The family headed up to Vermont last week, to see visiting cousins from Ireland. It was 2 years ago -- wow -- when we'd last seen them, meaning Jack was 1 1/2 and probably didn't remember any of them, and Kate hadn't met them at all. Pretty much no way I can recap the entire weekend, so instead I'll go with a stream 0f consciousness type collection of random moments....
- The drive up was about 90 minutes too long thanks to a weather-related traffic jam leaving town, wasting 45 minutes (during which Kate slept) and having her awake and wailing for far more of the trip than we'd have liked. Jack wasn't too thrilled with the whole thing either, but he did have a good nap. Emily briefly distracted him by getting him to count how long it took for a red light to turn green. Good fun.
- We got to Vermont and were descended on by the cousins. Having not seen them all for a couple years, they all seemed huge. Laura is almost as tall as Robin, Niamh is also tall, both the twins are narrow reeds. Jack and Kate both clung to us for about 5 minutes, then suddenly Jack and Mikey were playing with some toy and then all of them were running madly around the house. We basically didn't even see Jack for about the next 2 hours after arrival; he and his cousins were having so much fun. Kate ultimately relaxed too, spending a decent portion of the weekend being lugged around on Niamh's hip; Laura held her a lot and fed her lunch one day. The most time I spent with her all weekend was when I wore the Baby Bjorn for Mini-Golf.
- With four new names to learn, Jack instead opted for more generic labels. Mikey was "My boy cousin." (Which is actually specific, since he's the only one.) Abbey was "my girl cousin," Niamh was "my other girl cousin," and Laura was also "my other girl cousin." Sometimes it would be "my girl cousin who I jumped on the bouncy bed with." It was pretty funny. "I want to sit next to my boy cousin." "Where is my girl cousin." At times, he was in awe of all of them, each of them, on different occasions. He'd want me to get lost, as an example; didn't want to seem to need his Daddy around. He'd want to have the same food or sit in the same chair or do the exact same thing as "my boy cousin." Granted, there were also moments where they fought ("My boy cousin hit me!"), but for the most part he was mesmerized by all of them.
- Mikey's favorite toy was this little dragon he had just got; that was a source of great angst over the next day or two. (Until I relented and just went to Claremont and bought Jack one.) On one occasion Jack got his hands on the dragon; I heard a cry of woe from Mikey and then saw Jack running toward me, dragon clutched in his hands, Mikey hot on his heels. It ended in tears of course, but still kind of amusing in retrospect.
- We'd brought all these little dresses for Kate, in which she just is achingly beautiful, then couldn't dress her in any of them because it was too cold. Fortunately Robin dressed her in one on the last day, over a onesie and pajama bottoms.
- Laura mentioned reading the blog and that she thought the one about Jack's comment "Are you happy at me?" was memorable. That was nice.
- We had our doubts about Jack sleeping in Scott's room with Mikey and Abbey. On previous trips he'd slept in my room with me. Not to worry. Jack got out of his bed after we put him to bed once in four nights, didn't get up before 6 a.m. any of them, and only got up during the night once (that I know of). I was sleeping on the air mattress downstairs, when I was awakened from a sound sleep by a wailing noise that I basically narrowed down to either Jack or Kate, and since Kate was all the way back in Robin's room and there's no way I could have heard her, I figured it was Jack. I went to the stairs. There was Jack at the top, perhaps having checked my room for me and woken up others, I don't know. Tears streaming down his face, standing there in his little shorty pajamas, he gazed down at me. "I'm COOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLDDDDD," he wailed miserably. It did really cool off at night. I came upstairs, dressed him in the dark in long pants and a long-sleeve shirt (Abbey and Mikey had slept through the whole thing, impressive), and put him back to bed.
There's more, but it's late and I'm beat. Anyway, it was fun.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
The Walrus
I was putting Jack to bed tonight, when we realized he'd left his two current favorite toys -- the Police Duck, a bath toy duck wearing a police hat, shirt, and badge (and carrying a truncheon!); and the Walrus, a second-hand bath toy from Aunt Cathy, whose judgment I question in terms of allowing him to take home used bath toys as gifts, but whatever -- downstairs. His favorite toys typically change every week or so. So, I headed downstairs to get them.
