One Gigantor Step at a Time

Our Smaller Child, our Little Man has been cruising up a storm for several weeks in to months.  He has been walking all over the house as long as he has something to hold on to or lean upon.  He has walked the hallways with barely a fingertip grazing the wall, he has walked circles around the house by barely holding on to our pinky.... but unassisted walking.... he would have none of it.   This is Smaller Child DRAGGING his walker behind him.  Still unwilling to let go of the device that may be doing more harm than good at this point.

You may remember, he took his first "steps" around a month ago.  It was, in truth, more of a stumbling fall.  Granted he did put one foot in front of the other one or two times, but it was in transit of falling in to Mommy's arms.  I counted it as "first steps," though I am not sure how legitimate they were in the eyes of anyone other than a Super Proud Mama!!

However, yesterday while playing in the living room, Smaller Child decided to show us what he could REALLY do.

He is BONAFIED now! I don't think even the strictest of Olympic Walking Judges could argue with that one!! Aaaand he's FAST too!! Our Little Man, or Smaller Child is now ushered in to toddler-hood.   (As he is beginning to toddle around.)  WATCH OUT WORLD!! Here he comes.... one GIGANTOR step at a time!!

Pic of the Week

I call this one "Dome" oooor, "Like Father Like Son" 

Little Bit of Summer

Last Sunday, I decided to turn on the back yard sprinklers, fill up the water table, get out the water guns, and head out with the boys for some good ol fashioned back yard summer fun.  We had a BALL.      With these 100+ degree temps, the only way to spend time outside is playing in the water. Since we have yet to fulfill our life long dream of having our very own olympic sized pool in the back yard, sprinklers will have to do.

We started at the water table.  Smaller Child LOVES this thing.

I mean come on, this picture is the epitome of JOY!

I think Larger Child would prefer to "DESTROY YOU WITH THIS WATER BLASTER!!"

Though, they both enjoyed playing together too.  That is until Smaller Child got distracted by the fascination that is Brother's Belly Button.

"What's in dere?? Whatcha got in dere, Bubba?"

I pushed them both on their swings, all the while dodging the sprinkler jets.  I'll tell ya, Mommy+Sprinkler in the Face= two very giggly little boys!  The things we do for comedy.

This pic is my proof that I really was outside, and got drenched!

We also all got on the trampoline with the sprinklers shooting through it.  Smaller Child thought that was hilarious! Larger Child was our protector of the Water Monster!! (I have no pic of this, I thought it wise to probably NOT try to juggle electronics when carrying a gigantor baby and jumping on a wet trampoline.)  

But with all of this, I think Smaller Child's favorite thing was squishing in the mud.

And yes, that IS mud.  

I think that might have been Olivia the Weirdo's favorite too.  Though, once again, she's too quick to catch in a picture... but she left proof!

That's either Olivia's prints, or we have a very friendly and fearless raccoon. 

And of course, once your muddy and covered in grass, what's better than a good White Trash Hot tub rinse??  Hey, whatever works, right?!

They sure don't seem to mind! 

Today While Stopping at a Red Light

Today, I was impatiently waiting at at one of those red lights that you begin to think might be broken because it is taking so long for the light to turn green. I was getting grumbly, aggravated, and all in all anything but serene.  I was inching up closer and closer to the person in front of me wishing they too were turning right, so we could get a MOVE ON.  Now, it is not like I had anywhere pressing I needed to be.  In fact, we were on our way home from the YMCA.  The only think I had to get to was Smaller Child's nap, and lunch for me and Larger Child.  (Clearly, very very important and life threatening...)

So, I was waiting at this light... Then, I look over to my right, and in the parking lot for a fast food restaurant is an older woman, I would guess maybe 60's, getting out of a truck, and wrestling a wheel chair out of the bed of the truck.  She then opened it up, and wheeled it around to the passenger side.  I was expecting maybe a husband to be on the other side of the door, but she reached in and wrapped her arms around an even older woman (probably 80's+).  She lifted the woman, and placed her gently in the wheel chair. She then finger combed the thin grey hair of the elder woman and caressed her cheek.  The elder woman reached out, and they embraced each other for several seconds.  Right about then, my light turned green.

I caught just a few seconds of their lives.  It was a small vignette into their world that I would not have witnessed had that light not been red, or if the car in front of me was turning right too.  It was just a brief moment of human to human interaction... two souls touching one another in the most tender and caring way... and I was there to see it, and be touched by it too.

In my rushing, busy busy, got-to-get-there-and-get-there-now life, I need to remember that God puts pauses in for a reason.  I just need to breathe, relax, and look around to see what He wants me to see, witness the gift, and feel the blessing.

He Dun Lernded it N Texas

Apparently Smaller Child decided he would give that whole crawling thing a go after all.  What other kid do you know that decided to crawl AFTER they took their first steps??

I blame Texas.

Pic of the Week

I call this one, "Larger Child, Largerer Building."

