Prego Brain

With 4 1/2 weeks left, I am ready to be done with this prego business. My head doesn't work properly, gravity is no longer my friend, and I can't even read Tate books on my lap without his bony little elbows and baby's bony protuberances colliding. So last week Josh and I finally put up pictures in the house to make it look and feel more like our home. I love the set up of the frames, but some of the pictures need to be replaced. During nap time on Friday I decided to get things done and ordered the much needed pictures. Each day I excitedly check the mail for the package of happiness, but today I found that I sent it to the wrong address... A Utah address... Oh the brilliance of prego me.

Tate is showing off his personality more every day. In church on Sunday during the sacrament he was contentedly sitting beside me when all the sudden he popped up like a daisy and shouted, "Daddy? Where are you daddy," as Josh passed the sacrament. The branch presidency seemed to enjoy it so I didn't worry about it to much. That night he went to bed on time like normal, but an hour later cries for his binky could be heard. Josh went to rescue him from his binky-less dilemma and after listening to him look for 5 minutes, I went to go join the search. Tate was kindly saying, "Binky? Where are you binky?" over and over. As I came in he said, "Mommy will find you." Daddy did end up finding the binky but I love that he just knew I could do it. Tate thought watching his parents crawl all over was hilarious and was even more delighted when daddy gave him a turn with the flashlight. He did not want to part with it and probably would have gazed into it like a deer all night if we had let him. What a funny little man.

We LOVE cookie dough!

How daddy really feels about sharing his Legos.

Anything with wheels.

 Tate played with Legos for the first time last week with Daddy and has found one of his favorite things to do. He prefers his Legos pre-assembled, but he'll soon catch onto the building thing I am sure.

   

Brownie Batter

With our relaxing Sunday afternoon we decided to make brownies as a family. The highlight of course was the batter. I have many fond memories licking spoons covered in delicious substances after helping in the kitchen so I sent my boys to work. Tate excelled at the licking and Josh was quite the chef mixing the boxed brownies with the 3 measured ingredients. We sure know how to do it around here. They turned out delicious! A successful Sunday activity for sure!

Loving the tongue action.

Apples aren't as delicious after brownie goodness.

See him eying the bowl?

A Park Adventure

Yesterday a good friend and I set out on a walk. We decided to be adventurous and cut through some unpaved territories to get a park I had driven to previously; we wanted to shorten the distance to a stroller friendly walk. After about a solid 30-45 minute walk, we arrived at the park to find it under construction. To appease our two toddling children we decided to brave playing on an empty school playground with the intent to plead ignorance if someone came out to get mad at us. Since school is in session we were a little worried, but figured we wouldn't get in to much trouble, the worst they would do was kick us off. My friend has an 8 month old who by this time needed a nap and then her little girl needed a bathroom. So into the school she went with her ID and her little girl while I manned the men. I haven't had to worry about bathrooms yet so that was an eye opener. So after they returned and they had a quick play we loaded her little boy in my reclining stroller and Tate got to ride rear facing and talk to my friend the whole ride home.... It was so much funnier experiencing it. Anyway here are some pictures of Tate exploring the playground with his teddy bears and water - life's essentials.  When we finally got home we both crashed. It was a wonderful day!

Today's adventure included fireman Tate at the museum. He loved the hat, and would pat his head and ask for it anytime it fell off!

Growing Up

The last few weeks have been crazy. We moved and I had my first experience with a child throwing up... I'd be happy as a lark (I think that's how the saying goes...) if I never had to experience that again, but I do consider myself blessed Tate is as old as he is. It was miserable. It also made me realize my nights full of sleep are numbered and I need to savor each and every one. In all of the change my blogging has been neglected. I feel like I can't write unless I have a quality picture to accompany so I located my camera and now I am back. Life is in control when I take time to blog, so if I am missing in action...

Tate is growing up so fast. His Thomas addiction is still thriving and he is becoming an avid puzzler. His favorite is a 35 piece Thomas puzzle. We do it at least 5 times a day. Soon he'll have it mastered on his own. I think he just likes my help because I turn over all the pieces for him. His dad is the same way when we puzzle together... Since Tate was sick he has also discovered an appetite I didn't know he possessed. His food of choice is cereal and it has been his first request upon exiting his crib, to his last plea before the door closes at bedtime. One day he had at least 5 bowls. He also has a strange addiction to mints (Altoids), grapes, and rediscovered Teddy Bears (Grahms). He definitely knows what he wants. Today he mimicked me when I said "out of control." He and his daddy are discovering wrestling and flopping and all the boyish joys of childhood. I can think of nothing better in the world to watch than Josh and Tate laughing and playing together. Their new nightly tradition is watching and laughing at the House of Mouse together while Tate eats his bedtime snack. I love them both!

The Spray Bottle

After wearing out our bubbles on the front porch, and in an attempt to stay near the steps and not walk to far, I introduced Tate to the spray bottle. My momentum towards the end of each day is waning, and I still have 11 more weeks... Anyway who knew something as useful and functional as a spray bottle could hold so much magic for a child.  It was love at first successful spray. This is a two handed job for Tate so it took some serious brain work to figure it out and realize there are aiming capabilities. I was thinking we could clean off our sidewalk chalk covered front steps to make room for drawing tomorrow, but once Tate successfully sprayed me he knew what real fun was. I did steal it for a couple retaliation squirts. I'm thinking we need to get a couple for the tub. Then bath time would raise to a whole new level of fun, especially if I introduce them. For some reason daddy always has the brilliance and gets the laughs in the tub. Where do men come up with the things they do?

The pure joy that comes from spraying mom.

Serious work. I even caught the jet stream on camera!

Lemons

When life gives you lemons, supposedly you are supposed to make lemonade. But lemonade has too much sugar for my little guy; there is so much sugar in everything! I have been feeling like a delinquent parent in the feeding my child category after watching a friends little boy eat a plate full of vegetables. I would have a hard time stomaching all the vegetables this little boy devoured happily. Where did I go wrong... Anyway the other day Tate sweetly asked me to "open peas" the refrigerator door and came out with string cheese in one hand and a lemon in the other. I think he might as well try everything once and was surprised when he ended up sucking on the lemon for the next half hour, each time making the same pucker face.

Tate's new trick of the week occurs every time he sits in his chair to eat. He knows he won't get the food until he sits down, so he sits down, waits for the food, immediately stacks all of it into his arms and declares himself all done while showing me his empty tray. It's quite adorable.

Christmas in July

Today was a WONDERFUL day. At approximately 12:06 p.m. while eating lunch with my little munchkin, my double stroller arrived. The nice FedEX man even set it inside for me upon seeing my belly. If you ever want to make mine and Tate's day, send us a box. We love them. My child's whole countenance lights up as he begs to open it up and find what's inside. His dreams were momentarily crushed when I informed him we were going to wait for Daddy to open our new toy. After pouting for a minute he easily distracted himself with cheerful cars greeting each other. His favorite salutations are Hewo (hello) and mineg (morning). His cars do a lot of greeting. After waking Elsie, finally taking a nap, and watching a Thomas, Tate finally got to help open the box. The wheels were the highlight in his eyes. He rolled them around his car table. When I attached them all he decided to find a comfy seat in the stroller and we played a game of peek-a-boo through the parent peeking window. Elsie woke up during the festivities and of course we put them both in. Tested amazing attribute of stroller #1: kids can't reach each other! Anyway Tate was traumatized when Elsie's mom came to get her a few minutes later and he didn't get to go on a stroll. Every time he saw the stroller the rest of the evening he asked for Elsie. Oh the adventures that will come in our stroller.