The Continuing Adventures of the McCollums: Our Current Reality

For the most part, all three of us enjoy our current reality. My mother cautioned that once you get used to a baby or a child's pattern, they will up and change it on you. This has been fairly true with our almost three years with Thomas. In another eight weeks or so, another little bundle will join our little family and change whatever the reality du jour is. So for now, we will enjoy all of the funny, charming, and sometimes frustrating things that Thomas does.

Like trying to get into a garbage can

Thomas loves to help, especially when it involves things outside. "I think I eed (need) to help you, Mama."

"I think I eed a help you pump gas, Mama."

"I think I eed a carry that garbage, Mama."

"I think I eed a carry that hose up a stairs, Mama."

"I think I eed a fill up a pool wiv dis hose, Mama."

"I think I eed a weed wiv you, Mama."

"I think I eed a fix dis chair, Mama."

Thomas is a really good eater, but we've struggled with getting him to sit down and eat a good dinner. We used to let him have dessert when he asked for it in the beginning of dinner because we knew that ironically, it would ensure that he'd eat a better dinner. Thinking this was not a good long-term solution, we made the painful change to if he ate a "good, good dinner" then he could have dessert. It doesn't always work, but we feel like it's a better long-term plan. Tonight, Your Dad was at tennis, so Thomas and Your Mama (he still calls Mike Your Dad and me Your Mama) had breakfast for dinner. Thomas had a good, good dinner of two waffles, some sausage and a couple of strawberries.

Sitting at the table for an entire meal is still a battle, but he did eat a good, good dinner

Thomas' favorite

Ice cream while watching Scott Pelley on the news

Right now, at 8:27pm, Thomas has been in his crib for 34 minutes. For almost all 34 minutes, he has been talking and singing to himself. Singing things like, "Our in jamas (pajamas), our in jamas, yes our is, yes our is" to the current favorite tune of Frere Jacques. He's still chatting about putting things in the attic. Most notably, early this evening, he declared that he'd like to sleep in a bed and when I asked what we should do with his crib, he declared that we would put it up in the attic, which is where things go when he outgrows them. Clever little observer knows this! I was thinking maybe give it to the baby who is going to come live with us, but Thomas has him sleeping in the garage, which, according to him, is the second best place in our house, losing out to only the shed.

Shed: home of the mower, etc.

Garage: home of the basketball hoop, Mama's car...and a baby?

We've been super lucky that he still likes (and hasn't tried to escape from) the crib, but we do know that some day, we'll have to transition to a bed. We tried the bed in Sweden for a bit and it looks like our current reality will be changing soon and we'll be trying a bed here at home.