Almost 2 (part 2)...

Tomorrow's the big day, and I hate to say it but the 'terrible twos' set in early this week.

It's amazing. Like clockwork my sweet, well behaved little toddler, turned into a wild, unruley, refuse to listen to ANYTHING I say two year old...



We been spending alot of time trying to find creative ways to beat the heat...



The Sandbox is a favorite hangout...



The Pool is Xander's most favorite summer time activity, he thinks it's a giant bath, and he LOVES baths so he'll sit in the pool outside for hours if I let him...




He's obsessed with just dumping out the water over and over, and practices blowing bubbles like a pro.



Playing pretend with his rubber duckies, he said the mommy and baby loved each other and helped them give kisses, it was too too cute!



Mommy even gets on the fun!

Notice Xander's hand to his ear in that last picture?

He's telling me "Ting!" that means "Listen" in Chinese, apparently. He learned this from a cartoon that he doesn't even watch that much. There was a very noisey garbage truck driving down the street behind our house and he held his hand to his ear and said, "Ting! Mom! A truck! A truck!", this kid is too smart!

Almost Two...

The past month has flowen by, with little updates from me. I kept thinking I'd find time, but life just kept on happening.

So before the big day (friday) I'm going to do my best to share with you the adventures of the past month.

Starting with Aunt Danielle and Uncle Scott's Wedding...

Where I prayed and Hoped and we made it down the asile...


Xander looked absolutely handsome in his sweet tiny tux...


His handsome Daddy walked Aunt Danielle down the asile...


Xander stayed up till 10:30pm, the latest EVER, and didn't complain AT ALL


And a fabulous time was had by all!


For more pictures you can view all over 1,000 shots of Danielle and Scott's beautiful wedding at
http://www.kevinsweddings.com/
Type in the Bride's Name - Danielle
Select - "Danielle Pierre" June 27 2010
The Password is - Happy

There are SO many amazing shots, Sandia Casino was an absolutely magical setting for a wedding and we are so happy to welcome Uncle Scott to the Family!

More to come tomorrow afternoon...

My boys...

I took these pictures of Xander and Chris on Father's Day. Chris was cleaning his keyboard and Xander sat on his lap the entire time. Telling him what the letters on the keys were, and imitating every move Chris made. It was so sweet. I just love to watch the two of them together. It's already so apparent how much Xander looks up to his Daddy. When Chris comes home from work Xander tells him all about his day and insists on sitting on his lap for a good 15 minutes, which is about the longest a toddler ever really sits still.


Other news, Xander is obsessed with trucks lately. This past garbage day he ran to the window screaming "Truck!!" at the top of his lungs when he heard it coming down the street, just hoping to get a glimpse of the garbage truck as it passed by. It was too cute.
Trucks and cars seem to be the toys of choice lately as well. This kid can varroomm varroomm his cars on the living room table or across the kitchen floor for a good hour, it's amazing!
The cutest thing he's been doing lately is setting his fire truck and wagon on the living room table (I know I shouldn't let him) but he puts them up there, gets out his tools and works on the wheels and under side of the car. Chris says he has fixing cars in his blood (Chris' dad is a mechanic if you didn't know and Chris is brilliant w/cars as well), I'm beginning to think he's right.

Lately Xander's been wearing this hat,


it drives Chris nuts, but I think it's just too too adorable. He wears it all around the house, ALL the time.

Now that it's summer time we've been going over to grandma's to swim EVERY chance we get. Xander is finally getting the hang of it. He absolutely LOVED the pool last year, but this year he was more unsure. The first 2 or 3 times he was kinda whiny about it and only stayed in the pool for 10 - 15 minutes. But thankfully more recently he's been getting more into it. He remembers blowing bubbles from last year and can put his face in the water and blow bubbles really well. He can kick really well too, but has yet to get the hands involved. He can go under with out freaking out, but doesn't prefer it. He likes to splash more than anything, of course and enjoys when I pull him around the pool on a floaty. I don't have any pictures of him at the pool BUT here's one of him after swim time playing the piano...

Car Conversations

As we start down our street...

Xander: "Let's go! Let's go! Vrooom Vvvrrrooomm! Vvvvrrroomm!"

As we arrive at the first stop light...

Xander: "Car, Car, Car, Car, Truck, Bus, Car, Truck... Oh no! Car Stop!"
Me: "It's just a light we'll go agian in a minute"
Xander: "Car GO!"
Me: "We have to wait just a minute"
Xander: "CAR GO!"

We start moving again...

Xander: "Let's go! Vrroomm! Vvvrrroomm! Vvvrroooooom!"
Xander: "BUS! BIG BUS! FIRE TRUCK!"

