Just like his Uncle

Since I can remember my parents, grandparents aunts, and uncles have told us the story about my brother desperately trying to fit himself into a tiny Porsche.  The toy car was unique in that the doors and hood opened just like a real car. As the story goes, Mike walked around the car for what seemed like hours trying to get his foot into the door.

Well, the other day I saw Ayden do a very similar thing.  He has taken to riding things now that his feet finally touch the ground.  Apparently though, size isn't yet a consideration. While in the kitchen, I could hear some light grunting and noises of frustration coming from the hallway where Ayden was playing.  When I peered around the corner I found Ayden diligently trying to ride the back of his toy truck.  Unfortunately, Ayden's right left is larger than the truck itself.  He was persistent for quite some time.  Often times getting quite frustrated with the truck and its lack of carrying ability.  A few days later I found him trying again and was able to catch it on camera.

Assessing the situation...

The 'mount'....notice the form.

  (and Piper trying to help)

 Where did the truck go??

First Hair Cut

I know what you are thinking....what hair is there to cut??

But let me tell you, the five hairs that Ayden has were getting long and starting to look shabby.

[I might secretly think that perhaps cutting the hair will stimulate growth (...like shaving!)]

Either way, Ayden took it like a champ (go figure).  We placed him in his swing, with a ball, and he was perfect. There was no secret to this plan....swing and ball....food was our reinforcement should we have needed it =)

First Hair Cut

Only time will tell whether my 'cut to grow' strategy will work, but for now we have a true boy running around our house.  It is amazing how a little trim transformed my baby's face into a little man's.

Swings...again...

Notice a theme yet in the Riley household???

Yes, Sherlock, the answer is SWINGS!!
(For those of you who thought 'soccer ball'..... you can be Watson =) )

I have to admit it is rare that the three of us make it to the park together as a family. With all the travel, refereeing, running, and other family and friend activities, we are generally running in a thousand directions. This day, however, we pulled it off.....and boy was it great.

The little man took straight to the swings...

I think this face says it all...

Surprise, surprise, the soccer ball makes an appearance.  Ayden insisted that his 'baa' get to ride with him. I'm thinking if this soccer ball obsession goes on much longer we will have to give it  a name. I hate to admit this, but sometimes he even insists the ball be next to him when he eats....

(Does the word "Wilson" come to mind??)

 

This park adventure also happened to be Jeremy's first swing experience with Ayden. J was concerned Ayden may be getting seasick after a while....but, when the complaining began as the swing slowed, Jeremy quickly reassessed and gave Ayden a good push!

Watching Tennis

The past few weeks, J began a new 'routine' (I use this term loosely based on J's history ;)) of playing tennis on Sunday mornings with a friend from work.  One morning, Ayden and I decided to join them.  Ayden had a blast.

"Oh, come on....are you really that surprised that these pictures involve a soccer ball and food?!?!"

He's growing up so fast...

(And yes this was just a shameless ploy to get some pics out of my little man!)

A Piece of Heaven

Since I can remember I have loved to swing (especially at night). The fluid back and forth motion; the split second where you feel you could simply fly right off and into the night air; the feeling of weightlessness both physically and mentally; and the exhilaration of the wind hitting your face as you soar higher and higher.

As a child, we had two swings on our patio. We spent endless hours swinging, singing songs (Felice Navidad in honor of our crazy dog Felice)and attempting all things dangerous to do on a swing.
Swings were where I went in high-school and college to be alone and think; where the world swung into perspective. When asked as a school assignment to design my dream house, it included a swing room with a retractable glass dome so I may enjoy the swings day or night, rain or shine.

Yesterday, I experienced a piece of heaven; a moment I could live in forever.  Swinging has always been a solo gig for me. Don't get me wrong, others were welcome and sometimes joined, but the true therapeutic experience came only when swinging alone into the dark star-lit sky.

Things change.

Yesterday, I shared my experience with Ayden. For the first time, Ayden opted to sit on my lap and swing rather than in the baby swing. And swing we did.  We swung bath and forth, back and forth. He didn't hold on, he just laid back with the top of his beautiful little (I guess that is debatable - 90th percentile!) head fitting perfectly under my chin, pointing out all the sites. Twice I made the mistake of thinking we were finished with the swinging...twice I was corrected. Ayden has the swing gene!

So together we soared, fast and high, touching the sky.

And I found another piece of heaven in my sweet 15mos little boy.

Where did it go??

My favorite 'trick' of the month....

"Where did it go??"

Freedom Isn't Free

[Don't worry, this is not a political post about war, sacrifice and America.]

But this is about the cost of freedom.

This post has written itself for a week, but.... I could not let the cat out of the bag until I felt confident it was for real.

[I suspect you might be thinking this is my way of announcing number two - sorry to disappoint!]

So what the heck am I referring to??

Well..... only the most perfect boy ever and the fact that he now goes down for naps and bedtime in approximately 1 minute flat. A goodnight kiss to everyone in the house, his blankie, his binkie and we simply lay him down in his crib and cover him up (he demands we place his blanket on him).

I don't know where this came from, but I do know that it is amazing and has provided J and I this whole new freedom of time.  What was once a 15-30min bedtime routine of rocking, singing and head rubbing has simply vanished at the drop of a hat.

Again, I take no credit for this milestone, but I certainly enjoy the oodles of extra time it provides me every evening.

But......with every freedom there is a cost.

I must admit the first few nights I fought this new routine that Ayden was so earnestly trying to establish.  Why does he no longer want to rock snuggled all cuddly and cute in my arms until he falls asleep?? (perhaps because he barely fits in my arms these days - yes...he is ginormous!) This was our special time together.  Oh, the hours we spent over the past 14 months gently rocking.  Even at the worst of times when Ayden fought the sandman or when I had work to get done, when I sat in that chair the whole world came into perspective.  That...right then and there....was what life was all about.  That time healed me, it cleansed me of the remnants of the day and strengthened me to take on the challenges of tomorrow.  If only children knew the power they give their parents, the mountains their smile can move, and peace their mere presence provides.

But for Ayden it was time to move on. To mature. To change our routine to meet his needs and wants. What this week brought me was realization that I was not losing that special time, I was simply finding it through other new interactions with Ayden. And thus, I set aside my personal desires and embrace the freedom our new routine brings.

And so it begins. Ayden and I's relationship will take many many forms over our lifetime; most of which he will define. I pray that with each new phase I will be astute enough to recognize my own agendas and expectations so that I may relinquish them in support of his.