Firetruck Extravaganza!

Stan and I showed Landon his new room for the first time last night! He was so pumped, he even convinced himself and us that he wanted to sleep there...

But, we ended up back in his crib. He slept through the night, so all is well. He wanted to play in his new room first, so we are one step closer thanks to my parents for coming down this past weekend and helping put the room together. They were a HUGE blessing, esp. since me getting up on a step ladder is not such a great idea any more. Well, I have to run, more later!

Landon catches his first fish!

Landon had his first experience fishing this weekend at Stan's Surprise 30th Birthday Party. Pop was the instructor and Landon was the enthusiastic pupil. I will post more from the party later...had to share these.

Fingerpainting Friday

Landon seems to be saying, "Mom! The sun is too bright to smile, so I will humor you with this look!"

Landon showed me his new and improved finger painting skills today as we beat the summer heat and got outside by 9:00am! He made a pond for all his Nemo's and we put all the Nemo stickers in the water. He also made a house for them. He was quite proud. What fun!

We are finding other ways to beat the summer heat...

Landon and his friend, Porter, enjoying popsicles- one of Landon's favorite things to eat and one of Landon's favorite friends.

We have been to the beach 3 times already this summer! Pictures to follow from our fabulous friend beach trips- one Memorial Day with our annual crew and one last weekend with Heather, Ryan and Emma...Landon is a regular fish and I am beginning to look like a beached whale...

Beach Report

Landon had a great time at the beach this year. He was such a big boy and really loved the pool and his water squirter (notice I did not say "gun"). He even was able to squirt his aunt Anna by surprise!Landon loved the ocean and he and I spent time searching for the little sea crabs that burrow into the sand after the waves recede. It brought back so many memories for me of my dad and I sitting at the water's edge and doing the same thing. It is amazing how those memories seem like yesterday when they were years ago. I really felt like Stan and I were making memories with this little fellow this time that he could very possible recall when he and his kids sit at the ocean years from now.

Landon loved to watch Stan dig and learned how to perfect his digging abilities very quickly. Stan really didn't mind himself and it was such a joy to watch the two of them playing together.We ended our week at a wedding of one of my dearest childhood friends. Stan and I had a honeymoon night away as Kay and LD kept Landon. I thought you all would enjoy the growing belly pictured here. :)

A Big Day for the Coles

Landon found a turtle in our front yard- a BIG ONE, that he named, "Crush" like the turtle in Nemo. Stan was working from home today and got to be in on the fun as well. We tried to show Porter later in the day but Crush went home- we couldn't find that thing anywhere!

Landon came and found me, told me he had to poop, sat on the potty, requested a book, and 2 minutes later I hear, "My poop, mommy, my poop, Yay Landon!" Yes, I went in the bathroom (after sneaking this picture) and found poop actually contained in the potty. Wow. What a feat for a 2 1/2 year old! He got 5 M & Ms for this accomplishment.

And the most exciting news of the day...Landon found out that he is going to have a healthy baby brother in October. Everything on the ultrasound looked great and the doctor kept saying how healthy the little fella was. He was doing acrobatics in there and even stopped to suck his thumb for a minute. We are so very thankful for his health. Bring on the blue, frogs, bugs, turtles, mud puddles and dirt pies.

Fabulous Friends

Landon has quite a few little buddies. We have been having so much fun playing with them lately and I wanted to share a few memories. Above is our little playgroup. We meet on alternating Wednesdays and Fridays. Landon loves Sophia and her willingness to run with him, jump in the pool with him, basically do whatever when he asks, Baylie and her love of the water which he loves too, Kate and her curious enthusiasm for new environments, esp. if a baby is involved (watch out Meggan!), Ryan and his impressive eating style which Landon is hopefully trying to learn from and Thomas and his "no fear" approach to discovering his world. Not pictured is little Josie, who kept her mother who is 9 months pregnant up all night the night before. You would never know such a sweet little spirit could do such a thing! :) Thanks friends, for sharing your beautiful children with Landon and I. We love you all!

Next, Landon and Sophia enjoying "pops" in the pool. Landon and Sophia play so well together! As mentioned above, Sophia is very willing to play the games Landon suggests, or which my favorite is the two of them circling around my kitchen as Landon yells, "Run E-Ah, Run!" Janise and I are working on an arranged marriage...but don't tell Lucia!
Next, Landon and Porter, our next door neighbor. These boys have so many things in common, it is crazy. Porter is 6 months older than Landon and thank goodness he does most of the trying toddler things first so Stephanie and Sam can assure Stan and I that Landon is normal. :) These boys love Cars, Nemo and friends (as pictured above bathing in the bird bath), Mickey Mouse, throwing sticks in the water from the bridge and basically any little boy thing there is! Yesterday Stan hosed them both down from head to toe. What a blast! What great neighbors! Speaking of neighbors, this is Landon and JD, our other next door neighbor, who was also in on the water fun yesterday! This was taken on Easter and this is the infamous bridge where the boys love to stand and throw sticks in the water. Holt and Sarah are JDs parents who also keep Stan and I grounded in the normalcy of toddler behaviors (esp. BOY toddlers). We couldn't ask for better neighbors...as I think about Sarah and I relaxing in the hammock while all the boys played in the water. What could be better?

Why am I so tired?

So, we have been up to a lot lately, which is probably why I am tired. It isn't evident by this adorable picture, but Landon has been really asserting his independence lately (the nice way of saying that he is starting the "terrible twos"). It seems that everything is a bit more difficult than it was 6 months ago.

• Getting out of the house is just plain crazy... I have started bribing him with Nemo Fruit Snacks in the car if he will just come on!
• Naptime and Bedtime used to be such precious times for me and Landon...then we took away the pacifier, I felt guilty, started giving into him crying and going into his room at night, now we have another pattern where he screams after the hour long soothe down routine when I am just exhausted. He will request water, want to be covered or who knows what. We are working on the weaning process now. Exhausting.
• Temper tantrums. Exhausting.
• Learning how to effectively discipline. Exhausting.
• Getting any amount of alone time with your spouse. Oh how crazy we were to think we "had no time" before we had Landon.
• I just tried weaning Landon off his steroids for asthma (takes inhaled steroids twice daily)- bummer, he is not ready. He was up coughing for 1.5 hours last night after being in the decreased dose for 10 days. Dang that asthma. At least I know how to care for him- thank you Jesus!
• I just started a new job! This is excellent news, but the process of looking, finding and ending what was a very difficult job situation for me has left me tired. The good news is that the job is great and I feel much better over all.
• I am pregnant. No need to say more. But, I do have some news to report, I felt the baby move yesterday, FOR SURE. I am almost 16 weeks along and that was very reassuring. I won't go into a nurse's worries for her unborn baby b/c that in and of itself is exhausting. I have my next appointment next Wednesday, then the ultrasound will be scheduled. I anxiously await to see a healthy baby- boy or girl, I don't have a preference.
• Little projects never seem to get finished. Does this make any of the rest of you exhausted? It is like a never ending Rolodex in my brain...I want to check some things off!
• My best friend from college is going through a rough time right now. Anytime someone so close is hurting, you hurt too. Without going into detail, please pray for Allison.
• Life, it happens. Thank goodness we have the peace that passes all understanding- if I will just let God's peace fill me and give me the strength and energy to balance it all, counting my every blessing- there truly are so many.