Master?

Most children are into Disney movies or animation such as Toy Story...not M. M's fascination covers Spiderman, Harry Potter, and his biggest obsession-Star Wars. The child has every just about every lightsaber both just regular and electronic, a Millenium Falcon, a TIE fighter, an X-wing, and various action figures. However, the crème de la crème of his collection is this:

HIS DARTH VADAR HELMET.

The child's obsession has also come with role playing. His is now convinced that he is Anikan, and whichever elder individual he is around at that time is now "Master". Our conversation on the way home yesterday went something like this, "Hey Master!"
"Yes, M?"
"I am not M; I am Anikan!"
"Ok, Anikan. What's up?"
"Catch that truck, Master."
"I don't think I can do that Anikan."

I was Master all evening. Even when he wished me goodnight, I was Master. I think I liked Mama better. LOL!

Reminiscing

It's hard to believe that just three years ago, I was just now getting ready to deliver my son. In just shy of an hour, he will be three. I knew my life would be forever changed, but I couldn’t grasp just how much. As I watched him sleep on the way into town to spend the day with Memaw this morning, I couldn’t help but reminisce. I am so blessed. M has changed my life in more ways that I could ever imagine. Sometimes we get so caught up in the “parenting” aspect of being a parent that we take for granted the great little things.

Being a parent gives you the opportunity to give butterfly and Eskimo kisses (to which M makes a “ssss” sound when giving). Tickles and raspberries and squeals and laughter are a must daily. Holding your child’s hands between you and your spouse and swinging the child on the count of three only to have them start counting for you because you aren’t going fast enough is a given when walking across a parking lot. You find the time to sneak a quite look at your child sleeping peacefully. I also have the distinct pleasure of having a son who likes to play with my hair when I am holding him. (This does turn into a nuisance if you are trying to go to sleep or are getting him dressed.) It is indeed the little things that you cherish the most.

So, to my little man, happy birthday sweetie! I love you whole bunches and bunches of oats! And to B, thank you for my precious little M.

Ok, crying at work isn’t cool, so until next time....

Gutterball

So, I’m sitting here at work today, and all of a sudden, we all hear this massive noise coming from above and over by the wall. It sounds like someone is bowling on the floor above us—only they are missing the pins. You guessed it—GUTTERBALL! It turns out the center elevator in the bank nearest my side of the floor is out and they are working on it. I swear it sounds just like bowling a gutterball. (I would know this because I bowl about that well.) What is even more amusing is that every time we hear the sound, the group erupts into laughter and someone makes the point of saying in an elevated sportscaster tone—“GUTTERBALL!” See, even accountants have a humorous side too.

My Valentine Date

Well, B is yet again out of town, so I went about my typical Monday activities. This consists of leaving work a little early and rushing back to town to take M to gymnastics. We got out of gymnastics shortly after 6:30, so we headed over to the airport as I promised M last week. The plane had not arrived yet.

We sat there for a short while chatting (well, as much as you can chat to a soon-to-be 3 year old). The controllers started preparing the airport for the plane, so I knew it wasn't far out. We turned on Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and listened to the book on tape for a brief period and then I could see the light of the plane on the horizon. We watched the plane land. I explained the landing process to M and the de-planing process as well. We watched the luggage being unloaded and the plane being prepared for take off to Ponca. The plane then took off and we left the airport for the next part of our date--Walmart & "The Donalds".

We headed to Walmart where mommy picked up a couple of items, and we went to the McDonald's there where M got Chicken Nuggets and I got a Quarter Pounder w/ Cheese and onions, despite my specific request for no onions.

It was a good date--just Mommy & M. Sometimes we need that kind of bonding time with our child--just you and the child w/o the other parent.

' da plane; 'da plane...

Fantasy Island--Do you remember that show? I remember watching it with my parents vaguely. The part I remember is Tatoo yelling, “Boss, the plane; the plane!” Kids are fascinated by planes; M is no exception.

Yesterday I was running a little late to work, so I had PaPa pick up M and keep him until I got back into town. I arrived at MeMe’s and Papa’s around 6: 30 to collect M. MeMe & PaPa live on the outskirts of town just south of the airport. M & I were walking out to the truck when the ConocoPhillips shuttle jet from Houston was landing at the airport for the evening to drop off the Bartlesville passengers before heading back to the hangar in Ponca. M’s face lit up with glee. “Look, Mommy,” he exclaimed excitedly. “It’s a plane,” and he pointed his little finger up to the sky and followed the plane across the horizon. As I put him into the car seat, he commented on the plane and asked me questions repeatedly. His enthusiasm and the zeal with which he chattered about the plane made me smile. I drove down the street to the highway, and I made up my mind. The plane would not be departing for a good 15 minutes, so I drove the short way to the airplane so M could see the plane take off.

We turned into the airport and drove down the road to the ConocoPhillips hangar; I pulled into the parking lot and parked the truck and turned off the headlights. We waited patiently for the plane to take off and I explained to M what he was about to see. I cracked the window slightly so M could hear the plane engines somewhat but I didn’t want us to freeze either. A short while later, the blocks were removed from the wheel and the plane began to taxi to the end of the airport and turn to reach the runway. M’s eyes were sparkling with excitement; he chattered incessantly about the plane. He craned his neck so he could see the plane at the end of the airport, and at that point, we counted down.

5…4…3…2…1. No take off. Ok, we were a little early. After a few more seconds, the plane began to build speed and taxi down the runway until it lifted and took off. The plane rose into the sky and the eventually turned back West to head toward Ponca. I started to leave the parking lot. We discussed the take-off on the way back across town.

“Mommy, that plane was really big.”

“Well, not really, M. There are planes that are much larger than that.”

“The plane went really fast, Mommy.”

“Yes, the plane was fast, M.”

About that time, my cell phone rang. It was B. He hadn’t been able to reach us at home; I filled him in on what we had been doing and asked M if he wanted to talk to Daddy. “Yeah,” was his response. He told his daddy about watching the plane and how big it was and how fast it went. And then I heard, “You need to buy a plane for us, Dad.”

I wish! We both laughed at M, and I smiled as I told B good-bye. And then I remembered the Fantasy Island scene with Tatoo and my smiled widened. I ruffled M’s hair and told him, “Mommy loves her silly rabbit.”

I intend to take him back to see the plane land and take off again. I’m thinking we might just do that after gymnastics on Monday, and I think I’ll talk to PaPa about taking M to the air show this year.