what a great day

Yesterday, we had a pool party at a friend's house. All my work ladies and their kids- ranging in age from 18 months (big guy) to 10 years old. It was super fun! And I must say it was a great day with big guy, especially since he had been under the weather and kind of a grouch. Yesterday looked like it might go that way, but as in usual big guy style, he ended up in a great mood.

We started off by having a bad night sleep, ugh not good. we were all pretty miserable. Big guy was floundering all morning- you know, throwing himself around like a pissed off fish. He nor I could handle him being awake and grouchy, so I put him down for a nap at 10:15! REally, it was bad, even being outside didn't make him happy.

Big guy slept until about 12:20 and woke up in a great mood. We snuggled for a little bit and then sat and had some lunch. Big guy calmly ate his yogurt and puffs while looking at his truck book. After lunch, we suntan lotioned up and hit the road. Big guy calmly played with his car and looked at all the big trucks on the turnpike as we drove to the pool party.

We arrived and big guy was his perfect self. He swam in the pool for almost the entire two and a half hours we were there. He is a total water baby. He had no problem playing in the pool with the other kids- in fact he preferred to be held by my friend's ten year old daughter. She would swim with him, show him how to shoot balls into the basketball hoop by the side of the pool. Big guy was flirting with all the ladies, as usual. He was laughing, showing off his daring nature by attempting to jump into the pool, and being the general goofball he is.

big guy also had blueberries for the first time. They were in a fruit salad and I think he thought they were grapes. At first he wasn't too convinced they were yummy, but then he went to town. He must have eaten thirty blueberries. Hubs loves blueberries, too. I'll have to buy some next time at the supermarket. And at one point before we left big guy was in the pool being swayed back and forth and he was just making joyful moans. so cute!

He passed out on the way home. We had a light yogurt dinner and took a stroller ride to meet hubs at the train. Big guy was still in a great mood! Came home, took a bath, and got ready for bed. Then to top off our great day, big guy slept through the night for eleven hours. yay!

Going into public- is it overrated?

This summer big guy has embraced his toddlerness. I'm sure he has lots more tricks up his little sleeves for the future, but I have seen quite a bit already. Probably the most overt wackiness has been big guy's sudden inability to eat in restaurants like a civilized toddler. And you may ask- what? your child isn't a total angel all the time? Sadly no, not anymore...

It all started in June when we went out to eat for grandma D's bday. We went to a local Jewish deli- I thought big guy would be thrilled. A pickle bar, a full deli, lots of people, grouchy old Jewish waitresses... No dice. The kid freaked! He wouldn't sit still. He didn't want to eat. He wanted to throw everything on the floor. So I thought, ok, maybe it's just not his day. The next day we went to the Moshulu- it's a restaurant on a boat- what could be more fabulous? Um, running around like a crazy person. Putting every dirty thing he could find in his mouth. Screaming when I wanted him to sit and eat. Oy vey!

Hubs and I discussed it and decided we shouldn't eat out for a while. We inevitably arrived at a time when we had no thoughts for dinner. We went to our local pizza place- which big guy loves- and Finding Nemo was on in the kid's section. He ate great. Hmmm. Our local burrito place- he ate like a champ! We thought we were past it until we went to the Ruby's diner and he super freaked- he threw all the sugar/sweetnlow packets on the floor. He likes to "clean the desks" which is swiping the table clean. Dear lord- we are a tornado!

So, we are back to only eating pizza and burritos when we have a hankerin' for not home cooking. But I wonder how long we will be shunned from the outside world? I spoke to my sis-in-law (Aunt K) about it and she said that there was a year where they couldn't eat in public. Yikes! The only partial solution I have found is to bring his booster seat from home to eat on- big guy seems to like it better than restaurant high chairs. Looks like I will be cooking a lot this upcoming year- much better than averting my eyes from grumpy waitresses as they watch the destruction happening! I wonder how much spit I've eaten recently...

Is there a neon sign on my head?

Since big guy have been out and about a lot lately, we inevitably run into a lot of moms with kids. Sometimes I feel like there is a connection, but then the mom will be like- see ya! And then other times I'm not sure if there is a connection so I just don't say anything. And of course, I've been asked out a few times by moms- most are a certain type though. Is it like dating men? Do we moms have a "type?"

I feel like there might be a neon sign involved or maybe I give off a pheromone which says, "If English isn't your first language, you are a stay at home mom, your husband has some advanced Doctoral degree in a math field, and your kid is kind of quiet- then I am your girl!" Now, this may seem very specific but I kid you not- I've had three moms who fit this description that I have become friendly with. Two I have their numbers. Two from Brazil and one from Korea. Geez, I have a type.

