23 Mar 97: We visited Cameron's great grandmother Stewart today,
on the occasion of her 86th birthday. Cameron asked
her: "Do you have a computer?" "No, I don't have a
computer," she replied. "Well, what will happen to your
email?" Cameron inquired.
21 Mar 97: I had some minor surgery today. Cameron was horsing around with me, so his Mom told him to be careful of my stitches, to which he replied "What stitches, Mom?" Mom: "The doctor had to sew Daddy up." Cameron: "Did he think Daddy was a piece of fabric, Mom?"
15 Mar 97: Cameron was playing Batman again. He had on his "utility belt" with all kinds of gadgets stuffed in it, including a tube of his mother's lipstick. "This is the bat-lipstick," he explained.
08 Mar 97: I was working downstairs at the computer, when Cameron started dancing around and said "Come with me Dad; I have to pee." "Just a minute, Cameron." "Hurry up Dad; you're going to ruin my bladder!"
22 Feb 97: Cameron complained that his mouth hurt because he has some teeth coming in. Mom, who thought all his teeth had come in over two years ago, asked him: "Were are they coming in from?" Cameron: "They're coming in from Cuba."
15 Feb 97: Cameron was determined he wasn't going to eat his supper tonite. No amount of pleading, convincing or threatening would change his mind. "I don't eat that stuff for supper," he said. "I only eat peanut butter sandwiches and lobster."
01 Feb 97: Aunt Debbie arrived to stay for a week with Cameron, Samuel, and Hannah while Mom and Dad went on vacation. Cameron's first order of business was to set the ground rules. He informed Aunt Debbie: "now let's get one thing straight; I'm the boss here!"
21 Jan 97: Cameron and I went to see a monster truck show at the Metro Centre this weekend. I told him we'd have to wear ear plugs, to which he replied: "But Dad, I don't want to wear ear plugs. I won't be able to breathe!"
12 Jan 97: During little Samuel's birthday party, Cameron questioned me on the meaning of a birthday. I told him that his birthday was coming soon, on the same day he was born. He responded: "You mean I'm going to be a baby again?"
11 Jan 97: Cameron spied little brother Samuel playing with one of his toys, and headed for Sam at full speed. Trying to head off trouble and divert Cameron, Mom interjected: "Oh, Cameron, come here; I have an idea!" Cameron: "I don't need any ideas; I just need my toys back!"
02 Jan 97: Cameron and I stepped out of the car into mush and slush. It was dark and I guess it's the first time he's ever encountered slush at night. He said: "Oh, what's this Dad - gravy?"
30 Dec 96: I was rocking baby Hannah to sleep when Cameron entered the bedroom. "Shhh," I warned him, and he quietly left the room. Mom: "Where's your Dad, Cameron?" "He's putting Hannah to sleep, so leave him alone ... and he will come home, wagging his tail behind him."
Cameron looped a string around his Spiderman's neck and was swinging him back and forth like some kind of hangman, singing: "Can he swing, from a thread; take a look overhead ..."
28-Dec-96: Driving with the kids to Yarmouth this morning, we neared a gas station along the highway. It had a tall sign of the type that can be seen for miles. At the top of the sign was the gas station name, ESSO, and below that were two other signs: DIESEL and RESTAURANT. Out of the blue, Cameron asked: "Why is that a diesel restaurant, Dad?" No-one had said anything. We thought he might have recognized the word "diesel" from his Thomas the Tank Engine videos and books, but have no idea how he could have come up with "restaurant." In case anyone has forgotten, he's still only three years old. Spooky ...
21 Dec 96: Cameron was making imaginary birthday cake for an imaginary birthday party. He handed me a "slice" which I "ate." I said: "Mmm, that's good. What kind of cake is it?" He responded: "It's pineapple sardine, with mustard frosting."
06 Dec 96: Cameron and Samuel were playing with some cardboard train cut-outs, but Cameron wouldn't share. Mom: "Cameron, you let Sam play too, or I'll take them away." Cameron: "Dad, she's not my friend anymore. She doesn't cooperate."
15 Nov 96: Cameron: "Dad, what does Mommy say when I watch DragonFlyz on TV?" Me: "She says you can't watch it, because it's too violent." Cameron: "I know, Dad. She's so annoying."
Cameron was playing with his Batman and Robin figures, and made them each a bed with lego. Then he informed them, "Your beds are ruined; Penguin wet them."
05 Nov 96: Cameron likes to sing and make up his own words as he goes along. This morning he sang a ditty for his little sister (to the tune of 'Jesus Loves Me'): "I love Hannah, yes I do; for the Bible tells me to."
04 Nov 96: Samuel was crying because he wanted to play with Cameron's train. I said, "Why don't you let him play with it, Cameron?" "That would be a nice big brother." He responded, "No Dad, I'm all out of luvvins."
30 Oct 96: Cameron wanted to know what a blimp was. "It's a big airplane," I told him. "What do they do?" he asked. "Oh, they fly over football games." "Dad, I want to be a blimp," he said.
For Halloween, Cameron wants to be either Batman, Spiderman, or a blimp.
27 Oct 96: Cameron was looking at the Christmas catalog and telling me everything he wants for Christmas. "Don't tell me, tell Santa," I told him. "What will he say?" he asked. "Oh, he'll probably say ho-ho-ho," I answered. "Is ho-ho-ho how Santa says 'wow', Dad?"
