We have another first to report...Nicholas got his first ride in the
F-150 tonight to dinner at KFC in Zebulon. He did it in true country
style...barefoot!
Up to now, he's ridden in the Mommy's Escape or Grammy's Taurus and
recently in Daddy's Passat because they're better suited to the transporting
of a cute baby. But we found ourselves needing to deliver
a ton of topsoil/compost to Grammy's for a sod project that's coming
up at her house. It's a dirty job but you'd hardly put that stuff in
the Escape...not only is the dirt, well, dirty but this stuff has a bit
of a manure aroma to it. There's just one truck in the family that's
up to the job...and no sense taking two vehicles to Zebulon, right?
You know, it's rather funny but I was just reminded of a story Gramps
likes to tell of the way one woos another in rural Illinois. Apparently
the method includes occasionally showing up in front of a prospective
mother-in-law's house riding a manure spreader right after doing
the deed on some other farmer's field (not an uncommon thing...usually
one farmer has the combine, the other the plow, and so forth). And here
I am in front of Ms. Pat's with a bed full of topsoil/manure compost
mix. Fortunately, for me...this load of aromatic soil was
a) requested, b) it occurred after the marriage ceremony, and c)
Mommy was riding shotgun...a nice distinction Nicholas might want to
keep in mind when he pulls up in front of his girlfriend's house in a
working truck with a load of smelly dirt in the back. :)
Anywho, we had a wonderful dinner and then we worked it off unloading
this stuff onto the driveway which looked so much more impressive
actually in the bed of the truck (and she was definitely loaded...that
stuff's HEAVY and Daddy was using every gear to take off from a stop!).
Nicholas makes a wonderful job site foreman...he supervises with the
best of them! And yes, the obligatory shower for Daddy afterword
felt wonderful!
After watching the finale of Trading Spaces: Home Free which
was set in Daddy's old stomping grounds of Orlando (yes, the
light blue team won...they earned it!), it was time for a bottle
and bedtime for Nicholas and ruthless games of Sequence for us.
And it was amazing how much zippier the truck was on the way home! :)
Yep, we're negotiating the little step from Grammy's kitchen to her living room quite nicely. Climbing the step is easy but going back down without face-planting is a bit tricky. There is a strict procedure that must be followed for this:
And for us, one of those was actually done a couple of days ago and
electronically filed. It appears that the new home fund will get quite
a boost this time thanks to certain child credits and deductions and
we've got another seventeen years of those to enjoy. :)
As for one of the others...we love Nicholas more than he'll ever know
and that one you can take to the bank. It's hard not to love the cute
one, even when he makes feeding times a little more interesting than
they used to be! He's definitely into the shaking his head NO
thing, particularly during dinner when he's trying to play at being
finicky. I don't think he's gotten the idea yet that we're here to
defend democracy, not to practice it. Our job is to
feed you things, some of which you might not choose for yourself. But
that's tough because they're good for you and now it's our turn to
have the perks of parenthood. So there... ;)
We're also into dancing to music now and it's a hilarious sight to see.
Sometimes he shakes his head but more often than not, he's shaking his
booty to the music. Get down with your bad self, there... Of
course, like Daddy can talk...his dancing stinks at best! :)
We got a bit of a laugh in the mail today...there was apparently a bit
of controversy over the gift certificates to Aunt Catfish's that
were left in Port Orange. The investigators at least had the right set
of suspects but got the particulars of the crime all wrong. No, it
wasn't Colonel Mustard in the library with the pipe... ;)-
You can look at this one of two ways: it's either the day parents are
either looking forward to or dreading...or perhaps it's
a bit of both, really. Yep, it's the day your baby takes that leap of
faith and takes his or her first steps without holding on to something.
You can't help but be proud of the little guy because he's obviously
figuring things out for himself and can get to where he wants to go,
well, a few steps at a time, that is. But you really can't help
dreading the fact that with increased mobility comes increased ability
to actively seek out and get into mischief. But that would seem to be
an occupational hazard of having a baby... :)
Right now, he's into walking between two people...or is it that he's
into getting the inevitable applause that occurs right after a few
steps are taken? It's rather hard to tell. But he is balancing and
walking on his own even if it is just a couple of steps that often ends
with a dive toward the target person/object.