I found Police Duck, but couldn't find the Walrus. (Koo-koo-ca-choo!) So I found a serviceable replacement (or so I thought -- yeah, right) in the Martian and headed upstairs. I brought them to Jack, gave them to him, and said I couldn't find the Walrus; I promised I'd find him later and put him in his bed after he was asleep.
Jack stood there looking at me, his face not quite able to accept what I was saying. He wasn't exactly about to cry, but he was clearly not willing to take on the idea that he'd be going to bed without his Walrus.
Jack: "Well....well....Can I go look for him? Let me look for him. Because I'm a good finder. I'm good at finding things."
I said, well no, Jack (we had just put Kate down and she was sleeping, finally, and I didn't want Jack to clomp by her room -- we tell him to be quiet so he tries to go on tippy toes with the result being that he basically stomps his feet heavily with each step), but really, I'll get him for you later. And now he was quite upset, eyes all big and sad, and he said, "But....but...."
So I said, well Jack, do you know where he is? Where were you last playing with him?
Jack: "Well, I had him on the couch. And... and then I put him in the Batmobile." (The Batmobile is a medium-sized toy with a roof that opens up, and you can put characters in there and close the roof on them -- and of course, you can't see them.) I said, well Jack, why didn't you tell me? And he kind of shrugged.
So I got the Walrus for him.
I found Police Duck, but couldn't find the Walrus. (Koo-koo-ca-choo!) So I found a serviceable replacement (or so I thought -- yeah, right) in the Martian and headed upstairs. I brought them to Jack, gave them to him, and said I couldn't find the Walrus; I promised I'd find him later and put him in his bed after he was asleep.
Jack stood there looking at me, his face not quite able to accept what I was saying. He wasn't exactly about to cry, but he was clearly not willing to take on the idea that he'd be going to bed without his Walrus.
Jack: "Well....well....Can I go look for him? Let me look for him. Because I'm a good finder. I'm good at finding things."
I said, well no, Jack (we had just put Kate down and she was sleeping, finally, and I didn't want Jack to clomp by her room -- we tell him to be quiet so he tries to go on tippy toes with the result being that he basically stomps his feet heavily with each step), but really, I'll get him for you later. And now he was quite upset, eyes all big and sad, and he said, "But....but...."
So I said, well Jack, do you know where he is? Where were you last playing with him?
Jack: "Well, I had him on the couch. And... and then I put him in the Batmobile." (The Batmobile is a medium-sized toy with a roof that opens up, and you can put characters in there and close the roof on them -- and of course, you can't see them.) I said, well Jack, why didn't you tell me? And he kind of shrugged.
So I got the Walrus for him.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Swimming with Jack
Went to the YMCA pool with Jack today. This is an actual Olympic pool in a facility the size of an aircraft hangar -- very impressive. He goes there each week with his daycare on Tuesdays for a half-hour swim class. I'd never been.
It was a first for me: going somewhere and doing something where Jack knew exactly what to do and how to do it, and I was just stumbling along.
He and I took swimming lessons at the YMCA's old pool (the Olympic one is brand-new) when he was about 2 years old. Then, he pretty much clung to me most of the time, was more than ready to get out at the end of the lesson (if not sooner), and really didn't seem to look forward to going. We went again a few months ago, after he'd just started classes at daycare; he was better, but still pretty much stayed with his arms hugged around my neck.
Today was a different story. He WANTED to go, looked forward to it, didn't try to back out of it. We got to the pool, walked to the side, shed our shirts and shoes, no hesitation on his part.
I indicated the large basket of various flotation devices near the pool. So Jack, I said, which one do you use? Jack walked right over. "Oh!" he said. "This one. You put it on like this," he explained helpfully.
I strapped it around his waist and we walked to the edge. It was 5 feet deep. I said, now, how do you get in? Do you jump? And he said, "No, I just slide. Get in, Daddy." So I got in and stood there, and he sat down on his butt and slid off the side of the pool into the water. He laughed (it was cold), and I took his hands. And then he started kicking, the belt holding him up, and I walked backwards, then swam backwards, while he was kind of on his stomach, kicking.
Then he wanted the fish. The fish? I said. I got out while he was at the edge and picked up different things. Is this it? Is this? "No, Daddy," he said patiently. Got out, grabbed the kick board. "This."
