It really is difficult to keep him out of the water. He doesn’t listen to reason or care for explanations, and not even 55° water is enough to dissuade him. He just wants to splash around and around, again and again.
Abby always sets up the blanket at the top of the hill, then Sawyer and I venture down to play in the waves. You can see him racing ahead of me at the beginning of this video. I’m not exaggerating, am I?
His shorts are completely soaked, and his sleeves aren’t far behind from far too many falls in the water, but none of that slows him down. You can see he’s still chomping at the bit to go back in. Look at the way he unlocks his shoulders when I lift him up. Sawyer, you little stinker!
Tired, cold, or both, he eventually conceded and let me carry him back up to the car. Pepa T would have been appalled at the all of the sand we tracked into the car.
I love living so close to Baker Beach. Sure, there’s only a handful of days in which it’s really worth going, but they more than make up for the rest. And there’s nothing like the setting, with the Golden Gate Bridge on one side and the vast Pacific Ocean on the other. What a treat!
“‘xcuse me, vacuum cleaner!”
That toy used to scare him, so it’s good to see he’s finally conquered his fear. He’s clearly quite comfortable at in parent’s home:
Of course, having elephant, penguin, pretzels, juice, and binkin close by has to help. You sure do travel in style, Sawyer!
When Abby’s grandmother’s health took a turn for the worse, the three of us hopped on the next flight back to Ohio. Sawyer and I went to Columbus for two quick days to see my family while Abby and her mother attended to things back in Bath. Sawyer dove right in to his toys like he never left.
Pepa T and Uncle Kevin survey the scene:
Mema T is enthralled with Sawyer (he does that to me too):
Everyone is working on their own tower:
Sawyer and Mema combine their efforts:
He plans his next move:
Ah ha, Aunt Sarah!
Simon!
Aunt Sarah helps Sawyer organize all of the red pieces:
Sawyer knows just what to do with them:
Yep, pick up as many as he can hold:
Such concentration:
I never feel like I get enough pictures when we come home. Thanks again for having us, Mom and Dad. You always make it so much fun for him and even somewhat relaxing for me!
I can still remember how ridiculously cold it was that day, but it didn’t stop Sawyer from standing out in front to look for the choo choo train that PePa T heard. Sure enough, it came rumbling through just a few minutes later. Look at how he’s standing:
He had an absolute blast in Gadgets, mostly because there were balls flying everywhere, but I don’t think he was ever comfortable with this particular exhibit. Look at how he jumps back when he puts the ball above the fan:
After that, he got to drive an ambulance with Mama, MeMa, and PePa in it. He makes sure the lights are working:
Yep, all systems go:
It’s all a little overwhelming for him, he can barely sit still:
I think his favorite part was the water exhibit. Not even a nearly full-body raincoat could him dry:
Of course he didn’t help matters by trying to jump in:
But nothing topped getting to see a real race car up close, he even managed to touch a wheel:
I’ll always remember the original COSI more fondly, but after seeing him in the new one I can tell that its soul is alive and well in the new building. I know that once he learns it by name, it will be impossible to visit Columbus without spending an afternoon at COSI.
Wish I would have taken more pictures!
Am I really a month behind still? I know I missed out on at least another day’s worth of pictures prior to Christmas. I’ll dig those up and post them tomorrow…
The morning began with Sawyer in his Lightning McQueen pajamas, playing with blocks:
Look at the concentration:
Warming himself by the fire (my favorite Christmas tradition):
Yep, looking for cars:
And pretty happy about what he’s getting:
Cars:
More cars, please:
I see Doc Hudson and Sarge:
Either talking cars or puzzles with PePa:
I’m guessing cars:
Or maybe it was ceiling fans:
Yep:
What’s over there:
Finishing up the day in his Choo Choo Train pajamas with MeMa:
It’s hard to believe that was just over a month ago. Time sure does fly!
Even now, well over a month after he got it, Sawyer still loves to look into his flashlight — while it’s on, of course. Here he is just minutes after the gift was given:
That’s better:
Nope, right back to it:
Okay:
I’m not sure what he expects to see either. Maybe he likes seeing spots. I love the tent too, I only wish we had room for it here. I know he’ll be thrilled to see it the next time we’re home.
Thank you, Mema and Pepa T for such a thoughtful gift. I never would have considered getting him one, but it’s one of his favorite things to play with.
Almost immediately upon our arrival at Mema and Pepa T.’s house, it was time for us to celebrate Sawyer’s belated birthday. Sawyer got so many amazing new toys, and he definitely gets “Presents”!
