Harrison-isms and His Christmas Wish List (aka: Why my son is so adorable)

Harrison has a cold and he says, "My nose has a problem with the many things in it."

I made Harrison a grilled cheese and asked him if he wanted Muenster, Cheddar, or American; he got so excited and said: "I want Monster Cheese please!" For the rest of the day, Harrison would tell me how "dewishus" his "monster sandwich" was.

Harrison's current Wish List for Christmas:

The Moon
An animal that can talk without moving its lips
A great big rocket ship that flies to the moon
A watch

This kid makes me smile.

-Katy

Harrison the Hero

I know there is much to update everyone on: Libby is three months old and so precious and Harrison is growing up so fast it's incredible. Time is surely flying and now we are on our first family trip in Raleigh, North Carolina. Matt's here on business and we all tagged along for two reasons: (1) so I could see one of my best friends who goes to law school at UNC Chapel Hill, and (2) so we could travel to Blythewood, SC this weekend and let Mickey and Papa meet Libby and see Harrison.

Today Harrison, Libby, and I were cooped up inside all day due to the cold weather and the fact that Libby felt like she might have a fever. Libby had a four hour nap in the afternoon, and she was back to her normal cheery self, so Matt and I decided to go Chuck E. Cheese so Harrison could run around and have a little fun today. While we were there, a little boy got lost in the tubes and started screaming and crying for his parents. Harrison went to the save the day. Here's Harrison's version of the story:

"When I was a superhero, then I just made the path and then I helped him get out, then I was at Chuck E. Cheese, and I helped the boy. That's how I helped the boy. "

The mom called Harrison her hero and told him that he had saved her little boy's birthday. It was a proud moment and definitely one for the blog. Of course, there have been so many other moments that we have failed to record the past three months. We will try to get better!

Love,
Katy proud mother of "Super Harrison"

Harrison's First Blog (by HJC)

Here a story that Harrison told to Mommy today. Enjoy!

A snake came and bit my brother. Then the there were superhero snakes fighting the bad snake. Next there was a super super super big big snake. Then there was a bad snake. Two. No lots of bad snakes. There were bad guys and superhero guys and they fight each other. Just four ones.

The tower with bad guys and good guys

The bad guys fight, then the good guys fight. Then the bad guys and the good guys are thirsty. Then they were tired. After they were tired, they were hungry. After they were hungry they had juice to drink and after the juice they had water.

There was a bad snake and a good snake fighting each other. A little tiny snake and a big snake. Two snakes. Then they wanted juice and they run out of juice. Then they went to the grocery store. Then they were happy to be home and drink juice. Then the bad guys were good and the superheroes were bad. No, then the bad guys were good and the superheroes were good.

The End.

The Storytellers

Storytelling has been a long tradition in my family. Harrison is an amazing storyteller. He has an incredible imagination and loves to learn new words when we create stories together. We have a game that we play in the car. It's eye spy, but with a twist. Some times I will spy a car or a school bus, and when Harrison guesses what I'm thinking about, we talk about where the car or bus is going, who's inside, and what their day will be like. Some times the plot twists and turns until we're discussing pirates and princesses, other times we make up stories about normal characters with interesting lives.

A couple of days ago Libby was sitting in my lap. She was melting my heart with her coos and grins. Then I asked if she would like to tell me a story. She wiggled around, her eyes grew wider and beamed, and she grinned from ear to ear before letting out a long stream of coos and ahhs. I know it was the inflection of voice and not my request for a story that prompted this adorable behavior, but I hope that in a few years I will have another little storyteller creating tales with me and her brother about princesses and the superheros who save them.

R.I.P. Puppy

Yesterday was a day of milestones for the Comber family. Harrison pooped in the toilet without having an accident for the first time, a potty-training victory! Libby turned 8 weeks old and has been smiling and cooing like a champ. And, our Harrison learned his first lesson about loss.

I noticed Puppy was very still while I was preparing Harrison's lunch (ironically, lunch was leftover shrimp.) As the smell of the sea drifted from our oven, Puppy's unnaturally curved body caught my eye. I moved his bowl, Puppy's body moved with the current, fins still, his face turned toward the water's surface. I called Matt. When he answered, I could only say one word.

"Puppy."

"Oh no."

"Yeah."

Silence.

"How do I tell Harrison?"

After discussing the possible ways to break the news, I decided to tell Harrison after lunch. The idea of shrimp made me nauseous. I made two plates, and after taking a bite, I threw out my portion and sat back in my chair wondering how Harrison would take the news and thinking about what may have caused this untimely end. The bowl was clean. We fed him regularly. The temperature...oh. The temperature. The temperature in our house had dropped dramatically the night before. We hadn't turned on the heat until that morning.

