a Moment for Mama

Who says selfies are just for teenagers?!

(This blog isn't about me, but it IS for me and by me. That's why I'm posting this anecdote - and others like it - that I want to remember as much as I do stories about the boys. You okay with that? Thanks for understanding.)

I know my husband is handsome.

What I'm learning more and more, though, is that he's also really wise. Take, for instance, last nite. I was whining, complaining about having a less-than-stellar week of Weight Watching, imagining that a few caloric improprieties would lead to double digit gains in the same amount of time it'd take me to polish off a Papa John's pizza. After doing the diet so well for so many weeks, I didn't just fall off the wagon. I took the wheels off of it.

Son of a beesting.

Jeremy doesn't know this, but I complain about these things to him in hopes that he can somehow fix them.  Can't he erase the calories? Doesn't he have a pill I can take to undo what I did? Well?!? DOESN'T HE?!!?

He may not have a pill, but he did make me feel better. Sitting on the window seat, pulling on the legs of his flannel pajama bottoms, he said this:

"Even the best rounds of golf have some bogeys in them."

Well, now.

Why didn't I think of that?

Freddie's His Own Best Friend.

I've already shown you how Freddie "found" himself in the mirror.

I haven't, however, shown you Freddie finding himself in the mirror. This morning, I caught my favorite little narcissist in the act of checking out A-Number-1.

Freddie's Found His Voice.

When Jones was just a little older than Freddie is, he started making this sound. It was like a dolphin - or a squeaky wheel - or the title character in that movie that my sister used to love about a vocally-challenged angel.

Yesterday, Freddie started making a sound of his own. At first, I couldn't tell if it was a cry or a laugh, but he's continued to do it today - a lot - and since it's never accompanied by tears, I'm thinking it's just his way of saying, "Hey, Y'all. Let's get this party started."

Yes, Freddie Bear. Let's.

Not-So-Much-Fun in the Sun

I couldn't wait to get Jones in Mom & Daddy's pool today.

It was to be the first time he'd been swimming, since last summer, and, much as he loves a bath, I just knew a ginormous "tub" would be better than watching every episode of "Chuggington" on an endless loop, while drinking chocolate milk.

Apparently, I'm not as smart as I think I am.

Instead, Jones was PETRIFIED of the water - terrified, clinging to me, while his brother sat happily in a portable swing just under the shade of the covered porch. I tried the new pirate-themed boat I bought him. I tried the "Puddle Jumper" lifevest. I tried everything short of promising him a koozie full of Coca-Cola, and nothing seemed to help ... until it did.

Time is what it took. I started out holding a screaming child in the hot tub, hoping he'd get so distracted by watching the big kids play that he'd forget the "horror" he'd been subjected to. As his wails died down, I put him in the pirate boat. Eventually, he settled down enough to let go of my arm and, even, to smile. 

Or maybe he'd just figured out that the quickest way to get out of there was to let me get the pictures I wanted, so that I'd let him out of the water? Actually, I didn't let him off the hook that easily. Our living at Mom and Daddy's most of the week means that the little man is going to HAVE to get used to a pool, because he's going to be in it a lot this summer. We've also got a beach trip coming up, not to mention various weekends to spend at Lake Chatuge, so I'm committed to getting him to warm up to water, no matter how cold it may be.

He ended up out of the hot tub and into the big pool for an hour or more, so I think we're on the right track. 

We'd better be.

Fair is fair.

If Jones's first ride on a John Deere gets a post, shouldn't Freddie's?! As a second child, I say a resounding, "YES!" I'm trying really, really hard to do for Freddie as I did for Jones. I must say, however, that I'm beginning to sympathize with my mom, who can tell you the first time Sissy picked her nose but can't remember how, when, or if I started to walk.

I love this picture, because Freddie's face makes him
look like a cranky old man. He's neither -
cranky OR an old man!

You're forgiven now, Mom. I get it.

Anyway, let me start by saying that this weekend was exquisite. God outdid Himself. The weather was just incredible - immaculately sunny but not yet humid enough that my hair got frizzy.  In a word, "perfect," as the frizziness (or not) of my hair is how I measure the success of most things.

We spent a good amount of time out and about as a family, which I absolutely loved. First, we had lunch with the Pressleys at Sid's on Saturday,  After the boys' naps, we drove out to Lake Logan, stopping by the Meadowbrook playground on our way back home (Jones still loves swings but remains deathly afraid of slides ... even when accompanied by his thumb and his mother). Jones spent Sunday afternoon at Nan and Pop's, and when he got home, he spent some time "helping," as his daddy did some yard work.

Freddie came outside, too, after his nap. Jeremy took the opportunity to introduce Brother Bear to the thrill-a-minute of riding a tractor. Of course, Jones rode along, too (typical).  The ride didn't last long, because Jeremy wasn't sure how well he could steer with both boys on his lap, but at least, Freddie got a little taste that will, hopefully, hold him over until he's a little bit bigger.

Let me point out that my hope is that Freddie's rides with Daddy are relegated to tractors only. By that I mean, NO JETSKIS (you hear me, Jeremy?!?)!

I love this picture, because of the way Jeremy
is looking at our Freddie Bear.

Pretty nice little Saturday

Cause & Effect

Because of this ...



... this.

Jones loves "Jake & the Neverland Pirates." Well, Jones loves the credits of "Jake," anyway. Whenever he hears the theme song, he stops what he's doing and does this dance, usually throwing one arm in the air, just like Jake. Most of the time, he loses interest after the credits. But for those thirty seconds, he is completely enthralled.

The first time Jones noticed character merchandise of any kind, it was a Jake soap dispenser. We were at Wal-Mart when he saw it and pointed to it on a shelf. When I handed it to him, he laughed and pulled it to himself. Wouldn't you just know it, Santa ended up bringing him that very soap dispenser (how did he know?!)!

Today - again at Wal-Mart - I saw some more merchandise that I thought might make Jones as excited as the "Jake" credits. I was on the market for some summer jammies, and these seemed like the perfect choice.

You like?!