Opening gifts is really hard work which takes a lot of determination.
Uncle Kevin gets this one started.
Aunt Sarah helps.
After this box, Sawyer wondered why every other present didn’t have cars inside.
Birthday hat!
The new line-up with some of Scott and Kevin’s old favorites, and Sawyer’s new cars.
Playing cars with Pepa T.
Sit ‘n Spin is slightly difficult to turn when he won’t put down the car.
Thank you to Mema, Pepa, Sarah, and Kevin for the amazing gifts. Your thank you cards, personally “stamped” by Sawyer, are in the mail.
Had I not been so preoccupied with Sawyer’s second birthday, our trip home on Saturday, and an especially difficult week of work, I would have done a post in honor of my Dad’s birthday. Sawyer and I called him this morning, mostly to talk about the garbage trucks outside and gassing up Sawyer’s new cars. It went well. I know my Dad loves every last second of those calls.
Two weeks ago, the three of us went to Golden Gate Park on a beautiful Sunday morning. If I recall correctly, it was “Operation wear out Sawyer,” since he had been cooped up all week and was bouncing off the walls. We walked a good 20 minutes to get to Stow Lake, and after looking at the boats and deciding there was no way we could keep him in one, walked over to the waterfall.
Along the way, Sawyer saw some ducks. He bent down and quacked quacked to them:
There’s a great pathway that runs across the base of the waterfall. Unfortunately the first time through Sawyer was intent of stepping in the water, not on the rocks. I had to hold him tightly:
See what I mean:
After that we climbed to the top of Strawberry Hill (as is to be expected now, he counted every step):
The view up there is amazing. Here’s the Financial District in the distance (click through to see them bigger on flickr):
The Golden Gate Bridge:
More FiDi, and Mount Diablo in the far distance (that’s a good 40 miles away):
Sawyer loved this trunk. He could have crawled inside, but wisely decided not to:
The Pacific Ocean:
Looking back down to Stow Lake:
More ocean, and a little bit of Outer Sunset too:
Looking back toward our neighborhood:
Lastly, the Marin headlands on the other side of the golden gate:
I have learned and continue to learn so much about being a father from my Dad. He always seems to know when to lean in and when to pull back, which is something I work on every day with Sawyer. I want him to be independent and strong, but willing and able to ask me for help when he needs it. So far so good.
That kind of relationship was the best gift my Dad gave to me, and I can only hope to share it with Sawyer too. So happy (belated by the time you read this, but still technically December 16) birthday, Dad!
Get ready for cute overload.
He woke up to find three birthday balloons:
His favorite was the one with Dora, Boots, and Diego playing soccer:
Stamps!
A choo-choo train and bing-bing-bing crossing:
Patiently waiting for his next present:
And moving way too slow at the unwrapping:
Fire cuck!
Back to the stamps:
Here you go, Momma:
Very happy:
Wee-ohh, wee-ohh, wee-ohh:
Studying everything new:
Making his move:
Gotcha:
You stand here:
Wee-ohh again:
Talking to Uncle Kevin while he plays:
Oh, I see how this works:
Anything else in here?
Nope:
No, really. There’s nothing in there, Sawyer:
I’m gonna make this next (really, he’s going to convince me to do it for him):
Abby put his garage together while he napped:
Later in the day, we skyped with our parents to sing happy birthday to him:
Wearing his #2 shirt from Mema and Pepa T and playing with his new cars from Mema and Pepa D:
Note sure about the candle:
More interested in the cars:
So serious, Sawyer:
Candle, again:
Looking to Momma for guidance:
So sweet:
It took him a couple of minutes to fully comprehend the awesomeness of his new garage (it really is amazing, Abby did a phenomenal job of discovering it and then finding one to buy):
But he took to the cars right away:
Skyping:
Here’s one very happy two year old:
He played with his new garage for a solid hour while we skyped with my brother and sister. He was so focused on his new cars and garage that he barely paid any attention to the rest of us. It was nearly impossible to get him away from it and into the shower. He finally fell asleep at 10pm. I’d say he had a very good day.
Thanks again to each of our families for helping us celebrate his second birthday, I can’t wait to see you again this weekend!
MeMa and PePa Truitt, Aunt Sarah, and Uncle Kevin (cousins Laney and Simon too) were so inspired by Sawyer’s counting lemons video that they made him one of their own:
I played it for him before his nap, but he was much too tired to pay attention. Four hours later, and after a big pasta dinner, he and I watched it ten times in a row! Each time it ended, he said, “again.”
I can’t wait to see him with you. Just over three weeks to go!