Hello, City Bus!

Caedmon, like many little boys, has an obsession with all things motors and wheels—the bigger the better. You can imagine what it's like to drive down the street with this kid as we pass 3+-axled vehicles—trucks, big rigs, car transporters. He does not yet talk (much), but that in no way curbs his enthusiasm: "Mama! A-Mama! Eh! Eh! Eh! A-Vvvvvah! A-Vvvvvah!" And it only escalates if I don't acknowledge the grand splendor outside his window; he just needs to share this with the world!

Lately, we have witnessed a new emotion—pining. Whenever a bus drives by, Caedmon gesticulates wildly—flailing, grunting, squealing—and then my little piglet points desperately to himself: "Inside!" We've noticed it since our trip to San Diego when, walking along the streets of the Gaslamp and getting up close to the dense traffic around us, he made a discovery that probably rocked his world: people sit inside these great glorious machines. He's been wanting a part of this action since.

It's funny that he's only recently made this connection, because we've been reading a book with him called Hello, City Bus! for the past year. In it, little animals wait in line and ride the city bus across town. (Spoiler alert: they get to their destination. It's riveting.) But I guess when you're two, and your world is not only new and unfamiliar, but also filled with a bunch of UNTRUE stuff (like little animals who wait in line and ride a city bus across town), it takes some time to figure out what is real and genuinely awesome. Riding the city bus is one of them.

And so a few days ago, we, being the amazing parents we are, cleared our morning schedules to make our son's dream come true. We looked up bus routes and times—or I should say, Wayne looked up bus routes and times, because this little suburbanite gave up with the maps and time tables and handed it over to her husband. (This is why, despite the fact that I can swim really well, I would make a sucky partner for The Amazing Race.) After counting out exact change for fare, we were off on our adventure... to Target! And if you ask Caedmon, I'm sure he'd tell you it was the best day, which is all that matters.

(Actually, he'd probably just grunt. But you get the idea.)

Here comes the bus!

We are getting on the bus! (Though the real reason I included this picture is because it captures the good hair day I was having. These are few and far between and must be celebrated.)

This is the face of a boy whose dreams are being actualized.

Contentment. Right here.

After our trip to Target and a scarfed down lunch at L&L (hurried, in order to catch the bus—who knew bus-riding could be so stressful?), Caedmon excitedly announced the bus's approach: "Mama! A-Mama! Eh! Eh! Eh! A-Vvvvvah! A-Vvvvvah!"

"Are we done yet with this selfie business? I want to get back to my window."

And then it was time to say, "Goodbye". I look a lot more distressed than Caedmon, but what you can't hear is Caedmon's whimpering as he points to his chest: "Inside!"

So sad. Next time, Buddy!