Does anybody out there know how to talk toddler? Because this seems very important.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Monday, June 4, 2012
Rat race
The weather this past weekend was perfect, and we were looking for things to do outside. Since it's free to get into the National Zoo, we headed over one morning to spend a few hours looking at the animals before lunch and naptime.
Jackson loved the small mammal house, and he was absolutely enthralled with the monkeys, prairie dogs, porcupines and ferrets. (It was hard to tell whether the shrieking was coming from him or from the mammals in the exhibit.) His favorite were the muskrats - one in particular who he raced back and forth with for several minutes. Though it was only 10 a.m., they both seemed to wear each other out fairly quickly. I thought to record this after about five minutes of the back-and-forth, but you should get the drift.
Jackson loved the small mammal house, and he was absolutely enthralled with the monkeys, prairie dogs, porcupines and ferrets. (It was hard to tell whether the shrieking was coming from him or from the mammals in the exhibit.) His favorite were the muskrats - one in particular who he raced back and forth with for several minutes. Though it was only 10 a.m., they both seemed to wear each other out fairly quickly. I thought to record this after about five minutes of the back-and-forth, but you should get the drift.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Summertime, and the livin' is easy
There are lots of things I hate about the summer. Mosquitos, for one. And humidity. And having melon served at every gathering because it's in season. I hate melon.
But there are lots and lots of things I love even more about summer. Daylight past 8 p.m. Pick-up baseball games and trips to the park and not having to bundle up when you walk outside. Those nasty hot, humid days that end when the wind picks up and a cold front ushers in a quiet, beautiful summer rain.
And porch swings. Ohhh I love porch swings.
I've got lots of summer memories from my life on the farm. In fact, thinking back, most of my childhood memories are from the summer; you wouldn't know it's only three months long. I remember the four of us being sent out in the morning and not going back in until dinnertime. We caught bugs, counted cars, dug lots of holes, built treehouses, and exhausted our imagination. Unbelievably, we seemed to manage all of this without any injuries. Ever.
These days, I don't live on a farm. Not even close to a farm. And that's not going to happen anytime soon, if not ever.
So this year, we brought the farm to me.
Several months ago on my birthday, when we had just made the decision to buy this house, Chad bought me a hammock - or the promise of a hammock - to put in the backyard I had always wanted. Problem was, I only half-wanted a hammock. I could foresee Jackson getting tangled up in it when he was playing and having to mow around it and lying there swatting bugs in it and the idea became less appealing. So I never bought it.
About a month ago, on one of those first few summer nights where Jackson had gone to bed but it was still light out, I came out to our porch. Sitting here decompressing and reading a book, I looked up to soak it all in.
Rungs.
Sure enough, someone who owned this house within its last 60 years must have loved porch swings too, because there were already rungs screwed into the studs. It was almost too easy to decide that I needed a porch swing for my birthday present. But we're talking about me...so of course it wasn't.
I looked and looked and looked - and then Chad looked - for the perfect fit. I finally picked one. And picked the stain. And ordered it. Two weeks later, this beauty was sitting on my front steps (bless you, online shopping).
This little lady is small - as Chad said, "It can only fit two Tolleys" - but, man, it's awesome.
Last Sunday night, we had some friends over for a cookout. The second Jackson went to bed, it started to rain, and we had to move the party inside. Until Chad brilliantly suggested we go out on the porch, so there the four of us sat - protected from the downpour but still enjoying the smell in the air and the cool breeze on our skin - and chatted for three more hours.
Around 11:00, our friends went home. And the rain stopped. And the days got hot again. And we went back to work after the long weekend, and life got more complicated. But the summer has stuck around, seemingly forever. Something tells me that a lot of memories will be made on this porch, and it makes me happy that even though I can't totally replicate my childhood for Jackson, there are some things we can do that might make him look back in 33 years and smile.
But there are lots and lots of things I love even more about summer. Daylight past 8 p.m. Pick-up baseball games and trips to the park and not having to bundle up when you walk outside. Those nasty hot, humid days that end when the wind picks up and a cold front ushers in a quiet, beautiful summer rain.
And porch swings. Ohhh I love porch swings.
I've got lots of summer memories from my life on the farm. In fact, thinking back, most of my childhood memories are from the summer; you wouldn't know it's only three months long. I remember the four of us being sent out in the morning and not going back in until dinnertime. We caught bugs, counted cars, dug lots of holes, built treehouses, and exhausted our imagination. Unbelievably, we seemed to manage all of this without any injuries. Ever.
These days, I don't live on a farm. Not even close to a farm. And that's not going to happen anytime soon, if not ever.
So this year, we brought the farm to me.
Several months ago on my birthday, when we had just made the decision to buy this house, Chad bought me a hammock - or the promise of a hammock - to put in the backyard I had always wanted. Problem was, I only half-wanted a hammock. I could foresee Jackson getting tangled up in it when he was playing and having to mow around it and lying there swatting bugs in it and the idea became less appealing. So I never bought it.
