It's totally cliche, but a toddler's mind is like a sponge. Seriously. Mine is no exception, I think I've mentioned this before. I love this age, and I would love to dive into that little brain of Landon's and see what his train of thought is like.
He's talking constantly these days and has started stringing words together to form phrases. It's so much fun conversing with him when we're driving somewhere, when he's glued to his high chair, when we're out for a walk and he's discovering new things (or re-discovering the flower that we've walked by and oogled every day for a week). It's just plain fun. Tonight Landon and I chatted about his day in the bathtub. I smiled from the inside out as this was the first time he's been able to recount the day all on his own. Usually while we're on our way home from daycare I'll ask him how his day was and what he did. It's a one-way conversation though and I'm the one reminding him that he went to the park, had lunch, etc. I couldn't wait for the day when he'd tell me all about what he did, and today was that day.
Landon: Daddy, work?
Mommy: No, Daddy's bowling.
Landon: Mommy work. Landon, Irma's.
Mommy: Yes, you go to Irma's when Mommy is at work.
Landon: Noble Irma's.
Mommy: Did you play with Noble at Irma's today?
Landon: Yes. Jenna.
Mommy: Did you play with Jenna too?
Landon: Park.
Mommy: Did you go to the park with Irma today?
Landon: Yes. Jenna, Noble too.
Mommy: Did you play with Jenna and Noble at the park?
Landon: SLIDE! Noble, Jenna, slide!
Mommy: You played on the slide today?
Landon: Around. (While he motions his hand in a circle.)
Mommy: Yes, you go around and up and then down the slide again?
Landon: YES!
Mommy: Sounds like fun! Did you have fun?
Landon: Yes. Swings! WEEE!!!
Mommy: Ooh, yes, the swings are fun. Did Irma push you on the swings?
Landon: Yes. Firetruck. Loud.
Mommy: Did a firetruck drive by?
Landon: Yes. LOUD!
Mommy: Yes, firetrucks are loud.
It went on from there. We chit chatted for a good three minutes or so, it was so cute. When did my baby boy get to be such a big boy?
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
It's the small things
Life with a toddler slows you down. The term 'baby steps' has new meaning and the mind of a toddler is a thirsty sponge that never seems to saturate. Everything is new and amazing and full of wonder and refreshing.
I found myself driving to work after dropping Landon off at daycare last week, stuck in traffic, still listening to the Barenaked Ladies Snacktime CD (those songs are kinda catchy) and admiring an airplane flying high above my little SUV. I knew Landon wasn't in the car with me, I looked back at his carseat through my rearview mirror a little sad that he wasn't there for me to point it out for him. So I sat there in the middle of what must have been tens upon tens of cars waiting fairly impatiently to get to their destination, and I smiled as I watched that airplane move across the sky. Suddenly the traffic didn't seem so bad.
As much as I know I'm teaching that little sponge of mine, he's returning the favor whether he knows it right now or not.
I found myself driving to work after dropping Landon off at daycare last week, stuck in traffic, still listening to the Barenaked Ladies Snacktime CD (those songs are kinda catchy) and admiring an airplane flying high above my little SUV. I knew Landon wasn't in the car with me, I looked back at his carseat through my rearview mirror a little sad that he wasn't there for me to point it out for him. So I sat there in the middle of what must have been tens upon tens of cars waiting fairly impatiently to get to their destination, and I smiled as I watched that airplane move across the sky. Suddenly the traffic didn't seem so bad.
As much as I know I'm teaching that little sponge of mine, he's returning the favor whether he knows it right now or not.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
River Rafting vs. Motherhood
Motherhood is like river rafting trip. You do everything you can to prepare for this trip; get all your gear packed, plan out what you're going to wear and the route you're going to take, preparing mentally for this exciting and fun time you're going to have. Maybe you read some books and talk to friends who have taken a journey like this before. They'll tell you all about their fun times and enough horror stories to make you reconsider your trip for a quick second. What you don’t realize though is that you just don't know what it's going to be like until you're there in the middle of it.
