Ballet slippers and a flash light.

Lil man had a poop for the records today at school. I feel bad for the teacher that had to clean that mess up but is it bad to say I'm glad it wasn't me=). This one was so messy it traveled all the way to his shoes. These are the only shoes they could find for R since we don't take spare shoes to school only extra clothes. He loves what he now calls his "slips". It was just a funny sight to see him running around the playground when I went to pick him up in ballet "slips".
Playing with the battery-less flash light kept this one entertained for a long while.

Shamrock Run! I finally did it!!!

I do not love running. I am not a runner and probably never will be. I am happy to say though that along with Brian we finished our first 5k run together. It is not a marathon and 3 miles is not a lot but for this girl it is enough. I had a lot of fun though. The atmosphere was energetic, happy and their is so many crazy dressed people to look at.

Sadly I didn't ask a friend to take a picture of Bri & I together on our first race but he was there too and a great motivator to me as always. It was very fun to run over the finish line hand in hand with my man!

So until next year, Happy St. Paddy's Day and see you next year at the race!

19 months

Time is flying. Every week I get a email from babycenter.com about the weekly milestones of R & what you can expect at that age. Every week I am continuously surprised that I am getting the new email already. Did another week really fly by?

Well as I have said before; this little guy keeps us on our toes. His vocabulary and ability to communicate grows daily. I can tell by his pants that he is growing upwards but he is still coming in at a mere 24 lbs.

His current obsessions are cars & lights. When we are driving in our car or walking through a parking lot he has to point at EVERY automobile and says "car"?! Over & over. When we go to Costco he also loves to run into the tire shop. Please don't tell me he is going to get his dad's weird tire obsession too. I'm going to go crazy in the future if I have to listen to the both of them talk about the tread pattern on tires=).

He also loves lights & light switches. He will have you hold him all day and turn lights on & off if you will let him. When he figures out what light switch goes with what light he says "wow" & when he turns it off he says "uh oh"! He has suckered a couple of people to do it & he will have you do it for hours! Unfortunate for us it is hard not to abide to him when that cute little "peas" for please come out of his mouth.

He did a couple funny things the last couple weeks I would like to share. One morning I was getting his breakfast ready and he was sitting in his high chair. I had the Today show on the tv and all of a sudden I saw him pointing at the tv and saying "GG"; which is what he calls Brian's Grandma Rita. I peaked around the corner at the tv and it was the Smucker's segment on people's birthday it was that day who were turning over 100. Every picture that came on the screen he said "GG".

Him & I were sitting on the couch yesterday; out of the blue he says "Hadley". Hadley is my good friend's daughter, whom he has only met once. I said, "what did you say"? He said, "Hadley". I said, "Can you show me Hadley"? So he climbed down from the couch, ran to the kitchen and pointed to her picture on the fridge! Can we say someone has a crush already?!

Spring is showing signs that it is almost here despite the snow showers today. I'm ready and looking forward to my after school walks with this kid. He loves being outside and I can't wait for us to be able to.

We are getting hardwood floors and the boxes have become an indoor climbing activity. Also a place to eat your breakfast.
He loves his Cheerios & can eat a couple bowls full in the morning.
Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with blue berry sauce! He approved.
Playing blocks with Grandma!

Cheerios

So R loves Cheerios. He would eat them all day if he could. He will go to the his cupboard and get his snack cup & hold it up to you say "Mo". Almost sounds like that old commercial where the little British boy asks for "mo" soup. It is very cute and gives us a laugh every time.

Well today he was having one of his few and far between tantrums over wanting to play outside more. He was chasing me around the house with his jacket. Wanting me to put it on and go back out. I was just ignoring him and told him I'd be in the other room ready to play. I was getting myself a snack so mid-cry I offered him some Cheerios. All of a sudden the crying stops abruptly and he shakes his head. I gave him some Cheerios and the episode was over. So as I thought about it in that moment is that why the stem word is cheer? I wonder if the creator of Cheerios had the same experiences with his toddler? Well cheers to him/her & Cheerios!

18 already?!

For me the first 12 months R was here did not fly by, honestly some tireless days seemed endless. The last 6 months have been the opposite. It seems I blink and a new month is here and each day brings something new.

Each night I still creep into his room to watch him sleep & think how lucky I am to have this beautiful little boy as MY little boy.

