A Day in the McLife: June 2011

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Choo Choo Johnny's

creative photography courtesy of Uncle "Yuke"

We hit Choo Choo Johnny's last week.

Lane couldn't really sit down. There was too much to look at...

They deliver your food via train...very cute!

Parker was indifferent,

although she was intrigued by the train...

A New Tradition

The event that sparked our trip home was a Father's Day 5K that we wanted to run with my Dad. It was a lot of fun!

Siblings!

My Dad and sister were troopers...they don't really run on a regular basis, but they did for the race!

photo courtesy of Starved Rock Runners

My brother wasn't really a runner before this either (he still beat me by 30 seconds though), but now we've been running 5 miles just about everyday since! (I've turned him.)

photo courtesy of Starved Rock Runners

Luke and I both finished 3rd in our age group!

photo courtesy of Starved Rock Runners

After the race we hit Cindy's on 34 for breakfast! What a fun start to Father's Day with our Dad.

Thanks to Ty for taking the pics for us during the race. :-)

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Hitching a ride

We're in IL and the weather is, how should I put this, dreadful! It's rainy and cold, we don't have clothes for sub-70 temps and I haven't seen the sun since I left SC. But we're trying to make do with what we have, even if that means bringing our outside toys...inside!

Food snob

With her feet kicked up!

Nene purchased some jars of baby food for when we got home. Aunt Cece tried to feed them to Parker and whenever she would swallow, she would shutter a bit. We were all cracking up! I can't really blame her, but I thought I would be able to feed her some, especially when we're on the go here. but NOPE! She's not a fan of Hyvee baby food. So this morning I made some sweet potatoes, chicken and squash. I also pureed a bunch of fruits.

What have I done!?!

At least she's cute!

New found (bathroom) FREEDOM!

My little guy started standing to pee, just before turning 3!

I really never thought it would happen. He's been potty trained for almost a year and had been so dependent, never wanting to stand. Tried it for a short while and then decided sitting was best. I had visions of him in the bathroom as a teenager at school, kicking off his underwear and squatting to pee! Or me showing up, helping him unbutton and re-button his pants. LOL!

About 2 months ago, he started showing interest in doing it by himself (still sitting). Let me remind you that he never went to the bathroom at school until April. He never had an accident, but for 7 months he would just hold it until he got home and then finally one day he decided he wanted to go. When they told me, I was so surprised and a little curious as to what sparked his interest.

Not long after he started going in to do his business by himself, he started standing. I think he likes standing better in public restrooms (I don't blame him), but it's mostly because he's scared of when it flushes. :-)

So now, for some time, he's standing. He has good "control," or should I say, as good as any man has. ;-) He announces every time before he goes in "I haf to go pee pee and I wanna stand."

As he approaches 3, I see him becoming more and more independent with little things like that. It makes me sad that he is losing more of his baby-ness, but at the same time, happy he is gaining some independence. And that, in the end, is really what it's all about!

Sunday, June 19, 2011

A post about Parker-9 months in-9 months out

Dear Parker,
MY big girl! 9 months old and learning more and more about you everyday.

You have a birthmark on the inside of your left ankle.

You rub your eyes when you are tired and pull at your ear. You sing yourself to sleep. You smile the biggest smile I have ever seen. All. the. time.

Sometimes we get into smiling and staring contests and I don't want to look away because you are so sweet.

This month you perfected your pincher grasp and started sitting up from a flat-on-your-back position all by yourself. Strong little abs you have. That means sometimes when I lay you down to sleep, I hear you playing through the monitor and I walk in to you sitting up! You are starting to explore more finger foods. You love whole grain blueberry muffins at breakfast and when we wake up extra early we come out to the kitchen to make them. You still love your puffs and mum-mums. Also starting to eat cut-up blueberries, peaches and grapes.

I've been signing to you for about 2 months now and although you don't use the signs, you know what I am talking about when I do them. In fact, instead of signing you are just talking. I guess that's the girl in you. When I say 'poop?' you say 'pff pff pff' when I say 'bye' you say 'bye bye bye' when I say momma, you say 'mommommomm' when I say 'night night' you say 'nininini'....and so on. You LOVE to wave. You get your whole arm into it.

Naps have been an issue this month. It all started when we moved. You are definitely taking some time to adjust. If you can sleep in my arms, your stroller, car seat or the Ergo, you much prefer that over your bed. Nighttime sleep is not an issue, you sleep 6-6 or 6-7, but napping is hit and miss with you!

You took your first airplane ride this month and did great. Fell asleep on me during take off and slept for the first half of the flight. When you woke up you were all smiles and ready for lunch.

When your nap issues started, I put you to sleep with a little baby doll and she is quickly becoming a comfort for you. We call her Dolly. :-)

You aren't crawling, but get into the crawling position and seem to be able to move around.

You scoot on your bottom around the room as well, but it's still nothing I can't handle. :-) We'll call you immobile for the time being.

One of my favorite faces of yours...

You show your excitement in your toes and your love in your eyes. You are curious, spunky, sweet and oh so lovable. Happy 9 months sweet girl!

Love,
Momma

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Leaving on a jet plane

(Is it comical that my kids are never in clothes? haha! Well that's because we strip off wet suits and into undies and diapers and onesies they go before nap time!)

Right about now we are heading to the airport for our flight back to IL...wish me luck! I probably don't really need it, Grandma's our travel companion who will provide an extra (much-needed) hand for a baby, a suitcase, a stroller, a car seat.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

The Library

He could spend hours there.

This particular trip we found a kid's book on Yoga, My Daddy Is a Pretzel: Yoga for Parents and Kids

So he did his best downward dog

and pretzel pose right there in the library.

And SHE could spend hours watching her brother...