Speed Dating

Ten years ago, on a snowy Ohio Valentine's Day, my friend and I went to an event at Ashland University for singles:  Speed Dating.  It was a fun experience to try once and I never thought I would participate in something like that again because it was more of a bucket-list challenge than a productive way to meet someone.  But, this week's outings were the closest thing to speed dating I will probably ever come to again.

To celebrate having a week off and also Valentine's Day, we spent a lot of time out and about as a family this week.  Lee and I realised, however, that our little baby is a full-grown toddler now who races from place to place and does not like to sit still for long.

For Valentine's Day, we took a trip to Blackpool to the Sea Life Aquarium on the promenade.  It takes about an hour to drive there and Jackson took a nap on the way there, so we knew that he would have a lot of energy when he arrived.  Once we paid the entry fee for the aquarium and rode the elevator (lift) to the start of the tour, we didn't know how much we had underestimated Jackson's energy level.
He lasted about four minutes in his stroller before he tried to climb out and once he was out, he careened his way toward the exit in about seven minutes.  Any stairs or ramps in the various rooms also seemed to attract his little feet like a moth to a flame.  I think he probably only saw about five fish while he was running his laps.

When we first got to the ticket counter to go in, I had visions of us listening to the "Seahorse Talk" and enjoying the "Interactive Rockpool," but they weren't meant to be.  It was only a few short months ago that Jackson sat through a bird show and a sea lion show at Flamingo Land--twice!  I'm sure we'll be able to build-up his patience level, but I think it will be a while before we try the aquarium again.

And then there was the visit to Las Iguanas afterwards.  There is so much hope upon arrival at a restaurant with a 16-month-old:  Ooh!  Maybe we'll be adventurous and try a new appetizer, or order off of the tapas menu for an array of pretty, tiny dishes of Brazilian treats!  But that joy is soon condensed--as you see the attention deficit disorder seething from your child's eyes--into about a two-minute window of getting the waitress's attention as soon as possible and ordering the first thing on the menu that you can share with your baby and will taste good ice-cold.  After Lee and I ate in shifts, and swigged down our drinks, we turned into those parents who quiet their child with a bowl of raspberry jelly (Jell-O).  Yep, we did that.  Can't say we're proud of it, but it happened and it kept our child from screaming the place down.  And to top it off, we served it to him in minuscule bites to stretch out that peaceful, happy calmness as long as possible--and to allow my eating shift to finish.

Being someone who doesn't like to sit still for very long anyway, I'm quite content that my Valentine's Days from here on out look like they are going to be hectic, and undoubtedly full of love.

Showing off his pearly whites and adorable smile

Our model baby

Swimming as part of the Tropical Tots Experience.  Just kidding! 

Sporting his new dress-up hat

Sitting on his new sofa from his Uncle Charlie and watching Paw Patrol

Jackson's favourite part of the aquarium was watching the sharks and stingrays swim over his head.  We managed to stay in this room for a few minutes before he wanted to move on again.

Telling us about his day

Developmental updates:  Jackson can now easily dismount off of the couch and climb backwards to go down the stairs.  He is 'talking' with more conviction than ever and is coming up with new sounds to convey his thoughts.  Generally, Jackson has stopped throwing a tantrum when it's time to change his diaper.  As long as we say, "Do you want to change your bottom?" then he nods, walks over to the changing mat, and sits down.  This has made our lives a lot easier.  When it's time to drink out of his bottle or cup, Jackson will now hold the drinks for himself and if he sees even a drop left, he will throw his head all the way back to quench his thirst.  Jackson likes to play with cars and trucks, but he now pushes them around the entire ground floor, going from sofas to chairs to radiators and onto any other surface on which little wheels can be rolled.  He got to gently stroke a cat and a dog for the first time this week when he visited his great-grandpa.  Jackson can imitate more animal noises, but he hasn't memorised them all yet.  These include monkey, lion, dinosaur, sheep, dog, cat, and duck.

If you see Sammie Miles Davis, Jr. and Bella, give them my love.