A Spring Weekend

Spring is finally here! Last week the cherry blossoms bloomed filling the skyline with pink petals and we had a few days with weather in the low 60's, a much needed relief from the gloom and doom of a northwest winter. We took the picture below on a sunny but freezing day in the dead of January (literally it was in the 20's). We took Harrison for a long walk to a playground but when we got there, he couldn't play because his little fingers were red with cold (even with mittens) and we had to carry him most of the way home to keep him warm (look how bundled he was!)

This spring weekend we were able to take walks without fleece blankets, moose hats, mittens and 3 layers of clothes; even if it showered off and on, there was also some sun off and on. After weeks of being indoors we were able to spend some quality time with mother nature.

On Saturday, we went for dinner in the city of Edmonds on a whim and 25 minutes later we were enjoying dinner a few blocks from the Puget Sound. Enjoying a short walk after dinner, we watched the ferries load passengers and cars. At bedtime we read a childrens book about a boy and his dog that visit Seattle, which  goes something like this: "Mom and dad, Pete and Larry, crossed the water on a ferry." I think the real ferry boats connected some dots in Harrison's brain.

We continued the fun teaching Harrison how to draw on the wet shore with a stick, strolling along getting sand in our shoes. Harrison observed seagulls perched on drift wood and dad pointed out a seal swimming 50 yards out. When it was time to go, I had to grab Harrison (who was running away from me) and tuck him under my arm then pass him to dad to quarantine on his shoulders, otherwise I think our kid would have played on the beach forever.

Continuing our sea theme, on Sunday we decided to pack up and head downtown to the Seattle Aquarium; evidently everyone else did too, it was packed and difficult to maneuver but we made the best of it. Harrison enjoyed watching the Harbor Seals swim around from the lookout 20 feet above their tank as well as observe feeding time for the Sea Otters. The River Otters are always fascinating, zooming through the water, jumping onto land, scurrying about then returning to the water.

 

After the aquarium, we had lunch at the cafe at Elliot's on pier 65. Harrison agreed to eat some cod in exchange for french fries (yes, we bribed him with fries - you got to take the wins where you can get 'em) while watching tourists load onto boats in light rain to take the Elliot Bay harbor tours. As we walked 10 minutes back to the car, we veered over to a large, empty pier that is used for concerts during the summer time. Harrison strutted around (seriously, like he owned the place, with a swagger), walking through puddles despite our admonishments his shoes and socks would get soaked.

Fanciful embellishment on a post lining the pier

My boys!

My Silly Boys!

10 minutes later Harrison was asleep in the car, the eventful weekend had taken a lot out of him. I neglected to mention that he went to bed at 10:30pm (!) Friday night since we had friends with a 3 year old over for dinner. What a wonderful weekend!

It's Potty Time!

In the last month or so, Harrison has show some interest in the kamode (aside from the elaborate toilet papering job he did to the downstairs powder room while we were in the living room with friends!). Thanks to Sarah H. and her twin boys, we have inherited two potty chairs that we placed upstairs and downstairs so that he can start to figure the thing out.

Last weekend, mommy was sleeping in late Saturday morning (my hallowed time and only day to sleep in!) when at 8am I am awakened to little hands attempting to open the bedroom door and daddy encouraging him to do so. What could be driving this insanity? Harrison gets the door open and runs up to me yelling, "I did it, I did it!"

Daddy then reported that our 25 month old baby boy just went pee pee in the potty. What a very proud moment. In fact, you know you are a proud parent when (a) pee pee in the potty causes that swelling feeling of pride and (b) you go around telling friends, family and coworkers what your son did over the weekend.

On Monday morning, I recieved a call at work and it is Harrison (and daddy) on speakerphone telling mommy "I did it, I did it!" I congratulate him heartily and then see my boss walk in the door at the other end of the hall to which I calmly say, "mommy is very proud of you but mommy has to go because mommy's boss is here!" My coworker who overheard the whole thing nearly keeled over in laughter.

Just as proud, daddy told several people at work as well. When he walked into a meeting with the big wigs, someone says, "I think Michael has something he would like to share with everybody..." and yes, Harrison, daddy told them you went pee pee in the potty. I believe there were cheers and applause (and laughter).

Harrison faithfully did his duty every morning, although it can take 10-15 minutes. One morning, daddy left him sitting there while he dressed and a few minutes later Harrison was yelling "I did it!" When daddy inspected the bowl, he found it empty. He was just about to begin a little speech about telling the truth when he looked over and realized Harrison had lifted out the potty insert and dumped the contents into the big toilet. Atta Boy!

We certainly have many more months of training ahead of us. He has never done it any time other than in the morning and never in front of mommy. It is possible that it is just a novelty right now that will fade and we may need to start over again. In any case, we are very proud of him!

Fish Tales

A short story for you to  muse over: A couple days ago, I picked up Harrison from day care just as the kids received goldfish crackers as a snack. When we arrived at home, Harrison pointed out to me that one had fallen from somewhere onto the kitchen floor, most likely it was previously stuck to our clothes. I didn't think too much of it since food falling from the sky is pretty common with a toddler around.

The next morning, I stand up from my desk at work to find a single goldfish cracker on the ground, partially broken as I had evidently stepped on it. As I waited for the elevator to take us downstairs, my friend commented that their was a lot of white fuzz on her black fleece jacket to which I replied, "fleece is annoying, but I evidently have goldfish crackers falling out of my wool coat!"

After returning to the office with our lunches, I hung my coat on the back of my chair rather than on the hook as I was eager to eat. Since my coat has a hood I always ensure it is flipped back rather than forward and over the front of my chair (simply because that annoys my sense of order!). To my astonishment, I glanced inside the hood to find:

You know you're a mother when you find several goldfish crackers stowed away in the hood of your jacket! I'm just glad it wasn't raining on my way to work...

Head Stands

When it's too cold or rainy to play outside at school, the teachers will let the toddlers spend some time running down a long hallway which they absolutely love to do. Evidently hallway time occurs around 5pm as I often see them running and giggling through the hallway. Harrison likes it so much that when I arrive I let him continue to run for 5-10 more minutes.  

A couple weeks ago the kids ran away from me and stopped halfway down the hall... to stand on their heads, as a group! None of the group pictures came out but I got one good one of Harrison. What you don't see is that once they are topsy-turvey they stick out their arms like airplane wings and try to balance on their heads - hilarious!

Also around the time of these pictures, I went through Harrison's drawers and closet to put away smaller clothes. When I was done, his entire middle drawer was devoted to track suits. I am not sure how this trend started as each outfit came from a different source, but Harrison has enough stock to outfit a high school track team. My plan was to snap a picture in each outfit but I am too impatient so here are a couple. Have you seen the movie "The Royal Tennanbaums?" Ben Stiller's family wears track suits the entire show so we sometimes call Harrison our little Tennanbaum (he even has that same track suit in blue - thanks Burke & Judy!)