got a bird that whistles, got a bird that sings

It's extremely rare that I look on our calendar and see a blindingly empty square staring back at me. My immediate reaction is that I've simply forgotten to write down our plans for the morning but, to my surprise, there simply weren't any. I decided that a relaxing day was in order and naturally that meant Ethan and I would end up at Butterfly World.

This is something we used to do all of the time when he was a tiny infant, the fluttering butterflies hovering over him in the stroller helping lull him to sleep. We'd sit on the glider in the rose garden and listen to the sound of waterfalls off in the neighboring gardens, the sounds of birds chirping in the aviary. What a difference a couple of months makes, as when I sat with him on the glider in the rose garden today, he fought his hardest to get down, sit on his own and rock on his hands while staring excitedly at the lorikeets the next exhibit over.

Back "when he was a baby," he was terrified by the very sound of the lorikeets. Today? Today he laughed so very hard each time they squawked that he had hiccups by the time we left the exhibit. Luckily, the lorikeets are very patient little birds and didn't seem to mind Ethan's incessant reaching for them and trying to smother them in slobbery baby kisses. They're a little bit quicker to react than our cats at home, luckily for them.

Ethan has long since been asleep and the house is quiet, but I still hear his crazy belly-deep laughter in my ears. It was a wonderful morning spent exploring nature, taking in the colors of the magnificent little creatures in this world. It warms my heart, really, the respect that he has for nature and animals already. It is one of my greatest hopes for him that this continues on as he grows and he will forever be able to see the beauty in all living things.

beefmaster.

Ethan and I went strawberry picking this afternoon at a local u-pick that we never knew existed until a Google search unintentionally led us to it. (This place is less than fifteen minutes from our house so I suppose that makes us pretty unobservant.) In the upcoming weeks, lettuce and other vegetables will soon be ready for picking but for right now we were limited to strawberries which was still a super fun experience and a great way to get some fresh air.

The u-pick is located on the grounds of a nursery and landscaping company so the area was comprised of beautiful gardens and really gorgeous waterfalls. Ethan is partial to waterfalls and fountains (as in, we can't leave the mall without watching the fountain for an hour) so he couldn't get enough of the flowing water surrounding him. After choosing a basket full of red, ripe strawberries, we took a tour of the gardens, fed the fish in the coy ponds and met some pretty adorable bunny rabbits.

On the way out, I saw a table of tiny plants for $3 looking for homes. There were jalapeno peppers, bell peppers, romaine lettuce and beefmasters. I know, they're tomatoes, but there was something so unexpected and strangely hilarious about the word "beefmaster" to me. I guess Ethan understood because as soon as I spoke the word aloud, he started cracking up. It was settled: we were bringing the beefmaster plant home with us...and, consequently, Ethan now has the nickname "beefmaster." He thinks it's hilarious.

When we got home, it was time to plant the beefmaster plant. Our backyard is my husband's latest project as it's nothing but a big rectangular mess of dead grass at the moment. Ethan and I were happy to make a contribution to Operation: Fix Our Backyard. We planted the beefmaster plant right underneath our bedroom window amidst a slew of dirty pavers and dead grass. (And I suddenly understand what my husband is talking about when he rambles on and on about how not very cute our backyard is at the moment.) We think we made an improvement.




P.S. - We're now on Google+!

birds are leaving over autumns ending

On Monday, our pediatrician rechecked Ethan and we left with my favorite holiday gift so far: a clean bill of health! Tomorrow his nebulizer treatments go down to only two per day (one morning, one evening) and he should be good to go by the weekend.

We celebrated this good news as well as the gorgeous weather by going for a walk. I had brought some bread with us and we stopped to feed the ducks and other waterbirds at this small lake near our neighborhood. It's funny to watch Ethan stare down the ducks diving for bread underneath his feet. When they begin flying and walking towards us, Ethan will kick his feet and squeal with excitement. Once they reach us, he studies them intently and barely moves until they're all gone. It's always so fun watching his reaction to certain things as he grows and learns.

