Fly or Die

So, apparently daddy goes to work to "die". He used to go "bye bye" to *insert airplane noise and awesome swooping gesture here*. But, now, Lawson is trying to use more words and "fly" seems to be hard to say, so instead daddy goes bye bye to "die". Picture this: A kiss goodbye as Dustin heads out the door and his little mini me looks at him and says "Daddy, die." Yeah! Awesome. Since Dustin's departure to work, lego daddy has been flying around in Lawson's little hand serenaded by the word "die" over and over, spoken with great delight. It's actually become less funny and more creepy. He kind of sounds possessed.

Miss Naomi

Dirty Clean Dirty Clean

Clean. This is a short lived state these days. Clean lasts only a moment for all of us. Before I know it, I'm covered in spit up and he's covered in dirt.

He looks good in dirt.

Bee Boots

Every morning in our house starts the same. We chug a protein smoothie, have a little wake-up time (aka: Lawson watches a cartoon and I check my e-mail and get laundry started), then head outside for some sunshine! This is the part where Lawson yells BEE BOOTS! It doesn't matter what the weather or how he's dressed. These boots were made for running, playing, jumping, kicking, and I'm sure if I'd let him, sleeping. Here is the boy and his boots this morning before our Blackberry extravaganza!

This Ain't No Berry White

This is all about Berry Black! Blackberries are popping up all over on the edge of our property and today seemed a perfect day to stain our hands and put them in a bucket!!! In 20 minutes flat, I'd filled our bucket (with a little help from Lawson, who happily tested as many berries for quality assurance as I'd allow). And the best part is, there are loads more to be picked! Which means, many more sunny mornings filled with black stained teeth, faces and hands all in the name of a berry yummy treat!!! Just one more reason I love summers in the NW.

Less than thrilled to have his picture taken. It was time to pick blackberries!!!

And he's off!!!

Tasting the fruits of our labor! I missed the smile he cracked right after as he was zooming around the yard going, "MMMMmmmmm!"

Blackberries, blackberries and more blackberries!!!

Now, which yummy treat should I make with them?

Pottery Barn Deliciousness

I try to keep my fingers from prying their way through the Pottery Barn catalogs that regularly infiltrate my mailbox, but today was a different story. I sat down in my chair and enjoyed a brief moment to myself to flip through the pages of the latest PB. That brief encounter was all it took. I fell in love over and over again with each flip of the page! And when I got to page 26, my heart stopped. Simple, yet exciting. Understated yet interesting. Plus, it involves candles.



It's exactly what I need (yes, NEED!) to hang above the couch in the living room! It's BIG (64" across to be exact) and will fill up the blank wall without distracting from the giant window with a view it would be across from. Unfortunately, there is no floor in the living room yet and no couch residing in the spot I have chosen for it. SO, I suppose I will have to pine away via the catalog for now. But, mark my words: this WILL be adorning my big blank wall just as soon as we move our cave-dwelling booties upstairs and out of this basement.

Bob and Bobby

Today, we added to our Bob family. There is Bob, the old standby, and now there is Big Bob. Big Bob just gave me my freedom. I'm talking from sea to shining sea and amber waves of grain kind of freedom, people. Flag hanging from the front porch kind of freedom. I can put both kids in Big Bob and have my entire body to myself for as long as I can push the thing! I may not love the act of running, but running behind Big Bob with two happy kids in it makes me want to run forever. Forest, it's you and me!!! Let's go! Not only did Big Bob give me a new found freedom, he also showed me I am far more out of shape than I ever knew. Today, I ran for the first time in a LONG time. It did not last long. My sweaty, heaving state, however, lasted for quite a while. Naomi's little arms and legs were going the entire time. She's so considerate, trying to run with her mama! Lawson was having a great time as I started out walking, but then I started to run, he was THRILLED. I've hit the jackpot for real! DING DING DING DING!!! We all get fresh air, the kids are happy and I am free and getting in shape. Amen.

