Two! {part deux}

For the sake of my aging memory, I want to remember how we spent your actual birthday.

You woke up and had your standard breakfast of wa wa (waffle) and yogurt, but we added a special candle and sang "Happy birthday."

After your nap, I needed to run some carpet samples back to the design center (very exciting, I know).  Since I had my little sidekick in tow, I decided a lunch out at one of our favorite places was in order.  You loved your chicken and french fries (a special treat since you usually get the fruit) and cookie.

Little Buzz and Little Woody wanted to celebrate too :) 

On the way home, I needed to stop at the grocery store to get some things for family dinner.  Everyone came over to Poppa/Gigi's house to celebrate you and Zac turning two!  When we walked into the grocery store, I noticed they had these little kid sized play grocery carts.  I guess I was in a particularly patient mood since it was your birthday because I decided it would be fun to let you push one around the store while I used a hand basket.

Look what you decided we needed... :)

Check out the yogurt on the very bottom!

All in all, it was fun (for the most part), but I wouldn't do it at a crowded time.  You were actually pretty good about pushing the cart and staying near me, and I only had to put a few things back on the shelves.

Family dinner was wonderful, but unfortunately I did not get any pictures (mom fail) of the group.  The only photo I have is of you post cupcake in the high chair...

Lots of special treats for my sweet boy on your second birthday!

Two!

My sweet baby, you are TWO!  I suppose you are no longer a baby, but you will always be my baby.  Next thing I know, in a blink of an eye, you'll be heading off to kindergarten!  I can't believe how fast these two years went by... it is true what is often said of parenthood...

Via

Some days I want to bottle up each and every moment and smother you with kisses and hugs.  Some days I want to pull my hair out in frustration at this stage of growing independence.  Most days, there are many moments I want to always remember and many tantrums I'd like to forget, but I always want to smother you with kisses and hugs while I can.

You have been showing signs of being a strong willed little dude for a few months now.  I don't know if it has coincided with all of our transitions, or if this is simply the "terrible twos" everyone likes to reference.  These days, I am constantly (and usually patiently and calmly) asking you to, "Use your words ... tell mama what you want ... I'm sorry you are feeling (_____) ... "

While you have a growing vocabulary and surpassed the pediatrician's minimum of fifty words for an age appropriate two year old, you can't quite express everything you are feeling in words or you just don't have the tools to effectively do so just yet.  Words/phrases that we hear frequently are: no, nope, uh uh (no), uh huh (yes), eee! (eat!), wa wa (waffle), hiiiii, bye byeeee, mama, dada, poppa, gigi, more, help, truck, pee pee, play, elmo, buuuh (Buzz), ha dah (hot dog = Mickey), doggie, pool, jew (juice, which you hardly ever get), cup, bowl, fork, spoon, all duh (all done), up, shoe, etc.  This list goes on and on.

You clocked in at:

• weight - 29 pounds 2 ounces = 60%
• height - 36 1/2 inches = 95%
• head circumference - 51 cm = 95%

The doctor was pleasantly surprised that your weight was steady.  He remarked that most kids your age experience a dip in weight because they become picky eaters.  Not our G!  Most days it seems like all you want to do is, "Eeee!  Eeee!  Eeee!"  Your favorite foods are apples, watermelon, cantaloupe, chicken, corn, cooked carrots, waffles (wa wa), yogurt, and then all of the junk/sweets that you are sometimes allowed... popsicles, ice cream, cookies, chips, french fries, etc.

While you are fiercely independent sometimes, other times you show separation anxiety that can be heart wrenching as a mama.  You have recently started crying when I drop you off at school, but fortunately, it only lasts for a couple of minutes max.  The closer we get to arriving at school, the more you say, "Mama."  I know you are trying to tell me that you want to stay with me, but I also know that it's good for you (and for me) to have this time apart.  One of these days, you will run into school and not even look back.

Things you love right now: trucks, cars, Mickey, Elmo, Buzz, dogs, bubbles, eating, going to the park, playing in the water, sitting on your little potty (completely naked -- haven't figured out "how" to go yet), reading books, your play kitchen, Sheepie and your paci.

Things you don't love: being told "no" :)

I still vividly remember that defining moment two years ago when you made me a mom.  Parenthood has certainly been a crazy adventure so far, but for every down, there have been at least ten ups.  I love you to the moon and back, my sweet little boy.

Love,

Mama

Meet Buzz and Woody

*side note: I started this post last week before our trip and never finished it to publish until now.  Trip recap coming soon!*

... or "Buuh" as G affectionately calls Buzz and I haven't heard him say Woody enough to phonetically spell that one out.  Basically, he's a Buzz man.

My mom, or Gigi, as she's known around here, busted out the Toy Story movies a few weeks ago.  We had never watched a full length movie.  After all, we were brand new to the "allowing our toddler to even watch tv" scene until a few months ago.