When you see things like this, it's hard not to appreciate the times
when he was decidedly less mobile in that baby carrier as now life is
becoming a constant sit down, stand up, go retrieve rug rat, put rug
rat next to toys, and then repeat several times. :)
All good things must come to an end and it was time for us to turn the
Escape northward for the return trip home. This usually involves
packing the Escape so that her tail is dragging the ground (hey...
just kidding there...we were actually nice and level this time! :)
Before we left, there was a little scene I'd like to share with you
Eagle-Eyed BLOG readers. One thing that has been a constant through my
father's side of the family is that there is a very noticeable knack for
playing and singing music. My grandfather used to play the church
revivals during the Depression and was very proficient on the piano and
the mandolin. When I lived in Port Orange, it was the rare Sunday
before church where he wouldn't be at his piano playing hymns and
singing. You'd be hard-pressed to notice that he was missing one
finger due to a turbine accident he had at Central Illinois Power north
of Hutsonville (about halfway up the east side of the state right on the
Wabash river about 30 miles south of Terre Haute, IN). And that voice
was just to die for...I can still hear him singing his favorite hymn
"The Old Rugged Cross". Not only did he sing like an angel and play
like you wouldn't believe, but he was also was a master on the mandolin
that was ancient when he was young.
Gramps is no slouch in the music department and spent years playing in
the church orchestra at First Baptist Church in Daytona. Not only did
he play in the orchestra, but he often arranged the scores for all of
the other instruments and made sure they had all of their transposed
music copied and ready for performance on Sunday morning. I can't
imagine how they ever got on without him...he was tireless in doing the
very important day-to-day things that made that orchestra special. And
then there are the instruments...it'd probably be easier to list the
ones he doesn't play and most of them he is self-taught. It wasn't
uncommon for him to play trumpet, trombone, and sax in the same performance.
Even though he's amazing on guitar (of all sorts), it's his piano and
trumpet playing that just get to me every time.
For me, I can play a bit of piano (mostly right handed though I do have
a piece I composed that I occasionally play that is chorded with the
left hand), a little sax, and I can squeak a clarinet with the best of
them when changing it to the high register. Grandma Williams used to
love it when I'd go to church with her because she'd get to hear me
sing...well, she liked my voice. I don't claim to be Clay Aiken but I
don't think I really stink, either. But for me, it's always going to
be the flute that is my home. The first three weeks of playing flute
were hell trying to blow across that little hole and get something
resembling a note out of the thing. What a pain in the butt that was!
But I was so happy when it finally came together and frankly, nothing
calms me down after a frustrating day more than pulling out the flute
and having a go at it.
Anywho...Sherman, set the Wayback Machine for sometime in 1986
or 1987. Gramps and I had just moved to Port Orange and everything was
unpacked...I think we'd been there for a couple of months and had finally
settled into a routine. I don't think I'll forget that evening as long
as I live! Grandpa Williams, Gramps, and I were in Gramps' bedroom.
Grandpa had his antique mandolin out, Gramps was playing one of his
electric guitars, and I was there with my flute. It was such a joyous
night to have three generations of us in the same room playing at the
same time. It didn't matter what we played and I forget how long that
jam session lasted...and it was the only time I can remember the
three of us ever playing together! Unfortunately, Grandpa Williams
would pass away in 1990 and with me in college, the opportunities just
weren't available for the three of us to get together again.
Until now, that is.
Right before we left, Gramps sat Nicholas on his knee and they started
playing at the piano. I couldn't help but join in on this and I am
so thankful that there was a camera to capture it. Nicholas was
certainly enjoying hamming it up for the camera (I think he might be the
next American Idol in 2023 or so...he's certainly got the
triple threat: the talent, the personality, and the dance moves!).
And honestly, it was all I could do not to cry until we were out on
Williamson Boulevard heading north. We managed to recreate the magic of
a night long ago but with one important difference: I am quite
convinced that there were four generations of us there...three of us
playing and one watching us from above and smiling all the while!
Who knows where Nicholas' musical explorations may take him. He's
certainly got enough musical input (if not outright overload!). But
that journey is up to him...we'll make sure he can play whatever he
chooses, or not if that's what he wants as well. But I think he's
always going to have that appreciation for music no matter what...it's
in his blood and he can't deny that! :)
The trip itself was uneventful...Nicholas is such a wonderful traveler
and he sleeps most of the way. We made the usual stops at the Cracker
Barrel and McDonald's for their changing tables (or so we thought...the
McDonald's at Exit 20 in Lumberton doesn't have a changing table in
either restroom...and it's not the best McDonald's in the world, either).
Guess we'll stop at the one at Exit 17 instead for the future...
Anyone who has hung round with Daddy's family knows that May is an
awfully popular month for birthdays. One of Gramps' lesser known skills
is that he is positively a magician with cake mix and frosting...the
cakes he would enter into his church competitions often floored the
competition.
