Mommy Didn't Take Care of Him

We had a lovely outing at the zoo today, but I was shocked and somewhat alarmed by the small comment that seemed to stick with Jonah throughout the visit and back home.

During our visit, I casually read a sign about a baby kangaroo, who's mother wasn't caring for it in the wild, so they are acclimating it to life at the zoo.  A few hours later Jonah asked to go back to see it.  And at dinner it was the one thing he told Dad about his trip.

I can only image how traumatic the idea would be to a small child, to be abandoned by his mother!  I hope it doesn't cause poor Jonah distress to have this thought in his very impressionable brain.

The Wedding

Jonah and Elliott had their very own babysitter during the wedding ceremony and reception.  The caregiver, arranged through the hotel, was wonderful, although we had our reservations.  Admittedly, it wasn't until a few minutes prior to her arrival that (lacking the foresight to do a background check) Drew thought it prudent to at least run a quick google search.  Later, we learned that everyone at the hotel seemed to know her and reported how well-behaved the boys were.  Still, I did check up on them at dinner, and again for bedtime.  I felt a little sheepish being that nosy parent, but breastfeeding was a good excuse to be there for good-night kisses and prayers!  I needn't have worried.  She was so thoughtful, she even gave Elliott a sponge bath instead of putting him in the tub.

The Hotel

I'm not sure what Jonah expected after describing the hotel as a building with lots of bedrooms for everyone in the family (aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.), but he loved it.  (It helped that the hotel was yellow.)  He loved exploring the game room, lounge, pool, ice skating rink, tower, etc. until he owned the place and would show us how to get around.

Jonah's first ice skating attempt went about as can be expected.  Holding onto a chair, with Mommy holding both him and the chair to keep both from flying, he made it a couple steps before telling me he was all done.  We had a lot of fun riding the chair around the ice, and he eventually gave ice skating another try, holding both my and PopPop's hands, while proudly shouting "I'm doing it!" to his adoring spectator (Grandmama) as if he had mastered the sport.

Elliott wasn't a big fan of the pool, but wasn't quite as fussy as I had feared.  (He has been screaming at bath time for a while now, to the point where we didn't take a bath for a couple weeks!)  As long as he could hold his new Minions ball (from Aunt Pamela) he was content - though not exactly happy about the whole thing.  Jonah, on the other hand, bravely swam with a noodle "all by himself" with such surety he would be across the pool on his own before I noticed!  Good thing there were two of us to chase the two boys, and Aunt Pamela and Uncle Ryan for back up!

The One with the Fire Truck

Jonah has been getting better at describing things, so rather than "that one" we get complex, if vague descriptions... seemingly always beginning with "the one with...":

"the one with the fire engine" = children's museum we visited over summer vacation
"the one with red and green and blue balls" = ball pit
"the one with the train that goes [hand motions here]" = mindscope race cars
"the one with the red man and the blue man and the green man" = avengers

Wheee!

Elliott was hanging out in the Beco while I pushed Jonah in a swing at the park.  The mom next to me was trying to convince her toddler to get out of the swing by telling him that it was for babies and that the baby wanted a turn.  (She was indicating Elliott.)  I totally get it and didn't object.  I'll use almost any excuse to get Jonah off the baby swing and either use a "big boy" swing or do any other activity that requires more of his energy than mine.  But then the toddler leaves in a great upheaval over the trauma and it occurs to me - why not give Elliott a turn?  So in he goes and I gave him some gentle pushes.  Elliott wan't thrilled like the other (slightly older) infants, but he didn't complain either.  He looked completely nonchalant, like he was one of the cool kids.

Model Railroad Museum

As lame as a collection of toy trains (and trucks) sounds, it was a huge hit with Jonah!  He was in toddler heaven surrounded by model construction vehicles, airplanes, fire engines, and of course, trains!  They even had some interactive set-ups so he got to press buttons to make the engines go.  Mind blowing.