Later, he used these floaty things that looked like barbells, one under each arm. With those under his arms and the belt on his waist, he basically bobbed in the water like a cork. I tried to get him to lie down in swimming position, but he preferred to remain upright. And kick. The result was him sort of running through the water, upright, like he was riding a bike or something. Treading water almost. He crossed the entire pool like this. And again, it was a big pool (the short way, but still, a long way). He laughed a lot. Totally comfortable in the water. So, yay Jack's daycare.
Two additional notes:
- He had a little cut on his foot from a couple of days ago that he's been favoring. So he was walking along next to me at the pool with one foot kind of off the ground, sort of hobbling or something. We drew stares. I tried to act like it was no big deal. "Why is that man making his son walk by himself?"
- Afterward we went to the bathroom to take showers. Jack said, "I have to pee!" So, we went into the bathroom. No urinals his level. We went into a stall; there was somebody in the one next to us. As Jack's standing there, he said, "There's somebody over there!" I know, Jack. "Why is he just SITTING THERE?" Jack, please, I'm sure he's just going to the bathroom too. Please focus on-- "But why is he just SITTING THERE?" We got out of there in a hurry. Clearly, the conversation about not talking TO strangers is not the only important one to have with a three-year-old.
Anyway, pretty good time at the pool.
It was a first for me: going somewhere and doing something where Jack knew exactly what to do and how to do it, and I was just stumbling along.
He and I took swimming lessons at the YMCA's old pool (the Olympic one is brand-new) when he was about 2 years old. Then, he pretty much clung to me most of the time, was more than ready to get out at the end of the lesson (if not sooner), and really didn't seem to look forward to going. We went again a few months ago, after he'd just started classes at daycare; he was better, but still pretty much stayed with his arms hugged around my neck.
Today was a different story. He WANTED to go, looked forward to it, didn't try to back out of it. We got to the pool, walked to the side, shed our shirts and shoes, no hesitation on his part.
I indicated the large basket of various flotation devices near the pool. So Jack, I said, which one do you use? Jack walked right over. "Oh!" he said. "This one. You put it on like this," he explained helpfully.
I strapped it around his waist and we walked to the edge. It was 5 feet deep. I said, now, how do you get in? Do you jump? And he said, "No, I just slide. Get in, Daddy." So I got in and stood there, and he sat down on his butt and slid off the side of the pool into the water. He laughed (it was cold), and I took his hands. And then he started kicking, the belt holding him up, and I walked backwards, then swam backwards, while he was kind of on his stomach, kicking.
Then he wanted the fish. The fish? I said. I got out while he was at the edge and picked up different things. Is this it? Is this? "No, Daddy," he said patiently. Got out, grabbed the kick board. "This."
Later, he used these floaty things that looked like barbells, one under each arm. With those under his arms and the belt on his waist, he basically bobbed in the water like a cork. I tried to get him to lie down in swimming position, but he preferred to remain upright. And kick. The result was him sort of running through the water, upright, like he was riding a bike or something. Treading water almost. He crossed the entire pool like this. And again, it was a big pool (the short way, but still, a long way). He laughed a lot. Totally comfortable in the water. So, yay Jack's daycare.
Two additional notes:
- He had a little cut on his foot from a couple of days ago that he's been favoring. So he was walking along next to me at the pool with one foot kind of off the ground, sort of hobbling or something. We drew stares. I tried to act like it was no big deal. "Why is that man making his son walk by himself?"
- Afterward we went to the bathroom to take showers. Jack said, "I have to pee!" So, we went into the bathroom. No urinals his level. We went into a stall; there was somebody in the one next to us. As Jack's standing there, he said, "There's somebody over there!" I know, Jack. "Why is he just SITTING THERE?" Jack, please, I'm sure he's just going to the bathroom too. Please focus on-- "But why is he just SITTING THERE?" We got out of there in a hurry. Clearly, the conversation about not talking TO strangers is not the only important one to have with a three-year-old.
Anyway, pretty good time at the pool.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Happy Kate
Some of this stuff I've probably mentioned before, but I spent a lot of time with Kate this week, so I'm noticing it all over again.