Summertime in the Lone Star

My parents moved to Frisco, Texas over 10 years ago. Since then, I have made it a point to go and visit several times a year, especially in the summer.  This started as a fun time that I could go hang out and shop with Mom, have some girly time... then Beautiful Bald Husband would come down for the weekend, and we would play cards, board games, etc with Mom and Dad.  Then the Larger Child came in to the picture.  At first, not a whole lot changed except now we were pushing a stroller while we shopped, and had a baby monitor with us while we were upstairs playing cards late at night.  But, after about three years, Larger Child needed a bit more stimulation than that.... and we started the children's sightseeing around the greater Dallas Metroplex.

This is how we continued our Texas trips for the past several years.  Now, with the addition of Smaller Child, we do that with a stroller and a baby monitor again!  This summer trip was no different, and BOY did we have fun!!

The week started out with a Tuesday morning drive to Texas.  It was me and the boys.  They were both very well behaved in the car, despite one getting over a respiratory illness, and the other just coming down with one, and teething to boot! The drive was pretty uneventful, save a few very ruthless semi drivers on the highway.  We made it to GeeGee's house (what my boys affectionately call their Grandmother) and spent the rest of the afternoon and evening relaxing around the house.  They sure were glad to see Gee Gee!!

An aside: I have to say, since Larger Child was first introduced to this world, dare I say the moment he took his first breath, he and my mother have shared some sort of unshakable bond.  She may very well be his all time favorite person (with the exception of his Daddy, of course).  They get along like peas and carrots, and they both just light each other up the moment they get near.  I can see the same bond forming between her and Smaller Child now too.  My mom is such a phenomenal grandmother.  Those boys are truly blessed.

Any way.... Day two was the quintessential visit day.  We spent it shopping! No Frisco visit is complete without a visit to Ikea.  I swear, those Sweeds... they know how to make weirdo cheap but irresistible furniture and knick knacks!  How can one resist? Even the baby is hooked!

I told him if he could say,  "Abacus" I would buy it for him.  We did not come home with an abacus. 

Care for some Skorpor Fullkorn?  

That evening was day two of the nighty ritual Mario Cart tournament between Gee Gee and Larger Child.  I don't think the competition was too terribly even.  BUT, by the end of the week Gee Gee was holding her own... sort of.

Thursday, my Dad decided to take off work, and we all went to the Dallas Museum of Science and Natural history and the Dallas Children's Aquarium.  Both are at Fair Park, and both are good enough to have been visited by our little family several times.  The Dallas Museum was hosting a traveling exhibit about SHARKS! Which was really pretty neat, though it did freak out Larger Child a couple of times.

This was a fake scared face... just so you know...

as was this one....

baby cage? 

I can't decide with side of that cage is more dangerous... 

Aaaack! Shark Attack!! 

Larger Child got a Authentic (replica) Tiger Shark necklace out of the deal, and was super stoked about that.  The rest of the museum were all things they had seen before, and they were a bit lack luster this trip.  I am not sure if it is all old news now, or if the fact that a giant herd of children came through before us, and kind of tore the place up.  BUT, Smaller Child was a fan of the infant play area... I wanted squishy floors put in in our entire house.  Larger Child was a BEAST on the climbing wall, and they both enjoyed the water play area.

Realizing that the aquarium closed in about an hour, we made the decision to leave the museum and book it to see the stingrays.  Larger Child has learned that they are not something to be feared, and loves to pet them.  They both enjoy to watch them.  Larger Child also learned about hermit crabs, lobsters, horseshoe crabs, and anemones.  Perhaps he is a future marine biologist?

Hanging out with a Mastadon 

The Children's Aquarium with the Texas State Fair  Ferris Wheel behind it.

That evening Smaller Child's respiratory illness took a turn for the worse, so we grabbed some burgers to take home, and got the Little Man to bed.  He was whooped.  I think we all were.  

Friday morning, Grandpa took Larger Child out fishing.  This is something that they do nearly every visit.  Larger Child LOVES it! He tells stories to anyone who will listen about his fishing adventures with his Grandpa.  He even insisted that I pack his "fishing shirt" for this visit, being for CERTAIN that he would be going.  Dad sent me these pics from the trip.

Apparently, it is catfish season, and the fish are biting! They caught over 30, and from what I understand, Larger Child caught the majority.  I know one thing, they both came home pooped and smelling like fish, so you know it had to be good!

Once they got a rest, and a shower, we made the (perhaps poor) decision to take the kids to the Ripley's Believe it or Not museum and Tusseaud's Wax Museum.  Larger Child has always had a taste for all things bizarre, and has had a recent fascination with world's records... so I THOUGHT it would be a perfect fit! I could not have been more wrong!

Outside were some really awesome dinosaur statues that were made from car parts.  He thought those were pretty neat.  Smaller Child was pretty impressed too.

Once inside, we started in the Odditorium, where they housed all of the strange and bizarre, like artwork made from toast, a house made of pennies, a painting on the head of a pin... so far so good, but you could see that the LC was getting more and more tense.  I think it was the delivery.  It was the way the rooms were set up, you couldn't see around corners, and the whole place kind of had a "jump out and getcha" kind of vibe.  I understood his trepidation.  There were a few times that I had to put on a brave face to show him there was nothing to be scared of.  BUT, there was an ultimate meltdown.  There was a room with wax statues of world record holders.  Worlds Fattest Man, Worlds Tallest man, etc.  they were a lot.  I get that.  But Larger Child's reaction was gigantic! Yelling, screaming, insistence, tears.... I eventually told him I would carry him through the room as quickly as possible, and he could shut his eyes and hang on.  That did the trick.

