Seventh Week Of Summer

Last week was another busy one.  Monday I took the day off work (and then ended up having to make it up Wednesday) so I could take Dylan to his first swim lesson.  I really should have done this last summer.

For this class, I have to be in the water with him (or my dad, the two days I had to work), and he is HEAVY.  There is a lady with a baby, a guy with a kid who looks about one year old, a lady with a kid who looks about 2, and me with my my 38 lb, extremely tall, extremely excited and splash-happy 3 1/2 year old.  As my dad said, "It is exhausting!"  But, Dylan is loving it.  He still doesn't want to get his head wet in any way, though.  Basically, they sing songs, like the "Hokey Pokey", and recite nursery rhymes, like "Humpty Dumpty" while sitting on the side of the wall, then falling into the water, where the tired adults catch them.  I think it is helping Dylan become more comfortable in the water, but I'm not sure I will choose this pool for the next class.  The girl is always starting the class late, but ending it on the dot, which annoys me.  Plus, she does a little with them, then says we can "play with the toys a little".  He has toys at home.  I'm paying for a SWIM class!  (I am definitely critical when it comes to stuff like this).

Also on Monday, I had an eye doctor appointment, where I basically demanded Restasis.  I've been trying to get various eye doctors to prescribe it for years.  What is the big deal?  My eyes have been extremely dry for years, so much so that I really only wear my contacts on the weekends, and special occasions.  Wearing glasses totally annoys me, but I've had to get used to it.  So, the guy said it can sometimes take 3 months to see a difference, so I'll just wait and see.

Tuesday, my parents took Dylan to see a Ronald McDonald show at the library.  They said he enjoyed it, but my mom didn't get any pictures, and Dylan didn't tell me much about it.  Wednesday, my dad took Dylan to swim lessons.  The next day he drew this picture of them in the water, "holding hands".

Wednesday, my day at work was tough (honestly, every day this summer at work has been tough), so when I got home I announced we were all going for ice cream.  I certainly didn't get any arguments!

                                       

Thursday, I took Dylan to my favorite park.  We fed the fish and the turtle, played on both playgrounds, had a picnic lunch, and played in the sand.  Well, actually he made some friends and the three of them played in the sand while I watched from the shade.  My favorite part was when Dylan was on the merry go round thing by himself.  Suddenly a field trip came and a horde of older kids jumped on the merry go round, surrounding him, talking loud, and making the thing go crazy fast.  One of the adults in charge came over to me and asked if Dylan was okay with it.  I said, "Look at him!"  He was loving it.  (Look for the shirt with the 6 in the picture).

Friday I took him to swim lessons again, and you know how I spent my Friday night.  Saturday, the three of us went to Station Square for Summer Fest.  Dylan bounced in the bouncy house, made pictures for everyone he loves, enjoyed some shaved ice ( I thought about pouring it over my head, it was so hot!), and watched 3 shows - a magic show, a juggler/puppeteer, and a singing show "The Knights of Recycling".  After we watched that one, he looked at me and said, "Mommy, we need to change!"

(The fountains that coordinate with the music)

(The Knights of Recycling)

(I know I complain about living in Pittsburgh, but sometimes even I can see that it is pretty beautiful).

Friday Night Glamour

I love being a mom.  I love being married.  Very rarely do I get nostalgic about my single days, and even when I do it usually involves remembering little things.  How I used to be able to get in and out of the car in 10 seconds, rather than 10 minutes.  Leaving  the house without a stain on at least one article of clothing.  Deciding to go see a movie, and just... going to see a movie.  Laying down to go to sleep and not having to remove the toy that just jammed into my head.  You know, the little things.

I don't sit around dreaming about the days of getting all dressed up to attend an extravagant function with a room full of sophisticated adults,  talking about politics and current events.  Oh wait, I didn't do that when I was single either.

Jim and I used to go out on Friday nights, but it was never extravagant.  Usually just dinner and a movie.  I knew my life would change when I had a child, but I didn't picture myself impulsively deciding on a Friday night that I must wildly clean the entire first floor bathroom,  because the faint smell of pee (my 3 year old is now standing up to pee on the regular toilet) from when my little sweetheart missed "just a little" AGAIN suddenly makes me convinced I am going to completely 100 percent lose my mind.

I'm just saying, a teeny tiny bit more glamour and sophistication wouldn't be so bad.  Oh, who am I kidding?  If Jim and I got dressed up to go to a sophisticated event, I would probably spend the majority of my time moaning about the injustice of trying to cram my ridiculously long legs into pantyhose, mistakenly calling Jim "Daddy", and suddenly and without warning screaching "DO YOU SMELL PEE??!!?"

Sixth Week Of Summer

Are you sick of these "Weeks Of Summer" posts yet? I can't help it! I need to document all the fun, and this summer I am really relishing each moment.

This week, on Wednesday, my dad and I took Dylan to Pittsburgh Mills mall, where he rode the huge merry-go-round, played in Giggles & Smiles, and we ate a huge lunch at Houghlihan's.

