Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from our little golfer! It's always tough to wrangle a toddler, but we managed to get a few good pictures this morning on our way out the door. We're looking forward to his Halloween party at school this afternoon, followed by trick or treating (to a few nearby houses) this evening.

Here's to lots of treats, and not many tricks. Happy Halloween!

Twenty-One Months: A Letter

Dear Nicholas,

You are twenty-one months! The past month was a quiet one for our family, but, as usual, included plenty of action and adventure for you. One highlight of the month was our trip to the pumpkin patch, Sweet Berry Farms, out in Marble Falls, on October 12th. You were much more interested in the pumpkin patch this year, and loved picking up and examining all the small pumpkins and gourds, sitting inside a real fire truck, feeding the goats (or watching me feed them... you didn't want to get too close), and running through the fields of the big pumpkins. We picked out several to take home to decorate the house, and you've enjoyed looking at and playing with your "punkins" all month.

During your twenty-first month, you mastered your colors. You've been working on them for the past couple months, but now you can very clearly say and identify red, blue, green, purple, pink, white, black-- and your favorite: yellow. While we're driving, you love to point out every yellow object you see-- school buses, construction machinery, stoplights, flowers, even lines on the road. You are extremely observant. (You also never miss an opportunity to point out a water tower. Fortunately we have a lot of them out in our neck of the woods!)

Continuing with the theme of driving, transportation, and trucks, you developed a deep love for garbage and recycling trucks during your twenty-first month. One Tuesday morning when Daddy was out of town, I heard the recycling truck coming down the street and raced out the kitchen through the garage, leaving both doors open, to take our recycling out at the last minute. You watched as the truck pulled up, lifted our bin with it's claw, dumped our recyclables in to the truck, and then continued down the street with a loud roar. It was love at first sight. We ended up buying you a little Melissa and Doug wooden garbage truck, complete with a bin that fits into a movable arm that dumps it into the truck, and you can't get enough. Last week, I took you outside to watch as the recycling truck visited our house again. You were fascinated as it moved down the street house by house, but got very scared and clung tightly to me when it pulled up in front of our house. It was pretty noisy, so I don't blame you. They are a little safer from afar. However, that one close encounter hasn't dimmed your enthusiasm and you continue to discuss garbage trucks constantly.

Y

You continue to pick up lots of new speech, including manners. You've used the word please (peez) regularly for several months now, but you recently added thank you (tank-oo) and you're welcome (welcome.) You don't always know the appropriate time to say thank you or you're welcome, but you're working on it and we appreciate the effort! You will often hand us something and then immediately say "tank-oo," or, my favorite, "tank-oo welcome!" all as one phrase. You've also started saying I'm sorry (I saw-wee) randomly. I'm not sure you actually know what it means because it will just pop out at odd times, as I'm changing your diaper for example. Once you said it to me about a half hour after you had hit me in the face, so I wondered if that might be a true apology. Even if it wasn't, your sweet little "I saw-wee Mommy" was more than enough to erase any lingering frustration on my part. It's clear that they are working with you on manners at school and we notice your effort.

You've also started saying lots of new phrases-- more than I can count at this point. One of my favorites is "where'd it go?" You will usually preface this with a very dramatic "oh no!" and then follow it up with "right there!" (wite dare!) Or if we ask you where something went, you will always say "wite dare!" and point somewhere nearby (even if that's not where the object is.) It's pretty cute.

Another favorite new expression is your rabbit face. You will scrunch up your nose and then exhale rapidly several times like a rabbit breathing. You have a wide array of animal sounds and expressions, but I can't get enough of your rabbit face.

These days you love to mimic anything we do, from trying on ours shoes or Daddy's hats, helping me "cook" (stirring a wooden spoon inside a pot or colander), or asking "bite? bite?" whenever you see us eating something (even if it's the exact same thing that's on your plate.) You've learned the word for coffee (cop-fee) and are always pointing out "Mommy hot cop-fee" or "Daddy hot cop-fee." Sometimes you'll ask for a "bite?" but we tell you no and you're usually content to drink your milk-- which you refer to as "hot milk"-- instead.

These days you are starting to give unprompted hugs. You will say "ug? ug?" and then walk into my arms and put your head on my shoulder. Frequently you ask me to put you in your bed at night before I've had my fill of snuggles (and I always oblige-- you know what you want), so I am enjoying these other spontaneous displays of affection. You don't really like to give kisses, and barely tolerate receiving them, but you seem to like a good hug now and then. I am always happy to give or receive them.

