Our day today

So today was Day 1 of my four day weekend, a.k.a. My Mini Winter Break. It seems like every other school district around here has off next week. Everyone but mine. But this week and next week are 4-day work weeks, and this is the only long weekend we have until Spring Break in mid-April. So we're livin' it up.

First: Well baby visit in the a.m. Cole got his first Polio vaccine and his first HepB vaccine. He weighs 19 pounds and is 28 inches long. We got a referral to an opthamologist because I'm super paranoid about Cole inheriting my wandering eyes. He also got a prescription for his first multi-vitamin.

Next: Cole and I went to Panera, where he managed to get the attention of EVERY SINGLE PERSON walking into the place. His MO? He stares until they look at him and then smiles when they do.  Then, he has a captive audience, and he can play look-see at his leisure. He also had almost every single senior citizen in the place smitten. He got numerous waves and hello's from the elders, male and female. It was a fun experience. Like Keith said on our Valentines Day dinner (where Cole had the two tables next to ours riveted), it's all about community baby sitting. Everyone kept him occupied so I could eat peacefully.

Then: We went to Barnes and Noble so I could buy the Sandra Boynton book Moo Baa La La La. Cole loves Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? by Dr. Seuss, mainly because of all the animal sounds and various sound words in the book. Moo Baa is no different. And it's funny to boot. We also got a boxed set of song books with a CD, so Mommy can sing more songs to Cole while doing the dreaded duty of changing his diaper. The kiddie section of Barnes and Noble is neat. Lots of colors and small things for Cole to lean on. He started screaming "Ha Da. Da Da" until a family of boys showed up. One of the boys noticed Cole staring at him so he started to put on a show of swimming and crawling. Cole was the one riveted this time. He LOVES other kids. That's one of those moments where I can feel good that I send my kid to day care.

Finally: We went home to discover that our power was out. Big surprise there. Our neighborhood usually loses power at least 4 times a year. This time a blown transformer was the cause. So we went to lunch with Daddy (He's finally home!) to the local cafe and had a yummy lunch (see Daily Cuteness picture). Then we went for a nice walk along the trail next to the High Falls, for which this little hamlet was named. Did I mention today was a balmy 62 degrees? Yeah. Tomorrow and Sunday - not so much. So we really did live it up. Then we ran a few other errands before ending up at the grocery store, where Cole wooed the cashier with his neat upside down tricks. See below.

Now: Cole is finally sleeping and we're barbecuing. Yes, you read that right. Just before the thunderstorm started, Keith moved the barbecue to the front of the house (yes, we are THOSE people), where it would sit nice and dry under the eaves.  We are making a nice strip steak, baked potatoes and asparagus. Yes, I know, it sounds like a summer meal. Maybe we're living in a fantasy (where summer happens in February), but when you get weather like this there is no excuse NOT to pretend it's summer.

In the early morning light before the doctor visit.

Cole & Daddy

On the trail

Upside down tricks

The reward at the end of the trail