Swim Lesson Star and The Little Bruiser

Last weekend was Jack's last swim lesson. We skipped the week before due to the thumb injury (he is all healed up and back to his normal activity). I had low expectations for this final lesson. He hadn't made it off the step yet, and now with a skipped week-I hoped to just get him into the pool. We suited up and headed to the pool area. Jack sat cautiously on the step waiting for the lesson to start. He had a new teacher (for the first 10 minutes) and I thought that would throw him for a loop as well. Oh well, I thought, maybe we need to come back in a few months or after the summer and try then. I wasn't trying to be negative, but more realistic about his learning needs and attention span at 3 years old. And then he surprised me, I looked up and he was out in the middle of the pool with the teacher. There was a huge smile plastered on his face! He was making "ice cream scoop" hands and everything. I was so excited...FOR HIM! He even participated in doing the "spider crawl" along the edge of the pool to the deeper water and then jumped off the edge 3 times to Miss Ana!!! It finally clicked! I was so happy and so was he. Miss Ana made a point of coming up to him after class and telling him how proud she was of him for swimming and jumping in. After a quick chat, she encouraged me to sign him up for the next session, reminding me that it sometimes takes young kids a number of weeks just to get acclimated to the surroundings and that it has little to do with them having been comfortable or not in the water in the past. She also said that she really liked Jack and hoped to get to see him in more classes. We headed straight to the main desk after our lesson and secured the last spot in the Saturday morning class. Sorry no pictures (it is too hot in there and the camera gets all steamy).

10 Months old and ready for action!

Will is on the move. He is a crawling maniac, lifting his belly off the floor most of the time and resorting to the army crawl when he sees an opportunity that he needs to 'pounce' on. He pulls himself to standing on everything and anything in his path. He is fully cruising along furniture, windowsills and toys. Amazing what a difference a month makes. With all this increased activity, there has been an increase in injuries as well. We have grown accustom to a reoccurring bruise and egg combination that finds a home on his forehead. I hate to see him all battered, but I also know he needs to explore and figure out his balance for walking. He has walked pushing my kitchen stool, his push walker (both inside and out) and the wagon. At 10 months old he is such a happy baby. He loves following Jack around and even calls for him when he can't see him. ADORABLE! They play "camp out" together in a tent in the play room. Will loves to crawl in and out of the tent "chasing" Jack as Jack squeals and screams. Just the other day, he figured out how to climb stairs and I found him up 2 stairs hanging on with just one hand, looking at me and laughing. I had a minor heart attack as I lunged forward to catch him before he leap from the stair.  He still has just 2 teeth on the bottom, but boy are they sharp! He continues to eat everything in site.  He loves to play peek-a-boo and will cover his ears when you say "Will, go hide". Once you re-position his hands over his eyes, he puts them there on his own too. He LOVES peek-a-boo and will go into a fit of giggles when you pop out from behind your hands. If you say to him "Will, call Daddy", he puts his hand up to his ear, like he is on the phone and starts saying "dada" "dada". It is hysterical. He claps his hands to the Pat-a-cake song and will clap yours for you if you let him hold them.

The injured thumb.

Enjoying a graham cracker in the sun light. 

Peek-A-Boo

Give me that camera!

We have continued to go to the Y 3-4 times a week and Will is slowly getting more used to being there. He has grown to like Miss Phyllis and the other teachers and doesn't cry the WHOLE time I am gone. I have loved getting back into the routine of going to the gym. I feel so much better after I have gone. I love our little routine of getting up and getting there just as the nursery opens at 8am. I have even taken a few classes too.

February has gone by so quickly! We continue to enjoy days with lots of sunshine and temperatures reaching up into the 70's. Jack has played more and more with the kids that live next door and he gets so excited to see them outside and have someone to run around with. He talks like such a "big kid" when he is with them. It makes me so happy to see him find some 'friends'. The family next door just welcomed their 6th child this past weekend. One of the girls, Bella, is about 7 or 8. She and Jack are great friends. They play restaurant in her playhouse, pull each other in the wagon and make mud pies. When ever they are playing together, I stay close by to keep an eye on Jack. He says to me one day (while Will was inside sleeping for his nap)-" Mom, why don't you go take Will for a walk to calm him down." I replied, "Jack, Will is inside asleep." He came back with "Well, can you just go for a walk then, we want to play alone." Am I already that UNCOOL? :) TOO FUNNY!

...and our trips to the Emergency room start?

