January 5, 2013- "3 years ago"

    I thought it would be fun to change things up just a little with this project...and since I have so many pictures I decided that it would be fun to make the weekend "flashback" weekend. So on this day 3 years ago we were at the PLC hospital with our little man. He had to go back to the hospital only 3 short days after he was born because his Jaundice had gotten worse and not better..it was not a fun night/day but we made it through!

Suntanning early!

January 4, 2013 "Hard worker"

  The Kitchen is nearing completion and all thanks to my hubby who is very talented in so many ways! He is definately what you would call a Jack of all trades and has done absolutely everything himself with some help from our neighbor as well. I bet Reuben is looking forward to going back to work so that he can have a break from the house!! I wish that I had taken full before pictures to compare to the after ones when it is done..but oh well. Its quite something to have a kitchen gutted and everything redone! Especially over Christmas..haha! Thanks Babe for all your hard work!!

Doing the backsplash

January 3, 2013 "Bubbles"

    Today, unfortunately, was mostly spent inside. Not because the weather wasn't nice but because when I woke up I felt like a truck had hit me! The after effects of yesterday..but it was so worth it to see the happy smiles on Lucas' face! The house is still a bit of a mess with Reno's happening that the usual things that Lucas likes to do can't be done..so creativity comes into play at time. So as I was unpacking a few more things into the kitchen I found all the bubbles from the summer. Lucas was rather ecstatic to play with them! Luckily they kept him entertained for a good while..however I had to remind him how to blow them and to stop putting the wand almost in his mouth...mmmm...bubbles! And of course he makes the best pucker face!!

Oh to have his eyelashes!

And yes that is a sneak peak of the cabinets and floor....I will post pictures when all is said and done!

January 2, 2013- Birthday day!

   Today called for a few more pictures than just one as Lucas turned 3 today. We spent the day as a family by going out for breakfast and than to the zoo. The zoo was great..not too cold and not too crowded! And the animals were all lively and fun to watch! Later Lucas' aunt and cousin came over as well as our neighbors and we had dinner, cupcakes and a couple gifts! I still can't believe that he is 3! (the attitude kinda gives it away though!!) Sidenote: We saw the hippos without him hiding in the stroller screaming that they are scary...apparently he thought that were going to eat him! Makes sense I guess....big mouth....

The penguins were outside and oh so adorable to watch in the snow and ice!!

Lucas always has to see the buffalo

Fascinated by the otters

He tried so hard to blow that sparkler out!

   And now I will need a day to recover from all the walking....at least cold air keeps swelling down and compression stockings pose as long underwear!! :P

New Year Challenge

     Because I love to take pictures I thought it would be fun to do the 365 day challenge. A friend of mine did it and it has inspired me to try my own. Photography is a hobby of mine and this will encourage me to spend more time with my Nikon and learn more tricks with it! My lovely husband got me another lens for Christmas and I am in love with it so far. It is a harder lens to use indoors but because I love to take the majority of my pictures outside in natural light it will be perfect! The downside is it being winter outside and me being 7 months preggers and feeling all that flexible to capture the shots I like...Soon enough I will have another little one to use as a model! Lucas is a mover and makes it always challenging to capture those special moments of his personality. The second he sees the camera he runs! I was able to capture a couple tonight in his new favorite spot. His big boy bed. His daddy built this for him and he is head over heels in love to the point that he hates going anywhere else cause he misses his bed so much! The plus side of this bed is that he has to climb to get into it as it is a loft bed..which makes it great to stash all his toys underneath and it serves as playground equipment as well!! We don't call him monkey man for nothing!

The innocent look 2 seconds before he chucked all his stuffies at my head

His Lambie and his favorite

Pure boy

My days are full; full of life, full of mischief, full of dirt, full of screaming, full of laughter, full of hugs, and full of love and anger all rolled into one! We clash and than we hug. We laugh and than we cry. A rollercoaster of emotions for both mom and child! We miss our daddy and husband, so we busy ourselves to bide the time!

 So tentative for the first two years of life! Yet now he has unleashed the little rascal inside. Water has no fear anymore...headlong he goes. One day he will headlong into life with a strong will and perseverance that will take him places!

When he rides..he rides in style! Little legs trying to keep up with the spirit and curiosity that drive him forward!

Zebra has a special place in his heart and tags along on trips around the house. Zebra learns to drive..and when he falls, someone is there to kiss his "boo boos".

 Excitement bubbled up as he saw the costume daddy brought home. Nothing else was to be done until tigger was worn, NOW!

Through his eyes I see him contemplating his next move, his surroundings, the people that pass by...fingers stretched and pointing "Papa?" or "Daddy?" he asks. He analyzes every little boy, "colby?", not sure if Colby is bigger and looks different than the last time he saw him.

 He watches the older kids and wants to be like them...which usually requires a more watchful eye from his mama!

