Sweet, Sweet Summertime

It DOES get hot around here in the summertime, but I would rather have this dry Oklahoma heat and all the goodness it brings over the rainy summer in the UK any day of the week! I do miss the Pimms and Lemonade sometimes, though.

Prior to getting pregnant with J, I loathed melons of all sorts and kinds. The thought of eating a melon would make my mouth curl up and the texture? Don't even get me started on the texture of melons. But, at this time last year, when I was waddling around 6.5 months pregnant, I found myself not just wanting a melon. CRAVING a melon. And so, for the last trimester of my pregnancy, P and I had lunch in the hospital cafeteria (yes, I know it's a strang place to actually WANT to eat everyday, but the food is pretty good and it's easy on the old budget) and I got a huge plate of honeydew, cantaloupe, watermelon, and pineapple thrown in for good measure alongside a huge scoop of cottage cheese. BTW, I used to loathe cottage cheese even more than I loathed melon.

So, now that J is a baby and no longer has any input on what sounds good to eat, I am finding myself craving melons and cottage cheese again! The difference this year will be that we can actually travel out to the little roadside fruit stands and meet up with local farmers selling homegrown melons out of the backs of their old beat up pickup trucks. I personally think it's going to be even better this time around.

I am also looking forward to spending some time outdoors with P once J is in bed. Just the two of us, sitting on the back porch (baby monitor nearby), a glass of wine or iced tea, catching up in the cooler part of the day.

And, the 4th of July is my most favorite holiday. Ever. Hands down. Homemade ice cream, fireworks at Mom and Dad's house in the country, grilling out, loads of fresh veggies (hopefully from Granpa's garden), and J splashing around in his baby swimming pool.

Yes, it's hot...but it's the only time of year that slows down enough to make me feel like I'm 8 years old again and don't have a care in the world. I'm looking forward to introducing J to all the joys of summertime. Next summer, he'll be 18 months old, able to do for himself and most likely, a living example of Newton's 1st Law of Motion. But this year? I can hold him in my lap and talk to him about all the things that only happen this time of year, and watch him taking everything in. And hopefully, summer will become his favorite season as well. I think if I were a little boy, it would be the absolute best time of year to revel in all things dirt, water, and living.