Thursday, May 29, 2008

Sometimes, we need a 2nd bath

Chase had a pretty long day yesterday - his first visit to the dentist, lunch at Daddy's school, and a late nap. So we were pretty sure bedtime would be easy. But Chase had other plans.

Things started out easy enough - he ate a lot at dinner, and was happy to splash in the bath. We brushed teeth, got into PJs, had some milkies. But then he noticed something on the table. Daddy had brought home notes and presents from last week's "Teacher Appreciation Week." So we let Chase help Daddy open the notes. Ripping paper is a lot of fun for 15-month-olds!

Among the gifts was a small bag of foil wrapped chocolate hearts. Chase is in a phase where he loves to take things out of containers and put them back, or into other containers. These hearts were great fun for him to play with - first he took them out of the bag, then he put them back in. Then he took some out and put them on the table. Then put them back in the bag. Then he took them out of the bag one-by-one and handed them to Daddy. Who wisely hid them under a sweatshirt. That last heart, though? He wouldn't let it go, even when both Mama and Daddy emphatically insisted it was bedtime and time to let go of all toys and similar items.

Oh, well, though Daddy. At least I'll know when he's asleep because he'll drop it. So off to the bedroom they went. Daddy began to rock Chase to sleep and Mama settled into her chair with her knitting. Ah, peace!

Then, a plaintive cry from the other room. "Mama? We could use some help in here...and you might want to bring the camera." So I grabbed the camera and went off to Chase's room. Where I found this:

As you might have suspected by now, that is melted chocolate in his hair. And all over his hands. And in his ear. And on Daddy's shirt. Oh, my!

Mama tried not to laugh too hard while she undressed Chase. We plopped him into the kitchen sink, which has a sprayer - easier to get the chocolate-covered portions of the baby while not completely redoing bath-time or refilling the tub.

Chase fell asleep pretty quickly the second time. No less sweet for being covered not with chocolate but with mama kisses instead.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

I love my guys!

This post might be better suited for the week before Father's Day, instead of the week before Mother's Day, but I really don't care :-D

In talking to other moms, I am constantly reminded how lucky I am to have married such and Involved (and evolved!) Husband and Father. James has often commented on how he wants to be able to do it all; but, alas, the Universe did not bestow the power of lactation upon men, and so he can only do mostly all. And he does - he plays with, diapers, bathes, reads to, and rocks Chase any chance he can get. Watching them together just melts my heart. Just look at some of the moments I captured on film in the past month.

Here they are at the park. James is holding out raisins for Chase to eat.


And here at the top of Mt. Tabor, looking toward downtown Portland. James often wears Chase on our walks, or carries him when we go shopping. Although lately, Chase sometimes prefers to be on the ground, exploring.


Last weekend, James kept Chase busy while I baked and made dinner in the kitchen. I was busy, busy, busy, and bopping away to the radio when it was break time - dinner on the stove, muffins in the oven. I went in the other room to see my guys, wondering why it was so quiet. This is what I found.

Look at how cute Chase is, lovingly snuggled in Daddy's arms!



Earlier that day, we had moved the couch in front of the window. Now Chase can look outside without my having to hold him up. And Daddy can look, too. Isn't this a sweet moment?


There are moments like this every day, but I can't always get my camera out in time to capture them. I knew before I married him that James would be a fantastic father, but I didn't realize how seeing father and child together would so often make me want to smother them both with mama kisses.