Spring

We frequently play the 'where are you' game around here.  The rules are quite simple.  One person says, "Channing, where are you?" in that sing-song voice we all know so well, and Channing, from wherever the hiding place of the moment is, giggles.  Quite often, he's in plain sight, hiding behind his own two hands.  Obviously, if he can't see you, you can't see him.  That being said, the question of the last two weeks is, Spring were are you??  With the exception of Sunday, it's been unseasonably cold and rainy.  Sometimes snowy.  Yes, snowy.  

Tonight, I'm off to a Twins game with Aunt Kris provided it doesn't get rained out.  43 degrees and rain.  Brrr...The cold is settling into my bones just thinking about it.  We'll make the most of it, though I think our beverage of choice will end up being hot chocolate rather than a cold, crisp beer.  

Our future kitchen and dining rooms.

Our upstairs family room.

Follow me!

Despite the bad weather, the house is coming along at lightening speed.  The exterior has been sealed and has been awaiting the siding for some time now.  I'm excited to see it in all its beautiful, red glory amongst the sea of beige, taupe and yes, more beige that currently swirls down our block.  It's a little bland.  Inside, the drywall is up, has been taped, mudded and sanded.  Channing has become quite the little tour guide, excitedly showing anyone who will follow along where his bathroom and bedroom are upstairs and where the toys will go downstairs.  Truth be told, his favorite place is currently the garage.  He run circles, kicking up dust as he goes, a look of pure delight on his face.

Love that look.  Love it.

Raincheck

Today, the plan was to get to the gym early.  Channing wanted to play soccer.  I wanted to get in a little me time that involved physical activity.  There was a brief window allowed for making myself presentable and off to The Johnson's we'd go.  At 9:30 Channing had a play date with Ruby & Kayla.

Alas, after several days of the dirtiest diapers EVER, a low-grade fever made an appearance after yesterday's nap.  It's decided it would like to stay, much to my dismay.  Our day should have been filled with the sounds of little kid laughter.  Instead, it looks something like this.


We are trying to make the best of it.  WC's happy to be wearing nothing but his diaper, occasionally perking up enough to exclaim, 'Me run naked!' and make a mad dash across the living room two or three times before the comfort of the couch and his new pal, Stanley, lure him back in.  

Funny that in his sickness, he's feeling photogenic.  This photo was by request.  His request.  He was quite insistent that I take a picture of his toes.  

Me catch you, Daddy

After a night of rumbling, grumbling thunder storms, we woke to a fabulous spring day. One slight slip of the word 'park' into our morning conversation and Channing was chattering non-stop.  


Me go to park now?  Absolutely!

Above is the scene from the top of the slide.  Below is the scene from the bottom of the slide.  

Me catch you, Daddy!

House Proud

We've quickly fallen into the habit of driving to the house in the evening.  Channing already knows the way,  up, up, up the hill, past the horse barn,  around the circle, down the hill, through the tunnel exclaiming 'Wheeeeee!!!' all the way and we've arrived.  Channing loves it.  Even though it is just a shell, he knows where his room is and where the bathroom is.  He mimics going potty, taking a bath and washing his little hands.  He squeals with delight over his own antics.  This is one little boy who is house proud.

Yesterday, he felt the need to stretch his artistic wings, wanting to 'paint' with crayons.  He spent a long and contemplative time on the sofa with his coloring book and a burnt orange crayon, after which he resettled himself at the coffee table.  He was not pleased with me for trying to take his picture.  I was to color too, not try to capture the moment.  But capture I did.  The resulting images are well worth the momentary meltdown.  Sweet boy and his earnest attempts to make his little hands put on paper what he sees in his head, this mama wants to scoop him up in her arms and keep him in this moment forever just as much as she can't wait to see him grow.  

Too Much

Lovely, isn't it?  Spring is starting to make its presence known.  The frogs have started their chorus with the  red wing blackbirds chiming in now and then, sure signs warmer weather is on the way.  Channing is already asking for his swimming pool to be filled.  Soon, little buddy.  Soon.

In the meantime, we're filling our days with buckets of sidewalk chalk and golfing outdoors rather than in the living room and running down the grassy hill outside the dining room window.  The trike has come out of hibernation and glides just as easily down the slope of the driveway this year as it did last year.  

Despite the intermittent April showers, construction at the new house is still right on schedule.  We popped over there again tonight to find the roof trusses are up, half the sheeting is on, the plumbing is roughed-in for the lower level bath and laundry rooms and the concrete has been poured.  Surprisingly, all that has happened in just the past two days.  

That and Channing has decided that he loves us too much.  He gets this wistful sort of look in his eyes, starts rubbing our back or playing with our ears and hair, pauses for the briefest of moments before declaring, 'Me love you too much.'  The sincerity with which he says it is astonishing, perhaps breath taking.  I instantly forgive him for getting me up three times in the night, for kicking the bathroom door the entire time I'm in the shower and for eating half of my super-sized watermelon LipSmackers lip balm.  Instantly.