What a fun morning I had today. Jenna and Jon went to an adoption class this morning, so I got to babysit. Sammy was the first one up and it was really great to have some one-on-one time with him. It started out in his room. I remember that Jenna said he always wakes up with a smile....and she was right. I could hear him on the baby monitor, so I went to his room and opened the door. He was sitting up in bed and when he saw me, instead of getting the "where's Mommy" look on his face, he smiled and raised his arms to be picked up like I had been doing this everyday. It was still dark in his room so instead of changing him right away, I sat in Jenna's rocking chair and hummed to him. Sammy fell asleep again with his little fist tightly entwined in my sweater. I got to look at him "close up" and remembered doing the same thing with his mother. It was a great moment. But, when it was time to get up, he was up. We went downstairs and he immediately went right for the gift that Shannon got Ben for his birthday--the plastic "ball t
ube." No, that's not the name of it, but it's the only way to describe it. Sammy crawled right in and handed me a ball to throw down the chute so he could catch it. I swear he said the word, "again," as he handed me red ones, green ones and yellow balls to toss down the twisting chute. He loved seeing the balls roll down the chute and land in his lap. Jenna and Jon's house is always cold--it's old and that's just the way it is...but Sammy has figured out a way to get around that. After he sat in the "ball tube" for awhile, he crawled out and gathered four or five different colored balls and sat on the heating grate where it was warm. He was happy rolling the balls to me while I chased them down and rolled them back to him. He was warm and entertained--it doesn't get much better than that. Tony and I love both of our boys, but it was good to have just Sam time. I saw so many expressions that I remember from Jenna, and he is so loving. I really enjoyed the time I spent with him. And then, of course, it was time for Ben to get up. I heard him in his room singing, so I went up and knocked on the door. "Papa?" he said. "No, it's Moe-Moe," I responded and opened his door. "Papa is downstairs," Ben said when he saw me? "No, it's just Moe-Moe," I told him. "Where is Papa?" Ben wanted to know. Well, in reality, Papa just got back from his NBAA Conference in Texas and instead of arriving at 8:30, was delayed in his return, it was closer to midnight, so Papa, I hope was sleeping. Jon has been working a lot of hours recently, so Ben made the leap that if Papa wasn't with me, he must be working. "Papa wruking," he said. "Yes, Ben, Papa is working." So, with both of them up, it was time for the fun to begin. I did breakfast--with Ben's help, of course.....OK, it was just toaster waffles, but it's more than I do here! Both of the kids were great. Ben helped with Sam and they kept themselves occupied with their toys and games. We did have one bump in the road. When I arrived, Jenna had written out instructions on how to operate the TV, DVD and stereo. She knows that when it comes to me and an instrument of entertainment, if it's off, I'm lost. And then, there is the family famous, "Power, Jan." That happened when I was extremely frustrated that I couldn't get the TV to do what I wanted it to do. As I was cussing it out, David, who must have been 12 at the time, patiently took the remote from my hand, pointed it at the TV and said very simply, as he pushed a button--"power, Jan." And, of course, the TV magically turned on and did exactly what he told it to do. (Must be a guy thing....) At any rate, Ben wanted to hear his music. No problem...Jenna gave me instructions. "Turn on the big button to the left that says, Power. Hit the button that says CD.....Hit the play button and his music will come on." Well, it didn't. There was no play button. I'm sorry, Jenna and Jon, maybe you better take the stereo back, because this one didn't come with a play button. Ben stood patiently by my side waiting for his music...well, patiently to a point. "Where is it?" He asked on more than one occasion. "Moe Moe can't find the play button," I told him. "What did you do to it?" He asked. Like I knew, right??? I kept looking (yep, even with my glasses) and for the life of me, could not find a play button. I gave up. "We can listen to music when Mommy and Daddy get back," I told him. But, Ben, with his excellent memory and reasoning capabilities, said to me, with his little hand on my shoulder....."well, can we call Papa at wruk?" I felt bad, but we didn't get to listen to music. And of course, what was the first thing that Ben told Jon when they got back?????? "Moe Moe couldn't find the play." Thanks, Ben! Imagine how I felt when an hour later Ben wanted to watch a DVD. Could I do this? Is there a play button on the TV. Lord, I hope so. Ben must have really wanted
