Sara and Dustin thought they should get to add their spin on watching Caiden. I loved the idea and couldn't wait to read what they had to say about spending the weekend with Caiden -and it does not disappoint, very entertaining! I didn't want to add it to the bottom of my previous post for fear it would get lost, so here it is...all on its own. Enjoy!
Now, time to recap the weekend from the babysitters….
Saturday started like any other, waking up to the tune of
screeching crows, and the smell of Jess’s breakfast foods filling the upper
floor of her and Marc’s Carmel Valley home.
However, something new stirs us from slumber… A light swooshing of legs
against a diaper followed by a soft yet excited “Sarwa, Dutin?” flowing off
of what could only be a child’s lips. Now awake, we change and wander down to
the kitchen where little Caiden kicks his legs from a highchair, downing
oatmeal and cheerios leaving few to fall victim to the ground below.
The day continues with the usual activities, repetitive baa baa black sheep songs, no more monkeys, and the occasional counting: “1, 2, 3, 7,
balloon, 12, Dada, 10, 11, Mama, Sarwa, 7," sometimes ending in song or a
thousand yard stare. Without warning, “DINOSAUR POOL!” announces Sara from the
dining room (a calculated maneuver to allow mom and dad to escape Caiden’s
clutches). The weather, however, was not on our side, so we improvised… Let’s
turn the pool into a ball pit! Aunt Sara knows Caiden’s favorite things: BALLS,
water, dinosaurs, and slides. Well… With a combination of DINOSAUR POOL full of
plastic balls and a SLIDE, there’s nothing left to be desired. Meanwhile, mom
and dad slipped out the door with a simple “Bye-bye, Mama. Bye-bye, Dada.”
Coming from the preoccupied toddler.
Before long, an ominous cloud begins making its way through
the house. After being dispersed by the living room fan, it hits Dustin’s
nostrils. Dustin’s eyes widen, brows raise, and nostrils flare without any
conscious effort. Meanwhile, Sara quickly covers her face with a pillow,
heaving while rolling over into the couch and pointing wildly, “You do it!”
muffled, but well understood. Dustin, undeniably reluctant, takes Caiden to the
staircase landing changing station to handle whatever demons haunt the young
boy. Dustin pulls his shirt over the lower half of his face, taking a deep
breath, and quickly removes the diaper straps to reveal something truly
ungodly. The sight makes his eyes water uncontrollably while the severity of
the mess causes a break in concentration and a deep inhale, leading to
momentary hysteria and uncontrollable laughter. Caiden begins crying, calling
for Sara, and simultaneously reaches for his privates while Dustin frantically
dispatches the last of the hell-spawn and quickly attaches a new diaper.
From then on, the day continues as normal, we play, eat,
Caiden goes down for a nap, but awakes to an unusual adventure. We traveled to
Encinitas, some 20 minutes north, to a birthday party for a friend of Sara’s.
Caiden spent some quality pool time with Uncle Dustin for about 30 minutes.
Dustin took a shot a teaching Mr. Max how to ‘KICK, KICK, KICK’ himself across
the pool. This gave way to a new phrase Caiden now loves to say. After pool
time, Caiden turned it up on the dance floor. For a 22 month old, this kid has
game. There were at least 8 women swooning over him as he broke out his best
moves. This exhausted him and after 30 solid minutes of dancing it was time to
head home. Dinner, then bath time, then bed; easy as pie.
Sunday. Day two.
The first restless night we've had in weeks. Sara was
terrified that Caiden’s morning cries for attention would not be heard through
the monitor, not only after seeing him face down in the crib hours before, but
as maternal instincts acclimatize. She stared at the ceiling, then the monitor,
then back at the ceiling. “Did he lick the floor?” A pest-hole for traces of
nuts, dairy, egg, only a fraction of known allergens. He did not move a muscle
from 8:30pm until 6:03am. Terrified…. Petrified, “Oh god, what have I done?!”
she dreads tossing and turning. Then, when a minute wiggle followed by a mule
kick came at 6:04am, a rush of relief flooded every ounce of her being. Sara
prayed he wouldn’t wake for another three hours in order to regain her sanity;
unfortunately, he awoke around 7:30am. On the bright side, he had actually
slept the entire night! Jess makes this sound as a marvel, a wonder matching
quantum entanglements and Chupacabras descended upon us. We’re sure the
previous day’s dance party with a pack of females and lengthy pool session had
nothing to do with this 11-plus hour hibernation.
