Grave Concerns About The Three Little Pigs

Christmas next, really.

It's just that last week I picked up a very intricately illustrated 3-D popup type copy of "the Three Little Pigs" to read to Nolan- he's never been interested in it, but I was sick of the usual stories we've been doing lately. He was fascinated by the story and pictures, looking apprehensively at the wolf (who was cartoonish, not that menacing), and becoming quite intent in the "blow your house down" series of pictures. It showed the first pig cowering in his flippy floppy straw house, then the next illustration was the rickety stick house actually collapsing. I know I have mentioned how sensitive he is...but he looked at that picture, then, calculatingly, at the walls of the room, the ceiling, and the window. Repeatedly. Saying "the house blew DOWN?!?!?, mommy, it blew DOWN!" So, wondering if I have scarred him for life but seeing nothing to do but finish the story and distract, we get to the clever but scared third pig in the strong brick house, the wolf coming down the chimney after the failed attempt to blow the house down- into the pot of boiling water. In the story I remember, they just said "and they never were bothered by the big bad wolf again." So as a kid I eventually assumed that ???the wolf boiled to death?? Did they EAT it? Would pigs eat wolf meat? Grisly.

Anyway, I was grateful that this version officially say the wolf jumped up yelling "Ow" and ran away and never came back. Nolan however, remembered that the wolf had been getting hungry and wanted to know what happened "but but but but Mom! the wolf was hungwy!" So our customized version goes "and the wolf ran home and had a peanut butter sandwich and never bothered the pigs again." There. All loose ends tied up.

That night Nolan was quite restless....?nightmares- and the next day at supper, Nolan announced "We have a better house. That house blew down." "Yes honey, we have a REALLY good house that will never blow down." (He often makes me into a bridge for his trains -across my linked hands- alternating "Mommy, you are a broken bridge"- trains fall- ..."now, be a better bridge" - so that "better" terminology is an integral Nolanism.)

Now banned from this house- anything by the Brothers Grimm. Mind you, Nolan has adjusted to his initial fears and requests the pigs occasionally, with commentary like "They have to fix that house now " and a decisive "And the wolf had a peanut butter samwich!" at the end.

Catching Up

Three is funny- he comes out with the most startling things sometimes:

"Mommy, we HAVE to go buy more diesels- I need Mavis the diesel! We'll go in your car- come on!!"

...and other times cuddles up, rubbing his eyes then clutching his earlobe like when he was a baby.

Lately- we have seen:
1) manufactured or overblown owies...."Mommieeee, I hurt my knee!" ....and then when I ascertain which one, and kiss it, "That's better!" and trots happily off.
2) Food strikes- associated with grumpiness and more refusal, until I sneak something into him while he's distracted, he realizes he'd ravenous, and snarfs back near a days worth of food in one sitting at night.
3) Ever more attempts to wheedle another bedtime story out of me...."OK, You read, and I'll drink", settling in with some milk.

At Christmas, Baby Leo was a sunshiny and smiley little guy, content and happy motoring around, and Nolan was clearly jealous to no longer be the centre of attention baby guy...sadly, he also took Will's more violent attempts at distraction and entertainment (running screaming, head shaking, into the couch for example) as examples and either ignored Leo or broadsided him, I think in imitation....also had a problem with the idea of Leo holding any of his trains, but as it turns out that was specific jealousy as Nolan let Christopher from a few houses down play with them. All in all though, a good experience in starting to figure out how to get along fro athe kids, and a nice visit for the adults- especially to try to keep an eye on, and appreciate Dad- and keep him from doing too much! I think he enjoyed sitting back and watching the kids run amok...

I'll try to get the Xmas concert video posted next, and some Xmas pics....