Things I've learned

When you first meet someone you get one idea of who they are. In order to get the whole picture, you have to get out of your comfort zone and try new things. You don't know how prissy a girl is until you try to take her swimming, or if a guy can handle losing or looking goofy until you take him miniature golfing or wacky bowling.

Apparent the same thing holds with kids. Here are things I've learned so far this week about Scotty:

1. He gets motion sickness. I guess that explains the hurling after landing in Phoenix, the pit-stop-on-the-shoulder-of-the-freeway-and-baby-wipe-bath on our drive out to Cali, and the two baths and three outfits he juiced after we arrived. Guess it explains a lot!
2. He doesn't digest mint oreos very well. Especially while traveling. (see #1)
   
3. His compulsion about clean hands and avoiding sand in the shoes overrides the coolness of the waves, ocean water, or beach.
4. Having a toddler self-confined to a beach chair is not really a negative.
   
5. There is such a thing as too much adventure. Between packing, cleaning, flying, unpacking, cleaning, driving, and crazy nap schedules--this kid is practically begging for more down time and naps. Too bad we're going to Sea World tomorrow....
6. He loves little babies and gives soft loves and air kisses.
7. Any baby who is mobile and so much as glances at his food, toys, or mama is a serious threat.
8. He is not very soft with mobile babies.
   
9. He has already learned who to ask for things. Mama will almost never say no to hugs, kisses, or picking him up. Daddy will almost never say no to playing or wrestling or tickling. Aunty Misty will NEVER say no to food, even if he's already shoved the entire can of puffs in his mouth. In the last five minutes. Nana will almost never say no to reading a book or singing a song. Many times in a row. Papa will NEVER say no to watching a movie. Even if it's Cars. Three times a day.
10. He still looks like an angel when he's asleep. If you listen closely you can still hear those sweet baby sighs.
11. Listening to sweet baby sighs is better than meditating.
    

Arizona Boy

It's official. Scotty was genetically bred to love Arizona. His current top 5 list:

1. Cars. On Papa's 60" TV. Every day.

2. Timbre--the hyper play toy my parents got just for him to pet, feed, and try to ride.

3. Water adventures everywhere. So far he's found love at the public pool, two bathtubs, and two outside kiddie pools.
I'm just glad he hasn't yet discovered the pond and waterfall my parents built in our backyard...

(He also loves that our house is in the flight path to Sky Harbor.
He's waving at a passing airplane.)

4. A park of sorts. It's a little too hot to be outside for long and metal playground equipment is just asking for third degree burns. So we compromise by letting him terrorize the kiddie play area at a local (very upscale!) mall. I'd forgotten how posh the shopping experience around here was. Does University Mall have a valet parking system?

5. Lots of people who love him. Usually the soundtrack of my life is something like this: "Mama, mama, MAMA: Dog! Mama, MAMA: vroom! MAMA: I want snack. Book. Up. Down. Water. Snack. Sweet. MAMA!" He quickly realized that there are more people here to spoil him and appropriately performs as the center of attention every night at the dinner table. And if he wants anything? "Mama! Nana! Dada! Papa! Timbre! MAMA!"

The Big Move

Well, it's official. I'll have to post pictures of our last days in Provo later because my mom was smart enough to snap pictures of me with most of my friends! I do have this shot taken after the truck was packed up and the cottage was empty except for the blanket spread out for us to sleep on the floor...


...feels a little odd without Scotty. We've certainly accumulated a fair share of cute kids during our years in Provo!

Thanks again to everyone who helped pack, load, clean, chase Scotty so I could pack, load, and clean, and for being such wonderful friends! We're playing Settlers tonight in your honor, and maybe Eric will even win this time. There's a first for everything.


Christine, Nick, Linds and co. and all you other Arizonians--doesn't this nostalgia make you want to move down here?

Farewell to Provo

You Can't Make This Stuff Up.

This kid cracks me up. We had some friends and family over for a BBQ on Saturday after the parade and the kids were running around outside. Marian took a spill on the sidewalk and was laying there crying about a scraped knee. I scooped her up to make sure she was okay and give her a little hug. That little bit of attention must have kicked in Scotty's jealous gene...

he sat down on the sidewalk, carefully laid down on his back, and proceeded to cry about the owie on his leg and tell me he fell down.

Such a ham. Maybe he'll have a future in the dramatic arts. He's already practicing his vocalization through whining. Instead of making us mad, however, Eric and I laugh every time he starts whining because his favorite word is "shoes." It lends itself so perfectly to exaggerated whining!

Now that he's talking more (and giving me the running commentary on life as a toddler) I catch him saying funny things. Yesterday he was reading me his curious george book and telling me how we have to be "shhh" because george went "nite-nite." Then he turned the last page, closed the book, and said "A-Men!"

I had to laugh even more because he makes a big show of unfolding his arms when he says that.

Fourth Festivities

We celebrated our last Fourth in Provo in some serious style. Eric and his brother Stephen headed out early to claim prime territory on center street so we could enjoy some nice shade--Stephen actually pulled an all-nighter and slept a few hours in his car...
Scotty appreciates your sacrifice for patriotism, as evidenced by his solemn expression.

Scotty thought the parade was the best thing ever. Stephen gave him a flag, which he loved, as demonstrated in exhibit A:



Here's Eric telling Scotty how cool muskets and cannons are. You can also see Nick and Callie in the background (haha! I did catch Nick on camera somewhere in there).

And Scotty realizing that the guy walking by (who wasn't even in the parade) was wearing a goofy hat! Gotta love Provoites.

We had a great time with friends we are going to miss TERRIBLY when we move in two weeks. I'm suddenly realizing that after three years I have essentially no pictures of these wonderful people...

Christine and Callie (my adopted daughter), who will be moving to AZ any day now, right?

Martha and her sweet baby Emily, who's only 6 weeks old. I think Marian is in a few of these but I don't see Adam....funny how that works. Guess I don't check out your husbands when you're not looking!

Here's Scotty informing Eric that there are HORSES in this parade! Amazing!

After the parade Eric made some delicious BBQ chicken with pineapple, we ate some patriotic cake courtesy of Stephen and his wonderful girlfriend Emily, and then took a 3 hour nap.

I had promised Scotty an afternoon swim and he never forgets something like that.

Since it was a holiday we let him eat chips right out of the bag. If you look close you can even see pieces of seasoning on his lips....um, GROSS but hey, boys will be boys.

This is the face he makes when he says "cheese." Not sure who invented that as a way to make kids smile--it's not his most attractive look.

Balloon Fest

Being a mom means you sacrifice for your children. You put your family first. You wake up at 6am and take your toddler to see a bunch of hot air balloons because you know he'll love it. Even though he wouldn't have known about it and therefore wouldn't have missed it if you had "slept" through your alarm.

This was Scotty's favorite: Tony the Tiger. Or, according the him, the "Grrr Ball."

Aren't I a great mom?

I'm glad I took him, because he LOVED it.

His newest thing is firetrucks, so I can't wait for the parade tomorrow! I have the feeling I'll get the play by play courtesy of toddlerese and sign language. Have you ever acknowledged ever firetruck or motorcycle in a parade?

(This is the sign for firefighter)