Degrees of Happiness

Thomas has many ways of expressing his happiness.  Over the last week, during our trip to Florida, he has been given many opportunities to tell us how excited he is.

After his initial shyness has worn off, Thomas' first level of happiness is a charming smile.  It tells me ya done good, thank you, and this is fabulous all in one fell swoop.

A happy traveler on the way to the airport

A happy splasher and his friend Lisa testing the pool out

When Thomas whispers, "Oh boy!"we know that something good is coming.  When we puled up to a park near Nana and Papa VanDusen's house, Thomas quietly expressed his excitement with an "Oh boy!  Going to a park?"   He's a big fan of slides, fings (swings), and see saws.

Nana pushes Thomas

Thomas reciprocating

"Weeeeeeeeeee!"

Mama had her own "oh boy" moment while we were in Florida.  Thomas slept in Pack-n-Plays while we were there.  Our first few days were fairly uneventful with regard to naps and bedtime.  Thomas transitioned very well.  Then we went to see the VanDusen grandparents.  A mere three hours into our stay, Thomas was due for a nap.  We went through the same routine and heard Thomas in his room talking to himself.  We smiled....until we figured out that he climbed out of the Pack-n-Play!  If I could push my incredulity aside, maybe I would have said, "Oh boy."  We have been so fortunate that Thomas still likes his crib back at home.  Most of our friends who are two have had to transition to a bed because of the climbing out.   I was completely caught off guard.  It's a good thing Nana scooped him right up and put him back in his "new crib."  The aftermath of an escape artist:

Wipes all plucked out of the bag and placed on the bed and floor

Strangely enough, our return to the McCollums' house also meant a return to normalcy and no more escaping.  "Oh boy."

The next level of excitement often includes, "Oh my gooodness!"  Numerous occasions warrant this exclamation.  A field trip to see the bronze cows at Nana and Papa McCollum's was one such example.

"Hee haw"

Ride 'em doggy!

Thomas and the dog racing the cowboy

 When Thomas gets very excited about something, he says, "I be 'cited" in a way that you can't help but smile and tell him you're excited too.  There were many opportunities for him to get excited about food.  Most notably, the excitement was around the many sweets the Nanas provided.

Ice cream after a foray with Indian food at The Villages

Making apple pie with Nana (and eating almost as fast as she could peel and slice)

Thomas was extremely excited about the mini ice cream sandwiches at Nana and Papa's house.  Despite my calling them ice cream sandwiches, Thomas called them "ice cream ham san-sanch."  He really likes ham sandwiches (san-sanch) and every sandwich thereafter has been a variation of the favorite ham sandwich.  We found this especially hysterical.

"Chocolate beard like Papa?"

Some other things he got 'cited about were:

Being able to hang out outside and not be "freezing cold."  This sometimes involved no shoes and oftentimes involved no clothing.

Showing off his mostly companion, Frankie Dog.

Giving Frankie Dog a Valentine's card

Taking him on countless walks in a stroller

Hanging out with his mama and dad.

"Come sit here, Mama.  Put your feet in a water, Mama"

"Play golf with your (his) dad."

Walking with Mama (and Frankie Dog) to go see Papa play tennis

Their own version of Pickleball

There was a lot of sharing during the course of our eight days in Florida.  Sharing Thomas time between two doting sets of grandparents, sharing treats, sweets and dinners, sharing Thomas Duty when there were mini meltdowns over no more golf cart, coming inside or no more gum drops, and sharing wonderful memories.  Hopefully one day many years from now, we will look back at this post and smile, say, "oh my goodness" and recall just how 'citing this time with him was.

Taking Our Show on the Road

Thomas and Mommy are taking the show on the road.  At least that's our plan...in the face of a "Snowmageddon" predicted for our area.  Weather allowing, we're heading on down to Florida to see all four grandparents and our good friend, Lisa, who is visiting from Sweden.

When I say we're taking the show on the road, it really is a show, and this charming fellow is the ringleader.

Fortunately, this show is a very active and interactive show.  There are lots of sports to be played, for example.

Baseball, helmet and all, at Walmart

Perennial favorite, "hockey in a graj (garage)"

Ice throwing

There are also lots of food to try.  Thomas specializes in interesting ways to attain and eat his food.

So excited about peas that they barely make it out of the fridge!

"Mama want some peas too?"

"I love ice cream. Take a picture my ice cream, Mama."

Dough boy

This show of his, has a couple of willing assistants.  Thomas and his loyal follower, Dad, enjoyed the Superbowl together.  Eating on the couch from a tray like Daddy is a big draw for Thomas.

