Spencer finished his swim classes at the Longmont Rec Center today.  My husband and I have different styles of playing in the water with Spencer, and usually I take the classes with him, so I thought some daddy time would be nice.  We have taken swimming classes with Spence at the rec center since he was a small baby, and he loves the water.  He is completely fearless and very confident in his abilities.  I love seeing it.  I just learned to swim in the past few years, and I still lack confidence in the water.  I don't want that for him.

Spence is going through his "terrific two"s.  Sometimes he is completely adorable and sweet and darling, and sometimes he kicks the dog and pulls the cat's tail and screams at the top of his lungs, just for fun.  Not ideal, but I think it is normal.  He also says please and thank you and bless you and excuse me (and sorry, after kicking or hitting or otherwise misbehaving).

Today, I found out that a plant that I adore is actually a noxious, Class A weed that could send Spencer to the hospital if he touches it.  

We went to Willow Farm Park tonight.  I can't report on the full facilities, as Spencer mostly just wanted to dig in the sand.  I'll post pictures and more of a review later. 

Longmont Farmer's Market

I had my second garage sale ever this morning.  I joined in my neighbor's sale, and sold $5 worth of assorted books, toys and clothes.  My neighbor gave me some great stuff for Spencer, and I gave her a breadmaker.  Not a bad morning.

I also took Spencer with me to the Longmont Farmer's Market.  Spence loves going to the market.  There are interesting free samples at lots of the booths.  People often bring their dogs (even though there is a sign asking you not to do this).  There is a booth of musicians who will play requests (like "you are my sunshine"), and he enjoys dropping a tip into their guitar case.  Best of all is Gina Patterson of Face to Face Body and Face Painting, an amazing woman who can paint his face to look like any animal, and will make balloon animals to boot.  She operates on a donation policy - whatever you would like to put in her tip jar is ok.  Last time, Spencer was made into a little lion, and today, he was a puppy.  Really cute.   

I got to go to the grocery store without my son this afternoon, which was a treat for me.  After I got home, we all headed out to Five Guys for dinner.  I like Five Guys because the fries actually taste like potato, and the burgers seem very similar to the ones you might grill in the back yard.  They aren't grilled burgers, but they have the grocery store-style bun, the iceberg leaves (not shredded), tomato slices, pickle chips, etc. that you'd expect from a cookout.  That's a nice thing when you are too tired to grill at home.  They have free peanuts to shell and snack on while you wait for your food, and all the toppings are free - no extra charge for grilled mushrooms or extra tomatoes.  The regular-sized burger has two patties, so if you want a smaller option, get the little burger.  The only downside tonight was that the music was cranked so loud that I couldn't hear my husband or son talking at the table.  I asked someone to turn it down, and he shouted into the kitchen for someone to adjust the volume.  He seemed perfectly pleasant about it, but I think the guy in the back room actually turned it up instead of down.

Java Stop

We met a friend and her little girl at the Java Stop today.  The Java Stop is at 3rd and Main, with the entrance on 3rd Street.  I think there is a stroller-friendly entrance on Main - the one on 3rd has stairs, but not so many that it cannot be navigated with a stroller.  The owners are very nice and very child-friendly.  They have a cabinet in the back of the coffee shop (next to the bathroom) full of toys, which the children are free to play with while you sit on the couches and chat.  Be aware that they are cash-only - no credit cards.  If you forget, they keep a tab running behind the register.  The lattes are delicious.  I'd definitely recommend them.  Keep in mind that they are only open until early afternoon, so going here is a pre-naptime activity.  There is no changing table in the bathroom, and anyone using the bathroom has to walk through the play area, but those don't seem like significant drawbacks, considering how tolerant they are of small children.

Afterwards, we swung by Serendipity, which we have not tried before.  I immediately found the Fiestaware luncheon plates I've been looking for, in the color I prefer.  They negotiated on the prices, too.  I didn't get a screaming deal, but I got a decent price.  Unfortunately, Spencer was done being patient, and this is really not a baby-friendly environment, so we bought our plates and left before any damage could be done.  No surprise that an antique store is not ultra baby-friendly.  I would love to come back here without the little guy some time and really explore, though, as they seem to have some great options.

