We’ve been staying in all this week. The weather hasn’t been terrible, but my little man has been down with the sickies. Its not been very pleasant overall, but the upside of staying in is that we get to putter around the house doing things like baking pumpkin chocolate chip muffins and brownies. I’m going to gain 5 lbs well before the holidays this year!
I love Bun’s Oooh Face!
I love this little boy so much that sometimes I fear that my heart cannot bear such brutality. I try to remember this on days like today, when he has a cold and he is cranky, bossy, rude and demanding, when I’m snappy and short and impatient. But when he is in bed, asleep and I have calmed down his nerves and mine, and I look through our pictures from my camera and I just want to sit and cry at how quickly all this is passing.
Today, I looked up as he followed J down the stairs and he looked like a kid, not my baby, not a toddler- a kid. In his navy shorts and a bandaid on his finger and scrapes on his knee, there he was – a little boy. And with every fibre of my body, I willed time to pause.
He got down the stairs and called out “Mommy” in his sweet 2 year old voice and just like that he was my baby again. At least for today.
The title is from the last two lines of W.B Yeats A Cradle Song
A Cradle Song
The angels are stooping
Above your bed;
They weary of trooping
With the whimpering dead.
God’s laughing in Heaven
To see you so good;
The Sailing Seven
Are gay with His mood.
I sigh that kiss you,
For I must own
That I shall miss you
When you have grown
———-William Butler Yeats
We spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend camping with my parents in the Tar-Pamlico River basin of NC, at Goose Creek State Park. We chose this place because in spite of only being two hours away from the triangle, it was remote and not super crowded. I had charged my camera the night before but in the rush to get out the door, I forgot to load it in the car. So the photos are from my iphone and my mom’s camera.
Heading out on I-40. Even though it was a very short drive, we did stop for snacks and coffee at Farmville just to get the road trip experience. Highlight of the stop J finding Bud Cheladas. They were perfect in the hot sun when we got into the campsite
Bun was thrilled with the tents. He just wanted to go in and out and in and out and the cuteness wore off once we realized how much sand and bugs he dragged in there with him each time. However, our campsite was quite lovely, very secluded and shady. The bugs were pretty terrible but thats to be expected in a swamp.
THe favorite part of this whole trip was this boating dock that was just steps away from our campsite. I spent a majority of my time hanging out on there and Bun was in toddler heaven because he got to throw an infinite number of rocks into the water
Wading at the river beach!
These shoes went on sale right before our trip! I love them!!! Much more than Bun does
n
At Sunset Bun and I were the only ones hanging out at the dock and taking in the beautiful sights. We heard pelicans and herons and there were jumping fish that would leap out of the water to catch the insects. I had no idea that fish could do that. It was amazing to take in all this beauty with my boy. It’s an hour of my life I hope to remember for ever.
Below: Selfie at Sunset and Bun and I .
We finished our night with a delicious dinner of Curried Beef, Grilled Italian sausage and wine. I wish I had pictures of our fire and food but c’est la vie.
We had a terrific thunderstorm a few days ago and it woke Bun up in the middle of the night. He was scared and couldn’t sleep so we snuggled on the couch in the middle of the night while the storm raged. We sang songs, told each other’s stories. Bun’s story that he likes to tell is simple
“Once upon a time there was a digger. He lived on a job site with his mama. Digger played with the ball. There was a boss man. I am a boss man. I build things too.”
Thats it, thats the whole story. I think I’ve got it down word for word.
Anyway, after four hours, as the storm subsided we finally fell back asleep. We woke to up more dark skies, but lovely big puddles all over our neighborhood. And so we did what everyone should, spent our morning splashing and jumping in every puddle.
Very few things make little boys happier than hours of puddle jumping.
Is there anything cuter than a toddler eating a pink cupcake?
Its been a quiet week around here.Bun and I haven’t had too many exciting outdoor adventures, but we have spent a lot of time snuggling. And hugs from a snuggly warm toddler is one of the best feelings in the world
Also, everyday Bun amazes me with how much he is talking. Sometimes I can’t believe that I’m having real conversations with him. Usually he says phrases that he has heard me say and repeats them in the right context and I am so shocked that I feel the need to text J or my mom and share immediately. Almost like if I didn’t record it, it mustn’t have happened.
Some faves of this week:
Bun: (wearing his conductor hat) I conductor mama
Me: That is neat. What do conductors say
Bun: Hello, Ride the Train please
I was expecting him to say “all aboard” or “choo choo” but no his conductor tells passengers to ride the train please.
At target, while I hold up a shirt for him
Me: What do you think, will this be cute for Valentine’s day?
Bun: With these pants?
I don’t think he really understands what “with these pants” means, but I realized he has heard me say this phrase a lot when I’m getting ready or getting him ready.
