Introducing: The Pickle (Now Stay Away!)

This week the Gremlin was forced to welcome a new addition to our family - the Pickle.

Pickle

The Gremlin responded well initially, however we believe that to be due to the fact that Pickle brought him the Bionicle he wanted.

Unfortunately, I mentioned to him that Pickle would soon want to do, and play with, everything the Gremlin liked. This caused a great amount of consternation, until the Gremlin figured upon a solution he had used with me.

At the Coolest Birthday Party Ever, the Gremlin received a set of magnets that were sold as noisemakers. I, personally, always enjoyed lab science classes and attempted to make a rudimentary rail gun with these.

The Gremlin, in classic 4 year-old form, became jealous that was I enjoying his toy more than he was, and wandered up to the Mother of the Gremlin one day while I was out at work.

"Mumma, how do you spell 'don't?'"

"D-O-N-apostrophe-T."

"What's 'postrophe?"

"It's a punctuation symbol." This did not satisfy the Gremlin, however he filed that question in his "stalling trying not to go to sleep so I ask how things work" category.

"D-O-N-T. How do you spell 'touch?'"

"T-O-U-C-H."

Yeah, he'd already spelled 'STOP'

The MOTG and I have found this so hysterical that we have tried very hard (most of the time) to respect this sign, so the Gremlin thought it would work in this case as well, just a few days later.

He asked me about putting signs up in the house, and I informed him that I would be fine with that, as soon as his brother could read. I also clued him in that we weren't entirely sure he was able to read.

The MOTG informed me later the Gremlin told her his feelings were very hurt by that, and so after an apology the following sign is now hanging at the bottom of his door (that's right, the bottom - so that Pickle can read it when he crawls in their room) - 'Please Don't Touch My Toys.'

The Gremlin's handwriting on the right "says the same thing, but in kid"

Favorite Toy of the Week: (aside of Nitroblast) General Grievous Puzzle

The Umbrella Cord

The Gremlin and his ridiculous mop of hair:

Thanks to bonus programs and credits on our insurance, last week the Gremlin took a class on what to expect as a first-time sibling.

Throughout the class, the Gremlin was most un-Gremlin-like. He sat relatively still (only moving to switch sitting positions), raised his hand and waited to be called on, and contributed answers.

This quiet, respectful behavior lasted only through the class, though, as demonstrated when the Mother of the Gremlin decided to take the little darling to McDonald's as a treat for being so good.

Upon getting in line, a gregarious Seattleite began to strike up a conversation with the Gremlin.

"So are you excited?"

"Yes I'm excited, my mom never takes me to McDonald's!"

"No, are you excited to be a big brother?"

The Gremlin hasn't really grasped the idea that other people can figure things out by looking (similar to how the MOTG knows his room isn't clean at bedtime, or that he ate the chocolate), and was confused.

"How did you know?!"

"Because I can see your mother has a baby in her tummy."

The Gremlin was newly informed on this subject and began laughing.

"No she doesn't!" The man was confused by this.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Oh, but I thought you were going to be a brother."

"I am."

"Then where's the baby if it's not in your mother's belly?"

"It's in her uterus!" The man was impressed at the Gremlin's technical knowledge.

"How did you know that?"

"You should go to the baby class at the hospital. You would learn a lot! I bet you don't even know what an umbrella cord is!"

"You're right, I have no idea."


Random Picture Update: The Gremlin At 'Touch A Truck'

Favorite Toy of the Week: Boba Fett helmet

Wisdom of a 4 Year-Old - On Spelling and Symbols

This came after I'd had a few conversations with the Gremlin about 'concepts' and how we assign value to symbols to create language and communication.

"Mom do you know how I'm going to spell my brother's name?"

"How?"

"P-o-o-p."

"What? And what does that spell?!"

"My brother."

"Oh really? Is that what that spells?"

"I don't know, I'm four, I can't spell."