When Dads away...

Me and my little guy. We have the weekend together. Just the two of us. Hanging out. I wouldn't describe it as relaxing per say, but it is nice. Mommy Son Time. But we miss Daddy too...

"Where's Daddy?" he asked last night.

"New York" I replied.

"Oh. Daddy in New York?" He sounded surprised.

"Yes! New York," I said, as we curled up under blankets to watch a Kipper movie.

"Ohhhhh," he said, leaning in to me.

Kipper. The little British dog. We've gotten into these Netflix movies. Movie night is a special treat when either mom or dad is away. We cozy up and have movie night. Kippers movies are about 40 minutes each. Just right.

Today, we ventured out on a few errands and mostly - shopping. I had some things to return, some birthday shopping to do, some ornament shopping to do, and also a quick stop at Trader Joes. In the midst of trying to birthday shop, I found myself running after him on occasion, darting my eyes to and fro to keep him in sight, and hastily trying to make purchase decisions. He wasn't being bad. He was just being TWO. Being Him. As we exited, I realized I was sweating!! Mama was wore out.

Clearly, this running after, this scramble that we do - its frequent. We even have pictures;)

The kid. So far gone you can't see him. But you can imagine I'm sure... his laughter. his little feet.

Me - in action, on the chase. Abram - laughing, running, grinning, and loving it.

OOh right  - Back to our weekend.

Throughout the day he asked again - "Where's Daddy?"

"New York."

"AGAIN?!?!?" he exclaimed... and shook his head. As if Dad had come home in the night, leaving for New York yet again before the kid woke up.

The sweet man who checked me out at Trader Joes gave me lots of great tips on how to prepare my very first tofurkey, with lots of details on how to get it 'just right'. I did lots of nodding and tried to listen. I really did. But the Kid. I cannot recall one thing that sweet man said. Which really is a shame. My tofurkey is probably going to be all screwed up now.

"Where's Daddy?" yep. he kept on asking.

"New York."

"Again!" he sighed.

Yep. I smiled. Again.

He loves his Daddy.

Our evening was spent with lots of playtime including golf, puzzles, books,  Mr. Potato head, and his little people farm.

"Where's his Mommy?" he asked, bringing the pig over to me.

"I'm not sure. Maybe his mommy could be the Cow. or the horse?" I suggested, knowing his farm only had one piggie.

"No No. NO. cow not his mommy. not horse. he needs his mommy," and he walked back to farm, as if searching for her.

"Here's his mommy!! Here. Look!" and he raced over to me holding the Pig and The Farmer.

He placed them both on his little table, facing one another, close as they could be, like they were hugging.

"There. There's his Mommy. Now Pig Happy! He HAPPY!" He grinned from ear to ear.

It just melted my heart. Right there on the spot.
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*Photos featured in this post are from our first attempt at end of year family photos. Yes 'first'. Ahem. We went twice, due to 'cooperation issues' on behalf of those below the age of 3, as well as 'not happy with the options' issues on behalf of those below the age of 31. Between our first and second attempt combined - well, i'm happy;) 

Twinkle Twinkle Solo...

You'll need your volume turned up pretty high to hear the kid but he's a singin' Twinkle Twinkle as best he can:)

Bedtime Blues

We follow the same bedtime ritual every single night. We've read the books, you know, the books that tell you how to be a parent, the ones we check out of the library in hopes of some Ah-Ha moments and some "OHHH thats what to do!" advice. Well the books tell us to have a bedtime ritual that you follow. always. every night. and that it will be so routine, the kids knows what to expect. and will go to bed willingly, without a fuss.

Jam Jams put on by Mom at 7:15.

Brush Teeth with Dad at 7:25.

Watch a 22 minute show from 7:30 - 7:52. seriously, exactly 22 minutes.

The kid hits the tv off button at 7:53.

Kisses & Hugs to Dad (once in awhile to mom if dad puts him to sleep) at 7:55.

Walk upstairs to read three books in the rocker.

Get into bed.

Mom sings 4-5 songs And gives night night kisses.

About 3 more requests for Baa Baa Black Sheep.

"Baa Baa Black Sheep one more time, please. one more time," he says, holding up his little index finger and looking up at me with those eyes.

"Okay. One more time." I sing it.

"Night Night Sweetheart," and I lean in to give one last kiss.

I'm Walking out, pulling the door up, "AHHHH Baa Baa Black SHeep!!! ONE MORE TIME. PUH-LEASE Mommy!!!! BAA BAA SHeep!!!" crying crying with sobs into the pillow. mumbling about the sheep song he so desperately needs to hear 5 times before he can sleep.

I give in. and sing it softly from the door way. All done.

"Go get my Daddy. Don't shut that Door!" he states.

Dad goes up for one more final goodnight. and he probably gets suckered into singing Baa Baa Black Sheep one more time. Not Kidding.

He requests me again, always does. and the door to stay open. as usual. I don't go up. and his door gets shut.

He cries. Yep. The same ole routine and he still cries about it... those books. liars. 

Diaper Free Days!

The kids first diaper free day at daycare was a complete Success!! No Accidents!!

