Mama's so proud.

Bubba has learned how to write (and underline :)) his name!

And Big sis is reading!
Which makes me feel old.
I can not say enough good things about Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons.
The book is seriously nothing short of genius.
 If you have a little one around four-ish check it out, I promise you wont disappointed.

p.s.
If you do buy the book and get your little one reading Id love to see or hear about it.
Feel free to link up!
Happy reading and underlining. :)

Things I love lately...Bub edition.

I love this boy because...he is learning to draw happy faces or "eye, eye, nose, happy" as he calls it, and is very proud of this.

 I love this boy because...of this. Not only is he hanging from my cupboard, but if you look close enough at that cute bum of his, his undies are backwards. And he wont change em around when asked. Its one of those 'pick your battles' type of things. Im just glad hes wearing them.

 I love this boy because...sometimes he does this. 

What you don't ever get the urge to chew on your toes??

I love this boy because...sometimes I find murals on my walls. 

  I'm just glad its chalk and not permanent marker.

I love this boy because...he does this when I am trying to take a decent picture of him.

I love this boy because...he would rather I take a picture of his orange M&M, and dirty hands (whoops) than his face.

I love this boy because...when I finally get a picture of him its a dandy. 

And those eyes...gosh those eyes!

 I love this boy because...he's mine pure and simple.

The end.

Bubbas 2nd Birthday

I never got around to posting my sons birthday pictures, so here I am, posting it 3 months later. Hey, better late than never right? I told you I was behind on my postings...seems like time has been sneaking up on me a lot lately.

 Sweet sweet guy. 2 years old!  

Wow. Where did my baby go?

Good stuff eh?

Thank one of my blog crushes, Pioneer Woman.

And her Best Chocolate Sheet Cake. Ever.

Fish kiss faces and pull up hats?

Yup.

You better believe it. Faces only a mother could love. :)

And they're mine, all mine. 

Crazy kids. :)

Suckie Free!

 My daughter was very attached to her "suckie" and that's why she was 3 when we eventually "sent them to the newborn babies in the hospital" but they are actually still in my pajama drawer. I couldn't get my self to trash them...don't tell her.

Little Man has been attached to "suckie" for quite some time now, and showing no signs of kicking the habit on his own...then I noticed a change in his teeth. Drastic times call for drastic measures....

I am going to miss these sweet post-nap-suckie-faces...sunglasses and all.

 I knew I didn't want him to have suckie when he was 3 and that means I had to start weaning him off it now, cause goodness knows how long it would take. So I cut a hole in one that already had a hole. Little at first, but smart little guy would turn it in his mouth so his tongue would cover the hole. On to my next next attempt: cut a cross in another suckie at the tip. (thanks to my friend Allison-who told me about this) I wanted him to still be able to have his suckie at night, to hold, and with the hole in it that's about all he can do. 

This was a very gradual process, about a month or so of little holes here and there and him telling me that it was broken. Not many tears, because it was just a fact, the suckie was broken and there was nothing he could do about it. It was sad because I wanted him to have that security he has had with suckie since he was a baby, but I also knew he would be fine without it.

Fast forward to last week, and he has thrown his suckies away on his own! One by one, day by day, because they are broken! I hate to trick the little guy, but it worked! And I am so proud. We have been suckie free ever since. 

Hooray!

Now to get him to use that potty...

Sweet faces. Bub edition

The "I love me a popsicle" face.

The "golfing" face.
Rain boots and all I might add. :)

The "I can ride my tricycle" face.

The "huh?" face.
(One of my faves)

The "dandelion blowing" face.

The "concentration,

and move, Mom" face.

The "my dad's the greatest" face.

The "cool"  face.

The "talking" face.

The "I'm being tickled" face.

The "proud and/or goofy" face.
(Another one of my faves)

The "post-nap and I'm hangin with my best bud" face.
(We are really going to miss you, Bear)

I'll take it!

Close.

Closer...

Still not what I wanted, Little Lady isn't in focus, but Ill take it. 

For goodness sakes, I'll take it!

The big boy bed!

We had to put Bub into his big boy bed to get ready for this big upcoming moving adventure. It's a total bitter sweet transition for me -- part of me was so excited to take that rail down so he could be a big boy and come and go from his bed as he pleases, and a part of me wishes I could leave that rail up forever. He is my baby after-all...:)

I didn't move my daughter into her toddler bed until she was about 2 1/2 years old, when she started climbing out of it (which is the usual transition time depending on your situation, I think.) We couldn't wait till 2 1/2 years with him. He doesn't fit in a pack-and-play anymore and it didn't make sense to lug his entire crib to Seattle for a month. This way he will be used to the freedom of his toddler bed before we visit Seattle.

The fun part about having all this freedom is you don't necessarily have to sleep in your bed if you don't want too. The carpet works just fine. :) 

Dandelions

 I love dandelions. I think they are a pretty weed. I never thought I would use the word "pretty" and "weed" in the same sentence. Is it because I don't have a yard yet? :)

"Ooooo you found a good one buddy! Now what?" I say.

 Oh yes, of course!  Blow!
This makes for good birthday-candle-blowing practice.
Because this little man is going to be 2 in a couple months! :)

 Hmmm. This ones not working very well.

Try again!

Little closer maybe?

This works too.

Or give it a shake, just make sure you close your eyes. 

You never know where those darn seeds might fly.

  Happiness at last! 

Bubba's buzz cut

 Cute, but totally shaggy. 
Come to think of it, my husband might need a haircut soon too.

 I am generally anti-candy for wee ones. But In the case of needing a toddler to sit still for 10 minutes, I will do whatever it takes. I actually gave him a sucker to tide him over the last time I buzzed him and it worked wonders. Too bad hes got more teeth this time around and decided to chew it instead.  So it was gone in less than two minutes.

And two minutes of buzzing was about all he could handle. He cried, and I felt bad. 
But I couldn't let him run around half buzzed! Or could I?

 
He looks so grown up now. Its amazing how something like a simple haircut can transform what I consider my "baby" into a 21 month old little boy. I'm not sure If I'm ready for him to grow up.

Discovery Center- Round 2

My sister-in-law, Erin came for a lovely 5 day visit. We took her to one of our favorite places- The Murfreesboro Discovery Center. :)

Prepare yourself for a little picture madness....

Such a fun place.

And so hard to put the camera away..

If I did, I would miss this. And that's just not like me.

She's super serious about the grocery store.

Painting with Auntie Ewin is always fun.

They loved the mini kitchen.

The boys had fun too. ♥