Part V - In Town

Once we arrived on Boston Post Road, the High School's clock bells went off. Alex wanted to go see where the clock was and that just would have been terribly inconvenient, since it was in the opposite direction we wanted to go. I convinced him that there would be a clock in the town that he could see.

We came across an Episcopal church on Rectory Street that had a large clock on its bell tower. Alex wanted to run up to the church grounds to see it. It was 3 minutes to five when we arrived there, so I told Alex that we were in luck. The bells were about to go off.

My tired little boy and I sat on a bench in the church garden, talking and waiting for the bells. When they went off, Alex was startled and wanted to know ALL about the bells now. It was fairly easy to convince Alex to leave that place.

Now he wanted to go to the library, which we reached at 5:15, just before their closing time. I checked it out to see if their children's room was one worth visiting on a different adventure. After seeing a large dollhouse, it was a challenge to remove Alex from there too. I convinced him that we had to have dinner, since it was so late.Alex was happy if he could direct which path we'd take towards the train station and restaurants. This path took us past the fire department, which he wanted to see as well. Then, back on Purchase Street, I spotted a toy store still open. Alex had spent the day being such a big boy and his Ferrari was delayed, I decided to get him a toy. He chose a passenger plane toy and played with it all the way home.  We stopped for a brief dinner at Cozi, which wasn't much of a dinner. At the booth, Alex declared "Alex is going to lie down like a baby now." I told him that he could lie down on the booth seat if he wanted and he quickly did. That's when I realized that a cab would be a better way home. The staff gave me a company number and I found that the fare was only 12 dollars.

I took it to Powell's instead of home, worried that crossing the line into Mamaroneck would raise the fare by too much. So we walked home from there. As Mary from "Jack's Big Music Show" would say, "WHAAAAT a day!"

Part IV - Lokis!

Once past the Max trauma, Alex relaxed enough to explore the rest of the center. In a big learning room, we saw a baby snapping turtle, tadpoles and a watershed pollution model. Alex loved the model since it had cars and a tractor with it - to show how auto pollution runs into the water. I picked up some arts and crafts ideas that would be fun to try, such as pressing flat leaves, grasses and branches between two clear contact paper cut-outs.

I had to work to get Alex away from the cars to see the animals in the front room. (That means, carry him away crying.) When I could finally get him to notice the cages, he ran to the one containing ferrets. He calls all ferrets 'lokis', after the ferret he remembers from home. He loved shrieking and laughing with them and so did this one sable ferret who was awake for it all. The other animals weren't too thrilled with the loud noises, so I warned Alex about that. That made him take notice of them all.

He wanted to know the name of every animal - both species name and personal name. He wanted to know what they were doing. He wanted to know why they were there. He found a corn snake really fascinating, since he'd never seen a real snake before.

Eventually, I'd told Alex that it was time for us to go. The Center was going to close soon and we had a long way home. He wasn't happy about that and it required carrying out.

But we did get to walk down the long front road and see a deer in the woods to the side. She was calm enough to stand there even after hearing us. I picked Alex up to see her. He says he did. I hope so.

Now it was time to take that long trip home. We're in Rye now - eek!

Thursday, April 29

Part III - Noisy, noisy Max

The exhibit building of the Nature Center is still under organization, but it currently houses several animals, including a sulfur crested cockatoo named 'Max'. Wanting attention from the new people around, Max started to squawk and he wouldn't stop until a staffer squirted him with water. (Max apparently likes this game.)

Alex ran into a side lecture room, hiding behind a door. 'Let's go!' he declared to me. He didn't care for Max and his squawking at all. He said Max was 'too noisy' and we had to leave. Finally, Max calmed down with his water game and attention. A staffer had tried to speak to Alex to make him less afraid. Alex noted Max's subdued state and said 'He's a quiet animal.' The staffers laughed and said 'He's only quiet now.' Alex still wanted to wait it out before he walked past Max again.

