Dashisms and Competitive Kids

Dash happily climbing a tree!

I've been trying to think of all those things Dashiell says repeatedly that make me laugh.  So far I've only come up with four, but I know there are more that I just can't conjure up in my head right now.  Here are some of our latest Dashisms:

"You tell me!"  This is said often and for many reasons.  For example, Dash has been having bad dreams fairly often these days (poor kid), and if I ask what they were about, he'll say "you tell me".  As if I'll know.  Pretty much anytime he says this it's in response to something I won't have any clue about.

"Because I did."  As in, "Dashiell, why did you throw that lego across the room?"  "Because I did".  Toddler/preschooler logic at it's best!

"No no no!".  Dashiell cannot just say "No".  He has to wave his hand back and forth, solemnly shake his head, and say "no no no!" (emphasis - no-NO-no).  I always have to hold back my smile.

"Drive safely and be careful!".  Dash has to say this to me every time I leave the house.  Sweetie.

On to the competitive kids post (which should be separate, I know, but I'm feeling lazy...).  A couple of weeks ago it was pointed out to me that other kids are competitive.  Mine is not.  My friend Meghan's son C will respond to challenges like, "race you to the bathroom" if they are trying to encourage him to go.  I just don't think that would work with Dashiell (IF we could ever get him to use the bathroom, but that's another post)!  If he's racing around with other kids, he puts himself in the back of the pack - he has no interest in "getting there first", he just wants to run around and be part of the fun!

Yesterday we experienced the extreme opposite of Dashiell when we went to the park.  Another little boy was there who was Mr. Competitive.  First off, he had to keep telling Dashiell that he was four while Dash was only three.  Repeatedly.  And because he was four, he could do things Dashiell couldn't do, like not hold on to the swing while swinging (it was one of those bucket swings so it was fairly safe to do).  And Dashiell couldn't ride on the swing that only had a chain in the front instead of the full bucket seat because he was only three, not a big four year old like him.  And D couldn't swing as high as him, either.  And Dashiell couldn't jump on pedals of the airplane rocker because he was only three.  And this little boy didn't like to play with the steering wheel thingie because he was four - it was okay for Dash to play with it because he was only three (which was a bit heartbreaking since Dash was excited to play with it and said, "come play with me over here!" when he wanted him to play).  Seriously, the "you're only three" line was getting old.  The other little boy decided he wanted to play ball, and Dashiell excitedly said, "I want to play ball, too!", so I told Dash that he should ask if that would be okay, to which to little boy reluctantly agreed.  They kicked the ball around a little together, the boy had his turn kicking it for while, then Dashiell ran around with it for like 30 seconds and I saw that the little boy was getting a bit huffy.  I told D that it was the other boy's turn, he gave the ball back, and the little boy stood there not playing with it for a minute until he decided he didn't want to play anymore.  He was obviously upset that Dashiell was playing.  Then they were climbing on the big rock and the little boy was mad because Dash wanted to climb on it at the same time.  His mom was valiantly trying to convince her son that Dashiell could do anything he wanted, and that they could play together, and she was really trying to do everything she could to stop her son from being so competitive and hurtful.  Oh how she tried!  

But then came the kicker (which was actually pretty funny):  As they were leaving the little boy came up to us to say goodbye.  He said, "I have to go home because I'm sweaty".  Dashiell exclaims, "I'm sweaty too!" (as in, "look how much we have in common!" Ha!).  Then the little boy says, "I'm MORE sweaty!"  Oh heavens.  Really? 

I'm so glad Dashiell was mostly oblivious to what this little boy was trying to do.  Dash doesn't want to compete, and he doesn't care about winning, he just wants to be part of the game.  I hope he never changes.

Small bulge?

"Until this month you might have kept your pregnancy a secret, but soon your expanding uterus will have become large enough (about four inches in diameter) to show as a small bulge beneath your navel"

-Except from As your Baby Grows: from conception to birth, Chapter "The 4th Month", from the publishers of American Baby

"Small bulge" my [bleep]! 

(there, Lea, are you happy now??  You got your bump picture!) ;)

Hodge-podge

Random, random post.  I have a few cute pictures of Dashiell to share, plus I'm feeling a need to rant about a maternity-related issue, and I need to make an actual list of the new blog name ideas so I have them all written down in one place!  So this is going to be long, and very disjointed.  Apologies. 

I bought Dashiell these p.j.s from Old Navy a couple of weeks ago, and they are my new favorites.  I love the wrestling look!  I especially love the "abs" drawn onto the p.j.s  How flippin' cute is that??  Someday when he's a teenager Dash will see this picture and ask, "what the hell did you dress me in??"  Ha!

