Dover Children’s Museum

Sunday afternoon we had to take a quick trip to New Hampshire. I say that like it is some momentous deal. It’s really not. It is just as easy to drive to NH as it is to drive to Freeport.  So, knowing that we had to go, we planned to make it a little child friendly with a quick trip to the children’s museum. Our plan was to show up at the museum about an hour before close- then there would be no tears before leaving because Alec would hear the announcements that they were closing.  And the bonus about the last hour before closing..no one was there.

The first time we went to this one I didn’t care for it so much. I thought it was small and  therefore very crowded. And the day we went it was extremely crowded. Plus I  also lost Alec in this one.  I had my eye on him the whole time and someone passed through my line of sight for one second- literally one second and he was gone. And I mean GONE.It really does just take one second to loose them. It was horrible.  I started yelling for him. PANIC. There were so many people that it was so hard to search for him. I had no idea what to do. I just wanted to push a button and have time stand still so I had time to search. Courtney and I split up and she found him several  ‘rooms’ over.  I think I cried too hard once I had him back to properly scold him for bolting.

So, needless to say, I had a bias against this one.

But this time…it was much more delightful. And bonus! We discovered that being a member of this one- you are not just a reciprocal of children’s museums but also science museums. Next year we will join here and enjoy the benefits of visiting the Boston Museum of Science for free. Plus I think the annual membership here is $5 cheaper than the Portland museum. More museums and cheaper. No brainer.

The yellow submarine. Or as Alec called it- “the underwater emergency vehicle”.

The Beaver/boat room that I lost him in last time(yes –it was traumatic)

listening to a T-Rex

See? Empty. BLISS!

Erik and I really enjoyed this section.  Each shape makes a sound.

Here I am….

Alec’s head and hands.

The giant blue crab in front of the building. Why? I just don’t know. It was cute though.

I faced my demons while visiting this one. I can honestly say that I enjoyed my visit this time and maybe it even moved up a notch on my rating. 

He got out!

Although Alec was still not up to his usual Tasmanian devil speed, I did spring him from house arrest for some playtime on Saturday. 

We did a little biking down to the pond.

Then we all loaded into the mama-mobile for an adventure.

Smiling Hill Farms! (pretty much the same pic’s as last year but this time with friends!)

Playing on Mary Ann

Checking out the pigs.

They have big pigs.

3-week old baby goat.

Baby cow(s)

I think Fay is going to get it on the next one…he was a playful little guy.

Alpaca with attitude…

Other various spots

Running down the pond to feed the ducks. They (the ducks not the children) were overfed and did not care about the fresh bread we had to offer.  The fish in the pond were pretty happy about it.

What an awesome afternoon to be sprung!!

Lobsta

On Nanny’s birthday we (Alec and I) went down to the a local lobster pound to get her a steamed lobster and some chowder. We picked out the lobster to be steamed and discussed a little watered down version of the circle of life. Alec still doesn’t know that the chicken he eats was once an alive chicken or the steak he loves so much comes from cows. We talked it through and he understands that people eat the lobster meat because they think it tastes good. What he couldn’t understand was –who figured out that the meat tasted good. Good question.

The only thing that bums me out about this pound is that they steam/boil them inside. I wish they would would do it outside with the big pots like we use to see on our way to Bar Harbor. They still had the wood fire so a little of the smell was there but it just isn’t quite the same to me.

We took a little walk on the pier while we waited. And visited with friends. (below). I think he was hoping we had some food.

Nanny was thrilled with a visit from us.

Snacks were had. A visit to Nanny’s is nothing if there isn’t a snack….

and some love.

(Although he looks like he isn’t enjoying it – he really is)

Mending

I was the chosen one to stay home with Alec while he is healing.  It’s been a challenge. I am constantly having to take step back and remind myself he really is sick. It seems he is sick enough to be home but well enough to be antsy. Antsy kids cause trouble. I vowed to myself to keep him in the house with no outside play and no friends for a few days. I am determined to force him to do rest as best I can.  We both are struggling.

Some diversions for us:

Fresh juice. That should help him get better!