You are becoming more and more independent, knowledgeable, feisty, and fun-- and each day we look forward to seeing what's next.

Love you buddy!

Mommy

Five on Friday

Another week, another installment of Five on Friday. Here's what's new with me:

1.) Homeland: What would a Five on Friday post be without an update on my latest TV watching habits? Breaking Bad ended (by the way, one of the best series finales ever, am I right?? I love that they tied everything up so nicely), but fortunately a new season of Homeland started the same night. We're a few episodes in and . . . eh. Anyone else feeling that way? I'm really hoping it starts picking up a little bit.

2.) Fun Dinner Plans: Tonight we're having some friends over for a little dinner party. It's been a while since I've exercised my hostessing skills, so I'm looking forward to it! And these days, it's just a lot easier to socialize with friends at home on Nicholas' turf, rather than trying to drag him out to a restaurant somewhere. (We enjoy actually being able to eat our food, and prefer that our toddler doesn't run around threatening servers with stray knives. True story.) We're keeping it simple with a cheese plate to start, followed by a green salad and penne alla vodka (and some vino of course), but it should be tasty.

3.) Pumpkin Time: It just recently dipped below 90 here in Austin, so I've been slow to get on the pumpkin-bedecked everything bandwagon. But, it's officially mid-October, it was cool enough to wear my boots a couple mornings this week, and Halloween will be here before we know it. To get in the holiday spirit, we're packing a picnic and heading out to the pumpkin patch tomorrow. I'm looking forward to a fun family day.

4.) Baby Will: I get to meet one of my besties' brand new baby boy on Sunday. I'm packing them a meal and heading down to San Antonio for the day to get my fill of baby snuggles and that delicious newborn smell.

5.) Awesome Living Social Steal: Please enjoy these awkward bathroom selfies...

Not the best picture of me, but I am loving this new necklace. I've received several compliments on it already, and people have been asking if it's one of J. Crew's gorgeous but egregiously overpriced baubles. Nope. Got it with a Living Social deal to this site for . . . drum roll . . . $12. I don't think this particular style is available anymore, but they have lots of other reasonably priced, cute necklaces. I love a good bargain buy!

Happy weekend!

Twenty Months: A Letter

Dear Nicholas,

You are twenty months, and the fact that your monthly age now begins with a two means we are in the final countdown to your second birthday-- a fact that amazes me daily. Your 20th month began in late August and included Labor Day weekend, your baptism on September 15th . . .

Just before your baptism

All tuckered out after the baptism

 . . . and a visit from your Godfather, Uncle Geoff, towards the end of September.

September 23, 2013, your 20 month birthday

During your 20th month, we saw a big growth in both your gross and your fine motor skills-- and your overall sense of adventure and independence. During our last few trips to the pool in late August and over Labor Day weekend, we discovered that you like (or at least tolerate well) being dunked under water (we would bounce up and down a few times and then count up to three and dunk), and that you love being thrown into the water canon ball style. Daddy would stand up on the side of the pool and then swing you and throw you in the pool into my arms. I always caught you, but you definitely went under water before bobbing back up to the surface. You've loved the pool since you were a baby, but our last few trips to the pool this summer sealed the deal, and towards the end of summer you started loudly proclaiming "yay poohl!" any time you saw your shark floaty in the hall closet.

You also fell in love with the set of Legos (or "way-gos" in your words) that we bought you early in the summer. You've enjoyed playing with them from the beginning, but in the past month, we've seen your fine motor skills take off. You sit quietly and patiently stack tall towers of Legos, lining up all the pieces just so. You also love to build a "boat" with the rounded piece on the bottom and are very creative in how you construct the other shapes to look like a mast and sail. Your concentration and attention to detail are impressive. We are happy for you to pursue any hobby, field of education, or career that interests you, and it's obviously a little to soon to tell where your talents may lie, but I wouldn't be surprised if you end up being very handy or showing a talent for something like engineering.

Your other favorite new toy to play with are your "mah-nas" (magnets.) You love putting magnets on the fridge and then pulling them off, so we got you your own set of letter and number magnets to play with. Right now you love dumping them all over the floor and then haphazardly attaching them to the fridge, but hopefully they'll grow with you as you start to identify letters and numbers.