With a forecast set in the 50's and 60's this week, I foresee many bundled-up (this is Florida, remember?) walks in our near future. This time of year is always so wonderful, from the ever so slight chill in the air to the peppermint white mochas to the smell of pine trees from the Christmas tree lots on the street-corners (yeah, still Florida). With a clean medical slate, all is well and all is so, so good.

a cow named francois.

The weather down here in South Florida has been something out of a dream. We've had temperatures in the 70's accompanied by a cool breeze that is so out of character for our typical November weather. It's been hard to not take advantage of this weather and so we've been spending a great deal of time outside.

During our standard warmer weather, Ethan and I drive past a large field of cows on our way to our local park. There are always cars pulled over by the cow field, children toting bags of fresh vegetables and waving them at the cows. When it's hot, though, the cows don't come. They stare, bored, from under their shade trees and then turn the other way. I always promise Ethan that when it gets cooler and the cows get more active, we will bring them a snack.

Needless to say, we've visited the cow field each day this week, toting our own bags of squash and celery and zucchini and carrots and spinach. They are patient and gentle for pets and eager to inhale all of the vegetables we bring. Today we brought Ethan's Aunt Megan with us to visit the cows -- especially our favorite one, who we've named Francois -- and there were several children who beat us to the cow field, wielding stalks of celery and carrots. Ethan was patient when it came to waiting his turn to feed the cows. He's content just watching them, trying to figure them out. It's almost as if Francois recognizes us by now, leaving the other children behind and coming to check out what we've brought this afternoon.

One of my friends told me not too long ago how it's apparent Ethan will grow up with such a fondness for all living things and, really, I couldn't ask for anything more. I love watching him as he discovers all of the wonders in nature, be it the fish in the aquarium at the local mall or Francois and the other cows grazing in the field on the side of the road. He is such a remarkable little boy and, though I always say it (because it's always so true!), I feel so honored be able to watch him absorb so much of the world.

and in this perfect weather, we'll find a place together

The weather was something out of a dream today. I heard rumors of a cold front rapidly approaching South Florida but still was hesitant to believe these rumors. I checked the weather and was surprised out of my mind to see temperatures in the low to mid 70's, a far cry from the temperatures in the upper 90's we've been stuck with. I knew that today's agenda just had to consist of something outdoors, something where Ethan and I could breathe in the fresh air and enjoy the weather while it lasted.

Naturally, we went to Butterfly World. I have an annual pass in hopes the weather grows cool like it was today. While it feels like just yesterday I was taking Ethan on his first visit to Butterfly World, a significant amount had changed. He was now sitting in his "big boy stroller," no longer tethered to the infant seat that he had grown to despise. And, really, he was a big boy these days, a far cry from the newborn that I brought home from the hospital just four short months ago. I'll spare you the long, emotional tirade about the fact my little boy keeps growing at a rate faster than I'm comfortable with because most of you reading this are moms and you know where I'm coming from.

Following suite with his last visit -- his first visit -- to Butterfly World, Ethan was clear about his infatuation with the tarantula in the Bug Zoo. He polished off a bottle as we sat by the lake, enjoyed the cool breeze and waited for the Lorikeet exhibit to open. This was my bad idea of the day. I should have stayed in the Bug Zoo, watching the cockroaches and tarantulas devour their prey much to Ethan's astonishment rather than develop the well-meaning idea that Ethan would love to feed the Lorikeets. I held him in my arms and handed the exhibit guide a dollar for the food. Ethan watched as the Lorikeets hopped onto my shoulder with his best "I'll give this a fair shot" expression. After about five seconds, he thought about it and decided this was not at all his idea of fun. He began screaming so loud that the Lorikeets flew off equally as horrified. We went back to the Bug Zoo. He forgave me and my good intentions. I bought him a shirt that says Cute As A Bug with bugs on it, representing his favorite part of Butterfly World: the Bug Zoo.

I strapped my not-so-itty-bitty-baby into his convertible seat (we officially said "buhbye" to the infant seat yesterday! Excuse me while I go cry in the corner that my little baby just keeps on growing up!) and we headed home where he passed out for two hours. (See also: the longest nap he's agreed to take for quite some time.) The fresh air often is the greatest medicine of all and even though the weather reports predict our local temperatures to start creeping up again as soon as tomorrow morning, I'm officially eager for the winter. Or, you know, the semblance of winter we get here in Florida.

can you still feel the butterflies?

