I said "It's a party because we're hanging out at home and playing, huh?"
He said "YES!! A fun party"
My heart melted.
Goodness I love this sweet boy.
And it's been a great day of almost nothingness.
He woke up a little before 530 and I snarled "You go back to sleep like we talked about last night until I tell you it's morning time!!!! (I try to be pleasant and kind and benevolent before 6am, but I'm just not very good at it!) I rolled over while he tossed and turned a bit. I shook my finger at him over my shoulder one time, praying I would be able to go back to sleep. He acquiesced and laid down and I got to have another dream!!!!
He woke me up at 6:30 with a smile, full of forgiveness and we made our way out of bed. I stumbled around while he ran downstairs to start playing with his trains! I made it downstairs a bit before 7. :) So very happy to have a 3 year old who can entertain himself.
I got his breakfast made and sat down with him to color at his request. This is his new thing...he wants me to color with his color wonder pens. He instructs me on the colors to use and for how long. He's very particular. He pretty much refuses to color himself these days...saying he's not strong enough or he can't color in the lines or mostly simply 'I can't.' I haven't pushed it, but I'd like to get to the bottom of this. It happens at restaurants as well when they give him the kids menu/coloring page. So bizarre.
We skyped with Christian, so he could visit with Tate. He's going to be away for the foreseeable future, so we wanted them to connect. They've chatted 2 times in the past 4 or 5 weeks, so that's been good. (And this whole situation deserves a whole other post, suffice it to say we have major issues, but my biggest concern is Tate. I don't want him to ever feel less than or unwanted). Anyway, we had a short talk, and all was good.
Tate and I then put his train tracks together and I got my instructions as to which trains I was to use and how. I tolerated 10 minutes of that then took my leave to throw a load of laundry in the washing machine and started the bleach clean of our whirlpool tub. Straightened up a bit then came back downstairs to color a bit more. Laundry went into the dryer. The tub was filled with vinegar and jets run again. Tate loves watching the jets; I love watching him run into the bathroom in his little pjs just a -smiling!!! While watching the bathtub run Tate went into the closet and chose his outfit for the day...not surprisingly a train shirt and his train pants. On a day it was supposed to be in the mid to upper 80s. But he was happy.
We got teeth brushed, clothes on and we headed out the door. I wanted to give us an all day pajama day, but I had a few things I had to get done. So we stayed in pjs until 10 and left at 1030.
A quick stop to fill up the car and we headed to the newish Walmart. I have not shopped at a Walmart in decades. I did visit one while visiting Lindsey in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 2008 when she was at OSU for grad school. There was no Target much to my dismay. That was an experience I would truly like to forget :) In any event, there is now one near me, so I thought I would finally try it out. Plus I was looking for a Chuggington color wonder book for Tate as I can only find them on Amazon and I needed one...today. Tate had filled up his train sticker chart and was due a prize! Target doesn't have the Chuggington one which he wanted.
Neither did Walmart. I did find a cute Garanimal outfit...I used to LOVE those when I was growing up and a couple other clothing items for Tate, but I don't see us returning anytime soon. :)
We had lunch at one of our favorite places...Barnaby's. Tate noshed on french fries, what else? while I had a yummy salad. We colored, ok I colored and I drew trains. He is the best date.
We then ran off to buy me some scrub jackets for work, and he was thrilled because I let him bring his leappad into the store...a real treat as it's a car toy only, and I try to only let him use it when we're driving distances....not great distances only, but like to my parents etc. (30 minutes away). But as he's doing more of the games and learning activities instead of watching the videos I've downloaded I let him have more often, but it must stay in the car...not in the house, not in restaurants, not at malls. And he's ok with those restrictions so far.
A quick stop at The Chocolate Bar for some chocolate covered popcorn, and we were on our way home.
I can't tell you how many times Tate asked me when we would be going home!!!
We were ensconced in our living room by 1:30! Tate couldn't have been happier. We cuddled up on the couch and watched 3 episodes of Chuggington together. Thank goodness those episodes are only 6-8 minutes long. He played trains a bit while I folded the clothes and started organizing the baby clothes I'm sending off to be made into a quilt. I'm photographing each item/set before sending and I cannot believe my sweet boy was ever so tiny. Such precious memories.
Tate was playing with his trains and smashed his little heel against the leg of one of my tables. Many tears and hugs later I offered to read him a new book. He was excited, and I pulled out 'The Giving Tree.'
I had heard such great things about this book, so I was so excited to receive it along with the audio CD read by the author himself. (I've never read it, nor do I remember my mother reading it to me).
What a strange little story. The drawings are creepy to me especially of the 'boy' as he gets older. I don't know...I was feeling a bit perplexed when I finished reading it to Tate, who sat enthralled while I read it. As soon as I finished he wanted to put the audio CD into the Blu-Ray and listen to it. Twice. That was even more creepy...Shel Silverstein's voice as he read the book gave me the heebie jeebies . I'm still trying to decide if I like it or not.
I know one thing for sure....I'm hiding that damn CD. I can't listen to his odd voice another time.
I suggested we play with his Lego farm which he received for Christmas and has shown absolutely no interest in. Well today he scooted over and grabbed it off the hearth for us to play and put together!!
We had a ball!
Then we colored and I drew trains. We had paper all over the floor! And I convinced him to color and I drew many many poor renditions of trains which he gathered up to save forever :)
And of course we had to play 'The Game' as Tate calls Candyland!!! Two rousing games later and he was the glorious winner. I find it hilarious that whenever he wins at Candyland he calls out 'ZINGO' like one is supposed to do when playing Zingo. Soooo very cute!!
I then got him some dinner...his favorite pizza cake better known as cheese quesadilla!!! While he watched a few trains on YouTube I cleaned up and organized a few more of his baby clothes.
Before I knew it, it was time to get him ready for bed. He came up happily like he usually does. Every night I go upstairs and start the bath water and get everything ready with instructions to him to come up in one minute.
He almost always comes up with no further prompting from me. A few months ago, I had to call him two or three times one night and he now tells me routinely...don't call me from upstairs Mommy, I'm gonna come.
I'm in so much trouble.
I let him watch a bit more of his Mickey Mouse on the computer so he was only allowed one story...no complaints from him. I think he was tired...no nap today! By design. He was out by 7:45.
What a beautiful day. Just a beautiful day with my little boy. Though it's been pouring rain now for 5 hours and 52 minutes it's been a gorgeous day. We had no meltdowns (which have been rare for the past 3 months or so), just a few tears when he spilled food on himself (He HATES to be dirty!!!!).
I am so blessed to have this young man in my life. How did I get so lucky? What have I done to deserve him? And for him to love just hanging out with me just fills my heart to the brim. For all the toys, games, books, extracurricular activities, trips and shows, all he wants is my undivided attention.
All he wants is me.
Which is absolutely perfect.
Because all I've ever wanted is him.
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