I was right. Slowing down to take things in at the pace of a 21 month old is good for the soul, even if it is bad for the back. And arms.
I carted the young master off to Gotham today. We took the 8:56 train in this morning to get up to the Museum of Natural History. We had no car seat with us so we took the bus up and a bus over. He seemed to enjoy it very much. The train ride was interesting. I reckon he has never heard the word "motherfu**er" quite so much or said with such varying degrees of admiration or affection. It got to the point where I was seriously considering asking the guy to tone his language down, but I was not inclined to get into an argument about it, especially since my son doesn't even talk yet. I also venture to guess that this would be the first time the boy has had the pleasure of the word "ni**er", and no, it wasn't from me (in case you were wondering).
It was a beautiful day in the City. The kind of day that made me sorry I ever moved out. If we were better dressed, I would have taken the boy to brunch.
The musuem was relatively crowded. But, for some reason, the butterfly exhibit was empty. We were there with maybe only 5 or 6 other people. The volunteers had time to show us all kinds of different butterflies. There were about 500 of them flying around in there with us. One of them landed on me. It was beautiful and when it closed its wings, it looked exactly like a leaf. Amazing natural camoflage. The boy kepy running around and pointing at them so I'm pretty sure he was engaged, and that's all I wanted.
I then took him to see the hall of the mammals. He kept running around the elephants, pointing up at them and saying, "Bah!!" Bah is his word for any animal and every animal, fish included. He was adorable.
I got him home in time for lunch (barely) and down for a nap a little late. I know he was tired today because at bedtime tonight, we went down like a stone.
One final thought in this disorganized and disconnected post, taking care of one child is so easy. I kind of forgot that.
Posted by Random Penseur at November 27, 2004 10:13 PMjust got all caught up here...
sounds like you are having a very nice time for yourself.
one child is easy huh??
i will have to remember that...and to ask you for tips.
right now i would kill for 4 hours of uninteruppted sleep...but i don't see that happening for at least 18 years - and its the second trimester.
What a great day. I remember when mine were little and just riding a bus was a thrill. So he got that, and a train ride, and mammals, and butterflies; now that is living!
Posted by: Rachel Ann at November 28, 2004 09:06 AMMakes me think of spending time with my nephews, who live in Connecticut, in the City. And here we are, stuck on the far side of the country!
Posted by: Mark at November 28, 2004 09:58 AMSo wonderful to hear about the bonding between you and the Boy Child. I know he is quite young but am also sure he will remember it with fondness.
Posted by: Wicked H at November 28, 2004 10:17 AMI'm grinning just reading this. I love taking my boys to museums.
Posted by: TulipGirl at November 28, 2004 05:56 PMLove stories about the Girl and the Boy too! So glad you two had a good time doing male bonding while the ladies were traveling. :-)
Posted by: Amber at November 29, 2004 02:43 PMThanks, y'all, it was pretty darn great!
Posted by: RP at December 2, 2004 10:11 AM