Cell phones, teeth, and Mommy gets it wrong

Will finally has teeth! The first one poked through our first night in Arkansas last week, and the next one followed the next day. They are his middle front teeth. I think they are almost in enough to get a photo, so I’ll try to post one as soon as I can. No more toothless grin!

We were out running errands today, and Christopher spent most of the time talking on his play phone. His side of the imaginary conversation is getting more and more interesting. Here’s an excerpt from today:

Phone rings–Christopher says “I’m sorry”, I suppose apologizing to the person he is with for taking a cell phone call, opens the phone and says “Hello?”–“What are you doing right now? . . . Are you seeing the animals? Are you at worship? … No, we’re running errands now . . . Yes, I’m riding in the car, riding in my silver truck . . . Okay . . . How old are you? . . . Are you two? . . . You’re three? . . . Okay, bye.”

I also enjoyed Christopher’s most detailed answer yet to the question, “What did you do at school today?” He said, “I went to the gym, and I rode one bike and two trucks. Then there was an oven, but it wasn’t hot [there’s a play kitchen in the room], and I cooked French toast for Tie-yah.” It took Mommy three tries to figure out that Tie-yah is a new classmate named Tyler.

Yesterday morning, I told Christopher we were going to school as soon as he finished with breakfast. While sitting at the table, he asked, “Can we go???” Not thinking, I said, “Yes, Christopher, as soon as you finish your breakfast we will go.” He looked at me with disappointment and said, “No, Mommy, it’s Bob!” “Oops,” said Mommy, “Yes, we can!!”

626 miles with my boys

On Tuesday, Mommy drove from Indianapolis to Arkansas alone with Christopher and Will. Thought you might enjoy some of our adventures.

Mile 0, our driveway: Started out in the pouring rain, cautiously optimistic and armed with a borrowed portable DVD player and several Bob the Builder videos from the library (see post below). I was determined not to use the DVD player unless it was necessary–surely I’m not one of *those* moms who lets their kids watch tv in the car!

Mile 260, St. Louis, MO: We stopped in St. Louis four hours later to visit my friend Janet and her sweet baby Ty. We arrived with everyone on the brink of a meltdown, having exhausted all book and toy options for both boys. Mommy is starting to suspect that she might have been crazy for doing this. But we had a great visit with Janet and Ty and got everyone fed, diapered, bottled, etc., and hit the road feeling somewhat refreshed.

Mile 261, leaving St. Louis: DVD player on, Bob video set to “play continuously”.

Miles 261-420: Why did everyone think I was crazy for attempting this? It is a breeze! Christopher is happily watching more tv than he watches in a week, but it is allowing Will to sleep for 1 1/2 hours, tripling his previous record for continuous sleep during a road trip. This is going great!

Mile 430, somewhere in Missouri: Guilt sets in over the amount of time Christopher has been watching his DVDs. Will is awake now, so it seems like a good time to turn off the DVD player. Christopher responds with a screaming fit, which starts Will on a scream-fest of his own.

Mile 440, still somewhere in Missouri: In an attempt to stop all the screaming before I start screaming myself, I hand a quart-size bag of goldfish crackers to Christopher. All is fairly quiet for a moment, and then I hear it–the distinctive sound of a bag of goldfish being dumped out. Followed by the sound of goldfish being shattered and then sprinkled on the floor of the car, one by one. I could almost hear Christopher thinking, “THIS will teach her to turn off my video!” I think I was definitely crazy for doing this, and I desperately want out NOW, but there are still many miles to go . . .

Mile 460, Springfield, MO: The screaming has continued off and on since the video was turned off, the backseat is now covered in goldfish, and I am in desperate need of a chocolate shake. I stop at Braum’s to clean up the goldfish, change diapers, and get a snack. Someone sitting in the restaurant sees me with Will in the baby bjorn, carrying a tray in one hand and leading Christopher with the other and comments, “You have your hands full!” You have no idea, mister.

Mile 462: About two minutes after we are back on the road, Christopher asks a thoughtful, well-phrased question: “Mommy, can I watch a video please?” Sorry, Christopher, Mommy has made a mental pledge to not turn on the video for at least another 40 miles. Here’s a book.

Mile 465: Video on.

Mile 560: We cross the border into Arkansas! Will’s asleep, the video is still on, and yet I think our entire town must have moved further south since last time I was there. We will never get there!

Mile 626: 11 1/2 hours after pulling out of our driveway, we arrive at Nana and Granddad’s house. Hooray! We’re all exhausted, but thanking God for a safe trip. Now if only Daddy’s job would consider hiring a 1/10-fellowship-trained surgeon so I don’t have to do it all again next week! 🙂

P.S.–It is totally worth it now that we are here with all of our fun Arkansas relatives!

Bob has invaded our lives!

As much as Daddy hates any commercialized character having a large role in our life, Christopher has fallen in love with all things Bob the Builder. I think it started when he was given Bob the Builder stickers in the emergency room last month, and then one of the doctors asked him if he watched Bob the Builder at home. A few days later, I asked Christopher which video he wanted to watch, and he said, “Bob the Builder!” I managed to find an old VHS tape that a friend had given me, and it is all he’s watched ever since. Bob and his team often ask eachother in an unusually peppy voice, “Can we build it? Yes we can!” or “Can we fix it? Yes we can!” Throughout the day, Christopher loves to ask the same questions, requiring Mommy to reply, “Yes we can!” It is now expanding to all our daily activites–“Can I wake up? Yes I can!” “Can I eat it? Yes I can!”

Will is getting more and more noisy–he especially loves to make this loud cooing sound in the back of his throat that reminds me of the sound those flying dinosaurs make in the movies. He also loves to bang his toys on the floor to make noise. He loves to eat, and as soon as you put him in his high chair, he starts opening his mouth for you to put something in it. This morning, I got him out of the crib and laid him on the changing table. He looked up, his eyes focused on me, and he just started laughing. It was hilarious!

Last week the entire family dressed in our Razorback finest in anticipation of the Arkansas-USC game. I thought you all might enjoy these pictures: