The Patty Duke Show

I couldn't stop singing the theme song from The Patty Duke Show this weekend.  I don't think I ever watched that show, but for some reason I know some lines from the theme song: they're cousins, identical cousins through and through.  At least I think that's how it goes.  

So we spent the weekend in L.A. with the Pokaskis.  There's something so wonderful about being with people that are going through the same thing.  Although Charlie is almost two now, it wasn't long ago that he was taking his first steps, putting everything in his mouth, and falling out of the high chair.  Or maybe that one was just Declan.  

Needless to say, bringing Declan anywhere is a huge to do.  And this was no exception.  The time change messed all of us (or at least me and Declan) up from the start, and at 3:00 in L.A. it's dinner time in Kansas.  Well, I don't know if it was the sleep deprivation or just plain stupidity, but we arrived in L.A. at 2:35.  On a Friday.  Yes, L.A. is famous for its rush hours, and we were treated to a doozy.  Now, if I hadn't been half asleep myself, I might have had the foresight to bring something for Dec to eat, but if I had, it wouldn't be a story.  I'll cut to the chase because I've got a lot to cover: after an hour and a half in traffic, a good half hour of screaming, most of it from Declan, I dipped into Vladimir the driver's stash of Werther's Originals and, baby bird style, broke it up in my mouth and fed Declan little bits (none big enough to choke on, hold your horses).  Of course, he took those eagerly and calmed down.  Nothing like some good old high fructose corn syrup to save the day.

Everywhere I go, people tell me they love Declan's clothes.  Of course they do, Charlie has the cutest little boy clothes ever...and all of Declan's clothes come from Charlie.  I don't know what that kid would be wearing if it weren't for Jess who kindly sends me shipments of darling clothes every few months.  And shoes, tons of shoes.  So many shoes that I have pairs ready for the next three sizes.  Declan wears a 4.  My mom consistently pics 5.5s and takes Declan places in them.  And insists they fit.  But I digress, the point of this paragraph is that Declan gets a ton of hand me downs from Charlie.  And Jess, being practical, often buys twos of her favorite things.  

So it started the first night, when we put the boys in matching, red pajamas.  We giggled and took pictures and thought that'd be the end of it.  But then they had matching fleeces and hoodies and pants.  Pictures will come.  There's just something hilarious about kids in matching outfits.  Someday they'll be really mad, but for now, we'll just enjoy it.

Charlie was such a perfect little host.  He did cry when Declan crawled onto Jessica's lap and gave him a big, sloppy kiss, but later he returned the favor.  Kids giving kisses might just make my list of things to live for.  Right up there with hot fudge Sundaes...scratch that, so much higher.  

Declan was just enamored with Charlie right from the beginning.  He crawled after Charlie and watched him, enraptured with every wiggle, stack, and chew.  This extended to one of the highlights of the trip.  We put the boys in the tub together.  Then we gave them both Mohawks. Then we took pictures.  

I can't wait until the boys are making forts and building tents in the back yard.  Hopefully they will be buds and enjoy being together as much as we do.  I'll post pictures as soon as I get them.