The Swing

Why can't anything in life just be easy? I think, let me buy Jett a swing since he loves to swing and be outside. So off to Walmart I go. $20 for a swing, not bad. Then my mind switches to Bob Villa mode as I think of any extra items I'll need to actually hang this thing. I'm always dependent on my amateur, McGuyver-like, rig-it-up-with a hope and a prayer skills. So I buy what I think I'll need, although what else I think I'll need is not available at WalMart, of course, there always has to be something you can't get there, that would be too convenient. And you must know this about me, when I set my mind to do something, I can not rest until it is seen through, so any obstacle that gets in my way will be bulldozed with the perseverance of a mountain climber with his eyes on the summit. With visions of my smiling baby swinging in the sunlight swirling in my mind, my daydream will have to wait another day as I plan a trip to the local hardware store for the final pieces. The next day, I find what I need, but wait, those two pieces will need a drill bit a size I don't already have. Okay, let's waltz on over to the lovely drill bit aisle. There it is, and it's $36! Wonderful, who knew that plastic swing I thought was a great deal would cost me over $50. But, dammit, my child must have happiness swinging in the sunlight. So home we go. I grab my drill, like the supermom I am, one day sewing a button the next slinging power tools, you know how it is. But, as usual, life is going to make me work for it. The bit is too big for my drill. I would never use the expression FML, but I can understand where it came from. So here I am, with a $50 swing, and no closer to hanging it then I was when I put it in my shopping cart. I'm not a betting woman, but you better believe my kid will be swinging in the sunlight within the next 24-48 hours. I will win! HGTV & Pinterest, you may think you're funny making everything look so simple and fun, on behalf of all ordinary people, you can suck it.

Update: 24 hours later:

The swing is UP!! Praise the Lord!  

Swing: $20
Tools to hang said swing: $40
Borrowing a Drill from the neighbor: a wee bit of pride
Seeing the smile on your son's face as he swings: Priceless
Having said son fall asleep after a few minutes of pushing: Totally worth it! — feeling accomplished.

Jett's Playdate at the Palmtree Playground

Jett and I have something special in common, we were both born much later than our siblings.  My closest, in age, sibling is 7 years older than me.  Jett's closest, in age, sibling is 10 years older.  The rest our even older than us than that.  I love my siblings dearly, as does Jett, but when there is such an age gap it is easy to feel like an only child, growing up.  Yes, they can be fun to be around; to look up to literally and metaphorically, but the bond can be limited by the vast age difference. I mean it makes sense, no 13 year old wants to pal around with their 1 year old sibling.  This leads to finding friends closer in age to "play" with.  For the most part, Jett stays contently entertained hanging around the homestead, but I've noticed, when we're out, he lights up like a new light bulb when he comes in contact with someone his size!  Poor thing probably didn't even realize those types of people existed. How amazing to realize there is another human being you can see eye to eye (in so many ways), shares the same limited vocabulary, and also enjoys throwing things just as much as you do!  Unfortunately, we live in big kid land, so mama had to reach out and find some pint-size friends for her little buddy. Thanks to the wonderful, social website MeetUp.com, I have been able to connect with other "searching for friends" & "long talks at the beach"- the beach at the Palmtree Playground, that is. The plan was to meet up at the indoor playground for 10am.  We arrived, got our feet sock ready and headed in for some FUN!  The place filled up fast with mommas and babies/toddlers/kids, all ready for a little pre-lunch, pre-nap fellowship.  Jett lit up with a huge smile as he ran in!  Here was a place he could roam free, touch everything, hit (not the kids), throw, run, and explore til he tuckered himself out. And he did!  The highlight of the day was when I sat down and watched him as he walked a ways away from me.  I didn't get up and follow, I just sat there and waited to see what he would do; where he would go.  I wondered how long he would notice his helicopter of a mother wasn't circling above in her usual pattern. I sat like a proud peacock watching her little chick-a-dee fluttering at the edge of the nest for the first time.  He slowly and cautiously walked, inspecting the toys and kids around him.  He looked like such a big, brave boy.  After a couple of minutes, his investigating turned to mission: where's mommy, as quick as a switch being flipped. I could see from where I was sitting on the floor, about a couple yards away, the excitement in his eyes turned to concern as he realized only strangers surrounded him. He didn't cry or look scared, he just looked around in search of the one he was seeking. As quickly as the mission started, he made a 180 and caught my gaze. What happened next is something I'll never forget.  His whole face beamed with happiness, as his eyes and smile expanded at the sight of me, then he ran towards me with laser beam focus, like there was no one else on the planet and jumped in my lap wrapping his little arms around my neck in the biggest, tightest, squeezy hug he's ever given me. As if that wasn't enough to melt me, his hug lingered, I was transformed into a puddle of goo as his warm body pressed up against mine and his arms squeezed my neck, in an impressive choke hold.  I don't think he could've gotten his body any closer and I doubt an F5 could've torn us apart.

