Hot Ride

 :: July 28, 2011 ::

First bike "ride"

His feet may not reach the pedals, but he sure does think he's hot stuff...

especially when squeaking the bike's squeaker monster/horn!

At the Car Wash

Alekzander's "new" shiny ride!

:: Radio Flyer Push Trike ::

Tot Deals

{Top to bottom, left to right}

5 pairs of pants {+ {{not pictured}} OshKosh overalls} :: Collection of clothes :: Carter's polo one-piece outfit :: 3 cold weather tops {Carter's sweatshirt, Children's Place lined jacket, OshKosh vest} :: Brand new {tags on} Cookie Monster Halloween costume {pancho style} :: 4 LS shirts {including 1 Old Navy sweater} :: Brand new {tags on} Paul Frank rain jacket :: Unscuffed, barely-if ever-worn rainboots ::  Shiny, unscratched Radio Flyer Push and Steer Trike :: Thomas the Train helmet and knee pads ::  Unscuffed, barely-if ever-worn CP snow boots :: Plaid button up shirt {+ {{not pictured}} Snugli Backpack Carrier for hiking :: Andrew's favorite find}

All found and purchased within two hours at Charlotte's TotTrade for less than $145.  The RF trike and backpack carrier together would have cost close to if bought {brand new} from a retail store!  So basically, we got all of our additional goodies for free!  And we got to spend time as a family ... and have a late, delicious dinner at Ikea.  My boys are such troopers!

I secretly can't wait for Fall/Winter so that Alekzander can wear all of his new clothes!

Twenty Months

 At 20 months old ...

I have started to say "Iloveyouuu" {1}
When I wake up in the morning, I yell, "MAMA.  Whereareyou?" {2}
I like wa-wles and 'nanas for breakfast. {3}
Blueberries and strawberries are still my favorite. {4}
I love Elmo, but only on youtube.com. {5}

I call all chairs "nanos" like the piano bench.  If I point to any surface including the floor and say "nano,"  Mama and Dada are trained well enough to sit! {6}
My timeout bench is one of my favorite "nanos" in the house.  Seriously.  

But I don't like to sit on it when Mama makes me when I've been naughty. {7}
If you let me, I will make my own decision between milk or water.  

A boy knows what he wants, ok?! {8}
Wednesday is my favorite day.  I like watching for the garbage trucks. {9}
Whenever I see a train, I say, "Choo Choo!" {10}

In the car, I do role call until I determine that both Mama and Dada are still there. {11}

I love dancing.  Sometimes my feet just move excitedly in one place. {12}
I play with my floating zoo and my knit "ah-min-als" every day.  Dada and I like to have snowball fights with them, but I always join Mama's team and we win! {13}

More than once, I have climbed up the big kitchen "nano" and also climbed onto the kitchen table in a matter of seconds. {14}
I pull pillows on to the floor and pretend to sleep.  {15}

Reading books is my favorite thing to do.  When Mama lets me have "independent playtime" in my room, I climb up into my big rocking chair and open a book.  

She thinks I'm being naughty because I am quiet, but I'm just soaking in smartness. {16}
I have good manners already.  I consistently say, "thane-cue" and sign "please." {17}
I can point to all of the features on my faces and can say, "nose, eyes, and mouth."  

Unrelated :: I call a mouse, mouth too.  House is houth.  Obviously. {18}
I love ICE.  I ask for it often.  I can hear it rattling in your glass 

and will get mad if I don't have some in mine. {19}
I will throw a tantrum if you don't let me play outside!  

I am all boy and love getting dirty and sweaty. {20}

MyGym Monkey

 Alekzander is going to have LONG legs like Daddy!

 First time hanging like a monkey ... on his own!!!

{July 14, 2011}

 So proud of our little monkey!

 And he is so proud of himself!

Juuuuuu!

Mmmmm!  Watermelon juuuuuu!

Saying No

 Saying "No" to this face is getting harder and harder.

But more and more necessary.

New Fwends

You would have thought these two cute little girls, Alexa and Cassie, had been friends for their whole lives.  They held hands, and held conversations without even talking; they shared a water bottle and an interest in our handsome little boy.  They decided to befriend Alekzander and took his hand and ran down the hill and back after checking with me, sitting on our blanket, and watching him drink his water.  {They approved of his need to hydrate on a hot day though they were slightly concerned about him soaking his outfit by spilling water on himself and the blanket.}  They made it back up the hill and proceeded to show off {for a one year old's attention} as four year olds do.  Cassie jumped off the second step of the bleachers and hurt her knee.  She cried and cried until her photographer mommy came up the hill and teased her that she should wear knee pads since she hurt her knees again!  While Cassie was crying, Alexa split.  She was clearly the quiet one, and fed off her friend's energy and extroversion, but wanted nothing to do with tears and drama. 

