Tuesday with Charlie | Nineteen Months.

Technically nineteen months and six days :-) but still - what a change in two months. Charlie was super-comfortable with me today. We spent the weekend together (in South Carolina - more on that later this week) as well as a few days last week when his mama was sick and then so was he. Today was a testament to "all things are better when we feel good AND it's sunshine-y outside".

Tuesdays still start at the front door. Charlie waits patiently to see his mama's car...and then he waves. He can see out the window all on his own now.

Things were a little different today because we weren't home yesterday. I changed our sheets - Charlie put the pillowcases on...almost well enough that I didn't have to re-do them! We put away clothes. Katie says he's good with socks. I find he's better with Legos while I pair up and put away socks.

After second breakfast* (tangerines and cheerios), we headed to Avalon**. Yay for being allergy free!  I'm glad Charlie's schedule lets us get there early and we leave just as the strollers are getting three deep along the edges. We had our pick of activities and enjoyed them all. We started with Canine Assistants and moved on to rocking horses and then the slide. I lost count of how many times he went down. He loved hitting the bottom "boom"! and never quite managed to get both feet facing forward at the top.

We visited four of the activities and made four things to take home - a pinwheel, a colored beach ball, a painted heart and a fabric flower with a "beaded" stamen. Yeah, the shops at Avalon know how to cater to toddlers and their mamas!

And finally, we rode the train. We sat in the front car, right behind the conductor, because it was the only one that was open...I figured Charlie would like to see everything. I think he liked the ride, but next time, we'll ride in the caboose. It's open to the back, but the sides have windows for looking out. When he's a little older, I can't wait to tell him stories about his Grandpa Roy and the trains...my dad LOVED riding trains.

Home. Lunch. (weekend leftovers = roasted chicken, cheese, apple, cucumber. he almost cleaned his plate. I should've peeled the apples...he had trouble with the skins). Then we read two books (Where the Wild Things Are and Dr Seuss' Up!) and it was time for nap. This was his third week sleeping on a mat, and not the crib. It's so much better!

After nap we went for a walk with Holly. and then stayed outside to play a little "golf". I should've taken photos. This might be the last time I can hit the ball better than he can!

...and all too soon I got a text from Katie that she was able to leave the office a little early. I had him home by 4:45... happy to see his Mama.

I was happy for the bit of extra time to catch up on a load of laundry...and block my Spring Cowl.

These posts are pretty much all for me and Katie; thank you for reading! but if you'd like to comment, I'd love to know what thing you remember best about "almost two" or about "toddlers in the summer". I think we're all going to be surprised about these next few months and it would be great to have a heads up!

p.s. if you stopped by for Ten on Tuesday, it is still happening over on Carole's blog (and a lot of others!) - I'm sure I'll be joining in again next week!

*first breakfast is dark early at home.
**Avalon is our local outdoor mall; they have a great "lawn" (yep, fake grass, but it's clean) where they host a weekly toddler morning on Tuesdays.