B-Boy rides on his first train

Choo-Choo!

B-Boy rode his first train, and was not very happy about it. But since he is the type of kid who has to try things at least 3 times before he is comfortable, we will continue to take him until he finds it fun. It will happen, he loves trains.

He sat on my lap the entire time, but I give him credit- he stopped crying as soon as we exited the tunnel, which is as the start of the ride.

Then we headed over to the carousel, for the second try. B-Boy was not going to let me plop him on the kitty cat, nope- he wanted to be held.

And did he hold! He grabbed on to me like a monkey, and would not let go! So up I climbed onto the kitty cat, and sat down.

Look B-Boy, there's Daddy!

Look B-Boy! No Hands!

I am laughing here because I am not holding him....

He is holding on to me!

Eventually, B-Boy relaxed and I was able to turn him around. He was not very happy with it, but eventually we got a smile!

I just kept repeating the mantra- "Up, Down, Up, Down." There is a segment on Elmo's World where a little girl talks about going up and down, and when she flies a toy airplane, she says this mantra over and over. Yep, I will use the little red guy if I can!

B-Boy's first spin on a Carousel

One of the coolest parks I have ever seen just reopened in town... and Neb and I headed over.

The park was a big hit for B-Boy, until we went to the Carousel. It had been restored, and was beautifully done. I took B-Boy inside for a ride, and Neb took some photos for you.

We picked a kitty cat to ride, but B-Boy was NOT happy about it. He's one of those kids that takes at least 3 times to get used to something new before he can open up and hve fun. New things can be scary, but we work hard to make them comfortable.

So that is how B-Boy and I found ourselves riding on top of a Kitty cat, spinning round and round.

Whimper, sniff.

He was miserable... but at least he stopped crying when I turned him around to hold him. Neb captured photos of him looking quite sad. But the good news is that he made it all the way around and bounced back once we got off the thing!

Mommy, can we get off now?

B-Boy Digs the Rebels

I couldn't resist taking this photo. (Zoom in on what his shirt says to get the joke.)

We were putting him to work at the park, weren't we?

In case you missed the joke... His shirt says:

I Dig the Rebels

B-Boy can climb!

As you may recall, B-Boy loves going to the park. I am not sure what he enjoys more- the big, swirly slide, the swings, or watching all the other people. B-Boy really likes people watching, especially when there are bigger kids than he doing big kid things. He then wants to try to do whatever he sees them do.

Case in point: climbing up a ladder like structure to get to the top of the swirly slide.

B-Boy used to climb the stairs to get to the top (with a slight lift from Mom to get him up to the very top). But one day, he watched a boy older than he climb up the blue ladder like structure, and he just had to try it.

At first, he could only do the first step. Neb helped him navigate to a second step, but for several visits, that was as far as he got. Then one day, he got it and started climbing up and up. Neb would tap the bar where B-Boy should put his foot and B-Boy would move his foot there once he got his confidence. Neb hardly has to help at all now, and B-Boy gets up the blue structure pretty quickly. The big assist from us happens at the very top, where there is a big boy step to get from the ladder to the platform of the slide.

I snapped a few photos so you could see!

Of course, I thought you would like to see the whole structure for context... can you believe he gets to the top? It's surprisingly steep!

A day with Mema and the Landfill

No, we didn't dump anyone or anything at the landfill. 

Ok, I know what you are thinking... then why is a LANDFILL mentioned in this blog? And what on earth does that have to do with Mema and B-Boy?

Well, I'll tell you, but you are going to have to stick around to find out!

Neb needed some quiet time to study for his final exam... and having B-Boy around does not fill that bill! Little boy wants attention, plays loudly (most of the time) and if he doesn't get what he wants or thinks he needs- it gets very LOUD. Not good when you need to concentrate.

So, I decided B-Boy and I would go visit my Mom. Mema had not seen B-Boy for a while, and since I would be going out of town for work, it seemed like a good time to visit her.

Unfortunately, she had a prior engagement but was able to meet us afterward. Since we had some time to fill while we waited, I decided to take B-Boy to a park near where she was. I figured the new environment would be good for B-Boy because he would have something different to play on... every park is different!

The park we went to is fairly new... and had an area for smaller kids and another for the larger kids. They didn't have many swings, so that was a drawback, but the rest of the park was great!

B-Boy first explored the younger toddler area, which had a neat slide, a crawl tube, and a climbing wall. B-Boy made some friends there, and they had fun chasing each other. He then headed to the swing area, and enjoyed swinging, doing some people watching and taking in the rest of the park.

One thing that he thought was cool was a music area. There was a small wall with things to make music on both sides. On the front side, there were ceramic half-spheres attached. Next to them were metal pieces shaped like musical notes. The top of the note was attached to the wall, and the bottom could swing from side to side. When you pulled the note away from the circle and let it go, it would hit the ceramic piece and produce a musical tone.

All I could think was, "Hmmm, they need sheet music to let the kids play a song!".

B-Boy thought that was fun until he saw the other side of the wall...

Because there was a set of BONGOs made out of plastic material... and they sounded just like drums. B-Boy banged on them for a long time.

