Raising Watsons

The teachers informed me that all the kids think Tucker is this baby in the book.  Whenever they’re reading the story, the kids all yell “Tucker!” when this page comes up.

I’ll let you decide.  While I see the resemblance, Tucker is far more devious in most of his pictures.

Sometimes we just hang around the house.  Sometimes we even dress up in outrageously cute outfits and just hang around the house.  There are always plenty of things to work on with hammers.

Then play time is over, and we just want to be picked up and carried around the house.  So we look for other activities to keep us grounded and entertained.

… like playing piano.  Tucker was sitting up with me for a while, but at this point he’s more interested in hitting all the buttons on the keyboard than any of the keys.  Oh sure, he loves to pound on it a bit and make some noise, but he’s a button masher first and foremost.  He’ll either be a great electronic musician one day, or he’s going to be pressing THE BUTTON from the oval office.

This is a bit old, but people need to see these.  All this brown and green, a smiling little man.  It’s too good not to share.  Heather went to Las Vegas for a long derby filled weekend, leaving the men on their own.  We did quite well thank you(!) and here’s the photographic evidence.

Magic is still alive and well in our town.  This cedar box in the patio wall, I believe you call it a ‘mailbox’, is able to conjure objects randomly throughout the day.  I have occasionally seen a large woman in uniform slam the outer door, this somehow activates the box and the papers appear.  Some have brightly colored pictures and a thick binding, others are plainly labeled and seem to only bring frustration or sighs from my large roommates.

One weekend in mid-June, Mom, Grandma, Aunt Athy and Tucker embarked on a quick adventure.  We drove from Los Angeles to San Jose, up on Friday back on Sunday, to hang out with Mom as she played the most important game of the season with her team.

Despite the “Major Trouble” t-shirt, Tucker was remarkably well behaved.  We can’t same the same for the other trip participants, but a good time was had by all.

Tucker met a little friend in the outdoor mall next to the hotel.  Nathaniel was almost the same age as Tucker but an entirely different type of baby.  Several times he tried to hug Tucker and was faced with the cold shoulder.  Eventually Tucker warmed up to him and agreed to play a little in the rocks by the fountain.

Little man loves hallways.  Running down them, banging on strangers doors, etc.   At one point we just started leaving the door open so he could run around in the hallway.

The game was a huge success.  My team took an early command and at half way through the period the score was 55 to 0.  The final score was 180 something to 80 something.  Details not so important, the important thing is my team has qualified for Regionals in Portland this year.  Last time my team qualified for Regionals, we got pregnant.  This time, Mom will skate!

Tucker really does hate good byes.  But he loves baggage carriers!  Especially when he realizes it’s way easier to catch a ride than to push it himself.  YAY for Grandma’s!

Last week Grandma and Aunt ‘Athy visited.  We went on a big trip together which is going to be hte next post, but here’s some quick pictures of lil man and Aunt Athy.

Bonnie Watson, you probably do not want to watch this video (or anyone else who suffers from vertigo or motion sickness).  For everyone else, enjoy when Tucker decides to answer the phone.

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.