About a month ago, on one of those first few summer nights where Jackson had gone to bed but it was still light out, I came out to our porch. Sitting here decompressing and reading a book, I looked up to soak it all in.
Rungs.
Sure enough, someone who owned this house within its last 60 years must have loved porch swings too, because there were already rungs screwed into the studs. It was almost too easy to decide that I needed a porch swing for my birthday present. But we're talking about me...so of course it wasn't.
I looked and looked and looked - and then Chad looked - for the perfect fit. I finally picked one. And picked the stain. And ordered it. Two weeks later, this beauty was sitting on my front steps (bless you, online shopping).
This little lady is small - as Chad said, "It can only fit two Tolleys" - but, man, it's awesome.
Last Sunday night, we had some friends over for a cookout. The second Jackson went to bed, it started to rain, and we had to move the party inside. Until Chad brilliantly suggested we go out on the porch, so there the four of us sat - protected from the downpour but still enjoying the smell in the air and the cool breeze on our skin - and chatted for three more hours.
Around 11:00, our friends went home. And the rain stopped. And the days got hot again. And we went back to work after the long weekend, and life got more complicated. But the summer has stuck around, seemingly forever. Something tells me that a lot of memories will be made on this porch, and it makes me happy that even though I can't totally replicate my childhood for Jackson, there are some things we can do that might make him look back in 33 years and smile.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Hello, goodbye
For a few months now, Jackson has mastered a few basic words - notably "ball" and "more," in that order.
But lately, he's been Mr. Polite whenever we see the neighbors, leave daycare or chat with a waiter at a restaurant. And usually it's an emphatic, "BYE!" followed by a wave that goes from one shoulder to another along with a few blown kisses and another "BYE!" for good measure.
Between being raised by Midwest parents and spending hours with Hispanic women at daycare, we're not sure where the Southern drawl comes from. But we think it's charming nonetheless.
But lately, he's been Mr. Polite whenever we see the neighbors, leave daycare or chat with a waiter at a restaurant. And usually it's an emphatic, "BYE!" followed by a wave that goes from one shoulder to another along with a few blown kisses and another "BYE!" for good measure.
Between being raised by Midwest parents and spending hours with Hispanic women at daycare, we're not sure where the Southern drawl comes from. But we think it's charming nonetheless.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Like father, like son
Let's not get in to how or why Chad is playing football again, despite the fact that's how he blew out two knees. He is.
On Sunday night, Jackson and I had a few moments to spare before bedtime and went down to the football game at Jackson's future high school.
Those of you who know this kid know that he doesn't sit still for anything so I was bracing myself for the equivalent of a track meet to catch up with him. But God love him, this kid loves football.
To prevent future injuries, which came during the quick start-and-stop of the receivers, Chad was on the line - meaning that he needed to know how to snap and play center. Jackson was absolutely riveted by this concept, and stood on the field mesmerized as all the players ran around him to practice.
The best part: as the guys all moved their practice further down the field, Jackson was clearly trying to figure out what his dad was doing - and then figure out how to do it himself. The next picture I took looked like this.
On the way out of the stadium at halftime, we got stopped by a woman who was running the track. She asked which league was playing and how her husband could get involved. "I'm looking for something for him to play where he isn't going to get hurt," she said. For her husband's sake, I kept my mouth shut.
On Sunday night, Jackson and I had a few moments to spare before bedtime and went down to the football game at Jackson's future high school.
Those of you who know this kid know that he doesn't sit still for anything so I was bracing myself for the equivalent of a track meet to catch up with him. But God love him, this kid loves football.
To prevent future injuries, which came during the quick start-and-stop of the receivers, Chad was on the line - meaning that he needed to know how to snap and play center. Jackson was absolutely riveted by this concept, and stood on the field mesmerized as all the players ran around him to practice.
The best part: as the guys all moved their practice further down the field, Jackson was clearly trying to figure out what his dad was doing - and then figure out how to do it himself. The next picture I took looked like this.
On the way out of the stadium at halftime, we got stopped by a woman who was running the track. She asked which league was playing and how her husband could get involved. "I'm looking for something for him to play where he isn't going to get hurt," she said. For her husband's sake, I kept my mouth shut.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
I just don't know what to do with myself...
It's no secret over the past six months I've been crazy busy. I've been working at work and working when I got home and having a toddler underfoot means no time to do anything productive on the weekends. And those of you who know me well know that I hate to be disorganized. The fact that we moved in October into a not-very-spacious house and I still had boxes of artwork and photos and things for Goodwill made me c-r-a-z-y. Well, crazier.
The good news is, when you've worked someplace as long as I have, you tend to rack up the vacation. So when I checked earlier this month and had 38.5 vacation days I was required to take before February - or lose - I decided that it was time to put those days to good use and take myself a little staycation. No kid, no husband - just me, the dog and a list.
