Raspberries

What is it about raspberries- the cute baby noise, not the fruit- that is just the best noise? And I somehow managed to capture a picture that shows it mid-spray!

Birthday celebration

Since I was returning back to work so soon after little man's bday, I didn't plan a big party with the family.  Instead, we did a number of little celebrations.  The one with cupcakes was on his actual bday with yummy desserts from bakery house.   We sang, had a candle, ate, but mostly made a mess, as evidence shows below.  Happy birthday Little man!

Salad, exhaustion, and I'm still alive

Hubs left for CA on thursday and will be back tomorrow morning.  Thank goodness!  I am exhausted! While we've had fun and gone on adventures, I definitely am glad to have hubs as my partner in this adventure called parenthood.  

Thursday morning, little man and I dropped big guy off at school and then hung out in little man's class for about 45 minutes playing and chatting.  Then we went to the Target to get some paper towels, baby food, and summer shoes for both boys.  I got little man a cute pair of water shoes.  And I got big guy a pair of swimmy shoes, which are a little big, but he can wear them next year, too, as well as a pair of flip flops with the strap in the back.  Those are a bit small, but will do.  Hopefully next year he will be coordinated enough to wear real flip flops without falling all over the place!  Dinner we went to Wendy's and called it a night.  

Friday I convinced big guy to stay home from school- he absolutely loves it! We went over to our friend's house who also have an almost 5 year old and 1 year old.  It was a really lovely visit, as we hadn't been to their house in almost a year. Usually the little girl and big guy get injured because they are all wild, but they both did a really great job of behaving and played really nicely.  I was so pleased!  We had lunch with them and then went home.  Little man was so exhausted, he passed out in car and did a nice transition to his crib for nap time.  Big guy and I hung out and watched some tv. For dinner, we went over to little C's house and had a fun "make your own salad" dinner.  Little man surprised me by devouring all these green beans!  Which pureed he hated, but he loved them all crunchy!  And this makes me happy because I have about 20 green bean plants in our veggie garden this year.  After dinner, we played outside. Little C and big guy pretended that one of the bushes in the yard was a monster that ate frisbees, bunnies, and other sundry yard items. It was hilarious! 

Saturday, my dear friend R came over bright and early and we went to the philly zoo.  Even though it was raining lightly on and off, it was a great visit.  What people don't realize is that there is a lot of indoor space at the zoo for bad weather days.  We did manage to see a lot, including monkeys, kids zoo, reptile/amphibian house, african animals, the big cats, and some bears.  Personal favorite was in the kids zoo where I had a deep and meaningful conversation with a turkey.  All in gobble.  Big guy loved the hippos.  Little man loved the lions, he was waving to them as they hung out in front of the window.  It was a really great visit, we even managed to eat outside under a tree.  Little man passed out in the stroller on the way through the zoo and stayed asleep in the carseat, but didn't manage the transition to the crib.  No surprises there.  We were all really exhausted yesterday afternoon, so we had pizza and I had a giant salad with raw and roasted veggies.  Part way through dinner, little man was losing his noodle and kept pointing at my salad.  I finally gave him some of my broccoli, dressing and all, he devoured.  Then he had a lucky grab and got my container.  He then proceeded to paw through my salad and eat lettuce, carrots, onions, and squash!  I was so impressed!

Last night was a rough night of sleep.  The cats got into a fight on top of me at one point.  Little man woke up and wouldn't go back down.  Big guy then woke up and was arguing with me about laying down.  Finally, at 4, I just had everyone safely ensconced with me and we got to sleep for a few more hours.  We took a nice long walk this morning, followed by playing outside, then following a major breakdown by big guy, we went to supermarket.  Not sure what's on tap for the afternoon, but I know I'm excited for hubs to be home tomorrow.  And I've already decided that they are both going to school tomorrow.  Mama needs a break!

Brothers

The boys have embarked on a love-fest this week. Just constantly hugging and wanting to be with each other.  I relate this to going to school together.  They have a new bond and both sets of their teachers say they are thrilled when they see each other during the day.  Could they be any cuter?

Longwood garden visit

Way past due but I wanted to post with pictures.  We went to longwood gardens in may and it was just delightful!  We got there right around opening time and spent several hours enjoying the weather, walking, seeing pretty flowers, and splashing in fountains. 

 inside the tree house!  He's such a big boy in this picture, it blows my mind!

 Big guy avoiding having his picture taken, though he was loving all the flowers!

Ah! Children's fountain garden, greatest invention ever.  Bring towel and change of clothes like we do and the fun doesn't have to be hampered by wet, cranky children and nude driving home!

Morris Arboretum

On the sunday before the week of fun, gmom dino and I took the boys to the morris arboretum.  the weather was stellar, sunny and warm.  We especially enjoyed the trains, which are up all year, as well as the rose garden, swan pond and fountains! And we ate lunch under a tree, so delightful!

Elmwood park zoo

On wednesday of the week of adventures, they went to the elmwood park zoo and partied.  They fed bison! Fed girafffes!  Saw animals of all kinds!  Played on the playground!

 Carousels are really fun!  While big guy opted for an up and down, little man chose stationary!

 Nothing says fun like pretending to be a turtle with a sideways hat! He's so cute, I can't stand it!

Bison, as well as giraffes, really enjoy romaine lettuce leaves.  Yum-o!

