Milestones That Actually Matter

So, now that I'm a stay at home mom there are days that I feel a little dumber than before I had kids. I feel like most of my conversations involve the topics of poop, spit up, etc. So, I'm challenging myself to use my brain a little more here. Here goes. With my kiddos growing and getting smarter everyday I've been thinking about the topic of milestones. Why do people make such a big deal out of milestones like rolling over? Or getting the first tooth? Sure, maybe like .1 percent of the population never rolls over or gets the first tooth but for the rest of us, why make a big deal out of it? I think we should make a bigger deal out of milestones that actually matter. For example, last week Macie was able to ride in the front section of the grocery cart. It was awesome. Taking a baby and a 3 year old grocery shopping is nearly impossible. If you put the baby in the big section then there's no room for food. If you put the baby in the front section, then the 3 year old wants the back section and there's still not much room for food. So, now that I can put BOTH kids in the front, life is much sweeter. Ryan just reached a new milestone that actually matters. He's started doing chores. It's such a shift in thinking that I don't have to do everything for him. Now he can do some things for me. It's been life changing. I'm no slave driver but he has gotten really good at vacuuming. This advance serves 2 main purposes. #1 he's actually helping me clean and #2 he's occupied by something that's constructive which means he's not pooping in the bathtub or jumping on Macie's face or smashing food through the cracks of our balcony to the neighbors below. Anyways, if there's anyone out there reading this, feel free to mention any cool milestones your kids have reached lately.

Gilroy Gardens

So, for Rich's day off we went to Gilroy Gardens. It's an agriculture themed amusement park nearby. It sounds geekier than it actually is. We really like it because there are so many rides that Ryan can go on. And where else can you give a giant garlic bulb a hug?


Straight off Ryan headed for the train ride. We were all on it so it was kind of squishy for me to get a shot of him. Can't you just feel his joy?


This ride takes 2nd place right after the train.


This ride seemed lame to me but any ride that has to do with fire trucks is alright by Ryan.


Ryan was "hooked" (I know, I know I'm so funny) on the fishing game. You basically spend $3 to win a .10 stuffed animal.


He totally loves his new dog. Sleeps with it and everything.


Father son bonding time. They got a lame duck and it pretty much only swam in circles. It might also have to do with Ryan weighing 31 lbs. and Rich not weighing 31 lbs :).


Ryan and me before the ride began. Remember the scene from the Sandlot after the kids chewed tobacco? That's how I felt after the ride. It didn't register ahead of time that I'd be spinning backwards really fast.


Here's my National Geographic shot. This little lady landed on Rich. Little did she know that later that day he'd teach Ryan how to bbq her cousin with a magnifying glass. Isn't that just the meanest thing you've ever heard of?


Here's Macie on her first ride ever (the train). She's lucky to be in this shot--Rich almost forgot her in the stroller. We all got in line and I said, "Where's the baby?" He said, "oh" and ran like he's never run before.


So, Ryan's learning how to wink and here he is trying to "wink" at me. Cute, huh? So, the braided tree in the back is actually several trees grafted together. There are lots of these "circus trees" in the park. Kinda fun. Ok, that's our day.

Makin' Progress

Macie's finally sitting up independently--and for a long time. It's great. I know she's only 6 1/2 months old but by this time Ryan was already walking along the furniture. Trust us, we're grateful that she's just sitting. She also rolls a lot and is starting to crawl a little. That combined with her reflux has brought our carpet to a new level of grossness. It won't be long before it's camo carpet. But then I guess we won't notice new stains:). This is Macie showing off her new talent on our complex lawn where the neighborhood moms and kids hang out.