My parents watch a lot more tv than we do, and it's pretty normal to have the tv on at their house in the evening.  We always waited until G went to bed to turn on the tube in our casa.  They don't live with a toddler (unless we are crashing their pad), so it's definitely one of those, "Your house, your rules," type of things.

Our first attempt at Toy Story lasted a half hour, and I was shocked that he would watch something other than Mickey or Elmo.  I think he recognized many of the featured toys in the movie and enjoyed making those connections.  The second (and many viewings later) attempt was the whole shebang.

Now he cannot get enough of Buuh.  He wakes up asking about Buuh.  He goes to bed talking about Buuh.  Buzz (and Woody) ride with him in the car...

One morning he insisted on putting them in the highchair with him while he had his breakfast.  That is where I drew the line -- not enough space and I didn't need them getting a yogurt bath.  Oh you should have seen that tantrum after I told him no!  So we compromised and did this instead...

Little Buzz and Woody went with G to school one morning last week after he had a fit about leaving them in the car (for some reason he is okay with leaving the bigger ones), and this former teacher felt bad about dropping him off with toys.  Luckily, his teachers are awesome and assured me they would sneakily hide them away safely in his backpack once he was too distracted to care.  Little Buzz and Woody have also gone swimming with us on several occasions.  Fun times.

Little Woody and Little Buzz enjoying a beverage and a brownie.

He really likes the Buzz and Woody dolls that my mom has because of the sounds they make.  Since I knew we would be leaving them behind once we moved the whole five minutes over to our new house, I attempted to buy an acceptable replacement pair off of ebay and save some moolah ($50 each is just too much for me, especially when we just celebrated his birthday and he has mountains of toys already).

I thought I was being clever by getting a plush version that he could sleep with.  I bought the Woody first (in hindsight, not sure why since he's obsessed with Buuh) and showed it to him the second it came in the mail.

His response?  He took one look at the "impostor" and said, "Nooo.  Bye byyyye!"  Ha!  So I put it away and didn't push it on him.

The next morning he found it sitting out and brought it to me upstairs.  I could hear him coming upstairs saying, "Baaa (box)."  He dropped it on the floor outside of the door, closed the door, and said, "Bye byyyyyye!"  We went downstairs with him carrying the impostor, he put it in the box I had on the stairs of things to be mailed, and told him, "Nope!"  Then he kissed it and said, "Bye byyyyye!"  Then he repeated this with the second impostor Woody.  (The ebay seller accidentally shipped me two of them by mistake and I had contacted her to return one of them.)

Oh, this little boy.  Some days he just kills me with the things he does and says.  I never want to forget these little moments.

Weekend Happenings

This weekend has been mainly all about moving and unpacking, but we have managed to do some fun things here and there.

R has been working tirelessly to get the house done.  He dealt with the movers and the bulk of unpacking while I dealt with G and helped co-host a baby shower for one of my best friends.  I am so thankful that we have my parents just minutes down the road to help us.  We are staying with them one more night until we are unpacked enough to call it good.

On Thursday (I know Thursday is technically not the weekend, but I'm throwing it in the weekend mix anyway!), G and I met up with one of my soccer friends and her two girls at a little water park.  It's half price after 4:00 and the two little ones were free.  We got there at 4:30 and stayed for a couple of hours -- just long enough, and by the time they played and ate a "picnic" dinner on the swim towels, they were tired.  It definitely made for an easy bedtime that night - we even skipped bath!

We played in the kiddie area on the pirate ship for the most part.  I took zero pictures of the kids - mom fail!

On Saturday I was honored to help throw a baby shower for one of my besties.  I have known her since middle school, but we didn't become good friends until later on in college.  She left our high school to attend a private school, and then I happened to be in a club with her at UT.  I love when things turn out like that!

I don't know why we weren't friends sooner because we had an instant connection.  She claims it's because I was popular in middle school and she wasn't.  I claim that we never had classes together and just didn't run in the same circles.  Whatever the reason, I am so glad we became fast friends in college, and she is definitely someone that I see being friends with for life.

Over the past decade, I have learned what friendship really means, and Heather definitely fits the bill!  We are both non-girly girls and have the same sense of humor.  Seven years since graduating college, she is about to embark on parenthood, the craziest (and most fun) adventure ever!  They are waiting to find out in the delivery room what the gender is (so fun!)... she is much more patient than I am!

Heather and her man - they will definitely have a beautiful baby!

Otherwise, my weekend can pretty much be summed up by the following...

Lots of progress has been made and we are *almost* unpacked.  Cancún, you can't get here fast enough!

Twenty-two and twenty-three

A little late, as always, at these monthly posts.  Now that he is officially two, I think I'll only be doing these every six months from here on out.

Months twenty-two and twenty-three went by fast.  Between getting our house ready to sell, putting our house on the market, and looking at fifty million houses before we finally settled on the right house to buy, we have been busy.

