A day off…

Posted on March 12, 2010 by Meghan

No walk for us today because of the rain, although Ian requested one at the usual time today… have you ever watched “Deadwood,” where Calamity Jane tells the little girl “Oops, I owe you a penny” every time she curses? Have you considered owing me a penny every time I walk a mile to help make a day when all babies are born healthy possible? If everyone who’s ever enjoyed one of Ian’s beautiful smiles donated just $1, I’d exceed my goal! (And many thanks to our very generous sponsors, who are featured in the sidebar.)

Since I have no walk to chronicle, I’ll share a little story from our morning instead.

I made the mistake of telling Ian yesterday that if he peed in the potty every day for a week, I’d get him a present. (This boy doesn’t do what doesn’t interest him. Wonder where he gets that from. So potty training is sort of stalled at the moment.)

He woke up this morning yelling, “I want out, get a present!” So he got up and we’re discussing the present and what it’s for, and I draw him a little chart with seven boxes and a present at the end… and he nods his head as he absorbs all this information.

Ian: I wanna get dressed.
Mommy: Do you want to pee pee on the potty and get a sticker for your present?
Ian: No, I not.
Mommy: Okay, go get your clothes.
Ian runs off to his room, and comes back with a color coordinated pants/shirt combo, which I help him into.
Ian: I wanna go Rama’s house; get a present.

In other words, forget it Mommy, I know where my bread is buttered, and it has NOTHING to do with that potty.

The Pre-bedtime Walk

Posted on March 11, 2010 by Meghan

is by way of becoming a family tradition.

Distance traveled: .88 miles

Current Total Distance Traveled: 17.4 miles

I owe the babies: $4.35

Where’d my Miata go?

Posted on March 11, 2010 by Meghan

In which Ian learns why “down the drain” is a synonym for “gone forever,” and Daddy learns about toddlers and impulse control.

If you’ve ever lived with a small child, then you know only too well that they tend to become attached to various objects. Thursday’s obsessive love was a small yellow Matchbox Miata with pink seats, which arrived here courtesy of a gift swap with friends in December. (Apparently, these are RARE, so if you have one, consider cashing in on eBay. Could net you a whopping $5.)

In fact, Ian was so attached to HIS Miata (as different from DADDY’s Miata) that he insisted on taking it in the bathtub with him. At the end of bath time, I heard the water start to drain. Then I heard Daddy say, “Don’t put your Miata down the drain.” Then I heard a heart breaking, ear piercing screech.

That’s right. Daddy turned his back and Ian promptly put his beloved Miata down the drain to see why Daddy said he shouldn’t. The panicky hissy fit was epic. Mommy went down in the basement to see if there was any hope of retrieval. We tested the remaining matchbox cars to see if they are magnetic. (They’re not.) And in a loving but futile gesture, Daddy fished down the drain with a coat hanger wire.

Ian walked around the house tearfully asking if his Miata would “come out sink? Come out vent? Where my Miata go?” and was consoled for bed only by a visit to the almighty eBay, where Mommy ordered him a brand new blue and green Miata, because, as previously mentioned, the pink and yellow ones are RARE. Of course, we’ve since realized that this is probably just as well, or we risked the notion that things that go down the drain later arrive in the US Mail as a companion theology to the idea that Santa ships via UPS. (The underpinnings of that one are these: Santa brings toys and books. Toys and books come UPS. UPS is working for Santa.)

Bathtime now involves a lengthy discussion of what is and is not too big to fit down the drain. “Yes, your Miata went down the drain. No, you will not go down the drain. You are much too big. No, Mommy will not go down the drain. Mommy is much too big. Yes, your Miata went down the drain.”

Yes, here’s the New Miata. It went to bed with him. He woke up talking about it. And he informed us, “My New Miata NOT go down the drain.”

To which, of course, Mommy replied, “That’s right, because you are NOT taking it into the bath tub.”

Pajama walk

Posted on March 10, 2010 by Meghan

“Mom, you put in yours pocket, please!”

Tonight we enjoyed the beautiful weather with a short “Pajama Walk” as a family. Ian was wrapping up a fun-filled, “no nap” day by getting ready for bed early, so yes, that’s right- he’s sporting wet hair, jammies, and boots with that rather unnecessary jacket!

Ian and Daddy made it their mission to stomp on the few remaining piles of snow, and Ian also wanted to put away all the neighbors’ trash cans. We did manage to convince him that this would confuse a lot of people.

The construction site at the corner was doing some site work with a mini-bucket loader, which thrilled Ian beyond belief.

Distance traveled: .88 miles

Current Total Distance Traveled: 14.77 miles

I owe the babies: $3.69

Making up for lost time

Posted on March 9, 2010 by Meghan

I nipped out for a solo walk at naptime today and scoped out the flower situation. (Okay, I checked on the construction equipment situation on behalf of the little dude, too…)

I’m pleased to report that now that spring has finally decided to arrive, not only has the snow melted, but spring is popping out with a vengeance. You probably remember that just day before yesterday I reported the first crocus. We’re working on a bumper crop, and a yard that was completely bare when I wrote that post is now green with daff foliage… look for a photo when the flowers come out, it should be spectacular.

Solo Miles today: 1.3

After nap, we headed out to the park.

Current Weather Conditions:

Little Dude’s travel gear selection:

Distance traveled: 1.05 miles

Current Total Distance Traveled: 13.89 miles

I owe the babies: $3.47

Let’s count.

Posted on March 9, 2010 by Meghan

Ian: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10.
Mommy: 8. You forgot 8.
Ian: (lauging) 8, 9, 7.
Daddy: No, not 8, 9, 7!
Ian: 7, 8, 9, 10.
Mommy: 11!
Ian: 11!
Mommy: What’s next?
Ian: (jumping up and down with his arms in the air) 13! 14! 14! 14!
Daddy: Close enough.

Family Walk

Posted on March 6, 2010 by Meghan

Current Weather Conditions:

YES! YES! YES! A warm, sunny day!

Little Man’s travel gear selection:

Forget it, Mommy, I am out of here.

Moments of Note:
Apparently we only care about the train.
“TRAIN! Where ARE you?”
“Train, come back please.”
“Mommy, SEE TRAIN AGAIN.”
“Mom, wanna ride the freight train, please.”

Distance traveled: 1.69 miles

Current Total Distance Traveled: 5.74 miles

I owe the babies: $1.44

Goin’ to the Park

Posted on March 4, 2010 by Meghan

Off to the park

Distance traveled: .52 miles
Current Total Distance Traveled: 4.05 miles

I owe the babies: $1.01

I’ve been working on the railroad

Posted on March 3, 2010 by Meghan

La Volqeta

Posted on February 28, 2010 by Meghan

Mommy (reading): La volqueta.
Ian: That’s a Spanish bucket loader.

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Category Archives: Ian