On Returning from Vacation...

We're home. With another 1725 miles under our belt, and 10 fun-filled days of memories, we're back from our Canadian Grand Tour. Photos are forthcoming, but for now, here are some questions we answered and life-lessons we learned on the way.

-Is it possible for a six month old baby to take a 750 mile, two-day, 15 hour road trip without making a single peep? Yes. Thank you Liam...you rock!
-The best solution for getting a good night's rest for Mama, Daddy, toddler and baby in a single hotel room is to put the toddler in his own "special bedroom". As he will quickly point out, it's a bathroom. You can just say "Yes, it's sort of like a bathroom. But for tonight, it's your special bedroom." This solution also works well at cabins.
-Celebrating Canada Day in Canada, after many years away...awesome!
-Missing 4th of July, the annual Garnavillo parade and a sweet block party...not so awesome. But if you're in Canada, you might not remember it's even the 4th until well after noon.
-Can a six month old and a two year old share clothing? If the baby is Liam and the toddler is Iain, and the clothing in question is a swim-shirt and trunks...apparently, yes.
-No matter how cold the water is, Liam will never make a peep, cry real tears, or kick up a fuss. No matter how warm the water is, Iain will always scream, cry or have a fit. Then he'll like it. It's just their personalities.
-No matter what the activity, and no matter how hard you try to convince him, Iain will always wait until the last minute to like it. It's just his personality.
-If your baby's been watching you eat with great interest for the last month or so, he will take to solid food like a duck to water. No big ordeal for this boy...it hardly merited a video.
-You will never spend a week at the cabin without getting towed somewhere on a broken pontoon boat.
-If you're planning on fishing, always take more minnows than you think you'll need!
-A fall into a 2x4 studded wall will sure produce a shiner on a little boy. Tell him he looks like a hockey player and give him a drink of Ovaltine, and he'll be better in no time.
-Watching your kid doing anything for the first time (jumping off the dock, playing with a sparkler, fishing) is pretty great.
-Shakespeare plays are definitely better enjoyed in a vineyard, with good friends and a bottle of Baco Noir.
-Barbecues with old friends aren't the relaxing affairs that they used to be, now that there are 10 or so kids running around. But they're a lot of fun!
-There are some friends who just "feel right", even though you don't see them for weeks, months, years.
-No matter how long you're "home", it's never long enough.
-It makes it easier to come back from vacation knowing that you have a nephew to meet, a niece to squeeze, a sister to catch up with and a brother with a brand-spankin' new job! In Iowa! Not in North Carolina!!!!
-Just because your kids are well behaved and cooperative on the first leg of the trip, does not guarantee that the miracle will repeat itself on the return journey. Gah.
-When you come back to Iowa in July, after spending a wonderful week in breezy, beautiful Canada, and step out of the car into 100 degree heat, 95% humidity and annoying allergies, you will always wonder why you don't just get back in the car and head straight back to Canada.
-Aforementioned relocated family, spice-treats from Penzey's, an amazing jungle of promising produce in a garden (watered by awesome neighbors with plans for fun up their sleeves!), an affectionate kitty who missed you and a little air conditioning will do a lot to reconcile you to sticking it out another day. Or maybe it's just the dreaded prospect of 13 more hours in the car.

Could He Be Any Happier?

Happy Babies are awesome. Oh Liam, I love you!

Ode to the Dads

I'm sad to be a day late on this post. It's tough to find time to blog when you're the one doing the pampering, instead of being pampered! But I would be remiss if I did not take time to mention the men in my life that I am thankful for on Father's Day! So here's a short (and late!) Father's Day poem in their honor.

To Dob-Dobby, my own Dad!

A better Daddy was never had.
With your handy hands you fix,
But still have time for Iain's tricks.

For Dad P, my Dad in "law"
My second Dad, and a great Grandpa!
You do all you can for us,
And love us lots, without much fuss!

For my Grampy, I sure love you!
And Papa, gone on to Heaven too.
You've taught me many things in life,
About the long road of joy and strife.

