A day with Little J

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Looking forward to a day with my grandson even though Grandma isn't quite with it today! When I arrived at J's house, he was just waking up from his morning nap. He was all smiles as he showed me his new giant Elmo purchased at the mom-to-mom sale! He drags it around with him from room to room; it's bigger than he is -- so cute. Mom wanted to bake so my job was to keep the little man occupied and out of the kitchen, but first things first -- lunch. After a delicious but messy lunch tray of Mac & Cheese and peas (Yuk) we are off to the living room to stake out the toy box but J was more interested in what was going on in the kitchen. What's to go into the oven? Hum-m I wonder what he's thinking? Oh, to get his little hands into the mixing bowl!

In the mean time in spite of the fact that the little man has attached himself to Mom's leg, Mom is trying to mix up a batch of muffins, but interruptions abound.

"I think I smell something," I say, "A poppy diaper, perhaps?" With rolled eyes, Mom, hoping Grandma would do diaper duty, stops what she's doing to change the little man. Back to the toys we go, but little man wants to know what's happening in the kitchen so off he trots to help Mom load the dishwasher...well, she's loading, he's unloading! Grandma is falling behind in her job to occupy J.

"Hey," I say, "We should go outside. I can take J for a stroller ride." Mom stops what's she's doing (again), hauls the stroller out of the garage, buckles the little man into the seat--that takes a little doing; Grandma would have never figured that one out. Whoops need some sun screen and a sun hat. Mom dashes into the house for the necessary items but not a toy in sight for the little man to keep him busy as we merrily roll down the side walk. It's almost 2pm. Sun is hot -- it's 80 degrees out! But there's a breeze which is nice. Up and down the sidewalk we go. I doubt we even traveled a block, but up and down we went -- three times. Little J is having fun taking his hat off his head and throwing it on the ground. Grandma soon tires of this game.

"Knock knock--we're back!" Mom throws open the kitchen door, and looks at her watch. We've been gone all of 20 minutes -- maybe. "Hey, we're thirsty!" I say. "And it's hot out. Can we come in?"

Well of course, Mom smiles. At least the muffins got into the oven this time! Back inside we attack the toy box again and Elmo. Toys all over the floor and books scattered everywhere, I'm thinking Grandma needs a nap. But the little man wants Grandma to read the bubble book. I thought we hid that book! OK then...'bubbles bubbles everywhere...' 3:00, time for a juice break and a diaper change. Isn't it napping time? Yes, it is. J goes happily down for a nap with Elmo in tow. Grandma can't believe it but she's thankful. "Good nap little man." I blow him a kiss. Ah, there's Grandpa; he's come to retrieve Grandma who needs a nap of her own!