A Day in the McLife: August 2009

Monday, August 31, 2009

Signs Signs

everywhere are signs. And communicating (somewhat) with a 1 year old is awesome. At around 7 months I started teaching him 'more' and 'milk' He caught on to 'milk' right away. Right at 9 months he finally started doing 'more.' His version is clapping his hands together, but we get the idea.

After he started signing 'milk' and 'more' he caught on to 'all done'-again his version is a little different than the actual sign, but in the book, they said that would probably happen. He also does 'eat' 'drink' 'shoe' and 'night-night.' He doesn't really use shoe, but he knows it because when I do it, he will pick his shoe up. We are working on 'sun', 'please', 'thank you', 'water', and 'book', at the moment.

Here are some video clips of him signing.

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Sunday, August 30, 2009

A Nice little Sunday

Everybody slept it this morning! Haven't done that in a while, at least Matt and I haven't. Lately Lane has been sleeping in until 8 or 8:30 which is kind of weird. But he has been going to bed later and his nap schedule is all off too. At first I thought it was from vacation, but we've been back for 2 weeks now so I don't know what gives! Well, this morning nobody moved until a sweet little voice came across the monitor at 5 after 9. Of course, I interpreted it as 'Daddy, come get me!' Matt thought differently, but didn't argue! ;-)

Harley and I went for a nice run and then after some breakfast, play time, and a good nap from Lane, we headed to the pool. It was hot and sunny, but it seemed like the clouds would be rolling in. We spent some time at the pool. We felt like we needed a few more pool days before they put the bubble over it, in preparation for winter.

On our way back we decided to head downtown because Greenville is the host of the USA Cycling Pro Championship...which apparently is a big deal.

People all around me were probably cringing as Michael tried to explain cycling to me. I had never been to a race, unless you count the Hennepin race that my dad did every 4th of July when we were younger. Remember that, Dad!?! I digress, George Hincapie resides in Greenville and I guess, he is a BIG name in cycling. Well, I hope I don't spoil it, but he won. Pretty exciting race, if you consider waiting on the side of the road in the rain, to watch a pack of cyclists come through about every 45 minutes! I kid! I kid! We actually got there at the perfect time. We saw the last big lap which covered a good portion of the city (it did take 45 minutes, but there was all kinds of stuff going on and plus there was beer!) but then the last 4 laps were short and came right downtown. Oh and it was sprinkling and we had our suits on, so not a huge deal!

The caravan is amazing. Several cars lead and follow the racers, and they accelerate through the streets at crazy high speeds. Police cars and motorcycles, several VIP cars that get to ride because they donated lots of money and then you have the cars carrying bike parts and tires. It's extreme! I had no idea! Lane didn't so much like the sirens, but he did enjoy the helicopter filming the race and he clapped as the cyclists passed through.

And there's Michael and Beckett, they got stuck on the other side of the street! Anyway, the race is on in a week. I probably won't watch it, but I might consider going to another race because it proved to be a pretty exciting time!

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Friday night with a 1 year old

Gone are the days of late-evening dining, drinks at the bar while waiting for the perfect table, and one to cap-off the night. Here's how our version of Margarita Friday went: (Get ready for this Jackie and Jare...it will be you in no time at all!)

