Sensitive, or just discerning?

A few weeks ago we were all in the kitchen eating breakfast and listening to the oldies channel on the radio (much safer lyrics than the "alternative" station we used to listen to!).  The song "Bridge over Troubled Waters" came on, and about 30 seconds after it started Dashiell got all teary-eyed and sad.  I asked him what happened and why he was upset, and he said, "I don't like this song!"  Now, as someone who had to sing this song in 8th grade choir and who always had a hard time getting through it without getting a little teary, I totally understood.  We have a sensitive guy, of course he would respond to a kind of sad song with tears.

Like mother, like son?

This morning, however, we were listening to the same station and Donna Summer's "Last Dance" came on - definitely an upbeat, disco-dancing tune.  And he came up to me in tears, so very sad.  "I don't like this song!" was his response yet again when asked what was wrong.  Hmm.  So maybe it's not so much that he's sensitive, but that he just doesn't like the music of the 70's! 

Most Serious Boy on the Carousel

On my last post, I added a picture of Dashiell enjoying his carousel ride in Boston.  Let me tell you, even though he was having a good time, it was SO DIFFICULT to get a picture of him smiling!  Most of the shots came out like these - Rick smiling, Dash looking oh-so-serious. 

It reminded me of a picture of Rick from when he was a little boy, which I like to refer to as "the saddest boy on the carousel":

While Dashiell looks no where near as sad as Rick did, I do think it's funny that they both are so very serious and pensive on what is supposed to be a fun ride!   Like father like son, indeed!

A Visit from the Aunties!

A couple of weeks ago we were blessed by a visit from Auntie Lisa and Great-Auntie Diane!   They were only out for the weekend, so we just got a few activities in but there was also much hanging out and chatting and playing pirates and doing all sorts of fun stuff.  Dashiell had a blast!  He loves having live-in playmates!

In addition to hanging out at the house, we did manage to make it into Boston to visit Faneuil Hall.  The Fonz was in town filming a movie (directing?  Acting?  I'm not sure...) and Lisa wanted to see him and say "ayyy!".  We didn't see him, unfortunately (or should I say fortunately for the Fonz!), but we had a good time anyway.

Dashiell got to ride the Carousel near the harbor, which he was very excited about since missed the carnival that was near our house the weekend before (too rainy and thunderstormy). 

He also had a good time climbing on various concrete structures.  He had less of a good time shopping, but he was a trouper!

On Sunday we visited the Butterfly Place in Westford, which was pretty dang cool.  Here is one of the many lovely butterflies we encountered:

Some of them were huge!  There were these gigantic blue butterflies that would fly in front of your face and tickle your nose.  But they were too fast so it was hard to get a good picture of them with a conventional point-and-click camera.

Here's Dashiell looking melancholy in the butterfly garden.  Really, he had a good time, despite what this picture suggests!

And here's D and Auntie Lisa one morning, hamming it up for the camera.  I love that they both have these big cheesy smiles!

After Lisa and Diane left to go back to Minnesota, Dashiell repeatedly commented that "it was nice to have visitors."  Agreed.

New bed!

We bought Dashiell a new twin bed a couple of weeks ago, and it has been a huge hit!  He loves his "big kid" bed, and so do I!  No more crouching nearly to the ground to give goodnight kisses!  However, with the big bed comes a bit of a learning curve...

This is how I found him one afternoon when I was about to wake him up from his nap.  I love the blanket hanging off his foot over the edge of the bed!

Later that night, I went to check on him before I went to sleep:

Yup, that's him, curled up on the floor on top of the piles of pillows and stuffed animals I left next to his bed.  I'm sure he would have been fine if I left him on the floor, but I did feel the need to pick him up and put him back onto his bed.  With barely an eye-flutter!  Solid sleeper, this kid.

I'm happy to report that this was the only time that Dashiell has completely fallen off the bed.  Some day soon we may be able to get rid of those pillows on the floor!

On a side note, check out how bright that flash is in that picture!  This was 11 pm, pitch dark in the room.  One little flash and it's like it's mid-day!  And yes, these two pictures were taken with different cameras (as if you couldn't tell!).

And on a second side note, Rick and I became so envious of Dashiell's new bed that we just went out and bought a new one for us, too!  King size, baby!  I CAN'T WAIT until it's delivered next week.  The room!  The comfort!  The new linens!  Sigh.


New beds are the best.