That's Smart.

Jonah was playing on the beach.  Each time a boat passed, he waved and called out, "Hi, Boat!"  A few didn't take any notice (and probably couldn't hear even Jonah's high-decibel shout over the load motor) but finally one captain waved back.  Jonah pointed to the boat and told us very matter-of-factly, "that's smart."  Then he went back to digging.

Waterfall!

Jonah loves waterfalls in any form, including the small spillway at the end of the street or ever water he pours over the bulkhead.  He was enthralled to go to a "big" waterfall where he could even swim!  Too bad to mountain stream was too frigid for his delicate sensibilities.  ;-)

Zoo!

Why not go to the zoo on a random Tuesday?  So fun!

Greatest Show on Earth

Jonah was terrified, but couldn't take his eyes off the show!  His mouth was hanging open through most of it.  The trapeze was a little too much for him and he wanted to go home, but after a short break he came back to see the tigers!  Jonah loved the tigers and elephants best.

Elliott slept through most of the show, but awoke near the end.  He was hungry, and awfully surprised to find himself at the circus!  The startled look in his eyes was priceless.

Baby? Shower

Elliott enjoyed the pleasure of being the only guy at a cousin's bridal shower yesterday - and a cute one at that!  His even littler cousin Ruby came, too, so (at least at our table) the conversation was far more baby than wedding!  Sorry, kids, the wedding reception will be adult only.  I wonder what we will talk about???

Bounce House Party!

Jonah has been super-exited for the party at the bounce house since I told him about it this morning.  We went to an open house at a new indoor playground.  Jonah wanted the bounce house.  We went to open gym to play soccer.  Jonah wanted to bounce.  We went to the library.  Jonah wanted to bounce.  We went to baby brother's doctor appointment.  And finally, finally, we went to the bounce house party!

Jonah was soooo stoked, he ran back and forth dragging Mommy behind him.  Eventually, he settled on shooting basketballs and then playing with the infant toys set out in a small enclosure.  In fact, the most impressive feat of Jonah athletics of the night was scaling the short infant barrier to reach the baby toys.  Second only to downing three pieces of pizza.  I did coax him into one of the less occupied blow-up structures to jump and run for a little while, but he had no interest in the giant slides, climbers, or getting pummeled by other kids.

Halloween Tiger!

Jonah was very excited to dress up like a Tiger this Halloween.  He picked out the fabric (rejecting a cute cartoon-y fleece) and helped stuff the tail, using a variety of tools including a screwdriver and electric drill - which actually worked quite well!  He even wanted the tiger hat to go with it and wears the hood with pride.  He and Daddy have been practicing their growls, so he has a really powerful roar to go with the outfit.  I had bought him a cute red cardigan sweater so he could be Daniel Tiger (his favorite show!  chip off the old block) but in the end he chose to be a 'regular tiger' and make fierce roars.  He also enjoyed holding his tail and showing it off to everyone.

Jonah has found many occasions for wearing his tiger suit.  Playgroup had a huge party, we trick-or-treated at his school, he and Daddy trick-or-treated at the supermarket, he attended a party by the rec. department AND THEN it was time for Halloween night.  Wow!  What a busy tiger!  Every time we went somewhere, Jonah asked for "more party"!  I think Trick-or-Treating was the least favorite.  He couldn't understand why when you went to someone's house and rang the doorbell you wouldn't go inside when they opened the door!  And a little toddler from down the street saw Jonah inside the neighbor's house and got the same idea.  Cute.  Five houses and he was done.

I always encouraged Jonah to take the little slinkys, balls, and other toys instead of candy.  Not because I'm that mom who doesn't want her kid to have the sugar.  Jonah doesn't like any of it!  At his school party, he kept grabbing Twizzlers, so I gave him one to try.  He licked it and handed it right back.  But at the next classroom, he reached for more Twizzlers!  We also tried a Snickers - a tiny sliver of chocolate off the end so small we didn't even reach the filling - and he was done.  He had far more fun with the stickers and stamps.  Oh, and we did discover a new love for popcorn!  He sat and pulled the kernels one at a time from the fingers of a plastic glove and enjoyed every minute.