While Kay Kay and Bampa were visiting, it was VERY cold. The coldest it has been since we moved down here. The temperatures plummeted into the teens! BRRRRR. On Wednesday, there was a promise of a warmer day, but it started off pretty chilly. We finished up our busy Wednesday morning routine-a trip to the Y to see Phyllis, a quick nap for Will and a quick shower/change for me followed by story time at the library. We had a great time, as usual, at story time. Jack, ever eager to get a drum during the instrument portion, raced up to the librarian as she read a story about a snake getting sent in the mail and arriving in a big brown box (a lot of the stories have props). She sat with a large brown box on her lap and she asked the kids "What do you think was in the box?" It was at this point, that Jack jumped from his seat and ran up and started poking his little nose over the edge of the box to see inside while he exclaimed-"A DRUM". At this moment she was opening the box and pulled out a large, stuffed SNAKE. All the other kids yelled "SNAKE" and Jack just looked confused. "Where are the drums?". I sat back giggling to myself. He is so adamant about getting one of those damn drums! HA The librarian kindly and softly asked him to sit down by her and that is where he remained for the rest of the story-ready to pounce when the drum part started. Needless to say, he acquired a drum and played his little heart out during the instrument song.

Meanwhile, Will had a blast "reading" a book and shaking his maraca during instrument time.

With the sun shining in the sky and the temperature rising up into the 60's, we decided to go to a new playground after lunch. While I cleaned up from lunch, Jack and Will played in our "other" playroom (this ugly red dining room that we just have more toys in). There is a bay window with a window seat that opens like a toy box. We have a few toys in there. Jack was climbing in and out while I was on the phone. I watched in slow motion as the top fell shut on top of his hand-pinning his thumb inside the box while a blood curdling scream echoed from his mouth. I rushed to him, hanging up on my phone call. Instantly the thumb was swelling and turning purple. I called Tom at work to come take care of Will. Jack and I headed to the pediatricians where they wanted to have an xray done. Thankfully, the ER is right across the parking lot and was a quick walk over. Jack and I enjoyed some time just the 2 of us talking about the stories from story time, following "foot prints" and "walking on our tip toes" to be extra quiet while we waited. I explained to Jack what an xray was and what would happen. He was cool as a cucumber-until we went into the exam room. He started screaming, crying and arching his back against. All the while yelling "I want to go home" and "I'm SCARED". It was breaking my heart. I gave as much reassurance as possible and with the help of 3 xray techs we were able to get all the images we needed. No breaks! Back at the doctor's, he got a splint and a wrap to help protect it and give him more comfort. He finished the afternoon and evening sitting on the couch watching movies with his arm held up in the air, refusing to let you so much as LOOK at it. Poor little buddy! 

I guess this is just one of many trips for injuries, especially if he is MY son. ;)

Kay Kay and Bampa come to SC

We had a wonderful reunion this past weekend with Kay Kay and Bampa. I almost feel like it was Kay Kay's FIRST real visit, since she was able to be a true guest and not be here taking care of all of us. We were excited to learn a few weeks ago that on their journey from RI to FL, that SC would be a stop along the way. We knew that it was out of the way that they normally drive, so we were extra excited that they choose this route to make a stop to see us. 

Watching Kay Kay go out for a run. 

 Friday afternoon, the familiar car pulled into the drive way and Kay Kay, Bampa and Annie all poured out! Jack was SO excited. He ran around showing them every inch of our house, including "their" room that he and I had worked on setting up during the morning. (Jack even said to me "I can sit on Kay Kay's bed this time, I'm not sick anymore, my cough is gone." He had remembered that her bed had been off limits when he was sick in January-in an attempt to keep ONE person well in the house). He was so proud. We enjoyed a low key night in on Friday and then made plans for Saturday. Jack, Will and I got up early and made a "breakfast cake" (coffee cake) and a fresh pot of coffee for our guests. Jack and Bampa had many adventures both outside and in. Both Kay Kay and Bampa were so surprised at how much more mobile Will is since Christmas time. They enjoyed watching him scoot around, pull himself up and actually take on fully crawling on all fours over the course of the weekend. They were also able to witness the side effect of all of this movement-a collision with a fire truck on the floor that left a few tears staining his face a small smattering of bruises to his temple. He is a tough cookie though, and bounced right back-chasing after Jack and calling to him when he was out of his sight- "Dack, Dack" 


We packed up the car after the boys had lunch and headed into downtown Greenville. It was cold and windy, but sunny. We walked down to "The Falls" to show off the beautiful park and waterfall, but it was just too cold. We quickly crossed the suspension bridge, grabbed a few pictures and moved on. Will was probably the warmest bundled up in the Toddler bundleme in the stroller. We quickly walked back up to main street and had a wonderful late lunch/early dinner at The Carolina Ale House, followed by a quick stop for some treats at The Mast General Store. We filled the car back up and headed home. The cold, fresh air wore us all out! 

