'I wanna tawk about it'

A few weeks ago when we spent the day at Honey's house, that night before bedtime, we talked about all we did that day.  Every.  Single.  Detail.  And let me tell you, we did a lot.  And I didn't leave out a single detail.  If I did, he'd fill in what I left out.  The kid misses NOTHING.  We like details. What can I say? 

Ever since, itss been a new prolonging tactic that we have at bedtime.

Every night, we have the same routine.  Books.  Songs.  Prayers.  He knows whats coming next. 

But now, he wants to "talk about it" too.

After we read our books, he says "jus wanna rock a 'meenit'".  I let him know what's coming next.  "Easton, we're gonna rock, then sing some songs and say our prayers, then we go night night ok?"  He gets it.  He doesn't seem to mind bedtime if he knows what's coming.  It's that full thrust in to the bed that he doesn't like too much.  He likes to ease into it. 

After we rock, now he's started saying "I wanna tawk about it".  I've told him, we can either sing or talk.  He always chooses talk.  He IS mine, you know.  And of course, after the talking he wants to sing.  I'll say 'one song' and he'll follow me quickly with 'two songs!?' 

It's really quite precious and I can't seem to tell him no.  But, for the love, bedtime is getting longer and longer.  The nice part however, is, he's still.  He'll let me snuggle.  He'll let me rock.  He'll let me rest my cheek on his cheek and it's just us.  For those 20 or so minutes.  And it's good.  He needs that.  I do too. 

What do we 'tawk about you ask?'  Oh...those topics are for us... 

Just kidding.  Normally I'll ask what he wants to talk about and it always starts with "Honey".  We then go down the family line.  Even including 'Tysie Baby' and 'Cilla'.  We typically end with Kirby and I make up her events for the day.  It's really interesting, I tell ya.  I'm quite the story teller. 

I'll miss these moments when he's grown and doesn't want momma rocking him anymore.  So, for now, I'm trying to just KNOW its going to take some time in there, and just enjoy every minute. 

The time we went to the DMV

My license has been expired since I turned 30.  May 4th.  Almost 3 months now.  Our house was for sale at the time and I didn't want to renew when the address would need to be changed eventually, so I waitied.

Now, we're moved and settled, so I bit the bullet and decided to have it changed. 

Not only did we move, but we moved counties so I needed to find the local DMV for our county.  Turns out they've relocated from where I went when I was 16 to get my drivers license. 

I called ahead of time to make sure what I needed and where they were located.  We were all set to go Friday afternoon.

Some days the stars align and everything works in my favor.  And this my friends was one of those days.

We head into the DMV with no less than 50 people in the waiting room.  A guy by the door informs me that it's going to take a while, to get in line.  He'd been there since noon.  It was 4:15.  They close at 5. 

I get in line.  The kinder than normal DMV lady instructs me to go to a kiosk, change my address and renew and pay online and it would send her a ticket to take my picture and give me a new license. 

Easton is at my feet, attached to my leg, being very obedient, yet 2.  Busy. 

We head over to the kiosk.  I'm not sure what they fed him at school for snack, but it must have consisted of a snickers and a Mountain Dew.  This child was beyond excited. 

The kiosk was a nice little cubby that I could hide him in.  I told him it was a fort.  It worked.  He hid in there and played while I completed the forms. 

There was a man outside the kiosk that had on black tennis shoes.  Easton was convinced he was going to 'play baseball with Daddy'.  I couldn't tell him otherwise.  Either way, the man with the baseball shoes and the fort kept him entertained while I took care of business. 

We head back over to the line, where she calls my name for my picture to be made.  Mind you, this is in front of the 50 people in the waiting room.  Why do you put a picture booth up front for all to watch you get your picture taken? 

How in the world am I going to get my picture made with a 2 year old performing circus tricks around my legs? The thought of trapping him betweem my legs actually crossed my mind.  Holding him and letting him be in the picture didn't seem half bad either. 

I decide to wing it.  He can't go far.  I hand him my purse and sit down, prepared for the count of 2 to smile.  He stands there for all of .233453 second and he's off.  My purse on the ground.  He's spotted the water fountain. 

I feel the crowd snickering. In a good way.  We were all quite entertained by the shenanigans.  A little sunshine we've brought to their afternoon. 

She starts counting.  One.  Two.  SMILE!  Done.  ' It's really quite good, considering...' she says. 

I wrangle The Boy, go in the bathroom for paper towels that are non existent because we're now 'green' at the Wilson County DMV, opt for toilet paper and clean up the watery mess that is below the water fountain that he couldn't quite operate. 

Once the floor is cleaned up, I stop by the counter for my new license and we're on our way.  Approching the door with no less than an applause from those waiting, I exclaim 'there will be a small charge for your entertainment this afternoon.' They are all laughing (at us, with us, who cares) by the time we get out the door. 

It's in those moments, once you finally take a breath, that you realize, 'a little ounce of patience and a good sense of humor will get you far in this gig called parenting.' 

It's these crazy moments I want to remember forever.  Now, for the next 10 years, when I take out my license, I'll remember that 2 year old who made the entire DMV smile.  He has that effect on many.