to watch the DVD because he said, "I can do it Moe Moe." He went toward the TV and I had a slight moment of panic--a 3 year old could really mess up a TV....but then I realized, he probably knew more about it than I did. And I was right. All of a sudden, the DVD was on and the exact movie that Ben wanted was playing. I stood helplessly and hopelessly by, saying, "oh Ben, thank you for helping Moe Moe." In reality, I was thinking, "thank you for saving Moe Moe's ass, because I probably would flunk TV too!!" And so we watched Toy Story. Note to Jon, you might want to teach Ben where the power button is on the stereo because if one of us is going to mess it up--it's going to be me, not him. All too soon, Mommy and Daddy came home. I felt like I had done not only my walking tape, but my kick boxing tape and army boot camp. What a "wruk" out that was. I was tired and sweaty--but what a good day I had. Ben reminded me that next weekend he would be sleeping over "at Papa's house." We have them for the weekend so Jenna and Jon can do another adoption class. I am looking forward to having them, but I will be very glad that Tony is here to help. In other family news.....January is drawing to a close, that means that Tony Jr will be going to Vancouver to work at the Olympics. He will be gone for 34 days. I know that Marie will miss him very much. He mentioned that he might start a blog so we can track his activities, and I hope he does. I think this is going to be a wonderful experience for him--career wise and also experiencing a different place and people. Tony is a people person. He grows from interactions with others and I know he will be successful in forming new business relationships and learning. I also know that others will say, "that Tony Swegle did a great job when he was here." So, good luck to Tony and hang in there Marie.....if you miss him too much, throw Tyson in the car and come up for a visit. We would love to see you. It has been a busy week--work wise and children wise. Tony is home and our routine starts again. I can turn the burglars over to him and all of the creaks in the house because he knows what they are. He knows if they are important creaks or just routine. He knows that the burglars aren't really burglars, just the sounds of things outside that I don't' hear unless he is gone. I had a wonderful day today with Ben and Sam and can't wait to have them for the weekend. I just love those babies. More on being systemically illerate...I uploaded 2 pictures of Sam....but somehow failed in my attempts to upload Ben.....next week....I promise!!!
ube." No, that's not the name of it, but it's the only way to describe it. Sammy crawled right in and handed me a ball to throw down the chute so he could catch it. I swear he said the word, "again," as he handed me red ones, green ones and yellow balls to toss down the twisting chute. He loved seeing the balls roll down the chute and land in his lap. Jenna and Jon's house is always cold--it's old and that's just the way it is...but Sammy has figured out a way to get around that. After he sat in the "ball tube" for awhile, he crawled out and gathered four or five different colored balls and sat on the heating grate where it was warm. He was happy rolling the balls to me while I chased them down and rolled them back to him. He was warm and entertained--it doesn't get much better than that. Tony and I love both of our boys, but it was good to have just Sam time. I saw so many expressions that I remember from Jenna, and he is so loving. I really enjoyed the time I spent with him. And then, of course, it was time for Ben to get up. I heard him in his room singing, so I went up and knocked on the door. "Papa?" he said. "No, it's Moe-Moe," I responded and opened his door. "Papa is downstairs," Ben said when he saw me? "No, it's just Moe-Moe," I told him. "Where is Papa?" Ben wanted to know. Well, in reality, Papa just got back from his NBAA Conference in Texas and instead of arriving at 8:30, was delayed in his return, it was closer to midnight, so Papa, I hope was sleeping. Jon has been working a lot of hours recently, so Ben made the leap that if Papa wasn't with me, he must be working. "Papa wruking," he said. "Yes, Ben, Papa is working." So, with both of them up, it was time for the fun to begin. I did breakfast--with Ben's help, of course.....OK, it was just toaster waffles, but it's more than I do here! Both of the kids were great. Ben