This morning Ethan and I went to Butterfly World. The weather lately has been beyond perfect and today was no exception. It was the first time in as long as I can remember that we were able to spend the day outside without producing a droplet of sweat. Ethan loved Butterfly World. I carried him in the Ergo for most of the time, carried him from time to time and let him sit in his stroller for a little while, too. Despite where or how he was seated, I'm pretty sure his eyes were fixed upwards the entire time. His little look of wonder as he watched the small birds and butterflies flutter around his head -- along with all of the bright foliage and flowers blowing in the breeze -- was too cute. I love watching him when he has that inquisitive little stare, like he's just absorbing so much of this magical world.

We spent close to two hours at Butterfly World, which included spending a great deal of time rocking on a wooden rocking bench underneath a shady tree in the flower garden. This bench is located just to the right of the macaws and Ethan jumped each time they squawked. He was equally as unamused when we went up to visit the raucous birds. He much prefers the tiny finches and hummingbirds to their larger (and louder) avian counterparts.

We visited the Bug Zoo and I had my first taste of what it means to be a mother to a boy. I'm not a squeamish person by any means but I would much prefer watching the butterflies or birds than Ethan's favorite creature of the day, this guy right here:

Oh, boy, did Ethan find him fascinating. We spent nearly ten minutes just sitting in front of his exhibit and watching him slowly creep around his habitat, his furry legs stretching out onto the glass. The majority of the spiders at the Bug Zoo at Butterfly World are not kept in cages but freely roaming the walls next to signs that say "if you don't touch us, we won't touch you." The Bug Zoo is not my favorite exhibit, if not only for the reason that Ethan's beloved tarantula is located directly next to a tank filled with cockroaches.

After five whole rounds through the butterfly garden, Ethan's eyes still wouldn't break their stare up towards the sky where tons of brightly colored butterflies fluttered above his head. He decided he just couldn't nap with so much to look at which resulted in an overtired meltdown as we fled for the exit. He was asleep the second his seat clicked into the base.

It was a fantastic way to spend a few hours and something I plan on doing again soon, especially as the weather continues to cool off a bit. I renewed my annual pass hoping that Ethan continues his interest in Butterfly World for a little while longer, even if it means sitting in front of the tarantula for what feels like forever!

somebody told me that this is the place where everything's better, everything's safe

My husband, Ethan and myself originally had plans to join my parents and sister in the Florida Keys so that Ethan could guest star on an episode of my dad's TV show. The weather had other plans that put filming on hold for the time being, but we all still took the weekend trip down to Islamorada for some much needed relaxation and family time.

We stayed in a three bedroom house at Pines & Palms Resort on our own little private section of the beach which was made even more perfect by the fact that the weather was so breezy and cool this weekend. We all spent Saturday evening sitting out on the sand and watching the sunset while inhaling the fresh ocean air. A trip to Theater Of The Sea was also a must, as was wading in the water with Ethan as the parrotfish swam around his toes. We did all of the old Islamorada staples, not excluding two trips to Robbie's where Ethan was absolutely mesmerized by the giant tarpon.

It was a bit sad to pack up our things and head home this evening but we left with Ethan's first trip to the Keys under our belt and all of the great memories that came with it. I have so many childhood memories of Islamorada and doing all of the things and seeing all of the places that we did and saw with Ethan. It's an unreal feeling, being able to show your child the parrotfish in the swimming beach at Theater Of The Sea or feed the tarpon at Robbie's as you did so many times as a child. It's comparable to the feeling of signing my child in at the pediatrician for the first time, the flash of panic and excitement and disbelief and an instant flood of love when you realize that this is your child and that is your child's name right there on that line. I feel those same feelings when I watched Ethan stare at the fish swimming around in the blue water with a sense of magic that only children are capable of exuding.

I may admittedly (and ashamedly!) be too exhausted to take off my make-up on more nights than I care to admit to, but I'm never too tired to realize and appreciate how lucky I am to be a part of the greatest family in the world, married to the most fantastic husband in existence and mommy to the most incredible, beautiful, perfect son in the universe.