Lollisicle Anyone?

Having My Cake & Eating It Too

I have a new friend to get coffee with - he's a fabulous companion! We sit together on the sofa in the corner of Starbuck's with our beverages, and sometimes a treat, both reading the books we brought with us. Often we will sit quietly for up to 15 minutes without talking - just reading & enjoying our afternoon.

Would you believe me if I told you he was 18 months old?! I wouldn't believe me either, until it happened one day a few weeks ago. I was in the mood for coffee (when am I not?) and it was a cold, rainy day outside. I decided to load up Wyatt's library tote bag with some of his favorite books & a recent magazine I got in the mail. We headed to the local Starbuck's where I ordered my usual overpriced hot beverage & Wyatt picked out a milk. After settling down on the sofa together in the corner I noticed that Wyatt was content to people watch & flip through his favorite books, with me chiming in to read every few minutes.

So, we have an agreement now. At least once a week Wyatt will join me for some "we" time. We both get to enjoy our favorite beverages & books...and each other's company!

One of Those Days

Yup...they happen to the best of us - those days. Today was one for me - PMO cancelled this morning without me knowing, no plans, no nap, screaming toddler, won't eat dinner, throwing food - you get the idea. Now that I am settled in with a glass of wine & some good Thursday night TV, I can laugh about it.

The highlight of my day though, was coming across this comic strip book at Barnes & Noble. Wyatt was occupying himself with the train table, while I sipped a Starbucks & peeped at my watch to make sure time was still passing normally on this day that was lasting f-o-r-e-v-e-r. I was literally belly laughing out loud at some of these - if you are a mother, or know a mother, I strongly suggest you look through a few.

Comic strips courtesy of www.babyblues.com

Wish Granted

One More Saturday Night

A few pics from our adventures this evening - Wyatt's first time at the Mardi Gras! As soon as we walked in the door, Wyatt spotted the candy machines, although I can't think of a time he has ever tried candy, he just LOVES these things & shouts "Candy! Candy!" Imagine his surprise (and mine) when he found a Mike & Ike still in the machine that some poor soul had left behind when they purchased their quarters worth. Without skipping a beat, Wyatt popped it into his mouth & his eyes lit up with delight...I am beginning to think he is taking after his mom, whose own mother has some great "candy isle horror stories" from my childhood! (Love you, Mom) After that, Wyatt spotted another candy machine by the exit - this one a bubble gum machine that spits the gumballs into a mini "arena" where you then use a lever on the outside of the machine to try to "shoot" the gumball into a basket. I turn my head for one split second, and the next thing I know Wyatt is calling out to me "Whistle, whistle" and he has his mouth (yes, during flu season) wrapped around the lever on the outside of the machine - the lever that every grubby thumb in the area has been on. In his defense, it really did look like a whistle.

The bowling was a lot of fun though, and then we headed out for some Mexican food. Seth & I were delighted that Wyatt enjoyed dinner with us like a real adult - serving himself with his spoon & even making the casual observation into conversations at nearby tables. We thought that deserved a little fried ice cream, don't you?

Last Trip Down Memory Lane

For a while anyway. These were sent to me last night though & I just love the look on Wyatt's face. (Much better than the look on his face when Jean & I hopped in the photo booth with him afterwards...might have to post that pic at some point for a good laugh)

Feeling Nostalgic

Because I never really got good about posting on here until Wyatt was almost a year old, I forgot about all the great pictures I took of him during his first year & how many wonderful memories we made. I came across these pictures tonight & smiled to myself. Seth was in Las Vegas for work for a week, so Wyatt & I decided to head down to the beach house by ourselves for a week. We had a great time - I know I will always remember it & he was only 10 months old!

When Did You Get So Big

Found this photo from June 28, 2008 tonight & couldn't believe how little he looks...

Must Love Dogs

My post is prompted by my recent return from the new movie 'Marley & Me.' I don't think I'm giving too much away by saying that it is a sweet & sad movie about the story of a dog's life, but also the family that owns him - I'll leave it at that. It got me thinking about my own dogs though, and how they have really taken the backseat in my life since Wyatt came along. I realized that not unlike a child, they simply would do anything to please.

Seth & I agreed, as sort of a New Year's Resolution (although I HATE those) to spend more time with the dogs, and try to incorporate them more into our lives. Milo, our beagle, will be 9 years old this May & although we often joke that he will live to be 18, blind, deaf & crippled, you never know how much time you will have with a family pet. Scout, our yellow lab, will turn 5 in just a few months, and it is hard to believe how time has really flown since he was a puppy. Just a few years ago we would spend our weekends taking the dogs on trips & searching the city for dog-friendly places for the boys to run leash-free. Now, it seems we debate over who will feed them each morning & evening, let them in after Wyatt has gone to bed & plenty of days go by where I wonder to myself if I had even pet them both. For this, I am not proud - but that is why we have decided to turn over a new leaf. That, and we have a new helper in their caretaking...

Lately I have been keeping the dogs inside in the mornings & letting them play with Wyatt in the den. It used to be that he paid them no attention, but recently he has really enjoyed petting them and "getting cozy" with them on their giant dog nest, ("Eeks!" says Dad - "it's SO dirty!!" "He's a kid", I say). The other morning I even caught him trying to get them to read a book with him - I didn't have the heart to tell him that they probably wouldn't join in, but at least he chose Clifford as his book to share with the dogs :)

Seeing this compassion, combined with my resolution, has made me realize that there will be a time when Seth & I won't be the only ones who really miss the dogs - can you remember your favorite childhood dog? I can think of a few...and I want to make sure that Wyatt looks back on all the fun times he shared with his family - dogs & all!