Tots Do Lots

I'm babysitting for my grandson over the next two weeks.  Yea! (I think.)  So far it is "Yea".  As long as I can go to bed on time and take some rests while he is napping, then I should be fine.  It's a busy day with a 2½ year old - especially when it's been about 30 years since my last one was 2½!  I think I'll have plenty to slice about for a while!  And below is my contribution to Poetry Friday hosted by Kara at Rogue Anthropologist.  Can't believe I got it done!  Now to link before he wakes up.

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12:37 - It’s naptime, and I already have plenty to write about.  I am having trouble picking one thing to write about though, so I guess I'll just start writing everything I can remember about this morning and see where it takes me.
Wow.  As I compose this list, I am starting to get an appreciation for how much I should be able to get done in a day.

Here's his list of accomplishments so far today:

• woke up at 6:30 (I was already awake, listening, waiting.)
• played by myself until 7:20 (I heard you playing and talking to yourself this morning,
• and you were having such a good time - why would I want to interrupt?)
• ate breakfast
• got dressed (No diapers now! That potty training in a day really worked!)
• brushed own hair (That takes 2 seconds!)
• brushed Nannie’s hair (Yes, that was fun - for you.)
• went potty two times (No accidents!)
• drew a picture  (So creative and interpretive - abstract, perhaps?)
• put together a cow puzzle (We know corner pieces, just not what to do with them yet.)
• rode an imaginary horse (And I made clip-clop noises with the cups.)
• ate pretend hay and oats (Do horses really slurp their food?)
• rolled around on the floor (I guess our horses used to roll, too.)
• fixed something under the kitchen table (I couldn't tell what he was doing under there.)
• investigated the underside of the piano keyboard (He may have fixed it.)
• played with cars (One car from me, a Snoopy car and Snoopy train all talk to each other.)
• played with trains (A favorite theme for him)
• sang a song (Well, I sang and he did a wordless song to accompany me.)
• washed hands and face (Peanut butter and jelly, cottage cheese...an assortment)
• read a big pile of books aloud to self (Used a mixture of words I know and words he knows.)
• read two books with Nannie (Good snuggle time.)
• read a book with seagulls in it (What sound does a seagull make?)
• listened to seagull sounds on YouTube (I found one - I don't do a good seagull sound.)
• washed dishes (Enjoyed the water, the bubbles and the sponge to wash his own dishes.)
• fed the dog (One scoop takes three trips, but he has the chore of feeding the dog each day.)
• ate lunch (Mmmm.  Cucumber slices, cottage cheese, a toasted bagel and milk.)
• built a tower (Good and sturdy with a door to nowhere.)
• crossed a bridge (That would be going from the ottoman to the chair?)
• climbed the stairs to go for nap at 12:30 (Holding the railing is a picture I have to get!)

Can I make a poem out of this for Poetry Friday?  Maybe.  I’m going to try. while he’s sleeping.  After that...no more writing until bedtime at 7:30!
2:00 - poem done!

An early start

To a great day

When I awoke

I got to play.

I sat at the table

when I got dressed

Folded my hands

And food was blessed.

I drank some juice,

ate toast with jam,

Washed my face

and then my hands.

I washed my plate

and then my cup

I built a tower

so high up

I played with cars

and sang a song,

Then listened to gulls

and cawed along.

I gave the dog

a scoop of chow

I did a puzzle

Of pig and cow

I fixed the piano,

the table and chair;

And then I brushed

Nannie’s long hair.

I read a great big

stack of books;

I hung some clothes

Upon some hooks.

I rode a horse,

but just pretend -

It seemed our ride

Would never end.

But then it did

and I could munch

Invisible oats -

a horse’s lunch!

More cars were driven,

And trains went fast;

Then it was time

For lunch at last.

Now up to nap

I climb the stairs

Just like Goldilocks

in “The Three Bears”.

But I’ll be awake

at half past three;

Ready to play -

Just wait and see!

That was more than I thought I'd get done.  I'm getting to be more like him already.  Hope I don't get worn out in these two weeks!
It's hard to get out there and comment, but I'll try in the evenings to do that after he's gone to bed.