15 Months Old

15 tidbits about my 15-month-old boy. He's growing so fast!

1. Could spend the entire day outdoors
2. So not into vegetables
3. Runs. A lot.
4. Sports an adorable comb-over
5. Finds biting mommy to be immensely entertaining (I, however, don't share that sentiment)
6. Has a strange fascination with playing in dark rooms (the laundry room, bathroom)
7. Super cuddly
8. Likes to pick out books for naptime/ bedtime
9. Is done eating when Leah is (if not before)
10. "Dada" is his favorite word (so nice to hear on a weekend morning)
11. Definitely a morning person
12. Enjoys hide-and-seek, especially if he's the finder
13. Great little helper (throws away diapers and picks up toys)
14. Loves playing with big sister (to include chasing her and attacking her)
15. Such a charmer

Apples!

Thank you Mariah for organizing the annual apple-picking excursion this past weekend. The weather was PERFECT: sunny skies, moderate/ seasonable temps, a light breeze, and zero humidity. Ahhh, perfect for picking apples.

I'll let the photos do most of the talking; the trip was worth it, even if Hunter's only nap was the last 30 minutes of our ride home.

Hunter wanted in on the picking action; we had to explain that apples on the ground weren't exactly pick-worthy.

Can you see the hubs in the tree?

Watching Daddy pick apples. Notice who's in the stroller, and who isn't.

Apples taste better when you pick 'em yourselves.

Checking out the flower Leah picked for me. When I told him to sniff it, he leaned in as if he were going to kiss it.

The best part about apple picking? Making an apple pie!

Rolling out the leftover pie crust to make cinnamon chips. After all her help, turns out Leah doesn't like apple pie (but she does enjoy ice cream and cinnamon chips!).

First Day of School!

We (okay, it's more like "I") made the decision to start Leah in pre-school this year... at home, so I have been working on compiling activities for different units (and swapping them with a friend who is doing the same). [I won't go into too much detail here since I covered much of this in an earlier post.]

To say Leah's been excited would be an understatement. On her first day of school (last Tuesday), she came downstairs to find her backpack sitting on the table, filled with all the materials for that day's lesson on butterflies. Not wasting any time, she unzipped the bag and pulled out the contents, eager for us to begin. "Not until after breakfast, kiddo." (Wouldn't you know it, that was the fastest she's eaten breakfast in a LONG time.)

With breakfast out of the way, it was time to get dressed (she picked out her outfit: pink tank and blue plaid shorts), take the first day of school photo (she actually LET me take her picture. That hasn't happened in a while.), and begin our lesson: making a butterfly mask. We talked about how a butterfly's wings are symmetrical, and though the wings on her butterfly aren't, at least she had the right idea; there are flowers on both sides. Our first lesson didn't take too long, especially since we spread it out over the course of the day due to letting the paint dry, but that didn't diminish her enthusiasm.

Later that day, when Scott asked, "Leah, did you go to school today? What did you learn?" Leah replied, "No, Daddy. I didn't go to school. I did school at my house." Who'd have thought she'd pick up on such a slight difference?

Since that first day, we've "done school" two more times, and each day, Leah loves it (and let's be honest, so do I). Next time you see her, be sure to ask about the life cycle of a butterfly. I'm sure she'd willingly share her new-found knowledge. 

 Sept. 4, 2012 First Day of PSL (Pre-school Light)

 Painting half the butterfly mask before folding it in half to create the mirror image. (She was more interested in painting it all purple, which certainly made it easier to print on the other half.)

Butterfly girl!

New York Vacation 2012

We trekked north for our annual New York summer vacation a couple weeks ago. Unlike last year, where we packed our week with numerous activities, this year, we took a more relaxed approach. This should have been a restful trip (and, for the most part it was), but sleeping in a home next to a busy country road that's frequented by big trucks doesn't bode well for sleeping babies or preschoolers. Thus the kiddos were up early every day (well, except for the day we left; then Leah slept in until just after 7)-- as in, usually by 6:30, 6:45 at the absolute latest. (In case you didn't know, at home, the kids aren't usually up until at least 7.)

Despite the less-than-ideal/ expected amount of sleep, the kids powered through the days, buoyed by the joy and excitement of being at Papa and Grandma's. Our week was filled with time with the cousins, running around the yard, enjoying the fire pit (complete with hot dogs and s'mores), a visit with Great Grandma Teddy (complete with a spiedie lunch and a ride on a carousel), a trip to the fair, and a horse ride. Of course, some days we had time to relax at my in-laws' place. Those were the moments when I could enjoy being a mom without the distractions of errands to run, a house to maintain, or a "to do" list to complete. Instead, I could play with my kids (that is, when they wanted to. For some reason, Leah just wanted to play with Grandma.) or read a magazine (read during the day when my kids are AWAKE? What an absurd notion!). 

Ahhh, vacation. Though it's over, and we're back in the swing of things, complete with a busy fall schedule, I feel rested and rejuvenated. Guess that's what vacation does to a girl, eh?

 Daily, Hunter would bring us his shoes (and sometimes my shoes!) then point to the door. He couldn't get enough of the outdoors, especially with ride-on toys available. He loved this motorized car, and was particularly proud of himself once he learned how to make it go.

If Leah had her way, she would have stayed on the carousel all afternoon.

She looks like she's dancing, but really, she's chasing (and popping) bubbles.

Leah and cousin Mila snuggle in a chair around the fire pit.

Hunter loved playing this game with Grandma through the window. (That is, when he wasn't busy running laps around the house.)

Quality time with Daddy.

Leah and her cousins (Mila and Kate) check out a 3-day old calf that was born at the fair.

Hunter LOVED petting the sheep... until they "baaed" and scared him!

Scott bought the orangeade for himself, but Hunter drank most of it. That little bugger couldn't get enough of it!

Trying cotton candy for the first time.

Hunter was all about the tractor. Who's really steering?

When asked who wanted to ride the horse first, Leah immediately volunteered.

Despite the expression on his face, Hunter enjoyed himself.

Leah knew exactly what to do on the Dragon Coaster: scream her little girl heart out!