Geocache Win!

After our zoo escapade on Friday, we spent the rest of the weekend bopping around the homestead enjoying the sunny weather with friends and even finding ways to entertain ourselves when the sun sadly went away.

I spent some sunny time at the park with my boys:

(Landon likes pointing his finger for the "1, 2, 3 wheeee!" countdowns these days)

And I spent some cloudy time at the beach with my boys, looking for a geocache:

Landon wasn't a fan of his feet sinking in the pebbles and eventually just plopped down to inspect each rock, one by one, tossing them over his shoulder after each individual analysis was complete. It bought us some time to look for the geocache, which was listed as a "micro" size and "difficult" find. Landon ironically probably found it in his pebble party and tossed it over his shoulder while we searched and searched.

Goecaching is a phenomenon in which you search for little caches, or treasures, based on GPS coordinates. You can read more about geocaching in this wikipedia link. We never ended up finding the one on the beach nor another one on the route home, but we did get finally find one later in the day near our house. It was a much needed win at that point. I think it is a wonderful family activity and we wish we knew about it sooner as we traveled around!

Tired-looking Mom brings home the win when she finds a cache stuck in a log in the bushes!

Let's All Go to the Zoo!

We tried out the zoo again with Landon over this holiday weekend and overall I'd say it was successful. We paired up with his bestie Vivian early on Friday morning to head to the Woodland Park Zoo on the north side of Seattle. It was a great place and we actually lasted about three hours there, much to my surprise (coincidentally this is also the same amount of time to make preggo feet double in size). 

Our last attempt was around 11 months and it turns out Landon still loves gorilla sculptures. Sure, the real things were cool, too, but there's nothing like a stationary ape to get the little guy's attention!

Landon @ 11 months at zoo in Brownsville, TX

Landon @ 19 months at zoo in Seattle, WA. "Oh my gosh, I totally know you! How have you been?!"

Real thing = meh

This was also the first time we tried out a "leash" on Landon. I know, I know - are we really those parents? Yeah, I guess we are. We have an active boy on our hands and it was actually a really helpful tool - plus, I think the little lion backpack leash looked pri-tty darn cute so it was all good.

Daddy and Landon walking peacefully restrained amongst the paths.

Lastly, here is a video of Landon playing with the statues. I'm sure you wanted pics of him playing with actual animals and stuff, but attention spans did not allow for that. Turns out we don't even need to take him to a zoo; we should just find a sculpture park and save ourselves the zoo fees.

The View From Up Here

4 weeks to go! Solar eclipse in progress. [Despite appearances, Little Batman was not injured in this photo.]

The Piglet Update: Part Deux

Well I suppose I jinxed it by putting it in writing the first time around, but Piglet's arrival date has changed. Instead of June 20th, we are now going on Friday, June 22nd. So not too bad - only a couple more days than originally anticipated.

The reason for the change? The state of Washington is pushing an agenda to no longer have any elective c-sections prior to 39 weeks. If I had Piglet on the 20th, it would have been 38 weeks and 6 days. (We had been trying to do it a little earlier to avoid going into labor on the weekend and to accommodate the OR and doctor's schedules.) Anyhoodles, the state ends up withholding payments for the hospitals and doctors while the cases are reviewed. The doctors are fighting it since we technically live on an island and it's better to plan for c-sections prior to weekends when resources are limited, but nothing is gonna' happen in the next month. 

Big woop. I'll still have Piglet in my arms the same week I planned for so it's all good! Unless... did I just seal my jinxing fate by writing this out? Stay put, Piglet! Stay put!

The Helperton Stand

The hubs has been working hard on another weekend project for the kiddo and kiddo-to-be! This one was inspired by some blog posts I saw in combination with Landon's insistence on pushing dining room chairs to the kitchen island to be near the action. We call it the Helpy Helperton stand. It's a nice sturdy anti-tip platform that rests against counter-height surfaces so toddlers and preschoolers can hang out more safely. The platform is adjustable to different heights to accommodate for the ever present growth spurts.

As far as the woodworking side of things, I've heard Erik talk about things like mortise and tenon joinery with this project. Go, wood! I think the materials cost about $30-40, which was a great steal in comparison to the $125-plus price tag I see in catalogs. Win! Thanks, hubby!

In progress.

In progress.

Clamps galore as the pieces are all fitted together!

"To the Moon, Alice!"

"This platform is the perfect place to perform!"

This is L's "I'm potentially up to no good" face. I'm distracted by the lemon crinkle cookies I'm lovingly about to devour.

Helping in action!