He is an active little boy; as most little boys are. I have come to the conclusion when you become a mom you are instantly inducted into a club of mothers that stretches back millions of years. A club that will give you support, encouragement and is willing guide you when you have no clue what you are doing. I have also come to the conclusion their is a separate off-shoot of this club for the mama's of boys because we have our own separate guidelines & rules we need to learn.

Back to R. He loves to run, climb, jump & dance. Morning until night he keeps going and going and going. He still naps for everyone except me. Still loves his food because he needs a lot of fuel to be able to wear me out. When it is not raining he enjoys playing outdoors. His vocabulary continues to grow everyday as well as his frustration when he can't communicate what he is trying to tell us. He loves his baths and runs to the stairs when I tell him it is bath time. He is a worker bee & loves to have a job.

Favorite foods: Oatmeal, eggs, blueberries, strawberries, cheerios, cheese, pretzels, peas.

Favorite show: Elmo & Wiggles

Favorite bedtime book: Goodnight Moon & Night-night Pookie

-Still falls asleep quickly in the car when he is tired.

-Loves animals.

-Loves dancing to Adele.

-Signs he uses; more, milk, all done, eat, please, & thank you.

New statistics:

• Height: 32 1/4 inches (49%)
• Weight: 23 lbs (15 %)

Snowshoe adventuring.

B and I both got snowshoes for Christmas. One more reason to get us up onto the mountain. We decided to try out our new gear on New Year's Day. We got lucky and it was a beautiful blue bird day at Trillium Lake. R was decked out in his new Columbia gear we scored at the employee store and was instantly a snow lover. Although how could he not be with two snow loving parents?

Mama & R
When are we going to get this show on the road?
We're off!
I just realized all our pictures make it look like we were the only ones there but it was packed! I never knew so many people snow shoed!
B & N
Where am I going to run next?
Hey Dada! Wait up!!!
Come & get me!
3 of us.
Sledding fun before we left. This picture looks deceptive, no we did not send him down a hill by himself=). This is like a foot long ant hill but he loved it!
B & R ready to hit the road. Can't wait to do it again!

Christmas-a month of fun activities.

This is going to be a big picture dump for the month of December. It was a very busy month for many reasons; finishing up my long-term position teaching 7th grade Humanities (since last May), peak-season for B, and of course holiday festivities.

Working full time already makes me feel like I'm running at 100 percent 24/7 but add in tying up the loose ends on projects I've been having the kiddos work on in a certain time restraint had a new kind of pressure. We made it and I think I successfully transitioned them for when their teacher returned yesterday. It was also a bittersweet day for me yesterday. I am thankful for the ability to have a flexible job with substitute teaching while R is young but not to return with my students I've become so close with yesterday was hard. Having my own classes to be in charge of has further proven my love for my job. On most days I feel so lucky to be around such smart, fun & silly middle schoolers. They teach me so much and give me so much joy.

R is such a silly, active little man. He sure keeps me on my toes. We went to a couple gatherings while friends were in town. Both houses we went to were quite large houses with tons of amazing toys. All of the other kids are playing contained with the toys, but not my child. He rather run around to explore every nook & cranny. He would also rather play with expensive stereo systems or wall outlets than toys. I came home both of these nights so tired from running around constantly. Makes me appreciate my small R-proof house when I get home.

Here are many different photos from this month's activities.

B & R at downtown Couve's tree lighting

Picking out our tree at Joe's

Smelling the tree; R does this when he knows he is not supposed to touch something.
Where to run next???
Christmas party at Fay & Coop's new downtown pad. I felt like I was at a cool party on Sex & the City!
Zoo Lights at Washington Park zoo. If you haven't been; its a must. So much cooler than I would of imagined & if you are a zoo member it is free. Just get there early because it becomes a zoo=).


In front of the cool water scene
Boa on a tree branch

Looking at the big fishes

Fooling around with Grandma L
Presents! Love all the pretty wrapping papers.
Attempt at a family picture Xmas Eve
New trumpet from Uncle C

Uncle C & his girlfriend J
Mini mom & me
Opening his new tool chest, thanks Doleski's
New Strider from mama & dada- We forgot to give it to him until half-way through Xmas! He already had so many things to play with!
B's mom came down with the flu; so she had to cancel her huge, amazing X-mas party last minute. So we went Christmas Story-esk and had Chinese for Christmas dinner.
Playing with his new blocks
Hope you all had a great holiday season & cheers to 2012! Wowzer!