Raising Watsons

Here we are again, building more furniture from ikea. who knew that we were actually building a train. Tucker figured out right away which side was the locomotive and took the pilot’s seat.

When I asked where my seat was, I was informed that it was certainly NOT in the front and I could sit in the back!

Throughout history men and their offspring have been driven to take on mechanical challenges.  Some built the railroads, some built ships that took us to the moon, some built prefab furniture from Ikea complete with instructions.  But the call of the wrench and hammer comes to all Y-Chromosomers.  We’re going to start with Duplo blocks, transition to legos, and then go straight into production etching our own circuitboards and fabricating our own hardware.  We’re going to pay for this kid’s college with other people’s money!  That’s the future, now back to the “peg A into slot B” show.  Henry Ford started the same way I’m told.

We had grand plans for setting up an assembly line, distribution out of Topeka, stores on 5th avenue and Rodeo Drive, but we were pretty wiped after putting the first one together. Once the labor has finished for the day and the sun dips below the horizon, Men can sit and enjoy the fruits of their labors as the calm of evening washes over the playroom.

Just an average day in the house:

We try to keep the man in his chair until we’re done eating dinner. But without fail he is either finished eating (or finished throwing all his food on the floor) before we manage to finish our dinner. These are all similar, but too good not to post. (my editor might feel otherwise)  = )

That much drool, you know it’s a good time.

So Saturday was the first full day of me and the little man. We started out our day pretty much like usual at 6 am, had some breakfast, and did some chores:

We went shopping for all of dad’s cheat day (weekend) provisions:

There was a surprising amount of backyard time after we went to pick up a lunch sub at micky’s deli on the beach. We did several rounds on the slide, “relaxed” in the hammock for up to two minutes at a time(!), but most of our time seemed to be dedicated to making sure kaya knew exactly who all the items in the backyard belonged to: “MIIIINNNNNNE”

Grilling was essential today since it is memorial day after all. Even if rollerderby doesn’t respect the sacrifice made by generations of men and women for our country, I do. Tucker and I celebrated accordingly by grilling some neat products: brats! I grilled up a couple trader joe’s Hot dos for the little man as well. He doesn’t seem to like the old standby chicken fingers, but he loves hot dogs.

After dinner there want fine for much else besides bath time. We splashed, we washed, we cried a little. Once all the little beasties were asleep in the house, there  wasn’t anything left but some tiny wet footprints.

We do think it’s funny that Tucker was born in Beverly Hills. It seems so extravagant compared to our humble beginnings in Union City, NJ and Escanaba, MI.

But on the other hand, he sure knows how to rock the sun glasses.

New to Tucker anyway!  Big thanks to the Karnes family for bringing over this play set.  Once the weather turned nice we started using it daily.  Tucker really enjoys the slide, even if he has taken more than one tumble off it while trying to straighten out his legs.

Video!

Difficult angle but too good to not post.

At Ikea Mom bought a little Tucker chair that is identical to the big chair in the playroom (it’s the red chair visible in the second picture).  On this day, Dad and his helpful little guy built the chair.

Tucker LOVES when he gets to play with Dad and tools.  It amazes me that a 14 mo old understands how to use tools.  You can’t see the screw head but he is actually lining up the screwdriver to the screw in the second picture.

SUCCESS!!!

This is a pretty common site around our house these days, Tucker signing “MORE” as in I’m hungry and want more of whatever you have.   When I’m preparing dinner Tucker will often ask for more at the edge of the counter.  As a result, he’s eaten just about everything: lemons, celery, blue cheese, etc.

Apologies for being out of focus, but he gets pretty demanding so it’s hard to get a good shot.

Another milestone the little guy is hurtling is feeding himself.  In this case one of his favorites, (abuela’s) black beans.  🙂

And like everything else, once Tucker has done it himself there is no going back.  Or taking the spoon away.

Self feeding in action: