Adventures in Science: Gooey Goo

My aunt got us a really cool book of kid concoctions. We got our snow globe idea from this book and today, we cracked it open to make something more...messy.

Spiderman loves science. He has alot of questions about how things work on their most basic level. It's hard to answer all of his questions. His easiest questions have me reaching back to ninth grade earth science and, honestly, I think I skipped more than I went!

Science projects are great because he can be hands on and answer his own questions for once. :D

This project took two bottles of glue, food coloring, borax, and water. The dishes are not going to be fun to clean after this experiment, but it's fun to stir it all together. Especially fun for a little momma bear by the name of She-Hulk. Spiderman, on the other hand, whined, "Is it dissolved yet?"

The hard work pays off with this disgusting goop! "We can use this as Halloween decorations since it looks like brains!!" and by the way, mom, "Do ZOMBIES eat brains?! Is this really how a brain feels?"

I don't think the Kid Concoction book has anything on the texture of brains and how they taste, so I'll have to get back to him on that. In the meantime, you can find us playing with goo. You can find She-Hulk far away from it, refusing to come near until all hands have been scrubbed with soap and the goop is out of sight!

Good times!

Week 12 (or 10)

Last week, I had an appointment to hear the heartbeat. I'm still measuring what I believe is almost 2 weeks ahead, so they put me at 11 weeks. My midwife told me we'd be scheduling the ultrasound at my next appointment. Everything is going way too fast. I'm still halfway in denial about being pregnant in the first place, but I'll have to get over that long enough to prepare for a 3rd child.

I actually lost a pound and my midwife got on me about it. I'm "underweight" to begin with, so they really want me to stack on the pounds. I feel pleasantly plump enough, thank you. Still alot of bloating, but I don't expect it to go away. Seems more like the ab muscles just let out in anticipation, so I'm just waiting for baby to fill it. Right now I can feel my uterus about 3 fingers below my belly button.

The baby's heartbeat was up in the 160's, which tells me we're having a girl. Wes and I can't agree on boy's names, so it might work out better. Actually, we did like one: Alaric. I'm pretty sure we'll be the only ones who do though.

This week starts the first week of classes. We're back to homeschooling everyday after a long holiday break. I am taking 5 courses this semester and between my homework and the kid's homework, I am already ready for spring break! I am trying to shove as much as I can in one semester before I have 3 kids to worry about.

We've been really active lately, spending alot of time outdoors.

Spiderman began a new gymnastics course. It lasts an hour and a half and still doesn't wear him out.

I'm going to put She-Hulk in pre-ballet...the moment I find the energy.

Lastly, We finally switched pediatricians last week! We've had the same one since Spiderman was born and they've been nothing but annoying and harmful since day one when they shoved a bottle in my nipple confused newborn. More recently, prescribing us yet another antibiotic for strep when it turns out he's only got a virus. Needless to say, we needed out of there. I interviewed one that had great reviews online and She-Hulk's first appointment is next week. She's a year behind on her shots...though I'm not sure I care.

Lots of things are going on. I wish the world would stop moving so fast, but excited about what's to come. If only I can stay awake for it!

Happy 6th birthday, Spiderman!

I should have known all about him the moment he was born. A very quick labor and delivery brought in the New Year, just hours after I made myself a bowl of ice cream and settled down to watch the Twilight Zone marathon. I swore he'd never come and that was when he decided to fly out into my arms. We named him Spiderman, Celtic for 'Webbed One' as if we knew he would be colicky and refuse to nurse. As if we knew his temperament and his passion. As if we knew how bright a light he would be in our lives, changing us forever. Our fiery Spiderman, we'll eat you up we love you so!

1. Spiderman doesn't eat sauce on his pasta because he says it looks like blood: "Do you think I'm a vampire, mom? Why do you make me eat this?"

2. Spiderman has a big vocabulary for his age and uses it to express his very scientific thoughts, often making observations and stating "My hypothesis is that..."

3. Spiderman's favorite color is red, because it's the color of his favorite super hero, Spiderman.

4. Spiderman answers to Spiderman and calls his sister She-Hulk

5. Spiderman hates working on his handwriting and the alphabet, but he's working a year ahead in math.

6. Spiderman is very uncoordinated when it comes to sports, but he sure can bust a move. Boy can DANCE.

7. If Spiderman went to school, we're pretty sure he'd be the class clown. He's pretty hilarious.

8. Spiderman knows all the names of all Marvel superheroes and villains. He can also tell you how they got their powers.

9. Spiderman asks ALOT of questions, especially about social norms and psychological processes. I often wonder if he's going to be a philosopher.

10. Spiderman's favorite thing to do is play video games.

11. Spiderman can put puzzles together in record-breaking time.

12. Spiderman pronounces alot of words wrong, my favorite being something like "She-Hulk, stop being a COFFEE cat!"

13. Spiderman doesn't always like his sister and can be pretty mean. We're working on it.

14.  Spiderman loves people and talks to every stranger he sees.

15. Spiderman likes to gather toys, hats, capes, belts, and anything else he can find to create his own super hero costumes.

16. Spiderman is currently on a Phineas and Ferb kick. If I hear the theme song one more time, I might scream.

17. Spiderman decided to be a vegetarian, but declared that breakfast meats are vegetables.

18. Spiderman likes to eat butter straight.

19. Spiderman wants to make movies when he gets bigger.

20. When asked what he wanted for his birthday, he said an alien, a hamster, and Mario Cart. We decided to take him to the store and let him pick out his own gift. Something tells me we might screw it up on our own.

Happy birthday, Spiderman!