6:00 Matt gets home
6:20 Decide on Cantinflas (mainly for the margaritas) for dinner and out the door....of course not until after packing the diaper bag with wipes, a few more diapers (just in case), a bib, Lane's place mat, chicken and peaches in a glass bowl with a lid, throw in a yogurt for dessert, a pancake (leftover from breakfast) and some golden grahams as a last resort.
6:25 In the car
6:26 Matt runs back in for his phone and Lane's paci because we never know what the evening will bring with a one-nap-today-Lane-Diddy
6:27 On the road
6:35 Score! Parking spot on Main St.
6:37 Walk 1/2 a block to Cantinflas
6:40 Table for 2 w/ a highchair preferably oustide (it was really nice out!)
6:41 "There will be a 20 minute wait for outdoor seating...."
6:41:15 Look at Matt...he looks at me...we both look at Lane
6:41:25 :hostess brings highchair to a table in the back corner of the restaraunt and we happily sit down:
6:42 Server greets us and we order 2 large margaritas!
6:45 Pull out bib, place mat, chicken and peaches and start shoveling in
6:50 Look at menu and bring out the pancake
6:55 Suck down 1/2 of the margarita
7:00 Order food
7:15 Golden Graham time!
7:20 Call over a server to wipe up the bowl of salsa Lane just dumped all over
7:25 Scarf down fajitas
7:30 Ask for check
7:35 Finish remaining 1/2 of margarita
7:45 Wipe up Diddy and all of his surroundings
7:50 Look at floor beneath him and add 5 more dollars to the tip amount
7:55 Head out the door
8:00 Back in car...on our way home
8:05 Start sink for bath
8:10 Hair washed...check! extremities washed....check! belly, back...check!
8:15 Desitin, diaper, lotion, jammies, night night Daddy
8:20 up to bed, time to nurse
8:30 prayers and snuggles
8:35 Night night Lane
8:36 Now what do we do????

Friday, August 28, 2009

Matt, Matt, Matt

This was Saturday when he started calling Matt by his name. Too funny!

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Now it goes like this:

Me: Lane, where's Harley?
Lane: :looks at Harley:
Me: Lane, where's Daddy?
Lane: "Matt, Matt, Matt" :points and looks at Matt if he's in the room:
Me: Lane, where's mommy?
Lane: :blank stares......................................................................

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Reedy River Concert Series

Awesome! I only wish we would have done this a few more times this summer, but unfortunately last night was the end of the series until next year. Virtually it's free because you don't pay to get in. All you do is show your I.D, if you are drinking, and then you get a wristband. You can bring your own picnic, which we did, and you are also allowed to bring your own cooler, which we didn't. They sold beer at the restaurant right near it, so we did pay for a few beers, but we will know for next time! Great venue especially for kids...the music drowns out their noise and it's outside so they can run around. Very fun way to spend a Wednesday!

Relaxing

I grilled 2 pork chops that had been marinating and then slapped them between 2 buns and wrapped them in foil. We also brought some lobster dip and wheat thins, Sun Chips and we were good to go! Lane ate before we left, but I packed him 2 chicken nuggets and a yogurt bar and he had himself a mini 2nd dinner! The band was a jazzy-blues mix, some covers and some originals...they were pretty good!

This is how much he loves to stop and get his picture taken!

We thought we had him "fenced" in because he doesn't like grass, but by the end of the night he was venturing off the blanket.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Prepping for FALL and FOOTBALL

Purees are becoming a thing of the past. He will still eat them in his cereal in the morning, but for lunch and dinner he would rather eat finger food. In an attempt to finish up the remaining purees I have in my freezer I got creative! I made baked apples and added sweet potatoes and squash for {a little nutrients} and a taste of fall. It smelled so good in our house yeserday!

I tutored last night, but Matt gave them to him as part of his dinner and apparently he liked them! How could you not...baked apples with cinnamon and brown sugar...YUM

And if you've been following...you know I am a little anxious for fall. You can't blame me! When summer temps. begin in March and April...by August you would be ready for 70's and 80's too! Like this morning...we went to the gym around 9 and it was a glorious 80* with a little breeze...felt awesome!

Anyway, fall=football and in preparation for a few games that we hopefully will be attending of Uncle Luke's (GO North Central!) we started this:

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Since he is a pro at 'so big' it wasn't hard for him to catch on.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

lately

This is me.

