Seriously, I wish I could say I slept through the last four weeks, which we all know would have been an impossibility with my little non-sleeping rascal (though he has slept through the night probably 1/3 of the past month which is progress) considering it is the last day of May and I have literally NO IDEA how 31 days passed by in such the proverbial blink of an eye. It is however, whether I can believe it or not, the eve to the start of another month.
It is so strange how time passing seems to speed up exponentially once the weather becomes delightful. The days are filled with more hours of natural light so in actuality they should seem longer because they ARE longer (well not 25 hours vs 24 hours but you know what I mean). I feel like it is 10pm (bedtime for me) before I have even caught my breath from a day of GO GO GO GO!
Anyhow, the daily quota of fresh air that Cole can now absorb just fuels his already high octane energy level. He has always been full of spirit and life but WOW, has the last month proven he has decided to dial up those channels a notch (or more). He is going through shoes faster than the Olympic track team!
Here are some of the memorable mentionables from the world of Cole this past month (I don't think "mentionables" is a word but I'm using it because it goes with my multiple "M" title theme).
Typically when we put Cole down for a nap or to sleep at night, he is engaged with some truck/car/train. Sometimes, he readily puts it away, other times, he carries it up to his room and places it by his bed. I sing (for naps) or we read (at bedtime) and then lights out. Awhile back we bought Cole a sea turtle that throws blue & green stars on the walls and ceiling. He was having such a hard time winding down, we thought maybe this would help him focus and relax. Once he got through a week of wanting to push the ON/OFF switch multiple (50 or so) times, he began to enjoy the stars and the moon and would fall into a more calming state. The sea turtle has an automatic timer that shuts it off after 20 minutes. Cole takes longer to fall asleep than 20 minutes, so to keep him from getting up and playing with the buttons to start it all over, I said one day (trying to keep an even tone as I frustratingly just wanted him to fall asleep for crying out loud), "the stars are taking a nap now so now it is Cole's turn to take a nap". I said it JUST that one time, and that night, sure enough when the timer went off, "Mommy, stars taking a nap?"...I replied, "yes". And since then, anytime anything shuts off (or runs out of batteries), "(insert object) _____ taking a nap?"
Having lived in Boston for 8 years, I adopted a Bostonian way of driving. That is mandatory skill development since you learn VERY quickly that you cannot be a hesitant or passive motor vehicle operator while navigating the streets of Beantown. Hence, I also acquired quite an impressive collection of automobile citations, ALL warnings, not one a real ticket (back then, I could still talk my way out of a paper bag & had a lot of LUCK on my side). I also "picked up" quite the sailor's vocabulary. I certainly could cuss before my days living in MA but I became quite fond of 4-letter words when behind the wheel. Being a mom to a little parrot named Cole has scared me stiff into adopting a cleaner driving mouth. I have found no comparable terms for my previously used driving language that releases the tension I still feel when idiots cut me off, switch lanes unexpectedly or box me in but one day in an attempt to find some child-friendly expression, I started saying in a silly voice, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO repetitively when some nut ticked me off. It allowed me to vent my frustration and Cole instantly began laughing out loud, saying "Mommy More"...so I guess I have found my resolution to a potty mouth which keeps my son entertained. If only I can continue to remember to use this BEFORE an F bomb escapes my lips!
I can't remember when Cole began using "YUMS" as his way of articulating he wanted a snack or food but it has been awhile now. Dave and I try to eat out with him a few times a month. Out of the blue, a few weeks back on Mother's Day, we pulled into the parking lot of a restaurant we had never been too. He got all excited and started saying over and over "YUMS, YUMS". He is really good at eating out for about an hour with the help of Dave's IPHONE and the games on it (who knew they had toddler game applications). He flirts with the waitresses (the only people he doesn't seem to have stranger anxiety with) and loves straws. We have been out to eat several times since and Cole routinely uses some variation of phrasing with "YUMS" whenever we say we are going to a restaurant. Typically as we depart, he looks back at the building, waves and says "BYE BYE YUMS".
Cole's Montessori lead teacher passed along this cute tidbit...he typically is FIRST amongst his toddler peers (WHAT???) to fall asleep during nap time BUT he doesn't sleep for long in comparsion so he wakes up and looks around at all his other sleeping friends and very quietly gets up and puts his mat away. He then sits and reads books contentedly ever watchful for motion in the nap room and as soon as someone wakes up, he begins clapping and saying YEAH!! He gets so excited that someone is ready to play. His teachers just love watching him watching the others, just patiently waiting.
And last but most humbling to this mom...I say "I love you Cole (or I love you Pickles which has been my nickname for him since birth) as often as I can. Previously, he would acknowledge my sentiment with a nod or a smile. Recently, I'm lucky if I receive anything other than "YEAH, THANKS" in reply. Am I already losing my sweet little rascal to the unavoidable throes of boyhood, where his mother's "I LOVE YOU's" are embarassing? I don't think so but it certainly makes me cherish the hugs and snuggles I get even more since I know those days are dawning!
Until next month...