In the language department, September was the month of commands. A few of your new favorite instructions include "eat it!" (offering us a bite of your food), "get it!" (asking us to pick up anything that has fallen beyond your reach), and "read it!" (while handing us a book.) You also like to say "up!" as a request for us to pick you up, but it's also the word you use when you want to get down.

Football season started during your 20th month and you learned a few important words and phrases, including "Go Ducks!," "Touchdown!" (while raising your arms in a touchdown sign), and "go go go!" (loudly exclaimed when Oregon is rushing for a touchdown.) One evening before bed, we were playing with your farm puzzle. You picked up the duck piece and I asked you what a duck says. Totally unprompted, you paused, looked out the door of your room into the living room at the TV, considered your answer for a moment, and then said "Touchdown!" That's right, buddy, that's right.

You are starting to pick up words to songs. Your recent favorites are "Wo Wo Wo" (Row Row Row Your Boat) and "Py-guh" (The Itsy Bitsy Spider.) Each night before bed, you request each song about 3-5 times. You love it when I hold your hands and help you do the hand gestures for Itsy Bitsy Spider.

Speaking of bedtime, your routine has changed up a little in the past month. After we had your 18 month doctor's visit (at 19 months), we got the OK to switch you from whole milk down to nonfat, which is what I drink normally. At the same time, we decided to stop giving you a sippy cup of milk right before bed. Now you drink your milk with dinner, and then after bath time we put you in your PJs, brush your teeth (not a favorite activity, but the Elmo toothbrush and toothpaste help), read some books, sing the aforementioned songs, and put you in bed. You continue to maintain your normal habit of going to bed around 7/7:30pm, but sometimes you wake up before 6:30am, which is a trend we hope is temporary. You have also had some bouts of waking up repeatedly throughout the night screaming, and you won't fall back asleep unless we go into your room and lay you back down, cover you with your blanket, and reposition your Bert and Ernie dolls. I'm assuming this also just a phase.

We continue to learn more about your personality. Over time we've noticed that you do not like to have dirty hands, and your teachers have affirmed this. At school, you paint or draw tentatively so that you won't get your hands too dirty. At home, you love to shovel (some) foods into your mouth, but you are constantly asking us to wipe off your hands mid-meal. A meal like pasta, for example, requires a lot of paper towels.

At times, you also get very distressed when you spill or drop something. You are constantly pointing out if the floor is wet, or if you've spilled drops of your milk (although this doesn't dissuade you from chucking your sippy cup on the floor or across the room, usually several times each meal, inevitably resulting in little puddles of milk scattered across the kitchen floor.) Even if you aren't distressed by a little spill on the floor, you will still point it out with a concerned "oh no!" or "uh oh!" We always assure you that it's OK or "no big deal" and that we'll clean it up. The jury is still out on whether these tendencies indicate that you will be neat and orderly as an older child (you don't seem to mind baskets of toys dumped all over your room), but I think it's an interesting trend to observe.

One thing we know for sure is that you are smart, and funny, and loving, and these traits will serve you well in life. You are a joy to be around, and everyone who meets you loves spending time with you!

Much love,
Mommy

A Day in the Life

A year ago, I did my first Day in the Life post. Nicholas was just 8 months old, and it was one of my last few days as a stay at home mom before I went back to work. Quite a bit has changed! I recently documented one of our days as part of my Working Mommy post for Stafford Stories, but I wanted to share it here as well.

Tuesday, September 17th was a pretty typical day for us lately.

4:45am – Our morning starts out a little rough. Nicholas has always slept a solid 12 hours from about 7pm to 7am (or if he did wake up, he could usually put himself back to sleep), but over the past few weeks, he has started waking up several times a night screaming. And he won’t go back to sleep on his own unless we go in and comfort him. I read recently that toddlers can start having dreams and nightmares at this age (19-20 months), so I don’t know if that’s the problem, or if it’s teething, or if it’s something else. Anyone have experience with this? Anyway, it was Jason’s turn to go comfort him, so he gets up, but I am awake and unable to really fall back asleep.

6:15am – And he’s crying again. This time I’m pretty sure Nicholas is just up for the day. He used to get up at 7am or later, but since the nighttime screaming has started, he’s waking up earlier in the morning. I go get him, change his diaper, and bring him into our room. Jason is getting out of the shower, so he takes Nicholas into the kitchen for breakfast.

6:40am – Morning has never been my forte. I finally drag myself back out of bed and into the shower.

7:00am – I join the boys for breakfast. Coffee. Need coffee.

7:30am – Jason leaves for work and I take Nicholas into my bathroom while I finish getting ready.

