Insulting Intelligence

Before my night classes I've been writing little instruction notes for Garrison. And by little I actually mean ridiculously huge. This is the first time I've had to leave Henry's bedtime routine in the hands of someone else so I feel like I have to over explain everything in great detail. Poor G!

I kept this note I wrote before the first night of class because omgyouguys I drew the exact toothpaste dab size. How freaking crazy does that make me look? Seriously. The next day I realized how absurd this was. I mean, like he would really put the toothpaste on the brush and then run to the kitchen and match it up with my illustration? I've always considered myself a pretty laid back mom but this is seriously making me reassess myself.

Almost Two. Funnnnnnn.

"Almost two" is a fun age but it's also incredibly challenging. We have good days and we have really bad days and at this point I can't tell if it's Henry being extra bad or me lacking patience. Maybe it's a combination of both? On one hand things are easier because for the most part he can tell me what he wants but on the other, he gets easily frustrated when he OMG doesn't get everything the second he asks for it. He can be totally sweet one moment and then be screaming on the floor, flailing his arms to hit me the next. I'm hiding out in my bedroom, about ripping my hair out today and it's only 10am.

My friend Deanna said that we're entering a pretty fun stage with Henry and I do sense that. We're able to do a lot more and there's nothing cuter than coming home from school to a "Mama hommmme!" and baby kisses. I just need to figure out how to teach him patience and work on getting some myself. I'm sure my frustration doesn't encourage awesome behavior from him either.

Our Weekend in Pictures

It's already the last few weeks of summer (although down here it's too hot until November). I'm adjusting to school nicely and trying to enjoy every moment I get home with Henry because I sense that the tiny Henry is going to be gone before I know it. Seriously guys, today he looked at me and said, "I want apple juicccccce" and then yelled "NO!" and slammed the door on his way out. And today we're getting him a potty because he can tell us when he's going to the bathroom now (usually when we're in public and he's real loud about it too.... "I GO PEE PEE!")

We're enjoying the weekends together. G just started a new job and he's super busy during the week so I love when we can leisurely do whatever we want as a family. And now that we live three blocks away from an awesome water park and some good restaurants it feels like there's more to do.

A few weekends ago we ate breakfast at a cafe down the street and let Henry run around the park until he was covered in sweat. He sweats so much, it's unreal.

stackin jamz

He punctured the top of a cream with his teeth and drank it all.

My baby's more fit than your baby.

We actually had to retrace our steps for this stupid missing dog. How have we not lost this thing yet? It's like 1 1/2 inches!

& stroller rides for everyone!

A Tacoma Movie

Some of my favorite clips from our time with Garrison's family. I am so lucky to have such great in-laws, we always have a good time when we're with them <3

Yellow Boots

I've been looking forward to the age when Henry can do things like jump in puddles and eat pinecones and dirt because...you know...that's just part of the fun of having a little boy. I've been keeping close tabs on these yellow boots, pulling them out of the closet every once in a while hoping they would fit. THE DAY HAS COME. He wants to wear these boots all the time even though they give him a huge pinky-toe blister. Yesterday he jumped in all the puddles until he had a huge meltdown in the middle of the road because I wouldn't let him swim in them. I'm so mean, right? If Henry was older he'd probably say something like, "Mom, you're fun...but your not thaaaat fun really."

Hey, I also just discovered this site. You can edit photos with a lot more options than Picnic offers and they have a whole selection of vintage tints.

Grandma ZO!

We had a lot of fun with Garrison's mom last weekend. Henry and I drove three hours south to Palm City, Florida to pick her up and spent the night in the hotel ohmywordthankgod because driving long distances with Henry isn't very enjoyable anymore. I love continental breakfasts with Henry because I can test out every type of breakfast food to see what he likes/doesn't like for future meals at home. And of course whatever he doesn't eat I have to finish because you know...it's not good to waste food and stuff. So my breakfast consisted of: one yogurt, 2 muffins, 1/2 toasted bagel with cream cheese and strawberry jam, one banana, 1/2 waffle with syrup, frosted flakes, an orange, and a pastry BECAUSE HENRY NEVER EATS ANYTHING. Seriously, there's so much wasted food around here...how is he still alive?

Garrison's mom is lucky that her name is the same as one of Henry's favorite Sesame Street characters: Zoe. By the end of the weekend, he was easily saying, "I wannnnt ZO!" or wandering from room to room saying, "ZO! ZO! ZO!" In school we talked about how kids learn easily by associating new concepts with things they already understand. I like to think that Henry first practiced seeing Grandma Zoe like this in order to learn her name:

We took ZO to the beach even though a storm was headed our way. Henry likes to sit in his little chair the entire time and is totally manageable and relaxed there so it's like we get a break too.