He enjoyed being in the presence of the other children, but mainly played by himself.  He spent most of his time throwing and chasing the balls.  He went down the slide, climbed a stair or two, rode a rocking horse, played in a little house and spun a pirate wheel, all of which was extremely interesting but nothing compared to the ball. I noticed he was the only child that took in the sights of the flags hanging from the ceiling, signs on the walls, tall equipment he couldn't reach, and walked toward the exit many times, I wonder if he was ready to go.  We played for almost 2 hrs then headed home.

We made lots of new friends and look forward to more fun times together, as long as we have each other to run too. :-)

The Up Up & Away Birthday Bash....literally

After spending countless hours in thought and effort party planning, supply buying, craft making, and stressing over every detail to see my perfect vision of a party come to realization; it all got dashed to pieces in a matter of seconds. The park required us to "man the shelter" at 11 in the morning, so we were up early packing up everything and finishing up last minute preparations. After loading up two vehicles we headed out. My biggest concern about having an outdoor party was the high heat, little did I know the wind and rain would be my biggest foes; Never did I imagine they would defeat me. Arriving 3 hours prior to party time we got busy setting everything up. Once my beautiful vision was in place the battle of wind vs. party decor quickly ensued. The wind gusts whipped through our shelter and tore through our carefully placed arrangements with the severity of a woman enduring labor contractions. We taped and taped and taped some more, in hopes of somehow cementing my masterpiece in place, but to no avail. There was always some balloon or party hat flying away, centerpiece falling over, and tablecloths flapping in the wind. My sweet parents ran to the rescue every time, even after I had given up on the chase. By party time I was ready for it to be over. As the first guests arrived, so did the rumbles of thunder and strikes of lightning. We braced ourselves for a brief rainstorm, but were not prepared for the hurricane-type weather that came instead. Half my guests quickly made their way to the Carousel, about 20 yds across the park, including my three boys, while the rest of us stayed in the false security of our "shelter". The skies grew black, the winds went into their final transition and the rain fell. What started out as a nice, cool rain shower, turned into my worst nightmare in a matter of a few minutes. As the winds and rain intensity increased our dryness under our shelter rapidly decreased. The vertical downpour became a horizontal torrent. I cringed as everything, and everyone, began to get wet. Then, out of nowhere, the wind and rain turned into a furious beast and blew through the shelter with such force it drenched everything that it also couldn't blow down. Tables, Food, presents, decor, all soaked, including us. All we could do was stand in a helpless, wet huddle and wait for it to end. In the meantime, the birthday boy is screaming, two of my boys are running back to us across an open field with lightening flashing all around them, and my party is blown out onto the grass. Once the worst was over, 30 mins into my 3 hour long party, we threw everything away. Salvaged some food that was covered, but no decor made it through the storm. Against, my strongest desires to pack up and go home, we recouped and tried to make the best out of our time together. The kids played in the muddy lakes of rainwater and the adults embraced their wet dog makeovers. The cake was wet and melted but still tasted great. The sun came out to laugh at mother natures mean sense of humor and we enjoyed the rest of the day. My gracious guests made the party a success just by being there and making the best out of a soggy situation. Thankfully I was wise enough to capture a few shots of my masterpiece before it was ruined. I get sick when I think how I spent all of that time and money on that stuff, for NOTHING. That will be my last park party...my last party (for a while). Will the birthday boy remember this day? No, but we will never forget it. I sat and fed Jett one more time before we left, while my family packed up the cars, and stood up to find Jett had blown out of his diaper onto both me and him. So the party officially ended with me getting shit on, and I think that pretty much sums up my experience with Jett's first birthday party.

My Rainbow Baby Turns ONE!!

~Jett Joseph~

June 8, 2012

Oh my precious boy, my miracle, my heart's desire. So many years I waited for you, prayed for you, hoped for you and tried for you.  Fourteen months ago I held you for the first time, I am so grateful I was given another sweet baby to hold. Little boys only want to be held by their mothers for just a short time, so I am truly cherishing my cuddles with you now.  You are already growing so fast!  You've gone from 7lbs to 25lb, from 21in tall to 37in tall!  You are a big, healthy boy and will be a tall, strong man one day. Everyone you meet can't help but smile and make friends with you, you are so easy to love and adore. Already gone are the days of rolling and crawling, now you run!  You still sleep comfortably between mommy and daddy & breastfeed til your heart's content.  You love playing with your big brothers, chasing your pup-pups and getting into everything.  You love water!...bath, rain, sprinklers, dog water bowl any is right for playing in for you. You love to laugh, you laugh when others laugh.  You love Music!....and to dance to it.  You love to swing and throw balls.  You love your family and we love you.  Enjoying every moment of your gift of a life.

newborn (6 days old)

As The Months Go By...