Sunday’s activities also included a bike ride to the park;
Caiden LOVES – still an understatement – bike rides and wearing his Mickey
helmet. We got him all strapped in and made our way over to the park for some
slide time and playing with the local wildlife, sticks, and don’t forget
swings. Noon. Nap time. Heaven.
Around 3:30pm, a journey to Pacific Beach brought
entertainment for strangers with Caiden’s elaborate vocabulary and animal
mimicry, and a little time getting swallowed by the ocean. After a solid 15
minutes at the bay, “All done” Caiden declares with his diaper soaked and hands
still clutching sand. A quick change and it was back in the stroller to a local
brewpub, Amplified Ale Works. This place feels like a German beer garden,
picnic style seat yourself tables, encouraging conversation with whoever might
come along. Marc and Jess had taken Caiden here before, so Sara knew it was
safe. While distracted with the numerous snack options that emerged from his
diaper bag and plastic water cups, we took turns holding Caiden while we
consumed a mountain of cow meat and fries.
Eating is like a race against time. How long till Caiden
loses all interest in his snacks and us. After being complimented highly by our
table neighbors by our resolve, we packed up and headed home. We arrive home, munching on salmon, green
beans, and couscous, prior to the evening bath, and bed time. He goes down
with ease. Whew. Exhausted, we struggle to make conversation with one another.
We find ourselves quoting the adorable little things Caiden says throughout the
day. He has consumed us. Although it felt like we really didn’t talk to each
other the whole weekend, we were able to have a quick glimpse into a life with
kids, the true test of any relationship. Yes, were still together ;)
Monday. Morning.
Getting him together: clothed, two matching shoes, clean
diaper, diaper bag packed and prepared for ANY catastrophe was a feat in itself
by day three. Today’s activity: Water feature at Del Mar Heighlands, and the
Starbucks that couldn’t come soon enough. How else does any normal person keep
up with a toddler?
While Caiden splashes about in ‘she-bops’ (sandals) with
cheerios in hand, we counted the seconds till his nap time so we
could too. Must. Seek. Reprieve. How does Jess do this by herself every
day? Luckily we had each other to tag-team this
energetic toddler; without that, the house would remain a fortress of solitude
for the endeavor’s entirety.
Another 2 ½ hour nap taken by the star of this show, Caiden,
and then we are back at it with being on stage entertainment for a 22 month old
human. So we broke out the big guns, The Water Table. Caiden splashed
around with that in the back yard for a good hour while Uncle Dustin tried to
get some shut eye in a nearby patio chair. Little did Dustin know that Caiden’s
reaction to closed eyes was panic, blank stares, and yelling.
“DUTIN!” Caiden shouted until Dustin was fully responsive. Caiden will need to
understand what: ‘Shhhh. He’s napping means’ before little sister comes along.
Lying there half paralyzed in exhaust and nerves we waited till Jess and Marc
arrived. Soon enough, through the window Mr. Max’s Dad waits with the biggest
smile on his face until his son sees him. Seeing Caiden reunited with his
parents after only a few days was joyful. He was so happy he threw himself on
the ground shaking his head with a giant smile on his face.
And that is what we have to say about the weekend with Mr.
Max. Sure, we went more in depth then Mama Jess does, but we also don’t have
anyone else to take care of but each other. HATS OFF TO THE PARENTS OF ANY
TODDLER OUT THERE. You truly have the hardest job. Thank you for helping
mold/create our future.
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