Apple, orange, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and grapes.

Side note:  I am dreading the move up in sizes from the toddler to kids. We are on the cusp…almost having to cross the aisle at Target.  I love the cute little dreammies….look at those Curious George bottoms. I heart them.

Yum!

Another diversion :

Writing out thank you notes for his birthday presents.

Another diversion was cut short:

We were going to make chocolate chip cookies but….

Ewhhh…mold on the bread that I stuck in the container with the brown sugar. Do you do that too? It really works to keep the sugar soft. I have never had moldy bread before. 

We nixed that idea.

We read lots of books – watched some tv and played fire rescue trucks. 

I am tapped out of ideas.

Tomorrow I may spring him for a few hours.  I am getting cabin fever!

Delirious for pork

Over the weekend when Alec’s temp was super high and he was feeling so badly he would ask us to make him bacon. Random. We didn’t have any and for some reason or  another we never went to get any. We probably convinced him to eat something else or he forgot he was hungry. But the reoccurring theme was bacon. We made him some on Tuesday. I told him to come eat. He sits down looks at his plate and looks at me like I am crazy (2-headed and purple haired crazy) and says “ But I don’t like bacon”.

Huh.

Right.

This one might not translate well but it was pretty funny. At the same time that I gave him the bacon, I put a toasted bagel in front of him.  He touches it and feels that it is hot. He says in his best dramatic whine EVER “oh no- I will never get to eat it- how will it EVER get cool? I am wearing long sleeves”.  (and yes he was)  What exactly does one say to this? I responded very logically of course. “Yes you are but your bagel is not. It will be cool in a second”.  Crisis averted. The world will not end and the bagel will become cool. Phew!

So, to continue on with the Alec is sick theme- I was close to right about the ear infection. His ears are not infected but are completely full of fluid. He really can’t hear us. ENT here we come.

Oh and incidentally –it is definitely not strep he had. He has pneumonia. Who knew? He’s had a pesky cough that Erik mentioned while were at the doctor’s having Alec’s ears checked. Mind you, as I have said before, Alec does not do sick well. He was not coughing at the appointment – he was too busy bouncing around the room, jumping off  and on the scale and asking if we would take him to McDonalds for french fries (nice). Thankfully he did not repeat his little faux pas of our last appointment when his doctor walked in and Alec asked him so innocently “Are you running late?” Mortifying.  So, with this exuberant behavior, I felt a little foolish for even having him there. If our doctor did not know us (Alec) well enough at this point we would have been laughed right out the door. But he listened to his chest and immediately ordered an x-ray. I would say that our reaction was stunned. We didn’t see that coming. 

Off we went..Alec dancing down the hall and out the door. 

I was skeptical. Very.  I thought that the lady giving Alec the x-ray must think I am a crazy momma for getting the chest x-ray because there was not so much as a clearing of the throat from Alec. He was dancing around the room again and chatting her ear off.   I took pictures cause I wasn’t taking it too seriously.

It’s blurry cause he just wouldn’t stand still!

 

Shooting the xray machine with his super powers! It’s only fair right?

By the time we made it home- the office was calling with diagnosis made (fast results = not good news) and script called in to the pharmacy.

We have assumed the position again...jammies,doggie, pillow and a blanket on the couch.   Temp back up to 102.4. 

Isn’t that snack tray cute? I found it at Marden’s . He loves it. It has come in mighty handy these past couple days. 

And the blue stuff? It’s Gatorade. He calls it weird chemicals. As in “mom can I drink some weird chemicals”. 

Lovely.

Let’s spread that rumor. 

I can hear it around daycare now “Alec’s mom lets him drink weird chemicals and she has no idea her kid has pneumonia”

*Sigh*

Mother of the year award will not be mine this year.

The voices in my head are very loud…..

Alec: “Can you turn up the tv?

Erik and I:  “No it’s loud enough”

Alec: “I can’t hear it…I can only hear myself talking”

Erik “Then stop talking”

Alec:  “What?”

Erik: “Never mind”

Mary Poppins called

she wants her umbrella back!

I love this kid!