As we pass a park...

Xander: "PARK!!!!" "Found Park Mom! Found Park!"
Xander continues: "Car, Car, Truck, Car, Car, Car, Truck, Truck, Car"

Did you get all that? haha
This is a typical car ride anymore. Xander enjoys pointing out EVERY single car, truck and bus on the road. And the parks, it's like he's discovered it all by himself. EVERY time. I've traded music most days for listening to a toddler ramble on about every car, truck, bus and sometimes tree in my back seat.

How to Keep a Toddler Busy - Part 2

Stickers...



Xander LOVES stickers, I bought a pad of dino stickers for $1.00 at Target a while back. Talk about hours of enjoyment! On this particular afternoon not only was Xander covered in stickers, but also Mom, Dad AND Bailey! Poor Dog had dinosaurs stuck in his fur for days! haha

Dress up!



Now try to tell me you don't think that is adorable! While Cleaning out Xander's 18 month clothes to trade them out for all of his wonderful new clothes (by the way: THANK YOU STEVEN, KIM, WENDY and JEFF!!!! WE GREATLY APPRECIATE EVERY ITEM!) when I found this Dog Halloween Costume that had been given to us, but never got to use. I thought it'd be fun to keep Xander busy. And let me just say, what a GREAT idea! He ran all around the house for the next hour and a half, looking in every mirror, chasing after the dog and running away from me trying to snap pictures haha Well I got a couple, one is blurry, but it shows the first time Bailey saw him and it was just TOO cute! I think Bailey was not pleased, he's jealous as it is, but now the kid was dressing like him, oh my! hahahaha
NOTE: Not only did this activity keep him busy but it wore him out! Now that's my kind of toddler activity! I have decided to make him a "dress-up" box, full of funny clothes, costumes, hats and glasses, I think it will provide for hours of enjoyment!

A couple other fun recent activities...

Diving for Stuffed Animals...


Rubber Boots...


Snacktime with Bailey...


Watching Cartoons...

Catching up!

After a VERY busy couple of weeks, including: My 27th birthday! Our 2nd wedding Anniversary! Xander's 1st trip to the Lake, A new Sandbox, lots of outdoor play for Xander and SO much more! I have been taking pictures like crazy. (Note: no lake pictures yet, I have to get them for mom still)
As far as Xander goes he's gotta a couple fun new phrases, "I sorry" "WHOA!" "No Way!" "Alright!" and "I ready!"
He says, "I sorry" ALOT, I don't think he completely understands what it means. I think it's a consequence of mommy saying I'm sorry alot, I guess I'm going to have to work on that one.
Another big step, Elmo used the potty the other day. Yeah you read that right, Elmo. Well it's a first step, Xander taught Elmo to use the potty this past weekend. Which I have read is the first step in understanding the whole potty situation. He is also FINALLY starting to admit when he has a dirty diaper, he used to just say no, now it's about 50/50, baby steps. I'm keeping my patience, no rush, but I'm excited to see he's been listening and learning.
This past weekend Grandma Nancy and Mark took Xander to the Lake for the first time, giving mom and dad a full weekend ALONE! Thank you Grandma! haha Xander did great. Tried VERY hard to jump in the lake, saw his first local tarantula, learned about big rocks, had his first chocolate malt and completely wore Grandma and Mark out! haha
Lastly this past weekend we got Xander his first Sandbox! He LOVES it! He has to be pulled away kicking and screaming... at least it keeps him busy for LONG periods of time while I work outside.

The ZOO!!!

Our FIRST trip to the zoo was this past Sunday. I know what you're thinking, you're first? Yes, we have not taken Xander to the zoo before. Last summer Daddy and Mommy, well mostly Daddy, decided he wasn't old enough for the zoo. Unfortunately Daddy was right this time, I'm really happy we waited until he actually knew what the animals were. He still had a hard time seeing all of them, but the one's he did he was thrilled about. Of course his favorites were the Ducks, he really does love ducks, always has. He spent a while feeding them and tried really hard to leap into the pond with them. Other favorites included the Tigers who put on a little show and gave him 4 or 5 good "ROOAARRSS!", Xander called them Lions. I think he thinks they are the same thing since they are both big cats that roar, I'm tried to explain the difference but he just yelled "Lion!" haha Oh well, he's close. At the wolf pen I had him yell, "Lobo! Where are you?" just for fun haha The Lobos didn't come out to see him though, they were asleep that afternoon. We spent alot of time watching the Elephants as well and when we got to the gift shop that's all he wanted, the GIANT $60 elephant. I found a smaller one and thankfully he was satisfied haha