My husband gives Spencer his bath at night while I get his room ready for bedtime.  Tonight, he called me back into the bathroom to show me that Spencer knows his left from his right.

Longmont Rec Center

Spencer overslept this morning, so we didn't make it to the free Stroller Strides class.  Once we got ourselves together, we went to the Rec Center pool.  Spencer loves this place, and since it snowed last night and was cold and drizzly and unpleasant outside this morning, it was perfect for today.  If there are swim lessons happening, the water features are turned off, but there is still plenty to do.  Today, there were no swim lessons.  They have a toddler waterslide that is shaped like a tree trunk, a zero-depth entry, tons of fountains (both on the floor and coming from pipes up above), wheels to operate the fountains, fountains operated by pull-rope, a lazy river, and two adult-sized waterslides.  There are benches and deck chairs around the pool that you can put your stuff on.  Of course there is also the sauna, steam room, and hot tub, but unless I put Spencer in child care, I don't indulge in those.  (Childcare is only $2 an hour, and seems worth it to me.  They can get kind of crowded sometimes, and ALWAYS have cartoons on the tv, but it is cheap and I feel like they really are watching the kids well.)  They also allow you to have inflatables in the pool.  Today we brought the inflatable basketball hoop with a small beach ball, and a few other toys.  Spencer had a wonderful time.  He takes swim classes here, and has since he was tiny, so he has no fear with the water.  We practiced jumping in from the side of the pool, climbing out of the water by himself, floating on his back, kicking his feet, etc.  He's doing pretty well, I think, and seemed to have a lot of fun.

When we got home, he ate his new favorite thing - buffalo meatloaf, leftover from last night.  He's not a picky eater, but it is still nice to see him dive in and really enjoy something.  At naptime, he climbed into bed without nursing, which makes me think we are starting the weaning process.  I feel sad about that and also a little relieved.  It's an odd combination of feelings.

I am reorganizing our bedroom, so we swung by Target for supplies after his nap, and when we got home, we played with his wooden beads.  When he got tired of stringing them, we started stacking them, and I found myself in awe of him once again.  He is my first, so I really don't know when kids things, but it seems like he has new accomplishments every day.  He's articulate and sweet-natured, and even though he is going through a willful (and frustrating) stage right now, he still says "yes please," "no thank you" and "bless you."  He can count to nineteen, more or less.  (One, two, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fiveteen, nineteen.)  He knows some of his colors (red, blue, green, orange, white, black, green) and some of his shapes (heart, star, diamond, triangle, arch, circle, square, and of course "stop sign").  He knows that red means stop and green means go.  He can recognize B and I by sight, and sings his alphabet all day from H-Z.  (I don't know why he doesn't like A-G yet, but he doesn't.)  He knows several songs, and loves singing them.  (The farmer in the dell, itsy bitsy spider, Old Macdonald, and twinkle twinkle little star.)  He can tell you about his day, with the events occurring in the correct order.  He is still cuddly and affectionate.  He can do the chunky-sized puzzles in any arrangement - even when the board is upside-down and all the pieces are presented to him upside-down and backwards and already out of the puzzle board.  He can string beads, knows his animals, and can make all the animal noises.  He can ride a balance bike, roller skate, hit a baseball, play catch, kick a soccer ball while standing on one leg, and jump with both feet in the air.  It is a miracle that kids learn all of this by the time they are two!  I know they all do it; there is nothing super-special about my kid versus anyone else's.  It's just such a pleasure to see him grow and develop.  I'm so glad that he's mine.

Tonight, he learned to use chopsticks at dinner, and used them to eat his broccoli.

Stroller Strides

This morning, Spencer and I made it to our first Stroller Strides session.  Elaine Waterman, who owns the Longmont franchise, is offering a great coupon for this week - all classes this week are free.  Can't beat that! 

We had a good time.  I didn't realize how out of shape I was, and that was a bit disheartening, but it was a very effective workout, and the cameraderie was nice.  A few things I learned today: definitely bring your water bottle.  Also bring snacks that your kids really like, preferably ones that take time to eat.  Consider bringing some easy small toys (without lots of small parts that can be thrown on the ground) to entertain your little one.  There is lots of interaction and songs, but there is also plenty of time watching Mommy do jumping jacks and lunges that can be boring.  And put your park toys (sand buckets, etc.) into the basket of your stroller before starting out, since we wind up at the play structure of the park before we get back to our cars.

