There and Back Again, or, A Toddler's Tale

We had a great trip back to Boston--after much preparation and prayer! We had a bag full of toys, books, games, and very unhealthy snacks to make the five hours pass enjoyably. And a last minute purchase of a portable DVD player saved the day. We got through security okay, although we had to let half the line go in front of us because Davy (who was still cranky from having been woken up from a nap in the car on the way to the airport) decided to throw a tantrum and then kept setting off the "magic doorway." But all's well that ends well, eh? Anyway, the wait to board was fine, and we got on the plane alright. Then we met a super nice lady, Rebecca, who sat in our row. She saw us descending upon her peace and quiet, and smiled and said, "I will be your best friend on this flight! Can I hold the baby while you get the toddler settled?" Whew! Thank you, everyone, for your prayers that we might sit next to a nice lady!! So Davy wanted all his new toys right now, right away, but soon settled into a routine. He got very caught up in a book about feelings, and was quite concerned about the "selfish" and "scared" feelings for several hours (not understating here). We had some great discussions about feelings! And Eddy was sweet and charming as usual, then fell asleep fuss-free and was out peacefully for several hours.


Davy had been prepped that we were going home, but all on his own told Rebecca that he wanted to see his mitt and his Daddy. Presumably in that order.

The only hang up upon landing was finding Eddy's infant car seat. We waited for a long time and then had to trek around (what felt like) the whole airport to find it, me carrying Eddy in the sling, pushing Davy in a stroller and pushing a loaded luggage cart. After five hours on a plane. At 11:00 pm Boston time. We were a sight. But Davy loved the luggage carousels and could have stayed there forever watching the suitcases. After we finally rounded up the car seat we made our way out, and an airport worker came up and asked if she could help us out. "Yes!" Then a true Bostonian native police man told me that he would take care of protecting me and to just take my time and get the baby in safe, as I was scrambling to hurry and install the car seat. Wow, I love being home!


Here's Davy minutes after arriving home at midnight:

We had a doctor's visit for Eddy the morning after we got home. Here were his stats:

Doctor visit on 2/24/2011 (almost 5 months old)
Edward's weight: 17 lbs 13 oz
Eddy's length: 28 1/2 inches

Big kid. He's in the 95th percentile and is growing fast!

And here is Eddy blowing you some raspberries.

Last Fun Days in CA

We're home in snowy Boston and settling into our normal routine of winter, which includes being sick. Davy's battling a stomach bug and Eddy has a perpetual runny nose (maybe also teething?!) This will be short and sweet. More to come later in the week about our trip home.


Grandpa and boys.


Davy insisted on having his apple whole. He was occupied for a long time with that snack!


Last beech day, and boy, was it perfect! Beautiful weather, beach to ourselves, boys cute and sweet and generally pleasant. We topped it off with lunch at Cafe Rio, Mom's favorite!


Weird angle, I know. I was trying to get a cute picture of Edward's long "rabbit" feet covered in sand, but it was hard while holding him. He loved having bare feet, though, and touching the sand.


Davy and Evan extremely focused on their individual sand playing techniques. Davy was a shovel and bucket boy, and Evan was a hands only kind of guy.

In the Hood

We're getting incredibly spoiled by our frequent Disneyland trips. We had a rainy day today, when we had wanted to go. "Oh, well, tomorrow if the weather is good we'll go . . ." we said cheerfully and went to the La Habra Children's Museum instead. But when Davy was driving the bus exhibition they have (a real bus, just cut in half to fit inside) we were on our way to Disneyland in Davy's pretend world! We sure love our chance to enjoy the place several leisurely, fun filled hours at a time, then come home for nap time! Davy loved seeing Goofy, but asked for Donald Duck the rest of the trip. Maybe next time?


Sweet brothers. What more need I say?

Right before I started filming this clip, Davy had been talking about something or other hurting his feelings. But when I asked again with the camera on, he had moved on to thinking about another story of when I had to give him some medicine for a horrible cough he had and promised him a (very small) bite of cookie (spoonful of sugar and all that) afterward.


Some park shenanigans. Davy is pretty proud of his playground prowess. He is quite the climber and can even go down the slide on his tummy. And his new thing is jumping with both feet off a step. It was fun to watch him learn that skill--lots of anxious moments for me, but he was determined after he saw a bigger kid doing it so easily! Right after I stopped filming the video below, Davy pronounced that the jump had "hurt my things." We don't need to elaborate on that, but I did get a laugh!

Edward with his hair combed down--I don't even recognize him as my baby! But oh, how I love that expression of him looking up at me. I fall in love over and over again every time he looks at me.

Eddy's not quite convinced that rolling all the way over is fun. But he loves to roll on his side and reach for things that capture his interest. He's discovered his toes and likes sucking on them when he can get them up to his mouth. Even as a babies my boys have the unflexible gene! And he does raspberries now! Davy can't understand how grandma and I think it is so cute when Eddy does it, but he gets scolded for spitting. Life is so unfair!


Can't get enough of that drooly, snotty face! Poor kid is a leaky faucet these days. But so adorable nonetheless. And Davy is quite a little imaginer (not a word, I know--but you understand what I mean). This stick was both a sword and a magic wand on our walk this afternoon. I tried so hard to get a good picture of him in his fighting stance, but it didn't work out. He cracks me up with his stances. My favorite is his football stance, where he'll put a bucket (helmet) on his head, grab the plush football, say, "I want to play football," crouch down in his knees and move around sideways and around like a football player. I'll try to get it on video one of these days, but he doesn't perform on cue!

We saw a lizard sunning himself on a brick on our walk yesterday! He was nice and big and cool-looking. Davy talked nonstop about him the rest of the walk and headed straight for the same spot today. Of course the lizard was not there, but you get to hear him say "cizard" so cutely, at least!

