Zoe.

…and the angels sang.

He apparently followed her lead with the enthusiasm of a hungry, lost puppy.

Zoe: “Wanna go on the slide?”

Harrison: “YEAH!”

Zoe: “Wanna go to the swings?”

Harrison: “YES! YEAH! SWINGS!”

During the traffic-ridden drive home from Finny’s house I was bombarded with sudden bursts of memories of the day.

Harrison: “ZOE!”

Harrison: big smile – the kind that has been historically only reserved for Aunt Kylies

Me: “Is that your new friend’s name?”

Harrison: “Yee-ah!”

Me: “Is she nice?”

Harrison: shy smirk “yuh.”

Me: “What was she wearing?” – trying to elevate our conversation out of the typical yes-and-no-answer banter.

Harrison: “A jacket”

Me: “Did she have a hat on?”

Harrison: “Yes.”

Me: having seen the photo from yesterday I knew better – “Are you sure?”

Harrison: “A hood.”

Me: “Yes! A hood! She had a hood on!” – I take my victories where I can get them.

Time passes.

Harrison: “ZOE!!!!!”

Me: “Zoe! That’s right…” UGH! Let’s be honest – how long can you make small-talk about a toddler-relationship.

Time passes.

Harrison: “ZOOOOOEEEEE – play!”

Harrison – dude, come now… let’s attempt to implement what we’ve been working on at home. What? You think that all that talk about “practice patience”, “let’s be calm”, “chill out” is about US keeping OUR sanity? NO NO – these are life lessons my boy… Lessons that will lead to success in life, career and let’s be honest – most importantly – with the ladies.

Listen up! I may be a girl… but, I landed a pretty amazing life-partner.

You may want to start taking notes.

Listening: Deer Tick

Elizabeth and her boyfriend Dave took H to the Children’s Museum where they discovered his apparent talent and love of every parents worst nightmare.

Apparently he stayed and played the drums for over 45 minutes.

Even the play-house, train room and seeing Mom and Dad weren’t enough to tear him away.

Then we got to California and at a trip to the park he found an abandoned fingerboard. He has yet to let it leave his site and barely out of his hand.

He slept with it last night.

Needless to say, Dad is pretty pleased. They watched skateboard videos for a half hour this morning.

Listening: Florence + The Machine – XX remix

Marc’s mom brought us some Tupperware for H last time she was out including his very own mini yellow cup:

Listening: TV On The Radio

It should be noted that Marc had been giving these rides over and over and over (notice the “more, more, more” at beginning and end), hence the breathlessness.

Listening: Superchunk

Listening: The Blacks

“Harrison, because you have no words – your high-five is your bond.”

Listening: The Duke Spirit

Mentally, Marc and I are drained. And then you add the physical element of taking turns wrestling with a toddler – we are just pooped. Hence, the lack of attention to the blog.

I have many, many drafts about this whirlwind summer saved – collecting dust and becoming obsolete. Some day I will post them… we’ll be back in Austin in a couple weeks. Back with our Elizabeth… paying somebody else to raise your kids is essential to keeping up with a parenting-blog.

But, for now, I’ll post this gem of an image that Marc just emailed me:

Post-clothes-shopping (note the new hat) and pre-children's-museum-playing lunch with dad.

Listening: The Avett Brothers

My computer died. It needs a new motherboard. Not entirely sure what that means – other than $1500 that should not have been covered by Apple because the warranty expired. Which would have meant 3 days without a computer and a $1500 bill!? yikes! However, Marc went to the Apple store and cashed in on some saved up Karma and got it taken care of for FREE.

I love my charming husband.

So, I’m out for the next few days, enjoying Tahoe with my son, while Marc stays home slaving away building websites. I think this means that HE should do the post for tomorrow… right Marc?

Listening: Foreign Born

And then let him GET IN!

And gave H a fireman’s HAT!

The experience made Marc’s -er- Harrison’s day.

Listening: Amanda Palmer (more on her tomorrow if I can get my $#!@ together and post about Wanderlust)

And considering that your dad is tone deaf and I do not have the patience to learn guitar, the responsibility falls to you, little one, to bring live music into this house.

Listening: Thao (super fun video)