On Thursday, what felt like the hottest, most humid day so far this summer, Dylan and I met friends at "Castle Park" for a playdate. It was our first time at that park, and I know it won't be the last, because it is such a cool park! The whole thing looks like a castle, and it also has a huge sandbox. We had a good time, and would have enjoyed it even more if we weren't drenched in sweat from the stifling heat!

Thursday evening, Jim and I took Dylan to his first circus. It was a small, mom and pop type circus, but as I told my friend earlier at the playdate, "He's never been to a circus before. What is he gonna say, "This is lame""? Nope, but I did a few times. When we take him to a "real" circus, he's gonna say, "What was that other ridiculous thing you took me to, with the goats that did tricks?" The lighting under the "big tent" was horrible, and I had my small camera, so I didn't get any great shots (of the goats doing tricks). Oh, and did I mention we were crammed onto uncomfortable bleachers, like sardines, in a big tent, with no air circulation, on the hottest day of the summer?! There was a guy who kept walking around selling snow cones, but he was NOT making it to our side, because they kept selling out by that time. I was envisioning a crowd of sweaty people, stampeding the poor snow cone guy, trampling him while trying to get the last precious snow cone. I would be the one on the top of the pile. Of course, in the middle of the show, Dylan had the urgent need to go potty. Then, the guys sitting outside the tent said we couldn't go back in where we came out. Meaning, we would have to go in the front, and walk the entire way around, in front of EVERYONE watching the show. Uh...no. So, then Dylan and I had to sneak past the circus dudes into the back of the tent. How many times do you get to write that in a sentence?

                    

Friday we rested after all that excitement, and Saturday was my "Spa Day" as I marked it on the calendar. See, last year on my birthday (almost a full year ago) my wonderful husband bought me a gift certificate to a spa. It has taken me this long to use it. I had a makeup lesson with a fantastic guy, Larry, who I wanted to immediately befriend because he was so much fun (I'll let you guess his, um, sexual preference). Then I had a massage with a woman who thought I said, "Torture" when I said "Relaxation". Since when is having someone's elbow jammed into your bum relaxing? I really wish I had the time to do a complete post on my thought process during that massage, because I was cracking MYSELF up. I cannot clear my mind and allow my mind to just... go blank.

Sunday we went to my grandfather's and spent the day with a bunch of my extended relatives that we only get to see a couple times a year. Family, Friends, and Fun. That's my kind of week. Hope you all enjoyed yours.

Getting Dressed

See this picture?

It's just Dylan, standing on the couch, banging on the top of his drum.  He's smiling, his legs have cuts and bruises all over them, he has a few cuts on his nose... nothing appears to be out of the ordinary.  But, people, this moment is HUGE!

I remember one time, years ago.  I was holding Dylan in my lap, and he was drinking his first bottle of the day.  Jim was getting ready to go to work, and as he walked past us, he stopped dead in his tracks.  My normally even keeled, slow to show much enthusiasm husband practically shrieked and jumped up and down.  "HE'S HOLDING HIS OWN BOTTLE!!!!  WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN??  WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME!!!"  It was a big moment.

This is like that.  Let me tell you what it is like to get Dylan dressed in the morning.  When Dylan gets up in the morning, he is immediately ON, ready to go, talking nonstop, and planning his day and all the things he wants to do RIGHT NOW.  Getting him dressed usually goes something like this...

Me:  "Dylan, come here so I can take your diaper off (he still wears one to sleep).  Dylan, come here.  DYLAN!!  I need to take your diaper off.  Dylan!  I'm going to count to five.  One...Two...Three... Okay, now stand still.  No, don't pick that up!  Just stand here!  Dylan!  Here's your underwear.  Put this on!"

Dylan:  "Is this how it goes?"

Me:  "No, turn it around.  The tag goes in the back, remember?  In the back!!"

Dylan:  (Gets them up, but they are bunched up and the band is all discombobulated)  "I can't do it!"

Me:  "You did it, it's just a little messed up.  Come here, and I'll fix it.  Here, put your shorts on now.  Dylan!  Come back here!  Put your shorts on!"

Dylan:  "I need to draw a picture".

Me:  "NO!  You NEED to get dressed!!"

Etc, etc...  It is frustrating and exhausting, and getting him to school on time last year was a bit of a nightmare.

This morning I was still trying to wake up.  I could hear him banging around in his room, but I didn't know what he was doing.  When I walked in, he had taken his diaper off, put his underwear on, put his shorts on, got a shirt out of his armoire and was putting it on.  I'm telling you, I almost passed out from the shock.  He put on every bit of clothing in that picture... himself.   Without my prodding, warning, complaining.  I am not frustrated or exhausted.  I am ELATED.  Now, if we could just all join hands and sing a round of "Glory, Glory, Hallelujah"?