Other little things making me happy right now
– J bought me chocolates as a belated valentine’s day treat. And I love that he got it at 50%off. I love when he is frugal like that
– I had coffee for the first time this week a) because I finally felt better and I was actually motivated enough to make it! Coffee is one of my greatest pleasures
– I have been running enough that not running this week has been nagging me. My body notices it and it makes me happy to know that I have created a healthy habit for myself.
– V-day cupcakes and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies from my mom on v-day. It so cheered us up from our sickie induced misery.
Nothing makes me sadder than seeing Bun sick! The snuggles are nice, but its heart breaking to hear him say “Mamma I lie down” or “Mamma, I sleep” at 9:30 am on a bright sunny day- prime playing and romping time.
I’m lucky though that he doesn’t get sick that often and today it looks like we might be on the tail end of this round of cold/fever grossness. At least if he can fight off this nasty cough that he has.
Feel better soon my Avi man- The sun is shining, the birds are out, Layla is looking for you and the back deck awaits your arrival
“I have a red wagon” is one of Bun’s favorite sentences these days. He tells me this, everytime we leave the house or return home, because the red wagon is parked outside with the cars. We got the wagon as a holiday presents from a good friend of ours and it has been a huge hit!
Last weekend, we had spring like weather and we took an impromptu family walk ( with the red wagon of course) to enjoy all the sunshine.
Bun: “I push Mama”
Linking the photo portion to the Simple Things Challenge over on Simple as that
Notes to Self:
Life in January seems to be starting out well. I have 2012 set aside to figure out what I want to do with the my life? Am I really a grown up yet? So many things to learn and figure out.
Some good friends are going to be returning to Durham for a visit this weekend. It is making me really happy to think we’ll get to hang out with them and even though they met Bun when he was baby, it will be like meeting him all over again, since he is completely different now. I’m also looking forward to some, fun, crazy grown up time with them as well.
Bun’s sentences and sayings are killing me these days. Faves of this week-
Me: Lets go upstairs and clean your poop and change your diaper
Bun: I’m sick of clean up
***
Bun: (Sniffs Layla’s bum) Layla need diapoo change
***
“I’m Okay” He says this whenever he needs some reassurance or has bumped his head, but not hurt himself enough to get any reaction from me.
“Daddy, you give me____” Usually followed by something I won’t give him aka blueberries, lollipop or candy
“What a Funny Fellow” My dad taught him this phrase and he says this with the biggest grin on his face whenever he or anyone else does something funny or silly.
Earlier this week J, Bun and I were getting ready to head out and run errands. And while I was getting ready, I asked J if he would help Bun get ready. Father and Son came up with this outfit. Although the boots, belt and hat are all Bun’s pick! I have to say, I kinda love his style! He is wearing Khaki courdrouys (my pick) Red Shirt ( My pick ) Grey Stripe Cardigan(J’s pick) J’s belt looped around cardigan, Green Rain boats and sailor hat (Bun’s pick). We did convince him to take off the belt before we headed out of the house because I really didn’t want to deal with it falling down, once we were out and about.
The pics are super blurry because he would not be still and we were in a hurry to get out the door.
P.S Please not that the boots are on the wrong foot and he would not let us fix it. He put them on himself after all
In January, when the weather is 65 degrees and clear and the afternoon sun is shining on the playground down the street, it is absolutely necessary to spend the afternoon at the sandbox with dump truck. So it has always been and so it will always be.
Photos from my iphone
I have a major case of the blaaahs this afternoon. I’m so over this cold weather, so this post is much needed. You know to motivate me. Also, I found this great pic of Bun at 24 months in my Picasa Stream. I love photo surprises
I’m not doing resolutions…don’t think I ever really have. Of course there are always goals that I’m working towards, but I don’t think they are related to the new year- Lose baby weight has been a goal since before I had a baby…its just that there is more of it now.
However, there are a few things I do want to do this year and just want a reminder for self.
***Send Holiday cards- Completely dropped the ball on this one, this year and it is making me sad. I love getting other people’s holiday cards and photos and I love sending them too.
***Ensure the existence of 4 family pictures taken in 2012. Meaning photos not taken with the iphone by me or J. It can be taken either by self timer or another person. Also, I’d like one for each season, please
***Do not wait till July to buy a swimsuit for Bun or self. All the cute ones are gone and they are still not on post season sale yet
***Cut bangs again or color hair again. Only not a boring brown.
***Cute flats. They are my best friend. I didnt’ really embrace being on the short side until this year. But there is now no going back. Comfort- Check. Style -Check
***More blog posts like this. A photo I’m loving of my kid, plus random thoughts. Some of the the big milestone blog posts stress me out because there are just too many photos to sort through. Like Bun’s party. Must post those soon.
***Find Answers. I need some about life, love, career, motherhood. I need to learn more and actively find answers
***Print. Frame. Display Photos. In my house. I have so many pretty frames with no photos
***Garden Again. This Summer.
***Disconnect Cable. Or think really long and hard about it. At least make the phone call.
Hmmm…I wonder if I’ll remember more once I hit publish.
Orange You Grape 