Visiting The Snow Birds' New Home

Marsh & Lynn (Terry's parents) were visiting this past weekend, and we took them out to see mom and dad's new digs.

FYI for anyone unaware: Mom and dad traded up their home shortly after arriving. They only had to move across the road (in the same retirement community), but they now have a bigger place and more space.



Out for a stroll.


I asked everyone to stand still and smile; Talon decided to run.


Marshall, Lynn, & Talon outside mom and dad's home.


Relaxing in the winter sunshine.


Mom posing with dad's Christmas tree that he brought from Wisconsin.

A Saturday Afternoon with the Snow Birds

Mom and dad arrived on Thursday from Wisconsin for the winter reprieve and came to visit us yesterday. Dad found a few projects around the house he thought needed tending (like fixing a closet door Talon had already managed to take off the hinges), and there was still plenty of time for play.

Grandpa showed Talon a few new tricks, then he drew Talon a hopscotch board with sidewalk chalk. Here's a little video of Grandpa and Talon playing hopscotch:




While I was trying to get a picture of Talon playing hopscotch, he instead turned to say, "Cheese!".


My turn to show everyone how hopscotch is really played. I don't think I've played hopscotch since grade school - brings back memories.


Finally got a picture of Talon playing hopscotch.

From Christmas 2008

Grandpa and Talon playing some kind of ball/stick game.

From Christmas 2008

Talon was mimicking everything Grandpa did this day, so Grandpa tried a handstand - and Talon tried one too. This picture is Talon's handstand turning into a somersault.

Getting in the Holiday Spirit

Terry and I are very excited to have a big tree this year since we finally have the space for one again. So, yesterday, we went out and bought a real tree and spent the rest of the afternoon and some evening decorating. Talon seemed mesmerized as he looked up at all the lights, and I must say he has been very good about "just looking" and not taking ornaments off or kicking at the branches (something he likes to do to our bushes outside).


Talon getting into the Christmas spirit. He really enjoyed helping me pull out all the decorations.



Our lovely tree. Terry and I have both decided this is our favorite tree in all our Christmases together, and our home is now filled with a lovely pine scent.

November Highlights

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We spent the day with friends (a guy Terry works with) and had a lovely afternoon/evening. We had a delicious meal, tasted some yummy daiquiris, and Talon made friends with a big, friendly dog named Jake. At one point in the evening, Jake was ordered to his bed, and I soon found Talon in it with him - wish I'd had my camera!

We haven't been very diligent with pictures this month, but I did find a few random photos on the camera. Talon is still very much into his Blue's Clues pretend play, but the one thing I have noticed to be new for him this past month is that he's very much into "helping" around the house. He's always been very near us no matter what we're doing, but lately he's been insistent on helping rather than just playing along side us. A couple examples - He really enjoys helping to bring groceries into the house (picture this little boy trying to haul a big box of diapers almost as tall as himself into the house), and he's always right there when I'm doing laundry insisting that he get to throw the clothes in the dryer. It's fun to have a little helper at my side and reminds me to slow down to his pace and be present with him always. He is growing up fast, and I'm always trying to remind myself to enjoy the moments.


I bought myself a pair of slippers recently without realizing I would be sharing them with Talon. He IS cute in pink slippers though.



Aunt Sherri sent Talon a box of goodies. He quickly found the Blue's Clues book and loves it!



Talon's world evolves around Blue's Clues.



Talon dishing himself up a bowl of cool whip for a snack - I kid you not. I came out into the kitchen this day and found Talon bellied up to the breakfast bar about ready to have himself a snack. He was really making himself a bowl of cool whip (versus eating out of the container), which I thought was the cutest part.

Little Hands

Over the past several weeks, I have become very much aware of how Talon seems like such a "big boy" these days. He dances to his favorite songs, dresses up and plays pretend, colors, draws, scribbles, figures out his computer software, is learning shapes, numbers, and letters, sits up to the big table, and seems to become more independent every day. I'm both amazed and proud to watch him grow and learn new things every single day; but I must admit that at the same time, all his growing up tugs at my heart just a little bit every day to realize and accept the fact that my little baby really is no longer a baby.

I know it didn't happen all at once, but I think it really hit home for me after we moved in September and I realized that the high chair is the last piece of baby furniture to get packed up and put away for good. Okay, the truth is, I haven't actually been able to bring myself to physically put the high chair out in storage. It's still sitting in a corner like it could be used again. I know it won't, but I guess I'm holding out and waiting for my emotional state to catch up because once that high chair gets put away for good, that's it, it's official, my little boy is officially my "big boy" now.

Until then, despite my sadness, I am finding solace. Every night when I lay down with Talon while he falls asleep, he has this little quirk of playing with my hand and squeezing my thumb as he dozes off. It is in these moments while laying in the dark, eyes closed, that I really notice how little his hands still are, and he feels like my little baby once again for those brief moments. I am instantly transported to memories of holding Talon's hand while he nursed as an infant. I smile and tuck these memories deep in my heart along with so many others over the past two years that I cherish. There's almost nothing more special than the feel of your little one's hand holding yours or, another of my favorites, to feel his little arms wrapped tightly around your neck in comfort.

I'll never forget one day Talon and I were at the grocery store and a nice lady walked by, watched Talon and I chatting a bit, and smiled. As she told me she had 2 grown boys of her own, it was obvious to me that for that brief moment she had tapped into her own special memories of her little ones. Then she looked at me, smiled brightly, and said, "Little boys are good to their mamas when they grow up too!" I'm sure she's right; but in the meantime, what I do know is that little boys love their mommies, and that feels pretty darn good today.

So, yes, it's true, some days I grieve for my fragile little baby that is growing up so fast. But every night, I smile in the darkness as I tuck away another memory of my little boy, with little hands, to keep forever.

Hard at work

Talon working just like daddy.

Terry brought some work home and had his drawings sprawled out on the coffee table. He brought Talon his own set of drawings too (from recycling), and now Talon gets to work just like daddy does. And for those of you who notice (Sherri), Talon isn't officially a lefty yet. He still uses both hands.

"Hide Your Eyes"

Here's a quick video of Talon dancing along with one of his favorite songs, "Hide Your Eyes" by the Hi-5 group. I'd still like to get a better video, but he's a little shy in front of the camera. I snuck up on him for this one.

The song verse goes:
Hide your eyes
And count to 10
Ready or not
I'm going to find you again.