I like....

Lazy Sunday afternoon conversation while we are swinging (and I discover his feet are once again hitting the ground meaning we need to raise it again.)

H: Mom, do you like fish or trees better?
I like trees I think.
H: I like fish better.
I like flowers best. Flowers and birds.
H: You know what kind of flowers I like? Red, black, purple, pink, yellow, and green!

(forward and back, forward back) conversation continues without out any input from me)

I like trees, and sharks, and ants, and flowers, and my house, and my toys, and I like me!

M: I'm glad you like you.
H: I like you, too.

Mommy....

I like you a lot!

I like your butt. It's so squishy.

You can go mom

I am trying to catch up with milestones. 

This past July, H was invited to his best boy buddy's (BB) party. We have been to a few parties mostly of the off site lots of kids and themed kind. H likes to go but these are not yet drop your kid off parties due to age.

We received the invitation in the mail a few days before the party. H had been asking to have T over to play but nothing had worked out. H and I arrived not really knowing what to expect since it was at the family's home. I am not a social butterfly so I generally find these events a bit stressful as well. 

We arrived at the start time and it became apparent this was a family and close few friends party. There was a sort of bounce house and an ice machine but nothing really fancy. Much to H's dismay there was no pool! I am not sure why he wanted a pool. He does love the water but on this quite warm July day he was wearing his usual long pants and long sleeved cotton sweater....

When we arrived, best buddy's mom told us he was allowed to invite friends and H was the only one he wanted. So, she was glad we were able to come. H did his usual hang back for awhile until the ice machine peaked his interest and then he was all questions for BB dad who was operating it. Next it was apparent the 6 kids or so were interested in cupcakes. I sat on the sidelines doing small talk with a couple of the relatives. After gift opening the kids went off to play. This is usually the awkward adult time (at least for me when I do not know anyone). 

I decided to check on H who was playing with BB and kids in the playroom. 

"H, are you doing ok?"

Ignoring mom look

"H, you ok?"

"You can go mom...."

Stunned and cautiously ecstatic mom says

"Are you sure?"

Wholly engrossed in the play room with BB son simply nods yes and returns to ignoring mom.

Mom can't move fast enough to find party host mom and make sure it's ok with her that I skip out for my first ever leave son at someone else's moment!

What did I do with my new found freedom? I went home and ate lunch....hey, it's the quiet milestones we will remember.

She needs help with that....

We read a book every night and for nap time every day. Sometimes we use "picture" books or seek and find books, and sometimes we use short stories. We were reading our Lightning McQueen Seek and Find. If you are unfamiliar with this one, the first Seek page is Mater's Junk Yard.

"Mommy, where does Mater live?"

"He lives in a junk yard."

"What's a junk yard?"

"A place where cars that do not run go and you can use their parts to fix other cars that are broken."

"Oh. I like junk yards."

"When I was a little girl, I used to go to junk yards with Papaw."

"I want to go to a junk yard!"

"Maybe next time you visit Papaw you can go to a junk yard with him."

"Will Grandma go, too?"

"No, probably not."

"Why?"

"Well, Grandma doesn't really like junk yards.

"Oh.....She needs help with that."