Monday, July 15, 2013

A weekend with Levi



This past weekend, Tim was gone on a youth camp weekend, and I wrangled the toddler by myself. Certainly had its ups and downs, and also some quintessential toddler moments. 

Friday: We visited a local bounce place with some friends. Though certainly a small fry by the standards of a
lot of kids racing round, Levi enjoyed both the toddler-sized bouncy obstacle course as well as one of the giant slides. He went in all by himself (8-months pregnant lady + bouncy house = turtle on its back law, I think) and figured out how to climb up little steps to go down the larger-than-life slide. And then he'd climb down, and race as fast as his little legs could carry him, arms flailing, to do it again. and again. and again. and so on for about an hour ;)

After we got home, we needed to drop Tim's car off at the mechanic's down the street for a weekend oil change. It was raining lightly, but that felt pretty refreshing after the nasty mugginess and sunshine of the past few days and weeks. We brought "tiny car" - Levi's name for his push-buggy car we borrow from our generous neighbors, which is like a car-shaped

wagon that you push instead of pull. However, I underestimated Levi's sense of importance in the tiny-car world -- he did not want to ride in the car, no no, that is for only the small and unpowerful. He wanted to push the car. Which, even at only three blocks away from our house, it quite a time-intensive endeavor. Also, he's two. and it was raining. Which means there were a lot of puddles. Which also means that every time we passed one, he had to stop and splash in the water. So a half-hour later or so we made it home, and I counted the soaking wetness as a bath. 

Saturday: to the grocery store we go, always a bad idea being this pregnant with a two-year-old, but, you know, food and stuff. We managed to snag one of those carts with the little car on the front, which resulted in Levi being occupied for most of the shopping trip. He started losing his ability to listen/behave as we headed toward the checkout. I taught him how to swipe through the photos on my phone while we waited for the lady that looked like a poodle waver on whether or not to purchase a block of cheese for several minutes (both are 100% true). But by the time I got up to the checkout, Levi had lost all patience and started climbing on top of the tiny car. I decided I'd take it over running away and screaming, especially since he couldn't get very high. But then he figured out how to climb most of the way up via the side faux-doors, and then, right as the cashier handed me my receipt, he was
kneeling entirely on the top of the car. I just told him he was big and strong but he had to get down before we could go find Daddy's car.

We had, of course, several incidents of not listening to Mommy. Unfortunately, Levi seems to have inherited my (and Tim's I bet) gene of not even caring about being naughty until I warn him not to. So if he holds a plate full of half-eaten food over the floor and I warn him gently not to drop it, he grins wickedly and not just drops, but chucks it as hard as he can. And then he goes in time out and has to say sorry for not listening and has to help clean up his mess. We're trying to teach him to say what he's sorry for, which goes something like this: "Levi, are you sorry?" L: "I'm sorry mommy." "Sorry for what?" L: "Sorry for what" (very contrite, very serious)." Yes, good job child. 

Also, Levi says "ready, set, go!" constantly. to walk out the front door. to go to school. While playing with his toys. 











Monday, July 1, 2013

A big room for a big boy

I think Levi is getting taller every day. Even though my belly is also (by appearances) getting lower every day, pretty sure his head has moved a good deal higher in recent weeks. His big-boy bed -- most recently occupied by one of my 6' 2" brothers -- when stretched out he's a good half of the length of it. We spent some time this weekend with a good friend of mine who measures at close to 5 feet, and as she phrased it "He's half as tall as me. Levi is now half a Brittany."

Although some of it could be his (super cute!) curly hair, which, I confess, I let grow long before we cut it uber-short again because it's just so darn adorable.

First, something I've been forgetting to do for a couple of months now: a tour of Levi's big-boy room.

Confession: His room is mostly decorated with things that mommy and daddy like ...
One of my favorite quotes from Harry Potter, along with Tim's Roger Clemens
and dinosaur cross-stitch from when he was little. 
A car rug is one of the necessary accouterments for any little boy's
room, especially one who is obsessed with anything with wheels 

The minions from Despicable Me - perfect for a room that will eventually
be shared by two brothers. Now...to determine which will be which...

My brother Shawn carved this little block and it fits perfectly on Levi's headboard

Tiny shoes!

Do these trucks take up half a wall? Yes, yes they do. They're Tim's from when he
was smaller (though, truth be told, he still plays with them) 

Are the chairs pink and purple? yes. 

Apropos for a two-year-old, no?
Cars. 'Nuff said. (Levi says "thank you for cars" most nights during prayers. And
also shouts "Yightning Queen!" and "Mato!" most mornings)

The owl theme is pretty much because I think owls are cute. 
Levi's quilt from Nannan has trucks and trains and all sorts of colors. 

And now, for the Levi pictures, of course :)

We spent the last three weeks building a fence. Which Levi was clearly handy at doing  :)

At the Barnstormer's (minor league) baseball game in his tiny chair


Apparently, sitting in the pool and splashing around is not on the agenda when you're two.



Truck + pool = awesome.


Climbing ladders also = awesome



Levi helped mommy paint several of the posts. With no pants on.

blowing bubbles at the (very foggy) beach

Brittany wanted to build a castle. Levi wanted to crush all structural development
Then Brittany dug a hole. Levi checked its size against his...head.