pictures | SuburbanDaddy

A Picture Tells A Lot

A simple picture can tell you a lot. With just a little bit of context, this picture gives a lot of information. It was taken last Sunday late in the afternoon when he had just had a bath. Yes, Thing 3 is crying, but it wasn’t because he was hurt.? I can’t remember exactly why.? It was probably because I had given him the “wrong” color towel.

Ok, knowing this, what else can you tell from this picture?? Scroll down to find out.

1. Thing 3 skipped his nap today.

2. He’s going to have an early bedtime tonight.

3. Forget about trying to sit down for dinner tonight.? It’ll be chips and salsa until after 8pm when they are hopefully all in bed.

4. Happy hour starts now for SuburbanDaddy and Mommy

Get Ready For Trouble

Crawling is an exciting milestone and Thing 4 is getting close. These pictures show how close.

But these pictures also hint at trouble on the way. Sure, crawling means she will start getting into stuff around the house so we need to watch her at all times. But the trouble that’s coming isn’t for me. We’ve got the baby proofing pretty well down by now.

No, the trouble that is coming is for Thing 3. His world is about to get turned upside down. Until now, he has been the one getting into his brothers’ stuff. And as the youngest he generally gets his way.? That’s about to change.

Do you see in the pictures what is motivating Thing 4 to crawl?? She is trying to get one of Thing 3’s toys.? Until now he didn’t care much what she was doing. ? But as soon as she takes one of his toys he will NOT be happy. And that will be Trouble with a capital T.? Thing 4 is going to be one tough little girl.

I Can Relate

Best vanity plate ever. This isn’t my car. But it easily could be. I may need to move to another state just so I can get this myself.

Seven Months Old

A very happy seven month birthday to Thing 4!

Who is this Child?

Let me give a summary of how just about every day with Thing 3 goes these days. He wakes up around 6:30am in a bad mood, crying for no particular reason until he has his cup of milk like a two-pack-a-day smoker has to have his first smoke.

It takes little to set him off on a tantrum and I can never predict what will set him off, but I can predict with near certainty there will be something that does. It could be the wrong color cup or cereal bowl. It could be the wrong show on tv. Or the wrong color shirt. Oh, I always ask which one he wants first but I now realize they are all the wrong ones. The tantrum is coming. And you can forget about even suggesting the “P” (potty) word to him or you’re in for a world of hurt.

At night, we have a similar ritual around bedtime. No matter what it’s always the wrong pajamas. Then he doesn’t want to brush his teeth or go to bed. So he bangs on the wall, throws books in his room, and his new favorite act of defiance spitting on the wall. This goes on for a good 30 minutes until we all exhaust ourselves.

I assumed the time in between these lovely bookends to my day went much the same. This is the time Thing 3 is at preschool. That is, until we got this note from his teacher:

Thing 3 “is such a delight to have in our classroom. He is very bright – sometimes silly and sometimes serious – a good combination. He is doing well at number recognition and we are practicing our letters. He now comes to us if he needs to go potty – sometimes it has already happened and sometimes we make it there on time!! He is very helpful in the classroom and a very caring, sharing young man!!”

Seriously, this is the same kid? Sure, I’ve seen glimpses of this model child but it’s completely surrounded by the crying, spitting, throwing, and terrorizing. I guess there is some reason for hope.

You Know It’s A Long Weekend When

When this is the picture at 6pm on Sunday, you know it has been a very, very long weekend. There is no mourning the end of the weekend over here.

Stay-cation Day Five

For those of you anxiously awaiting this final stay-cation post, here you go. There was an open house for Thing 1’s elementary school – he started first grade this week. He met his teacher, saw his desk, and and saw where the bus will drop him off. ?Thing 1 was most excited about the big gym and playground.

We also checked out the local high school which kicked off it’s first football game with an outdoor fair complete with moonbounces, music, and dunk tanks. The high schoolers were very impressed with Thing 1’s dunking accuracy – 7 hits out of 12 throws. The day ended with an end of summer ice cream party in our neighborhood.

Thing 2 marches to his own beat. Like wearing his hat like this

A Look of Determination

Is this not the most determined little face?? Thing 4 has started to sit up on her own. She can sit for almost a minute on her own. At not yet 6 months, I think she’s ahead of all her brothers at that age, even Thing 1 who was fully walking at 9 months.? Look out!