Rainy Day BBQ

Last Sunday afternoon, Daddy took Dexter grocery shopping. Dexy was wearing some new shorts that were a bit too big and as he was pushing the shopping cart to the car, his shorts fell down to his ankles. When he got home, he promptly showed me how it happened. As Daddy was grilling dinner, it started raining.  Dexter decided to go help Daddy and pulled on his rain boots.  I didn't have time to stop him and get some pants on before he was out the door.

Recreating Daddy's Life

The basement has historically been Ben's domain.  It is a big open space that has a drum kit, an organ, and a number of stringed instruments in one end and a workshop left by the previous owner in the other end. It also has a small former "coal room" with great acoustics that Ben uses for recording.  In the past year or so, many of Dexter's former push toys, little cars, and "driving" cars have also ended up down there. Despite the presence of the washer and dryer, it has evolved into a very "male" space (fine by me, let those boys do the laundry).

Dexy and Daddy spend time down there just about every day. They play music and drive cars around. The other day, Dexter wanted to show me around the basement. "Come with me, Mommy. I want to show you around the basement." He proceeded to "introduce" me to the "garage" (the coal room) where he keeps all his "cars" (all Nissans, by the way). He took out each car and drove it around the basement, directing me to follow him.  As he drove over to the workshop, he said, "I have to go work. Here is where I teach guitar."  Then he drove between the two benches we have set up and said, "Now I have to park for my church gig." It was adorable to see him recreating Daddy's life in his own little world in the basement (although Daddy does not drive a Nissan).

A few weeks ago, I found a little table at a garage sale and we finally got around to replacing the stool that holds My Bologna's food bucket in the pantry with it. Ben and I decided to bring the stool down to the basement and Dexter wanted to decide where it should go.  He chose the space between the benches and said, "It goes in the church parking lot. That's OK. I can park on the street for my church gig."

Bye-Bye, Gabby

Dexter's first "girlfriend" Gabby is moving to Tennessee so they had a play date in the park and said their good-byes.  Gabby gave Dexter a green tractor hat (she knows him so well) and Dexter gave Gabby a picture of them in a frame he painted by himself.

 They did, as Dexter described it to me when he got home, "round hugs".  Daddy explained that they went round and round in circles while hugging.

Gabby and Dexter were important to each other in their early years and we hope to be able to visit Gabby and her family when we head South to see Grandma and Gunker.

Let the Freak Out Begin

Now that the start of my PhD program is a month away, I'm really beginning to freak out about the transition. It's been a juggling act of work, wife, mother for the past three+ years and now I'm about to throw student into the mix. It's been a summer of planning for the transition (saving money, figuring out how to keep the family covered with health insurance, and transportation).  But there's plenty of variables we can't yet account for, mainly stemming from not knowing what my class schedule will be like until three days before classes actually begin.  The timing of classes will affect when Ben can (and can't) teach (and, consequently, how much money he'll be able to pull in) as well as our plans for Dexter-care (he's currently enrolled in an afternoon preschool class but that may change). We have no choice but to see how things fall and go from there. Still, the worrying does keep me up at night.

Tell Your Grand Kids...

The Big(ish) Top

 Due to a Living Social deal, Ben and I took Dexter to his first circus this afternoon. It wasn't exactly the greatest show on earth (lots of build up and "ta da!" with few and far between semi-impressive stunts) and the tent was plenty hot but Dexter loved it.

Dexy especially loved the little girl contortionist ("Her legs are flying around like the wings on an airplane!"). He saw a trapeze artist, a high wire act, and a juggler, as well as zebras, camels, and elephants doing tricks ("the zebras, camels, and elephants went round and round doing donuts!").

 

The Pickler

I had unexpectedly taken a canning and pickling class a month or so ago with a friend (the friend she signed up with couldn't make it so I went in her stead) and then we got a bunch of home grown cucumbers from Great Grandma and Great Gunker Lansing so I figured the stars were aligned for us to give home pickling a shot.