"Helping" papa. Helping spread the tools around or using metal pieces as stir sticks in papa's coffee when his back is turned. "Helping" rather, is turned into time spent with someone who understands the antics of a curious little boy, who has patience and knows that not much will be done with his "helper" around but is ok with that!

 These eyes absorb me, love me, watch me.

Why walk when you can jump? Curbs are made alive, steps new playgrounds, sandboxes great landing spots! Hospital is at bay for now!

He brings a lot to the table. "Very busy!" most say. "You must be tired" says others. "Yes" I say but in my heart I know that one day I will want that busyness back. I pray the Lord will help me to slow down and see life through the eyes of a 2 year old!

2 going on 13??

      It's amazing how some days can feel like eternity but yet when you look back you realize that almost 2 and a half years have flown by! There is no little baby in this boy anymore! It has been an experience learning to deal with the hardships that toddlerhood brings but fun all at the same time! I'm sorry but if someone tells you that toddlers are misunderstood individuals..I would have to disagree...mommies are misunderstood individuals!! We can't win!

         "Mommy, I wan water!!!" I got get his cup, fill it up, wipe off all the crudd that seems to be stuck to the outside from breakfast time and take it to him. He takes it from me, hucks it on the floor and walks away yelling " I dun wanna it!!!" Ummm..ok...?? This is just one of the many situations that pans out throughout the day. "Lucas are you hungry?".."uh uh"..make him food/snack.."I dunn wanna eatttttttttttt!!!" Hmmm..ok? This seems to be the trend around here lately. His new favorite sentence is "I dunn wannnaaa!!". He's very lucky that he has a loving, patient, sane mommy! So I decided that puberty starts at 2! Awesome!

           Its amazing the things you have to come up with for sanity reasons when you are single-parenting for long stretches. I am still testing and trying new and different things to keep the little guy occupied so that I can wash dishes, do laundry, do grocery shopping, go pee..etc etc. I would like to compile that list here but sadly I am lacking in ideas...because just when I come up with something great one day..it never works the next! Like I said...toddler puberty! Moods are unpredictable, slamming of doors happens a lot, "mommy I need you!!", "mommy go away!!". I'm sorry but I have one constant that works everytime if I feel like the marbles in my brain are about to roll out the door. Curious George! Yes that little curious monkey, who I am  pretty sure teaches my son all those naughty little things that he shouldn't be doing, captures his attention like a fish to water! Did I mention I love George?? (by the way every episode has a great little moral to it that I'm sure Lucas realizes and takes into consideration...right?) Yes toddler's are not suppose to watch too much tv, yes they should be playing outside, yes they should be reading books. Different days call for different measures!!! The same way that I need a timeout from him..he needs a timeout from me! And unless I want to change his room into a padded 4 walled cell..."Quiet time" in his room really does not cut it!

All tattooed up and eating chocolate..little rebel!

"helping" mommy do dishes!

He loved it..he had a bath before his bath!

      But this kid..this kid...is hilarious and will stop at nothing to make you laugh! He is goofy and the more he is learning to talk the funnier things that come out of his mouth!
 -a few weeks ago he was chasing our cat Rocco " I spank ya bum rocco..I spank ya bum"
 -when we head out the door to go somewhere/run errands as I'm putting on his shoes he asks "go church?" and than when I tell him no he starts naming all his little friends he can think of.."riwey?", "Kai?", "Colby?", "Micah?", "Zakee?", "Asha?"...this continues for about 5 minutes in the car until I have said no to every name he asks...I'm pretty sure I break his heart everytime..but I'm starting to get the feeling that he's sick of me..
-He's got a good memory and when he sees vehicles that look like vehicles of people he knows..he assumes that it is them when we are driving. ie- white suv is "Papa's car", white truck is "Colby's truck", silver suv is "Kai's car", dent clinic car is "Casey's car", black car is "daddy's car" and so on and so on.
- if he farts I say that he is stinky and he turns around and says "mommy's stinky!" Daddy gets a great laugh out of this!!
-Everytime I pull out my hair stuff to cut a client's hair he hops up into my chair "cut hair mommy??" I'm pretty sure he's the only toddler who loves to have his hair cut!
- He assumes that the color pink belongs to Bailey (the little girl that I watch) because she loves pink. So if he is using the pink fork at the table he always asks "Baileys?" and I always have to reassure him that its ok to use it!
-I had to take him to my waxing appointment for my legs last week and this morning he saw my bare legs patted them and said "all betta mommy, all betta"
-when brushing his teeth I get him to say Cheese which he does and than I say "cheese again" cause he always close his lips and he says "Cheese again!" Why wouldn't he?

Finally figured out how to "blow" bubbles

Teaching Rocco

First glimpse of summer weather

Actually kept his glasses on

Bailey not impressed with him squeezing in

Smart little bugger was lining up all the colored blocks!

       Regardless of the attitude most days its the little moments that get you through! The "wuv u mommy"s, the "tank u mommy", the "snuggles mommy?" I must be doing something right!! :) And by the way..when his daddy is home and he watches Lucas, he's an angel! Go figure!