Dad is also a great assistant because he is often found bending to Thomas' whims.  Like last night, for example.  As I was cleaning the kitchen, I heard Thomas say that he was like a little baby bird.  Of course, I should not have been surprised to find this scene in the bathroom:

The show when it includes Mama is often unrecorded because it is difficult to photograph myself.  I do try to get the flavor of some of our finer moments.

Working like Mama

Just like Mama

Not like Mama at all, but entertaining none the less

The show is entertaining yet tiresome, precious yet frustrating sometimes.  But observers always come back for more of Thomas' shtick.

 

Dis

Dis week, Thomas has entered a new phase of his toddlerhood.  While dis phase is incredible because it marks a very clear line for Thomas in that he can really articulate what exactly he wants (it's usually, "I want dis!") it is not necessarily one of the most exciting phases for his mother, who is subjected to Thomas' whims every day.

For example, one day this week, sometime around 9:30, Thomas up and ran to the fridge and declared, "I want dis!"  He took out some leftover mac-n-cheese and gave it to his Mama.  "Heat it up, Mama."  Of course, I obliged despite the fact that he had just finished breakfast an hour ago.

 Perhaps you are an observant one and noticed that Thomas is wearing only his diaper and some socks for this mid-morning snack.  It's not that warm here in NY.  Changing out of pjs was met with a lot of resistance and, "I wear I diaper."  The socks were our sort of compromise.

"Thomas vacuum?"  Sure!  So I set Thomas up with the state-of-the-art vacuum from Nana McCollum.  Keep in mind his vacuum is nicer than mine.  Thomas was not to be fooled.  "I want dis one, dis vacuum, Mama."  So we shared vacuum duty of the downstairs.

Same held true for mopping the kitchen floor.

Thomas and I stopped at Sonic (a drive-in burger joint) after a quick trip to the store.  He knew exactly what he wanted and pointed it out when I asked what he wanted for lunch.  "Dis."  Of course, dis was the ice cream sundae.  I explained we would get ice cream at home with Dad and that we needed lunch first.  Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and he said, "I want a burger and tots, Mama."  How much easier does it get than that?!  So I ordered exactly that.  Although Sonic is a fast food place, it was not fast enough for Thomas who explained to me, "I done waiting I food, Mama.  I want I burger."  Oh, dear Thomas, if only it were that easy!

Big burger for a little guy!

Often the dis is merely a way for Thomas to explain which one.
"I get on dis couch and ride.  Hee haw."

"Thomas go with dis Mama."  I have no idea who the other Mama is, but I'm glad he's going with me...most of the time.

As two strong-willed people almost always do, we tend to battle each other on some things.  But dis kid makes it worth the while.

Big Boy

Sorry, but the Chinese may have this one wrong.  I don't think 2013 is the Year of the Snake, I think it's the Year of The Big Boy.  Thomas started the year as if he were a small man rather than a 28 month old child.

In gearing up for 2013, on New Year's Eve, Thomas did a little test run of what it was like to be a big boy.  He made an enthusiastic attempt at helping prepare and eating one of Mommy's favorite things, clams.

Ready with tongs

Chewed and swallowed the whole clam!

Since the clam thing went well, Thomas fully embraced his big boyhood on January 1st.  He has now taken to showering in the morning.  This is sort of a catch-22.  While I know now exactly where he is and what he's doing when I am showering (right next to me, washing himself), it is a little tight in our stand-up shower.  This doesn't stop him from stating almost daily, "I take I shower now" or "Thomas shower now?  I take I jammies off?"

Thomas still enjoys a nighttime bath and fun with Dad though.

It's a good thing that Thomas gets so clean as this big boy has recently added two very important things to his daily schedule.  First, he is very busy training and caring for his dog, Frankie Dog.  Frankie Dog, named first by Daddy, is the first thing Thomas looks for in the morning.

Thomas tells Frankie Dog when to pee and when to poop.  Rather, he tells me when he is "letting" Frankie Dog pee or poop.   He tells Frankie Dog when to close his eyes and go to sleep.  Thomas dilligently feeds Frankie Dog all sorts of foods.

"Lettuce, Frankie Dog?"

He also involved Frankie Dog in his other new endeavor, "working at a office." 

Tricky getting a dog and two lunchboxes down the stairs.

But nothing is impossible when you wear your mom's headband!

"Get in Mama's car?"

Loading it up.

Just a big boy driving...

With his dog.

When Thomas doesn't make the trek into the office, he sometimes works from his other office.

Thankfully, Thomas hasn't grown up too much in the last two weeks.  He still loves to play, play, play.