One to Two, A Year in Review

So right now Mommy and Daddy have "flown away" to Canada. To keep busy I'm partying all night with Noni and Pa, doing some major shopping with Noni, Aunt Christine and Bis Nana and just generally having fun.  Before she left Mom finished my two year annual photo album and wanted to share.  Click this link to take a peek.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0QbtWTNwzbMXOw

Lately I've been a bit of a drama king (mom keeps threatening to film and post it) and am definitely taking the "Terribly Trying Twos" to heart. I'm doing great in school though. My new teacher is Ms. Paine who I love taking flowers that I pick myself to.  Most of my friends from my old class are in my new one, plus a few new guys too. Mom's a homeroom mom so she pops in now and again and we're learning all kinds of new stuff. Plus we get to play on the big playground! YEAH. I love the playground and slides, and pretty much anything outside that keeps me running.

Mom is constantly chuckling at some of the things I do like say Okidokey, sticking out my bottom lip, throwing myself on the floor to cry but peaking up to see if it's working, and the thing that made her laugh so hard she cried...locking myself in the laundry room with the dog's gate so I could eat in peace. Man did she laugh forever. Ever day when it's time for the dogs to eat mom or dad puts them in the laundry room and shuts the baby gate so I can't go love on them and they can eat in peace. But when I get to eat (Cheerios mixed with goldfish if I get my way) they run around after me trying to get my food. I yell "No princess, no brinna, my cheerio fishies" but they just keep coming. So finally I had enough and decided that I would go where they couldn't. I went in the laundry room, shut the baby gate, sat down and ate in peace, knowing they couldn't come and steal my food.

If you haven't been around lately I'm talking up a storm, complete sentences, and very nicely pronounced. I still tend to get a bit whiney if I don't get my immediate way but overall I'm a darn good little communicator.

Ok I gotta run and go keep Noni and Pa in line but I wanted to update everyone on who's really running things while Mom and Dad are away.

My first vacation without the kiddo

So far everything is going okay. I haven't gotten to talk to Alex much at all since we have been here and that has been particularly hard.  I'm such a control freak (and perfectly okay with that) that it has been very frustrating not being on a good schedule and talking to him daily. Other than a rough first night, for both him and me, everything does seem to be going well though.

Yesterday I spent sightseeing around Vancouver (pics to come soon) and saw the beautiful Stanley Park, a few national landmarks, some local shopping and even managed to stumble across a tent sale, which was fun even though I left empty handed. In the afternoon I treated myself to an hour and a half long high tea at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, which was just amazing. If we are ever blessed with a daughter I think that will be the perfect mom and daughter birthday ritual.

Today Eric is finishing up classes in the morning and then we will sight see together this afternoon. We plan to hit up the suspension bridge and a few other gorgeous photo opps.  I'm still working on bettering my photography since I can't ever seem to take the shot I see, but even I'm seeing small improvements.

Tomorrow it's back to Seattle and Eric is off home while I spend one more day here with family and friends. I'll fly back Monday and join life as we know it then.

We are still trying to sell our house and buy a new one, but over the last few days that too has gone south since the seller of the house we love is a non negotiating little pinhead who won't negotiate at all and refuses to lower his house to the value it appraises for.  Since that is no longer assured watch the open houses we are having this weekend bring in an offer for ours. LOL

Ok off to play in Vancouver. 

Planes, Trains and Automobiles...What a Party!

We celebrated my 2nd birthday on August 2 (a mere 24 hours before the official big event since I was born Aug 3 at 10:19pm). Since I love everything that moves, rolls, or motors we celebrated with a Planes, Trains and Automobiles theme with a few boats thrown in for fun. Here are a few pictures of the big day and some of the prep Mom did for the big day.

 

 

and not a few days later Mom's getting on to me for the "Trying Twos". She says I am pushing my limits, exploring my boundaries and just plain does what he wants to do. Here's a great example!

 

Our Colorado Vacation

Make a Smilebox photobook

A Month of Madness

To start with, it's 11:40pm, and Mom should be sleeping but isn't. Wanna know why??? Because in my obsession to "drive" anything and everything I can with Mom's keys I somehow got distracted, as curious little boys do, and misplaced Mom's keys tonight. Now I don't see what the big deal is, she knows there around here somewhere, plus these two really nice guys from Mom's work who she was supposed to go to dinner with to talk shop, hung around the house for an hour helping us look for them. We still couldn't find them after an hour, even though I kept thinking I knew where they were and would take Mom all over the house, so we moved my car-seat to their truck and went to a REALLY late dinner. I was asleep by the time we got home so Mom had to finish search on her own. After tearing the house apart AGAIN she finally located them by walking up and down the backyard in tight little rows with a flashlight. Guess she finally found that knot hole in the fence where I stuck them!