After learning about a Mommy & Me class there, we entered a lecture room where there were animal themed toys. Alex ran to play with them. I noticed a bird gym in the room and commented that Max must play there. Alex was a little nervous about that.

Another staffer entered the room with some new interns. He was giving them a tour of the center. Upon hearing the staffer, Alex jumped in to tell the group 'He plays there.', indicating the bird gym. They hadn't heard him, so he repeated himself. 'He plays there.' and added some more information he'd just learned.

From scaredy-cat to tour guide in ten short minutes. Trash-talker my boy is. Big ol' trash talker.

Thursday, April 29

Part II - Nature, Animals, Playgrounds and...CASTLES!

After having been directed to the rear gate of the Rye Nature Center, Alex and I walked in. Suddenly our environment was transformed. The rush of traffic on Boston Post Road hushed and we were under a huge tree canopy on a dirt path. We'd only walked about 30 feet before we heard more birds and wind in the trees than traffic.

Alex was amazed at where he was. He asked a million questions about the woods and the birds and where the sun went. He wanted to know what the trees were. He spoke about the Lorax and reminded me that the trees have no tongues. We came across a pond and he commented that it was dirty. I told him that it was natural dirt. 'It needs to be cleaned.' he said. I told him that nature will clean it if people leave it alone.

We took a path to the left to come across a brand new playground. It hadn't been there two years ago. He was thrilled to crawl through a curving tunnel and climb into a shelter that looked like a bird's nest. Then I pointed out 'the castle'. He was originally not interested when I said we couldn't go in it, but I coaxed him over.

We were able to walk onto a solid patio of the house. Alex gazed down through the safety wire into the ruins. He said 'There's no king here, or queens. There's knights, though.' I asked about the knights and if he was a knight. He said 'No, I'm the King!' Eventually, he talked me into walking through some rooms that had no remnant roof. Eventually, I talked him into leaving the castle to enter the exhibit hall.

Thursday, April 29

Part I - A Magical Journey

I was tired today. Not really in a mood for jaunting around like we have been. But Alex was anxious and, after all, he had made a very big boy step in the morning. He was all excited to get his Ferrari as we'd promised (and unfortunately delayed ordering). I explained that the toys were made in a factory in China, so it takes a while to get them delivered. I knew that Alex wanted to go outside on a nice day after having been stuck inside all of chilly yesterday.

So, we set out for a walk that became an adventure. Alex had asked to ride the train, but I couldn't decide where we should go. I got it into my head to try to walk to the Rye Nature Center. It had been nearly two years to the day that I'd brought him there last.

The walk started out exciting enough for him. He talked up a storm on our way to Harrison Avenue and I took several videos of his conversation. When we passed the small bamboo forest, he excitedly declared that he wanted to go 'to China!' He was obviously remembering that I'd told him where bamboo normally grows. Dismayed, he said 'No pandas are here.' after I'd told him that this wasn't China. He agreed to move on.

I convinced him to go a road not yet traveled (that he'd remember, anyway). We walked all the way down Park to Boston Post Road. I convinced him to go past Harrison Avenue by telling him about the Marshlands that were coming up in Rye. Then, after seeing those, he agreed to continue.

There was some difficulty when we passed a UPS truck near the very end of Park Avenue in Rye. He wanted to know if his Ferrari was on that truck. That took some explaining away. I told him that I knew of a special park that had an old castle in it. (The dilapidated Parsons mansion on the grounds of the Nature Centure. It's all stone.) "Let's go!" he said.

Getting there took a while. There was the stop at the Rye Country Club to see the "dig-dig" that was aiding in some construction there. There was some time spent playing in some construction sand piled up on rocks near the golf course. Then there was the long walk down Boston Post Road made that much more difficult for its lack of traffic lights and crosswalks.

By the time we came to the Osborn residences, Alex needed a break. I'd told him that I saw a sign for a new carnival at the Methodist Church where he'd ridden a pony last year. He wanted to go to the carnival right NOW! I had to explain that it was two weeks away. Then we stopped to sit on the grass at the Osborn. I reminded him that we'd gone to a carnival there too. He wanted that one to happen NOW! I had to explain that one away as well.