Bundled for an afternoon out in Greenville. 

Buddies

WAX LIPS From the general store. 

These wax lips have provided endless moments of hysterics from both Jack and Will. 

Sunday morning Tom and I made a nice breakfast for everyone and we spent the day staying warm. The temperatures had dropped down into the teens over night and were only hovering in the 30's by 11am. I took advantage of having the extra hands around and went grocery shopping alone and got a few other chores done around the house. We all just hung out, chatted, played, watched movies. It was perfect. The afternoon sun warmed us up enough to be outside a little. Jack and Bampa spent a long time playing and having adventures at the playground and around the neighborhood. He was worn out by bedtime!

A pirate in training......ARRRGGGH!

Bampa and his boys!

Tom and I got a special treat on Sunday night-a movie night date! We haven't been out to the movies is a very long time and enjoyed the treat of having not one but two babysitters to watch the boys. 

Monday morning came way too fast and we had to watch as the car got packed back up and hugs and kisses got passed around as we said our goodbyes. Kay Kay and Bampa continued on their trek to FL with a final 10 hour car ride. We had so much fun having them with us and can't wait to see them again. 

Safe travels and we hope the weather is warmer for you in Florida! 

Just some fun around the house....

Daddy's Home!

Warm February water table day

Watching Jack from the playroom window.

Playing in the tent

Time for a camp out (I mean camp in)

Ready to roast some marshmallows.

Sillies

Will needs a drink from the canteen.

Swim lessons and the not so Superbowl

So I originally wrote this post just a few days after the Superbowl ended, when the sting of the loss was still quite palpable at our house. Something went awry and it disappeared. Maybe it was sticky toddler fingers, maybe it was a scatterbrain Mama that didn't save it, maybe it was a ghost-whoever/whatever was the cause, the whole darn post went missing. Boo. We had a busy week and I am just now getting back to it to rewrite it. I am going to make this version a little quicker.

Last weekend was Jack's first swim lesson! We have been talking and talking and planning (new bathing suit, many trips to see the pool at the Y, talking about kicking and blowing bubbles and practicing in the tub) for this for a long time. We tried to dial up the excitement in an attempt at a successful run at a group activity. Jack is very outgoing and friendly, when he wants to be. He can be very shy and clingy to his Mama when he wants to be too. We had no idea how this was going to go. Jack and I arrived early and explored the locker room, got changed and headed to the pool. It was sweltering inside the pool area. Good for my skinny mini in his little swim trunks in February, not so good for me in jeans and a sweater. The water was a very comfy 85 degrees. Jack was excited, I could see it all over his face. He immediately wanted to put his feet in.

He sat patiently waiting for the rest of the class and teacher to arrive, slowly going in a little deeper and deeper. I was shocked that he was in and there were no tears. I was so proud of him. The class started and he lined up with all the other kids on the step (there are 6 of them total, Jack being the youngest at 3). The teacher, Miss Ana, went over kicking (Green light=BIG kicks, yellow light= little baby kicks) and blowing bubbles-blue light. Jack just sat there, taking it all in. He watched the other kids, he watched the teacher, he looked back at Tom and I, but he did not do what she asked. When she took each kid out into the pool to practice, he flatly refused and remained planted on the step. He didn't throw a fit, or cry, he just said "no". You could tell he wanted to be out in the water, but he didn't want to do what the teacher said. My stubborn, strong-willed little boy.  And so this is how the rest of the lesson went. Jack watched and the other kids participated. He slowly inched along the long pool step further and further from the group. All the while one eye on what they were doing and he WOULD mimic them, but in his own space, on his own terms. At the end, Tom was able to coax him to the edge with the teacher where he jumped in and "swam" with her across the pool to Tom. All in all, it WAS a successful first lesson. We just wanted him to not be clinging to us, to stay in the water and NOT to cry. The only tears we saw were when we had to pull him OUT of the pool a half hour after the lesson ended! Classic Jack. 