Without further ado, here's Bob meeting Big Bob.

And here are the stars on the flag of my new found freedom enjoying their first trip in Big Bob

I plan on chasing Big Bob daily until I've left this mama belly in the dust. Let freedom ring!!!

Smile

It'll make you feel awesome!!!

Lost in Translation

While looking through pictures today, Lawson and I came across a picture of himself looking particularly happy.

Me: Look at that cutie!!!

L: Meow.


Hmmm... kitty, cutie. Tomato, tomATo.

Two Two

Two days ago my two little munchkins turned two months old and two years old!!!

And while it's hard to believe that Naomi has already been flashing grins

and giving us "the look" for two whole months...

I'm convinced it's pure fiction that my tiny little man could be the owner of these two big feet

or that these big blue eyes have seen the earth circle around the sun two times.



And I just can't believe I've been so lucky to have these amazing grins light up my world for
two whole years!!!

Lawson,

Your favorite word these past few days has been "happy" (or "habby") and that is just exactly what you are. You are a happy boy and a sweet boy. A boy that your dad and I are proud to call our son. You are a wealth of kisses, hugs and cuddles and you bring an element of surprise to even the most mundane of tasks. One never knows what may become a microphone for an impromptu performance or what will make you dance with delight. You truly have a sweet spirit and a "habbiness" that is contagious. What a lucky mommy I am to spend my time with you.

I may never be able to explain just how deeply I love you. So much it makes my heart ache. On August 10, 2007 you became my reason for being and showed me the world all over again. You may have been little, but to me, you were BIG and MIGHTY and you were everthing. You still are everything. Nothing could ever change the way I love you, not even a little sister. You are my Big Boss, my Little Man, sometimes you are my monkey, and now you are my two year old boy. Before I know it, you'll be twenty and I'll be reading this wondering what happened to the two year old boy I used to hold. But even then, no matter what, you're still my love and you always will be.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Lawson!!!

All My Love,

Mommy

One Word

YES!!! YES!!! YEESS!!! YEEESSS!!! YEEEESSSS!!! YEEEEESSSSSS!!!

Not in a "Harry Met Sally" way, but in a "yipee for the little things" way. I know I am like a broken record around here with all this talk about the little things, but they make all the difference!

I have read the same book to Lawson every naptime and every bedtime since March. I don't even get the book out anymore because I know it forward and back. He fell in love with Little Quack (aka: "Quacka") the first time he heard about Mama Duck's five little ducklings (Widdle, Waddle, Piddle, Puddle and Little Quack) and requests it whenever he gets sleepy or realizes he has to go to bed.
Until yesterday. Suddenly it was the day of the Bear. Today was the second day in a row that we have read a different book. A book that Lawson's daddy picked out and gave to him about a snoring bear called Bear Snores On (funny how things parallel real life...). All I have to say is "and the mom grins on"!!!! Something new!!! What a difference a book makes!
Another YAY moment I had was in the car today on the way back from the grocery store. We've had about a weeks' worth of trips without constant screaming on Naomi's part. However, she has been asleep most of those times, so I chalked it up to good timing and luck. BUT, today on the way back from the grocery store, she was wide awake and HAPPY the entire way home. 20 minutes in the car without so much as a peep!!!!!!! Hallelujah!!! I am just sure that Lawson got ahold of her and told her how much fun "going bye bye" is and that she need not scream at the top of her lungs and make everyone miserable. So, thanks Lawson. It was nice to breathe naturally in the car as opposed to doing breathing exercises.

Another YES YES YES moment is coming very soon, too. Dustin has been gone for just shy of two weeks and will be arriving in just a couple of hours!!! Granted, this time apart seems very short compared to the couple of months we've grown accustom to, but it still stinks to have him away and I'm so excited to have him back home. I know a couple of other little people who will be happy to see him as well. Especially one little man who's set to turn "toe" in three days and will be glad to have his daddy there with him on that special day! I'm sure tomorrow's first word will be "daddy" instead of "heedle doo". Another welcomed change.