All in all, he hated it in there. There were a couple more times I had to physically remove him from rooms, or carry him through all the while he was crying.  But, we made it through.  (I am starting a savings account for future therapy as we speak.)

There was also a giant mirror maze, which was AWESOME.  We stuck together as a family, and took all the same turns and twists so no one got lost.  It took us three tries, but we made it through.  Go us! Smaller Child seemed pretty entertained in there.  So many Smaller Childs to look at all at once!

So, after some relaxing and laughter in the mirror maze, we decided to try the wax museum.  I fully expected epic meltdown, and not being able to finish... but we had paid for it, so I thought we could give it a go.  The funnies thing... Larger Child didn't seemed skeezed out at ALL by the wax figures.  He actually seemed somewhat entertained.  He wasn't too keen on touching any, or getting that close.  But he was a trooper.

There was a Life of Christ exhibit that he was particularly fond of.  I think the soothing music and comfort it brought him was exactly what he needed after the terror he felt.  I guess he knows where to turn when he's afraid! ha!

I also managed to get him to stand pretty close to Batman, to get a pic.  Though he would still have none of the Joker.  (Can't say as I blame him!)

Smaller Child was very stimulated by the whole thing.  I don't think he quite could figure out why the people weren't talking to him though.  He kept waving and waving, but not a single one would respond.  It was hilarious!

Now, that's just RUDE Mr. Depp.  RUDE!

The end of the Wax Museum led us to a door with "scary" figures behind it.  There was a chicken exit. I fully intended to use said exit with my Larger Child as a glorious excuse.  BUT, then Mom was all, "Jenny, do you want to go through it with me??" (bright happy eyed) and Dad was all, "I'll take the kids out to the gift shop, if you two want to go through it."   then I was all, "Gulp... crap... brave face, brave face.  Put on a good example for your child that there is nothing to be scared of in places like these...."  And away we went.

The MOMENT we went through the door, I grabbed on to my Mommy like a damn spider monkey baby.  I had to resist the urge to literally climb up it.  I have NEVER been good with haunted houses.  I HATE the jump out and scare you thing.  Wax figures are just kind of creepy anyway, you add in the horror factor, and the jumpy ness, and you get one SCREAMING MEEMEE (that's me).  Yes, we squealed! Yes, we ran through some parts as fast as we could. Yes, we jumped about ten feet in the air at a car horn.  BUT, did we have fun?  ABSOLUTELY! I think it might have been the best part of the day.  I sure enjoyed the fun with my Mammers too.  She's a pretty awesome partner in crime.

After a quick (and I mean, almost run to the stall) potty break, we did a little gift shop shopping, and a couple rounds at a Laser room (very Mission Impossible style) we headed back to Frisco. We grabbed some pizza on the way home, and I then proceeded to spend the rest of the evening convincing Larger Child not to be scared of the things he saw that day.  To make a long story short. He ended up in bed with me that night.   But, come on... how great is it to have that face looking at me in the morning?!?!

Saturday morning we went out for an "early" breakfast.  (I put that in quotes because "early" for a late sleeper like my Mom, and a mom with two kids in tow is more like 9:30!)  It was pretty good. SC liked the breadsticks, and felt like others should see why...

Wanna bite, Grandpa??

We also went for a short walk.  It was a nice morning.  Larger Child and Grandpa traipsed together.  LC was like Grandpa's mini me over the week.  He sure is fond of his grandparents.  Can't blame him.  I kind of like em too!

When we got back home, Grandpa showed LC how to play pool.  He was a natural!

Focus!

Look at that bridge!

Then GeeGee came up and they built forts!

An afternoon rest was followed by a trip to the local Splash Park.  The kids had a ball!! I will admit, I did too.

Then home where Dad cooked us DELICIOUS steak.  We (me and the boys) went to bed early after a long day in the sun and not much sleep the night before.

Sunday morning, Mom made us breakfast, and then we packed up and headed out.  Goodbyes are hard.  Even after ten+ years of doing them, it is still hard to drive away.  I was missing my Beautiful Bald Husband something fierce though, and my Weirdo Olivia too.  (Though Chloe was a good stand in,)

The drive home was completely uneventful. The boys slept most of the way.  Though, there was a moment when I was struck by the beauty of my surroundings.  While some may disagree, I truly think we live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.  The colors, clarity, and sights can floor me!

It really was a wonderful week! While I got home exhausted, I have to say how lucky I feel to have the parents that I have.  They truly are two of the most loving, adoring, supportive, and entertaining people I know... and I get to call them MOM AND DAD!! How cool is that?? Not many people I know have two best friends named Mom and Dad. I am a lucky lucky girl!  (*and... and it's a GOAT!)

*Inside joke for my favorite comedian.