About a boy. And his mom. And photography. And the occasional sentence fragment.
Here for credits and journaling!
Funny thing? I thought I'd just post photos this morning...but now I've rambled!
Ian 2 years ago and Ian last week!
He only wore that little baseball overall thingy once...it was a gift I think. I'm kind of anti the whole sports motif clothing thing, but of course having now written that somewhere the entire world can see, it will become his preferred attire! (aka...I'll headbut you if you don't put that Raiders shirt on me!)
He's ready to go! Ian is a little confused about why we can't go to his new house, and why we keep driving by it! Some days he wants to stay in "his house' but as soon as we mention the tiny park across the street he gets very excited!
The boxes are stacked in our living room and he's discovered one little corner that he likes to sit. He looks like he is ready to go! It is a rare moment that he isn't in the boxes! I'd been trying to get this photo for three days (leaving the shorter spot for him and just stacking around him). Of course today, with no pants on, he pops up there and says, "momma take a picture." And when the boy asks...I comply! That pout? He's discovered making funny faces for the camera. He thinks it is hysterical to make funny faces and then look at them right after!
What a clown!
So if I ignore the fact that my designs have REALLY improved what I do see is really amazing! Look at that sweet little face, but if you read the journaling you'll be blown away. It is hard to believe that it was just a year ago that he could only say one or two words together and most people couldn't understand them! Now he is a sentence making, talking machine! He now asks questions and waits for responses and can carry on a conversation! How did this happen so quickly?!
***ETA***
Okay I couldn't stand it! That layout is just sad...so for comparison here is a page I finished today instead of finishing packing :) Credits are here
We ventured out to Folsom today to meet Rhonda and her son Logan at the park. Rhonda and I met online at Designer Digitals and realized our boys were really close in age and that we lived about 30 minutes apart! It was fun to meet them both although I wish it had been a little less than 90 degrees at 1030AM!
Was such a great experience to meet someone for the first time who I felt like I've known for so long!
Spent the morning at Sarah's parent's house. Ian wasn't too excited about swimming but he loved dancing! I love the nostalgia that surrounds everything about Sarah! It was great to see Roy, Leo and Ian really beginning to play with each other rather than just near each other!
What happens when you try to force an unhappy 2 year old to put his pants on before he's ready? Well... Happy Mother's Day!
Fortunately this face only lasted a couple of minutes and, thankfully, I can't remember what caused it in the first place! I'm sure it was something big like telling him he couldn't eat ice cream or run in the street or hit the wall with a bat or vote in the Democratic Primary.
This post has virtually nothing to do with Ian!
Things (as I've whined about already) have been a bit hectic. May and June are always my busiest months of the year as state agencies schedule a lot of training to spend the money they have left. I've just picked up a bunch of new projects for a client who has lost a lot of staff and need some help! It is a perfect project! Busy time for Shea too, he just finished STAR testing with his kids and now has about a month of end of the year stuff left with his 8th graders.
So what does all of this have to do with macaroni and cheese?
Well...it made me happy! And I needed happy!
I've been eating a vegan oil free diet for about 7 weeks. I am absolutely loving it and enjoying really tasting foods for their natrual goodness. I've been vegetarian for A LONG time so moving up a notch to vegan has been easy. And there are some definite body mass and energy benefits!
I found this recipe and discovered my new comfort food! It tastes absolutely decadent and I don't have to feel guilty about it! No oil, no cheese, no wheat, nothing but pure yummy goodness! Added a little broccolli and mmmmmm my favorite childhood food was served! Shea loved it too which is always a plus.
Who knew it would make me so stinking happy??!!!
Ian didn't eat it...but he's on a hunger strike at home this week! (he did nibble on broccolli...the kid is weird!)
Ian and spent a little time together at Fairy Tale Town today. We both needed to get out of the house and just be goofy for a bit! We did the regular circuit of pirate boat followed by the train but changed it up some with a picnic lunch with a little push up treat after! He saw someone else with one and he had to have one!
I took him to a nice shady spot to take a photo of him with it and this is what I got! A full pose showing off his treat!
True to form he ate about 3 bites and the rest melted all over him :-) It was so worth it!
was going to take a different photo for POTD tonight but then I thought...this photo just sums up how I feel right now. Holding on while I hope I don't lose my pants ;-) (it's been a rough monday) (see post below!)
