It's Family Time

This weekend we sojourned to Severn, Maryland, for Eamon's great-grandparents Meredith 70th wedding anniversary.

Here's what we learned:

1) Eamon will not nap more than 45 minutes in the car per trip.

2) Eamon will not nap at all in strange places where there is much to explore and discover.

3) Eamon may be "all boy" most of the time but is comfortable enough with his masculinity to have a tea-party with his Opa.

4) Eamon WILL NOT sit on my lap to eat lunch if he could instead sit at a Mickey Mouse table with other people his size and his Oma. Even then, he will not eat more than a few bites or sit longer than about 3 minutes because there are THINGS TO DO AND PLACES TO EXPLORE, PEOPLE.

5) Eamon's cousin Kala really does not like being splashed (Sorry, Kala).

6) Eamon will sit still to eat strawberries. I believe he ate approximately his body weight in strawberries, because by that point I was desperate that he just eat, period, and got him as many strawberries as I thought he could eat without getting sick.

7) I should always remember to wear make-up to these things because someone always insists on taking a Family Photo and I always end up looking like a very sleepy vampire who somehow manages to stay awake during the daytime:

Saturdays

Good morning, Eamon Wolfe. Time to greet the world.

(By the way, your father hates when I call you "Eamon Wolfe."

"As opposed to all those other Eamons out there?" he snorts, because we spent a long, long time looking for a distinctive name so that you would never have to be "Eamon Wolfe" in your grade school classes, and then I go and call you "Eamon Wolfe" all the time anyway. Because it is that sort of name.)

Anyway.

Eamon Wolfe, would you like to go to the park today?



Excellent.



There's so much to do at the park.

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There's the slide.

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And great metal poles to drum on.

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And races with your daddy (which you always seem to just barely win).





And you love the other kids, especially the older ones. You toddle up to them expectantly, as if to say, "Hello! I'm here to be your friend and play with you!" but of course you can't say all that yet. And the older kids just roll their eyes and run around you. Sometimes I have to remind them not to push you out of the way. And you don't exactly understand why they just ignore you, because you are a Big Boy now, and you just want to be friends and play.

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So we take you on the slide again to distract you.

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And you have fun, because you are doing Big Boy things on this beautiful Saturday.

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And all I can think is: Sigh. There goes my baby.

The Tale of the Triumvirate

A long time ago, in the Kingdom of Crib, there lived a boy king named His Nibs. His Nibs was a kind and just ruler, and was loved greatly by all the denizens of crib both for his joyful laughter and his tendency to chew gently on their ears.

And His Nibs loved them back, loved each tremendously, though in time one emerged who was most truly loved, who most closely represented the heart of His Nibs--the great and mighty Lion (Rawr!)

Lion (Rawr!) had been through it all. When His Nibs had braved the Scapel of Doom and bore the Scar of the Tongue forever more, it was only because he had trusty Lion (Rawr!) by his side that His Nibs faltered not. Lion (Rawr!), though strong and fierce, was brave and loyal to the end.

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Even mighty Lion (Rawr!), however, could not keep His Nibs warm on cold nights, and soon a new member appeared on the Council: Blanket (Bah!) Blanket was soft and drapable, and often worn by His Nibs as a cape of valour and justice. And the three lived happily as the rulers of their kingdom.

It soon became apparent, though, that Blanket (Bah!), while of gentle disposition, was not up for the adventures of His Nibs, who often became entangled when trying to carry the poor Blanket (Bah!). And so it was that sweet Blanket (Bah!) took a more background role, keeping the Kingdom of Crib warm when His Nibs and Lion (Rawr!) ventured out on their journeys.

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With the withdrawl of Blanket (Bah!), his Nibs craved more company, and two worthy companions eventually emerged from the denizens. Red Elmo (Mo!) and Blue Cookie (Kee Kee!) proved their loyalty and their worth, and so was born the Triumvirate! His Nibs took them everywhere, and was rarely seen without them all.

They ate together, watched Sesame Street together, pretended to nap together.

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Those who would have separated them (Da! and Mimi!) finally realized that these fast friends could never be truly parted, and eventually the foursome was allowed to roam freely and happily.

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But though other friends may come and go, let it never be forgot, that the first and most loyal of all companions, mighty Lion (Rawr!), shall always been closest to His Nibs' heart.

The Boys of Summer

One boy and a pool...

Two boys and a pool...

Two boys IN a pool...

Aw.

Summer is awesome.