Children's Museum w/ JK&L

Jonah cashed in on his birthday present from Uncle Kevin and Aunt Lindsay - they took him to the Children's Museum!  Sounds like they had a great time and Jonah and Uncle K became fast buds.   Mommy enjoyed a morning to herself (Daddy was helping Grandpa!) and met up with the crew for lunch.  Uncle Kevin and Aunt Lindsay looked a little tired from their busy morning

Jonah's favorite thing - which he had to show me when I arrived to pick him up - was a fake fish tank like you might find in Spencer Gifts... in a little "cave" in the eave... 3 stories up!  Oh boy.  He also enjoyed making super long trains and is very proud of his artwork, which is a series of yellow ovals drawn by a pendulum, but he always points at the fridge and announces: "I made that!"

Old Davis Had a Farm

Jonah took Mommy and Grandmama to the petting farm!  (Yes, he took us, since adults aren't allowed without a child!)  He adored all the bunnies and was super excited to find two Starbucks!  One can only imagine the staff was trying to correct him: "this is a ferret, not a Starbuck".

Beach Day!

Happy Mama Day!

Poor Daddy was feeling unwell today, so Jonah was on his own for giving Mommy a wonderful Mother's Day!

We started at Mass, where Jonah clapped enthusiastically along with "This Little Light of Mine".  Then he took me out to the botanical garden and gave me the grand tour.  We made stops at the turtle fountain, misting fountain, spraying hoses, drainage grate, and hose bibs.  Oh, and there were a few flowers along the way!  ;-)  We even found a porch swing hanging from a tree so we could swing together.

My favorite part was when Jonah took a shortcut and frolicked through a field of daffodils while I took the path to meet him.  The other visitors where slightly mystified by the lone toddler, but quite enraptured by his adorable romp across the waist-high field of flowers.  Jonah also enjoyed walking the forest path and finding sticks taller than him, or helping Mommy push the stroller when I grew tired.  (I should note here that his help is performed while being held up high enough to reach the handlebar!)

Jonah on The Theater

I took Mommy to the theater today.  She spends so much time in front of the computer working, she really needs to get out.  Keep in mind that as far as the kids at school are concerned, she was merely my personal driver and lap.  One must appear privileged while keeping a cool indifference in front of peers.  Melanie came over to flirt, and I was able to give the impression of disinterest while lavishly allowing her to share Mommy's knee for a short while.  Such generosity is not given lightly.

The play, artfully nameless, was performed by the world-acclaimed Pumpernickel Puppet company.  I'm certain a pile of Tonys are hiding behind that magical stage.  The story of a princess befriending an amicable dragon was both cliche and new.  I was completely engrossed.  The performance ended with a dance party attended by some distinguished guests, including a roller-skating martian and giant chicken.  I'm so glad I had practiced my knee-bend dance moves.  Bounce bounce bounce, baby!

Trick-or-Treat!

We took Jonah out for Trick-or-Treating!  The weather was predictably wet (isn't it always raining on Halloween?) but the rain stopped while we were out and it was a balmy 60deg.  We met up with some little kids from down the street and made a half dozen stops to visit the neighbors we knew.  My little firefighter got the knack of grabbing a piece of candy and dropping it in his bag (held by Daddy).  He was so proud of the skill, he would do it again and again.  At the same house.  It's the kind of thing you can only get away with at a certain age... for an older kid it would have looked awfully greedy.  :-)

At the Farm

Jonah picked a nice pumpkin to bring to school to decorate.

He liked the long stem for carrying it!

We picked some raspberries for Daddy!

Jonah preferred to squish them.

 And found it much easier to take them from the container already picked!