New Shoes

Alison, in preparation for their year in Tanzania, generously sent Luis two big packages - one full of books and one full of clothes.  Luis was enamored with it all, even before he found out that it all used to belong to Solly & Franklin.  In particular, Luis has been dying to wear these lace up shoes.  "I'm BIG boy" Luis declares as he stomps around in them.  Indeed he is.

Luis - The Newest Photographer in the Family

In the last couple of weeks, Luis's interest in "taking pictures" has elevated.  He now wants to be the one to hold the camera and push the button.  Unfortunately, with my camera, he hasn't quite figured out how to look through the view finder...  Regardless, he still manages to snap some interesting shots.

There are also loads of pictures of feet and bums and walls and floor.  

Sprinkler - A New Appreciation

With the exception of his first couple of baths, Luis has always loved the water:  bath time, pool time, ocean time,water games at the sink, watering the plants, water games with the hose and even playing in the rain.  But up until now, he has not enjoyed getting sprayed by the hose.

 



 This great spray attachment for the hose was left behind by our landlords.  I suspect that it will get tremendous use over the summer.  It sprays water about 3 -4' up in the air; the perfect height for Luis and his friends.

The Lizard

Last week, I wrote about Luis and The Lizard.  Here are some pictures of the two of them together.

Sandbox!

This morning, Luis and I went out to breakfast with our neighbor Kyle; also known - by Luis - as Mr. Pyle.  (Diego is in Melbourne for a long weekend with FIT friends.)  Kyle invited us out, I suspect, to offer a nice diversion for me and was even willing to go at 7:45a.  We've got some GREAT neighbors.

When we got home, I told Kyle that I was hoping to (finally) get around to setting up Luis's sandbox in the base of the fort/swing set.  Kyle suggested that we just get right back into the car and go get it; offering to help me carry those FIFTY POUND bags of sand.  How could I turn down such an offer?

About an hour later, and after loading 450 lbs of sand onto a cart, into the car, out of the car, and into the sandbox - Luis was already pushing his trucks around in the sandbox.  

I POOPED IN THE PO-TTY

Not once, not twice, not three times - FIVE times, Luis has uttered, shouted, flaunted and shared this phrase in the last 6 days.  

And he's told everyone.  Miss Lisa, Miss Beaty, Miss Crystal & Miss Jill at schoool, our friends Bethany and Caleb, Todd (at the gym), Tim & Kyle (our neighbors), and a few strangers on the street and at the park.  

I have to admit, it's pretty exciting stuff around here.

Logic at Work

This morning, Luis and I were looking at one of his picture books of "Vehicles that Work".

Luis:  Mommy - what is that?

Me:  It's a snow plow.

Luis:  Who is driving it?

Me:  Who do you think is driving?

Luis:  The snow man?

The Lizard

Yesterday, while we were enjoying a great bb q in the back yard, Luis and Diego caught a little lizard.   After several minutes of very gentle play, we convinced Luis to let the lizard go.  Here is the conversation that followed:  

Me:  The lizard is going to have some quiet time now.

L:  I want him to play.

Me:  No, it's rest time for the lizard.

L:  He's going to watch tv?

M:  I think he's going to read some books for rest time.

L:  Does he want my blanket and my baca (pacifier)?

(Pictures of Luis & the lizard will be posted later)

The Zoo, with Caleb

Bethany, Caleb, Luis and I went to the zoo this morning -- and it was another great trip.  We got there when it opened, and bee-lined to the kid's zoo (after, of course, riding the carousel).  We were the very first kids there; the first kids to play in the sand box, the first kids to climb, the first kids to splash/swim in the meandering stream.  Bethany was smart enough to bring a bathing suit for Caleb.  Lucky for Luis (and me), the zoo gives away Lil Swimmers (while supplies last).

Luis and Caleb climb up on the fence to get a better look at the donkey in the next pin.

Once we were finished playing, it was time to see some animals.  We walked up and saw the tiger, the otters, the giraffes, the elephant and ended up with the penguins.  Penguins have become Luis's favorite animal lately.  It started out with a "dancing" and singing penguin Luis received after Christmas.   Then, Diego taught Luis to walk like the penguins.  For Easter, Mom sent March of the Penguins (both the book & the DVD).  So it was the perfect way to end our trip.

Caleb's kiss for Bethany was completely spontaneous, and Caleb's idea

Dog Festival

After the Kite Festival (and a nap and a snack), we headed back out to the Dog Bowl.  It was basically a dog free-for-all held on the field of the Cotton Bowl.  I decided not to Ashley - a hard decision.  But it would have been too much excitement & stimulation, not to mention to much running around for her.  It was almost too much stimulation for me. 

We saw dogs of all shapes and sizes - lots of pretty dogs and lots that were, well, not-so-pretty.  Luis, true to his style, was very interested in petting (and hugging and kissing) many of the dogs.  He would get a bit overwhelmed when a pack of dogs would run by too close, on their way to a wading pool, a tennis ball or simply chasing the dog in front of them.  And true to my style, I hunted out all of the Aussies (and Border Collies).

Luis seemed to particularly like this little doggie.  It took a while for the dog to warm up to Luis - but eventually he sat in Luis's lap for several minutes and even gave Luis a sweet kiss.

