If you're going to the beach, bring a man.

So we went to the beach with some friends this weekend. We have been here--on an ISLAND--an entire year, and this is our first time. What on earth were we waiting for??? It was in the 100's in housing, but in the 90's and breezy on the coast. We avoided going when Gma was here because, well, you've all heard about the beaches in Europe. This beach happily broke the stereotype: it featured free parking, clean sand, modestly clad swim-suited patrons, blue water, and vendors selling everything from jewelry to floaties.

The boy made friends with a little italian belle, I swallowed much too much salty seawater, the beach chairs (don't ask where I found them ;-)) were utilized, as was the sunscreen and water, and fun was had by all.
EP fell asleep right before it was time to pack up, so we had to pose for just one more picture:

When we got back to the car, we were quite relieved to note that it had not been broken into while we were cavorting. After arranging to meet up with our buddies at our new favorite pizzeria for supper transferring the still sleeping baby to the very hot carseat, and shaking out as much sand as we could from our clothing, we pulled away from the curb. With the AC blasting, the only thought on our minds is a cool shower and no more sand.

Thump. Bump.

uh-oh.
"honey...is the car riding a little funny to you?

Like maybe something's wrong?

Like maybe we have a flat tire??"

"um. yes."

Here's where the title of this post comes into play. Because our car seems to have an innate ability to find every single pointy metal thing
in the road, Mr. Waaz has become extremely skilled at changing tires. So skilled, in fact, that taking the back tire off, replacing it with the spare, taking the front tire off and replacing it with the back tire took under 30 minutes. AND the boy stayed asleep, which proves that there was no yelling or banging involved whatsoever. What a man. (what a man what a man what mighty fine man)

We made it home in time to shower and change clothes before supper. Which was superb, by the way. No pictures because we ate it too quickly...but if you come visit me, I'll take you there, promise.

uh-oh

We have a great morning routine here in the waaz household. I wake up, deposit the boy outside so he can...you know...commune. With nature. Utilize the diaper free opportunity to water the grass at will. You get the point. Anyway, while he's toddling around in the back yard, I feed the dog, enjoy a latte and some cereal, browse the net, and think about what new and wonderful things I'm going to do that day. Somewhere in there, once EP has been quite relieved, I escort him back inside and outfit him with a nice clean diaper so he can go about fulfilling his other morning ritual. A couple of weeks ago, I sort of forgot about the second part of our routine. That was also the morning the dog was feeling extra cuddly and decided to sit right down behind the boy and make sure his backside wasn't catching a chill. Bad plan. Anyway, I digress. This morning I didn't even get to my coffee because I got distracted playing with this fun tool and messing with the blog (love it? hate it? mom, what's the message board sign-in info?). While I was busy cropping, refreshing, and squinting, EP wandered inside and under the table and over to me and was almost to the back door again when he whined. I paid no attention. And then he peed. oops, shoulda listened to the whine, I guess. I won't even tell you what happened after I got that cleaned up and before I could slap a diaper on the child. No, I'll just let you use your imagination and assure you once again that there are redeeming qualities about an all-tile floor. This is helping ready him for potty training, right?! and it's the last time it'll ever happen? stop laughing, moms. no, seriously. it's not that funny. I'd like to see you react with as much poise and aplomb. At least I didn't take a picture...

blech. we are now fully diapered and ready to face the day. what a relief. What's your morning routine?

eta: actually posted by mira, not granny, but I forgot to sign out and back in. deal with it.

big boy bath

anyone feel like adding captions? until then, think of this as a old-timey silent slide show of sorts.

wordless wednesday

developmental rockstar

Here's one vaccine without a bad rap:

Rabies.
Nick went over to pick blackberries in the field behind our schoolhouse yesterday. Not too long later he came home, showed me a bloody scratch, and told me that a coon jumped out of the hedge and attacked him.
The coon couldn't be located, though our trooper neighbor launched an immediate search. He then had to notify all the other neighbors with dogs and kids and anyone likely to be walking around in the general area.
Nick started the shots, including the rabies vaccine, yesterday. He'll be having 4 more sessions over the course of the next weeks. If we miss any, he has to start over. Since Rabies is always fatal (the coon in question has 1-5 days left to live), the shots seem "worth" it.

happy birthday, boy

In the last year, you've gone from hereto here, and I have no idea how it happened so quickly.


You've managed to learn to roll over, sit up, and walk, but not to crawl. You can hold a conversation only you fully understand one minute, and the next let me know exactly what it is that you are interested in doing the next. You're a world traveler with a first class attitude.

You have seven teeth, one missing toenail, a velcro-puppy sidekick who lets you maul her pretty much whenever you wish. you can sleep anywhere, and are cheerful just about all the time.


You are great at taking things out of containers or cleaning off a shelf, and halfway decent at putting things back, if you feel like it. Your mouth is an open receptacle for anything from blocks to soap to pizza, but pasta might be your favorite finger food yet. The walker hasn't replaced mom's finger as your favorite enabler, but it HAS morphed into the battering ram of choice, especially when the pooch is within reach.

Your favorite books include faces of real babies and ones that have mommy making strange animal noises right next to your ear. You love the song "Snuggle Puppy" and all the classic kids rhymes and songs, complete with dance. rhythmic motions and gestures of the arms and legs in time to the music. Your daddy is the one who makes you laugh the hardest, but mommy is the one who can stop the tears. Pretty soon we won't be able to call you "little" boy anymore, but "toddler-boy" doesn't have quite the same ring to it. Would you please stop growing quite so quickly??

EPW, you've got us wrapped around your pudgy little finger, and we love you. We thank God every day for letting us have you for a bit, and pray that you never forget that God loves you and wants you as His own. Happy first birthday, and remember: it was your dad who wanted you to fall asleep face first in the frosting, not me.

Arrivederci, Nonna! Bon Voyage!

Thanks for visiting, we had lots of fun. make sure you call when you arrive home safe and sound. We love you!!











ps: she left the island at 10:40 a.m., and should have met up with the dr.'s a couple of hours ago. They're leaving Rome tomorrow, pray for safe and enjoyable travel!