I'm a Pro

I've discovered a new skill to add to my resume.  Professional Nose Wiper.  That's right, I've honed my skills over the past few days and I have the perfect technique down.

Great way to spend a week of your summer, right? ;)  Poor Luke got a summer cold and mommy too.  I'm pretty much all better but his little inexperienced immune system is taking a little longer to beat it.  He hates the Snot Sucker-Upper a.k.a. nasal aspirator.  That was cool for the first day then not so much, its a huge battle to even let me near him with I have it in my hand.  So we've loaded up on the aloe packed tissues and I've been wiping away.  I read online kids don't learn to blow their nose until about 4 years old, whaaat? Thats a whole lotta wiping in my future.

A life saver I found during this cold though, the Vicks Waterless Vaporizer.  Best. Thing. Ever. for sleeping at night.  I felt so bad because Luke would wake himself up every 45 minutes because he was so congested, even with the regular humidifier on, and would be so miserable.  Two nights with the Vicks going works miracles.  If anyone else out there has any awesome miracle cold helpers let me know! 

Even cold stricken he's still a happy little guy (with a new haircut!).

Busy?

I feel like we haven't had too many plans lately but yet we seem so busy.  Last weekend Zach and I went to the movies.  That's big for us.  We never go to the movies, maybe twice a year if that.  We went to a 10:30 AM show, hot date right? 

This week Luke and I have been getting creative with indoor activities.  It is hot, which is an understatement right now.  I feel like everyone everywhere is dealing with the same nonsense but it sucks.  Luke really likes to be outside but when temperatures feel like 100 or more, it is too hot to play outside.  Monday morning we sneaked out before the heat for bubbles (best. thing. ever. in Luke's eyes) but from Tuesday on we've been going to indoor places or doing indoor things.  No park for us. 

Yesterday was Zach's birthday so that kept us busy preparing things for daddy when he got home.  And thank goodness for Gymboree on really hot days - its like an indoor park with bubbles AND Gymbo stamps.  What more could a kid want. 

Today we ventured across the river to my work.  I needed to drop some things off and pick some things up.  Luke surprisingly enjoyed it.  I was worried he would get all cranky and bored but the building was empty, dark, quiet, and like a massive running zone for a toddler.  Normally my classroom is packed with adolescents who sometimes are too tall to even fit their legs under the desks.  Today Luke barely was as tall as a desk.  Entertaining.  It was almost like a maze for him.

We've also been doing a lot of coloring.  Luke is really into crayons but is still learning the appropriate way to use them.  The carpet has taken a beating.  I really don't think carpets have a chance when you have a toddler and we bought a house with a super light carpet.  Opps.

Tonight both of my guys were in bed before 8 so I took some time for myself.  I'm back on my working out kick but mainly because I am too in love with summer and food.  Self control? I have none lately.  Then I went back to prepping our house.  Tonight I depersonalized our main living floor - which is really super depressing.  All the personal touches, pictures, decor is what makes a house a home.  However I completely understand if we want to sell the house we need to let other people see it as their home.  So it'll be all good.  This whole getting the house ready thing is taking much longer than I thought, although having a toddler and a broken handed husband have been a few obstacles.  We have a lot of stuff - I can't imagine packing the entire house but will be very excited when we finally sell get the house up for sale.  Baby steps here. 

Stay cool ya'll.

Choo Choo

Today was beautiful!  Perfect day to go see some trains at the Strasburg Railroad.  We got there just in time to see a train come into the station, watch them move the engine to the other end, get it all ready to go, and steam its way out of the station again.  Luke was a little taken back by how loud it was at first but seemed to enjoy it. 

Coming into the station.

Luke was mesmerized as the engine was getting ready to go.

 We had a little snack and then took a ride on the Cagney train.  It's a miniature steam train that took us on a short ride and back.  It actually used coal and toots its little horn - which I think was Luke's favorite part.  It was cool and Luke got to ride on his first train.  By the time we were done we got to see the real train return to the station and then headed home.  It was perfect timing for a toddler and a basically free afternoon of fun.  I think we'll be headed back there at some point this summer. 

About to go on his first train ride!

Best picture I could get as we were riding -he looks so serious.

17 Months

Today Luke is 17 months old.  Wow. 

So here are some updates about the little man.  (Or really just a way for me to talk all about my kiddo :) If you aren't into boring mommy gushing, stop reading now.)