It was all too much for the little guy. We'd barely left our shady spot at the Osborn when he plopped down on the grass alongside Boston Post Road. "I think I'll play here", he said. He just didn't want to walk anymore.

We must have sat there for ten minutes before a woman walking by answered my question about the Nature Center. Just on Boston Post Road about half a mile away. It still took some convincing to get Alex to walk. The little soldier eventually agreed.

We passed a storm drain area which needed inspection, of course.

Then there was the delay in crossing Boston Post Road several times to get around highway entrances, blocked sidewalks/shoulders and multiple way crossroads. Finally, I stopped another man to ask directions. It turned out we were less than three blocks away. He was nice enough to have pointed out the easily missed back entrance. He walked down a dirt path on the other side of the Post Road from us, sure that he had caught my attention. He checked the gate to find it open and told me that it was the back of the Nature Center. If I followed the paths downward, I would find the base in which they have animals and exhibits.

We'd done it and now Alex caught another wind. Amazing that he was able to do so. We'd walked about 3 miles.

Thursday, April 29

A Big Step

Following Dan's lead on taking Alex to the potty as soon as he wakes up, I sat and talked with Alex while he sat on the potty. I reminded him of all the goodies that await him for various achievements, such as the 'Cars' Ferrari for the first time he actually used the potty. I encouraged him with songs and told him about how big boys don't wear diapers. I told him that I was proud of him for trying.

Then he told me that it was happening; that he was peeing in the potty. I didn't hear it, so I didn't believe him. Sure enough, when he said he was done with sitting on the potty, it was there. He had peed in the potty! I congratulated him and cheered him. I waved my arms in the air and clapped. I hugged him hard. Then I told him that we had to tell Daddy!

Oddly, he suddenly got upset and cried. He wouldn't tell me why, but just no, not to tell Daddy. He soon changed his mind. I got him excited about getting dressed and going to get Daddy out of bed.

He and Daddy celebrated by watching a Handy Manny episode in our bedroom. Then we had him dump out the potty, flush and we cheered again. He washed his hands and we had him pick out his Ferrari on Amazon.

What a BIG day in Alex's life! And ours!

Thursday, April 29

Musgik Boats

Today's bug catching adventure wound up being a walk at Alex's direction. We stopped at the usual places, such as the World War I memorial on Boston Post Road where he checked out the well rusted Browning Machine guns (circa 1917) thoroughly. We also stopped at the Methodist Church's yard where I explained that this was where he'd be going to summer camp. Then he asked if we could go to the Munchkin House and I agreed.

We made it to one storefront away to Dunkin' Donuts; McMichael's Yacht Yard and Brokerage. Alex saw the sailboats in their parking lot and wanted to check them out. I thought it might be fun for him. Oh BOY, was it. He was fascinated as we walked further into the boat yard, looking at all of the boarding boats and those for sale. I convinced him out of there with a reminder about Dunkin Donuts.

It lasted only as long as the donuts. As soon as we exited DD after our snack, he turned right back into the boat yard. He checked out nearly every boat there, asking a million questions. He wanted to go further to the docks where several workers were preparing boats for the season. We even got to watch a crane lift a sailboat from its boarding position and towards the water.

I explained to Alex that the names of the boats were all on the rear or sides of the boats. He eagerly asked me all of the names, which I read if I could see them. We got to a black sailboat named 'Music'. He (and I) fell in love with the name. He called it 'the Musgik Boat'.

We turned into another part of the boat yard and I realized that we were on an adventure. I began to snap up photos of Alex and the boats. He asked for more Musgik Boats and there happened to be a larger motor boat there named "Rags Time II". So, I said that it was like a "music boat". It's name was after a kind of music; Rag Time. He dubbed Rags Time II another "Musgik Boat".