Once Cassie recovered, she ran back up the hill to reunite with her "fwends".  She began yelling, "Fwend!  Where are you?  Fwend?  Fwend!"  I had to laugh because I thought these little girls were best friends.  She looked at me and asked in a sweet, and absolutely serious manner, "What was my fwend's name?"  I told her and then pointed to where Alexa was sitting with her mommy.  

I kind of loved watching their interactions; it reminded me to be a "fwend" to all.  And even if you can't remember your new "fwend's" name {or occupation or kid's name}, you can still make memories and share fun adventures in the moment.

Patriotic Petals

Stop :: Smell the flowers :: Soak in the beauty all around

Seneca Lake Wine Tour - July 5, 2011

Simply Seneca

Simple scenic views on Lake Seneca, Geneva, NY

Running free in the fields behind Zugibe Vineyards

Seneca Lake Wine Tour - July 5, 2011

Grape Gatherings

 Alekzander & Dada :: Playing at scenic Zugibe Vineyards

 Alekzander & Mama :: Checking out the grape vines at Ventosa Vineyards

"Really, Mama and Dada?  Another winery?" :: Bagg Dare at Three Brothers Winery

During the last day of our Northern adventures, we decided to check out some of the wineries along Seneca Lake.  We ate lunch overlooking the vines at Ventosa, walked the grounds at Three Brothers, and while Andrew and I shared tastes of wine, Alekzander flirted with the pretty girls pouring the wine and snacked on  the wineries' crackers and pretzels, and met a little girlfriend who was tagging along with her parents, too.  Alekzander was such a great sport and it was a perfect day of family togetherness.

Tomato Please

Alekzander {The Sneak and The Mooch} grabbed a fresh picked tomato, still warm from the sun, off the table and took a big bite out of it as if he was eating an apple.  While Andrew had different plans for the tomato (tomato sandwich), I couldn't say no to my little one's healthy palate.  He successfully devoured every single edible part of the tomato ... minus the juice that rolled off his chin and down his sweet, round belly. 

Slide!

1)  Ready, set, go.    2)  Brace yourself.    3) Splash!

Open-mouthed anticipatory joy is the.best.thing.ever.

Hazy Days

To say it has been hot in Charlotte is a bit of an understatement.  We love being outside, so we brave the heat every day for a few minutes of hot, hazy, humid fun.  Because of the high temperatures, Alekzander has donned a diaper only for the last week! 

Today, the camera could not deal with the stark difference between the cool house and the suffocating hot air outside.  Many may have deleted this picture because of the fogged lens, ruining the picture, but I love it.  The house, on loan from best buddy Brooks, is the perfect size for Alekzander; he looks like a "real boy" coming out of his perfectly proportioned "real house." 

Sunset Swim

It was apparently a great night for a sunset swim! 

Andrew and Shawn walked into the lake to help a boater who had grounded his boat, and with a camera in one hand, and Alekzander dragging me into the water by my other, I decided this was not going to be a battle I fought.  What harm was it if Alekzander went for a swim in all of his clothes? {Plus Dada would be wet from the waist down anyway, so he could carry our little wet boy back to the car!}  He had has brave pants on and waded out until the water was almost lapping at his belly button ... and he belly flopped.  And then laughed and squealed with open-mouthed joy, and did it again and again.  He chatted with lake mermaids, splashed in the warm lake water, and collected some seaweed in his ten-pound diaper!  As the sun was going down {way past bedtime already}, we had a happy {albeit soggy} baby.

Grains of Joy

Beach Girl Mama bringing Alekzander on to the sand of Sylvan Beach.

His first experience of sand between his toes since he has been walking.

{Conflicted on whether or not this experience "counts" as this is not a "real beach" in my eyes!}

Look!  Sand!

 I love it!

 Whoa!  Fun!

Sweet boy, you may not understand this yet, but God made every single grain of sand with great care and finesse.  {There are some places where you absolutely cannot deny the work of God.  The beaches {salty or not} and the mountains are two such places.}  He made the sand of Sylvan Beach, NY, of Virginia Beach, VA (mommy's hometown), of Vernazza Beach in Italy, and all the other beaches in the world.  If He cared enough to make each grain of sand {that ended up in all of your nooks and crannies}, think of the care He used when he made you, our precious boy.  Full of joy, love, a sense of adventure, a sweet combination of caution and fearlessness, and a juxtaposed quiet calmness and crazy, endless energy.  He made you, perfectly.  We can't wait to explore with you, encourage you, and love you {even more} as we watch you grow.

Beach Buddies

We only got to visit with our sweet friends {Shawn, Kristy, and Bryson} for a little while, but the little boys made the most of their time together.  Their dadas are forever friends and Bryson and Alekzander are fast friends for sure.  Within minutes, they were sharing toys {to the best of their toddler abilities!} and then this meltable moment happened ... Alekzander reached out for Bryson's hand!  They walked together along Oneida Lake until we reached the sand of Sylvan Beach.  While Bryson is the NY native, it looked like Alekzander was showing his buddy the sights.

Picture by Kristy Roes

It looks like we may have a little leader on our hands!