Pregnancy, parenting, newborns, toddlers, same deal. Forest Gump knows exactly what he's talking about. Life IS like a box of chocolates, you just don't know what you're going to get. Well, except for when they include one of those little maps in your box...but inevitabley someone will push a cherry creme where a caramel is supposed to be and the map is no good (and you have an awful cherry creme in your mouth that you'd like to spit in the garbage). You can prepare and try to read maps and talk to friends and buy the latest and greatest thing that's going to be the handiest device to ever exist. And then you head to labor and delivery, birth plan in hand (het het).
The day has finally come, your bags are packed and you're ready to head out on the rafting trip of your life. The weather is great and you're looking forward to climbing in the raft. Your guide gives an overview of what to do in select scenarios, falling out of the boat or how to paddle effectively as a group before turning you loose in the water. You’re excited to start out, the first half an hour is exhilirating and you’re having the time of your life. Whitecap waves, rocks and logs seem to have materialized from nowhere. Rapids. You knew they were here, you knew there would be challenges, and you were up for it at the time but now? You’re not so sure. Jostled is an understatement and you go flying out of the raft as it capsizes. Oh crap. What do you do now? You’re terrified and are second-guessing the entire trip. Your guide is shouting directions but you’re floundering; trying to remember the crash course right before you got into the water, you rush through the catalogue of stories in your mind. Swim to an eddy. Okay. Your guide rights the raft and you manage to swim yourself to it. There’s an outstretched arm waiting for you, it’s not your guide but the brunette that was sitting behind you. She smiles as she pulls you back onto the raft. Tricking through the rest of the rapids is awesome. No other word describes it. It’s awesome. Exciting, scary, fun, fabulous; even better now that you’ve made a few new friends on the raft. The waters start to calm before you round a corner and come to a clearing. The air is crisp, the sky blue, the trees reflecting off of the mirror of water below. You look around and realize that you’ve arrived. And it was worth it. Almost unthinkable, but you kind of want to do it again.
Yes, motherhood is like a rafting adventure. Scratch that, motherhood IS a rafting adventure. Exciting as it is, your raft will inevitably capsize at some point. You will make new friends they’ll reach their arms out to pull you back in the raft. You’ll pull them back onto the raft when they fall out, you’ll laugh and paddle together. You’ll also realize that no matter how much preparation you do, what gadgets you’ve got or how many stories you hear there just isn’t anything that prepares you for it. You’ll arrive at a clearing, look back at some point at all that it took to get here and you’ll admire yourself and will be in awe of this little being, this little life that’s been entrusted to you. Words cannot describe the love, the difficulty, the joy, the anguish, the fun, the stress, the sheer awesomeness that is your child. It’s as if your heart and soul jumps out of your chest, you hold it close for a time before letting it go to run around the playground at the park.
Then, just as he poops in the bathtub for the third night in a row you’ll second guess yourself wanting to do it all over again. True story.
Pregnancy, parenting, newborns, toddlers, same deal. Forest Gump knows exactly what he's talking about. Life IS like a box of chocolates, you just don't know what you're going to get. Well, except for when they include one of those little maps in your box...but inevitabley someone will push a cherry creme where a caramel is supposed to be and the map is no good (and you have an awful cherry creme in your mouth that you'd like to spit in the garbage). You can prepare and try to read maps and talk to friends and buy the latest and greatest thing that's going to be the handiest device to ever exist. And then you head to labor and delivery, birth plan in hand (het het).
The day has finally come, your bags are packed and you're ready to head out on the rafting trip of your life. The weather is great and you're looking forward to climbing in the raft. Your guide gives an overview of what to do in select scenarios, falling out of the boat or how to paddle effectively as a group before turning you loose in the water. You’re excited to start out, the first half an hour is exhilirating and you’re having the time of your life. Whitecap waves, rocks and logs seem to have materialized from nowhere. Rapids. You knew they were here, you knew there would be challenges, and you were up for it at the time but now? You’re not so sure. Jostled is an understatement and you go flying out of the raft as it capsizes. Oh crap. What do you do now? You’re terrified and are second-guessing the entire trip. Your guide is shouting directions but you’re floundering; trying to remember the crash course right before you got into the water, you rush through the catalogue of stories in your mind. Swim to an eddy. Okay. Your guide rights the raft and you manage to swim yourself to it. There’s an outstretched arm waiting for you, it’s not your guide but the brunette that was sitting behind you. She smiles as she pulls you back onto the raft. Tricking through the rest of the rapids is awesome. No other word describes it. It’s awesome. Exciting, scary, fun, fabulous; even better now that you’ve made a few new friends on the raft. The waters start to calm before you round a corner and come to a clearing. The air is crisp, the sky blue, the trees reflecting off of the mirror of water below. You look around and realize that you’ve arrived. And it was worth it. Almost unthinkable, but you kind of want to do it again.
