09.24.11
Lyon on his balance bike
At just over four, Lyon is basically ready to move to a two-wheel pedal bicycle. This is mostly thanks to the balance bike he’s been riding for about the last month.
08.20.11
Hole in one!
Pirates are the theme of this particular putt-putt course, which may be influencing Lyon’s willingness to follow rules. Or the failure to do so.
07.01.11
A Ride on the Daddy Boat
Lyon’s a water bug. There’s no denying that. And his comfort with the water this summer, as he nears four years old, is remarkable; daring; courageous; and at times a little alarming to me, given the unfortunate fear of water that I developed when I was a few years older than he is presently. It makes me excited, though, to know that unless something unforeseen happens and he gets spooked, he is probably going to be a great swimmer. He’s already grasped the major concepts–some water is shallow, some water is deep; he’s fine standing in certain places, others he must be holding onto someone or something.
Being Lyon’s Daddy Boat is one of my favorite things in the world. There’s no small irony there, given that I myself distrust water over five feet deep. But as long as we stay in the shallow end (for me), I can make myself into an amphibious craft, and Lyon loves to zip around the pool on his Daddy Boat. One day he won’t need a Daddy Boat. Which truly provides the best incentive in the world for me to improve my swimming. I don’t want the Lyon Boat to speed past me. I want to be the water bug he is.
04.04.11
Future Rock Climber? Maybe Not.
Lyon and I spent one final desolate March Saturday morning running, jumping, hurdling, and sliding through Inflation Nation, the local hot air spot. In one entertaining episode, I sat atop a wall and shot this video of Lyon attempting to ascend. He made it of course–but not on this try.
01.11.11
Let’s watch another video!
I’ve never pretended that I am a very good first-thing-in-the-morning person. Years ago I invested in a coffee maker that can be pre-programmed to brew coffee, largely because I am so groggy when I get out of bed that even the thought of trying to measure grounds and water is overwhelming. Having a toddler presents real challenges on this front. He’s up early, and ready to go. No caffeine needed for Lyon.
Of late we have developed a morning pattern that works for me, though. Let’s call it iParenting. Shortly after Lyon drags me out of bed we find ourselves at the dining room table. I drink coffee, he spoons yogurt, and together we watch YouTube videos of his choosing, using my iPad.
Of late, it’s all about Maisy Mouse: Maisy goes to the farm; Maisy drives a bus; it’s Maisy’s birthday; and even a slightly odd one, with overlaid Polish (?) dubbing of Maisy and friends in a hot air balloon. Lyon is enraptured. The mouse and her friends Charlie the alligator, Tallulah the chicken, Cyril the squirrel, and Eddie the elephant, can do no wrong. At 7 am, that works for me.
11.30.10
Third Wheel, But in a Good Way
About ten days ago Lyon was introduced to two new friends. Let’s call them Ernie and Bert. Until his Lala brought the vividly colorful characters into play, our favorite closeted Sesame Street friends had not merited much of Lyon’s attention. Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch ruled the day. But Ernie and Bert somehow stowed away in the suitcase of books and toys Lyon packed for our recent weekend in Washington. A fateful decision it was, for they became Lyon’s constant companions for the next 72 hours.
We went to the Air and Space museum. So did Ernie and Bert. We went to the National Zoo. So did Ernie and Bert. Vanessa went to visit her friend Leigh. So did Lyon. And so did Ernie and Bert.
At every turn, as we traipsed through the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Lyon would say, “Bert and Ernie, come see!” There’s an amazing dinosaur–”Bert and Ernie, come see, I’ll show you something really neat!” Vanessa quickly caught on, carrying Bert in one hand and Ernie in the other, feigning questions they posed to Lyon as we hustled around the exhibits.
Now that we’re home, and Lyon is again surrounded by his zillions of toys, some of the luster has worn off. Whether this relationship has a future is unclear. But even if it doesn’t, Ernie and Bert can look back and say, “we’ll always have Washington.”