HAHAHAHA NOT! This is more like how it goes. This kid has no fear! Of anything!

Have you ever seen a farmer's tan on someone's legs before? I think I've just invented a new one, I'll call it the "my shorts are this short" tan.

At dinner while I wasn't paying attention, Henry put every onion from my salad onto his chubby wrists. He'd be really good on Project Runway when they have to create a look using things on hand. He's soooo into fashion!

We miss you Zoe!

Summer of the Pop Up

We got tired of sitting inside so we loaded up the jogging stroller with books, toys, and jssssssssss (juice. duh.) and walked to the store for a treat. Do you guys remember Pop Ups? With their Flinstone characters and that cardboard tube that you always end up eating no matter how careful you are? I used to love those things! I had actually forgotten all about them until we were in the gas station looking for the promised "treat".

Henry ate the entire thing on the walk home and played with the tube for another 10 minutes (quiet time WIN!) His face and the sink were stained bright orange even after scrubbing them twice and I had to wash his entire stroller padding but it was worth it. I'll never get tired of watching him enjoy things for the first time, especially when they are things that I used to love when I was little.

Um, so I just Googled "Pop Ups" and did you know that they make things like "Fear Factor Pop Ups" with eyeball gum and fake blood? Henry's childhood is apparently going to be way cooler than mine was.

We're hanging out with Grandma Zoe this weekend so sorry if I'm on and off with the blogging for a bit. We're having too much fun and it's only day one, it's so nice having family around.

first day of school

henry at my new school

I started grad school yesterday and I started it off with a real bang. I figure, why make things easy when I can do them in the most frustrating way possible? I signed into my email address only to find out that my online class started a week ago and today discovered that the only pages missing from my $80 book are the ones I need for my first writing assignment (due in less than a week). Despite all of these setbacks, I think this new thing is going to be so great.

Last night in class I realized for the first time in two years I just how much my social skills have declined. I'm super confident when I have Henry hanging off of my hip becuase, you know, if it gets awkward I can be like, "Ooooh! Henry, what? That's cute, do that Cookie Monster impression again....Haha, isn't he just the funniest? {GRIN}" Because adults really like that, right? Now that I'm on my own I'm awkward, it's like an interesting and key piece of me is missing. Doing this is going to be a really good thing for me.

I'm having a hard time balancing all this right now but I remember feeling that way at the beginning of every semester in undergrad and oh yeah, I totally didn't have a BABY then. Luckily our gym has a daycare that Henry kind of likes to go to so today I got all nerdy and read an entire chapter in an hour (or 6.5 miles). What's up, multitasking!?

Because some of you have asked...I'm going to school to get my Master of Arts in Teaching: Early Childhood Education degree. I will be certified to teach preK-5th grade in less than two years. I'm taking two night classes and one online class so Garrison gets to hang out with Henry two nights a week.

Okay, now here are some cute pictures of H...I know that's the whole reason you're here anyway (don't lie). This one is making me laugh so hard right now:

storm watching on the front porch

"do ya like seefood?"

Muscle Beach

While I was on a run this morning Garrison got his craft on and made Henry this awesome muscle shirt out of an old onesie! We're even going to the beach later so he can break it in appropriately. It gives me great peace of mind to know that if we are ever in a financial bind, we could cut Hen's outfits and not have to worry about buying him new clothes. And that totally wouldn't weird teachers/family/general public out, right?

(this shirt is also good for tiger riding)

A Washington Movie

Some of my favorite moments from our trip home this summer <3

marrs- you're next!

The Artist's Lyfe

Today's naughtiness is brought to you by lazy childproofing and the color green.

Guest Post at The Paper Mama

You can find me over at The Paper Mama today, writing about a scary Henry moment and sharing my new favorite pictures of H.

This was actually posted yesterday but I'm so behind on everything that I'm just now getting to telling you about it. It's only day two of this SAHM thing and I don't know how ya'll do it! Being Henry's sole source of entertainment is more exhausting than I had imagined and this new routine is definitely going to take some getting used to. Though I am feeling really good about all the one on one time I can pour into Henry's life right now and these slow morning cuddles aren't too shabby either <3

At a Ball Game

The last time we were at this stadium, I was seven months pregnant. Now here we are watching the game with an eighteen month old bouncing on our laps. Henry did really well almost the entire time, even considering the fact that the game didn't end until 9:30. I used to worry about getting H into bed on time but now we can be out later occasionally and it doesn't screw the whole routine up. It's so liberating!

jane and adam

snax

goodnight stadium