Keeping it real here—this is what my bathroom looks like after I attempt to blow dry my hair and put on make-up with a toddler running around. And, yes, those are what you think they are. Sometimes, feminine hygiene products strewn across the bathroom floor are worth 5 minutes of peace.

8:00am – I run around the house gathering my laptop bag, purse, possibly a gym bag if I’m working out that day (but not today), and anything Nicholas needs for daycare, and then we finally head out the door. Most mornings, I am usually sweating by the time I strap him into the car seat. (In all fairness, it’s about 95 degrees inside our garage. That’s just Texas.) Getting out the door is a marathon.

8:40am – We arrive at daycare. Thankfully, today’s drop off goes smoothly.

8:45am – And I’m back in the car for the quick drive over to my office.

8:55am – I walk in the door to my office and organize myself at my desk. Time to get myself psyched up for the day.

9:15am – I walk up the street to the local Starbucks with a few co-workers. Today requires a second cup of coffee.

9:35am – OK, back at my desk. Time to really get focused for the day. I am working on a big marketing plan for our next fiscal year and have quite a bit of writing to do—if I can ever get done with all the little requests that keep coming in via email.

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WORK

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5:15pm – I pack up my bags and head out of the office. We alternate daycare drop-off and pick-up, so it’s Jason’s turn this evening. Meanwhile, I head to the grocery store to pick up some shrimp for our dinner. (I always meal plan for the week, but usually plan to drop by the grocery store once midweek, if necessary, to pick up any really perishable ingredients like shrimp.)

5:40pm – I arrive home, do a quick 5 minute tidy up of the kitchen and organize myself to make dinner.

5:50pm – Jason and Nicholas arrive home. About half the time, all three of us eat together as a family. The rest of the time, we’ll feed Nicholas first and then eat our dinner after he goes to bed. This evening, I know I won’t have our dinner ready in time to eat together, we sit Nicholas down in his high chair. He doesn’t seem hungry, so he winds up just eating a big bowl of Greek yogurt with some apricot jam mixed in. Not the most well-balanced meal, but he’s your typical toddler—some days he eats anything he can get his hands on, and other days not much at all. I know in the end it all balances out, and he is growing and healthy, so I don’t worry about it too much.

6:15pm – Bath time! This is usually Jason’s quality time with Nicholas. On the nights we all eat together, I use this time to clean up the kitchen. Tonight I use it to start cooking our dinner. We are having a tried and true shrimp and grits recipe from Southern Living. It’s a lighter version of the southern staple, quick to prepare, and super tasty.

6:30pm – Nicholas is bathed and changed into PJs. He plays in his room a little bit with Jason. I pop in for a few minutes to play with him.

6:40pm – Nicholas is ready to start winding down for bed. Dinner is pretty well under control. I usually put Nicholas to sleep at night and that is our quality time. I take him into the bathroom to brush his teeth (not his favorite activity—it’s kind of like wrestling a cat). Then we head into his bedroom to read several stories, rock, and sing a song or two. We pull the shades, turn on his white noise machine, and dim the lights. I let him pick out a few favorite books, and then we settle into the glider. Some times we look at his animal flashcards. After we’ve read for a little while, he’ll ask me to sing “Py-ger” (The Itsy Bitsy Spider) or “Wo wo wo” (Row, Row, Row Your Boat.) Finally, I put him into his crib and after I kiss him, his Bert, and his Ernie, then I wish him goodnight and head out the door.

7:05pm – I throw the shrimp into the pan to finish up the shrimp and grits recipe, set the table, and serve our meal.

7:15pm – Dinner time! We always sit down at the table for dinner and, on the nights it’s just the two of us, this is when we catch up with each other and reconnect.

7:45pm – Jason cleans up the dishes, while I go start a load of laundry. Then together we quickly fold a load of laundry sitting on the couch.

8:15pm – And it’s finally relaxation time! There are plenty of nights when we’ll each go do our own thing, but tonight we decide to watch an episode of Hard Knocks (HBO’s reality show documenting NFL training camp for the Cincinnati Bengals) together. NFL football is normally not really my thing, but the show is actually really interesting.

9:05pm – We straighten up the living room for a minute and then head into our room to start getting ready for bed.

9:35pm – I climb into my bed and open my Kindle. When I’m in the middle of a good book—tonight it’s Sisterland—I like to read for a few minutes before bed.

10:05pm – Lights out!