Months twenty-two and twenty-three have also been the hardest months as a parent.  Even harder (I *think* unless I'm subconsciously blocking out bad memories) than those first few months when I was terribly sleep deprived and once cried over breastfeeding.  No longer are you that squishy little newborn who demanded so much of my attention, yet stayed in one place and slept most of the day.

But yet, here we are, all in one piece ... and happy.  You are back to sleeping with us just like you did as a newborn (no judgments, please).  Instead of a witching "hour(s)," you can throw a mean tantrum with the best of them.

You are also very sweet and silly -- you always want someone to play with you, whether it is play-doh, trucks, play kitchen, or any other type of activity.

You love to be outside, running and exploring the world around you.  You hated swim lessons this summer, but you love the water and swimming otherwise.

We made the mistake of letting you routinely watch Elmo or Mickey, and now you are crazy obsessed and would be a little couch potato if we allowed it.

You (& mama) survived your eye surgery and your tear ducts have been so much better ever since!

I have started saying your full name (first and middle) with some frequency over the last few months, and if you ask any mama, that only means one thing.  T.R.O.U.B.L.E.  You make me sigh in exasperation one minute but then leave me in stitches laughing the next.

I joke about trading you in for a puppy some days, but truth be told, I wouldn't trade you for anything.  I love you to the moon and back .... times one hundred.

Love,
Mama

***

Monday Musings

These past two weeks have been a whirlwind with my sister's wedding and G's birthday party, and now only one week remains until the big move in.  I am so ready to be in the new house and settled... and then it's a few short days until we (fingers quadruple crossed) whisk away to Cancún, sans G.

I am also ready for cooler temps and football season.  Hook 'em, baby!  Speaking of my beloved Longhorns, I'll let the following pic speak for itself...

Via

Sorry, I bleed burnt orange if you can't tell. :p  In other news, what was up with the Olympics closing ceremonies last night?!?  I thought the opening ceremonies were well done, but last night... eh, not my fave, but that may partly be NBC's fault.  They cut short Muse's performance and then made you wait to see The Who perform after their new, dumb (in my opinion) show that was aired commercial free, followed by the local news.  Grrrr.  It's a shame NBC is airing the next Olympics.

G's second (hold me) birthday party was awesome - definitely less stress than last year's!  We co-hosted at The Little Gym with our good friends whose little girl is only ten days older than G.  Unlike last year where I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning baking and cooking, we split responsibilities.  For this party I was in charge of décor (my favorite), the kids' food, and drinks.  I did zero baking/cooking and ordered a chicken nuggets and fruit trays from Chick-Fil-A online.  Thank you, Baby Jeebus.  *side note: I am very much pro-gay marriage but also don't mind eating at my fave fast food place.  I also strongly feel that all of this hoopla and dinero surrounding the CFA debacle would have been better spent if we were feeding starving children.  Just my two cents.

My bff is an awesome photographer, so she graciously came to the party and took pics for an hour.  Besides zero baking, I also took zero pictures, so I am excited to see how they came out.  More details on the party once I have some photos to share!

We keep going back and forth about whether we should replace the carpet in the new house.  The master bedroom and closet, study, and all of the upstairs are carpeted.  After eight years with two boys and two dogs (courtesy of the previous owners, obviously), the carpets are showing their wear and we are not big fans of them anyway.

I still can't believe my baby is two.  Two.  Obviously that deserves its own post this week.

Wordless{ish} Wednesday

Our life lately ... in pictures.

G would eat his weight in these if I let him.

His other love - watermelon.

Mr. Potato Head - completed by G.  It makes me laugh every time I look at it.

Always eating!

Love this!  The Olympics are so inspirational -- especially all of those rock hard bodies!  This mama needs to hit the gym!

I'm baaaaack

Sorry for the lull around here.  I have spent the past week dealing with the terrible twos, picking out new paint colors, and gearing up for my sister's wedding.

G was supposed to be a ring bearer, but that plan did not turn out so well.  He was in the worst mood ever on Saturday all.day.long.  R had to carry him down the aisle since he refused to walk without throwing a tantrum, and even then it was with paci and Sheepie.  Then once he made it down the aisle, he kept yelling, "Mama!  Mama!"  I gave R "the look" and he quickly escorted him away from the ceremony premises.  Needless to say, I have zero pictures from the wedding and R missed the entire ceremony.

If anyone is looking for a cute two year old, I have one available for lease!  Please return him when he is back to his happy self and potty trained.

Luckily, my nephew is a little stud and did his ring bearer duties without tears or tantrums.  I am going to post the pictures of him in his two outfits ... just picture G in the same clothes, but with a grumpy face while throwing himself on the ground.  ;)

Ceremony tux - what a handsome little man

Reception outfit from etsy

Other than dealing with Sir Grumps-A-Lot, I've been watching season two of Game of Thrones, season one of Girls, and the Olympics, of course!  Time well spent, eh?  ;)

Add one more to the tally after Sanya Richard-Ross' domination in the 400m.  Hook 'em, baby!

I pinky promise to check back in here more often this week!