So as I reviewed these photos, I realized our kitchen looks quite disheveled and I was a tad hesitant to post the pics. And then I thought, "Well hell, this is life. There are cutting boards and snacks on the floor (thanks, Landon), there are Tums at hand (thanks, Piglet), there is a helmet visor on the counter (thanks, Erik) and cabinets and drawers are temporarily left open because I have cookie dough on my hands." 

Life is sweet alright, if not a little messy at times.

Mother's Day Weekend 2012

What a great couple days! We had a wonderful warm sunny weekend here in the San Juan Islands; it was the perfect setting for taking care of some gardening as well as celebrating Momma's Day with my boys. Erik planned a nice night out on Friday by enlisting some of his aviation buddies to hang out at our house and keep an ear out for the baby monitor while we went downtown and ate some yummy food. Babysitting enrollment, dad-style. No complaints from me!

He and Landon also planned a drive up towards Samish Island via Chuckanut Drive on Sunday to enjoy a picnic in one of the state parks along the way. We found a grassy knoll to enjoy our meal (including fresh baked bread from the Bread Farm we picked up along the way!) before hiking down to the beach. Beach time didn't last terribly long as Landon was trying to step into the freezing waters but it was scenic while it lasted. All the activity tired out the little guy so he blessedly took a nap, one of the best gifts of the day.

Picnic!

Heading towards the park.

"Hmm, this 50 degree water looks refreshing."

My favorite smile.

Mom sits her 8 month pregnant buns on a log and watches the boys.

Landon didn't enjoy the fresh crusty bread, but housed his little fresh baked duck cookie!

Everything was wrapped up at the homestead with a nice din din cooked by the hubster, with tiramisu for dessert. Voila! Mothers day complete. The world was righted again Monday morning with three loads of laundry and untangling underwear from L's head and arms ("How did you do that?"), all by 9am. I was also force fed a snot covered Cheerio. You know, all that fun stuff about being a mom.

Wishing all the past, present and future mothers of the world great blessings...

18 Months!

Landon turned 18 months old last week. A year and half old, my little man. *Sigh.* He certainly checks all the boxes on the "what to expect" charts of what an 18 month old should be doing. I haven't taught him how to do taxes, but he does try to put shoes on so I'll give credit where credit is due. He is still very athletic and has mastered the nearby toddler playground, although his injury report from his little morning school the other day read "Landon tripped over his own feet and hit his forehead on nearby table." I suppose athleticism doesn't always equate with grace.

He does have bouts of frustrations and tantrums these days, but apparently that is par for the course, too. Sometimes I laugh at the absurdity of it, sometimes I cuddle with him until the tears subside, sometimes I let my own tears fall in bouts of exhaustion when trying to decipher the extra rough rounds. He'll always come in for a hug at the end of them all, so that's all you can ask for, really.

One of Landon's most endearing features continues to be his smile, despite the lack of teeth in comparison to his peers. Our friend recently - and accurately - observed that Landon doesn't seem to be getting any new teeth, but the four that he does have seem to be getting bigger. How can you not love that Chiclet smile, though, eh? Eh? And he is so willing to dispense that smile to friendly folks at the store, friends at the library and around town... a core personality trait I adore in him.

It looks like our little guy may officially be a blondie these days!

Likes

- Making animal sounds

- Cheese, fruit chews, teddy grahams, peanut butter, hummus

- Going to the park

- Mommy and Daddy
- Row, row, row your boat

- Goodnight, Cowboy book (from Aunt Schming)

- Dora and Diego cartoons

Dislikes

- Meat, pasta (?!?)

- Having stuff on his hands (he'll play in the dirt, but immediately has to swipe it off)

- Taking naps (mom note: sob)

The View From Up Here

6 weeks to go! Toes still in sight, though.

Reading Corner: Check!

This past month Erik was able to use an old pallet that some of our flooring was delivered on to create some cute book shelves for Landon's room. There was an unused corner near his crib that was a perfect fit - yay! Even better is that Landon took to it right away and figured out that it was where the cool kids hang out and he knows how to pick 'em and put them back (the latter, of course, being a less frequent activity than the first).

We also put a smaller reading chair in Landon's room for him to hop up on. This replaces the big cushy recliner that was in there because, yes, that had to go to Piglet's room for upcoming late night nursing and rocking sessions. So far Landon has not complained about the new arrangement and doesn't hang out in Piglet's nursery too much. I'm sure he will be staking his claims, however, when the baby arrives and we are in there more and his curiosity piques.

Good job, hubby!

The raw material

Installation complete and Tutu Teddy certified

L going for the bait

Success!

 

Our old books are on the higher shelf for now until little fingers learn to be a little more gentle :o)

This is What Handsome Looks Like

Oooor something like that...