In the summer, in Vermont, we often head to the local farm for a maple creamie (soft serve ice cream flavored with maple syrup). These are so good. 

In between bites, G. careened around the farm, looking at the rabbits and goats (he preferred the former). 

And, after finally finishing my creamie, he rested in the field on a perfect Vermont spring day:

Here's a picture of our yard, finally. It's hard to believe it was a dirt lot just a month ago. Come on over for a bbq

One of our friends has turned us on to vintage Muppet Show clips available on YouTube. Graham is totally addicted to this one. 

New Photos!

A couple of weeks ago our good friend, neighbor, and photography student, Leise used Graham and I as subjects for an assignment. When we were done, she swore she would never be a children's photographer, so I'm guessing it was a little harder than she thought. I loved it, especially since I am usually on the other side of the camera and have relatively few photos of me with my boy, not counting the gorey birth kind. It still surprises me how much we look like, well, a mom and her kid: like we got caught in a secret game.

We have a tantrum.

Today, I took something away from Graham. This in itself is not that unusual; I take countless dangerous, dirty, or stupid objects out of his hands. But, for Graham, this action on my part led to the Mother of All Tantrums on his part. I got to witness the whole bad deal: shrieking, undulating, sweating, crying, tomato-facedly choking. At first, I was super zen about it- 20 minutes later, less so. Still, as I picked him up then put him down, repeatedly, since he couldn't decide whether he wanted me or not, I chortled a little (inwardly) at the drama. Let's see if I'm still laughing an another year. Or when he's 15.

We have a boy.

I was talking to Beth-Anne today about gender differences and toddlers. We both BELIEVE that boys and girls are inherently different now. The hilarious bit is that we had this talk while our sons (ages 2 and 1) pushed each other around the living room on a toy. So, for example, Cade would push Graham, who stood on the toy, not holding on, while they both chortled. As if to say, well, duh, moms, we're boys; we're going to go do something physical and maybe break something now.

In other news:
I've gotten some emails requesting, nay, demanding photos of the yard. It's almost done and should be finished this week (if it stops being stormy). Then, we'll make the big reveal.

Lastly, our friend got the best possible Mother's Day present. Her husband booked her a night in a hotel by herself. No kid. No spouse. Just sleep. I've never been more jealous!

The Before Shot.

Our yard is getting a makeover this week. It was more than we thought we could handle: strata of bad dirt, glass, trash from 50 years, and the shade of 4 maple trees making it difficult to grow grass. So, we took our tax return and put it into the local economy, like good citizens. Here's what the yard looks like now. I'll post the "after" this weekend.

Mistake.

Graham likes chairs, especially kiddie sized ones. He liked to sit in them, resting one arm sophisticatedly on the arm rest. So, Sunday we headed to Ikea to pick up some $3 chairs and eye the patio furniture.

He had us fooled. The chair is a means to an end: climbing. We spent yesterday afternoon watching him put the chair next to other, taller, newly scalable objects. Then he would work at getting on the chair, then on the table/sofa/window ledge, whatever. I'm not sure the chair will last the day.

Note: I had a great birthday: it included eating a cupcake while getting a pedicure- Then, new shoes!