Heedle Doo

Heedle Doo. Heedle Deedle Doo. Heedle Deedle Doodle Doo.

No, I'm not speaking in tongues. Although that could be exhilarating! I am actually speaking in Lawson. I'm betting you will never guess what any of that means. They are actually all different ways of saying the same word. The same word that starts each of my mornings and is shrieked each time we enter the bedroom for a diaper change. You see, there is a heater in our bedroom (it is a cold, dark dungeon in our daylight basement) and Lawson is fascinated with it's buttons and swiveling and intermittent blasts of air and the heat that it emmits. There is nothing about the heater that doesn't absolutely floor him. And so, he says "heater" a lot. Only, he doesn't really say heater, it's more of "heedle doo" (heavy on the LLL and OOOOO) with a variance of added "deedles" and "heedles". I hope he always calls it a "heedle doo". Why don't we?

Think about it. You're in the car with your man (or woman... do guys read this blog?) You're, of course, cold. He is sweating like crazy. Or, if you're pregnant, you're HOT HOT HOT and he's shivering. How can you possibly get in a fight about the temperature when you say, "Turn up the heedle doo! It's freezing!!!" or "Stop messing with the heedle deedle deedle doo! I had it right where I wanted it!". I may start using that method! Like, "How bout you put the teedle leedle down when you're done so I don't fall in the toodley doo when I go to take a peedle???". It takes the edge off of "Put the freaking seat down for the last time!!!" and keeps life's "little things" in perspective as being just that. Little.

His version of words is also a reflection of his very optimistic outlook on life. Pay attention here. There is no. such. thing. as DOWN. It straigh up doesn't exist for Lawson. "Up" is "up" and "down" is... "up". It doesn't matter if you correct him over and over, "down" is "up". It goes like this:

Me: Lawson, you're all done eating now. Do you want down?

L: Up!

Me: Down?

L: (nodding head and pointing DOWN) UP!!!!!

Me: Lawson, can you say "down"?

L: Yeah!

Me: Say "down"

L: Up

Me: Down

L: Yeah

Me: Yeah......


So, obviously, he likes to look at the UPside of things, which I actually quite admire. It's pretty darn neatle dee! Too far? Okay, too far. I'm done.

Conversations with Num Num

So, Naomi and I were talking today... well, I was talking mostly, but she was totally into it. I told her all about being huge and pregnant with her, how Lawson used to kiss and hug her through my belly, my ridiculously long labor with her and how we all fell deeply and madly in love with her the moment we saw her. Here's her end of things...

You ate HOW much, Mom???

Mmmhhmmmm...

Oh, that is SO not cool.

Oooh, GIRL!


OMG!!!

More than I needed to know.....

Of course you fell in love with me... I'm awesome.

And she is. She is awesome.

She Needed a Little "MOBILE"ity

I tend to be pretty selective about the toys I buy for the kids. Birthdays and Christmases yield more presents than Lawson or I know what to do with. I have a theory that kids do better with just a few toys. If I have a few out, Lawson will play with the same toy for a long time. If there are a lot of toys out, he gets them all over the floor and then gets bored because he doesn't even know where to start. Because of that, Naomi has only two toys. Her teether and her little pink cloth doll.



Naomi received her third "toy" last week and finally noticed it today. It's been dangling above her head while she lay in her bed for several days, unnoticed. Finally, she spent a bit of quiet wakeful time beneath it and it caught her eye. Slowly and randomly swirling above her, she saw the shapes and colors for the first time. Her little arms and legs started going and she did her best to take as much of it in as she could. To her, it was magic. And maybe it really was magic. She got magically quiet for an extended period of time and the laundry baskets became magically folded. A worthy addition to her little toy stash, I think. It looks pretty cool suspended in the air. I've been mesmerized by it a few times, myself!