A jaunt downtown

one evening in October. 

     We were still enjoying the light evenings that, in a good way (mostly), made it feel like bedtime would never come. For that reason, and to ensure Gray and I didn't lose our sanity, a stroll around Falls Park on the Reedy was the perfect family activity.

 We have been experiencing a drought this year. The Fall was not as spectacular as it usually is.

     We thoroughly enjoyed watching the ducks swim and eat. Tobias liked to get as close as was physically possible before falling in, aka. he loved to give me a fright. He would point and observe and point some more while repeating "Mommy! The Ducks!" more times than I could count.

 This poor goose was so ugly, we came to find out he/she is an actual specie that looks like this ... 

I felt slightly bad for mocking him.

 Little toes dangling too close to the water!

We made a loop around the park stopping at our favorite tea bar, Ocha. The cherry, almond, vanilla milk tea is my favorite thing on the menu right now! On our way back we gazed into the high end art shops and stopped again to admire the ducks. It was perfect, so much so that we had a meltdown in the car about leaving ...

Grate gazing. I'm pretty sure he spent some time dropping stones down there before I noticed.

Sexy butt dad wearing that Ergo like a model, hehe.

Tobias Mowing

     These photos don't really have much of a story other than, I really want to remember this time and how much Tobias loves mowing. We talk about it everyday. If he isn't mowing the yard, it's the porch, or my carpet. If I ask him to do something he usually says "Mow First!" Gotta love his enthusiasm.
     The awesome rain coat and boots are from his Nana. We are waiting for the weather to cool before bringing this outfit back out. I have a feeling he won't take it off once he gets the chance to wear it again. Possible Halloween costume? It's in the running!

My little artist

     Gosh, these pictures are only a couple months old and yet he has changed so much since I took them! My little baby is not so little anymore and he definitely does not look like a baby. The fact that he has become a little boy sinks in more and more each day as I impatiently await the arrival of his baby brother. 

     This stage has definitely become a favorite of mine. It's both exhausting and greatly rewarding. His speech continues to progress and sometimes it's amazing the phrases he puts together and the things he remembers. He's all boy; crazy, goofy, giggly, and stubborn with endless amounts of energy, but man oh man does it take everything within me not to squeeze him to death. Words can never express the love I have for this tiny human.

     So (the best transition I can come up with :)) .... he is not really interested in art at all. I like to fool myself sometimes, but the fact is, we throw balls and make messes all day everyday. The more refined skills such as drawing and painting have yet to hold his interest for more than a few minutes. I will not stop trying though ...

Nanny for the day.

     One of the joys of being a stay at home mom is that I have the opportunity to occasionally watch my friends children. The best is when you start nannying slightly before having kids. Then once your little one makes their debut you get to introduce them into the mix and watch some of your favorite people grow together.
     They learned how to take care of (aka. breast feed) their babies at the same time I did, they helped Ty try his first bite of avocado and cheered him on as he started to crawl and then walk. They selflessly brought him all the toys they weren't interested in so that he wouldn't chew and drool all over their favorites. And now they run away from him screaming while he happily squeals and chases them, both parties unaware that he's just copying them not really chasing them.
     It's hilarious and so sweet and just one of the many things I love so much about the stage I'm in. There are a lot of things to grumble about, but that is always the case and from where I sit, I'd rather be a glass half full kind of girl. So I'm smiling as I look as these pictures and choosing to believe there are always more things to be thankful for ... especially when it involves giggling girls on bikes and scooters and an entranced little boy with spiky hair meandering up and down a long driveway in the afternoon light.

Squeezing through legs ...

because everything is a potential fort.

"I love pictures...the best thing about them is that they never change, 

even when the people in them do."

-Anonymous

11 Months.

     Two posts in one day! Only because on principle I need to get these out of the way before his birthday on Saturday . . . gosh one year, it is just now starting to sink into my conscious. These 365 days went by so fast, I can only imagine how the next ones will go. You blink and it will all be over they say, I am starting to believe them. I am sure I sound like a broken record, forgive me, it is all a little surreal.
     At 11 months you could walk. Unsteadily and with many plops and redirections, but it did not deter you. You were just starting to get into everything, but had yet to become the tornado you are now. Your main interests were cords and remotes and pens. You loved to annoy the dog and still do, but there is less poking and slapping, you mostly observe, point and laugh now. In these pictures you had managed to remove the lid from the puffs container and subsequently you spilt them all over the floor all while mommy went pee. Our morning routine most days was pretty lazy. During this month you graciously slept till 8:30 most days and upon waking we would lounge in our jammies and you would snack on cherrios/puffs while mommy slipped in bites of yogurt and banana. Not because you did not like them, but because you were too busy playing to care. This was the month that you noticeably started to take an interest in balls, much to your daddy's delight. You loved to "throw" the ball, i.e. drop it while staring at the person encouraging you to hand it to them. You babbled all the time, your favorite syllables were da-da and ha-ha. You learned uh-oh while in Ohio with Mimi and Poppi and came home and forgot it. Even now you only say the uh part. This is the month you took a special interest in mommy and that has yet to wear off (secretly I love it). You started to show us the fart part of your personality. If we took something away from you you would clench your fists and grunt in frustration. Only recently have you started to throw tantrums which consist of laying on the ground and rolling around, ya, you are that kid. You were growing more hair, but it still stood up on end and gosh I love it. Dog food was your favorite snack no matter how many times mommy told you no. Our nap routine started to get a little longer, because mommy did not want to stop rocking you, especially when you would lay your sweet head on my shoulder. And to be honest kid, you are too darn cute for your own good. You force your mother to give you unsolicited snuggles and kisses all day every day that sometimes annoy you, but maybe, just maybe might be wearing off on you. Please stay this little for just a while longer.

Puddles and boots.

     He is all deep thoughts and fascination, concentration and curiosity, both oblivious and carefree. Watching him explore the world awakens my own interest and excitement in God's creation. I am the Clark to his Lewis and fostering and growing his inquisitive spirit is something I really enjoy. Hence muddy puddles and boots that don't quite fit.
     I think there was more water in those dog chewed blue boots at the end of our fun than out, but he did not seem to mind. He was focused on the cool water and tasty swords (aka. sticks). I was focused on keeping those boots on, a futile task. I was cooing and making a fool of myself, tirelessly working to get this young boy to look at me for a quick shot, something he was totally not digging. All while trying not to drop my camera and keep Ty from ingesting handfuls of mud and said swords. Oh the show! I bet you would have paid top dollar for front row seats. We are a carnival act, didn't you know? I will post to social media the next time we come to a town near you! Be on the lookout!

Boots: STOMP from Kamik