The New Routine

Before we had kids, Aaron and I knew that we wanted to establish a "dinner time = family time" rule. And then we had a kid, and, well, our schedules weren't so very routine for a long time. Eamon didn't want to eat dinner the same time we did, or we got off work too late, or he didn't eat the same things we did...and we usually just ended up making dinner after he went to bed. That wasn't too hard, since until recently he started bedtime about 6:30 and was in bed by 7:00 (what can I say? My boy likes his sleep, just like his mommy).

And then...Eamon didn't want to go to bed at 7:00 anymore. He would stay awake and talk to his stuffed animals...and then scream at his stuffed animals...and then scream at life in general...and we were up and down the stairs, checking to make sure that he was okay. Bedtime was getting drawn out longer and longer, and finally, we just started putting him to bed around 7:00 with an aim of getting him in his crib around 7:30, and everything got better. He started going to sleep almost immediately, with minimal talking/screaming at the poor inhabitants of his crib.

But 7:30 is an awfully late time to start making dinner...especially when I generally am in bed by 8:30. So we finally decided to put our original equation into effect.

It required some work on our parts.

1) We have to actually know what we're having for dinner each night. No more random rummaging around.

2) Everyone has to get home on time. This means that we can't decide we'll get to work later and stay later...you have to leave work by 5:30PM at the latest so that dinner preparation can start at 6:00. That's the rule. (except on nights that I have class...because I can't imagine my professors being okay with my just up and leaving because I haev to go make a grilled chicken salad, thank you very much).

3) We actually have to keep the dining room table cleared off.

4) Everyone has to help cook the dinner; everyone has to help clean up after dinner. This is another rule, because I simply refuse to let Aaron be the fun guy who entertains Eamon while I cook and clean. Eamon wanders around doing Eamon things while Aaron and I prepare dinner, and after dinner, even Eamon helps clean up by putting the dishes in the dishwasher for us. He'll also throw away trash (packages and things), and as he gets older, I fully expect him to get on his little stool and actually help prepare anything that doesn't involve the stove or a sharp knife. (He loves his little stool. One of his favorite games is pretending to wash the dishes.)

So, it's taken some hard work, but everyone has gotten into the new routine. And you know what? It's great. Eamon plays with his veggie straws or reminds us that the dog is in the room by woofing and pointing to her. He makes funny faces and tries to wipe his nose with deli turkey, and is just all around really amusing. Aaron and I get to talk about our days, political events (okay, that's really all Aaron, and I just make thoughtful comments like "My goodness" and "Oh, really?"), plans for the weekend, etc..

And now? Dinner has gone from being just another chore ("Guess I should eat something before I go to bed, huh?") to my favorite time of day.

You Never Know

For all those couples considering having children, you need to know the truth of what it's like:


12:30AM: Hear Child crying on the monitor. Ugh. Not distressed crying, just quiet whimpering. He goes back to sleep after about 15 minutes.

2:30AM: Hear Child crying on the monitor. Whimpering turns to distressed crying. Get up. Go into Child's room. Can smell the problem already. He is standing in his crib, pointing to his diaper. Yeah, Little Man, problem is obvious. Get a new diaper, some wipes, and the Desitin out. Go to pick him up out of his crib and notice his nose. His face. The sheet. And the blood everywhere.

2:50AM: Diaper has been changed, removed to outside trash can (the Diaper Genie can only handle so much...uh...fragrance). Nose has been cleaned, assessed, Neosporin applied. It's a cut, not a nose bleed; he obviously scratched himself, probably because he has a cold and a runny nose. Put Child back in bed, go back to own bed.

3:15AM: Child still has not gone back to sleep. Ugh. Playful chirps turn to whimpers turn to distressed crying. Go back in. "What?" Kid pitifully signs and says, "Eat! Eat!"

3:20AM: Go downstairs. Get Child milk. Wouldn't normally, but he's had another stomach bug (yes, on top of the cold) and is probably really hungry since he poops out everything 4 hours after he eats it.

3:30AM: Child has had milk, eyes are bright and wide awake. Put him back in his crib. "It's 3:30AM. Go back to sleep."


4:00AM: Hear last peep on the monitor. Child has gone back to sleep. Maybe will sleep in to make up for lost sleep?

6:11AM: Child is not sleeping in. Get up. Remember you've given up Diet Coke, but cannot possibly remember why. Child is full of energy, and perhaps a little manic due to being pretty tired. Running, screaming.

6:20AM: Wake up Child's Father. "Here. This is yours now." Hand over Child.

