how to react. A little girl at the airport in Phoenix (boycott Arizona) on the way home from Maui kept trying to kiss you on the mouth. You seemed to enjoy it.

You love Discovery Gateway (the Children's Museum). Here you are waiting for it to open!!!

Sometimes we say "Holden, eat your toes!" And then you do. (You are such a flexible little yogi; and your Down Dog is coming along splendidly. Sometimes you just do it in bed when you should be settling down.)

Speaking of sleep: sometimes you sleep through the night. Sometimes you walk into our room and want to crawl into the family bed, and sometimes you prefer we lay down in your bed (one more reason I'm grateful we never really integrated a crib for you.)

You're great with strangers.... not really afraid of anyone, though you do like to take a moment or few to take people in and get familiar with new faces.

You love being outside, and get quite frustrated and upset if you catch someone walking out the door or leaving with out you (it's not about me leaving you alone... no, you just want to be outside!)

Your favorite bathroom reading material includes your Counting Book (sometimes you point out the pages like you're counting), the Baby Einstein Library, "Sheep Out to Eat" form the Library and Kate Spade's "Style" and "Manners" books (naturally.) Really, you're doing great with the potty kid. I can't believe how well you've caught on. (More on this another day.)

You have mastered a sippy, are getting better each day with a fork, and enjoy drinking from a cup without a lid (though it gets messy if there's more than a sip or two of liquid in the cup!)

I like how you can 'help' me with chores and baking, and when you hand me the diapers from the washer to put in the dryer... how you try to sweep and love the vacuum. Making cookies/baking is so much better now that you can (almost) pour ingredients (and sometimes they even make it in the bowl!)

But sometimes you just want to be held. And I love your cuddles and when you squeeze me.

February 2009

I can't believe you were once this size. It makes me happy and devastated, all in the same breath. You are growing up so fast. (Totally cliche, totally true.)

Happy 10 months Holden! (A letter from Mommy)

I cannot believe he will be a year in just two short months (and I say short because we all know the Holidaze FLY by!)

I think I may have mentioned I started keeping a jar in my kitchen cupboard to jot down things going on with Holden as to not forget – and this past month has not disappointed. so with out further ado:

Mr. Holden,

My little guy, I can’t believe how much you’ve grown!

You’re such a healthy boy. Mommy got the flu (no, not little-piggy flu, just regular sickness) and was down for the better part of a week – but you came out of the deal unscathed. The same cannot be said for the rug burn on your right eye after thinking you could fly (along with the throw-pillows) off of the fireplace. Granted, they’re called ‘throw pillows’ for a reason… but if you’re actually going to take them up on their namesake, you ought to let go first.. or their fate will be yours. Experience is a great teacher – thus the chairs currently in front of said “mantle.”

Moving on…

The other day I was *parenting you down and it was taking a little longer for you to fall asleep than normal, and I started thinking about all the time I was spending making sure you’re asleep because of the no-crib thing… and I started thinking about all the other things I could do with that time, and then it hit me… ‘What a blessing to be able to snuggle up with you! To have you nuzzle in close and breathe your sweet breath on my face… to tickle your tummy, to touch your face… ‘ This time will soon be gone, and I’ll be wishing you’d want to be close and cuddle again. So I am grateful we X’d the crib and I get that extra time with you each day and night.

Also…

Just before I sat down to write this you were playing one of my favorite games. When I lay in my right side, you on your left; and I hug you in close to me and try to let go… but before I can, you place your sweet chubby fingers behind my head (ok, grabbing the hair at the base of my neck, actually, but still) and then you pull me in close… and do it again, and again, and again… and sometime, like today… you let go, and seem to drift into sleep straightaway. I love that game – let’s play it forever!

Oh, and the notes form the jar? Well, I’ll jot them down, and I can elaborate when you’re older:

• I finally found a way to get you to eat carrots.
• I find myself having moments when I look at you and think ‘hm, you’re no longer a baby. Like Pinocchio, you’re a real boy!
• You’re an old soul. More than one person has commented on this
• At your 9 month check up you were 21 lbs 8 oz (64%), 30 inches (91%) and your head circumference was 47 cm (87%). So you still legally fit in your car seat (we got the bigger one that hardly fits on airplanes), but one more inch and we’ve got to trade up for a different type of rear facing…
• On November 6, I dimmed the lights in your room in preparation for naptime, and you crawled onto your bed – it was adorable.
• Daddy and I also love how you just crawl out of your room when naptime’s over… no tears, you’re just done sleeping…
• You enjoy feeding yourself – which often makes meal time very messy. (I heart your pumpkin eyebrows)
• Besides crawling you love to utilize anything to push across the floor to ‘walk’
  
• 
  
• At one point you would lay down and not squirm in the real tub so I could rinse your hair. You LOVE bath time (in the real tub!), but are not so keen on laying down anymore…
• You officially have six teeth.
• You're still doing great with your pottying. Every 'catch' we consider AWESOME... and every 'miss', we just consider.
  
• You’ve tried green beans and spinach (you liked spinach more), and love picking up Breakfast O’s and pieces of Rice Cakes… and anything I haven’t picked up off the floor.

*As a dog owner for many years, Danny thinks it’s best to refrain from phrases like ‘put you down’ or ‘put you to sleep.’

And if you haven't checked it out...I share Holden't birthstory (where we were, ten months ago today) here.