Kite Festival

Sunday morning, we headed out to the Annual Japanese Boat, Kite & Lantern festival in nearby Irving.  Diego bought a small kite for him and Luis to fly and we went out to the grassy area to fly the kite and watch the boat races.  Luis was only mildly interested in the kite or kite flying; he was much more fascinated by a golf ball he found on the ground or the fact that we let him put the trash in the trash can.  Oh well, such are outings with a toddler.

  

Before heading home, we indulged in some "fair food".  Diego got his biennial corn dog (and then remembered why he only eats them every other year).  I got egg rolls (because we were at a Japanese festival).  Luis got Cheetos (because they were free).

Luis Picks His Own Clothes

Most days, I chose Luis's clothes for him.  Occasionally, he'll protest my choice in shirts and request something else.  Last weekend, he picked his own outfit from the hat to the boots.  Nice job, Luis!

(PS - Jeanette:  The digger shirt is still a favorite, 6 months later.  It fits fine, but I might need you to look for it in a 3T)

Wrong Sport

Luis called these his "soccer clothes".  More like golf...

A Handsome Boy

(the glasses are mine - Luis likes to "wear them like Momma")

The Advantage to Golf in Your Own Yard

Diego and Luis like to hit a few golf balls before dinner.  Sometimes, they have to wait until after dinner and Luis incorporates it into his "run around half naked" game.

A Recurring Punch Line

Luis (standing in his closet): I'm going POOP.

Me:  Should we change your diaper?

Luis:  No, give me some PRIVACY.

Afternoon Activity

At the end of our block, a company is doing some extensive work on the utilities.  I say extensive not because I know the scope of the work, but because it's duration:  it's been going on for more than a week.  At least four times now, Luis and I have walked down to watch.  We bring our snacks (usually popsicles, as it's starting to get hot) and a drink - and sometimes Ashley, and sit in the grass in the yard immediately in front of the work.  And we sit and watch the construction.  

We watch the excavator push steel plates around and the track hoe move the pile of dirt back into the hole.  We watch the men sweep the street and shovel the dirt.  (We mostly go late in the afternoon, so they are finishing up the work for the day.)  Luis provides a running commentary for all that he can describe (that man wears a blue hat, that digger is pushing dirt, that digger is little but this digger is big, that digger is putting dirt in dump truck) and asks questions about the things that he doesn't (Where is the dirt going?  Why are there three diggers?  What is that man doing?  Why does that man have a white hat?  Why is there a hole in the street? What's that pipe for?).  

The first time we took our front row seats, the men seemed to be a bit nervous about our presence.  Two of them immediately put on their (I'm sure, OSHA-required) safety vests.  But they've warmed up to us over the week;  they now smile at us and wave back when Luis waves.  Amongst each other, they speak Spanish.  So each day when we leave, Luis waves to them and shouts, "HASTA LUEGO MEN".

Luis & The Cougars

I posted about our evening out with Mark, Natalie & Baby Josie here.  Then, I got this picture of Luis and his "new friends" from Diego (it was on his phone).

A trip back East

Luis, Diego and I went back to Annapolis on 4/25 for my grandmother's service.  Diego had to come back to Dallas on Monday night, but Luis and I stayed another week (until 5/3) to visit with friends and family.  Despite having a week in the greater DC area, it was a busy time and we only got to visit a fraction of the people we'd hoped to see.  

I was surprised at how much he remembered.  That he remembered feeding the birds at Mom's house, ice cream at the sushi place, who slept in which room at Midge's or where Sarah keeps her playdoh wasn't so unusual - they are all things he did (and loved) many, many times in the fall.  That he remembered that there are tanker trucks along a certain road between Dodie's house in Fairfax and our house in Falls Church was astounding to me (as we turned onto the road, a good mile before the fuel farm, Luis asked, "Momma, where tanker trucks?").  That after seeing a fox at mom's house on Sunday morning, Luis said, "I saw a fox at Solomon's house" in OCTOBER blew me away.  I guess he has his Granddaddy's memory.

Luis did amazingly well with the whole trip.  At one point, he slept (and napped) in five different beds in 3 days!  Despite all that was going on, Luis didn't miss a single nap - though many of them were several hours later than normal.  These days, he's only allowed to have his Baca (his pacifier) when he's in the bed.  By the end of our trip, he was carrying around his baca and blanket almost the entire day, he was so exhausted.

He definitely rallied when we got home on Sunday afternoon.  In the course of about two hours, he physically put his little hands on almost every toy he owns.  He was clearly glad to be home.  And on Monday, he took a 4-hour nap - something we both needed!!

Bibi Croom & Grandpa Sandy

In between all of our visits with friends and (extended) family time, we had a wonderful visit with Bibi and Grandpa Sandy.  Luis had a clear (and correct) memory about life at Bibi's house - from the Fisher-Price castle that she has to feeding the birds to Grandpa Sandy's lawn mower to the great swing set/playground next door.  There were a few changes - instead of the pack-n-play, he slept on the "big bed".  Instead of using a booster, he sat in "Solomon's chair".

Bibi made us many, many great meals.  She read Luis lots of fun books.  And one day, we went down to the water to feed the ducks. Grandpa Sandy "helped Luis" fill the bird feeders, took him out to see the tractor (several times), and worked on Luis's musical rhythm singing 60's classics.