With the cluster of us living in Port Orange (at the time, two sets of
aunts and uncles, a set of grandparents, Gramps and I...all within two
square miles of each other), it wasn't uncommon for all of us to get
together and celebrate the May birthdays as one. Between Grandma
Williams, Uncle Roger, and I...Gramps decorated a big sheet cake
decorated like a three ring circus and adorned with three big candles
signifying 162 years!
With that background, Gramps decided to revive that tradition with
Nicholas as the newest May baby with an everybody's birthday
party featuring Nicholas. So what if it's a month early...any
excuse to party, my friends... :)
Of course, come to one of these soirees hungry because the food is going
to be there aplenty. We also had plenty of family about with Aunt
Nadine, Aunt Betty and Uncle Roger, and Grandma Carol joining us for
the festivities. The cake itself was a thing of beauty...Gramps had
Target scan one of the pictures from this very BLOG insert link here
which was then frosted into the top of the cake. It's amazing what
cool things they can do with frosting these days.
Nicholas even got his own little cake of his own to do with as he
pleased. And he certainly took advantage of it...it took less than a
minute to destroy that cake. Now mind you, we couldn't keep the boy
from eating every bit of sand from the beach that he could get his hands
on...and he just was not going to eat that cake, not the least little
bit. Consistency, my boy...PLEASE!
All in all, a wonderful time had by all and after everyone had departed,
we headed to the local Chinese buffet to stuff ourselves even more than
we had already done!
Now was some the time for some serious recreation. Today's agenda
included a trip to the beach and a later visit to Aunt Catfish's on the
River (the Halifax River, that is), a local restaurant that has some of
the best seafood eating you're going to get in the greater Daytona
area.
But first things first, Daddy needed to go replace his ten year-old
leather belt and the best place to do that is the Daytona Beach flea
market just west of the airport. Belts of all shapes and sizes
(remember that Daytona hosts Bike Week every year!). He also
visited Gramps' preferred citrus vendor (Albert Pell of Osteen which is
20 miles southwest of Daytona along Tomoka Farms Road) for some oranges
and grapefruit. The "General" sends his regards for your fine
citrus... :)
Then it was time to get ready for some fun in the sun. Unlike most of
the beaches in North Carolina, Volusia County's beaches are hard-packed
sand that you can drive upon with ease (and the appropriate fee unless
you're disabled in which case beach access is free). So into Moby
Dodge we went, across the Port Orange causeway, and down on the beach
just north of the Pirate's Cove. We found a decent enough space soon
enough and it was time to meet the waves. Nicholas started out in a
tidal pool where he impressed us with his sand eating abilities.
It didn't take long for him to taste a heaping handful of Daytona's
finest sand from a little tidal pool. Then it was time to have some
fun in the surf...for all of about three minutes. One fast-moving
wave was enough to convince him that he wasn't exactly ready to compete
on Oahu's North Shore in those surfing competitions. But that's is OK
to be scared by a wave that really takes you out when you're only
eleven months old.
So back to Moby Dodge we go for some fun in the sand. Sand castles,
covering with sand, digging pits...and of course, Nicholas tasting
some more of the white sand. He rates it A-OK!
After our time on the beach, it was time to head back to the house to
get ready for dinner at Aunt Catfish's with Grandma Carol. The place
was stuffed and the average wait times were two hours...unless you're
a local with a reservation, of course. During the meal, Nicholas
decided to get cute for a six weeker in the booth next to us. That
boy has more girlfriends in more ports of call than the average
sailor, I tell you! But the food was some mighty fine eating (and
lots of it)...so much so that there was no way we could even contemplate
the Boatsinker Pie or the Key Lime Pie (their Key Lime is the best in
the city...trust me on that!).
Returning to the house, we had proof that Gramps and Grandma Carol were
just addicted to Sequence as we are! :)
Today was a rest-up day for all of us...even though the trip isn't very
long, it does take the wind out of one's sails. But the term rest-up
might be a bit misleading when you're visiting Gramps' house as there
is always something going on and mischief is always available. If
there is mischief to be found, our little one will find it!
Early in the morning, we had a big storm blow through the area
(what is referred to as a gully washer) with gusts upwards of 40
knots. That's actually unusual for the area...the storms in the summer
usually arrive in the Daytona Beach area round 1635 hours and are
regular enough that you can set your watch by them. More often than
not, you might get a little pre-dawn shower due to ambient moisture and
lift generated by the sea breezes. But the hallmark of Florida weather
is that it's usually violent and short-lived.
