The queen

big guy has this habit of saying hi and bye to everyone and everything, with a big wave and a smile. it's hilarious- just like the queen! In fact, that's what we've nicknamed him when he starts his hellos and goodbyes.

The return of the Olympics

I say the return of the Olympics because big guy was born during the winter Olympics. Though this Olympics is much better namely because I don't have a newborn and am awake at appropriate times! Anyway, as we've been watching with big guy he definitely has some favorites! Equestrian events have brought about a lot of talk about farm animals. And soccer is of course a huge draw- mostly because we watch it a lot during the year. And we enjoy kicking. And playing with balls in every size and shape. By far our favorite event has been synchronized diving! surprising, I know. We recently bought a new papasan cushion, but we've put it on the floor for fun. big guy will watch diving and then jump off the couch. hubs and I give a score and then clap after each dive. most dives consist of falling face first into the cushion, but big guy thinks it is hilarious and fun, so who am I to stop the fun?

baby pool

yesterday, after big guy decided he was NOT taking a afternoon nap, we headed to the pool a bit early. on our way there, big guy was drifting to sleep, so I was tickling him and singing loudly in a ploy to keep him awake. so mean, but I wasn't going to let him sleep in the car at 3 in the afternoon and ruin our schedule more than it already was ruined. cruel, aren't I? anyway, we got to the pool, and it was nice and hot/sunny. big guy was awesome! he was swimming, splashing, talking. we found a dump truck that he filled with leaves- leaf being one of his new words- and drove them around the pool. so sweet when it would tip over, he would scramble to rescue them! after about an hour, big guy started talking about how dirty the pool was- lots of leaves and dirt due to a bad storm we had the night before. I looked at one of the other moms and said, better dirt than poop. then I checked big guy's diaper, as he had been pretty poop-y recently- due to an excess consumption of carmel corn from down the shore (more on that later!) I checked, oh yeah- BIG poop! I grabbed big guy and plopped him on the towel- poop exploded everywhere, which means I also threw out the towel. I wiped him down with about thirty wipes. it got on his swim trunks, swimmy shirt, and I didn't have extra. I looked at big guy and asked if it was ok to just go get a soft pretzel instead of swimming, and I got a positive head nod with an "uh-huh!"So, we ended the trip very nicely and didn't shut down the baby pool! phew!

The poop pendulum

I feel like we are on the poop pendulum for the past few weeks. Aunt M came to visit for July 4th weekend and big guy went like eight times a day for the four days she was here. His poor little booty was so red and irritated. I felt so bad. But as soon as she left- he was refusing to go. For three days at a time. I started our miralax regimen. Half a cap every morning. But he was still loading it. And waking up at night sobbing in pain and gassy. I was finally exhausted and worried enough to call the drs office. The lovely nurse laughed at my explanation of big guy stretching his toddler wings in terms of holding the poop and then very slyly told me to give him a full cap full every other day bc he wouldn't be able to hold that. Which has been working! I need to start this whole potty training thing. I mean thre is still a month left in summer, right? I have time.

Brooc-ka

A few weeks ago, our broom broke. Truthfully, it was the broom that the woman who owned the house before us had, so it was old. An had a wooden handle that chafed. Anyway, big guy loved this broom, for obviously unknown reasons- baby's first broom? Anyway one day we were sweeping up the grass clippings and it broke. Big guy was devastated. He kept yelling, " broom broke!" in fact he still yells it when we are in the front yard. I don't have the heart to throw it out. We have since bought a new broom, of which big guy has no interest in. However, big guy is obsessed so telling us how everything is broken. Only he says, "brooc-ka!" and let me tell you that anything can be brooc-ka. Pretzels, the bush outside that hubs cut down, stickers that he crazily ripped in half, the list is endless. And I love hearing him say how things are broken. It's very serious. He'll repeat it like ten times. Which is what he does so most words and phrases he says right now. So precious. Love talking!

Sometimes...

Sometimes you are the one with the perfect child who plays calmly, eats well, and makes all other moms jealous. For instance, this was me and big guy on mondaymat the zoo. We played, we talked about animals, we ate. We had a great time. Big guy did awesome, even when we left, he was awesome. Fast forward to today, we went to smith playground. Where for the first hour and a half, big guy was a gem. Playing, eating calmly. But as we were leaving, he threw an epic fit. Crying. Screaming. Throwing himself on the ground. He bit me. But his own lip. Hysterical. And I was the one getting those sympathetic looks. Moms were ushering their curious toddlers away from us. Sigh. It would be embarrassing if I wasn't so annoyed. But following a good nap - we've regained our good spirits!

Pool friends

The past few nights big guy and I have been going to the pool for a few hours. Hubs has been under the weather, so we've also been giving hubs a break and a chance to nap! Big guy has a friend from school who goes to our pool, B, who just turned two but who makes the whole pool experience different. In that big guy is more adventurous. He's more comfortable going through the pool and doing stuff by himself or with B, instead of needing me to follow him. He shares really well. He wants to eat the same snacks as B. and I get a little bit of mommy to mommy time. B's mom is actually older and I'm so impressed with how calm and cool she is with her son and with big guy. B jumps around the pool, throws himself under the water, and is generally a risk taker. If big guy did any of those things, I would be at his side fretting. But she's totally calm. In fact, big and B were fighting over some toy. I said to big guy to be gentle and was about to get up when she looked at me and said, let's see how they work it out. Ok. And they were fine. I think I need to relax. Or just hang with this woman all summer!