Happy Monday

Happy Monday all! So, just because we all need a little smile and a wave hello (and who doesn't love cute kids doing it).... Hello!! Oh, and please excuse the french toast syrup face and morning playroom destruction.

picture by K.Innes

Dirt!

So I just have to share this photo. Granted my son is playing with his new tablet (thank you Grandma R.) but check out the dirt. I think he brought more home than he left at day care. Must have been a real good day of playing outside. And this is after both our day care and my husband worked to clean him up. I guess you could say his shirt is very appropriate for the situation :)

Update-- 6/20/12

Motivated by my friend Mar, I entered Dunc into Joshua's Photo Party... and low and behold!!! We won first place for the week. Check us out over here....Our Footprints on the World.

Sesame Street Live

This year the hubs and I took Duncan to Sesame Street live for his 2nd birthday and it was quite an experience. We bought our tickets as soon as we could and ended up with GREAT seats on the floor, just to the right of the stage. Duncan was excited to go, after a bit of walking around and some Annie's bunny snacks, he settled in for the show. It was a bit overwhelming at first we could tell--he stuck to me like glue-- but by the time Elmo's World started he was dancing in the isles. As with any two year old, time is of the essence and we made it through about 3/4th of the show before Duncan just couldn't handle much more--I'm just happy he made it through intermission! We headed to lunch at a restaurant in town for hotdogs, bbq, and hamburgers and by the time the three of us got into the car to head home, Duncan was fast asleep for a 3 HOUR nap (it was heavenly!). All in all... a pretty good birthday celebration if I do say so myself. Now, just if they had a Thomas the Tank Engine traveling show... we'd be set for life!

Our seats, right up front near the stage. The characters came down and visited us a couple of times during the show.

Having our Annie's bunny snacks.
We pretty much can't go anywhere with out these :)

The start of the show.

Duncan was a bit overwhelmed by everything at first. That quickly changed once he saw Elmo and Cookie Monster.

Ernie came down off the stage into the crowd. Duncan really wanted to meet him.

A quick picture of daddy, taken by Duncan of course.

Dancing in the isle and having a great time.

Ernie captaining the S.S. Rubber Duckie.  This was daddy's favorite part.

Duncan at 23 months

It really is hard to believe my little guy is almost 2 years old. For the last few months Duncan really has been talking up a storm and picking up language like a sponge. He shows almost no fear and will climb anything. It is so cool. So for the amusement of future me when I go back to read this, as well as for all of you,  here is just a small list of what Duncan can do.

 

Words Duncan Uses

Dad, Daddy

Mom, Mommy, Mama

Dun-kin (his name) 

Tank chu (thank you), peez (please)

cookie, ray-sen (raisins), pankak (his favorite pancakes)

muf-hen (muffin), hotdoog (hotdog)

chik-hen (chicken) and hum (ham)

drink, milk, tea (he loves iced tea)

squeeze (his word for the squeezable yogurt and applesauce)

moon, sun, star

various animals, (usually followed by the sound they make)--cow, heep (sheep), duck, kit-tey (kitty/cat), dog, bird, pig...

train, car, truck, ar-pane (airplane), fiwertruck (firetruck)

fow-er (flower)

bye-bye ____(fill in blank)

hi ____ (fill in blank)

seep (sleep)

up
com, mom (as he holds your hand and asks you to come with him)

red, bloo (blue), geen (green), wello (yellow), purpuh (purple), ornge (orange)

he counts--albeit not quite in order--to 20

there it is

it's dark, it's quit (quiet)

here

No (of course--what 2 year old doesn't say it)
alll-right (alright)

ok or I'mma ok if he falls/drops something etc.

all don (done)

bathhhh (elongate that h) and showr (shower)

knock, knock and whoz tere (who's there)

Lee-lei (his friend Eli)

outhide (outside) also repeated over and over, this time 2 inches from your face with really wide eyes.

Really.-- I could go on and on. He soaks it up and repeats.  I just love listening to him, he is trying to copy everything he hears.

Things Duncan Does

He loves putting things on his head, building with blocks, putting toilet paper in the toilet or the toilet brush, or his cars... we have to keep the bathroom doors shut and the seats down, going outside to play (swings and slides are his favorite), stopping to smell and/or pick a flower, and eating his beloved pancakes, blueberry muffins, bananas (really any fruit). He is forever building pillow forts, loves being tickled, talking, he plays by himself quite a bit, "reads" books to us and looks at pictures, can turn on and unlock our phones if he is given the opportunity,  and is nuts for Dinosaur Train and Thomas the Tank Engine. He has such a gentle soul but is stubborn as a mule and will throw a mighty temper tantrum if given the opportunity.  

