Whatta Week!

It's not like me to forget posting for a week - its been so busy (and fun!) While Shawn was in NC golfing with his Dad, Nana came to stay with us and get a peek into our day-to-day lives.  Andrew adores her so its no surprise he was super sad when she departed today. I didn't even have a chance to take many photos because I found myself preferring to staying in the moment and enjoying time together. Nana is a professor of early childhood education and I learn so much from her about parenting, literacy, healthy living and mindfulness. She's a great role model, and second mother. Nana came to playschool with us, to a museum science class, the playground. We cooked together, got pedicures, watched movies and chatted into the night. 

Iron Chefs

From Adventures of Little A

Celebrating National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day with Iron Chefs 1&2. A shout out to Nana who made the aprons!

A Sweet Note

Best Mothers Day Card winner, 2013. From Shawn's parents.
I hope Andrew sees it this way too, one day :)

Mothers Day

Mom and Me, c. 1978

There's nothing like a mother's love, and I miss it every day.

The 3 Musketeers

Juni (2 3/4), Sofia (2 1/4), Andrew (3 1/2)

He loves these girls. I love their moms.

Welcome Wagon

While I'm doing transportation-themed posting, I'd like to make a shout to our new wagon. Can't believe we didn't get one of these sooner. He rides in it, pulls is, loads it. Old School Fisher Price too! Found it at a consignment sale for a whopping $9.

Introducing the Trike

The trike has become Andrew's latest appendage. It lives in the trunk of our car and comes along with us just about everywhere. The neighborhood, farmers market, riverfront, you name it. For some reason he showed no interest in it until last week. But BAM! once he started it he couldn't get enough. He's quite good - even navigated crowded sidewalks without bumping into anyone. I imagine the autonomy must feel pretty amazing for him -  he can speed away from us, decide where to go. And man is it cute to see.

Byebye Fire Truck

Andrew has been pushing and riding around this firetruck since he was a year old. Its traveled with us out of state, it has been a daily part of our lives. But I suspect that it is going to be passed on soon because (drum roll please) he finally has started riding a tricycle! Not sure why it took so long for him to show interest. But now that he can propel and steer himself around, the firetruck seems a bit boring. So here's to you, firetruck. I don't think we would have gotten through toddlerhood without you. P.S. this is our new backyard - we've since loaded it up with a scooter, tunnel, tricycle and sandbox. Fenced in and has a deck too! Loving it.

Golf

When given the choice to play soccer, baseball, basketball or golf, you can see the clear winner.  Soon he'll be joining Dada and Pop Pop on the annual golf outing. Thinking about taking him to mini-golf with me this summer. Anyone try that with a 3.5 year old?

Goodnight

As much as I love this kid, I do love his bedtime! Now where's that bottle of wine....

Florida, Part 2

 The second half of our trip was spent in southern Florida with the Gordon side of the family. Our trip overlapped with my sister and her son Levi by a day, so the boys had a chance to bicker (above) and play (below). Andrew is 15 months older, and Levi is finally old enough for parallel play. It was nice for us to sit around and chat and watch them do their thing without needing too much supervision.

 The primary reason we went to Florida was to visit my grandparents. I'm so thankful that Andrew has great grandparents who actually know him! Grandpa Sol above, and Grandma Sandy below hosted us for a few nights. They are both (don't ask, they broke their hips the same day) at the end of their recovery from hip surgery and are doing quite well.

         My Aunt Nina hosted us for a night, and was even nice enough to buy Andrew a paint set.

Florida, Part 1

Sorry for not posting sooner, once we returned, Andrew was sick and its just now that things are returning to normal.

The first half of our trip to FL was spent with Shawn's side of the family (though Shawn didn't come on the vacation.) We surprised his sister by showing up at their door along with her parents, who were expected. What fun that was! She was caught so off guard, and burst into tears when she saw us. My father in law has a great video of the moment that hopefuly I can get a hold of and post on the blog.

We spent time at a state park, a zoo, and some local alligator attractions, as well as at the pool hotel and my sister in law's home. Weather was beautiful and Andrew enjoyed seeing everyone.

Back from Florida

Sorry for the unannounced hiatus, we spent a week in Florida with family. Til I get those pic sorted through, I'll share a few more activities we were trying out at home before we left. Great rainy day solutions if you're looking for some new ones.

Microwave a plate, then draw on it with crayons. The crayons melt and then wipe off really easily so you can do it over and over again.

 Glue googly eyes into coloring books.

Match alphabet beads to an alphabet print-out sheet.

Easter

 Easter Egg Hunt in Washington Park with the Troy Kids - its become our annual tradition.

He's Mine! No, He's Mine! 

Another Easter Egg hunt has passed. The weather was beautiful so we met friends Juni and Isabella, along with their parents, out in the park for a fun morning of running around and eating candy. I pretty much let Andrew binge that morning at the park, just so that we'd have no chocolate left to bring home and whine about.

Reading and Writing

Andrew's starting to write! Still a lefty. If you can make it out, he wrote "MAMA" in gold marker :) He also made one for Dada. And he sounded out his first 5-letter word today: bagel. Guess he does have some of those Jewish genes after all!