Yes, motherhood is like a rafting adventure. Scratch that, motherhood IS a rafting adventure. Exciting as it is, your raft will inevitably capsize at some point. You will make new friends they’ll reach their arms out to pull you back in the raft. You’ll pull them back onto the raft when they fall out, you’ll laugh and paddle together. You’ll also realize that no matter how much preparation you do, what gadgets you’ve got or how many stories you hear there just isn’t anything that prepares you for it. You’ll arrive at a clearing, look back at some point at all that it took to get here and you’ll admire yourself and will be in awe of this little being, this little life that’s been entrusted to you. Words cannot describe the love, the difficulty, the joy, the anguish, the fun, the stress, the sheer awesomeness that is your child. It’s as if your heart and soul jumps out of your chest, you hold it close for a time before letting it go to run around the playground at the park.
Then, just as he poops in the bathtub for the third night in a row you’ll second guess yourself wanting to do it all over again. True story.
Monday, March 1, 2010
He Dropped a Bomb
An S bomb, that is. And Daddy is pretty thrilled that it was all Mommy's fault. I was unloading groceries on Saturday and cut my finger on a yogurt container coming out of the bag, "oww, $h!t." For the next five minutes Landon ran around extending his arm out, pulling it back and saying, "oww, $h!t, oww $h!t." I had to turn away from him so he would see me chuckle.
Baby's first curse word. Apparently now is the time we must start watching what we say.
Baby's first curse word. Apparently now is the time we must start watching what we say.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Toddler-Speak
I'm speaking a new language these days, only they don't offer classes in toddler-speak. It's all trial by fire but worry not, we're getting the hang of it. Sentances are emerging. Actual sentances with words strung together, three or four or five deep. Communication at last! We still get the grunting and pointing deal, but it's so much easier to go straight to the milk instead of playing twenty questions and picking up seven random objects playing our own version of hot and cold.
Bebe tot teetee pot (Baby Ant Has Stinky Pants, Landon's current favorite book)
Amada (Banana, he'd eat them all day long if we let him, maybe a monkey in a past life?)
Teetoo (Thank you, what a polite little guy)
Tajoo (Carro, car)
BoBo (Noble, one of his daycare buddies)
Hap Pesh (Help please, again, loving the politeness)
E-we-bo-dee (Everybody! I don't know what it is about this word but Landon loves to repeat it over and over and over)
Peedy (Pretty, aka, jewelry)
Basha, basha, basha (Brush 'em, brush 'em, brush 'em. Teeth, that is)
Ah-foos (Waffles. Breakfast yumminess)
Gogurt (Yogurt)
Bip (Dip. Bonus points if Landon can 'bip' his 'ah-foos' in his 'gogurt')
Bebe tot teetee pot (Baby Ant Has Stinky Pants, Landon's current favorite book)
Amada (Banana, he'd eat them all day long if we let him, maybe a monkey in a past life?)
Teetoo (Thank you, what a polite little guy)
Tajoo (Carro, car)
BoBo (Noble, one of his daycare buddies)
Hap Pesh (Help please, again, loving the politeness)
E-we-bo-dee (Everybody! I don't know what it is about this word but Landon loves to repeat it over and over and over)
Peedy (Pretty, aka, jewelry)
Basha, basha, basha (Brush 'em, brush 'em, brush 'em. Teeth, that is)
Ah-foos (Waffles. Breakfast yumminess)
Gogurt (Yogurt)
Bip (Dip. Bonus points if Landon can 'bip' his 'ah-foos' in his 'gogurt')
Saturday, February 13, 2010
It can't get any better...can it?
One word would describe things in casa de Poston right now: FUN! Landon is at such a fun age, his personality shines through in everything he does and his little brain comes up with some of the funniest, craziest stuff; I find myself giggling at him all the time.
We're becoming fluent in toddler speak over here, every day there seems to be new words and phrases spilling from Landon's mouth.
Splat (Pat)
I love you (Iuv ewe)
Shoes
Feetsies (Teetsies)
Dance (Das)
Fishies (Ishies)
Uh oh!