It is a bit more workout than I am ready for right now, honestly, but hopefully soon it will be easier.  Like anything, you get what you put into it, and Elaine offers lots of options for various fitness levels.

We loved the Just Between Friends sale this past weekend - many, many thanks to Lainey and Jen for sharing their friends passes with me!  We bought a TON of stuff.  They're coming back in August, I think.  I love these sales so much.  I have learned a few things from past sales, and now I have a strategy when shopping.  First, teachers and first-time parents get all the benefits of consigning without having to consign.  Consigners and volunteers can shop the presale, and they can also take a buddy with them.  They can also shop the half-price sale the day before the general public, and can take a friend with them then, too.  I usually get everything my heart desires that is reasonably priced on the first day, at the presale.  I then go back to the half-price sale and buy for my son's next size.  (That is, right now he wears a 2T, so I am shopping for 3T.  It all gets washed and put into a labeled bag, and then when he outgrows something, it is easy to find, and when I need to get something, I don't have to pay full price for it.)  I'm very happy with it all.

We also saw Babies this past weekend.  We took Spencer with us, and it was not entirely successful.  He is just not quite ready for the movie theater yet, since he wants to tell me about what he is seeing on screen.  The movie was also not entirely appropriate for a young two-year-old.  The breasts didn't bother me - they are all in the context of nursing, and Spencer is completely familiar with that.  There is a little genital nudity, but it is also in a normal context - nude young baby discovers that he has interesting parts.  No big deal.  The slaughtered animals bothered me a little (as far as my son seeing them), but mostly, you just see a dead animal and can understand that it is being butchered.  I think it would be entirely appropriate for a 3 or four-year-old child; it is sweet and very entertaining.  But I wouldn't recommend it for an actual baby.

After the JBF sale, they gave out a flier detailing the free summer movies at the Longmont theater today.  Scroll down the page on the link for the Longmont location.  I think we'll try the Clifford movie for Spencer.

Longmont Museum

The Longmont Museum has a Honkytonk exhibit through April 11.  In addition to all the very hands-on exhibits the museum usually features, this particular gem includes a stage with an electric guitar (plugged in to a speaker), an acoustic guitar and a piano, as well as basic instruction on how to play the instruments.  The kids can handle the instruments in any way they like and can play for as long as they like.  Very fun.  Tonight they had a bluegrass concert.  Spencer liked a bit of it, but he's only 2, so his attention span is short and we ended up playing with the interactive watertable display.  They also have a great observatory room upstairs, including costumes, books, an amazing view, blocks, magnet fun, and a lot of other things to touch, try out and explore.  We really like the museum; it is appropriate for a surprisingly young age, and the kids can touch an astonishing number of things.  It is free (or "donations accepted," so as much as you feel like dropping into the display container) and completely worth your time.  Spencer had a lot of fun.

My husband came home tonight, and it is so nice to have our family back together again.

Stephen Day Park, Chick-Fil-A

Luna Moms had a meetup at Stephen Day Park today.  We generally have a good time at this park.  It is a good stroll from the parking lot to the park, which has pros and cons.  When you are hauling a screaming child back to the car against their will, or realize that you have left the diaper bag or cell phone on the passenger seat, it is a definite con.  When you are enjoying an astoundingly gorgeous spring day as your toddler nicely holds your hand and sings the alphabet song while you trot off to meet up with friends, it is a wonderful plus.  The hills are picturesque.  According to the City of Longmont website, there is a discovery theme at this park, with lots of features that I honestly never noticed.  It is next to an elementary school, which can be really bad - Spencer notices their cool and varied playground equipment, especially if we are at the park during recess hours, and finds poor Stephen Day to be inferior to all the great stuff at the school next door.  But there is a skate park, mountain bike area, rope climbing structure, full size basketball court, lots of grassy area to run on, interesting hills to run up and down, and a nicely laid out and well-marked running path that is very wide and well-suited to pushing your jogging stroller on.  (I have done this, but honestly, only once.  I should do that again.)  We visited here several times before we noticed that there is sand in the volleyball area, and usually no volleyball players, and this has added a lot to our enjoyment of the park.  It also has several of those odd playground features - the red bucket that makes you want to hurl as you spin in it, and the black triangles you sit on and have someone spin for you until, again, you feel nauseous.  Spencer loves both options, both for himself and as a vehicle for spinning wood chips, so I appreciate seeing them.  The very best part of Stephen Day Park isn't open yet, and that is the interactive water spray garden, which is fantastic and completely free.  Looking forward to that.  This park doesn't always keep Spencer's attention as long as some of the others, as there is a limited amount of stuff that he can do yet and no adult swings or bouncy horses, but today, we had a ton of people there and great food, so it worked out ok.  He somehow stole three cupcakes over the course of two hours, so I'm sure he felt like it was a very effective afternoon.

