The perfect day

This past Saturday was one of those perfect days. You know the kind I'm talking about - the one where everything goes as planned, the kids are happy and extra-loveable, the birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and your hair looks good even though you didn't shower. Ah yes, I love those days. I wish I had more of them - many more of them but alas I don't. So when I am blessed with one, I'm giddy as all get out and I savor them like a wine lover savors a fine Pinot - breathing it it's aroma, experiencing every last drop.

The day started out like any other Saturday - awakened at the crack of dawn by my baby yelling "mmmaaammmaa daa baa baa" from his crib. I stumbled to his room, picked up his chubby, warm little body and breathed in his intoxicating babyness like I do every morning. Then I opened the blinds and.......taaaa daaaaa! Sunshine! Now maybe to you sunshine is no big deal, but in Oregon, in the middle of winter, it is A BIG DAMN DEAL! Baby in arms, I ran to our bedroom and screamed at my still unconcious hubby, "Get up, get up, get up! The sun is shining! We have TO GO!"
"What the hell....are you yelling about? Go where?"
"I don't know - anywhere. Outside."
A couple hours later, after breakfast and the baby's morning nap, we were outside at the park with picnic lunches in tow -all of us soaking up the sunshine and warmth like bonedry sponges. Oregon winters can be harsh. Not really cold or snowy or even particularly cold. Just very drab and gray and cloudy. You can literally go weeks and weeks without seeing the sun. So when Mother Nature serves up a sunny, rain-free day in the middle of winter you can bet yer boots that folks are going to enjoy it. It's not uncommon to see people standing still, staring straight at the sun like they're trying to soak up as many rays as possible to tide them over till the next sunny day.

Now I would love to tell you that the sun hung around all day, but it didn't. The clouds started rolling in towards the end of our morning, but we were thankful for what we did get - a nice long walk in the park, a picnic in the back of the van and lots of family time outside. It was wonderful day and nice reminder of all the great things to come.

And hubby makes 3

I'm the mom of two little boys, Dane and Kellen. Sometimes my husband's behavior makes me feel like three is a more accurate number. Here is a perfect example of what I mean.

Hubby (changing Dane's diaper)
Kellen - Daddy, I want to see Dane's butt.
Hubby - You want to see his butt? Okay, here it is. Isn't it cute?
Kellen - Yeah and there's his butt-hole!!
Hubby - Yep that's his butt-hole.
Me - Actually, Kellen, it's really called an "anus"
Kellen - You mean a "Danus?"
Hubby - hysterical laughter and uncontrollable snorting
Kellen - A Danus!! A Danus!!
Hubby -by this point is doubled over with fits of laughter.

Now, my hubby is a smart guy. He knows that you're not supposed to give attention to behavior that you don't want repeated again and again. But I guess he had a moment of weakness, when his inner little boy could no longer be contained. I'll let you know if I have to change my baby's name to "Danus"

Little boy crushes

It's official. My three-year-old has a crush. A big one. A whopper. The object of his affection is Libby, the 10-year-old daughter of his new daycare provider. She's a quiet, cute little girl with shoulder length, straight brown hair and glasses. She's the third out of seven children. And somehow she has stolen my little boy's heart.



When he walks into their home in the mornings, he just stands there and gazes at her, like someone admiring the Statue of David or something. During dinner he rambles on about how much he loves her and with a sparkle in his big, beautiful brown eyes, says things like "she's beautiful as a flower" and "the next time I see her I'm going to give her "some lovin". What?! Where does he get this stuff? "Exactly what kind of "lovin" are you going to give her?" I asked. "I'm going to hug her arm" he said with a smile as big as the state of Texas itself. Whew! For a second there I was worried we'd get booted out of daycare #2!

Libby for the most part is being a very good sport about this whole crush thing. She aware that he thinks she's the cat's meow for and is very kind to him - something that all of his crushes won't be. But that's for another time and another post - both of which I hope are WAY in the future.