Jack,
We had some quiet downtime today. You've had a cough and congestion that stubbornly has clung on for a week now. It tires you out a little more quickly because you have less of an appetite and probably aren't feeling your best.
So I dug these books on tape that I had copied ages ago when I was a preschool teacher at Clayton Early Childhood Center. This was before your Daddy and I were married and you were FAR from being a reality. Even then, though, I thought someday these might come in handy because I knew the children in my room loved them. So I copied them. And today, the plan came to fruition.
And that, my dear, is how you rationalize being a pack rat.
Love,
Mommy
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Turtle Store
Jack,
We have a local children's museum that is all contact activity.
You call it the Turtle Store because there is a tank downstairs with turtles in it amongst the tunnels and climbers.
The "store" part of the name - I don't really understand. Maybe you think you could buy one if you inquired....
This place - the City Museum - is as inventive and creative as it is dusty and dirty. The dusty and dirty part is certainly nothing to bother a toddler, though, so we are loving it right now.
They have slides made out of roller conveyor belts that they painted multiple colors. I have a feeling that some of these conveyors used to be a part of this old building since it's a converted factory.
If that is the case, then kudos to the genius who foresaw this fun activity because you are just loving it like crazy.
Check you out being all adorable!
Another feature of the City Museum that you love is the train.
All the kids line up for the mini train ride which goes in a circle about 100 feet in diameter and stirs up enough dust that you usually come off of it with itchy and puffy eyes, and howling to go again.
There are also sections where you want to play that are a little crazy.
Teenagers like the ramps and will run up and down them paying little to no heed to little ones that are also playing there.
My Momma Bear instincts kick in when this happens and I will plan myself in the path of where you are headed to slide down a ramp and make sure you are safe.
You don't understand and many times will try to make me move away - off to the side - convinced you don't need me there, but some things are just too important, Sweetie.
And the most important one of those things is you.
You'll understand someday I'm sure. :)
We have a local children's museum that is all contact activity.
You call it the Turtle Store because there is a tank downstairs with turtles in it amongst the tunnels and climbers.The "store" part of the name - I don't really understand. Maybe you think you could buy one if you inquired....This place - the City Museum - is as inventive and creative as it is dusty and dirty. The dusty and dirty part is certainly nothing to bother a toddler, though, so we are loving it right now.They have slides made out of roller conveyor belts that they painted multiple colors. I have a feeling that some of these conveyors used to be a part of this old building since it's a converted factory.If that is the case, then kudos to the genius who foresaw this fun activity because you are just loving it like crazy.Check you out being all adorable!Another feature of the City Museum that you love is the train.
All the kids line up for the mini train ride which goes in a circle about 100 feet in diameter and stirs up enough dust that you usually come off of it with itchy and puffy eyes, and howling to go again.There are also sections where you want to play that are a little crazy.Teenagers like the ramps and will run up and down them paying little to no heed to little ones that are also playing there.My Momma Bear instincts kick in when this happens and I will plan myself in the path of where you are headed to slide down a ramp and make sure you are safe.You don't understand and many times will try to make me move away - off to the side - convinced you don't need me there, but some things are just too important, Sweetie.And the most important one of those things is you.You'll understand someday I'm sure. :)Here you are signalling that you want to go one more time around.
Hi, Buddy!
There are tunnels around the train where the older children climb over and around the tracks and you love to watch this as you drive by.
Do you see that, Mom?
Love,
Mommy
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Speed Racer
Jack,
You are a big fan of your cousin Hannah. You love to play with her and think that every toy that is in her house is about eleventy billion times more fun than anything we have to offer in ours.
I think that this might have convinced me that you are right.
Are you really driving? Well - yes AND no. The wheel is a little hard to turn so I put it in a turn mode so that you could press the gas pedal and turn in wide circles at not risk to anyone within shin smashing distance. Plus, I can catch you. No question.
You can't tell from this video but it was COLD out that day. So cold, in fact, that your fingers went completely white and your flushed cheeks had white spots on them when I had to pry your body from this vehicle to take you back home.
But the video makes up for it. You and I have already watched each of these clips about 5 times apiece and I'm sure that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Love,
Mommy
You are a big fan of your cousin Hannah. You love to play with her and think that every toy that is in her house is about eleventy billion times more fun than anything we have to offer in ours.
I think that this might have convinced me that you are right.
Are you really driving? Well - yes AND no. The wheel is a little hard to turn so I put it in a turn mode so that you could press the gas pedal and turn in wide circles at not risk to anyone within shin smashing distance. Plus, I can catch you. No question.
You can't tell from this video but it was COLD out that day. So cold, in fact, that your fingers went completely white and your flushed cheeks had white spots on them when I had to pry your body from this vehicle to take you back home.