My best birthday present--of many wonderful ones--was at the end of the day when I put Davy down for bed and he sang I Am a Child of God with me. He's never sung the song before, but he knew all the words and tried to carry the tune. It was so precious and beautiful that I get a little teary just remembering.

Toys, Toys, Toys

Here are the naughty pirates that I mentioned last post. The one with the red hat is "Smee."


Brought this toy out to play with the other day. First thing Davy said when he saw the packaging was, "that's a baby toy." Which is true, except it's too much for Eddy right now. So Davy took over playing with it. They make great "teacups" (like in the Disneyland ride) for his Noah's Ark animals. It was fun watching Davy discover all the things he could do with the toy without any help or interference from me.


Eddy's more and more in the action every day. He's in a great discovery phase, too. He loves his hands and toes these days.


Mom went a little overboard on the Mr Potato Head accessories at Disneyland. I've spent way too much money and have no idea how I'm going to get them all home to Boston, but they are super fun!


Boys watching a movie while Mom showers and Grandma gets ready in the morning. Davy now counts on this routine, which I have mixed feelings about. No question it makes getting ready for the day easier for me!


Davy's been obsessed with scissors since Christmas time. It's impossible to find the kind of kid scissors I grew up with--all plastic and blunt. Finally I found a totally plastic pair in a play-dough kit at the dollar store here. Davy was very concentrated on figuring them out.

Overheard

More crate-airplane with Uncle Garrett. I think the uncles have learned not to begin a game you're not willing to duplicate ten thousand times!


These brothers love each other so much. I love being a mom of two!


Grandpa's idea of having Davy help with Saturday chores. No wonder he's the favorite around here! Kidding aside, it really is amazing how Davy (and Eddy, to a lesser but noticeable degree) gravitate toward the men around here. They miss their daddy and the fun he provides that is so different than what mom and Grandma give.



Found that Lightening McQueen (Disney's Cars) car at the park and had such fun with it and the friends that we met. Davy is so social, I can't imagine where he got it. Not from me!


Speaking of non-masculine fun that is available when the Lambourne men are not around . . . Aunt Jenna's shoes, headbands, and necklaces are a big hit with Davy. Can't go through toddlerhood without one picture in heels, though!


We found a Bumbo chair for Eddy at Goodwill. He seems to like it as it gets him up off the floor and into the action for a few minutes.



Trying to give Evan a hug. The boys' absolute favorite game any time any where they're together is running. Evan's a fast little runner, flapping his arms and legs around like Woody from Toy Story. Davy's run is much slower and more of an in-place, jogging movement. Davy loves to try and keep up with his cousin, and give him hugs when he occasionally catches up to him.

We took a weekend trip with Grandma and Aunt Jessica and Evan to San Diego and had a fabulous time. The weather was wonderful, the hotel amazing (Hilton right on the ocean), and the zoo big. Davy has been talking about the hotel for days. He especially remembers watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on the TV when Jessica and I paid a crazy three dollars to get it on demand while waiting for a late dinner. So worth every penny.


Great view from the hotel windows.


Our weekend trip to San Diego was so fun, but without our in-house photographer, Aunt Janeil, there we simply did not get very many great pictures of the zoo. This is our best shot, and it'll do. Davy has been mentioning that baby elephant ever since the zoo as well. He's quite the little conversationalist.


Popsicle time! Happy boy.


Davy's precious stick fell/was dropped through one of the gaps in the bridge over the duck pond.


Feeding the loons and ducks for the first time in Davy's life. Evan showed him the ropes, but Davy caught on pretty quickly. Throw bread, chase ducks, see them scatter. Easy enough!


Edward rolled over yesterday (January 31). It was morning and I put him down on his back on the floor, then left to check email. I heard some fussing and then quiet. When I went to check on him a few minutes later he was on his tummy. I asked Davy if he had helped him roll over and he said no. I started to weep a little as I called Collin to celebrate the milestone and commiserate over us both missing Eddy's first roll. He's really waking up to the world. When we went to feed the ducks with the two-year-olds today, I first had him facing me in the sling thinking he might want to take a little nap. But no, he fussed and squirmed until I turned him around to face outward. Then he was content and wide eyed watching the action. He'll be up and running with the big boys waaaaaay too soon. Please stay my little poofy-haired baby forever, sweet Edward John.


Davy was playing in the bath with his pirate bath toys last night. I was folding laundry in the hallway just outside the door, but out of Davy's vision. He was splashing around with his pirates when I heard him say, "Captain Hook is a bad guy. He needs to go to the quiet corner (time out)." And then in the same stern tone I use with him, "Stay in the quiet corner, Captain Hook!"

Talking to himself on the way home from Greg and Jessica's this evening: "There were dinosaurs. I was a little bit nervous of the dinosaurs. They are nice dinosaurs." And he retold the story of Dumbo to himself, complete with the loosing the lucky feather and the mouse riding on Dumbo's nose and scarring the funny clowns.

You can tell from the end of the first video below that I can only take a movie with consumate stealth anymore. As soon as he realizes what is going on he wants to watch the video. So just before I ran into the house to get the camera, Davy was talking about the "beetiful colors, so pretty. I love pink. Pink is my favrite color." In the movie he says purple is, but I guess either one is a social no-no. But give the kid a break. He's two and he's adorable. And there is one of Edward, as well, being his irresistible baby self. Don't you just want to pick him up and smooch his cheeks?

For more cute pictures of fun the past few days, see Jessica's blog: http://gregnjeska.blogspot.com/

So grateful we have two cameras and two perspectives on these outings with the boys!