Walking on a Wire

We have a brand new park near our house Matty is loving. The other night we stopped by on our way home from school. While I watched him play I couldn't believe what a big boy he's becoming. I realized it had been a while since I took any video of him and just wanted to freeze a moment of him just like this, before it was gone. 

Riding in Cars with Boys

Last weekend the 3 of us headed to Austin for a wonderful long weekend with Patsy and family. What a joy this trip was. Nice and relaxing and long, not hurried, just the perfect little break. I have a few pics to share when I have a moment to go through them but here is one I love for some reason. One day we drove up to Dallas from Austin, about a 3 1/2 hour ride and Matty just chilled and watched his movies all day. I love this one of him watching his new movie from Mama P. Not sure what it was about, but for a movie about a cartoon mouse it sure looks serious…

Brave Boy

A couple of weeks ago, we were enjoying a quiet evening in the Browning household. Dinner was done, movie was done. And just as I was about to suggest a bath and bedtime for Matty, Ben suggested we all head to the square for ice cream. Hey why not? It's Saturday, it's summer, that's what you do, right? We'd be cool parents. 

After a quick treat, Matty wanted to play on the train they have at the square that's been well documented on this blog. After about a half hour, I gave the proper warning all small children need before you abruptly end an outing they are enjoying. I gave the 5 minute call warning we'd be leaving soon. The 3 minute warning. Then it happened. Ben got an awful look on his face and started off running. Matty was screaming! He'd tripped up the brick steps and busted open his sweet little chin. (Damn, we were so close…)

Immediately Ben knew he'd need stitches so we sped like mad men to Children's hospital. I looked at the time: 8:45pm. It was time to be winding down not doing 80 on 285. Crap. Matty had started to calm down actually as I sat in the back with him making silly faces to crack him up. And he was fine talking with nurses and getting all checked in. 

Luckily they don't use novocaine shots on little kids anymore for stuff like this, and they used a lidocaine jelly to numb the area. But when they put the bandage on to hold the gel in place to do it's job, boy it pissed him off something awful. I remember thinking, "oh sweetie, if you don't like this you're really gonna hate what's coming."

And the tears and screams started again and held pretty steady until the doctor came in with the needle and then things got worse. He's a strong and willful little boy, this one, and it took a few of us to hold him down while the doctor put the few sutures in place. Then some dermabond just in case, because he was so squirmy. And what the hell let's put a few steristrips on top of that. Yep, that ought-a do it. 

But he stayed just utterly pissed until the nurse asked him his favorite color. As calmly and clearly as ever, he said, "Blue," and a few minutes later the nurse came in with a blue popsicle just for the brave patient. After that he pretty much owned the hospital, rode the gurney like a horse, and had fun exploring all the sterile stuff we shouldn't be touching until we were finally discharged. 

So that's it. Our tale of another childhood right of passage. I was so proud of our little man and while I hated it happened, it's certainly not just another Saturday night that will blend in with all the others. And perhaps that'll teach us from trying to be cool parents.