But how did we ever exist without him? It's weird how these things evolve.
If you would have told me 10 years ago that I'd hop in an SUV and drive 8 hours with two children under the age of 4, I would have told you that you clearly didn't know me very well.
But you just can't beat the memories.
Ya see, if I'd have known that my 3 year old was going to be so damn funny ("MOM. I need lemolade"; "Mom, let me ask you a question"; "MOM - You roar now!")....or that my 10 month old belly laughed at ALL my jokes....maybe I would have done it sooner.
Because you just can't beat the memories.
Matt had to work in preparation for going to San Diego for two weeks. I wasn't sure I was strong enough or ready enough or sane enough to do it alone - but we did it, y'all. Me and the boys, that is. We drove from Tampa to Pensacola....and no one got hurt, had an accident, got at ticket or left a child in a bathroom.
I have to brag on them -- they are PERFECT travelers (plane AND car, now!). The only complaining that happened was in the final 30 minutes of both car rides....and honestly? That's FAR LESS COMPLAINING than when we spend a day around the house, so I'll take it.
You just can not beat the memories.
Jack is a one fun little dude who never stops moving.....both his feet and his mouth. I get compliments on how polite he is to everyone else, but I never get that sort of treatment. I get the backtalk -- and it's so damn funny sometimes that I have to get up and walk away before I discipline.
"No, momma, I'm in charge! I give you a panking!"
Lord Help Me.
Meanwhile, Beau is speed crawling for the nearest toilet so that he can play like he's at the splashpad.
But you really can't beat the memories....even if you have to keep sanitizing.
There's nothing I love more than having other people experience my boys.....the intensity, the energy, the eager beaver ambition to take on anything. It's seriously such a thrill for me to have other people in awe of the nonstop movement. I feel like no one really believes me when I tell them about it.
My mom was astonished that Jack literally ran through the entire zoo. He ran to each animal exhibit, between the exhibits and would have probably ran next to the train if they would have let him. And, Beau -- even though he can't run yet....he spends all of his energy flirting with the nearest pretty girl. Like father, like son.
My dad couldn't believe that Jack only wanted to be outside even though it was 100 degrees with 100% humidity. I mean, my face was literally melting off my body....and Jack was soaked with sweat, but all he could do was yell at me to "pitch the ball, momma - you're the pitcher, I'm the batter!"
We visited so many people while we were home this time -- I finally felt like we were there long enough and not rushed.
We hit up the zoo, where Jack roared at all of the lions, tigers and bears (OH MY!). Beau literally tried to fling himself out of the stroller trying to get to the monkeys and the geese (which subsequently, almost too Jack's fingers off)
We swam with Michael Phelps (aka, Brenny)...
Every day, we had to ride on the tractor and feed the fish. Every. Day.
But you can't beat the memories....even of the annoying 6 am fish feeding requests.
DJ, Tony and Esmee (mostly Tony) got a healthy dose of Jack's energy too with the constant "LET'S WRESTLE" -- and we learned that Beau is likely to take Jack out one day soon because Beau already likes to get in on this wrestling action.
Poor Esmee got to experience bathtime with my two crazeballs where Beau flopped around like a fish out of water trying to grab Jack's penis....and Jack poured water on everyone's head - including mine.
(what the hell is going on here??)
My other sweet sister Lisa and her crew also got to experience my little circus. I have to believe they were amazed at Jack's energy and excitement about getting in the pool....because he kept everyone busy all afternoon with his cannon balls and "throw me in! let's do it again!" requests. (Thank you to Travis Smith and Uncle Tony!)
We visited with a couple of my high school friends -- where we tried to show Jack video that I was a cheerleader in high school. I was so proud of my glory days...the infamous "mall competition."There are not words to describe his level of disinterest. ("mom, we go to pool now?")
But you just can't beat the memories...even of the disinterest in how cool his mom was in high school.
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We visited all sorts of parks and places while we were home, but particularly loved Benny Russell park where we met my cousin Brittany and her hubby and kiddos. Jack couldn't contain his excitement and ran around like a wild pig for a good hour before declaring his hunger
The ride home was a real pain in the ass for me because it rained cows the entire way home....but the boys slept and watched movies. Well, Jack watched movies and Beau giggled at Jack's sound effects and chewed on his Garanimals golf club while watching me grit my teeth in the mirror for 7 hours.
All of this...to only come home to the dentist and a cavity. God, I hate the dentist (it's the lectures and the drills and the picks - no, thanks, man)....mine and Jack's, but Jack did beautifully. While he was getting his cavity fixed, he told the dentist that he was an astronaut and he was going to outer space soon on his motorcycle, but that he'd wear a helmet ("safety first!").
You can teeth-shame me all you want, but Jack's love of fruit will likely rot all of his teeth out.
But you just can't beat the memories....even of the first cavity.