For my brother, an uncle who's lots of fun,
A wonderful Daddy to a child soon to come.
You're the best, my "little big bro",
I hope you know that I love you so!

Two brothers-in-law, smart and great I see,
One fabulous Daddy, and one soon to be!
Two Uncles with love for two little boys,
To entertain, and play with toys.

One nice husband, a Daddy of two-
Without this man, oh what would I do?!
Adored by his sons, and his wife as well,
A wonderful Dad, he sure is swell!

Sure am thankful for all of these guys! And Dads? If poetry's not your style, I'll just wish you a "Happy Falker Satherhood" instead.

New Buddies!

It's been a rough few days Chez Pitman. With a sick little boy, complete with a fever, some barf and a couple of sleepless nights, we've been laying pretty low. I don't think we would have made it without these two pals. Iain has found a new obsession. We've read through our anthology many times, and checked out every other story the library had available! He never gets tired of them. Meet our new best friends: "Cure-dee-us George" and "The Man with the Yeyo Hat"!

All Growed Up

It's crazy. It's like Iain turned two and decided he was big. In the last few weeks, I'm astounded at the number of things he's done, tried and eaten without protest, fuss or complaint. Things that he'd previously decided he didn't want to do, was scared to try or wouldn't eat. He's back on the potty wagon, for one. (Although I'm not holding my breath on that one lasting!) Don't know what the difference is, except that we pulled out the green potty last night instead of the red one! Now don't get me wrong, he's still a two-year-old in any and all senses of the word! It has not been an "easy-breezy" few weeks! But I'm loving this cooperative, adventurous, up-for-anything side of him!

For instance: our fun neighbors (Thanks Candace and Michael!) participated in "Bike to Work Week" and got Iain this snazzy bike helmet. (They actually thought it would come in handy for his extreme-golf games!) But Iain refused to put it on! On Wednesday though, when we brought out his tricycle and I told him frankly that when we ride bikes we need to wear helmets, and he put it on without a fuss! He hopped on that trike and pedaled away to his heart's content! (Don't mind the grouchy face! He was concentrating! And don't mind the messy shirt...he'd just eaten a chocolate chip cookie in the 90 degree heat!)

And the eating! Oh the eating! Ever since I instituted "Operation Smoothie" about a week ago, he's been eagerly slugging one (or two or three!) back a day. We've had strawberry-blueberry, strawberry-banana, mango-blueberry, banana-mango and every flavor combination in between, and he loves them all! We've even been adding spinach for the last few days, and it hasn't made a dent in his enthusiasm. In addition, in the last week he's tried (and liked) watermelon, strawberries (minus the liked part on the strawberries!), quinoa, steak, mushrooms, bratwurst, salami, fruit popsicles, herbal tea, flax seed cakes, Laughing Cow cheese and a host of other things. I say "Try this Iain!" and he does. It's amazing! He even asks for (and eats!) carrots and apples with his lunch! I'm so happy that he's eating such a wide variety of food and getting so many good (and different!) nutrients! However, as you can see below, chocolate is still a food of choice for this boy!


And the little one? He's having a hard time with his teeth lately. He's been up in the night a couple of times, which is unusual for him, and he gnaws wet spots the size of basketballs on any fabric he can get his hands (gums!) on! It makes me so sad to see him fussy. I can tell that he's in a lot of pain, as he's generally never cranky. He's still a cutie little chubster though, and as we know from Iain, "this too shall pass"! As for being "all growed up"? Well, all of a sudden, he seems to think he's big enough to hold his own bottle!

Guess Who Came to Visit?

Deer with spots! Love them!!

(But stay outta my garden kiddos!)

Wowzers!

I guess that a lot of sun and a little bit of rain really do a beautiful garden make! Everything (and I mean everything, from asparagus to zucchini and every letter in between!) is popping it's little head up, just getting ready for us to eat! Love it! Here's a little peek, for Mom and Dad, who made it happen!