Quotes

A few recent exchanges with the boy that have amused us:

Josiah was describing how one big fish ate a smaller one at the Baltimore aquarium the other day. "Was it super gross?!" I asked with Mommy enthusiasm. He looked at me like I was crazy. "I didn't taste it," he said incredulously. Good point.

We've been tracking the arrival of spring with great happiness each day. Our delightful little magnolia tree is in full, fragrant bloom. Even more delightful is that Josiah invariantly calls it our "granolia" tree. Makes me smile every time. (He's very into granola bars right now, I should add.)

A couple of weeks ago he was taking care of a bit of business in the bathroom. "I need my privacy," he told Jesse, who obliged by heading out into the hall. A minute later he called out: "Daddy? Um, Daddy, I need...a magazine." Jesse was pretty amused and grabbed a Better Homes and Gardens from the living room. "Thanks," said Josiah as Jesse closed the door on him again. A few moments later there was a thud. Jesse stuck his head back in the doorway. "That was a Mommy magazine," Josiah explained, pointing to where he'd tossed it on the ground. A couple of days later, in a similar situation, Josiah again stated "I need my privacy" to Jesse. As Jesse was closing the door, Josiah shot out his hand to stop it. "Daddy, what's 'privacy'?"

What amuses us the most is his very adult demeanor in general. "Shall we have a little chatty time with William?" he asks frequently, that wording verbatim. Or the other day he climbed up on his train table. I was nursing Will in the other room, and he called to tell me about it. I told him he should probably get off. Several minutes passed before he called out again. "Mom, I can't quite seem to get down." Or there was the other evening when he observed (again, I report precisely) "It seems to be a bit chilly in here. I'll just turn on the fire." (Our fireplace ignites with a switch on the wall.)

Of course, he's very much three years old in his tastes and emphases. He brought in some rocks last week from a walk with Daddy. He mentioned them to me later. "Did you see my rocks, Mom?" I replied that I had indeed noticed them in the hall. "Did you see how gorgeous they are??" He also was quick to remind me yesterday, after I had the audacity to offhandedly call him "Babycakes," that he was "Big Boy Cakes." So true. Where did my Babycakes go??

Conference time = surprise mini vacation?!

I write from the luxury of a king-sized bed in the largest hotel room I've ever stayed in.

Each year around this time I attend (and usually present something or other at...) a major conference in my field, which can be held anywhere in the country and sometimes internationally. I was beyond delighted when I realized, a year ago, that this year's event would be held in Baltimore, a mere 1.5 hours from our home. Given that I remain William's sole source of nutrition, a further flung destination probably would have nixed my involvement this year. As it is, though, Jesse and the boys have come along...and circumstances couldn't have worked out more perfectly! Somehow it serendipitously ended up — to our suprise and delight — that we're staying in a gigantic king suite and a double queen (yes, two hotel rooms, adjoining). We only had reserved one room, naturally, but a hotel snafu yielded us this delightful outcome upon check-in. The boys are currently asleep, each in their own queen bed in the adjoining room. Unreal. Thank you, Hampton Inn!

Whoa. That's a lot of detail on the room. I guess it's obvious I'm pleased! (Seriously, it was going to be a bit difficult to all stay in one room with William very much needing to go to sleep at 6 p.m.  Having this wonderful amount of space to spread and play with an active 3-year-old has changed the entire feel of things!)

Anyhow, while I've been in conference sessions during the days, my boys have been enjoying a bit of Baltimore. Josiah and Jesse spent a bunch of hours at the aquarium today. I kept Will with me during that time since this is an infancy conference, after all. It's so nice to be in a place where my baby is seen by my professional peers as a completely worthwhile addition to my hip rather than a nuisance. I can tote him around without worry, nurse him in the back of conference rooms, no questions, no raised eyebrows, no problem.

Tomorrow morning Jesse and the boys are heading to a railroad museum (Josiah can't wait!) while I take in a few more sessions, and we'll head home in the afternoon. Oh, and my talk yesterday went well, making the whole thing worth it. Phew!

Killing me

I'm working insane hours this semester. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining; I have a lot more flexibility in my schedule at some times during the year than people in most other professions, and I'm (truly) thankful for my wonderful, secure, rewarding, always-changing job! But I'm on the thin edge right now working 80 hour weeks and sleeping broken, very short nights, with no sign of relief until May. Jesse has moved to a part time schedule at work this year, and it's so (so, so, soooo) wonderful that the boys are receiving almost undivided parental love and attention even if they're not getting it from me as much as I'd like for these few months.

Anyway, that's not the point of the post. This picture Jesse sent me today at 5:09 p.m., shot with his camera phone, with the subject line "come home soon!" is the point of this post. Seriously, how could a mother do anything but ditch it all and rush out the door? Killing me, I tell you, killing me!

* Note: After posting this, Jesse informed me that he had socks stuffed under William's legs to keep his feet up high enough so the trains could pass under. Hilarious!!

Thirty-three

We celebrated Jesse's birthday yesterday, knowing that today would be busy with work and all. Tim and Holly came over, the requested cake and dinner was made, and lots of balloons were hung. Lots of fun! And...here's a super cute shot of William with his Auntie Holly.