He wanted to see other Musgik Boats. He rattled off his questions as to the names of the boats around us. "Swamp Fox", "Bravehart", "Diazepam" (must have been a doctor's boat). "No, no, no", he rattled off to all of the names I read. He began to get upset. "Where are the Musgik Boats! They're not Musgik Boats!". He wanted to look for more boats. "Goodbye, other boats!" he declared.

Then the wind kicked up the cables and ropes that banged against the masts of the boats. Several of them had smaller parts of rigging that made higher pitched clangs. Alex stopped and looked up at the riggings and masts. The wind continued for a while, bringing the riggings and accessories to make all sorts of bangs and clangs.

Alex declared "The boats are making musgic! They're ALL Musgik Boats!"

And Musgik Boats they remained. He was excited.

We must have been there for at least 90 more minutes. A local adventure, right in our own backyard.

Tuesday, April 27

Keeping Mommy in Line

Alex and I went for a walk today, originally to catch some bugs in his new bug keeper. We got to the park and I let go of his hand, telling him that now, he was a big enough boy to run around the park on his own. He walked around the tree area until he spotted a large puddle and started to make his way towards it. I cautioned him to NOT jump in the puddle, explaining that he was wearing sneakers and socks and that it was still too cold for that. I told him that in the summer, when he's wearing sandals and shorts, he can jump in puddles.

He rechecked these rules with me:

Alex: 'No jumping in the puddle.'
Me: 'That's right, Baby.'
Alex 'Because I have shoes on.'
Me: 'That's right. No shoes in the puddles.'
Alex: 'And no pants'
Me: 'Right.'
Alex: 'And no shirts. And no jackets!'
Me: That's right.

We walked on towards the road in the park where some smaller puddles had gathered at the edges. I walked towards one, intending to step over it. Alex was on the case!

'Don't jump in that puddle Mommy!'

Tuesday, April 27

Aiming High

Alex's favorite character from 'Cars' is Guido, the tire changer in Luigi's tire shop. Today was Alex's birthday party and one of his gifts was a little Guido, so he wanted to see 'Cars' again. After the scene in which Luigi and Guido meet the Ferrari who comes into their shop on Lightning's recommendation, Alex asked me why Guido fell down. (Fainted when he met a hero). I explained to Alex that Guido met his hero, a Ferrari. Then I asked him if he would like some pictures of Ferraris, because Guido loves them so much. I pulled up and printed photos of two of them.

Alex's response: 'I need this Ferrari.'

Now he's going on about how he's going to get a Ferrari. I'd best start saving up now. What are they, about 250K?

Saturday, April 24

Birthday Still a Hit

A month late, only half the presents because we gave him most of them already, Mommy is still sick, the guests are really late and the food wasn't what we expected.

And Alex was still thrilled with his pirate balloons, his new Guido toy and, especially, his kitchen.

He had waited outside with Grandma while Dan and I put it all in place. When he came in and spotted part of the kitchen, Dan told him it was from Grandma and Grandpa. He was thrilled to see it and ran to test all of the features out. After about 10 minutes of playing, he turned around and looked at Orquidea. He said 'Grandma!' and ran to hug her.

Apparently he understood what Dan had explained. He was thanking her for his new, cool kitchen.

Saturday, April 24

Pirate Identity Regained

Yesterday, while Alex, Grandma and I walked to Powell's, I talked to Alex about his upcoming birthday party. I referred to Powell's as 'Captain Salty Dog's', as opposed to the Barnacle which we call 'Jolly Joe's'. This led to a discussion of Alex's pirate name which is, of course 'Captain Salty Dog'.

'No,' he said 'I'm Captain Thunderstorm!'

I said that that wasn't much of a pirate name. That was more of a superhero name. He insisted that this was his name now, even his pirate name.

Today, after I had ordered the seafood catering for his pirate party and had come back with cakes I expect to assemble as deserted tropical islands for his party tomorrow, I checked one more time.

'Who is Captain Salty Dog?', I asked him.

'Me!' he said while he dashed into his bedroom.

Whew! Saved the pirate interest for one more weekend. I was afraid that after having had to postpone the party for a month, we had missed the pirate window and gone straight into superhero mode.