Fifth Week of Summer

Last week we spent a lot of time indoors, due to the unbearable heat!  We went to story time, Target, USA Baby to order bed rails for Dylan's "big boy bed", and Tanger Outlets to buy Dylan new shoes and water sandals.  The water sandals weren't new for very long, as we went straight to the new park we found with a stream and a waterfall.  Dylan scraped his knee, and fell in numerous times, but still managed to have a great time.  I didn't have my camera with me, so I have no pictures of that. : (  

We also went to two 1st birthday parties (both were Dylan's second cousins).  

These were my favorite moments from the week:

*Dylan putting his face right in front of Noah's, saying "Bye!  Bye!  Bye!... Why isn't he talking?"  "Well, he's only one.  He can't talk yet", we explained.  "But... he HAS a mouth!"

*  When he said, "Mommy, I'M your best friend.  "X" is your best LADY friend".

*  When we went to eat at Applebees, and he said "I don't want to eat where there's BEES!"

And my absolute favorite, which we got on video, and if this wasn't a public blog I would show you...

* Dylan practicing the YMCA dance naked, in front of the mirror, before his bath.

My favorite pictures from last week...

The FOURTH Week Of Summer

Last week was so much fun!  Dylan and I went to the bookstore for story time again, had a fun playdate with friends, and discovered a new park.  On Saturday, my dad, Jim, Dylan, and I  went to Jim's parent's house for an early dinner.  Then, we spent the evening at Kennywood.  That deserves its own post, so I'll do that one later.

For the Fourth of July, we spent the day as a family.  We went to the pool.  Then, we went to Max & Erma's for dinner, so we could have the best chocolate chip cookies on the planet for dessert.   Have you had them?  MMMMmmmmm...Then, we hung out at the playground until it was time for fireworks.

This was going to be Dylan's first time to see fireworks, and I wasn't sure how it would go.  As we waited, sitting in the back of the car, in the mall parking lot with the huge crowd of people, he seemed excited.  But, about five minutes after they started, he had his hands over his ears, and was saying, "It's too LOUD!!"  He has super sensitive hearing, so that is what I had been expecting.  Jim suggested he sit in the car, so maybe it wouldn't be so loud, but he just kept rambling on in there, "It's still too loud... I like the colors, but I really just think it is too loud... I'm starting to get tired, too... I'm tired... I think we should go home... Can we go home now?"

Jim and I really wanted to see the whole thing, and Dylan talks non stop, so we were only partially listening, but then my ears picked up on something he said.  "WHAT?!"  "I have to pee!"  Oh man!  Just maneuvering out of the mall parking lot without hitting someone was a logistical nightmare.  Plus, I think we blinded several people when we shone our headlights directly into their faces.  When Dylan says he has to pee, it means he has waited until the last possible second before the situation becomes dire, so I was in a panic.  The fireworks would be ending any minute, and then we could quite possibly be stuck in a huge traffic jam.

I shouted, "MCDONALDS!  PULL INTO MCDONALDS!!"  Then, I grabbed Dylan and rushed for the door.  I could see a couple with kids in there, eating ice cream.  I could see a couple workers.  But, when I got to the door, it was locked.  "NOOOOOO!!", I shouted.  They just closed.  I started banging on the door, and got the attention of one of the workers.  I pointed down at Dylan while saying "Can we please come in, so he can go to the bathroom!!??"  The guy shook his head and pointed, like I should leave!  "Oh, no, you didn't just... you son of a... okay, then...Come on, Dylan!... Over here...(walking over to where the drive thru was)...You can just pee... in this bush".  "Okay!", he said, smiling at me like this was a fantastic idea.  Jim looked over and saw Dylan's super pale white heiney and got a look that was half mortified/half proud on his face.  And, seconds after I yanked up Dylan's shorts, a car swerved around the bend of the drive thru.  Wonder if they noticed a strange smell?

So, it was an eventful Fourth of July.  First fireworks, and first pee in public.  Oh, the joy of having a boy!

Paint With Me - Three

The theme for Paint With Me Thursday is "three".  In keeping with my last PWMT post, the main focus for me was to "just do it".  I have a hard time drawing things without a picture or photograph to look at.  Drawing things that are just from my head has always been a struggle, so I thought I would try it.

This is Dylan's drawing of "three".  It is Dylan, Jim, and I.  What?  You didn't recognize me?

Don't you just love the way our "hair" floats above our heads?  And our "arms" come out of our "heads", along with our "ears"?  I think I'm the colorful one, with really long legs.

By the way, I forgot to tell this story last week.  For "self portrait", I was going to write words that describe me.  I was writing some ideas down, and Dylan asked what I was doing.  I said, "I'm trying to think of words that describe me".  He was confused at first, but eventually told me I am "Funny", "Silly", and "Happy".  The fact that he would use those THREE words to describe me makes me incredibly "Happy"!

(Speaking of "three", we had professional photos taken of the three of us this past weekend.  I will try to figure out how to post them soon).