surprise

cornhole, a photo by grumpnet on Flickr.

just when you think you know how things are going to work out -- or rather, melt down -- you're proven wrong.

after a week in which we were sure we had the most rotten, deranged child in the world, he turns us into liars.

after an invite to a cookout with a friend i rarely get to see, we accepted, fully aware its proximity to boy's bedtime would be the lit fuse to the unstable explosive that is boy when he's tired.

kris and i were fully prepared to leave after half an hour if the shit hit the fan.

long story short, even as the only child present, not counting his not yet mobile mobile sister, he was well-behaved, funny and, most importantly, non-bratty.

by that, i mean, not unreasonably demanding or insistent or impatient or loud.

he was happy with ice cubes, doritos and wandering the backyard.

he even left with a "bye!" and "thanks, guys!"

now, the experience itself -- bringing the kids a grownup party not hosted by family -- was just another reminder of the different stage of life we're living.

i followed the lad all over the property and chatted when i could. it was hectic, but not bad. (not much different, really, from going out to murad's with the boy once he started walking.)

still, i'm waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Via Flickr:
boy gets his first chance to play popular tailgate game.

a little buzz

a little buzz, a photo by grumpnet on Flickr.

listening to the boy attempt to replicate what he hears is one of the more precious things of his toddlerhood.

this miniature buzz lightyear is one of his favorite toys if for no other reason than he gets to shout the "toy story" character's signature line: "to infinity, and beyond!"

or, as he ties together the franchise's other lead character in his version of the call: "a woody -- and, on!"

Via Flickr:
the boy's sort of first action figure.

this is his kiddie "l"

the scene of the crime following a rigorous
scrubbing and bleach wipedown.

notice there is no "poo" in it. you can thank mommy and papaw for that.

yeah, the boy had an accident this weekend while frolicking in his kiddie pool.

it got cleaned up, but not before daddy gave multiple demonstrations on how to put one's face underwater.

apparently, we missed/ignored the clues at that point -- and continued to do so for a good while afterward.

as the mild afternoon wore on, the monkey seemed to feel a chill. so we prepared to take him inside; a diaper check ensued.

yeahhhh ...

Summer parenting tip: Before teaching boy how to blow bubbles in kiddie pool, check his diaper for, um, floaters.

— some asian guy (@grumpnet) June 3, 2012

it's one of those few cases of one's own stupidity leading to a laugh and a good story rather than self-flagellating regret. what else could i do?