For so many reasons, this summer has been about a thousand percent more awesome than last summer. Even though it's supposed to be 100 degrees (again) tomorrow, I'm good. I can roll with it, I can still say this summer is/has been/will be amazing. If you don't want to read all these words, just go peek at my Flickr set for the summer. That does sum it right up.
Reason 1: My kid is at least 50% more awesome than she was last year. Last year, she was one. God, one year olds, MY GOD. They are CHOCK FULL of mobility and energy, but they don't have the sense or attention span of a rubber ball, and they sure as hell don't bounce like one, so you spend all of your time chasingchasingchasing. Up the stairs, down the stairs, outsideoutsideoutside, OMFG don't FALL down the stairs, don't run off the sidewalk into the street, not under there, not over there, don't climb that, you're going to fall....oh shit, you fell (insert blood curdling screaming). Say what you will about two, but I have liked it a hell of a lot better than one. I wouldn't go so far to say that the Olive is rational, but she sure can talk a mile a minute, and understand even more. She can and actually WILL (mostly) listen to directions. She knows not to step off the sidewalk into the street, and she won't. I can now be one of those parents that can spend some time sitting on my butt on the playground, because my kid can climb up and down and over almost everything, and I don't have to worry. I get up for the occasional assist on a ladder, or to prevent an escape (because darn it, she knows exactly how all the gates work), or to get someone to share or apologize. She also sleeps all night, can climb onto her own chair, can be trusted to play in another room by herself, and even fetch me things. I sleep! My cocktails get left unspilled! I'm living the dream.
Reason 2: We joined a community pool. Which makes us so totally bourgeousie, I know. I know! (Even worse: it's a pool AND racquet club. Ayup.) But I so don't care because the pool is so goddamn awesome. It is hot and humid and utterly unfit-for-humans-swamp-ass around here in the summer, and the only two sensible places to be are indoors with copious air conditioning or outdoors and up to your neck in water. We got home from vacation last Saturday night to a house full of hot air and broken A/C in 100 degree weather. I cried while Seth found a friend to house us in their basement overnight. On Sunday, we bought fans and giant containers of raspberries at Costco, and spent four hours at the pool. FOUR HOURS. I am not a pool person. I like the water just fine, but I grew up in the Southwest, where there is no water. I have the pale, freckly skin of a Northern European mutt, so I was never one for tanning. I mean, we went swimming sometimes when I was a kid, and the public pools were fine, but it wasn't what I wanted to do all the time. However, no pool I ever went to is like this pool. There's a kiddie pool, a beach entry pool, splash fountains, a big pool, diving boards, a water slide, a snack bar (with ice cream!), a playground, tennis courts, volleyball, all nestled into grassy, tree-shaded grounds. Four hours passed in a blink, and I loved every minute of it, as did the small monkey fish child. I seriously want to go to the pool every day (who the hell am I??), and I'm going to be very sad when it closes after Labor Day.
Reason 3: Multiple trips to the Vineyard. (Yes, again, I know -I am appallingly bourgeousie, and my in-laws happen to have a house on Martha's Vineyard. Look, I'm incredibly lucky. I know! I appreciate it! I swear! I'll send you a Black Dog shirt!) Last summer, we had only one trip planned, due to everyone's schedules. It was at the very end of summer, the last week of August through Labor Day. 2010 was a long fucking hot summer and a long time to wait for grandparent babysitting and entertainment in one of my favorite places. I remember sitting in my office, practically laying on my desk moping, counting down the weeks and days and hours, because I felt like it was all I had to live for when it was 100 degrees and 75% humidity outside. And then, after our trip, just like that, summer was over. I really had post-vacation depression. I declared that in 2011, we were not waiting until the end of the summer to go just once, because my mental health would not be able to take it. So far - success! We have already been twice, and have a third trip planned. The first trip was over Fourth of July weekend (which no sane person should spend in Washington more than once. It's worth it once to see the fireworks on the Mall. After that you should just flee, because it's ungodly hot and full of sweaty people in really ugly patriotic clothing, white Reeboks and fanny packs). The second trip was last week, including the double bonus feature of my brother-in-law and his family live and in person from Australia. (Despite the fact that we had four colds, two respiratory infections, and one case of Lyme disease among us, the trip was generally a success). Our third trip is in a month, and we're also importing our own playmates- friends from the neighborhood whose son is the Olive's age. I have high hopes for more fun and less pestilence.
Reason 4: The gift of one week. I got a week without the small child, for the first time ever. The longest I'd been away from her before that was about 48 hours. In that week, I didn't cook once. I had a perfect New York City weekend with one of my best friends that I never see because she lives in San Francisco. We ate well, had cocktails with lunch, got coffee whenever we felt like it, shopped, ate some more, walked and walked and walked and walked (as one is wont to do in NY when there is perfect summer weather), had some wine, saw old friends, and talked nonstop. I had time alone, where I read a ton, watched whatever I wanted (which was like, ten episodes of Glee -so hooked now), steyed up past ten (OMFG!), and lazed in bed in the morning reading. Finally, I got two days with just my husband, for the first time since our girl was born in November 2008. More great food, more walking. We actually held hands because no one had to chase a child! We talked and laughed and drank and went to awesome hip places in our 'hood, and stayed out late. BECAUSE WE COULD. We are about 400 percent cooler without a kid, I'm afraid. Though we probably lost at least 100 percentage points of cool for being so giddy at being without our kid for a couple of days.
Hello, lovelies! Maya holds our tasty lunch cocktails.
Reason 5: Burgers on the grill and sliced watermelon are so easy and totally count as a complete dinner. And you can eat it outside. On paper plates! FOR THE WIN.
Reason 6: Summer clothes. There are just so very many fewer of them than in winter. It is about 300% easier to get everyone dressed in the morning. Shirt, shorts & Crocs for the child, dress & sandals for me, DONE. Somewhere in me, I am sure I still have some romantic love for winter, for the cozy sweaters and fuzzy hats, and glasses of wine by the fire. I am sure that love will re-kindle at about the time the kid can dress her own damn self, because right now? Just thinking about all those hats and mittens and boots and sweaters and snow pants and layers and bits to be wrestled into and lost just makes me want to cry. So, just pass the sunscreen and the frozen margaritas, please, and yes, I think I will just kick off my flip flops right over there and dangle my feet in the pool.