At first he tried to avoid sleep by just crying. Then he moved into saying "I hungry" and holding his stomach like we had starved him for days. Now he is embracing just simply being cute. Posing for photos, giggling until we all laugh, goofing. He's a crazy kiddo!
Ian had a great time with Kirin! I'm amazed at just how close they are in size and eating habits. They spent the morning at the train museum and the afternoon we went for tea. I couldn't resist this photo at the True Love Coffee House and they were actually willing to stand their and smile!
Ian's cousin Kirin is visiting from San Diego! So good to see him! They are having a blast together!
I think this photo tells the story though...do you think he realizes that the cousins in the bathtub together photo will show up at a family function when they are 15?
He's so like his Uncle Justin! I just didn't expect to see it at 2.5!
Credits Spent the morning with Kathy and kids! I just can't get enough of this little guys big blue eyes and sweet smile! He is such a happy little guy!
Ian had such a good time playing with Addy. He's so lucky to have friends that he has known his entire life! He gets so excited when he sees Addy...he jumps up and down and squeals her name! Only Becky and Justin get that reception from him!
Sorry Mom...this isn't a very exciting photo. This sums up our weekend though! Spent a long time going over the inspection report, lots of tough decisions to make. We'll just see if it becomes home now...the decision right now isn't ours!
Becky and Justin like it...so that helps!
I gave Ian my box of Legos for the first time today! They are the standard (small) legos that I use for class exercises. He's been eyeing them for a very long time!
He was thrilled...and immediately found the car and people in the mix.
Our life is now over as we know it :)
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After his bath tonight he told Shea, "my tummy's ready for nigh night!" Hopefully he'll move up the rest of his body and get to that little brain is ready for it soon!
Busy weekend! Mumzy visited, Ian slept through Roy's third birthday party, and we made an offer on our 4th house in 40 days!
Looks like we may be moving soon!
Ian had a great day at the park yesterday with his friends! For the first time in a LONG time we were all together! 6 moms, 5 toddlers, 2 infants, 1 newborn...that's a lot of kids!
I discovered too since I'm the mom with one that I get to be the cool going down the slide, pushing the swing, helping with the bike, entertaining mom. How fun is that?!
I can't believe that they are all turning 3 this year (Roy's birthday party is tomorrow!) Seems like just a few days ago when we were still comparing birth stories!
So I risked a sleeping photo just to capture that sweet face and those eyelashes! I keep expecting him to grow into them, but they just keep getting longer right along with him!
Tonight I said to him, "who loves you Ian?" He looked straight at me and with his big grin said, "Gramps!"
He is just too cute! Kathy and I and the three kiddos spent a little time at SB's after gym class today. He is so good natured, he practically posed for this photo!
Ian and Addie had a great time playing monster and running around together. I think it is the most I have ever seen them play together.
Ian learned his first lesson in girls though...as we were leaving he wanted to give her a hug. He stood, arms outstretched, and she ran the other way! He just couldn't figure it out...so much to learn about girls...so much!
Ian ran his first race today! Well...I carried him most of the way since the crowd of kids and parents freaked him out...but we're trying to make it a postive memory for him :-)
Afterwards he kept saying, "I fell down, I'm sad...." Funny thing is he never fell down, but wow was he sad!
We'll try it again some time with a smaller race and when he's actually slept more "normally" the week before!
So he's growing up too quickly!
Today he asked me Why for the first time! And then proceeded to ask it about everything. I thought why happened after 3 not before?!
For the first time in his little life he also said, "I'm hungry." I've never heard him utter those words before! I didn't even know he understood hunger since he seems to exist on goldfish crackers alone!
I think water is going to be a spring/summer theme with this little guy! He wanted to play "fireman" again today which means he holds the hose in the backyard and waters the lawn. Today he discovered what happens to you when you fling the hose back and forth really quickly. He wasn't pleased at all with his discovery!
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Update on house hunting...
We have an offer in on another house (and still sit in back up position for the first one). Our new offer maybe up to 6 weeks before we know anything since it is a "short sale". So sad how many homes we are looking at that are either forclosures or short sales. So sad.
Warm enough for Ian to play outside in the sprinkler today (well, not really that warm, but he did anyway!) Last year he wouldn't even get close to it. He played until he was soaked and starting to shiver!
So my newest weight loss program started today! I got myself a big scoop of peanut butter cup icecream from Burr's and it seemed Ian didn't like his tiny dish of pink ice cream that he asked for! So he stole mine and only gave it back when the ice cream was about ready to topple off of the cone. He was pretty proud of himself.