WOW! Big BONGOs!!!! YAY!

It's a good thing I am tall! 

I can reach without Mommy's help. 

He then headed to the big kid area... which he LOVED. It had two big slides, and no fear. I stood nearby just in case, but gave him the opportunity to have some freedom to run around and explore on his own.

Hmmm... how do I want to go down this slide?

Yeah, head first is the way, head first.

It also had a moving plank bridge that he could run over. He used to be scared of those, but this time he had no fear or hesitation. As a matter of fact, he spent most of the time running from one side of hte bridge to the other. I think he enjoyed the bounce!

This bridge moves Mommy! Cool!

We finished up and met Mema for lunch. We had brought him a straw cup, but when he saw the water arrive, he wanted to drink out of the BIG cup with a REAL straw that was NOT attached to the cup. Thankfully, Mema helped hold the cup for him, and helped guide the straw back in when he started playing with it.

B-Boy started in the high chair eating his grilled chicken.

Hmm, this straw doesn't seem to be working!

But once he noticed Mema had a WAFFLE, well, her side of the table became much more interesting if not inviting! Mema was sweet to share her waffles with him, so she became his favorite person of the day. My broccoli didn't hold up to that!

Mema let me have some of her WAFFLE! YAY!

Mema, eating sugar with you is FUN!

Yes it is, precious boy, yes it is!

I know what you are thinking. I have not mentioned what the landfill has to do with it, right?  I think you have waited long enough, you have been so very patient. Here goes...

The park is at a reclaimed landfill that has been buried. The area around the landfill has been turned into walking and biking trails, and the park was built as part of that. As a matter of fact it is called Landfill Park!

Don't worry, there's no landfill stuff around the park area, it is very nice!

Just a Swingin'

Today was a great day. B-Boy is starting to feel better, his cough is reduced in both frequency and length, and so we decided to take him to the park to get some fresh air. We had so much fun, we went twice!

The park was mostly empty when we got there the first time. B-Boy had a blast on all the slides, and flew down the swirly slide many times. He even made a friend who clapped for him when he got to the bottom of one of the smaller slides. It was contagious, and soon B-Boy clapped with him.

Later in the day, we scoped out a new location. The elementary school near our house has a playground for the Kindergarten, First and Second grade kids. We decided since the day had warmed up to such a beautiful one that we would see what it was like.

I left my camera at home, so I am not able to share a view of it with you. But I'll just say this, B-Boy loved it. There were several small slides for the younger kids, which B-Boy had fun with. There was also an area for the older children, and space for those in between. The large tube slide was a bit scary for him, so after we went down it together, he was done with it. He really like the intermediate area, the slides were bumpy, and one of them had rumble strips to slow him down. He really liked that one.

The playground even had a sort of see-saw area, with 4 poles spread out from the center circle. A metal saddle was attached to the end of each pole, and you could sit and bounce on it. I sat on one side, and Neb sat on the other until B-Boy let us know he wanted to get on too. Neb held him to get him used to it and then slid off so B-Boy could ride by himself. Neb put B-Boy's hands on the handle, and his feet on the bar beneath it. He smiled, so proud of himself!

He also did really well when Neb let go. He bounced up and down, holding on to the handle and holding himself upright. We bounced for a good while, and then moved on to a large porch swing (minus the porch!).

We sat on the swing as a family, with B-Boy in the middle. He looked around as we swung, and was very calm. The swing made a really loud SQUEAKING noise, which he found really interesting. When we stopped, he clapped as if to say "YAY! That was fun!".  It was a great moment, but that is not my favorite moment of the day.

I took him over to the big kid swing and sat down.

I put B-Boy on my lap facing me. He held on as I started to swing. At first, Neb said B-Boy looked a bit scared, but then the rhythm of the swinging calmed him down and he put his head down on my shoulder. He was so relaxed and "gooshie" (our family's word for what babies do when you hold them and they sink right into you). B-Boy is not often gooshie, so those moments are always quite treasured.

When we stopped swinging, B-Boy clapped. He really like it. So, I started swinging again. When I stopped and put him on the ground, he clapped again. When he realized that we were done, he got upset and tried to crawl back into my lap. So, I picked him up and let him swing facing out. I am not sure which one he like more! Neb got on the swing next to us, and B-Boy found it quite amusing every time we moved past him.

It was hard to stop swinging, both because we had fun and because B-Boy would get upset when I would put him down. We ended up distracting him by running over to the rumble strip slide, putting him at the top, and encouraging him to slide down.

All in all, it was a great day. We hope yours was a fun as ours was!

That's no Day at the Park.. Yes it is!

Today, we had a fantastic day.

The high temperature today was supposed to be 75 degrees, and it did not disappoint.

Neb and I decided that we would pick B-Boy up early and head to the park down by our house, which we did. It was an absolutely gorgeous day, and there were lots of parents there with their kids. So many, that Neb and I were surprised at all the activity.

We took B-Boy over to the slide, and he climbed up immediately. He then sat down, scooched himself forward on his bottom to the edge of the slide and then slid down to the bottom. He had so much fun that he ran back to steps immediately to do it again. This was repeated many, many times.