I'm not going to lie. I was absolutely clueless as to what the heck I'd do for a whole week. But by the time Monday morning rolled around, I had a list of projects broken out by day. Watch out, world, this lady is motivated and on a mission.
Yesterday, I slept in, got a haircut, made lunch and spent two hours cleaning out our bedroom closet. As a bonus, I found some old necklaces and instead of tossing them into the giveaway pile I spent 10 minutes shining them up and now they're good as new.
Today, I was up at the crack of dawn with the little guy, had an appointment for the HVAC serviceman, did one hour of catch-up work emails and then spent more than four hours cleaning out the guest room. It was by far the biggest project yet to be tackled and gave me some time to find a few gems, like this from my high school graduation.
Fortunately, I now have better control of my hair. And Janice has better fashion sense (but wasn't she cute?).
On the agenda for the rest of the week: clean out the attic, the storage shed in the backyard and make the coveted trip to drop all these somebody-else's-treasures off at Goodwill. But I'm not going to lie, I baked some fun in, too - lunch with a good friend tomorrow, a massage on Thursday (from a gift card Chad gave me in 2009 that I still haven't spent) and perhaps a trip to the zoo on Friday with the little dude and his cousin.
While three days ago I was worried I was going to be bored out of my mind, it's only Tuesday and I feel like my vacation is over. I'm thinking next time it might be nice to take two weeks - one week to get things done and the other week to read a few good books, go for some long walks, take a road trip with the windows down, and turn off the email. Wonder if I'd have a job to come back to if I pulled a stunt like that?
The good news is, when you've worked someplace as long as I have, you tend to rack up the vacation. So when I checked earlier this month and had 38.5 vacation days I was required to take before February - or lose - I decided that it was time to put those days to good use and take myself a little staycation. No kid, no husband - just me, the dog and a list.
I'm not going to lie. I was absolutely clueless as to what the heck I'd do for a whole week. But by the time Monday morning rolled around, I had a list of projects broken out by day. Watch out, world, this lady is motivated and on a mission.
Yesterday, I slept in, got a haircut, made lunch and spent two hours cleaning out our bedroom closet. As a bonus, I found some old necklaces and instead of tossing them into the giveaway pile I spent 10 minutes shining them up and now they're good as new.
Today, I was up at the crack of dawn with the little guy, had an appointment for the HVAC serviceman, did one hour of catch-up work emails and then spent more than four hours cleaning out the guest room. It was by far the biggest project yet to be tackled and gave me some time to find a few gems, like this from my high school graduation.
Fortunately, I now have better control of my hair. And Janice has better fashion sense (but wasn't she cute?).
On the agenda for the rest of the week: clean out the attic, the storage shed in the backyard and make the coveted trip to drop all these somebody-else's-treasures off at Goodwill. But I'm not going to lie, I baked some fun in, too - lunch with a good friend tomorrow, a massage on Thursday (from a gift card Chad gave me in 2009 that I still haven't spent) and perhaps a trip to the zoo on Friday with the little dude and his cousin.
While three days ago I was worried I was going to be bored out of my mind, it's only Tuesday and I feel like my vacation is over. I'm thinking next time it might be nice to take two weeks - one week to get things done and the other week to read a few good books, go for some long walks, take a road trip with the windows down, and turn off the email. Wonder if I'd have a job to come back to if I pulled a stunt like that?
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Week in review
Saturday, May 5: We buy a new washer and dryer. [Cue the heavenly chorus!] Special ordered so they will be delivered in one month.
Sunday, May 6: My dryer breaks, which I realized after leaving what I thought was a dry load of clothes in there for a week. Thankful for sisters, one of whom took the moldy load home and washed it - three times - to get the smell out.
Monday, May 7: Repairman comes to fix the dryer. Jackson bites a kid at daycare.
Tuesday, May 8: Jackson bites another kid at daycare.
Wednesday, May 9: I meet Michelle Obama. She was really nice. And tall. And thinner in person.
Thursday, May 10: Our townhouse basement floods due to a screw-up of either the tenant or the plumber, causing about $2,000 in water damage. Since neither will admit to it, guess who is getting stuck with the bill?
If Day 7 doesn't end on a high note, I give up.
Sunday, May 6: My dryer breaks, which I realized after leaving what I thought was a dry load of clothes in there for a week. Thankful for sisters, one of whom took the moldy load home and washed it - three times - to get the smell out.
Monday, May 7: Repairman comes to fix the dryer. Jackson bites a kid at daycare.
Tuesday, May 8: Jackson bites another kid at daycare.
Wednesday, May 9: I meet Michelle Obama. She was really nice. And tall. And thinner in person.
Thursday, May 10: Our townhouse basement floods due to a screw-up of either the tenant or the plumber, causing about $2,000 in water damage. Since neither will admit to it, guess who is getting stuck with the bill?
If Day 7 doesn't end on a high note, I give up.
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