Friday, April 23"

A Bright Day!

Yesterday, the 22nd, was the first time I was able to be out and about at several activities in about a month's time. Feeling so much better that day, I decided to make the best of it with Alex. First, he wanted to do Arts and Crafts that day, so we painted and colored in our Special Book. Then, I'd known that I wanted to investigate Powell's for catering for Alex's birthday party. So, I proposed that we all go out for a snack in the afternoon.

Of course, Alex didn't want to come home after the snack at Powell's. I was surprised to feel that I could keep going. So, we all went to the park! Alex, Grandma and I had a wonderful time while Alex showed off a whole bunch of new skills on the jungle gym.

He climbed to the top of the structure by himself and took himself down the big corkscrew slide. He'd tried to make friends and play with a boy a few months younger named Timmy, but Timmy was slightly behind Alex's social skills and wasn't yet up to interactive play. (How quickly we forget just how recent Alex's skills are.)

So, Alex asked Mommy to come up to the slide. 'Mommy, are you coming up? Come slide down with me!'

I told him that he didn't need me to help him with this any longer, but he actually wanted me to play. Cool!

Friday, April 23"

Quite the Conversationalist

Yesterday morning, I'd promised Alex that we would go to Trotta's together to choose a kickball and some new gardening equipment for him. After I came back from meeting some friends for lunch in Manhattan, we took our walk.

He was far more interested in the cars than he was the gardening equipment. Only a promise of his upcoming birthday party got him away from those. But after we were able to select a bug catcher, a watering can, some mini-plant growing sets and a ladybug kickball, we set off back for home.

That was when Alex grew interested in the bugs, plants and birds around us. After we spotted a robin, he wanted to hold his new bug catcher. I explained that it was for bugs and not birds, so he looked for bugs to catch.

He talked about plants and ants and how ants can't fly, but butterflies can. He talks about our walking home and our birdhouse. He talked about fire engines and asked were they were. He talked about Daddy.

All in all, we had a great little conversation on our little shopping trip. What a chatter he's become!

Wednesday, April 21"

People Person

Yesterday was the first day I was able to go out for a while without getting exhausted. All week long, I had promised Alex that we would go to the 'garden store' to choose a plant for our garden this year. I had hoped to be able to walk all the way to Mangone's nursery on Boston Post Road and then to a nearby restaurant for a snack. I'm thrilled to report that we did just that and I wasn't feeling like I'd been run over by a train at the end of it.

In any event, Alex was thrilled to be at 'the plant store'. He loved seeing the plants and the gardening equipment. He recalled being there last May for Mother's Day when he had chosen a potted cactus as a gift for me. He insisted on going into the covered store part of the shopping area to find another plant just like it. They weren't that stocked on inventory yet.

Alex saw an employee there and walked right up to him - presumably to ask where the cactus were. He said 'Hello. My name is Alex.'

We'd never heard him introduce himself to anyone like that before!

Alex is turning into a little people person it seems. Yay!
Monday, April 19"

Some Brief Nostalgia

When I was still at my sickest, I had gone into Alex's room to try to calm him down. I'd heard him crying loudly and he was in a general state of upset and confusion. I sat on the beanbag to be with him, but he didn't want to hug or cuddle. He asked for milk and I told him he could have a sippy of milk, which made him very upset. He wanted a bottle. When I told him that bottles were for babies and that he wasn't a baby anymore, he cried 'I want to be a baby again! I want a bottle. I'm not a big boy! I'm not!'

Poor little guy was probably so scared and confused by my illness, he just wanted to go back to a safer time.

Today, while looking at some old photos, I asked him if he was still my little baby like in the photos. He said definitively 'No! I'm a boy!'. He even insisted that I refer to the photos of him from age 1 on as a 'boy' and not a baby.

Seems that as I get better, so is Alex. Yay!
Saturday, April 10"

Life Interrupted

It's been a two week plus break for my pneumonia. I'll update when I can. I'll be asking Dan to add on when he can as well.
Thursday, April 8"