Crayola Factory

On my second week of work, hubs and gmom dino had both boys for a week of adventure!  The first monday, they went to the crayola factory experience and it was as big guy dubbed it, "the best day of my life!" So sweet!  I can't even begin to describe all that they did, mostly because I wasn't there.  but I will say this, if you have a small child who likes art and a little bit of chaos, you should go.  They colored!  They painted! they sculpted!  It was an amazing day.  And they both napped on the way home, always a bonus, since it was an hour and a half away.  Below are some pics of the experience:

Bye bye pre-K

Two weeks ago, big guy graduated from pre-k!  It was a glorious morning, most of which I missed because I had to go to another graduation, the one from work.  But I did get to see my big guy get his "diploma" sing some adorable songs- about going to kindergarten and graduating, so precious.  Anywho, as part of the ceremony, everyone had to say what they wanted to be when they grew up.  Big guy said, "A Painter." Though I have strong suspicions he was answering what he would like to do later!  I gave him a big hug before I had to leave, but hubs, gmom dino, and little man got to eat some food and party afterwards.  Then that night we went out to dinner to celebrate.  Congrats, big guy!

the pool!

Last weekend was hot and sunny and we went to the pool both days!  Well, technically I was working on saturday, so they went on saturday, but I got to go on sunday and it was awesome!  We got there right when it opened at 11 and then stayed until about 1ish.  Little man and I started off in the baby pool while big guy and hubs were in the big pool.  Little man was a pro.  He was splashing, walking around, standing with the little sprayers hitting his butt.  He loved every second of it, as I was sure he would. Big guy of course was loving life, because the pool is just the best.  WE had lunch around noon and then we switched, big guy with me in big pool while hubs took little man.  Unfortunately, being a toddler with not enough body fat means that once one is out of the pool and then back in, coldness sets in. Within ten mins, hubs brought little man over with the shaking lower lip.  I told him to strip him and wrap him in a towel to warm up.  Sadly, we had only taken one car, so we had to leave, much to the sadness of big guy and I, who could spend all day in the pool. But naptime was nice and calm and then hubs grilled dinner and we all ate heartily!

School- a definite success!

Last week was the first week of the new school for big guy and for school in general for little man.  My anxiety was extremely high following the terrible visit little man had the week before.  Drop off proved to be challenging for hubs, as little man put on his "angry face" which consists of furrowed brows and pouty lip.  Followed by hysterical tears! And big guy was feeling sad that little man was sobbing so much.

However, by the time I came for pick up, all was right with the world.  Little man had a great day playing in the room, exploring, plus since he's the oldest and only walker, he really did have run of the place.  He ate nicely and slept during naptime, without needing to be rocked to sleep- which, apparently, he's been playing me!  Anyway, the rest of the week, followed and improved in much the same way.  The highlights include little man absconding from his group to do water play, in which he was in a diaper loving life!  The kid loves water.  Also, buggy rides, he just loves being outside.  And his fun personality is starting to come out, his laughter and smiles.  I come around 3:15 and nurse him either right after he wakes up, but mostly he's still sleeping and so thus wakes up fully nursing and then is very happy.  His teachers are just delightful, very sweet and nice.  And they just love his cute face and fun loving spirit!

Big guy has had an even better week.  Mostly due to the fact that he gets to swim monday through thursday and is getting swim lessons.  He is so happy there and tells me how much he loves kindergarten!  So sweet and such a joy to hear.  He is doing a really nice job of adjusting.  Playing and making new friends, sharing his talents with friends and his teachers are impressed with his transition.  I've had a few really good conversations with both teachers about my concerns about weaknesses and strengths and they have listened attentively.  I'm feeling that not only will this be a great experience for him, but that he is really going to blossom.

So, we are entering week two, which probably won't be a full week, since I'm done work on wednesday, but then again, hubs is leaving on thursday for California, so maybe I'll need a break!  Overall, a really successful week!

Hives. Again.

Last Friday was big guy's graduation from pre-k. Kind of a big deal. Big guy woke up covered in hives. Again! At least this time they were small and not really on his face very much. Just the torso. Hello, Benadryl! Anywho, he was also very tired and very grouchy. I had taken the morning off to go to his graduation, so I was of two minds. Fine, miss it. He won't remember. No, he has to go, it's a rite of passage. He went. And then he was on meds for a few more days. I think it was just the end of whatever illness he had that had started with the hives.

Pizza

I think little mans favorite new food is pizza! He just loves it! And he's not picky like big guy, he will actually eat plain pizza without making a face. And the really great in that he wants to be a big kid and really bit so great because he shoves too much in and almost chokes about the pizza is that he wants to hold bigger pieces of good now and take bites. This includes pizza, watermelon, cantaloupe, crackers, and toast.

Quote of the day

We've had a couple of really good quotes in our house lately. Some more profound then others.

Last Saturday figuring out where to go for dinner:
Me: Does the great American pub sell liquor?
Hubs: did you really just ask me that?

Last night when hubs was looking for computer so big guy could watch a show during bathtime.
Dino: I'll dance for you until the show comes on.
Big guy: that dancing is making me poop.

Almost couldn't breathe I was laughing so hard.

Walking man

So, little man has been dabbling in walking. A few steps here and there. That is until last Monday when he had his first day with Dino all by themselves. Bam! I came home and he was just toddling around. Full on monster walk- swaying side to side. Arms stretched out for balance! And now, just about two weeks later, he's still a little shaky, but he definitely walks where he wants to go rather than crawl!