6:30-7:00AM: Take shower. Attempt to make hair look somewhat not awful. Find clothes that aren't too wrinkled. Don't even bother with contacts because your eyes feel so scratchy, like you didn't get enough sleep. Or something.

7:30AM: Leave for Grandma's house to drop off Child. Husband, who could have gone back to sleep, helps take Child and Dog and Multiple Computers out to car. Think, "Well, that was kind of sweet." Child screams the entire car ride between rubbing his eyes and yawning.

8:00AM-4:45PM: Work. Meh.

4:45PM: Get text from Husband. He's leaving work early, will pick up everything needed for dinner. Well, that makes things a little easier.

5:00PM: Pick up child from Grandma's. Try to ignore fact that he runs away from you when you say it's time to go home.

5:30PM: Home. Watch 15 minutes of Play with Me Sesame with Husband and Child in big, cuddly dog-pile on couch.

5:45PM: Make dinner. Husband grills chicken. Make the broccoli and rice. Child takes blanket and throws it around his shoulders like a cape then dances a high-spirited jig. Child then takes blanket and puts it over his head, spins in a circle, falls on his bottom, and says, "Uh oh." Try not to laugh as you very seriously explain to him that running around with a blanket on his head could be dangerous.

6:00PM: Dinner. Yum. Talk about, ah, grown-up things with Husband. Work and stuff. Child sits in high chair. Makes scrunchy face that makes everyone laugh. Does this several times.

6:30PM: Clean kitchen with Husband. Child helps put dishes in dishwasher.

6:50PM: Husband takes Child upstairs for a bath. Go upstairs and find they are actually in the shower. Listen to child squeal and stomp feet happily. Splash, squeal, stomp. Splash, squeal, stomp.

7:10PM: Get big, sloppy goodnight kiss from Child. Close the door with a smile as Husband and Child curl up on glider to read, yet again, One Fish, Two Fish.

7:15PM: A bit of quiet time. Update your blog.

7:30PM: Husband comes downstairs. Not a peep from Child on monitor. Curl up on couch with Husband who smells Irish Spring clean. Wonder if this is the best day ever? Mmm, possibly.

Cousins!

If you actually READ the last blog (maybe you didn't because there weren't any super-cute pictures?), then you know that Aaron, Eamon, and I recently sojourned to Philadelphia to stay for a few days with his sister, Meredith, and her family. That included her husband, Marty, and Eamon's cousins--Elise (age 4), and Lucas (age 22 months; exactly 3 months older than Eamon).


Eamon had a great time with his cousins. As has been previously stated, Eamon especially loves older kids, so having a 4 year old to boss him round was great--for us, too. For instance, Eamon would be rummaging around in a cupboard that he wasn't supposed to be in, taking out things he wasn't supposed to take out, and I would say to Elise, "Please go tell Eamon to put those candles back in the cupboard," and she would! And he would! And with a lot less fuss than he would have given me!


Of course, I expect the excitement of having a big sister would eventually wear off.




Lucas and Eamon also had fun running around and screaming. Sometimes there was a slight kerfluffle over who was allowed to play with what toy, especially when the other boy wanted the toy. Overall, though, two boys who are used to being the baby of the house did pretty well acclimating to one another. Once they both really understand how to play with other kids, there's no doubt in my mind that they'll be great friends.


One of Eamon's favorite things we did was go to Sesame Place. It is for true Sesame addicts. All three kids enjoyed pointing out EVERY SINGLE Elmo in the park...and um, Elmo's image is kind of everywhere.



Elise and Lucas had lots of fun riding rides...but Eamon, unfortunately, didn't really. Well, we tried to ride the carousel, but he hates carousels for some reason, so after running away from me in line (fun! and all the other parents just parted the seas to let him through), we waited about 20 minutes for me to put him on a horse and then have him start shaking his head furiously, "NO! NO! NO!" So we got off and humbly walked right back off the carousel.


We then waited another 20 minutes or so to ride a flying type ride. This was better because Aaron waited in line with us, so we had 2 adults to one Eamon (meanwhile, Elise and Lucas stood quietly and politely by their mother, and I suddenly realized that Eamon's crazy energy isn't necessarily a boy/girl thing, but just a crazy energy Eamon thing). Eamon liked that ride better, but it was obvious that he wasn't going to tolerate many more 20 minutes waits that only resulted in a 2 minute ride. And neither were we.




Therefore, we took Eamon off to a squashing playground-type thing called "Big Birds Nest." Now, this, Eamon loved. We played there for probably 40 minutes while Elise and Lucas went on another ride. Afterwards, Elise and Lucas joined Eamon and everyone had a great time.