Great Companion

At my husband's suggestion, my son and I decided to enjoy this gorgeous day by wandering around downtown Kansas City.  Lino thought Jackson would enjoy the people and overall stimulation that comes with being in a metropolitan part of town.  He was so right!

We got there around 2 pm and easily found parking.  I put him in the stroller and we began walking around.  I pointed up to the really high buildings.  He sat in his stroller with his arms out feeling the breeze.  Then he tucked them so that his elbows were pointing out and began to dance in his seat!  I think he was dancing to the rhythm and music of the city.  He watched the joggers go by.  He waved at the people dining on restaurant patios.  He gave high fives and great big smiles to the people at the bus stop.  One person at the bus stop asked me if he was 3, almost 4.  I just laughed and said, "Nope; he just turned 2 two weeks ago!"

We went into a local coffee shop, in part for a drink, in part for parking validation.  I had an excellent iced chai.  He kept flashing the lady behind the counter a huge, dimpled grin.  She asked if he was allowed to have sweets.  I said yes, so she gave him a chocolate chunk cookie.  He lit up at that!  He leaned in as if to hug her, so she came around the counter.  I let him out of the stroller at that point, since we were safely contained in the coffee shop.  There was music in the background and as soon as he noticed it, his little booty started wiggling and shaking!  They got a big kick out of him in there.  He was passing out high fives, blown kisses, and big hugs like they were, well, free, which they were.  We lingered in there a while, then headed back out.

He didn't seem to be interested in riding in the stroller, so I strapped his bearhug (aka leash) on and walked back out into the sunshine.  He promptly saw three ladies standing on the sidewalk outside another establishment and decided they needed hugging, too.  We then headed back home.

He was a delightful companion to spend an afternoon with in downtown KC.  I used to work close to downtown and often ran down there.  So it felt like heading back to my old stomping grounds.  We were both invigorated by our time in the city.  And I think he spread some love and sunshine around downtown KC, even more than the sun that was already shining today.