The park nearest to our house is a "passive park", meaning no play equipment, and no dogs, running or ball playing allowed (it should be noted that no one pays attention to the dogs, running, or ball playing rules).  But Dashiell likes going there anyway, mostly because there's a huge rock to climb on, and this awesome tree to swing from!  It's also the first tree he's really attempted to climb, which is both exciting and of course worrisome to this particular mom.  I try not to let me worry show too much, though I do keep pretty close by when he climbs in it just in case! :)

Alright, the rant:  I realize that I should just bask in the glory of being pregnant and not complain about stupid things.  And I realize that this particular rant is small potatoes and probably not worth my time to write or your time to read.  So feel free to skip it if you want, I won't be offended.  But why do maternity clothes suck so much??  It's not the cuteness factor - many of the things I have are fairly attractive (at least now, while I'm not in the big-as-a-house phase of pregnancy).  But why - WHY - are they so expensive?  Honestly, these clothes will only be on my body for less than 9 months.  Quality is not what I'm looking for (and often not found anyway, regardless of price).  I want cheap, good-looking clothes that will hold together for a short amount of time.  Certain mall maternity stores - you aren't selling gold.  You're selling temporary clothing.  And maternity swim suits?  They're the worst culprits of the over-priced clothing!  Maybe if I lived in a warm-weather state and predicted swimming throughout my pregnancy and not just for 2 months of it, I could see paying the prices asked for a suit, but I hate spending $50 or more for something that I'll wear a handful of times for 2 months of my life. 

As for maternity styles, I'm calling out Liz Lange for Target - why the hell do you think I'd want a white t-shirt that is so thin you could see the *color* of my belly button?  Yes you are offering cheaper clothing, and I appreciate that, but still, I'm not entering a wet t-shirt contest here!  Just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I want to show off everything I've got!  And why hasn't anyone mastered making maternity shorts that aren't hideous?  I have a couple pairs of capris that look fine, but every pair of shorts I have tried are bunchy and weird-looking.  And for some reason all the shorts at Old Navy have a 3" inseam, which I wouldn't even wear if I wasn't pregnant.  Short-shorts are not a friend to a cellulite-prone pregnant lady, believe me.

This is all compounded by the fact that 1) I borrowed most of my clothing when I was pregnant with Dashiell and had to give it all back.  And Dash was an April baby, which means the majority of the clothes I do still have are for winter weather, so I'm basically starting from square one. I had about 3 items of clothing in my "maternity clothes" box that were appropriate for summer wear (and yes, I am in need of actual maternity wear already.  This belly of mine likes to flaunt itself - maybe Liz Lange is right to design too-showy clothing?).  And 2) I have yet to find a good source of used maternity clothes.  The majority of my friends are done with their baby-making years and have long since given away their clothes, so borrowing is out.  And the selection of maternity clothes at local consignment shops is less than stellar.  I did find a few things, but not nearly enough. Sigh.

Alright, rant over.  Thanks for letting me vent, and apologies to those who are seething over the fact that I'm complaining about something so trivial when in reality I should be thanking the heavens that I am lucky enough to be pregnant in the first place.  I am thankful, believe me.  But sometimes you just have to get it all out.

On to the blog name ideas:  I'm still trying to come up with that perfect name, but a few people have given me ideas that may be contenders:  First, from Shannon, "Hanson party of ???", which I like but would probably go with "party of four" since there will be four of us when the baby arrives.  On the off chance we turn into a party of five, it's an easy upgrade. :)  The only problem is that I still have my maiden name and am not technically a "Hanson".  I think I could overlook that if need be.  From Jenn, "Handful of Hansons".  Cute, but still the "Hanson" issue.  And from Betsy, "And now there are Two".  But should I change that to "and now there are four" since there are four of us in the family?  Or should I just stick with the number of kids?  I was thinking something like D+1, but I feel like we'd have to complete the equation somehow and I haven't found that perfect "=".  Plus it would have to be changed again when Baby2.0 arrives and we give him/her an actual name.

So more suggestions are welcome!  Keep 'em coming!

Thanks for sticking with me through this crazy long disjointed post! :)

In need of a new blog name!

When I first started this blog, I was almost 18 weeks pregnant with Dashiell.  Rick came up with the clever name "Baby Pending", and I chronicled the ins and outs, ups and downs of my pregnancy.  After Dashiell was born and the baby was no longer pending, we needed a name change!  The Dashiell Diaries were created, and I've been writing about the life of my little guy ever since.  But it seems like we're now in need of another name change!  My little guy is going to be a BIG BROTHER!  Woo-hoo!!

Baby2.0 at about 12 weeks

We're super excited to add another Hanson to our family!  And we're even more excited that it took comparatively no time to get this little one cooking!  With Dashiell it took two years, a lot of heartache, and a little medical intervention.  With Baby2.0 it took four months of "let's see what happens", with the thought in our minds that that Dash might end up being an only.  But the universe thankfully had other plans for us, and our cozy little family of 3 will now be a rockin' family of 4!  Yes!

Currently I'm about 15 weeks, due January 10th (though if Baby2.0 is anything like Dashiell, s/he'll be born January 20-ish.  No rush.).  And if you read my first post (linked above), at the time I was complaining about being almost 18 weeks and looking like I'm 5-1/2 months (there was a picture with the post at one time but it's mysteriously gone).  How naive I was!  With this pregnancy, it's like my belly is on steroids.  I expect to get the, "how far along are you?  6 months?" question any day.  But it's all good - as long as the baby is healthy and I'm healthy that's all that matters. 

So back to the name change - I'm seriously coming up blank.  Any suggestions would be welcomed and thoughtfully considered.  And if your suggestion is chosen, there will be acknowledgments and accolades. 

Thanks for reading and letting me share our exciting news!