Growing Up

I made a solo venture to Ohio to celebrate the upcoming arrival of Landon's cousin, and our first nephew, Mason.  He's set to arrive ANY day now and we couldn't be more excited to see his sweet, newborn face.  Mason.... we're waiting to meet you already!

The shower turned out perfect, we all had a great time getting Mason outfitted with all the many, many items a newborn needs!

We tried to pack as much fun into the last weeks of summer with celebrating birthdays and going on adventures, because that's how the ends of summer should be.

Celebrating my 2nd anniversary of my 29th birthday.

I mean, do you think he's a ham!?!?  He was EATING up being the only child at my birthday party.

A little adventure to look at ducks, chase butterflies, and of course throw rocks in the water.  

A motorcycle!

Daddy's new car has a TV in it!  A blessing for those long car rides or Atlanta traffic.  

It's oh so dramatic when you're best pal, BIG Jellycat is being washed.  (He's holding medium Jellycat and you can't see his face but he's SCREAMING in agony.) Being that Big Jellycat is used as a pillow at night, and goes everywhere with us, makes washing him quite complicated. 

Family movie night!  (Which is NOT complete unless we have popcorn, according to Landon.) 

The joys of potty training.

Now here we are... summer has left us, and here we are again back into the swing of smacking alarm clocks and getting out the door for school and with summer our baby left and was replaced with a boy.

Completely out of the blue Landon asked to sleep in the guest bed.  I thought I'd entertain this idea and let him take a nap in the bed, thinking to myself that it wasn't going to last long at all.  He would most definitely not really sleep in here...  Ha, I was wrong.  I had to put him back in the bed a couple of times but he did eventually fall asleep and took a fabulous nap.  So, when it came time for bed he was having NOTHING to do with his crib.  He wanted a big boy bed.  So in he went and with the usual bedtime fuss, he fell asleep.  Neither of us slept well, fulling anticipating the pitter patter of tiny feet scurrying their way into our bedroom, and our bed.  While I may have tossed and turned all night, Landon got a great nights sleep.  Next day, same thing.  So Kevin and I frantically decided we need to get him his own big boy bed before he gets accustomed to sleeping in the guest room and claims two rooms for himself.  We did the whole game, he picked out the bed, he picked out the sheets, we made it to be so exciting that he was getting his own bed.  The first night in the bed he screamed and screamed and screamed.  He didn't want to sleep in the guest room or his big boy bed.  ONLY his crib.  Well, too bad it was taken apart.  All he kept saying is "Daddy break crib.  He go to time outttttt."  He eventually feel asleep and was SUPER excited when he woke up that he got to sleep in his bed.  This fiascos folks, is still happening over a week later.  He LOVES his bed, he loves to show it off, he loves to talk about it.  The simple novelty of being able to get out of his bed and stand at the top of the stairs screaming is just too enticing.

Sleeping in the guest room.  

 

Sometimes we boycott sleeping in the bed so much we move to the floor.... 

                   

and then mom moves him to the bed.

The infamous bed.

In the same week (because Landon figured he'd just rip the bandaid off and do it all in one swoop) Landon started his first day at Peachtree Presbyterian Preschool in the two year old program.  He LOVES going to "Big Kid School" three days a week and is always asking to go see his teachers, Ms. Jenny and Ms. Kathy.

And of course the obligatory pictures of the pups:

The snuggle bug.

Cannoli meet Cannolis.  

Summer... A Story in Pictures

I thought that once summer vacation began things would slow down, and I'd clearly have all this extra time I'd spending lounging around the house, catching up on TV and taking naps.  WRONGGGGGGGG.  It's been spent in a flurry of organizing, cleaning, party planning, packing, enjoying family visits, traveling and a whole other slue of every day adventures.  In fact, I think the summer has been busier than the entire school year combined.  I'm winding down the last two weeks of summer and the mom guilt of the hectic schedule of summer has gotten the best of me, so we fully plan on packing in as much fun as we can.  Next years resolution will be to stop, smell the roses, and have fun.  The work can wait.    

Life with a two-year-old is a nonstop roller coaster of emotions, giggles, tears, tantrums.  We're always on the go, there's never a dull moment, and we wouldn't trade it for the world.  Landon's talking NONSTOP.  He's inserting his independence on any and all matters and our new current phrase is "What's that" (most of which he's asking about he already knows the answer to.)  Life simply couldn't be better.      

This is what happens when you take your toddler to an adult party, he obviously finds it the opportune time to soak through his pants and OF COURSE, you forget your diaper bag... The result you just rock out in your underwear.  

Landon meets snocone, summer camp edition.  

We are two parents that believe that a child should have chores, first up, take care of your puppies.

Celebrating 6 years of marriage.   

Living proof that they love each other.  No denying it now.  

They always look so sweet and innocent when they sleep... it's almost like Jaws lurking in the water.  Cue theme music.

As birthday tradition has it, we, like everyone else, took Landon out to his favorite resturants for dinner and dessert.  Lucky for us, he's a cheap date and only two so we dined at Moe's and Yorgurtland.  

Landon's birthday party went off without a hitch, obviously not without a ton of effort, and I'm pretty sure my mother-in-law will never come the week before Landon's birthday party!  She worked to the bone helping me craft and create all these Pintrest jems.  It takes a small village to put all this up and organize one of these parties, so a huge thank you to all the family that helped.

We were simply overwhelmed by the love that was shown to our little boy.  We had childless friends come (which I seriously doubt a second birthday party was at the top of their social calendar,) Landon's friends (and their sweet parents) and most importantly our family who traveled so fart to come support us.  He had two Grandmas, a Grandpa and an Uncle.  I mean how lucky can this little boy get!    

With a break in the heat we couldn't pass up an adventure to Stone Mountain! 

Just doing his diaper dance on the top of the mountain.  

Hanging with his best pal, Uncle Jonathan.  

Here are the rest of the family photos we took back in May! 

 Forth of July!  

Landon was fascinated with the fireworks BUT only if someone was hold their hands over his ears.  

Landon and his big modeling debut!  He's not really a baby model, just a cute baby my friend Gina steals when a photo opportunity arises.  

One day, Landon, I'm sure you're going to read this blog and think... WTF, you two went on all these vacations without me?  You're so mean!  The answer, yes Landon, yes we did.  You're toddler ways would totally be a big rain cloud on our plans of doing nothing but reading good books and drinking cocktails while sunbathing.  One day bud, one day.  

Jamaica.  Was.  Paradise.  

Our daily view.

Pirate Kevin ready to rule the seven seas. 

Paradise. 

Our last night out.  :(  

Meanwhile... back in Georgia.  I don't think that Landon was slumming it AT ALL.  He had a special babysitter and we couldn't tell who had more fun together, Aunt Moe or Landon.  Between special trips for hot dogs, trips to the splashpad and before dinner popsicles, I think it's safe to say they had a great time!  

With two weeks left to go, I decided everything around the house could wait, errands could be taken care of later and fun MUST be had with Mom.  

Mommy date. 

Playdate with one of our favorite friends, Zoey. 

Our favorite treat from the food trucks (and the only thing we'll actually eat when we're there.) 

This kid has the life.  

Someone (people) found the bag of chocolate chip cookies.