Summer "Bucket" List

In the spirit of the first day of summer, I am sharing our summer bucket list.  Some of the items are a little vague, but we had a good time coming up with the list and creating the actual document.  Our version is modeled after this one (and actually it seems I took a few of her list items, too!), but instead of a canvas ours is a piece of cardboard that came packaged with a new mattress protector.  And I'm not a designer, so our isn't quite as cute.  But the point is we have a list of fun things to do to check off!


Summer Fun List
Be Silly
Find a new park
Visit Zoombezi Bay
Pack a picnic
Blow bubbles
Make a new friend
Pick berries
Play happy things
Ride a train
Splash in fountains

(Items in italics are Milo's suggestions)
(We've already checked off two items)

Water

Over Popsicles in the backyard one evening before bed a few weeks ago, Milo and I had the most amazing conversation.  The amazing part wasn't so much the content, but the give and take of actual ideas and facts.  We were talking about water - where it comes from, how it gets places, what we do with it.  After each tidbit of information I would add to the conversation, he would solemnly nod and say "that's right" and then contribute more information.  Water: it brings us together and causes us to reflect.

Reflecting back on our talk, I realized most of our facts came from this book which we had checked out of the library last year and read many times.  It must have made an impression. 

Barefoot child in the rain

With summer in full swing, we have already had many chances to explore the properties of water.  The water we use to give the garden a drink comes from either the house, the rain barrel or our backyard pump.  We play in several different fountains around town where the water shoots in inviting arcs.  Sometimes we even play barefoot in the front yard as water drops fall of out the sky.  Water: so fun, so basic and so precious.

Today Milo had a rough day.  In the span of 15 minutes at the park he fell and hit his head on the sidewalk and then a buddy bit him hard on his cheek.  It was difficult for me to see my sweet little guy so sad and hurt.  So this afternoon, the four of us visited a neighborhood ravine and splashed in the water together.  The now exuberant three-year-old was happily shouting "I'm hunting for minnows" as we explored the area.  And at the end of our night, his little hand found mine and he whispered "Mommy I like having water adventures with you" and my heart melted into a puddle of love right there on the banks of the ravine. Water: so healing.

Leo - 5 Months

Although we think Leo is more serious in nature, he still has the most amazing baby giggles.  Differences in height / space are sure to get the most laughs from him.  For some reason he finds it super funny to watch someone walk down the stairs.  If Milo is the one walking down, bonus laughs erupt.  Leo also likes playing airplane games on my knees and enjoys giving me an arm workout while I sing and lift him over my head during the Noble Duke of York song.

Speaking of workout, Leo is officially a worn baby.  While he will mostly be content in the carseat carrier on walks, he much prefers to be worn in the Boba and close to either me or Chris.  This is way easier than holding him, but it is still a workout carting around 16 extra pounds.

Leo likes tummy time while we play with him.  He only very rarely will roll from tummy to back and we have only seen him roll from back to tummy once.  However, he can cover some distance schooching along the floor on his back (he arches his back and presses his feet into the floor).  We sometimes find him stuck in a corner of his crib from all his moving around.  Favorite toys are a Very Hungry Caterpillar, floppy bunny and Captain Calamari.

Our little(ist) buddy slept through the night from about 8 weeks through 18 weeks and now mostly wakes to eat once per night.  Those were a nice 10 weeks of uninterrupted sleep, but it does seem he likes the nighttime nursing because he has started getting very distracted eating throughout the day.  


Leo has shy little smiles for people as we go about our day.   He is less gregarious than his brother was as a baby.  For this reason, I feel so lucky that I get the majority of his smiles, laughs and coos.  He's not giving out the baby cuteness for free, but when it comes it is so so sweet.