Twenty Month Newsletter
12.16.2009 There was a day in my life when spontaneity and flexibility meant deciding after classes on Friday that my college roommates and I would drive five-hundred twenty miles from our Texas college town to go skiing in New Mexico, ski two days, and be back for 8:00 a.m. classes on Monday morning.
In the last twenty months, spontaneity has meant packing for trips and events a few days before and deciding at the last minute if we'd actually go. Is anyone sick? How did naps go? What time did you wake up? How were things the day before? Yes, with all our insane flexibility, we up and went to a neighborhood outdoor moving night on November 21, something we had two weeks to prepare for.
Sure, the gathering began at the time you are usually finishing dinner, but we took snacks just in case the food lines were long. And sure, we never actually thought you'd sit through a movie, particularly since you have yet to watch one. But in the hour leading up to Polar Express, you watched and played with all the other children there, and, thanks to the time change, saw the moon in real life for the first time. Not five minutes into the movie, though, when everyone was sitting still, you both kept trying to steal other people's pizza. And what with all the eye rubbing, five minutes later we were on our way home. We were out until 6:30 p.m., how rebellious!
We continued on our impulsive mayhem by going to San Antonio for Thanksgiving, a holiday we've known about our entire lives, yet a trip we did not commit to until the week before. There, you stayed up until 7:00 p.m. without protest, partly because you had your cousins to play with. We signed you up for your first race and you participated in the 34th annual San Antonio RoadRunners Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning.
There was a 60 yard dash for little ones, but you were even littler so we’ll just go ahead and say you won first place in your age division. After the race, numbers still on your clothing, we headed back to Grandma’s house for a quick nap before turkey.
Barely a week later, on December 4, it snowed. In Houston. Earliest snow in the city's history. Do you know how long I had to wait to see snow when I was growing up in San Antonio? ALMOST ELEVEN YEARS. You won’t remember your first snow, but we’ll have pictures to show you of you eating it and calling it “ice”.
The next evening, we met some old friends that we have known since before you were born. They were part of our journey to get pregnant, we had eaten dinner together when you were both still in my belly, and it was a great experience for us to finally break bread with our friends with the two of you on the outside. Come 6:00 p.m., though? You were VERY ready to go home. Sometimes jacking with your night routine doesn't work so well.
And then the next day, Sunday, December 6, we tried to take Christmas pictures but that didn’t turn out so well. Of course, we had no idea at that time that the next three days would produce erratic fevers between you coupled with trouble sleeping at night. Harper, your fever was highest and less controllable, and you were having the most difficult time at night, a highly unusual situation for you. So Matou took you to the doctor on that Tuesday, an appointment I joined from my office via speakerphone. Though a virus was confirmed, it seems a doctor visit was exactly what was needed to kick the fever out the door.
Early that same week, after wavering whether or not we'd put up a Christmas tree, Matou and I sparsely decorated after you had gone bed and the next morning, we waited until after you had had your breakfast before taking you into the living room and lighting the tree. After several "whoaaaaa!'s" and "ooooh's" and "lights!", you named the ornaments "bubbles". And now all those non-breakable 'bubbles' are jammed into the top eighteen inches of that tree.
Last weekend was full of firsts: we went to an annual neighborhood event called Lights In The Heights that is open to the whole city, and while there, you witnessed your first parade. We were a little concerned with how you might handle the noise, the bands, the people, the stroller, and being out past your bedtime. But the bagpipes were your favorite, you swaying back and forth to them, as well as the junior high marching band that came through. Mateo your eyes lit up with excitement as the drummers passed by. We left at 7:00 p.m., we were home by 7:15 and calmly did baths and bedtime and you said “good night, mommy” and that was it.
Next day, while you napped, I drove around the neighborhood to scout out a location for a second Christmas picture attempt. We found just the right place, so happens to be the garland wrapped, bow accented staircase at the church where you were baptized. Mateo, you wore your sports coat, already having had it altered the week before.
After that, we put you into comfortable clothes and went to the park to enjoy the only 15 minutes of sun we’ve seen in a good three weeks. The weather has not been conducive to outdoor play, and though opening up your jump-o-lene Christmas present from Grandma Gloria has helped keep you active, more than anything, you just want to go to the park and play outside.
Dare I say, things have been “easy” with you the last week or so. We'll find you both at your activity table, sitting in the chairs, versus standing on them, playing together or independently. The knowing that just because I don't immediately get you upstairs for pancakes doesn't equate to you never eating again for the rest of your life. That taking off your clothes as we prepare for your baths doesn't mean the same thing as peeling off your skin. We still have a tough time not laughing when, after putting one of you in a time out, the other of you joins the first in the time out taking. We, of course, know that this bliss is far from permanent, but we are all basking in the more relaxed atmosphere that comes with the ability to communicate a bit better. This may well be the calm before the storm of The Two's, but we are enjoying it while it lasts.
With swirling love for you,
Mommy and Matou
Reader Comments (2)
I love it! I love hearing and seeing the transformations that take place every few months!!
Sounds like a month of exciting new things (although, not the virus part)! We too may be enjoying the calm before the storm and couldn't be happier. Best wishes for Happy Holidays!