Haiku #82

Haiku #82

Is your lack of sleep

the result of poor diet,

Baby Cannibal?

Haiku #81

#81

He's no Fred Astair-

Astair would use less elbow-

but he has passion!

Haiku #80

#80

While the big boy sleeps

the little boy can explore

the world of robots

Haiku #79

#79

With robot in hand

through cotton fields and kudzu

we're home safe and sound

Haiku #77 & #78

#78

Lucas discovered

the closest thing to the womb:

the hot, windy beach!

#77

In his private boat

he sailed in and out of weeks--

while stuck in the sand

Haiku #75 & #76

#76

He hovers above

his own tidal pool playground

for a split second

# 75

To tell you the truth

the life of a two year old

is complicated

Haiku #74

#74

Today's lesson is:

When he starts running away

don't chase him--follow

Eli was determined today to wander away from our beach spot. Walking or running, he was determined to get away. Eventually I just followed him to an abandoned sand castle as far from the water as he could manage. He sat down and pointed to a spot next to him for me to sit. There we sat. No talking, just digging our hands and feet in the sand together. After a few minutes of beachy white noise he was content going back. Lesson learned. Thanks, Love.

Haiku #71-#73

#73

There is no wolf suit--

and no, his name isn't Max

but it's close enough

#72

As the sun sinks down

he watches the kite runner

dancing in the sand

#71

The Nature Center

had just one good quality:

the parking lot rocks!

Haikus #69-#70

#70

"Mama, hawk? Eagle?

Hooo? Two hooo? Sheep? Goats? Black Bears?

Rabbits? Big, tall trees?"

...And on and on...We go through this list of things we see at Maymont every single night and often several times during the day...without fail...

#69

The blurry beach moon

hovering above his head

like a sky halo

Haikus #65-#68

#68

Laying in the surf

he laughs as the waves roll in

and tastes their bubbles

#67

Over and over

he buries his feet with sand--

It never gets old

#66

"Mama, where'd they go?

Oh no, Mama! Mama, help!

Woo hoo, Mama! Yay!"

#65

Baby belly rolls

relaxing in Mama's lap--

Happy as a clam

Haikus #65

#65

All of a sudden

he's going up and down stairs

like a true biped

Haikus #64

#64

The cries are now coos--

up & down, in & out sounds

like a mourning dove

Haikus #63

#63

The ceaseless crying

is only interrupted

by his big brother

As I tried to make dinner Lucas, teething and miserable, cried and cried and cried. Eli, inspired by the Jerry Lewis marathon Dad was watching ("The Disorderly Orderly" at the time), decided to cheer Lucas up by acting like a buffoon. Hilarity ensues!

Haikus #60, #61 & #62

Haikus #60, #61 & #62

"Wait mama, a rock!"

He says this every 3 steps--

I don't mind waiting

In a sea of rocks

he's able to find the one

that makes him happy

Our home's becoming

a meditation garden

one stone at a time

Haiku #59

#59

From "O" to "C"--

An onion ring alphabet

thanks to Burger King

The Souped Up Train Table

A month before Eli's second birthday I stumbled across a neighbor's yardsale. There was a sturdy, well-loved train table for $10...needless to say I had to have it and our neighbors even offered to deliver it to our living room! It needed a makeover so with some paint, paper and elbow grease I made a new train & art station for Eli. He adores it!

Train Table (before)

The two green panels come out and can flip sides. I'm not sure why they do that... it's ugly green on both sides. What's the point? It's scratched up and has been used in a family with four boys but it has good bones! And was TEN dollars!

Train Table (after)

I painted one side of the table with black chalkboard paint. So far it has been pretty durable and washes cleanly away with no problems. We're using sidewalk chalk as that seems the most colorful, vibrant and comes in nice big chunks that are easily handled by a toddler.

Lucas watches Eli play with the trains!

The chalkboard paint has so far held up to having trains, dinosaurs and robots crashing into its surface. Totally necessary in a house with a two year old.

Train Table (side 2)

When the chalkboard panels are flipped I've decoupaged an alphabet robot city. Eli loves identifying the letters & numbers although he does not run his trains or cars along the "roads" I made with paper. The tracks satisfy that need. I used scrapbooking paper from Michael's and lots of Mod Podge for a smooth, durable finish.

Dinosaur Train!

Close -up of the decoupage robot town.

Robot Town (aerial view)

Haiku #58

#58

Embarrassed, yet proud--

At 2 he's reading letters

of the Lager Bot

Haiku #57

#57

Instead of students

at 8:15 this morning

I saw this smile

Note: Today was the first day of school and I have to admit it was a little bittersweet. Maybe bittersweet is not the right word but it was certainly a little strange. I kept glancing at the clock and making mental notes:

7:20: Arrive at school; 8:15: First class begins; 1:30: End of last class; 3:00: Head home.

Instead of my school routine I did baby/toddler stuff all day.

7:20: Make coffee & change diapers; 8:15: Make breakfast & change diapers; 1:30: Yo Gabba Gabba rest time & change diapers; 3:00: Rescue baby squirrel & change diapers.

Different, but wonderful.

Strange, but grateful.

So it has officially begun... my year at home with the boys.

Let the games begin!

Haiku #56

#56

Step one: open mouth

Step two: insert stinky foot

Step three: take photo

Haiku #55

#55

He sat in the stroller

like a sack of potatoes

but enjoyed the ride

Haiku #54

Haiku #54

He doesn't realize

that at 94 degrees

there's no chance of snow

Haiku #53

#53

Mama? Mama? Up?

Yes, please! Mama! Up? Yes, Please!

Mama! Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey, Mama!

Haiku #52

#52

"Look mama, two g's!"

Sure enough, two swirly g's

waiting at the door