I'm okay (I OK)
Happy (ah-ppy)
Truck truck (tuk tuk)
Zoom zoom (oohm oohm)
WOW!
Airplane (airpane)
I so enjoy seeing the world unfold through Landon's eyes. It's a clean slate, everything is new and different and full of excitement and wonder. He'll stop dead in his tracks and dance along with music in the background when I never even was paying attention long enough to notice the music in the first place. He'll seek out the birdies and airplanes in the sky.
Santa brought a play kitchen and food for Christmas and he loves to carry around a pot of food as he stirs it. If you ask him what he's cooking he'll tell you it's, "soup!" and offer you a taste. He loves to "cheers" glasses and will clink his sippy cup with the dog's water dish if nobody else in the house has one available.
The other day I was sick and laying on the couch, my slippers on the floor right next to me. Landon inspected my feet underneath the blanket and put them on my feet, "Mama's shoes!" Once he had moved onto something else I replaced them next to the couch and dozed off. Upon awaking and trying to step into said slippers I found that he had taken his cups from the play kitchen and was using my slippers as cupholders.
His friend Jenna taught him how to twirl around, which is his new favorite thing to do. He'll twirl and spin until he's dizzy and then sit on the ground waiting for the world to settle back in again. Then he'll get up and do it all over again.
I'm amazed at what a little person Landon is becoming. He's got definite ideas of how he wants things done, what he wants for snack/lunch/dinner/etc., which bath toys he wants to play with, which shoes he wants to wear, what book he wants to read or which song he wants to sing. Each day brings a new discovery, a new opportunity, a new giggle, a new word. I'm loving and cherishing every moment.
We're becoming fluent in toddler speak over here, every day there seems to be new words and phrases spilling from Landon's mouth.
Splat (Pat)
I love you (Iuv ewe)
Shoes
Feetsies (Teetsies)
Dance (Das)
Fishies (Ishies)
Uh oh!
I'm okay (I OK)
Happy (ah-ppy)
Truck truck (tuk tuk)
Zoom zoom (oohm oohm)
WOW!
Airplane (airpane)
I so enjoy seeing the world unfold through Landon's eyes. It's a clean slate, everything is new and different and full of excitement and wonder. He'll stop dead in his tracks and dance along with music in the background when I never even was paying attention long enough to notice the music in the first place. He'll seek out the birdies and airplanes in the sky.
Santa brought a play kitchen and food for Christmas and he loves to carry around a pot of food as he stirs it. If you ask him what he's cooking he'll tell you it's, "soup!" and offer you a taste. He loves to "cheers" glasses and will clink his sippy cup with the dog's water dish if nobody else in the house has one available.
The other day I was sick and laying on the couch, my slippers on the floor right next to me. Landon inspected my feet underneath the blanket and put them on my feet, "Mama's shoes!" Once he had moved onto something else I replaced them next to the couch and dozed off. Upon awaking and trying to step into said slippers I found that he had taken his cups from the play kitchen and was using my slippers as cupholders.
His friend Jenna taught him how to twirl around, which is his new favorite thing to do. He'll twirl and spin until he's dizzy and then sit on the ground waiting for the world to settle back in again. Then he'll get up and do it all over again.
I'm amazed at what a little person Landon is becoming. He's got definite ideas of how he wants things done, what he wants for snack/lunch/dinner/etc., which bath toys he wants to play with, which shoes he wants to wear, what book he wants to read or which song he wants to sing. Each day brings a new discovery, a new opportunity, a new giggle, a new word. I'm loving and cherishing every moment.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Where have we been?
The more appropriate quesiton might be, where HAVEN'T we been? The holidays have come and gone, we've all been enjoying life and staying as far away from the computer screen as possible soaking up every moment possible with a litte two and a half foot tall, blonde toddler running amuck. And we've been having a blast!
We took our annual trip up to the Plumas National Forest the weekend before Thanksgiving to pick out our Christmas tree and visit Great Grandpa Jay. There was a lot of snow on the ground and while it wasn't technically Landon's first trip to the snow since there was a bit on the ground last year, it was Landon's first time out in the snow, tromping around. He takes after his mommy on this one as he wasn't a big fan. I think he had more fun in the car with the aunties honking the horn and steering the steering wheel. We all had a great time and brought along Landon's buddy Jenna and her mom and dad. It was a long day, but the kiddos did great! Jenna loved the snow much more than Landon did, she couldn't get enough of the sled.