And lately I have been....

excited for fall
forgetting to floss
nervous about my next dentist appt. (see above)
creating new recipes for Lane
contemplating change
booking lots of flights
wondering what new and exciting object will occupy Lane on said flights
missing my grandparents
glad Grandpa George showed up during our video chat with granny and papa
planning wedding showers and bachelorette parties
working at The Shop
contemplating more change
wondering if Lane sometimes has separation anxiety at bedtime
thinking...or he might be turning into a night owl like his Daddy
waiting for him to wake up in the morning
excited for the next few months and New Year's Eve
wondering if Lane will walk down the aisle
ordering fall clothes for Lane on my new favorite website
loving Greenville
wondering if Lane is partially weaning because of our vacation
still wearing nursing bras even though it's probably not necessary
only nursing 2 times a day
glad Lane is liking whole milk
laughing about Lane calling his Daddy "Matt"
researching cameras
taking advantage of my new cuddly and lovey baby
enjoying hugs and kisses from Lane when I least expect it
glad I don't have to wean him from a bottle
wondering how I am going to break him of the paci
thinking I should have done it 2 months ago
waiting for the right time
just trying to be me, the best that I can!

Monday, August 24, 2009

In and Out

I don't know about you, but I'm thinking he's an "In" in my book

Friday, August 21, 2009

Big Papi see

Lil' Papi do...

We discovered Lane would do this everytime David Ortiz would...Matt was walking by the TV and stopped to watch the game. (He can never get by the TV without stopping to watch, especially if sports are on.)

Anyway, Lane has been very attached to Daddy when he gets home lately. He wants to be held by him and if Matt even heads toward the door for a run to the beer fridge or a run around the neighborhood, Lane has a meltdown. He follows him to the door and when the door closes and Daddy is gone, for 2 minutes or 20 minutes, Lane cries...it's so sad. :-(
So when Matt gets home, he basically has a bebe stuck to his hip until bedtime!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

I'm getting bored...

with my blog posts...and apparently so is he. Well not really, but in most of the pictures I snapped at the park this morning he looked deathly bored. He wasn't really bored, at least it didn't seem like it at the time, I guess it just appeared that way. See for yourself.

Ho-Hum

:yawn:

I hope you all aren't getting bored like we are...you know all 18 of you, half of whom are obligated to read because you're family. I guess I'm just in a blogging slump and hopefully I'll come out of it soon!

Here are some not-so-boring-looking pictures of Lane. See he had fun!

LOL...well 3 out of 4 ain't bad.

Oh and I failed to mention we FINALLY got Diddy a new seat. He outgrew his carrier by length so this puppy came in the mail last week. It's a monster, but he can use it until he's 65 lbs/49 inches. And he's still rear-facing...my pedi. said we could turn it around at 20lbs. but it's safest to keep them rear-facing for as long as possible so we're trying for another year. His legs aren't cramped at all in the new seat so we should be able to last a while longer. We'll see!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Birthday take eleventy-billion!

So it feels like we have been celebrating all month for this little boy's birthday! We did our little family of 3 celebration on his actual birthday and then you remember this video. We wanted to do that every place we went out to eat, but after his episode on his b-day party...we decided against it. LOL! He cried when we sang to him....completely overwhelmed and wouldn't eat his cake...until he was in my lap!

Crab cake

Presents and more presents!

Classic!

Dolphin nose!

We did a beach theme...obviously...and we had a good ol' fashion low country boil. We live in Greenville which is called "the Upstate" and the coast is called the low country. The low country boil is...well just that! Throw a bunch of things in a huge pot and boil...and WOW did it turn out so good!

Ingredients: red potatoes, corn, old bay seasoning, andouille sausage, carrots, onion, and shrimp.

All of the pictures are here!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Night life

Can you really call it that?!? Well actually it was MY perfect idea of 'night life'...but I'm lame like that! We had BIG days, so our nights were usually calm and spent at one of our houses cooking and eating dinner, then playing games, or out to a restaraunt and walking downtown Charleston. (This morning was my first time back at the gym...so I am working off all those dinners and desserts, and lunches, and cheese fries, oh and drinks lots and lots of them!)

Dinner at Coconut Joe's...last night :(