The L Word

Lately, every other sentence out of his mouth is something about how much he loves me. "Mama, I love you, can I eat now?" "Mama, don't be sad, I love you!" "Mama I just made a doo doo in my underoos, I love you!" Thought I'd get one on video as a keepsake.

Messy Bin

More sensory play for cold days (not spring here yet.) I threw in sand, balls, letters, sprinkles, cars, cupcake holders and whatever else I could find - he played with it for hours! His particular interest is collecting bb pellets from around the neighborhood and doing I-Spy with them in the messy bin when we get back home.

Harmonica Solo

Early Reader

Andrew is an early reader. So was I. Both of us started between 3-3.5. I set up these words on our dishwasher and we spent some time together sounding them out. He's so proud when he figures it out - and then he magnets up some kind of nonsensical word for me to sound out which he thinks is hilarious. These moments are the ones that affirm my decision to become a parent. I never did it to have a little baby, though parts of that experience were very sweet - I really wanted the relationship with the child who has his own mind and voice. And this kid has got them both, big time!

Rainbow Snow

A new trick up my sleeve - filling up a spray bottle with colored water and letting him change the color of our backyard snow :)

Potty Training

We're in the very last stages of getting this guy set up for bathroom success. He has been peeing in the toilet/potty and wearing underoos since 26 months. But poop hasn't been so easy. He saved it up for his naptime and nighttime diaper. So I never really addressed it - it was easy to clean up, not a bother. But then I realized that a year has went by and he STILL does this! No longer acceptable. So back to the basics around here. We told him diapers were for babies and off they went to another friend. We've kept him naked at nap/night and put the potty in his room. So far so good.

No Cavities!

Andrew had his first big-boy dentist visit the other day. He went to a pediatric dentist at his 2nd birthday, just to take a peek inside his mouth. This visit was a full cleaning and he was a rock star. I should add that this is the dentist Shawn and I use, and kiddo always attends our appointments and sits in the room with us. So its not like any of this was scary or new to him. No cavities!

Chainmail

Most kids want to play pretend, swim in the pool, use puppets. 

Mine wants to help Dada make chainmail.

Bubble Boy

No, not THAT bubble boy. This one. I ran out of traditional bubble bottles so figured out a fun way for him to get him some bubble play. 3 bowls. Each has a mix of water, food coloring and dish soap. Stuck a straw in each and he blew bubbles til the kitchen table flooded. Made for a fun messy morning!

Snow Ice Cream

Sometimes I think I should just package snow up in old Breyers containers for him.

Tweezers

I was at a loss for what art project to give Andrew today, as we've went through our supply stash pretty thoroughly this winter. But then what did I see lurking in the bathroom? TWEEZERS! My mind was racing - what itty bitty things could Andrew pick up with tweezers - rice, sprinkles, pasta.....and into the muffin tins they went. I kid you not, Andrew played with tweezers all day today. He loaded up his little matchbox construction vehicles, he sorted by color, made small piles, filled up train cargo cars and random containers. He was in 3-yr-old heaven. Funny how the random ideas sometimes end up being so much better than a planned activity.

More Portraits

Portraits

Juni's Mom is a photographer - this past weekend she did a photoshoot for our friend Racheli and her little guy Eitan. At the end of the shoot, she invited Juni and Andrew to play around together on the set. Talk about cute, these two are just about as adorable as they come. Pretty sure I'm going to have to print and frame some of these!

On Being a Boy

I was thinking about gender the other day. For the most part Andrew is a boy's boy. He plays hard, he has an abundance of energy, he loves trains. But occasionally he surprises me. Sometimes he likes to have his nails painted "sparkly".  He also enjoys pretend tea parties. And he likes the color pink. My nephew has an affinity for carrying around baby dolls, changing their diapers etc. What does your boy enjoy that's not traditionally masculine?

Vegas, the Videos

Vegas, the Family

 Uncle Adam was a good sport and played in the bouncehouse with Andrew. In fact, I'm not sure which one of them enjoyed it more....

 Grandpa Richie helped Andrew turn the crank to get one of those souvenir smushed pennies. He's really into gears right now so enjoyed watching the handle make the gears move. In fact when we left the airplane, he asked the pilots if the plane has gears.

Andrew got more cuddly with family as the stay went on. Here they are on a train ride that has become a yearly tradition. It goes out of Las Vegas into some interesting desert scenery. Andrew, the trainlover he is, was completely gaga for it.

One of those classic pics where Andrew is giving Uncle Adam the thumbs down.

Uncle Adam and Gwampa Wichie seemed to enjoy Andrew alot this visit - admittedly it's easier to spend time with a little person who can hold a conversation than the previous younger versions of him.

Today's Quote

I'm interrupting the Vegas spread to share today's soundbite, courtesy of Little A:

"milk comes from cows, milk comes from boxes and milk comes from your up-and-downs!"

 ...guess i should wear a more supportive bra?

Vegas, the Friends

Considering these two haven't seen each other in over a year, they were two peas in a pod. Both boys are chatty, high-energy guys and kept each other busy and laughing. We look forward to their visit to Troy next month!