The Storm Chaser

Carter's Reaction to Thunder

     Carter loves storms.  He frequently looks out the window, stating that he wants to see lightning and hear thunder.  He gets so excited when I tell him a storm is coming, and he climbs up on the back of the couch to watch the storm out of our front window.  Then, if the lightning isn't heavy enough, he knocks on the window and yells "more lightning!!," as though there is someone controlling it.  So this evening, when a storm rolled in, was no different.  He dropped what he was doing when I told him about the lightning and ran to the couch.  He oohed and ahhed and knocked and yelled (for more).  You would think he was at a fireworks show (which, by the way, he is just as passionate about!).  Every time he would see a flash of lightning, he would gasp and look at me with these wide-as-they-can-be bright blue eyes, and his jaw dropped just about to the floor.

Delighted after seeing some lightning

     I don't think I have ever met a toddler who is so in love with storms.  There was even a storm a couple of weeks ago that came at about 6am, which is way before Carter wakes up, and I wasn't sure if it had woken him up... until he called for me in the morning when he woke for the day.  I walked in his room, and he says "lightning all gone?  More lightning!!"  You would think that such a small child would be terrified of storms... as Matthew was afraid of them up until Carter decided that he loves them.  Then I think Matthew must have decided that if a 2 year old can like them, he can too.  In fact, Carter has even lessened my worry when we get a bad one; he has shown me that they really can be a beautiful and interesting thing to watch.  Instead of watching the weather when we get a storm, I watch the wind, thunder and lightning with my baby boy, and remember that God will keep us safe.  It's amazing what these little guys can teach us!

Part of the storm system that Carter and I watched this evening

When Mommy's Away, the Boys will Play

     I experienced my first night away from Carter this past weekend.  Actually, I experienced my first 3 nights away from him.  So not only was it my first time away, it was for 3 nights and 3 1/2 days!  However, I'm not so sure he was counting, and well, Matthew informed me he didn't even think about me after I left (thanks a lot!!).  Boy, kids really know how to make a Mommy feel loved!  :)  They got to play with Daddy and Grandma Boyd all weekend, so they were kept plenty busy.  However, it was nice that Carter did want to talk to me almost every time I called (which was about twice a day... once in the morning and once before bed).  There was one time I called when Elmo was just more important... yeah... that sounds about right (I mean, who doesn't love a red, furry little monster?).  Anyway, we all survived; Mommy enjoyed the MOPS convention in Nashville (quite possibly my favorite city that I've visited so far... although of course Orlando and Cocoa Beach come pretty close), and the three boys enjoyed their time together.  It was hard, though, to not tell Daddy about how he was doing things "wrong"... like putting Carter down for his nap right after lunch instead of waiting until about 2:30 or 3:00, or how he forgot to take more lunch meat out of the freezer when there was just a little bit left in the current package.  In fact, he's lucky that a friend reminded me that just because it's not my way doesn't mean it's the wrong way, and that Daddy's are allowed to do things differently... and everything turned out just fine- Matthew found something else for lunch when Carter finished off the lunch meat, and Carter's nap schedule was not harmed even the slightest little bit.  The house was clean and the dishes were done when I got home; I think Aaron was very proud of himself for such a job well done- and I was proud of him, too!  It's not super easy to take care of both boys, and it's definitely tiring!

     We were back to our normal schedule even yesterday afternoon (except for the nap I had in the evening) right after I got home.  Then today has seemed as though I was never even gone... we went to the pool today (thankfully, there were no near-drowning episodes!) and had lots of fun, then came home and Carter is taking his nap while I type this, then do some work for Thirty-One, then figure out dinner.  I will say, though, that I had a wonderful break... but I am sure glad to be home with my babies!! (Just don't tell Matthew I called him a baby!)