We all got up really early this morning so Dexy, Daddy, and I went to town pickling those Quincy cucumbers.

After Daddy and I got all the prep done, Dexter got to stuff the pickles and dill and garlic in the jars.  He loved using the "tools".

Dying to try our home-made pickles! 

So Proud

It was so wonderful to spend a few days with Dexter without Daddy.  Being around family that wanted to play with him and take care of him certainly eased the burden of being the (temporary) single caregiver. Still, Dexy was a very well behaved little boy. My parents noticed his wonderful manners and compliance with rules and bedtime. At the same time, he was incredibly social and open for all experiences and adventures.

There was only one fit during the whole trip and I was its only witness. At the end of our twelve hour day trip visiting friends, I stopped to fill my Dad's car with gas and Dexter said he wanted to help pump the gas.  Even though he was clearly tired, I decided to let him try. He pressed the appropriate octane button and I began the pumping.  Dexy said he wanted to do it all by himself but the pump was too difficult for him to squeeze on his own. He tried and tried and then got furious when I "helped". He was screaming and crying, trying to pry my fingers off the pump. "I want to do it all by myself!" "You're not listening, Mommy!" "I tried and tried!" "You're not listening! I NEED to do it!" I got the car (mostly) filled up and by the time we got back onto the highway, the worst of it had passed. Despite being pretty worn out myself, I couldn't be frustrated with him - he had been so great all day long and just fell apart. It happens...

City Chickens and TLC with Marjie

Dexter and I also went to Marjie's house - Dexter was excited about seeing Marjie, her daughter Joita, and her city chickens.

As an added bonus, he got to meet Meredith, play on a backyard swing set, pull ripe tomatoes from the vine, and enjoy a lovely homecooked meal of "green pasta that's dirty" (pesto), "rice with stuff" (risoto), and salad.

I even got a few minutes to catch up with Marjie alone while Joita engaged Dexy in a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse video.  The visit was too short but it was good for the soul nonetheless.

Cat Fishing, Car Sitting, and Sand Digging

 Dexy and I also spent some time visiting with my former advisor and his wife, Gloria. We got to talk a little shop (academics and parenting) and they taught Dexter how to "fish" for their cats by dangling a feather toy and luring them out from hiding. Dexy almost pulled it off but got too excited and Pepper ran for the hills.

Dexter got such a thrill sitting in Jim's "special car that turns into a convertable."  Jim let Dexy press the button and I watched that hood go up and down ("This car only has seats for two people, Mommy."). Ben just read this post and informed me that it was actually the roof, not the hood, going up and down.

Then we headed to a local park where Dexter explored every apparatus except for the most obvious and special one: the long slide built into the hill. It was all nice, easy time.

Housewarming

 Dexter and I spent our last day of east coast mini-vacation visiting with friends in Massachusetts.  First, we saw Kim and Dylan who have just moved into a new home.

 They closed on the house on Wednesday, the movers arrived with their furniture on Thursday, and we showed up on Sunday! 

Dexter had a blast "helping" clean the pool and move the grill (he directed Dylan as he pushed the grill on the dolly). Such a little dictator these days!

 Scout was a trouper, putting up with Dexter's antics.

Swinging

After Mommy gave Dexter a "lift" he got to experience swinging in a hammock for the first time in his life.  "I'm not really falling." "I don't need anyone to save me."

Hung Up in the Hammock

Teagan treid to teach Dexter how to get onto the hammock but he didn't quite make it.

Making Music in Maine

Mountain Climbing with Uncle Rob

 Uncle Rob took Dexter, Riley, Teagan, and me to the top of Mount Agamenticus where we enjoyed a leisurely stroll and magnificent views. The kids were all wearing the Maine sweatshirts that Grandmama got for them.

Riley and Teagan

Dexy and his cousins Riley and Teagan got along fabulously! His cousins were so sweet with him.