Not that I'm complaining- I like making new friends, friends are good. And I know big guy loves playing with other kids, especially when we get to go to their houses and play with new stuff. I just think it's funny! I guess I need some people from the European countries... if you know anyone...

Busy week

The past week has been very busy. Let me tell you:

Saturday: Zoo trip

Sunday: Shopping at BJ's

Monday: Down the Shore

Tuesday: Down the Shore

Wednesday: Workday

Thursday: Elmwood Park Zoo trip

Friday: 3 Hour Playdate

Very busy. And it seems it was a bit too much for big guy. Yeah, he has slept great this week. But yesterday he felt hot to me and today he woke up with a 101.2 degree fever. I think we may have done too much! Big guy slept 12 hours last night- whoa! And at the Dr's office this morning, they weren't sure of what the virus was, only that it was one. We are on day two, she said day three would probably be the worst day. Great.

The only good thing about having big guy be older and sick is that now he's more than happy to lay on the couch and watch tv/movies. Curious George, Cars, Shrek, international soccer games. We watched it all. Poor bub. Other than the fever, he isn't showing any other sick symptoms. Let's hope it stays that way and that the fever breaks soon. It's tough having a fever when it's already so hot out. And so begins the illness season...

Buh-Bye

Big guy has a new adorable habit. Saying bye-bye to everything and everyone. Hand wave- fingers close into his palm- "ba-bye." And that is exactly how he says it- ba-bye. so precious- kind of a high pitched just above a whisper. Love it!

When he's done eating and I ask if he's done- he waves and says goodbye. To people we see in public who we are walking away from. When hubs leaves for work. The other day we were walking at the duckpond and yes, we were walking. I let big guy walk in big open spaces where he can really let loose. And at the duckpond there is a big field. Plus, it makes him really appreciate and want to ride in the stroller on the way home. Well, we reached the top of the hill and big guy practically jumped into the stroller.

There were probably 50 geese around us. Big guy said goodbye to each one of them. A near constant string of cute goodbyes one right after the other. It was so cute, I almost recorded it with my phone. But I can't really steer a stroller and do anything else at the same time without crashing. Can it get any cuter than saying bye-bye's to geese?

We went to the zoo...

and a peacock joined us for lunch!

Let's head down to the shore

Big guy and me in the ocean.

Grandma D and big guy running on the beach!

Big guy, Grandma Dino, and I went to the shore on monday. We had planned our trip very last minute, but D got a great deal on a motel that was recently renovated, cheap, and without bed bugs! We weren't going to go, but I was so tempted to see big guy at the beach. I just knew he would love it there. We set out on monday around 11:30- big guy passed out within minutes of our journey, just as I had planned.

We arrived around 1pm and checked into our motel. We ate a snack, checked out the room (pics below), and D read us a book. Then we got changed and headed to the beach. Big guy loved seeing the boardwalk and all the people milling about, running, and riding bikes. But then he saw the main attraction and was in awe. It was great! He pointed at the beach and smiled. We walked along the sand- it was the perfect day (87 degrees, sunny, slight breeze)- and found a shady spot under the pier.

Big guy relaxing in our room.

Big guy immediately got down to touch the sand. Oooh, the wonder. Immediately he started to explore- shovel and rake in hand. The beach toys were a huge hit. Next time I'll bring more trucks to haul sand. After about a half hour, I deemed it was past dangerous sun time so we started towards the water. I carried big guy to the first wave lapping the shore. He watched it hit my feet. I then moved to set him down and he willingly put his feet down. Then a little wave kissed his toes. His face lit up with surprise and he started walking into the waves.

Big guy using his shovel for the first time!

In fact, he would have kept walking into the water if I hadn't slowed him down- it was up to his belly. He didn't care- he loved every second of it. He wanted to live in the ocean. No fear of waves. He got knocked down at one point and he just licked his lips, tasted the salt, and kept going. It was really awesome to see! Then we found part of an old pier with mussels covering it and he sat down and played/picked/inspected them until the tide started coming in. We stayed for a few hours. I'm pretty sure big guy would have slept on the beach if we let him.

Big guy checking out the water.

After a disastrous dinner at the local diner, we hopped into the motel's pool. Big guy was again so excited to be swimming. We showered and fell asleep around 7:30. Grandma D was wiped out, too! The next morning we ate breakfast and headed to the beach around 8:30. Same as the day before- totally in love with the sand and water (though the water was admittedly colder in the am). We built sand castles, then destroyed them, made little ponds and filled them with water. Big guy got such a kick out of carrying buckets of water back from the ocean. Then we had a quick lunch and hit the road. It was a totally awesome vacation!