helped with Sam and they kept themselves occupied with their toys and games. We did have one bump in the road. When I arrived, Jenna had written out instructions on how to operate the TV, DVD and stereo. She knows that when it comes to me and an instrument of entertainment, if it's off, I'm lost. And then, there is the family famous, "Power, Jan." That happened when I was extremely frustrated that I couldn't get the TV to do what I wanted it to do. As I was cussing it out, David, who must have been 12 at the time, patiently took the remote from my hand, pointed it at the TV and said very simply, as he pushed a button--"power, Jan." And, of course, the TV magically turned on and did exactly what he told it to do. (Must be a guy thing....) At any rate, Ben wanted to hear his music. No problem...Jenna gave me instructions. "Turn on the big button to the left that says, Power. Hit the button that says CD.....Hit the play button and his music will come on." Well, it didn't. There was no play button. I'm sorry, Jenna and Jon, maybe you better take the stereo back, because this one didn't come with a play button. Ben stood patiently by my side waiting for his music...well, patiently to a point. "Where is it?" He asked on more than one occasion. "Moe Moe can't find the play button," I told him. "What did you do to it?" He asked. Like I knew, right??? I kept looking (yep, even with my glasses) and for the life of me, could not find a play button. I gave up. "We can listen to music when Mommy and Daddy get back," I told him. But, Ben, with his excellent memory and reasoning capabilities, said to me, with his little hand on my shoulder....."well, can we call Papa at wruk?" I felt bad, but we didn't get to listen to music. And of course, what was the first thing that Ben told Jon when they got back?????? "Moe Moe couldn't find the play." Thanks, Ben! Imagine how I felt when an hour later Ben wanted to watch a DVD. Could I do this? Is there a play button on the TV. Lord, I hope so. Ben must have really wanted
to watch the DVD because he said, "I can do it Moe Moe." He went toward the TV and I had a slight moment of panic--a 3 year old could really mess up a TV....but then I realized, he probably knew more about it than I did. And I was right. All of a sudden, the DVD was on and the exact movie that Ben wanted was playing. I stood helplessly and hopelessly by, saying, "oh Ben, thank you for helping Moe Moe." In reality, I was thinking, "thank you for saving Moe Moe's ass, because I probably would flunk TV too!!" And so we watched Toy Story. Note to Jon, you might want to teach Ben where the power button is on the stereo because if one of us is going to mess it up--it's going to be me, not him. All too soon, Mommy and Daddy came home. I felt like I had done not only my walking tape, but my kick boxing tape and army boot camp. What a "wruk" out that was. I was tired and sweaty--but what a good day I had. Ben reminded me that next weekend he would be sleeping over "at Papa's house." We have them for the weekend so Jenna and Jon can do another adoption class. I am looking forward to having them, but I will be very glad that Tony is here to help. In other family news.....January is drawing to a close, that means that Tony Jr will be going to Vancouver to work at the Olympics. He will be gone for 34 days. I know that Marie will miss him very much. He mentioned that he might start a blog so we can track his activities, and I hope he does. I think this is going to be a wonderful experience for him--career wise and also experiencing a different place and people. Tony is a people person. He grows from interactions with others and I know he will be successful in forming new business relationships and learning. I also know that others will say, "that Tony Swegle did a great job when he was here." So, good luck to Tony and hang in there Marie.....if you miss him too much, throw Tyson in the car and come up for a visit. We would love to see you. It has been a busy week--work wise and children wise. Tony is home and our routine starts again. I can turn the burglars over to him and all of the creaks in the house because he knows what they are. He knows if they are important creaks or just routine. He knows that the burglars aren't really burglars, just the sounds of things outside that I don't' hear unless he is gone. I had a wonderful day today with Ben and Sam and can't wait to have them for the weekend. I just love those babies. More on being systemically illerate...I uploaded 2 pictures of Sam....but somehow failed in my attempts to upload Ben.....next week....I promise!!!
Hang in there Baby Doll! You're a very good grandma.
ReplyDelete