Since I am rewriting this blog entry more than a week past the Superbowl, I will make this VERY brief. It was a beautiful day with the temperatures reaching well into the 70's. We enjoyed some time in the morning and early afternoon outside playing with the kids and their new ride on toy and Tom and I both enjoyed going for a run. I even shaved a minute off of my mile time since I last ran outside. I was SO excited! I guess going to the gym almost everyday, DOES work. HA. We entertained one of Tom's friends and colleagues Alex for the game, had some great food, enjoyed the commercials and then IMMEDIATELY turned the TV off after the Patriots lost. Tom handled the loss a lot better than in the past. Onto baseball I guess! 

Had to add this image because I thought he looks just SOO SOO cute! 

Children's Museum

This past week was very busy! We made a few more trips to the Y, increasing Will's comfort level with Miss Phyllis at this point. Yay! My workouts are a little nicer to complete without worrying about him crying the whole time. We went to another story time at the library and enjoyed dancing, singing and playing instruments. Jack did NOT secure a drum this week-which I thought was going to lead to some tears, but he handled it well and made the best of his time with the maracas. :) I had prepped him the whole morning and ride over that "Sometimes we get a drum, and sometimes we don't-but we can still have fun!"

We were blessed with lots of sunshine and took advantage of it. I left my To Do list gathering dust on the counter, the floors gathering a few extra Cheerios, and the laundry piling up a little more than usual. I just couldn't bring myself to be inside that much. We actually brought the water table out when the temperature went up into the 70's. What a nice treat!

We went on our first road trip since arriving and drove to Charlotte to the Children's Museum. We met my friend Lauren (aka-Auntie Ed) and her daughter Anabel (1 month older than Will). It was an hour and half drive for both of us and both boys did great. Will was able to catch his morning nap during the ride and he was very happy most of the time in the museum. Jack enjoyed looking out the window at the farms we passed along the way and was anxious to point out "The Peach Butt"-a water tower in Gaffney, SC that is painted to look like a peach, but at a certain angle, looks like a big butt. Jack, of course, finds this HYSTERICAL. One of the things I was most looking forward to with our move to SC was the ability to get together with a few of my college girlfriends a little more frequently. Since I am not working, I wanted to take full advantage of my open schedule and make the time to meet up. Will and Anabel last saw each other over the summer when they were 3 months and 4 months. It was really great to get to see them both, swap some mommy tips, see the kids interact a little and just catch up.

The children's museum was AMAZING! First, it was super clean! Second, there was so much to see and do. Jack had a blast running from exhibit to exhibit. There was even a great area for Will and Anabel to play. Unfortunately, Jack did not want to stay in the "baby" area for too long, so Will and Anabel were forced to hop back into their strollers or loving Mama arms while Jack ran around. We stayed for about and hour and a half. Since we got there right when it opened at 9am, we basically had the place to ourselves. By 10:30am, the buses of school age kids started arriving, I started to feel like Jack was getting lost in a sea of kids and little ones were starting to squirm a little more so we decided to call it quits. Jack was NOT A HAPPY CAMPER! There were tears and stomping and pouting. I guess that means it was a successful trip! He had such a blast and we did not even get a chance to check out the second level.

On the Move!

Awesome firetruck to play on 

Water table fun

Will and Anabel splashing around.

Jack getting in on the water fun too.

 The water table in the baby area was great! These seats allowed them to be up close and personal with the water, while giving our arms a little rest. The aprons were a little big and I dipped Will's into the water as I was trying to put it on him-oops-negating the whole point of them! :)

Jack in his glory-on the Octonauts Submarine!

As I mentioned in the last post, Jack is newly OBSESSED with The Octonauts on Disney Junior. It is a very cute show that tells the tale of a group of animals that work on a submarine to save under sea creatures from all sorts of "disasters". Each episode focuses on a new type of underwater creature. The underwater room at the children's museum was a dream come true for him. He was "calling all octonauts to the HQ". This room gave Lauren and I a quick chance to have some catch up chatter while he was running from the submarine to the sunken ship to the octopus. 

We ended our morning adventure with a trip to Starbucks where Lauren and I fed the babies and Jack their lunch while we chatted. We meant to buy food, snacks or something while we took up a table and made a mess of the floor with puffs, goldfish crackers and baby food, but we ended up leaving an hour or so later with just the kids! Thanks Starbucks!!

The ride home was quiet with my babies asleep as soon as we hit the highway. Thanks Auntie Ed for meeting us on your day off and playing at the museum. We can't wait to go back! Maybe next time we can bring Tom ;).