This is going to be SO fun!

He then noticed the big swirly slide that was attached to the slide he had been using. And, he wanted to go on it.

Neb tried to distract him with a game of tic-tac-toe... but he doesn't know that game yet. He persisted, and so, I lifted him up and took him down the big swirly slide.

And he loved every second of it.

So much so, that he got back up to go again. I lifted him up, put him down at the edge, and he slid down by himself, with some help from the side by Neb. The next time? He sat down on his own and scooched to the edge himself. And then down he went.

He did this many, many, many times... and had a lot of fun.

Weeeeeeeeeee!

We also pushed him in the swing, but he didn't find it quite as fun as the last time we were there.

Those kids are doing some cool stuff... 

I wonder when I get to do that!

I was watching B-Boy and was also struck by how much B-Boy resembled GatorGirl at that moment. He got this intense look, and the way his jaw was set in concentration- it reminded me of her so much! I was able to snap a photo, I can't wait to hear what my Dad thinks about that.

We then went over to the other slide area, which had a tube kids can crawl through that ended at a bumpy slide that was actually two lanes, side by side. Two kids can go down at one time, one in each line. It was pretty nifty... and B-Boy had a blast crawling through the big yellow tube. There was another little boy there and they would go down the slide side by side together.

I am having SO much fun at the park! 

You should go to a park near you... it's fun!

We were there for about an hour, and had a fantastic time. A great way to end the week, and I am so happy we were able to enjoy the beautiful day as a family.

Aside, I have to share this amusing moment at the park...

While B-Boy was going down the first slide over and over again, a Mom came over with a little boy and a baby on her hip. She started talking to us, and asked if we had ever taken swim lessons at our neighborhood pool. When I said we had, she said "I thought so, your baby is the baby that could swim!" Yep, that's him!

11 Months

Today, B-Boy is 11 months old. Wow. In just one month, we will be able to turn his car seat around, and a whole new world will open up for us in the car. It's hard to believe that this time last year, I was stressing about his soon-to-be arrival. The year has flown by very quickly.

We started the day by sleeping in. Ahhhhh, wonderful sleep. B-Boy seems to sense that it is a holiday weekend (it is Labor Day, after all)... so he was nice enough to sleep very late. Once he woke, he got his bottle and then we headed downstairs for breakfast. He ate 3 ounces of oatmeal and half a bananna while I made pancakes.

Which reminds me, in my last post, I forgot to mention that B-Boy LOVE LOVE LOVES pancakes. He gets a small amount of butter on top (no syrup), and it gets cuts into squares he can pick up himself. You want to see pure bliss? Watch B-Boy eat one of his Mama's pancakes... a hint of vanilla and cinnamon make them quite yummy.

After breakfast, we played for a while and then went to the pool. It was a bit chilly in the water (the high today was supposed to be 85 degrees, perfect for outdoor activities, but it made the pool a bit cold). But we still had a blast. B-Boy really likes being in the water.

When we got home, B-Boy ate several ounces of eggplant and hamburger. He was quite the mess when he was done, which was actually ok because he went directly to the bathtub. Oh what fun he had with his toys in the tub today!

He then took the longest nap... it lasted about three hours. That is why you were able to get that last post about what he is eating now! When he woke, he ate some mangos and drank his formula from a cup. We then packed him up for a field trip. I found a park in our town that looked pretty nifty, so we decided to take him and see what we could do there.

We pushed him around the walking trail, until we found a nice fluffy patch of grass in the shade. We spread a blanket out and B-Boy played with his trucks on it while we got comfy. It was funny to watch B-Boy crawl around the blanket, as he treated the edge like a fence he should not cross... until he eventually did. He especially enjoyed crawling on his Daddy, and trying to take the camera out of my hand. It was interesting to watch him touch the grass and process what that felt like - it was his first time actually playing in the grass!

Wheeeee.... This is fun Daddy!

Neb got up and let B-Boy walk in the grass for a while. He would hold B-Boy's hands up in the air, and B-Boy would take his steps one after another. He is doing most of the work now, Neb is just there mostly for balance... and cheering.

Look Mommy, I'm a monster! Grrrrr.....

There was a playground area for kids 6 and under at the park. We spent some time there, and B-Boy and I went down the small slide together a few times. B-Boy is still unsure if it was fun or not. He was all smiles at the bottom, but the middle was a bit touch and go.

Wheeeeeee?

 

After the slide, we walked around the park on the walking trail. It was such a beautiful day, with a slight breeze. We ended the walk at the baby swings, and we could not resist letting B-Boy swing for a while. He really liked that swing... I think it reminded him of his bouncer that he no longer fits in.

I was able to get some cute pictures of him. I do hope you enjoy them.

We took another long walk once we got home, so we are pretty sure B-Boy got his fair share of fresh air today. He is sleeping now, and I am happy to tell you that he fell asleep very quickly after his bottle.

So, we did a lot today as a family to celebrate his 11 months on this earth. We hope the day was as fun for you as it was for us, and that you all have a wonderful Labor Day weekend.

Go have some fun! Ha Ha!