Swim Class

J has started a baby swim class.  I wanted to get him into the water early so he doesn't develop a fear of it.  Too many family members on my side don't know how to swim and are scared of the water.  I did not want that to happen to J.

So we enrolled him in Water Tots!

He wasn't quite so sure when he first went into the pool.  It's a little bigger than his tubby, you know.

But then he made a splash.  Oh boy!

Now it was fun!

He swam.

He kicked.

 He hung onto a noodle

He laughed when Mommy and Daddy blew water bubbles.

Then he got cold.

Then he cried.

And then he was done.


This is the story of every swim class.

Portraits of a Sun Hat

No words.  Just photos today.

Randomness

Some days I have all kinds of irrelevant and random thoughts swimming about in my brain.  I thought I would share some of those golden nuggets with you today.

It's your lucky day!  It's like you won the lottery.

And I'm a weirdo.

Random Thoughts

Sometimes when I see a discarded grocery bag, I feel like I should snatch it up so I can use it to pick up after my pet.  Is that weird?   Don't answer that.


I stick my finger up J's nose way too often.


Dog's feet smell like Fritos - and mostly when they're sleeping.  I have found this is not specific to any breed.  It's universal across all canine varieties.


Corn Chex cereal tastes like the Bugles snack chip.

Now that I have a kid, I've realized something.  When someone is talking to you about their kid, it is so difficult not to interject with how your kid did it, or what they like, or what they do.  It’s so hard to keep your mouth shut and just let them talk about their own kid.

Water chestnuts are spongy and gross.

Sometimes I go for a jog.  Then I die.

Then I eat Peanut M&Ms.  Peanut M&Ms are of the devil.

I over share pictures on Facebook.  And I don't care.  Hide me, de-friend me, cut me out of your will if it annoys you.  Just being real.

Please don't de-friend me.

I don't like it when my teeth feel dirty.

I have just sucked 3 minutes out of your life.  Please don't hold it against me.

Did it really take you 3 minutes to read this?

You may want to block this blog from your browser or internet searches after this post.  I completely understand.  I am crazy.

Crazy.  Like in this photo.  I put this coat on and it made me break out into a white girl dance.  And M questioned his decision about marrying me.  And I frightened the dog.  

And my brain malfunctions.

But please don't leave me.

Goodbye.

Charmed

It is a sneaker. 

It is small; no longer than my thumbnail.  

The entire shoe is monochromatic in a silvery gray; laces, stripes, sole and all.  It has three stiff laces going evenly across the top.  There is a wide dotted stripe on the right side and there is a wide dotted stripe on the left side going from laces to sole.  

The top looks like brushed nickel.  The toe of the sneaker is perfectly round.  The sneaker is hard to the touch.  There is a shiny, glossy sole.   

On this sole, there is a vertical etching of a single name going from heel to toe.  The name is written in all capital letters.  

I have worn it every day since it was given to me.  I wear it on a silver chain, across my neck, and close to my heart.  

Since I rarely take it off, the clasp of the chain can tangle in my hair or the charm can get wrapped around to the back of my neck.  It clinks against the chain and the other metal ball on the necklace when I turn it back around.  It is my lucky charm.

This charm was given to me by my husband the day after the birth of our son ten months ago.  It is one of the most important and happiest days of my life.  I will keep it with me always.

Considering M had this in his pocket while at the hospital, it is good he came out a boy.  There would have been an unplanned visit to the jewelry store.

10 Years

Ten years ago today, M and I had our first date.  Wanna hear the story.  It's full of intrigue, trials, and humor.  Ok!  Thanks for asking.

M and I met at a local gym.  Yes folks, once upon a time, I worked out regularly.  Anyway, we met there and he asked me out to dinner for a Saturday evening.

Said Saturday evening turned out to be a cold, rainy night which thwarted my intentions of straightening my hair because it would have turned into a frizzy mess and M didn't need to see that yet.  I contemplated what to wear and finally selected tan pants, a cream top, and brown corduroy blazer that I loved. (Later I would find out that M hated it. But there were things he wore which were hideous.)

I sat in my living room waiting for him to arrive and I heard a pick up driving up the road.  I told him my house was the third on the right.  He goes to the end of the street, turns around, and in horror, I see him start walking up the front walk to third house on the left.  I had to holler (yes, I wrote holler) out my front door that nope, this house.  Good start.  Strike one?

He walks into my house.  Oh. My. Lord.  I beheld the ugliest brown leather bomber jacket I have ever seen in my life.  Yes folks, a bomber type brown leather jacket.  Strike two?

We're off!  He's taking me to Boston.  We pull into the parking garage and the boy drives way past the ticket booth so he had to reverse.  Strike three?

We begin walking to the restaurant and I was on the street side of the sidewalk.  M so smoothly touches the small of my back and guides me over to the inside of the sidewalk so that he is on the street side and would take the brunt of any inherent drivers.

That got me.  That got me good.

We went to Maggiano's and I was so nervous I hardly ate a bite.  M of course cleaned his plate and I should have known the food bills would be astronomical going forward.

Then we went to the movies.  Mr. Suave tripped up the stairs.  It was actually endearing.   We saw "Identity". The movie was terrible.  M apologized profusely.

He took me home and at the awkward moment at the front door - do you kiss?  Do you not kiss?  We were both like um.....but then somehow it happened and it was .......terrible.  I mean horrendous.

We both went to bed thinking my Lordy what was that.  We can do better.

And we did.

We most certainly did.

Heart Breaker

The sentiment in a baby's eyes is astounding.  So much can be found in those pools of beauty.  They look at you with utter dependence and then can strip you down with a look of scorn for putting their favorite musical abomination of a toy into the toy basket.

But then they can pummel you with the warm fuzzies with the eye scrunch of a smile or melt your heart with the reddening of an impending cry.

Have you ever noticed the brightening of a baby's eyes when filled with tears?  The glossy brilliance of color shining through that wetness makes my heart go pitter pat.  Especially when in these eyes.

And this boy, he's not my favorite boy.  No sir.  Not with those baby blues, porcelain skin, and dimpled bottom.

Look at this face.  Pure emotion left on his cheek.  That one lone tear from a serious wail.

I had probably just picked a booger.

Feeding J: New Foods

This past week, or maybe a little longer, J has been introduced to a bunch of different foods.  I don't follow the rule of something new, wait a few days.  Maybe I should but, knock on wood, no reaction to anything thus far.

J had:

Pancake - It was a hit!

Goldfish crackers - Hmm, interesting.

Ravioli filling - kale and cheese - Yummy, Mummy!

Chicken! - Probably his favorite of the week.  He had it several times.

Baked potato - Oohhh.

Cottage cheese - plain and mixed with fruit  Pretty hilarious.  He would push the curds out with his tongue like what the heck is this?  But then ate it.

Grilled Cheese! - Oh boy!

Vanilla ice cream - mmm, ummm, aaaahhhh, eeee!  (Those were yummy, tasty noises).

And we had some sippy cup success!  All by himself!  I pulled out the noisemakers, hung banners, and threw a parade!

Not really.

I clapped and said yay!

Yes, I used the sippy.  I'm the bomb, yo.

J can also now clap on command.  Mama and Dada are so proud.

He's also taken a couple headers onto the floor from the step down into our dining room.  Just the beginning of bumps and bruises.  But that bugger is determined!

He also knows where the dog's food and water bowls are and makes a beeline for them.  He'll start full speed ahead, stop, turn around to see if M or I are looking, and then take right off again.  Little stinker knows he's not supposed to touch those.

But bless his little heart, he tries to eat my face.  Like full on feast on it.

Mama's face tastes like chicken.