Landon enjoyed turkey and all the trimmings for Thanksgiving. He especially loved the green beans and pumpkin pie. We hosted Great Grandma Jean, Granddad, Maureen, Aunt B, Aunties Kate and Em and Uncle John. Grandma Cathy spent the holiday in Iowa. We all had a great time!
Christmastime through a child's eyes is the most amazing, fun, heartwarming experience ever. The only thing Landon wasn't a fan of was Santa. We read books, attempted to watch movies, talked about it and walked by Santa at the mall in preparation for sitting on the Big Guy's lap. No such luck. What we do have is one of those fantastic shots of a tearful toddler wishing he was anywhere else in the world. Ahh, what a difference a year makes.
"WOOOOWWWW!!!" was Landon's favorite word there for a while and was exclaimed often. Turning on our Christmas lights, sitting in the front window looking at the neighbor's lights outside, riding around in the car when it was dark, seeing any Christmas tree all decorated and lit up. Landon's favorite thing was the remote control train we set up underneath the Christmas tree. He loved pushing the buttons making the "choo choo" move forward and backward and turning the music on and off. The train was also an awesome distraction from the tree itself and Landon generally kept himself out of the ornaments and the gifts under the tree. So much fun.
Daycare closed for two weeks during Christmas and New Years, so the three of us were able to spend a solid chunk of time together at home which was probably the best present of all. We made candy, wrapped presents, and ventured out to the Academy of Science in San Francisco, the Oakland Zoo and Tilden Park.
We're all settling into 2010 and continue to enjoy letting life unfold. Landon is growing and learning by leaps and bounds and we're all soaking up the hugs, kisses, singing, dancing and even the occasional tantrum. 2010 is proving to be a great year already in our house.
We took our annual trip up to the Plumas National Forest the weekend before Thanksgiving to pick out our Christmas tree and visit Great Grandpa Jay. There was a lot of snow on the ground and while it wasn't technically Landon's first trip to the snow since there was a bit on the ground last year, it was Landon's first time out in the snow, tromping around. He takes after his mommy on this one as he wasn't a big fan. I think he had more fun in the car with the aunties honking the horn and steering the steering wheel. We all had a great time and brought along Landon's buddy Jenna and her mom and dad. It was a long day, but the kiddos did great! Jenna loved the snow much more than Landon did, she couldn't get enough of the sled.
Landon enjoyed turkey and all the trimmings for Thanksgiving. He especially loved the green beans and pumpkin pie. We hosted Great Grandma Jean, Granddad, Maureen, Aunt B, Aunties Kate and Em and Uncle John. Grandma Cathy spent the holiday in Iowa. We all had a great time!
Christmastime through a child's eyes is the most amazing, fun, heartwarming experience ever. The only thing Landon wasn't a fan of was Santa. We read books, attempted to watch movies, talked about it and walked by Santa at the mall in preparation for sitting on the Big Guy's lap. No such luck. What we do have is one of those fantastic shots of a tearful toddler wishing he was anywhere else in the world. Ahh, what a difference a year makes.
"WOOOOWWWW!!!" was Landon's favorite word there for a while and was exclaimed often. Turning on our Christmas lights, sitting in the front window looking at the neighbor's lights outside, riding around in the car when it was dark, seeing any Christmas tree all decorated and lit up. Landon's favorite thing was the remote control train we set up underneath the Christmas tree. He loved pushing the buttons making the "choo choo" move forward and backward and turning the music on and off. The train was also an awesome distraction from the tree itself and Landon generally kept himself out of the ornaments and the gifts under the tree. So much fun.
Daycare closed for two weeks during Christmas and New Years, so the three of us were able to spend a solid chunk of time together at home which was probably the best present of all. We made candy, wrapped presents, and ventured out to the Academy of Science in San Francisco, the Oakland Zoo and Tilden Park.
We're all settling into 2010 and continue to enjoy letting life unfold. Landon is growing and learning by leaps and bounds and we're all soaking up the hugs, kisses, singing, dancing and even the occasional tantrum. 2010 is proving to be a great year already in our house.
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