Impatience

This is what happens when we don't want to wait to have sunscreen rubbed in.

Zombie Landon.
At least he didn't get sunburned. :)

Best Friends {picnic}

There is nothing better than having a good friend to pass the time with, especially if you are a stay-at-home mom to a young child. Lucky for me one of my bff's happens to be my sis-in-law, Annie. Her daughter Andie and Landon are nine months apart and to say that they love each other would be an understatement. They are obsessed with each other.

Hello there Andie.

"Andie" is the first word he utters when he wakes up from a nap and he wants to be hanging out with Andie every second that he can. He gives Andie all his tractors and "loaders" (as he now calls them), throws balls at her head, and gives her his half-chewed food just because he loves her so much.

Today we decided that we would have a little lunch picnic on the front lawn. The weather was perfect and the kids loved it. A nice way to mix up the usual routine.

Yay for bffs. :)

A Garden Afternoon

I've been enjoying my garden lately. Quite a lot. The snail who took this picture was upset because I'm thinning out his forest to play in.
I'm dehydrating Kale chips. Blending up smoothies. Living the life, really.
Do you guys ever garden like this? Sometimes I just can't find the other Croc, and who has the patience for that now really... Rod made me promise I would only wear Crocs while gardening (the stay-at-home-mom in me is tempted to rock these suckers all day, they are SOOOOOO comfortable but SO u.g.l.y.). I can kind of imagine myself as an 80 year old woman rocking a church dress and some crocs on Sunday....Don't worry guys, I'll wait til I'm 80.
Isn't nature amazing? These voluptuous greens were just little seeds 2 months ago.
I'm so obsessed with my broccoli. OBSESSED.
I feel like I'm bragging.
A friendly hello to you from my favorite garden companion. Usually I glance over while I'm "harvesting" and he's shoving flower buds into his mouth. So far, they don't seem too harmful.
Once we are done in the garden, it's time to place catch.
Even if I think its time to water the roses. My boss has different orders and we must keep our deadlines or else there is hell to pay.
After our game of catch I get to watering those plants and 9 times out of 10 this is what happens to my little best friend. Soaked to his diaper.
So I grab him to snatch a little snuggle, because what idiot wouldn't want to snuggle a wet baby?
The prime minister objects.
Then I do the dishes, make dinner, and watch Oprah.
(curtsy)

A few more cute ones from Grandma Sherri's visit

Warning: An abundance of photos are now coming your way...

Biding time...

Warning: Long boring post detailing our lives...

{sigh}

Rod takes his final test on Wednesday for his administrator licensing exam. I am so excited for things to settle down. We have definitely been in a grind.

Age 13 and 14 months was definitely tough with Landon. Lots of tantrums. Lots of running toward the street. Lots of food throwing. Lots of me asking, "Why me?!?!"
Thankfully, the last two weeks have seemed to even out. Landon is such a little joy factory lately. He's talking way more, he's totally getting a hilarious sense of humor, and making way more "whoas," "wows," and half giggles when he gets excited. He's also playing way better with other kids--not throwing blocks at their faces and such. While I still find the occasional load of junk mail or socks in the toilet, he is learning to take direction a little better now--which I'm sure will ebb and flow has he grows up.

A few things about little L. He is still obsessed with Elmo or "Melmo" (which he now calls "La, la, la"--because of "Elmo's Song,"--Moms of toddlers will understand this). It is literally the first thing out of his mouth when he wakes up.

He's really into reading. Only he wants to read the SAME books over and over again. I go to the library to check out some new ones and that is definitely not what he wants...occasionally he just wants to read UsWeekly like the rest of us.

He loves "Puppy" which is a half dog/half pillow thing my Mom gave him. He will not go to bed without it.

A typical day in the life starts like this:
5:45am Wake up to a jarring cry at 5:45 am.
Bring Landon in our bed and pat his chest to desperately get him to try to sleep a little longer. This works until 6:30am.
6:30am: Landon starts demanding "La, la, la"--this is where we (or I) deliriously grab our smart phones and show him as many Youtube clips of Elmo that we can while trying to stay in a half-sleep state.
7:00am: Landon starts asking for "foody," "Moonie" (smoothie), " wa-dol" (waffle), "eggy" (egg), and "wa-dee" (water). I get up and make him some breakfast.

The rest of the day is filled with Landon's trips "side" (outside), reading books, and watching probably more Sesame Street than I should be comfortable with, taking him to the garage to sit in the drivers seat of the car (this happens at least 4 times a day). etc. It is very rewarding to watch your child grow and gain more understanding. Obviously it can be monotonous, but it is such a short time and I love Landon so much that it's worth every second.

Its fun to see him grow and change. He runs really fast and is really starting to like playing with other kids, and especially other kids toys.
Hopefully my kid isn't the "bully."

I can't believe he is already such a little boy. 16 months is right around the corner.

Dirt.

I knew this post would eventually happen, I was just kind of hoping it would be closer to age 2. Landon has discovered the joys of the backyard. Especially the joy of emptying all the planters of their top soil and throwing it in the grass or on the concrete.
I figure it must be good for the little ones' development to explore all the different textures of the back yard. And look how happy it makes him.
Those teeth kill me. :) This is the part that gets annoying...but that's what little boys are for, right? Getting dirty, and having to give multiple baths.
He's NEVER excited when dirt playing is over.
Look at that precious little evil eye. Thanks little boy for making life so much fun (and sometimes so much work) but mostly fun. :)
And this is a pic Rod took of Landon after he finished eating a fair share of topsoil. Yum.