Week of May 19, 2004
"Pancakes?!"
"I want my black shoes"
"I have spiders on my hands"
"I fell off the couch" (giggle')
"No, Mummy, you don't take a shower"
"I want one more story"
"I have a tattoo on my hand"
"I have a bugbite on my hand"
"Zip up!"
"We saw a giraffe!"
"Look, it's a slug"
"Hi ants, we have sugar!...you're welcome!"
"We feed the birds!"
"We went on the slide and the swings. We saw the river. I threw sticks."
"I want to go to the river park!"
"I want more fresh, cold water"
"Hi bird!" (watching him eat a green worm) "He eat a leaf! Yummy, yummy!" (accompanied by tummy rubbing gestures)
"I hear water" (run, run, run) "Hi water! We have sticks!" (before throwing them in)
We had a wonderful weekend. Lots of relaxed family time, everyone was in good spirits, and things flowed from event to event with grace.
Saturday we knew we had a fun event to offer Owen: the local town fair was in town. In exchange for this goodie, we decided to go to the shoe store first to get Owen sandals. There have been some unseasonably warm days and Owen's head and feet have been sweaty. Owen's a solid 10W, and as the shoes salesman said, his feet are "broad." Of course, as with all his new shoes, he is rejecting them. The first day was very warm and we thought self-interest might have encouraged a sockless adventure. Alas, no. Scott's tried modeling sandals and shorts, but he clearly wants socks, his black shoes, and our one attempt at shorts was so upsetting we abandoned them quickly. It's not pretty, watching your little boy try to pull down his short pant legs because pants are supposed to be long. He adjusted to both shorts and sandals last year, I wonder how long it will take this year?
And speaking of adjustment, in spite of his yearning to take his pail to the beach, will the reality of sand and water prove too much for him? Will our sweet boy be willing to get in the water? We've been taking him to "the river park" so he can throw sticks off the small bridge like Pooh, and enjoy the trails. Recently he found a spot where he can get to the river's edge, and while it makes us anxious, we've been happy that he's been willing to get his hands wet, dipping them in. Perhaps this means he won't be put off too much by the sand on his feet, or the ocean water. I want him to enjoy what I love so much, the look, sound and feel of the ocean. Most especially, the feel of it all.
The weather has been warmer than is typical, it seems. Low 80's during the day, 60 at night. Owen's head has been sweaty every day, and when we come to collect him from daycare, he's happy to run the other way so he can keep playing. I guess this is some consolation as we anguish about what to do for preschool. We don't want Owen to be bored, but we also want him to enjoy the stability and support that good continuity can provide. Di's house is comforting and familiar. We're just now beginning our investigations, and finding our alternatives leave something to be desired. How is there so little out there for preschool? Who are all these people who can afford to have their kids for a few days, for partial days, or not at all?
Best moments of the week
- Owen rubbing his head against me, imitating the way the cat does it. Very snuggly.
- Bedtime stories, when Owen is feeling cuddly and not down on the floor playing with his trains
- When Owen volunteers to brush his teeth (he likes the new toddler toothpaste)
- Seeing him so excited to pick out his daily tattoos, and in the bath, giving us pretend tattoos (we even have to count to 30,
- though he's only good for 1-6 and 9, 10). Recently it's been frogs, and celestial things. Then for a few days, dinosaurs. This week it's spiders and birds.
- The back and forth of our conversations. The continuity and depth continue to surprise me, as Owen becomes more of an individual. His ability to observe what's around him expands steadily, and the connections he makes continue to surprise me. Watching a baby turn into a boy is an amazing process.
- Hearing some neighbor children greet Owen and try to engage him in play. One boy asked me to push him on the swings and Owen, thinking the boy was speaking to him, ran over to give him a push. Wow.
- The joy he gets from throwing sticks off the small bridge at Mill River Park.
- Watching him romp on the salamander sculpture there, going from tail to tongue again and again.
- Getting up in the middle if the night and snuggling with him on the couch, feeling his head nestle in mine, his happy wriggle, and then his deep slow breathing. That's bliss. Any day he sleeps late (past 5) is pretty good too.
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