Later, Nicholas renewed his acquaintence with the anole lizards that
make Gramps' garden their home. These lizards make Terminix and Orkin
look like a bunch of poseurs...if there are creepy crawlies about,
they'll be a quick snack for the lizards. Florida has quite a few
nasties that are unique to the peninsula including what are called
palmetto bugs by the locals. Imagine your average cockroach
suddenly bulked up by anabolic steroids and given wings...not that
they fly all that much, they much prefer walking along your ceilings
or crawling out of your pipes. That is until they're a right tasty
meal for a lizard or the coral and indigo snakes that also make their
home in Gramps' garden. Gramps also has buckets of feed corn mounted
on the back fence covered by el-cheapo umbrellas which keeps the
squirrels happy and out of his attic! Due to the storm, one of the
umbrellas had to be replaced but knowing Gramps, that probably only
put him out a dollar at most. :)
Grandma Carol came round to visit with the little one and they got on
well as usual playing many games and having a grand old time. We
introduced her to a game given to us by Ms. Linda at Christmas
called Sequence. If you want a game that will stir the pot a
bit, this is the game for you. The board has images of playing cards
on it, two of each card except for jacks. The play is rather simple,
play a card in your hand, put a token on the matching card on the mat,
draw a new card. The goal is to get one or two sequences (depending
on how many players are involved) of five tokens in a row (or four
plus one of the wild spaces at the corners). The jacks are special:
two-eyed jacks are wild and one-eyed jacks allow you to remove another
player's token which really hurts when you're doing that right as they
have four tokens in close proximity. And then the recriminations
start...especially if you've been hoarding more than one jack!
But it's all fun in the end and rematches were almost certainly going
to happen... :)
We had gotten wind of a certain community in Central Florida that was
in need of a serious Nicholas fix. And we needed to get away from the
joyous activities like sanding and staining the deck and other repairs
round the house...that sounds like a call to action to load up the
Escape and point her nose south for about ten or eleven hours.
It's not the most complicated flight plan in the world...NC-42 to I-40 to
I-95 to FL-421 and then to the house. We actually made fairly decent
time down there except for the obligatory accident in Jacksonville
(this time, it was on the northbound I-95 just after the I-295 junction
and we were lucky it southbound was only backed up three miles...
northbound was backed up at least seven and it wasn't getting any
better). We noticed the emergency vehicles again forced people out of
their lanes into the emergency lanes by coming up the middle of the
traffic jam. We're not entirely sure why they do that but as long as they
don't hit us when they pass by, it's all well enough for us!
Of course, you know what the prescription for a long drive is when we
arrive at Gramps' house, right? Yep...sensory overload for one Nicholas
who is an extremely good traveler and slept most of the way to Florida.
But he was ready for sensory overload and he certainly got it..more toys
than the boy knew what to do with...and that was just in the living room!
There's a low coffee table there and for that was just perfect for someone
that's happy walking round a table...and walking round a table...and...you
get the picture! He makes us tired just watching him do it... :)
Speaking of tired, it's time for us to hit the waterbed and hopefully not
get tossed out of it. We're not in the least tired....ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!
In addition to getting prepared for the coming trip to visit Gramps in
Florida, we had a very important duty to perform this afternoon. Yep,
we took Nicholas to meet the Easter Bunny over at Triangle Towne Centre
on Capital Boulevard.
Nicholas was dressed in a nifty outfit hand-made by Tam, a very
talented seamstress who is very well represented in Nicholas' wardrobe.
Did you like that baptismal gown? Pretty awesome, eh? Her handiwork,
my friends. We about died when we unpacked it...it's that gorgeous and
a most generous gift from Gramps' friends in Mississippi. This outfit
was in that same batch and they're all just amazing. If you want good
clothes for your little one, Tam's the one to talk to!
Anywho, we're in the same general area as we were for the Santa
pictures and lo and behold, there is a huge rabbit there. We're guessing
this might be the Easter Bunny's significant other as it was definitely
of the feminine persuasion but, hey...it's the Easter Bunny and we're
getting pictures. Loads of pictures. Daddy was shooting both cameras
just as fast as he could while the official photographer was doing her
thing.
Now, Nicholas isn't really shy when it comes to pictures. In fact, he
tends to be quite a ham in front of the lens. We had to work for these
pictures, let me tell you. He just wasn't going to give up the smile
without a fight!
But it's all good...we got some good pictures and Nicholas got some
quality time in the rugrat area. Of course, you can just imagine how
much of a free-fire zone we had for pictures...NOT! But there were
some winners in there as you can see on the left side of the page.