The way she crawls - Happy smile on her face, she POUNDS each hand down on the floor, accompanying it with a soundtrack: "Huh...Huh...Huh...HUH!" Big smile. "Huh...Huh...Huh...HUH!" Again and again as she crosses the floor, smiling all the way.
The way she laughs - It just bubbles up out of her, like a pitcher of water overflowing. And it continues to bubble, exploding every once in a while into a bigger laugh, then back to a happy gurgle. And I think she even laughs at her laughing - she certainly laughs at Jack laughing, or at us laughing back at her. It's a riot.
The way she dances - She sits on her butt with her knees splayed out, and rocks and bounces up and down. Her fingers go to her mouth, or she claps, and raises her elbows up in the air. Baby chicken dance? It's like a combination dance and strut without walking, with her elbows and butt bouncing up and down. And oh yeah - she laughs, too.
The crawling game - She crawls across the room ("Huh....Huh...Huh...HUH!"), then pauses, looks back over her shoulder, stops. Makes sure you're paying attention and might follow her. Laughs. Starts crawling again. Pauses. Looks back over her shoulder. Stops. Laughs. Get Jack involved in the game, either as the follower or the one being chased, and it could go on forever for all she cares. Me too, I think.
The way she crawls - Happy smile on her face, she POUNDS each hand down on the floor, accompanying it with a soundtrack: "Huh...Huh...Huh...HUH!" Big smile. "Huh...Huh...Huh...HUH!" Again and again as she crosses the floor, smiling all the way.
The way she laughs - It just bubbles up out of her, like a pitcher of water overflowing. And it continues to bubble, exploding every once in a while into a bigger laugh, then back to a happy gurgle. And I think she even laughs at her laughing - she certainly laughs at Jack laughing, or at us laughing back at her. It's a riot.
The way she dances - She sits on her butt with her knees splayed out, and rocks and bounces up and down. Her fingers go to her mouth, or she claps, and raises her elbows up in the air. Baby chicken dance? It's like a combination dance and strut without walking, with her elbows and butt bouncing up and down. And oh yeah - she laughs, too.
The crawling game - She crawls across the room ("Huh....Huh...Huh...HUH!"), then pauses, looks back over her shoulder, stops. Makes sure you're paying attention and might follow her. Laughs. Starts crawling again. Pauses. Looks back over her shoulder. Stops. Laughs. Get Jack involved in the game, either as the follower or the one being chased, and it could go on forever for all she cares. Me too, I think.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Jack and Kate's Vermont
We went to Vermont last weekend. Here's how Jack and Kate probably saw it.
THE DRIVE UP:
Kate: Hmm. We're getting in the car again. Supermarket? Comic store? OOH, maybe the swings at the playground. Hope it's a short trip, anyway.
Jack: I get out of school early! We're going to Nana and Baba's! I LOVE their toys! I can't wait to play with the castle and the village and the car and the plane ....
Kate: We're going a long way. This is NOT a quick trip to the supermarket.
Jack: .... and the garage and the record player and ...
Kate: I've got to get out of this seat. Plus I can't see where we're going! The back seat is pretty dull. Facing the wrong way is very frustrating.
Jack: ... the books and the stuffed toys and the bear slippers....
Kate: WAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Jack: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Kate: .....wahhhh..........WAHHHHHHH.......wahhhhhhhhhhhhh........
Jack and Kate: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Jack: Why do Nana and Baba live so far away?
Jack: But why is it so far?
Jack: Is it closer? Is that the distance? Why is that the distance? What are THOSE?
Kate: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzWAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Jack: Baby Kate, Baby Kate, Baby Kate.......
Kate: sighhhhhh...wahhhhhh....Please let it end.
VERMONT: (Thursday evening)
Jack: Nana! Baba! Molly! Can I get the toys?
Kate: Who. are. these people. And what is that THING sniffing at me? I'm very afraid.
(Middle of night)
Kate: Wahhhhhh!
Jack: I have to pee.
Jack: Daddy, can I take a bath with the big shark tomorrow?
Jack: Is it morning yet?
(Friday)
Kate: OK, these people are all right. The tall one looks a little bit like me, only a little more weathered and stuff. He's definitely got my ears. I'm fascinated by the other one. I think I like her holding me. She's a Mom too.
