18 months

In the blink of an eye, a year and a half has passed. Sweet little boy, I feel like I closed my eyes for just a minute and you went from being carried around in my little blue sling, to walking ahead of me pulling me by my finger. Suddenly you are not just walking, you are running. You climb, and spin, and attempt to jump. You drive the little red Little Tykes car, you try to ride Anna's scooter and you even sit on a little toddler bike trying so hard to reach the pedals.

At just 18 months you are such a busy little man, you certainly keep us on our toes. You are adventurous in your own way - while you are gross motor oriented, you also like to explore how things work. You are obsessed and I mean OBSESSED with light switches and how they turn the lights on and off. You could play with them ALL DAY LONG if I let you. You like to spin wheels on cars, scooters, bikes - you like to press buttons, you like anything that can turn on and off. I am so curious what you will end up doing when you are older given this passion for mechanics.

This summer you have enjoyed exploring water. We have swam in pools, lakes, waterparks and more and you enjoy every one. Cautious at first, it takes only a minute or two until you want to be in the water until it's time to go.

Your vocabulary is expanding by the day - you say lots and lots of words and will repeat nearly anything. Our favorite thing to hear you say is your name. You pronounce it so sweetly, it really is adorable. You are just getting in to animal noises and songs, and showing an interest in books. You love when Anna and I do the "elephant".

Your favorite toys are any type of ball that you can throw and chase around, and any sort of nesting toy - nesting doys, cups, bowls, etc. Things that can be opened and shut and put inside one another. You like everything that resides in our cupboards, but aren't all that interested in what's in the toy box.

Your other favorite toy is your big sister. The relationship the two of you have formed is a joy to see. You love your big sister and idolize all that she does (except when she takes your toys away). She loves you equally as much and I love that both of you look for the other as soon as you wake in the morning or from naps and that you hug and kiss one another before you go to sleep. I hope you do this always, although I am sure there will be times you might not.

Your demeanor is sweet, relatively quiet and just all around chilled out. Your father says this must all come from his genes! You are very social, saying hello to anyone and everyone and engaging new people by taking them in with your eyes for a few moments and then once determining they are safe, pulling them to go somewhere or look at something by tugging on their finger. You are much more quiet than your sister - there are times I have looked for you in the house calling your name for several minutes and you won't answer or make even the slightest peep. I think you think it's funny!

At 18 months you are a big boy - you weigh 25lbs (50th percentile) and are over 33 inches tall (close to 90th percentile). You are just 8lbs and 7 inches shy of your big sis! You have the longest eyelashes I think I have ever seen and an adorable smile. With your red hair and fair skin, you tolerate the sun pretty well and love love love the outdoors.

And at the end of the day, after you have worn yourself out by doing and seeing and exploring and more - you drift into the most peaceful and adorable sleep. Steve and I can't help but go in your room and peek at you more than once to gaze at our not-so-little boy and think of how blessed we are to call you our son.

i can't hear you

Anna: "Mom, can God come in through the window?"

Hmm, not quite sure how to answer that one...

Me: "Well, not exactly. God is just everywhere. He's in all of our hearts."

Anna: "No he's not mommy. He lives in the SKY. He's up there. Where is he up there?"

Oh boy...

Me: "Well, he's up there yes, but he also is in all of us too. You know when you hear a little voice in your head that tells you that you should or shouldn't do something...that's God talking to you. Like when you feel like you should do something nice for someone, that's God telling you what to do."

Anna: "Oh"

Silence...3 mins later...

Anna: "I can't hear anything mommy! I feel like I should do something nice but God isn't telling me what to do!!!"

scissors

There are many ways to start the day...some start early, some start late. Some begin happy, filled with energy...others, more lethargic and slow to get moving. Some start quiet, some with a bang.

I'm not sure where you would classify how this day began, but it's definitely one I'll remember for awhile.

Anna woke early - as is typical for her - coming into our room for the first time at 5:20am to let us know that she had to go potty and to ask how many more minutes until there was a 6 in the front. She emerged a few more times inbetween to "tell daddy something", to "get a hug before he left" and then finally she burst through the doors one final time at 6am flying into our bathroom to find me coming out of the shower (as is quite typical).

My day usually begins with one, if not both, of our children in the bathroom with me as I try to get showered and dressed. Today, as I was getting ready and on the phone with Granka (an early riser also, mind you, since we were talking before 6:30) - I turned to see Anna standing in the doorway of the bathroom with a scissors.

"Anna, please put the scissors away. You know those are not for you."
"But I don't want to"

2 mins later

"Anna, please put the scissors away before you get hurt"

2 mins later Anna is standing in the doorway of the bathroom again, scissors in hand looking at me with a strange look on her face. Immediately I thought she must have cut her hair.