The Waves Keep Coming!

 Dexy waded in the ocean with Grandmama and Grampy.  "Here comes a wave!" "Here comes another wave!" "The waves keep coming!"

The Wiggly Bridge

 We had a lovely morning walk along the Wiggly Bridge with Grandmama and Grampy.

 Dexy and I continued along the path past the ever-evolving teepees before meeting  Grandmama and Grampy back at the bridge.

Going Places with Grampy

Whether he was on a tricycle in the driveway or in a paddleboat at the local zoo, Dexter was enjoying the ride and Grampy was burning the calories!

Fun with Grandmama

Hanging out with Grandmama was so exciting for Dexy. They played really well together (and wore each other out!). Grandmama had Dexter dressing up in wigs and hats, dancing around, and playing in dozens of balls that she unexpectedly dumped over his head in the kitchen.  I don't think there was any time with Grandmama when Dexter wasn't smiling and laughing.

Aunt Katie

Dexter loved reconnecting with Aunt Katie - she is so loving and caring towards him. She read him one of my old books from childhood about Pickles the cat and gave him a bath.  She put him to bed one night while I was out to dinner with my dad and when I woke up in the morning Dexter was standing next to my bed, looking at me. When I smiled at him, he smiled back and asked, "Are you my mommy?"  I think he was confused and thought I might have been Katie

Moose!

Grampy took Dexter to see the Moose at the Trading Post in Kittery while Grandmama and Mommy got some coffee.

Flying High

Dexy loved his first plane ride. He sat in the window seat by the wing and told me every time the flaps moved.  It was a very bumpy ride and Dexter kept exclaiming, "These bumps tickle my bum!" I was clenching the armrests and trying to smile.

Dexter showed Quackers the view (pointing to the Earth and asking, "Is that Mars, Mommy?" "No sweetie, that's the Earth, the planet we live on. Mars is way up there.").

Travelin' Man

Dexter did a great job throughout our travels to Maine.  He listened to Mommy, held hands, and followed all instructions in the airport.

 He helped schlep our stuff by carrying his own backpack.

He also got to enjoy some Ben & Jerry's while waiting for our flight out of Midway. As he scarfed down the ice cream, I said, "You sure can eat a lot of ice cream!"  Dexter replied, "More than Daddy." "Yes, that's because Daddy is lactose intolerant," I replied. "I'm tolerant, too!" said Dexy through a mouthful of creamy goodness.  The woman sitting next to us burst out laughing and said, "I can't wait to tell my friends about the cute little boy who is tolerant."

Clean My Bologna

Such a happy puppy!

Dirty My Bologna

Is it possible that My Bologna hadn't had a bath since Dexter was born?  Ben insists that's not the case.  Nevertheless, the bath water was "muddy river brown" when he got out!

Holding It Together

Tomorrow, Dexter will take his very first airplane ride to visit his Grandparents in Maine. He is beyond excited about the whole thing. While I am excited to visit with family and friends, I am terrified of flying. Ben won't be with us on this trip and I am doing my best not to let Dexter see any of my anxiety about flying. Maybe it will be a distraction for me to be taking care of Dexter. Maybe I'll even find a way to enjoy the flight by experiencing it through his eyes.  It's going to be hard considering the fact that I need to focus my energy on keeping the plane in the air with my brain...

Whoa!

Dexter got a thrill out of the carousel at Lamb's Farm. He buckled himself in, held on tight, smiled, and said, "Whoa!" the whole time.

Special Buddy for Mommy

Despite not petting any animals myself (or maybe because of it), one little goat refused to leave my side.  He walked up to me and stuck his head against my leg. Wherever I walked, that little guy followed me and placed his head in the same spot. My special buddy :)

Petting Farm

Dexter and Ben enjoyed close up encounters in the petting farm at Lamb's Farm.  I think they pet every single animal in there!