The Monkey Barrel

Archive for November, 2005

And so it begins. The magical forray into the world of food has begun for young Luke. We have progressed from the gagging, screaching, wretching faces for squash into chicken noodle, and corn casserole land for the baby. He loves food. In fact, he likes to tell me so often, but only when his mouth is full. If he really likes something, particularly sweet potatoes or bananas, then he smiles and grins and grabs the spoon to shove it in faster. Apricots, not a big a favorite, in or out.
Just for grins we put a few cheerios on his plate to see what he’d do. You have to stick them in his mouth cause he can’t quite get them there himself but boy when ya do, what a face. He holds them on his tongue for the longest time. I think he’s waiting to see if they’ll dissolve on their own. Yesterday he discovered that if he bangs on the tray he can make them dance and that produces squeals of delight. He’s such a monkey!

Yesterday was a glorious November day. It was 80 freakin degrees outside!! So out we went to play. There were leaves everywhere so John scooped them up into piles to jump into, or slide down into, or just plain ‘ole throw ‘em up in the air and run under them. The wind came in great gusts and swirled them around John like he was commanding them. I decided to water the hydrangea’s since we were out and John just kept taunting me to squirt him. Then it was on. I hosed that little bugger down so much, he repeatedly had to empty his red rubber boots because they were so full. It was great fun until the chattering teeth began and his lips started to turn blue. So he stripped down to his skivvies and darted inside for a change of clothes. Who knew you could have a water fight in the middle of November!! Stay tuned for pics. We have a lot of catching up to do on that front.

I waited pretty much all my life to be a wife and a mother. With all the things that have gone on in my life and the world, those two dreams remained a constant. They have their moments and it’s not always perfect. But late at night, when Luke wakes up and needs a bottle or a diaper change, even though I’m frustrated to be awake, I look down on those silky lashes and flushed cheeks and a joy so palpable fills me up, it spills over down my cheeks. And when I lay him down and peek in on John and straighten the covers round those lanky legs and see how much he has grown and changed, and how much like his father he is I am overcome. I stumble back to bed and slide beneath the sheets next to the man beyond my wildest dreams and try to catch a few zzz’s before day breaks and the grind begins. But it’s my grind, my life. Does it get better than this?