"Anna, please don't cut your hair with those scissors!"
"Mommy, I didn't cut my hair, but I did cut some clothes in the closet"
"You did WHAT?!?!"

Picturing all of Steve's work shirts lined up nicely in the closet my insides turned out. "You DIDN'T CUT CLOTHES ANNA DID YOU?"

Instant tears...yep, she must have cut some clothes.

So, one pair of Steve's pants down (thank goodness that was the extend of the damage) before 6:30am. Life at age 4...does it get any better than this?

independence day

Building on our vacation theme, we packed up the family and headed east for a week of fun, sun, family, friends and yummy food at Nana & Papa's house. We arrived to sunny and warm weather, which remained for most of the week.

We began our vacation with fun times with family. We enjoyed a wonderful BBQ with Great Grandma Mary, Aunt Kathy, Uncle Richard and Cousin Sean, and good friends the Johnsons. Aunt Kathy spent many an hour sewing Anna a life-size doll (affectionately named Rebecca Rainbow by Anna) that she can dance with - she actually hooks to Anna's feet. She was, and still is, a big hit! (Thank you Aunt Kathy!).

Later that day we headed out to see the fireworks - a first for Anna. She loved it. Although she did keep asking when the "grand finale" was. Perhaps she was getting tired??

The following day we spent the day on the boat, visiting with more family - Uncle Richard, Aunt Barb and Cousin Kayla stopped over to see us which was a nice treat! Later that evening Steve, Anna and I headed out to dinner and to a party at the yacht club with our good friends who live in Oshkosh.

Monday brought a little bit of rain, but that didn't stop us from packing up and heading out to lunch and to a pool with friends. Anna swam her heart out and Steve and I had the opportunity to catch up with friends we haven't seen in far too long! Meanwhile, Emmett enjoyed some one on one time with his Nana & Papa! I think everyone enjoyed this time!

Tuesday was a perfect day...much of which was spent on the pontoon. Anna, Steve and I each had our turns tubing, we all swam in the lake and soaked up the sun. It couldn't have been more perfect.

While we were all sad to leave on Wednesday, we already made plans to return next month for one more mini summer "vacation". In the meantime, Anna has promised to send Nana & Papa 9 postcards. She's going to have to get busy!

Love to you all, we enjoyed our time and miss you!

surprise!!

The first half of summer for us has been filled with many sweet memories of VACATION! After our weekend at Grandma's marathon, I surprised Steve with a weekend in Manhattan for the 2 of us. With the help of Grandma Mary, Nana & Papa and one of Steve's co-workers, I managed to keep the trip I was planning a surprise for several months - only to fill Steve in the night before we left. The kids and I had a small "surprise" party for him - so the kids could watch him blow out his candles before we headed out of town.

Nearly 7 years ago Steve and I spent a long weekend in Manhattan, only to come back with a ring on my finger and wedding plans in the making. For Father's Day and his birthday this year I thought it would be fun to return to the place that has such great memories for the two of us.

We spent our first evening there walking around the Financial District and relaxing in Battery Park (southern tip of Manhattan). From there we took a sunset cruise around the East side of the island, and around the Statue of Liberty. It was a gorgeous night and a romantic cruise. A great way to start off our trip!

Friday, Steve's birthday, we got up and walked around Central Park. Walking into the park immediately we spotted movie cameras and Ty Pennington on the corner, likely filming a commercial of some sort. After stopping to gawk for awhile, we made our way through the park enjoying the beautiful scenery and the hot, steamy weather. Later that evening we had a delicious steak dinner in honor of Steve's birthday!

Saturday was our day to explore SoHo, Greenwich Village, the Meatpacking District, and NoLita. We spent the entire day walking through cute neighborhoods, boutiques, and markets. Greenwich Village and SoHo are Steve and I's favorite spots in Manhattan as they are filled with life and many, many things to do and see. We stopped at Amy's Bread for the most delicious cupcake I have EVER eaten (if you are in NY, you HAVE to have several cupcakes...Amy's Bread and Magnolia bakery were 2 of the places we stopped). YUM. We found a cute place for lunch where we watched part of a World Cup game, and later after many many miles of walking found a pub where we watched the 2nd half of the US game - which unfortunately they lost.

Later that night we discovered a delicious Mexican restaurant on the Upper West Side...there certainly is no shortage of great places to eat in NY.

It was a wonderful trip, a great opportunity for Steve and I to spend some quality time together. For all of you who helped with the kids, or helped keep it a secret...thank you!