I don't like pink ice cream so I guess he saved me the calories!
Stinker
This little boy loves his Dad! I wanted just a quick photo of Ian with flowers behind him but he refused to sit their without Dad. As soon as they sat down, he cuddled up next to him, looked straight at the camera and smiled his big grin! Just a perfect little moment! We took a little family excursion to Daffodil Hill! I've wanted to go there forever. Beautiful drive and lots of gorgeous flowers. And a chicken or two for Ian to talk to!
Easter Eggs!
We had a great Easter visiting my family! Lots of egg coloring adults this year since the 5 year old and the 2.5 year old were bored after about an egg and just wanted to hold the colorful ones!
I love how bright they turned out!
We made an offer on another house tonight (after driving three hours so may question our judgement tomorrow!)
If we get it I'm calling in all help we are owed...it will be a very short move...but lots of sweat needs to be poured into it before the move can happen! Keep your fingers crossed (and yes mom, it will be easy to find!)
This is his pig face! Yes...he's holding a hippo...but he was convinced it should grunt like a pig!
Out of order...kind of like I feel right now...
Yes...I'm behind.
This has been a long week of waiting and wondering and hoping and looking and wondering and hoping some more.
Oh...and that last post? It's a mental crossroad that Shea and I reached together. We aren't fighting just bewildered by the prospect of $250,000 for 2400 sq ft versus $350,000 for 1200 sq ft. $100,000 worth of questioning! Just reminding myself that it isn't a problem...just an expense.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
We continued our tradition of Irish Taco night with Justin! Can't beat the Irish taco :)
This was "breakfast" at the Fox and the Goose this morning since today was also the first real day of Shea's Spring Break!
Spent the day in San Francisco showing a couple of Alaskan's around! I think Ian was overwhelmed with everything. He actually sat in his stroller the entire day and just took it all in. No fussing, no fighting, just a good little guy. More pictures to come soon!
Cupcakes!
Shea's childhood best friend (who he hasn't seen in 11.5 years) is in town from Alaska! We had to celebrate!
***We put a backup offer in this morning
I'm stunned at the emotions we've experienced in the last 24 hours. We started the very serious part of house hunting this week. Checked our credit -- Excellent
Prequalified -- Well within our range
Realtor -- Perfect match
House -- Shea has been pouring over listings and could probably pass the real estate examine at this point
So excited to know that everything was in line.
We'd found a house that we LOVED. We had been there at at every hour of the day (except the midnight to 6am shift...a person has to sleep). We'd talked to neighbors. Walked the neighborhood. Found the park. Mind you we have done all of this all since last Friday. (except of course Shea's looking at listings--he'd been doing that since December when our house sold)
We talked to our realtor for the first time yesterday, gave him the details. We planned to meet last night at 7pm to see it. It was...perfectly us! Ian loved it, we loved it, Don (our realtor) loved it. It was quirky in a good way and just screamed buy me...you need to live here!
After an hour of wandering around, poking, prodding, turning things off and on, and doing it over again we left with Don's advice to sleep on it.
6AM this morning. Shea and I are both wide awake sitting in the living room talking about it, both knowing we didn't need to sleep on it AT ALL! I was preparing to send an email to Don to meet him to write the offer, Shea was prepared to get a sub so we could take care of it...
Shea pulls the Metrolist up to see the house...and there...in bright red letters across the photo it says
SALE PENDING!
Ahhhhhh! Can you believe the timing??!! It had been on the market for 106 days and THE DAY we look at it, they accept an offer??? THE DAY we look at it??? In THIS market????
So now...I'm sitting here wishing that it falls through for someone, knowing that can't bring about very good karma for me. So I guess we will just have to what is meant to be.
I'm sad. Shea's sad. It's 1:16PM and I haven't even brushed my teeth...
Grandparents visiting called for Shea, Justin and I to go out! Fun dinner at a great table at my favorite restaurant!
Ian and I ventured out to the Train Museum today. It was a gorgeous day outside, so we ate snacks on a bench near the museum. He jumped up from our table and said, "take a picture momma" He perched himself on a step and flipped his hat around. How did he get so big? And how did he learn to pose? :)
Ian flew a kite today for the first time! He LOVED it! He needed a little help from dad of course!
Unitl this photo, I had not realized just how much their eyes are alike.
And Lainie was completely right today when she told Ian, "you are getting big!"