Now that Summer is Over

Considering the frequency of posts since we got back from our vacation, due in large part to my starting to substitute teach again, I suppose I should recap the summer a bit before the snow flies.  Overall, I would call the summer a success.  By early August last summer, I was starting to go nuts and my patience was wearing thin.  By early August this summer, I was still going strong.  It wasn't until the last week to week and a half before I was beginning to long for the start of the school year.  In part, I think the loss of sanity was delayed because we were getting out of the house more regularly and we had more of a regular daily and weekly schedule.  Reflecting on last summer, I can't help but wonder if the Olympics had something to do with it too.  I am an Olympic nut.  So I think we didn't get out as much because the summer Olympics were on (following the Tour de France), and that was just too much house time.  Whatever the reason, I think things went better this summer with two boys at home than last summer with just one.

It may also have something to do with James getting bigger.  Though he couldn't carry in heavy bags of groceries, he was a help.  He would get wipes for Thomas, hold the door for us, and was just bigger and more self-reliant in general.  It's kind of funny.  I've really noticed in the last couple months that James is really turning into a "big boy".  We talk about big kids and little kids pretty regularly.  I should probably add a third category, babies.

Of course, depending on the situation, James could be a big boy or a little boy.  But the instances where he is a little boy are becoming less common.  Of course, his vocabulary and his general demeanor is developing, but what really struck me recently is the way he moves.  He moves around like a big boy, now.

He doesn't move like this any more

This is the James of this summer.  Running and jumping, more often on his feet than wobbling about.  He's getting big.

The way he runs, climbs, etc are completely different from last summer.  It was nice being able to trust his abilities and just let him run free at different playgrounds.

Thomas certainly grew a lot too.  We are closing in on his 6 month check-up.  Considering that he was only two months old at the end of the school year and was nearly five months when we left for Washington, it probably shouldn't come as any surprise that he has grown as much as he did.  Compare.

Thomas from late June

Thomas in early September (first day of school and day care)

You can see how much bigger he is in his car seat.  This also doesn't show how much more he moves around and how interactive he's become.  Gone are the days when I could put him in the middle of a blanket on the grass and I wouldn't have to worry about fistfuls of grass being stuffed into his mouth.  He's not exactly crawling now, but he is lifting himself onto his hands and knees briefly and scooting forward slowly toward desired toys.

I guess in reflecting upon the summer, I would have to call it a success.  There are some things that we didn't do that I would have liked to do (some more focused activities for James - arting, creating, and other -ings), and some places we didn't go (hiking and exploring).  But we kept ourselves pretty busy and happy for the most part.  The experience gives me confidence that if I am going to be staying home again next summer that we'll probably do just fine.