This may be a one - time shot......so we gotta make it a BIG deal!

BEST NAPPER!!!

Yep- Jonah got his name on the board today as the best napper at Miss Julie's. Now this is a total surprise considering his designated place is now near Miss Julie since our little "innocent" man likes to "travel" and see / visit everyone during the time he is supposed to be sleeping. But today - Jonah slept the entire time, stayed on his mat, wore his big boy pants at nap time and had no accidents at all! So for his reward- he got to bring HAPPY home with him and grab a treat from the treasure box- and of course he choose his favorite- a lollipop! Ahhh, if we could all get rewards for taking a good nap, staying put, and not wetting our pants!

Jonah and friends

Because you can't just fall asleep with one stuffed animal- you must have all of your friends! Look at those long legs--- he's going to be a tall boy for sure! My baby boy is growing up so fast!

Where's Jonah?

I promise, Jonah is in this picture. This is what happens when you have a lazy Saturday morning and he just runs crazy emptying buckets and toys.

Jonah "really" swimming!

We've been teaching Jonah swimming by ourselves- sort of a work in progress. But amazingly, he's picked up really well. Of course, credit does go to his older cousins who he adores and will copy whatever they do. So as Mason and Logan get instructions on how to swim, Jonah not missing a beat, will copy what they are being told. So glad he loves the water since there really wasn't an option not to like it!

Swimming- can't get enough!

We are all over the pool! Jonah is still jumping his cannonballs, uses Rick's snorkel gear as a golf club with a wiffle ball to play golf, will try to run and jump into the water like his older cousins, has learned if he puts his head in the water he will move faster, knows how to turn himself around to make it back to the edge, knows to kick and move his arms to move from mommy to daddy and loves having the freedom to move around in his new blue lifejacket- just like his 2 favorite peeps (Mason and Dora) have! Now - question remains- will he remember all of this come June next year or will we start over from scratch! Here's praying for the latter!

Boys will be boys

Jonah hangin' with his cousins- he only wanted boys in the picture- no girls! Sorry Kirsten.

This is how our AM time is spent--

Jonah wakes up and asks: "JuJu today?" And if it's a workday, then I say yes, we're going to JuJu's school all day. If I say no, then Jonah asks: "Mason come over?" And depending on what we having going on or what his cousins have going on I will answer yes or no. If I say, "No, Mason can't come over or we can't go over to see him", then Jonah will say, "Popo and Grammy house?" And depending on if we will see them that day I will say yes or no. If I say no, then he'll say, "A-ya house?" And depending on if we will see Andrea or not I will say yes or no. Basically, I have figured out Jonah has a list of people he would like to spend time with besides his own parents! No offense taken!

Updated family pic

Oreos

We hadn't ever given Jonah an oreo before- he's had other cookies, but not this one. True story: when we gave it to him- he immediately took the top cookie part off, licked the middle cream and then at the cookies. How does someone know to do this??? It's not something that is learned!

Corner Office

We took a trip up to see Daddy's new office-- it is actually in a corner, but no window looking outside though. Rick is still setting up shop- but has been knee deep in back to school business already. So excited for his new career as a HS Counselor!!!!

Summer is winding down

Enjoying (gasp) the many days of 100 degree temps by spending time in the pool!

Have kid, will take our one night getaway now!

We enjoyed a nice 2 days and 1 night of husband and wife- in Grapevine at the Gaylord Resort! It was magical-- so nice and relaxing. Thanks to the McGee Zoo for watching little man so we can have some quality time to ourselves. We toured around Grapevine, took in a movie, ate a good meal with a beautiful sunset and attempted to eat the biggest piece of cheesecake EVER! We were all eager to go to the dance club until we found out it was country night- not our thing!

Prayers with Grandma & Grandpa

Make a greeting card

Fun times with Friends & Family in MKE

Free picture slideshow made with Smilebox

Milwaukee Children's Museum

Create a digital collage

WI bound!