12 Oct 96: Cameron was concerned that worms would get in the house. "Worms stay outdoors, Cameron; they don't like to come in the house." "It's too messy for them in here?" he asked. Guess we'll have to tidy up a bit before we have the worms over.
10 Oct 96: Cameron's little friend next door was outside playing with two Little Tykes ride-on cars. Cameron asked, "How's he going to ride them both, Dad?" "He doesn't have two bums."
30 Sep 96: Cameron was playing with his Ants in the Pants, and decided to give them names. "This is Ant Debbie," he said.
Cameron and I were grocery shopping. He took down a can in the pet food aisle, and said "We need some cat food, Dad; we don't have any." "We don't have a cat, Cameron!"
23 Sep 96: Cameron and Samuel got me up at 4:30 this morning and kept me up 'til I went to work. When I got home, I was giving them a talking to, telling them I was really tired at work because they kept me awake. Cameron said: "Well Dad, that's part of life." Then, "Why we didn't sleep properly?" "Because you were fighting and talking." "But that's one of my favorite things, Dad." "What?" "Talking." Can't argue with that.
22 Sep 96: Cameron was trying to convince me to get out of bed this morning and get him some Rice Krispies: "For heaven's sake, Dad; I'm starvin'."
Cameron's baby sister Hannah was screaming and crying. Cameron asked: "Is she losin' her mind, Dad?"
21 Sep 96: Cameron often comes downstairs with me to play the Monster Truck Madness game on the computer. I think he gets a little impatient, though, when he has to wait to play while I'm doing something else on the computer. Today we were headed downstairs when he warned me, "and you can just check your email, Dad; that's it."
15 Sep 96: Cameron made a spaceship with lego and was playing with it inside a big cardboard box. I asked him what the box was for, and he said, "This is the universe." Samuel started to climb into his box, and Cameron said, "Mom, tell Sam to stay out of my universe!"
30 Aug 96: Cameron, Samuel and I were having breakfast. I was getting myself some Sugar Frosted Flakes from a box with a big picture of Tony the Tiger on the front, when Cameron asked: “Are you having some Tony the Flakes, Dad?”
Out of the blue, Cameron inquired: “So how's Samuel working out, Dad?” Guess he thought we might be able to get rid of him if he wasn't working out.
28 Aug 96: I was alone with Cameron and Samuel, and Cameron wanted to go downstairs to play a game on the computer. “No Cameron, Samuel can't go down in my office because he messes it up.” “Oh Dad; let the poor child come down.”
03 Aug 96: Cameron was out-done by Samuel today. It all started with a bug crawling across the floor in front of them. Cameron whacked it with his hammer, then watched as Samuel picked it up and popped it in his mouth. That was too much for Cameron; he gagged, then threw up on the floor.
22 Jul 96: Cameron wants to name the new baby Samuel. (“Hi! I'm Cameron, and this is my brother Sam and this is my other brother Sam.”)
21 Jul 96: Cameron got his senses a little mixed up tonight. He said, “Dad, can you put my sandals on me?” “I'm going to the store with Mom.” “What are you going to the store for?” “She smells like buying some chips.”
Cameron likes “ketchup and muchup” on his hot dogs.
I was working on the deck and Cameron was “helping” me. He was playing on the steps with my tape measure. “What are you doing with my tape measure, Cameron?” “I'm just seeing how big these steps are.” “How big are they?” A pause, then “Big!”
20 Jul 96: Cameron and I got tangled up in a minor traffic jam going to the grocery store today. A sunny, summer Saturday had everyone in Dartmouth trying to get into the liquor store parking lot. “Why there are so many cars, Dad?” “Everyone's going to the liquor store, Cameron.” “Can we go to the licorice store too?”
14 Jun 96: Cameron and I were talking about rabbits tonight, when he said, “Dad, can you buy me a hole in the ground to live in?”
25 May 96: We took the boys over to Point Pleasant Park today. As we crossed the bridge, Cameron got a good look at the ships at HMC Dockyard. “Dad, can you buy me one of those boats?” “No Cameron, they're really expensive.” “What do they have on them?” “Oh, lifeboats, anchors, radars, ...” “Oh that's OK,” he said. “I will hide those things from the baby.”
07 May 96: I got cross at Cameron tonite because he had the fridge open and was pulling things out. “Cameron, you close that fridge door and stay out of there!” “Ok, ok, ok,” he said. “Settle down.”
25 Apr 96: Cameron was helping me make a pizza tonite. I got the mozzarella cheese out of the fridge, and he said “Is that the Cinderella cheese, Dad?”
18 Apr 96: Cameron came downstairs in just his underwear this morning, and I think he found it a bit chilly. “Can you get me a blanket, Dad?” “I have shivering elbows.”
17 Apr 96: I told Cameron I got us tickets for a Fred Penner concert at the Metro Centre in a couple of weeks. “Is he coming here to our house, Dad?” “No, he's going to Halifax and we're going there to see him, Cameron.” “No, he should come here, Dad.” “This is a lovely place.”
8 Apr 96: Marc and JoAnn stayed over Saturday night, and we all went to the Great Wall for dim sum (Chinese) on Sunday. There was a man at the the table next to us speaking Chinese, and Cameron said “Is that man talking French, Dad?”