Swimming in the hot tub.

Landon gives me this face more often than I would like...


Who likes swimming in a hot tub? This one does.

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. :)

I was just thinking...

Bath time is so much better when it's a party.

Sometimes I'm Outnumbered.

Most of the time I love being the Queen of the Castle. I love my two guys. I like that they like testosterone type things. But when NBA playoff games are on, I get a snapshot of the future...

And I'm not to excited about it...I better get a girl at some point or else I'm going to have to start to like watching sports. Ugh.

Whoa!

We are in a "whoa" phase right now. Experiencing the world along side a toddler who is experiencing everything for the first time is an unusually special treat.

Every time L sees an airplane, bird, puppy he is so excited that a) it exists b) he knows what it is and c) he can say the name. I can see a true sense of pride emerging in Landon as a result of knowing he can communicate. Sure, every mom is proud of the expressed nouns and verbs, but it's the toddler usage of interjections that really keeps me entertained.
Landon, 12 months, pic by Aaron Draper.

It makes sense that a kid would say, "wh-o-a" (all drawn out in amazement) when he sees an airplane for the first time.Or even when he rides is first amusement park ride. (I took this at one of our favorite San Jose spots, Happy Hallow).

The "whoa's" are getting a little more extensive now. For example:
Hil: "Landon, here's a carrot."
Landon: "Oh! Whoa!!!! carrot."

Upon arriving at our car in the parking lot at the grocery store. Landon recognizes the car and with arms flailing exclaims, "OH yeah! WHOA!!!! car."


Exploring the Target toy section.
Landon: "Whoa!!!!! Helmet."

He even uses it after identifying objects.
As I'm handing him some string cheese.
Landon, "Cheese. Whoa!"

And this was all just today before nap time.
He does mimic pretty much everything Rod and I say and do these days. This whole "whoa" usage along with the accompanying excitement before identifying everything has me thinking. I must say "whoa" A LOT.

It's nice to have some of that excitement about seeing random everyday-life-objects rub off on me. What's changed in me since becoming a mom is, now I'm always so pumped when I pass a semi-truck or when I spot a tractor in a field. I get to point it out to Landon and experience his excitement about seeing it for the first time.
And yes, amidst trying to deal with the hoopla and responsibility of being a parent, it's nice to stop and marvel at the airplanes.

Well aren't these two just a ray of sunshine.

Just a snapshot of our morning routine. Two very happy people who can't wait to start the day.

Happy Monday to you too!

Animal Geniuses

Have you seen this craziness? I'm probably the last person on the planet to see this, but I am dying. DYING. It's hysterical.

And in case you are begging for more...