He is trying harder and harder to be like mommy and daddy.  I was filing my nails yesterday and he just sat there and watched and watched.  Today he went and got the nail file then came over to me and tried to file them for me.  Tonight the blu ray player was acting funny so he followed daddy around, mimicked whatever he was doing, and was all up in his business as he was trying to fix it. 

Yesterday he actually crawled through a tunnel at Gymboree.  This is big for him, he was always too scared to go through.  Today he did it again!  He also gets a Gymbo (the name of their clown) stamp on his hand every week and absolutely loves looking at his hand the rest of the day. 

He's started to give kisses and huggies if he's in the right mood.  He's mastered the high five.  He loves balls, bubbles, and his kitty cats.  Although the cats still don't return those feelings. 

He eats spoon foods by himself but is still working on more with the fork.  He is getting slightly more picky with his foods but will pretty much eat anything with dippy aka ketchup.  Every day he is more and more like Zach - I'm totally outnumbered in this house :)

He loves to listen to the train go by at night but is scared when planes fly over us outside. 

Yesterday he got too hot I suppose so he ran over to the cats water bowl and stepped right in.  One of those "I'm really upset you got water everywhere but I can't help but laugh" moments. 

He can't be trusted with crayons and tries to draw on the carpet or eat them. 

He says a few words on a consistent basis.  Most of what he says is a one time deal though and if you don't hear it the first time around you never know if you'll hear it again.  He babbles a lot as well but who knows what he is actually trying to tell us. 

Best of all he likes to sit with me to read a book or watch Sesame Street.  Happy 17 Months Luke!

One in a Million

This weekend Zach and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary.  We don't do big celebrations for stuff around here but instead try to get away now and then.  For this little getaway - Philly.  I've been to Philadelphia so many times but had never stayed over. We had a hotel room right in Center City with an incredible view.

View from our room!

 Saturday we hit up the Reading Terminal Market - so many different things and some awesome food.  We ate lunch, snacked, browsed things.  Later we went to the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, all of the other sites down there, and all of the interesting visitors.  Then walked our way almost down to the Delaware river to the Franklin Fountain for some delicious ice cream and a little relaxing.

I found the Phanatic, woot!

Liberty Bell

That night we went out to eat and then found a nice little Mexican restaurant near the hotel with excellent margaritas.  Can you say delicious!

And after two of those, this is how awesome pictures turn out.

Sunday we went to the Franklin Institute.  They have an awesome mummy exhibit right now that I would highly recommend.  I used to love the Franklin Institute as a kid and its still just as cool now.  However, my super competitive husband was racing me on this simulated wheelchair race they had and ended up with a broken hand.  Kind of put a damper on the end of our weekend (and the rest of Zach's summer) but overall good times.

Luke Size

My father-in-law bought Luke a little chair that is the perfect size for him.  It's an outdoor chair but we're cool like that and have been using it in the living room.  Luke loves it!  This is slightly blurry but my child never sits still and I once again used my phone to take it.  We had a play date/surprise shower this morning for a friend and I was busy getting things together, cooking a casserole.  Luke was watching a little Sesame Street.  Totally relaxed and missing his shorts.  What a life.

a little obsession of mine

I'm one of those people that makes lists.  For everything.

At work I have sticky notes all over my desk with lists of things to copy, grade, file, etc.  At home I always make a grocery list, I make a list of things I need to do during the week or the day,  I make a list for most shopping trips (time shopping now is at a minimum - I've learned toddlers don't really like to shop, shocking), and I just make lists all of the time just to make lists.  I'm a bit of a list junkie.  You know what the best part of being a list junkie is though?  Crossing things off!

This weekend I referred to my "Sell This House!" list often.  And now that the weekend is complete, 7, that's right 7 things are crossed off.  Booyah! 

Doing things on your house is so rewarding too.  A little bit of TLC, some scrubbing, and a dab of paint make things look like a toddler never stepped foot near them.  It's amazing!  All of the little things that needed to be fixed around here from our 5 years of wear and tear are all done.  Now it's onto the stuff I don't enjoy as much - cleaning and decluttering.  However, as soon as I do it, I'll cross it off my list!

We did find some time to relax and enjoy the weekend as well.  I need to add "bring a camera" to every list I have because I never have it.  I did snap a few phone shots on Saturday though.  Luke doesn't like lists but he love bubbles and balls.  That's all a toddler really needs I think.  Luke blew his very own bubble this weekend too! 

Happy 4th of July!