But the video makes up for it. You and I have already watched each of these clips about 5 times apiece and I'm sure that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Love,
Mommy
Saturday, January 12, 2008
In His Shoes
Jack,
There's nothing that would make me happier than to see you turn into the kind of man that your Daddy is. He's always there for me when I need him, he's a wonderful friend and he loves you like crazy.
We've been having some wonderful times together. He pretends to be an ogre that chases us around the house and tries to eat us. You and I run steps ahead of him and sometimes you'll stop suddenly and announce to me "I got idea!" and then proceed to find a hiding spot that couldn't be more obvious if you were wearing a neon pimp suit. Usually it's right out in the open like hiding behind the coffee table with your whole lower half exposed.
I have to hand it to Daddy. I don't know how he plays along without bursting into laughter at our attempts to hide from him, but he doesn't and the game continues until he finds us and you scream excitedly and scramble in true Scooby-Doo fashion to get on your feet and race off again.
Then there is the game where you and Daddy lie on the floor and pretend to be sleeping while I go looking for you and discover you both sleeping and wake you up by tickling you or blowing raspberry's on your belly. Daddy will usually push my buttons by egging you on with "Do again, Mommy!" or "Try new one!" mimicing what you say when you want to repeat something about a kajillion times because it was so much fun the first time. All the while, I will be swearing my revenge as I do it again and again and shooting him looks that would kill if you weren't there while he laughs because he knows I can't do anything about it now and won't do anything about it later.
Or so he thinks....
Love,
Mommy
There's nothing that would make me happier than to see you turn into the kind of man that your Daddy is. He's always there for me when I need him, he's a wonderful friend and he loves you like crazy.
We've been having some wonderful times together. He pretends to be an ogre that chases us around the house and tries to eat us. You and I run steps ahead of him and sometimes you'll stop suddenly and announce to me "I got idea!" and then proceed to find a hiding spot that couldn't be more obvious if you were wearing a neon pimp suit. Usually it's right out in the open like hiding behind the coffee table with your whole lower half exposed.
I have to hand it to Daddy. I don't know how he plays along without bursting into laughter at our attempts to hide from him, but he doesn't and the game continues until he finds us and you scream excitedly and scramble in true Scooby-Doo fashion to get on your feet and race off again.
Then there is the game where you and Daddy lie on the floor and pretend to be sleeping while I go looking for you and discover you both sleeping and wake you up by tickling you or blowing raspberry's on your belly. Daddy will usually push my buttons by egging you on with "Do again, Mommy!" or "Try new one!" mimicing what you say when you want to repeat something about a kajillion times because it was so much fun the first time. All the while, I will be swearing my revenge as I do it again and again and shooting him looks that would kill if you weren't there while he laughs because he knows I can't do anything about it now and won't do anything about it later.
Or so he thinks....
Love,
Mommy
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Table Manners
Jack,
On the tail end of the last post, I also had to mention your table manners.
I have never witnessed a more fidgety child when it comes to mealtime.
You have completely fallen out of your chair on at least two occassions and landed on your back and bumped your head.
You are all over the place.
Sometimes you will be spread eagle in your chair, sometimes spread out so far across the table that it looks more like you are laying on it than leaning.
Really, the number of positions you display over the course of a meal is actually kind of impressive if it wasn't so enormously hard to remind you that the purpose of being here is that plate of food that is in front of you which you hardly seem to even notice exists.
Honestly, I don't understand how you can sustain the energy of a hyperactive bunny on crack with one tablespoon of ketchup in your system that you licked off the end of a fish stick because you didn't want to actually EAT it, but somehow that's exactly what happens.
I'm a big drinker of energy drinks. It usually takes me about two energy drinks in order to sustain the energy level I need to keep up with you.
Which basically means that they give me superpowers.
Which brings me to my theory that the energy that you manage to get from your meager sustenance is so incredible that you can't sit still at dinner for 15 minutes because to do so would actually cause your head to pop off your body.
On the tail end of the last post, I also had to mention your table manners.
I have never witnessed a more fidgety child when it comes to mealtime.You have completely fallen out of your chair on at least two occassions and landed on your back and bumped your head.You are all over the place.Sometimes you will be spread eagle in your chair, sometimes spread out so far across the table that it looks more like you are laying on it than leaning.Really, the number of positions you display over the course of a meal is actually kind of impressive if it wasn't so enormously hard to remind you that the purpose of being here is that plate of food that is in front of you which you hardly seem to even notice exists.Honestly, I don't understand how you can sustain the energy of a hyperactive bunny on crack with one tablespoon of ketchup in your system that you licked off the end of a fish stick because you didn't want to actually EAT it, but somehow that's exactly what happens.I'm a big drinker of energy drinks. It usually takes me about two energy drinks in order to sustain the energy level I need to keep up with you.Which basically means that they give me superpowers.Which brings me to my theory that the energy that you manage to get from your meager sustenance is so incredible that you can't sit still at dinner for 15 minutes because to do so would actually cause your head to pop off your body.Love,
Mommy
Mommy
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