 

Now that that drama is over, here's what I've been up to for the last month. May 14th was Sam's last day watching me. We had a special picnic at the park, played on the playground and had a great time.

 

 

 

 

Then on May 15th I started school at Shoreline Christian School. I'm in the 18 to 24 month class and my teacher is Mrs. Rogers. She's great and is always keeping us busy doing something fun. Although I was overwhelmed at first, I made friends quickly and can now name off my classmates with no problems. I'm working on learning boundaries since I'm a loveable guy and like to kiss all the girls goodbye.

 

I've been there a few weeks and am now getting into the swing of things, doing better at drop-offs (I've even had one day where I didn't cry at all!) and starting to get over the sleep troubles I was having when I started. Here's a few pictures of my first day at school!

 

 

 

 

When I get home from school in the afternoons I usually hang out with Mom, helping her out in the garden. Dad wouldn't let her plant watermelon so I planted some for her and we have two baseball size watermelons getting bigger every day now. Last weekend at my Uncle Bryan's graduation party Great Aunt Sharon showed me how to pick the rosemary and smell it! MMMMMM.

 

 

 

We've had lots of parties in the last few weeks, Mom's memorial day BBQ, Uncle Bryan's graduation, Mother's day, and tomorrow we leave for Cousin Michelle's baby shower. In between all the fun times I learned how to play washers, got to try out the sprinkler Nana Tyler gave me, and helped Uncle Bryan polish off his cookie cake. (He wasn't going to eat it all anyways!) Although I still take a few minutes to warm up to people I haven't seen in a while I had a GREAT time seeing all the family. Here's a few pictures of the last few weeks of friends and family.

 

My special occasion outfit!

 

 

Trying out my new sprinkler…Thanks Nana!

 

Uncle Bryan and Uncle Jason were teaching me how to play washers, while Aunt Virginia cheered me on!

 

 

Teaching Uncle Jason everything I know

 

Uncle Bryan was nice enough to feed me more cookie cake when Mom cut me off after three pieces.

 

Yelling YEAH UNCLE BRYAN at graduation!

This is also when Uncle Jason asked to "babysit me" so he can pick up chicks!

 

The Barber Bunch …so proud of Uncle Bryan..he carried Flat Alex when he walked across stage. You can see flat Alex in the picture here, I'm holding him. He's a laminated mini me that Sam made me to trasvel around with my friends and family so they can send pictures back to me for my website and scrapbook. He's been with Dad on business trips, graduated with Uncle Bryan and has plans to go to A&M with Auntie V and skiing for Christmas!

 

 

As most of you know my Mom is a little crazy about the environment, and now she's got me in on the act. To do my part in saving the earth and being more environmentally responsible I am now a gDiapers baby. They are a flushable diaper that biodegrades in 50-100 days instead of 500 years like plastic diapers. Mom's really excited about this and my teachers at school even think I'm neat for doing it!

 

If you haven't been around me lately, I've started talking a blue streak, including complete sentences and appropriate responses to questions. Mom's current favorites (she's trying to figure out how to get audio clips on here) are Opps a daisy and Oh MAN!

 

Well it's almost tomorrow so I better hit the sack but Mom should type this up and post it right away for you guys!

 

Love you all,

Alex

 

Fabulous Finds for Summer Entertaining

Do you love to entertain? I sure do! :)

1. This week Garden Ridge has 10x10 pop up canopies for $49. I snagged a great white one just in time for a Memorial day BBQ.

2. Sam's Club has great deals on gorgeous glass urns that hold 3 gallons of liquid and has a nifty dispenser at the bottom.

3. Target is now carrying pre-seasoned skewers for healthy kabobs. If you are shooting for healthy choices at your BBQ, these skewers could be for you.

I'll keep updating this as we're out and about and find new ideas, but feel free to post your own as well.

Fabulous 50's

Why celebrate this incredible milestone with gloom and doom, blow up toliets, and practical jokes? If you are looking for a fun, light-hearted alternative to going "over the hill", check out these ideas for a rocking good time!

First, think about getting an entertainer for the kids that will be present. This frees you and their parents up to have a good time. I'm proud to reccomend Bonzo Crunch, http://www.bonzocrunch.com/.

Then decorate with fun, festive colors. This Celebrate 50 theme is avaliable both online and in local party stores.

We took the theme even farther, by having custom invitations made and a cake to match.

The cake, a fondant masterpiece shown here, was created by Blue Note Bakery, http://www.bluenotebakery.com/.

The design was inspired by both the decorations and the custom invitation designed by RSVP Regrets Only, http://www.rsvpregretsonly.com/. All in all, this was a perfect way to celebrate such a special day. Our guest of honor spent it surrounded by friends and family, enjoying cake, tea and lemonade and a festive atmosphere provided by the light-hearted decorations and upbeat music.