First Swim Of The Summer

Dylan and I had a whole day of bonding on Tuesday, since Jim was going to see a movie after work.  I had a bunch of laundry that needed done, the house is a mess, and I should have pulled some weeds in the afternoon while Dylan took a nap.  But, then I realized that it is summer, and I needed to make the most of it.

I did have to go to the bank, and get a couple things at Target, but I made that fun by saying we could eat lunch at Target, and get some Popcorn!  (Isn't it evil how they pump the smell of popcorn through the whole store so it is almost impossible to resist?)  The popcorn kept him busy enough that I was able to shop without any whining and complaining.

Then, we went to the Pool for the first time this summer!  I haven't taken Dylan by myself since last year, and it was exhausting last year, but this time it was actually relaxing!  He can amuse himself in the baby pool, and he is able to touch in the shallow part of the big pool now, so I don't have to hold him and get bruised up by his flailing limbs.  As he enjoyed a Popsicle, he announced that it was "P" day with a huge grin - (Popcorn, Pool, Popsicle).  I declared that the day was "Pretty Perfect"!

Earplugs Would Be Cruel, Right?

Summer is here.  The smell of sun tan lotion fills the air.  That... and the sound of my 4 year old's non-stop chatter.  It is one big run on sentence around here, and my ears are feeling... weak.  My two current personal favorites are when he says, "Mommy (or Mom, which he is sometimes now calling me - wah!), I have to tell you something".  Then, I sit, waiting expectantly while he tries to remember, or get out whatever supremely important thing he had to tell me at that exact moment.  "Uh... ummm... well... I...uh..."  Then there are "the jokes".  The jokes go on and on, something like this...
"Knock Knock?"
"Who's there?"
"Duck!"
"Duck who?"
"The duck said 'Quack'!"
"Ummm.... okay".
"That's funny, right?"
Now, I have 3 choices.  One, laugh hysterically and act like that is the funniest thing I ever heard.  The problem with this option is that it will only make him tell me more ridiculous jokes.   Two, give a soft chuckle.  The problem with this option is that it will make him want to try harder to get a bigger laugh, which will make him tell me more ridiculous jokes.  Three, say, "That's not really funny".  The problem with this option is that he will be even more determined to make me laugh, so he will tell me more ridiculous jokes.  Help me please.

I'm going to need to sign him up for swim lessons very soon.  You can't talk underwater, right?

If I love summer, why am I counting down the days?

Wow, I can't believe it's been so long since I've written anything! You might have noticed that I haven't been posting much this summer. There are three reasons for that. One, during the school year, at my part time nanny job, the older girl was in school. I only saw her one, maybe 2 hours a day. Um, how can I put this? I LIKED IT THAT WAY... A LOT. During the school year, when I took the younger girl to preschool, I got about 2 1/2 hours of free time, which is usually when I blogged. During the school year, when the younger girl took a nap for 1 1/2 hours in the afternoon, I got free time. During the school year, I spent almost all my time with the younger girl. I LIKED IT THAT WAY... A LOT.

Without going too much into it, I'll just say that the older girl takes a great deal of patience. That would be Capital P-A-T-I-E-Holy Hell, When Does School Start?-N-C-E. Basically, this summer, on two days of the week, by the time I get home, I do not have any patience left over to give my 2 1/2 year old son. I do not have any patience left over to give my 43 year old husband, either. I do not have patience left over to give other family members, friends, or the other people that stumble in and out of my life, (like landscapers - I'll get to that story at some point hopefully), just to frustrate me. It's been a rough summer.

I LOVE summer. No really. I'd make out with it, if I could. I would marry it, and force it to stay with me always. So the fact that I am actually wishing the summer away makes me a wee bit angry. Being angry with no patience is not a pretty combination.

That being said, there are a few things that have been going on around here that have made me VERY happy. One, after a few weeks of Dylan being a total, exhausting nut job, he seems to have turned a corner. He has been so sweet lately. I tell Dylan I love him A LOT. He never really answered me before. I mean I would repeat "I SAID I LOVE YOU!" at night before bed until the poor kid would finally mumble "I wuv you" in a slightly bored tone back at me. But one night recently, I was out with a friend for dinner, and I got home just as Jim was putting him to bed. I ran upstairs, and said, "I get to say good night to you!". He smiled the biggest smile and said, "Yay!" When I hugged him, I said, "I love you, Dylan". He looked right into my eyes, smiled, and answered, "And I love you, Mommy!" One of the top 10 best moments of my life, right there.

For some reason the last 45 or so minutes before bed, something great seems to happen. Jim and Dylan and I have our best moments of the day then. Some days we put on music and dance together. Sometimes each person puts on "a show", which consists of doing corny dance moves across the living room while the others clap and crack up laughing. Sometimes we bury each other with pillows and then crash through the pillows laughing. Sometimes we throw every ball in the house at each other, screaming "BALLS, BALLS, BALLS!!!" It doesn't matter what we do. It just has to be fun... and it is. Oh, it really is.

Today, I took Dylan to the dentist for the very first time. I was scared! How the heck were they going to get him to sit still long enough to clean his teeth? I pictured screaming, crying, and possibly sedation. Somehow, though, I must have hid my fears adequately, because this morning when I said we were going to the dentist, Dylan screamed, "This will be fun!" I've been reading a book, "Bugs Bunny Goes To The Dentist" for a couple weeks now, so maybe that helped? Anyway, it WAS fun! Fun?! At the dentist's?! My kid was amazing, and I got a little choked up, looking at him sitting there talking to the dentist about going to preschool soon. He is growing up so fast.

An Apology Letter

Dear Summer,

I feel awful. You left and I didn't even say goodbye. You know how much I look forward to your visits each year, and I truly didn't mean to neglect you this time. It just happened. This looking for a new house/showing a house/buying a house/packing up a house/selling a house/unpacking a house/selling a house stuff has been so time consuming that I didn't get to spend as much quality time with you as I normally do.

But Summer, trust me, I knew you were around. I felt your warmth on my face as I watched Dylan discover the joy of playing in the sand. (We were the palest family on the beach again this year!)



I watched water droplets from a fountain form a rainbow, as he and I sported cherry moustaches after enjoying some italian ice.



I listened to the infectious sound of laughter when he decided that sliding down a slide was incredibly fun, and often ridiculously funny.




I watched in amazement as he became a social butterfly, and play-dates became a necessity.


I marveled at his strength, as he picked up stones almost as big as his head, to throw in the creek.


I listened as he made animal noises at the farm, and got up close and personal with the "Moo", "Baa", "Bawk, Bawk", "Neigh", and "Quack".


I felt the cool, soothing water as we splashed around in the pool.


We swung, we quacked, we felt the wind in our hair.




Dylan has adjusted to our new house so easily, as if he doesn't miss the old house even a tiny bit. (I sure don't).
I am so happy to be in our new neighborhood, with friendly neighbors and more space, that I know it was worth neglecting you a bit. But, as always, I will be eagerly awaiting your return.

Oh, and Summer? Thanks for the memories.