It’s Summer, Squishable! And that means eating out on the patio, some vacations for our family, you going to bed when it is still light out, and Swimming Lessons!
You and I just returned from our second lesson at Evans Pool by Greenlake. We have learned some songs that help you get used to the water and progress to swimming when you are older….the Hokey Pokey, I’m a Little Teapot, The Washing Machine, This is the Way We (wash our face, take a shower, listen for fish, blow bubbles, reach and pull) in the Swimming Pool, as well as some kicking practice. The Washing Machine goes like this..
The Washing Machine, the Washing Machine, the greatest invention that I’ve ever seen, you put clothes in dirty and they come out clean, the washing machine, the washing machine…….Agitator (swish your arms around in the water), Spin Cycle (whirl around in the water), Air Dry (raise you up in the air). It is my favorite so far.
Nana and PopPop were here for a visit to see you. You were a gem for them; we went to the Zoo, you had fun riding in the cart for the first time at the market, we saw the Fremont Solstice Parade, and had quality time rolling around in the living room. You did have an explosion through your pijamas, which was not fun but memorable. I knew I may need to help out Nana when I heard her shout, “Oh My God,” through the monitor to your room. It still is a mystery to me how poop can creep up your back and spread up to your shoulders.
Your first time in the market shopping cart.
It is summertime, which means I don’t have to be back to work until the last week in August. These first few days of summer for me are so precious, like a Friday afternoon when you have the whole weekend, I have an entire Seattle summer to spend. You, me, and Mommy have some high-fun-potential trips planned this summer, as well as your cousins’ visit in a few days. I have made a summer list nearly every year since high school, but I’m trying not to have too many “to do” goals this year and just enjoy the time with you and friends and family.
The school year for me was one of the best. I think because I had a year off from Al-Geo, it afforded me a full year of just teaching and not much management/discipline at all in any of my classes. AP Statistics was a challenge, staying up at night doing the problem sets, and visiting Kate every morning to ask her about concepts we were to teach that day, but that is how teaching something the first time goes and I did it! To top it off, I won the Outstanding Educator Award this year from the PTSA. I was honored and very proud to receive it. Mommy and you send me balloons delivered to school. It made the end of this school year even more magical.
I had an Oom Yung Do dream several weeks ago. Head Instructor Greg was challenging me to take a playing card from in from of him without him catching me. He caught me the first three or four times, but I eventually stole a card from his deck without him grabbing my wrist. After I passed his quickness test, he hugged me and tousled my hair. Then we left together and walked down a dark alley. We got accosted by two thugs who tried to beat us up. Head Instructor Greg fended off his attacker The other man headed toward me so I ducked under his arms and put myself in a position to give him a shoulder in the stomach to immobilize him. That was it….?
Interpretation? I’ve had half a dozen dreams this summer, so I’ll put them all in the next post. This one has an instructor, a challenge, meeting the challenge after some trials, then a real life test after practicing. Maybe I’m realizing that I can bring some of my life experiences, successes and fears into the classroom? Perhaps I’m working on some balance between teaching, learning, and being tested in real life????
My teacher friend Howard and I scheduled a hike to Rattlesnake Ridge last week. It was a tad misty at the top, but we (including You) had a ton of fun. On the way up, you were chatting at all the hikers we met. Clementine got most of the glory, though, by receiving the lion’s share of the “Awws” and “Look at the cute puppys,” throughout the trip. You seem to like the Kelty Kid’s backpack; I understand why, too. In that pack, you can look over me and see everything. There is a cover to protect you from the elements, but you ended up sticking your head out the side like a dog in a car until you fell asleep (see picture below).
What you’re doing these days: When I put you in your crib for sleep, you reach out and get one binky for each hand. Sometimes, when you see another binky, you pick it up and replace the one already in your mouth. You are a binky hoarder! You like to study people; you follow us all around the room with your eyes. Mommy and I can’t eat yogurt around you because you’ll reach out for it and want your own bites. You are now a champion sleeper….going down around 7:15pm and sleeping more than 9 hours a night if we can let you. Once a week you wake up in the middle of the night and need one of us to rescue a binky for you; sometimes you just wake up and babble to yourself for 30 minutes, then fall back asleep. You are eating what we eat (sweet potatoes, corn, hamburger meat, string cheese, peas, and a little ice cream).
You and Mommy sent me balloons for my award. After school was out, I brought them home and cut one loose when we were about to throw them away. You were captivated by it, staring at it and reaching for it. I guess I would be captivated by it too if I’d never seen a balloon before. After we let you catch it and reel it in by the string, you patted it with your hands and got it covered with your meal of the day (I think it was something with squash). Then you tried to eat the balloon.
You are down now for a nap; that’s how I have the time to write this. When you go to bed at night, it is easy for Mommy and me to just walk away and close the door because you are topped up with formula and exhausted from the day’s events. Your afternoon naps, however, are a different matter. It is getting tougher to get you to nap in the afternoon unless you are in the stroller. When we do get you in your crib with lights out and the beach noise app soothing you, we used to be able to sneak out by tip toeing. Then, we had to sit in the rocking chair next to you, waiting until you would look away. Then we could make our exit. After you caught onto that tactic, I’ve been army crawling away so you won’t see me, and that has worked for several weeks. Today, though, when I was confident you were looking the other way and I could crawl away, I got on my hands and knees and snuck out. When I was out of your room, I turned around to shut the door, and your wide beady eyes were staring at me! It freaked me out. Don’t scare me like that 🙂
Sweet dreams, Monkey Jammeez Kiddo, Love, Daddy