After finding out the kids favorite teacher in the whole wide world is leaving, Ms. Emma, (insert a big long sad sigh here - sigh), we decided to go for it while we still had her on board!! 

He picked out Diego underoos that morning and left dad with a "i not pee on diego" at bye bye time... 

Diego & Abram both came home dry and happy:)  Mom & Dad are pretty stinkin' happy too! 

Musical Loves

Favorite songs in the car are:
1. Living for the City by Stevie Wonder (he calls it his "sippy song")
2. Veggie Tales Theme Song  (he calls this his "apple song")
3. Lady Gaga (he knows her voice the second he hears it! if only i liked her music - i dont!)

Favorite songs for us to sing to him: 

1. Baa Baa Black Sheep (he requests this constantly, even last night while we were out to dinner!) 

2. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (he really gets serious singing this one, eyebrows focused)

3. ABC song (he gets lost in the middle but still pulls it off)

Favorite songs with hand motions at home: 

1. Zacchaeus was a wee Little Man (His favorite!! favorite!) 

2. Deep & Wide (too funny watching him do this one) 

3. This Little Light of Mine (he constantly wants to blow out the light lol) 

Favorite songs at daycare: 

1. Wheels on the Bus (hand motions and all) 

2. Who Let the Dogs Out (i finally realized why he knew this song ha!) 

3. Freeze Dance (the singer yells freeze and all the two year olds stop - so so cute!) 

Favorite songs to dance to at home: 

1. Diego Theme Song (self explanatory, he loves loves diego)

2. Rockin' around the Christmas Tree (w/ his dancing xmas penguins that stay out all year round)

3. Jingle Bell Rock (with his dancing xmas bear all year round, and needs batteries constantly)

Old favorites that he doesn't care about anymore: 

1. B-I-N-G-O (thank heavens, i sang this so much to get him to sleep i hate it now)

2. Any other Christmas songs except the two above (i've tried, he says "no no mommy")

3. Old MacDonald had a Farm (good. i never liked it anyway)

What do you think - is he ready for guitar lessons yet? Perhaps he needs a proper guitar first.

Halloween!

Last year, Halloween was fun. He was an adorable monster. But it rained Halloween night. Husband was not with us. and the kid wasn't of the age to really get it. But this year. This year - he got it. And we basically celebrated Halloween all day long my friends! Those little pumpkins we picked up at the farm? We started our day over at the neighbors painting those jewels:) The boys got into it, with globs of paint, and lots of it.

We worked in a good nap and a hearty lunch of fish sticks so he'd be fully energized for tonight. Our friends came over at 5pm for some pizza, fruit salad, and apple ciders. We headed out just after 6 and the boys were full steam ahead. Strange because this year, we hadn't set the clocks back yet. So as we ventured out, it was still a bit light outside... but the darkness soon set it. The boys carried pumpkin flashlights to see the way! and their treat bags of course! 

The kid was a bat and his trick-or-treating buddy was a Robot.  We live in a good neighborhood for trick or treating - houses aren't too far apart, but plenty to get to without wearing the kids out. It was so fun and we saw lots of neighborhood friends and kids and even some pets - all dressed up. The kid still got tired though ha. Here he is waiting on his friend at one point (Avery kept stopping along the way to eat treats ha!). 

Here are the dads with the boys, and then us moms with our boys too:) 

After just over an hour of trick-or-treating, the boys were getting tired, wanting to eat their candy, and wanting to just play! So we went back home and sat our front together, handing out some treats and letting the boys play... and eat some treats too of course!

Once trick-or-treating hours had closed, we took the party inside our neighbors and stayed way past the boys bedtimes... they were amped up on chocolate, sugar, and playing their hearts out! We finally walked the 10 ft back to our own house... put on jam jams and eventually got the kid settled into his bed, despite his desperate pleas against it! 

Fall Fun...

Summer kept us busy, a fun kinda busy - but fall has kept us here more than gone and relaxed more than busy. It's been nice. I admit, I like the busy. The travel. The running to and fro. But this relaxation and go with the flow has been - peaceful. and still fun:)

we spent our day at the pumpkin patch and did some other fall-ish stuff, like go walking, play time in our pine needle covered back yard, head to the park, and head toward amish country in pursuit of some gorgeous fall colors...

The kid - he's growing. and growing. and talking more and more. He tells me he had a "good day" and what he ate for lunch at school. He loves music, movies, and snacks. Not much has changed:)

We had never taken this amazing trail near our house, near as in 3 miles away! The Struble Trail is paved so its great for biking or walk. It is mostly level with some minor hills. When we walked it today, the leaf colors were amazing... it reminded us of why we love this time of year! Those fall colors, the leaves overflowing with beauty, the stream beside us, and field in the distance and even a few barns way off - we were surrounded by the most incredible sites:)

As usual though, I was obsessed with just taking pictures of the kid. and for once I had the camera.  So I have no beautiful leaf pictures to show. Hope you all have your own leaves... :) And I can't help but post a way back when picture too. Dad and the kid hiking Feb 2009, and then today, Oct 2010. Oh how my boy is growing up. And today was the last day he will be in that backpack. Whoa! Our shoulders may never be the same again!