After nap time, we took advantage of the incredible weather and planted peas, dug a new bed in the garden, played basketball and baseball, explored the sandbox, and pulled out the sand-water table for the season.  While we were at it, we pulled dandelions, spotted the first crocus of the year (yellow!) and washed the dog.  After all of that, I was exhausted.  Spencer was somehow still energetic, and since my husband was still away on a business trip, we went to Chick-Fil-A for dinner.

We try not to go too often, but we love this place.  The play area is clean and completely enclosed, with enough stuff to keep Spencer happy for more than an hour.  You get free balloons from each trip, yielding great joy through the next day.  The kids' meals are reasonably priced and can have fruit salad instead of fries.  The under-3 toy is a board book, or can be an ice cream cone, if you'd prefer.  I like the chicken sandwiches and the fresh-squeezed lemonade.  (I found a lemon seed in mine tonight, so I believe that they really do sit in the back room and squeeze lemons, which I find somehow appealing.)  Of course the waffle fries are exciting, and the fruit salad is great.  I am not a fan of their soup, and the chicken on their salad is not the same as the sandwich chicken (and was inedibly bad the last time I got it), so stick with the classic and you won't be disappointed.  The staff is almost always extremely polite - they carry things, come to your table to offer drink refills, and ma'am you to death.  It's nice.  But the whole point of this place is the playroom, and tonight didn't disappoint.  My toddler, who decided that pushing was the best way to get up the steps first, might have disappointed a bit, but the restaurant was nice.

My husband doesn't travel much, at least when we are not with him.  I have enjoyed the time to myself, but I have missed him, and of course Spencer has asked about him nonstop. 

One of the moms mentioned today at the playground that she is due in late September.  I was genuinely happy for her, of course, but also a little sad for myself.  We had a miscarriage a few weeks ago, and it was a bit of a shock to hear my friend's due date and realize, "oh, I would have been 12 weeks now, wouldn't I."  Somehow I hadn't thought of that.  My OB had told me to not be surprised to be sad and angry when I ran into women who would have been on the same pregnancy track as me, but it really hadn't occurred to me until today.  I am grateful for our good medical insurance, as the bills from the surgery and the blood draws and ultrasounds and doctor's visits keep rolling in.  I am grateful to my husband for providing that insurance for our family; I am grateful that my sadness does not have to be tempered with panic over how to pay for all this. 

I waited longer than I wanted to wait to begin to have my family, and I am often grateful that I did wait.  I am more patient now, and I chose a better father for my children than I would have picked when I was younger.  My husband is a great father, and every time I see evidence of that, I feel more and more loving towards him.  I know very well how many not-great fathers there are out there.  Before I had kids, I worried a lot about choosing one of them for my children.  You don't always know who will be patient and sweet and adoring with their children; sometimes people surprise you.  As a stay-at-home mom, I am also very grateful to my husband for making our comfortable life possible.  I know that that is probably not the most culturally acceptable statement I've ever made, but it is still true.  It is not an easy thing to slog to work every day.  Few people really love to do it.  But his doing it makes everything I get to do with Spencer possible - days at the park, time at the pool, afternoons spent playing basketball and gardening in the sunshine, Spencer's music or cooking or tumbling classes.  All he would have to do to end this beautiful life is to quit his job, and suddenly everything would be gone, just like that.  So I'm grateful to him.  I hope that he knows that he is appreciated.