After Harrison had finished his lunch, he sat in his chair licking ketchup off his finger. He put a dot of ketchup on his nose, looked over at me, and laughed.

"Harrison?"

"What?"

"Puppy died."

"Oh." he laughed again and put more ketchup on his nose. Then, he stopped. His bottom lip jutted out, and he began to process the news. Then he began to cry. "But, I will miss him."

Harrison ran to me, tears streaming down his face, and hugged me tight. "I love you, Mommy."

After holding him a bit, I talked to Harrison about burying Puppy in the front yard. We bundled Libby, put her in the car seat, and went outside. The garden frog sits near the front door and his name is Jeremy Fisher. Harrison decided to bury Puppy next to Jeremy and we went to work digging the hole together.

"Goodbye Puppy." I said.

"I will miss you." Said Harrison.

****

We all miss Puppy. Harrison still goes into the kitchen and looks over where Puppy's bowl used to be. Puppy was a great first pet, despite the brief time he was with us.

Puppy Nemo Comber
Rest In Peace
Beloved Fish and Inspiration
March 2008-October 7, 2008

Disappointment (by HJC)

So we went out late last night as a family to pick up shin guards for Harrison's first soccer game scheduled for today. I was so surprised with the vast selection of tiny shin guards for kids his size-- or even smaller! The cutest things I've seen.

I also noticed that equipment like shin guards, soccer socks, cleats and soccer balls have come a long way in the past 23 years. I don't remember even having a shin guard that fit until I was about 16, and by that time, I was too cool for shin guards, and would cut up my old ones to create the most minimal shin pads I could get away with. Not only that they would never fit, but they were just an added thick pad of clothe that wouldn't prevent from bruises if and when I ever was kicked in the shin. Now the shin guards fit perfectly onto a boy who is only 40" tall, with the following features "1. K-resin shell provides high impact, resistance and durability; 2. Honeycomb holes provide more ventilation and air breathability; 3. Lining material for comfortable wear and durability; 4. Fixed ankle sock; 5. EPE foam insert for ankle protection." I think he could be kicked by all 140 pee wees and never get a bruise.

So Harrison was up late with all the excitement, and I was worried he wouldn't be awake early enough to get to the field by 8am. He fell asleep around 10:15 pm with visions of soccer balls bouncing in his head. I went downstairs to see if there was anything posted on the web site about a rain cancellation. Sure enough, I first noticed the 2 new emails-- one from the PASC and another from the head of Pee Wee. "September 6 Games Cancelled Due to Hanna" the subject lines read.

I was shocked that they called all the games for the day, as I knew that the storms weren't due until the afternoon, and that only rain showers were expected in the morning hours. I was also disappointed. We were looking forward to this day for so long, and it hasn't rained for so long, and a hurricane decides to arrive on the day of one of my son's biggest milestones ever-- his first soccer game!

I stayed up late since I didn't have to get Harrison to the field early. This morning, Harrison comes into our room at 6:30 carrying my cell phone with its alarm sounding. Not only was Harrison wide awake and ready for soccer, he already took off his pajamas, put on "soccer clothes," and begging for me to wake up. I described to him that there was no game today because it was raining and he seemed to understand. However, when we looked out the window and saw no rain, it was very frustrating to me, and Harrison couldn't really understand it completely.

We are going to play some indoor soccer today, and hope that another week will help us to touch up Harrison's skills before getting to game day. He's going to be amazing. Watch out Freddy Adu.

What we are in for.....GOL! (by MJC)

It seems like yesterday when we were in the hospital and watching Univision futbol matches as we awaited the birth of our first born, our dear Harrison. Since then, Harrison has grown into a very active 3 year old, and he is ready to play his own brand of soccer-- the Phoenixville Area Soccer Club U-6 Pee Wee League.

To prepare us as parents, and I as an assistant coach, I read up on the soccer club's home page to find what to expect. Here is what the experts say about coaching 3-5 year olds playing soccer:

• Most players cry immediately when something is hurt. Some cry even when something is not hurt.
• No matter how loud we shout, or how much we "practice" it, they can not or will not pass the ball.
• Somebody will come off the field in need of a toilet. Somebody will stay on the field in need of a toilet.
• The only player to hold a position is the goalkeeper (if you play with one). Don't even consider teaching positional play.
• Twenty seconds after the start of a game, every player will be within 5 yards of the ball.
• Several players will slap at the ball with their hands, or pick it up. Several parents will yell at them not to do that.
• A model rocket that is launched from a nearby field will get 99% of the player's attention. By all means, stop whatever you are doing and go watch for a couple of minutes!
• During a season, you will end up tying at least 40 - 50 shoe laces.
  
• They will do something that is absolutely hysterical. Make sure that you laugh!

I am sure we will laugh and laugh often...and if and when the ball rolls to the back of the net, we need to be ready to yell "GOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"