We boarded the airplane with plenty of so not healthy snacks for Jonah, games, books and the itouch filled with enough Dora videos to last 2.5 hours! Eager to see family and friends!

Must have monkey

When I went to check on Jonah sleeping, this is how I found him- hugging his monkey! Oh how he loves this monkey. Now mind you, he was at the end of his bed (where the bed guard is not) and had no covers on him-- so what does a good mother do-- grab a camera! That's me!

A taste of a petting zoo

We headed to the Taste of Dallas and were pleasantly surprised how good everything was- from the many samples of food we got, the vendors who gave out really useful things to the awesome petting zoo. In true Jonah fashion, he was scared at first, especially of the baby cow, but then realized how cool it was to be surrounded by these small animals. He even got brave and let the animals take food from his hands. Jonah really liked being in the pen with the rabbits.

Like father, like son! Rick has always drank his milk after cereal and it totally bothers him that I don't. Well just another fact that kids do learn by what you do.......as look who has chosen to continue this wonderful, high class tradition????

Just being silly!

Cousins Rule

Nothing says fun like hanging with the cousins! Kirsten is hoping for a girl to add to this mix and Jared is hoping for a boy so boys will continue to rule this tribe! And of course, Jonah still sticks to his "sister, no brother". Time will tell!

Potty Training 101

We started last Friday AM with our "big boy pants" - this was after a week of prepping: reading books, watching videos, talking about it, etc. And Jonah has caught on fast! Friday was a long day with a few accidents along the way, but nothing as horrible we had expected. We started with the portable potty chair and then throughout the weekend we transitioned him to the big potty with an Elmo adjustable seat. And the best part: Jonah's reward that worked the best for him to stay motivated and go potty in toilet and not in his underwear--- a big hug and kisses from Mom and Dad! By Saturday, we were all going stir crazy- so we ventured to a bday party and Aunt Justine's house and Jonah went potty at both those houses too in their toilets. Yippeee! And as of Sunday, he is now telling us "peepee" and "poopie", although sometimes after we run to the toilet we just a find a "tootie / fart", but heck at least he is getting the idea! Nap time is still a work in progress- a little hard to explain to a 2 year old- stay in your bed (meaning don't get out and play), but if you need to go potty get out of your bed and call for Mommy & Daddy. So in few weeks, we will start the night time routine- but for right now, we are celebrating with our weekend success of no diapers during the daytime and excited to pick which underwear to put on: Elmo, Thomas Train, dinosaurs, or SpongeBob!

It's in the little things

It truly is the little things that make Jonah so happy. He is a constant reminder of how simple life can be and what wonderful things can make you smile or laugh. In this case, it was a balloon on a string!

Fun in the tub

Elmo is THE man!

Is it a sign that your son is ready to be potty trained when he tells you Elmo needs to change his diaper????
Jonah loves books. Now that he is all of 2 years old, he likes to read to us. So he tells us where to sit and he "reads" his books to us. And now he wants Elmo to enjoy some of the fun!

Handprint on Father's Day

Me and my Daddy's handprint! Happy Father's Day to a my Daddy who I love playing ball with, who picks me upside down and makes me laugh and who I tell "I wuv you Daddy" everyday!

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star - LOOK at our Star!

Cannonball!

"Happy Birthday Mommy"

My bday came and I got the most wonderful greeting from my boys! First, Rick decorated the house with streamers for me (he did it all when I went to sleep so I was so surprised). Then Jonah came running to wake me up and tell me "Happy Bday". It was already perfect and it was only 7:30 AM. Rick also made cupcakes for me to take to summer school and share with my kiddos and friends- yummmmy!!! Had Mexican food for lunch (no surprise there) where I was surprised to find Rick there. He arranged to meet me for lunch in my school lounge! What a guy! Had a wonderful celebration with family that night and celebrating with my girlfriends later on. It's not so bad getting older!