I'm sure there's so many other things that I cant think of right now but he is so fun and I completely love this boy... he is so hilarious!

Easter Memories

This year was Duncan's first "real" Easter--to know what is going on and to get excited for the day. This year we did our egg hunt after nap time since our morning was pretty busy with church and other things. All I can say was that bunny brought some pretty cool things--no candy, but lots of matchbox cars (in the eggs no less), and books. Duncan had a great time. How do I know? Here's a recap of our activities from both of our perspectives with a few pictures thrown in--enjoy.

Do I like my new Big Truck? Yes I do!

  Me: "Duncan, what did we do first today?"

  Duncan: "get dressed and eat pancake mom"

  Me: "Did we go to church?"

  Duncan: Yes, mom. I colored"
 
  Me: "What did we eat for lunch?"

  Duncan: "Dinosaur chicken (dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets),   cumber (cucumber), grapes, and drink!"

My first Easter egg hunt!

Me: "Did the Easter bunny come"?

Duncan: "Yes, jump, jump, bunny"

Me: "What did he bring you"?

Duncan: "Big Truck, cars, and eggs." (A matchbox truck and cars and of course hunting eggs)

Hey... what's over there?

Me: "What else?"

Duncan: "And Thomas mom" (as he shows off his new book about Thomas the Tank Engine)

Me: "Did you have fun today?"

Duncan: "Alright!"

Bringing my eggs to daddy.

Our day was pretty magical.  I hope you agree, and I hope you had a blessed holiday. Now... it's time for me to make the "after Easter day" deviled eggs. YUM!

Eggs, eggs, and more eggs!

Bathtime = FUN

Thanks to pinterest, tonight we have created a new tradition in our house -- bathtub paint. All I can say is was a HUGE hit with Duncan who spent almost an hour in the tub playing and making a mess--umm-- I mean masterpiece :)  It really is a breeze to make -- all you need is shaving cream, food coloring, a muffin tin and a paint brush.

Yes... it really is this easy folks!

 The finished product--green, red, yellow, blue, and purple paint! (yes, I know... the purple looks funky, but it's purple!)



Duncan really enjoyed making a mess, but the shaving cream makes it a breeze to clean up (ie. just rinse it away with water).  Sometimes its nice to have an extended bathtime since it means Duncan can get to be creative (and get some more energy out) and I get to get some quality time in. It really is a win-win :)

Playing with my paint

It Snowed!!

One of the things about living in Virginia is the lack of snow. It has been a big adjustment for my husband and I since both of us are northerners by birth and we moved from the west (Colorado to be exact) to our new home. We didn't have a white Christmas this year, no sledding and hot chocolate, snowmen or snow angels... it's been a bit depressing. Until yesterday. At last, we got a "dusting" -- 3 inches!!! I even had a 2 hour delay to work--heaven! Dunc who had never really played in snow (last year he was only just 9 months) was amazed and excited. So as I headed out the door clean off my car, I wrapped up Duncan in his boots, coat, hat and mittens and off we went. He had such a good time. Daddy even came out to play a bit too.

                                  After our first snowball "fight"--one of my favorite snow pictures

                                                            Playing chase in the snow

                                                                       What fun this is!

After my car was clean, a mini snow ball "fight" and making some snow angels, off I went to work, and Duncan inside to enjoy a snack with Daddy. What a perfect way to start my morning and my week. How blessed I am for this time. May you be blessed with a moment this week too.

A Valentine's Story: A Boy and His Balloon

Happy Valentine's Day to all. Our family has been a bit busy (a.k.a. crazy) for the past two weeks, so Valentine's kind of sneaked up on us. No date night, candy, flowers, or gifts, but instead homemade baked potato soup, crusty bread (for Duncan and myself) and ice cream for dessert. Simple and my husband and I loved it. But what to do for a rowdy 21 month old? Simple...a balloon.

Since the age of 3 months, Dunc has been fascinated with balloons--the color, size, shape...everything about them. At first it was all about watching them float around. Now a days, it's about banging, jumping, and rough housing--and carrying his "ba-loon" where ever he goes (including is "tiny place hideout").  Hope you enjoy some pictures of smiles and love of a boy and his balloon. Happy Valentine's all.

Playing with my "ba-loon".  It's the best valentine's present ever.

Where did mommy go? By the way, did you notice my
artwork on the wall behind me? I surprised mommy with that!

Please, please, no more pictures...

Just hanging out in my tiny place (a cupboard in the bathroom)