Jack: Food! Give Molly treats! Watch Aristocats! Run around the yard! Read that funny Mouse Tales book! How did the mouse buy new feet?!!! Play with toys! Car ride going to a fair! ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. Lollipop at fair! Hot! Those "ponies" look a lot like big horses. Not sure I want to get on that thing. Long line for ride, too. Let's go home. Play with toys! Hotdog! French fries! Ice cream! Play outside! Bath with big shark! Mouse Tales book! Tired now.......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
(Saturday)
Jack: Watch Aristocats! Play with Mommy! Go to Quechee with Nana and Baba and Daddy! Ride the train! Carousel! Ice cream! ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. More playing in the yard! Playing with Mommy! Games! Toys! Mouse Tales book! How did the mouse take off his feet????? Applesauce! Toys! Bath with big shark! Tired nZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzz.
Kate: I didn't have to ride in the car ALL DAY!
(Sunday)
Kate: That dog's kind of interesting. Very soft. Kind of tired today.
Jack: Pancakes....bacon....blueberries....pancakes...Aristocats.......Tired now.
THE DRIVE HOME:
Jack: Bye Nana and Baba. Car ride. Hmm, I'm sleepZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
Kate: Bye strange people and dog. Car ride again? WahhZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
THE DRIVE UP:
Kate: Hmm. We're getting in the car again. Supermarket? Comic store? OOH, maybe the swings at the playground. Hope it's a short trip, anyway.
Jack: I get out of school early! We're going to Nana and Baba's! I LOVE their toys! I can't wait to play with the castle and the village and the car and the plane ....
Kate: We're going a long way. This is NOT a quick trip to the supermarket.
Jack: .... and the garage and the record player and ...
Kate: I've got to get out of this seat. Plus I can't see where we're going! The back seat is pretty dull. Facing the wrong way is very frustrating.
Jack: ... the books and the stuffed toys and the bear slippers....
Kate: WAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Jack: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Kate: .....wahhhh..........WAHHHHHHH.......wahhhhhhhhhhhhh........
Jack and Kate: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Jack: Why do Nana and Baba live so far away?
Jack: But why is it so far?
Jack: Is it closer? Is that the distance? Why is that the distance? What are THOSE?
Kate: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzWAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Jack: Baby Kate, Baby Kate, Baby Kate.......
Kate: sighhhhhh...wahhhhhh....Please let it end.
VERMONT: (Thursday evening)
Jack: Nana! Baba! Molly! Can I get the toys?
Kate: Who. are. these people. And what is that THING sniffing at me? I'm very afraid.
(Middle of night)
Kate: Wahhhhhh!
Jack: I have to pee.
Jack: Daddy, can I take a bath with the big shark tomorrow?
Jack: Is it morning yet?
(Friday)
Kate: OK, these people are all right. The tall one looks a little bit like me, only a little more weathered and stuff. He's definitely got my ears. I'm fascinated by the other one. I think I like her holding me. She's a Mom too.
Jack: Food! Give Molly treats! Watch Aristocats! Run around the yard! Read that funny Mouse Tales book! How did the mouse buy new feet?!!! Play with toys! Car ride going to a fair! ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. Lollipop at fair! Hot! Those "ponies" look a lot like big horses. Not sure I want to get on that thing. Long line for ride, too. Let's go home. Play with toys! Hotdog! French fries! Ice cream! Play outside! Bath with big shark! Mouse Tales book! Tired now.......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
(Saturday)
Jack: Watch Aristocats! Play with Mommy! Go to Quechee with Nana and Baba and Daddy! Ride the train! Carousel! Ice cream! ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. More playing in the yard! Playing with Mommy! Games! Toys! Mouse Tales book! How did the mouse take off his feet????? Applesauce! Toys! Bath with big shark! Tired nZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzz.
Kate: I didn't have to ride in the car ALL DAY!
(Sunday)
Kate: That dog's kind of interesting. Very soft. Kind of tired today.
Jack: Pancakes....bacon....blueberries....pancakes...Aristocats.......Tired now.
THE DRIVE HOME:
Jack: Bye Nana and Baba. Car ride. Hmm, I'm sleepZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
Kate: Bye strange people and dog. Car ride again? WahhZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
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