Seattle - Summer '09

IA and I just came back from a week long trip to Seattle. We left the boys back East and headed out for my best friend's baby shower. It was a surprise and we totally pulled it off. Good stuff:). I lived in Seattle for a majority of the 1990's and many of my close friends (including two of my best) are still out there. It was so, so great to see them all and in some cases for IA to meet them for the very first time. We had a blast staying with the C's and I am seriously in love with their little boy MC. MC is the son of one of my oldest and dearest friends, DSC, he is also one day older than WA. MC is pure gold. By far my favorite thing about him is his desire to take off all his cloths and run around in rubber rain boots. I mean, can you beat that?!?

MC and WA are alike in many ways, both are sweethearts and smartypants, but it was really interesting to see how different they are. MC possess a calm and maturity that WA just does not have. An excellent example of this was when MC locked himself in a bathroom whose lock uses an old fashion key. One of those long thin wrought iron ones from the 20s. (Mind you he locked himself in after going to the potty all by himself...yet another difference!) After we initially determined that MC really could not get out, his dad ended up calmly talking him through turning the key, removing it and sliding it under the door. Not only did MC follow directions to a T, but he did not panic. Not one bit. Seriously impressive. WAY more than his parents realize. When I told my hubby this story he said..."Yeah, too much drama in WA's genes for him to react like that". So true. My son would have flipped and the world would have ended... that my friends is all from his daddy:). On the flip side, WA is hands down better at spacial relation. He can put shoes on the right feet and complete a puzzle in lightening speed with no help. Even his teachers comment on how amazing his skills are on that front...again he gets that all from his daddy. I never expected these two kids to be clones, and I understand that development happens at different paces, but it was really interesting to see the differences up close and personal. Kids are just so darn cool.

The C's also have a son GC, who is one month younger than IA. He's a sweetie too and I met him for the first time. I've already picked out the wedding venue and colors...but don't tell them that.


So in the midst of all this excitement it was IA's first time on a plane. I was traveling alone and did not get her a seat of her own. Therefore what I ended up getting myself in to was a squirmy baby on my lap for 5 hours. Let me just say...won't happen again. Luckily I was seated next to a mom and daughter on each leg of the trip, so at least they could sympathize when IA dropped her toy for the 20th time in a row. I also made the very big mistake of wearing a U neck shirt. I think I flashed just about everyone on the plane with the help of IA's tugging hands. All in all she did pretty well considering...I, on the other hand, was a bit worse for the wear.

It was great to travel and have fun. It was also nice to have toddler-free time with IA, I felt like we had a great bonding experience. I so needed that. But I'm also really glad to be home...cause I missed my boys.