February Photos

Here are some pictures of what Josiah has been up to this month.   Playing at the park with the sweetest little girl ever, Charlotte Barger, a little Valentine's Day photo shoot, making crafts (he's not exactly into getting super-creative since he is more of a perfectionist, but he really enjoys it, as long as we do it just right), getting "extra-cise" at Mt. Trashmore, his beloved pacy's, fun at the Aquarium with the Perkins' kids, and finally some winter weather - a light dusting of snow this weekend.  

 

 

 

And perhaps the most exciting thing (although I have no picture), is that Josiah is officially potty-trained!!  Woohoo.  No more diapers, no more pull-ups, just big boy underWEAR (if I call them undies, he emphatically corrects me)!  

 

Summer in January?!

My parents invited us to join them at Massanutten last week and we were excited about going skiing. I LOVE to ski but haven't been able to go in five years and this would have been Mike's first time.

Well the 60 degree weather just wasn't quite cutting it so we decided not to bother with the man made snow and we just enjoyed a relaxing warm long weekend in the mountains.

We went to a children's museum, lots of antique shops, a playground, Grand caverns (excellent by the way!), Massanutten's awesome indoor water park, and ate lots of yummy food. Josiah loved all the extra attention from Grammy, Gramps and Justine and I think we all had a great time.  

I forgot my camera, so these are all from my iPhone... so excuse the occasional blurriness.

Friends

Quick post but I just remembered that I had these pictures from last night. We met up with our friends at Chick-fil-A for some ice cream... These are my friend Jessica's kids that I babysit every other week. Luke (almost 3) and Josiah are best buds. Eliana is 6 and Liam is 17 months.

Really Really Random

As I sit here, both of my boys are intently playing Angry Birds. Josiah has my new phone and Mike has his. They crack me up. And I just gave them both a haircut so Josiah looks especially like Mike's little mini-me.  I'd take a picture, but like I said, Josiah has my phone. 

It's a week into 2012 and our Christmas tree and stockings are still up and it actually doesn't bother me a bit. Maybe it's the white tree that seems more like winter than just Christmas... I don't know but I guess we'll take them down this weekend.... Or better yet, maybe we could just leave all the red and pink ornaments and let it be a Valentine's Day tree. Hmmm.... that's actually tempting.

So I'm not one for New Year's Resolutions.  Honestly... it's because I have learned that goals/rules/expectations and pressure do NOT motivate me.  I often wish that they did, but they seem to have the opposite effect.  It's like they bring out the rebel in me that subconsciously says "who says I really have to do this anyway?!"  It would be really nice if I could just be determined to do something and really go for it, but I have a serious lack of discipline and/or willpower when it comes to dieting, exercise, getting up early--- you know, all those fun things.

But it's not like I never accomplish anything... it's just all in how I look at it.  I can sometimes trick myself into not thinking of things like a goal or rule, and rather like something I just really want to do... and then it works.  For example, I love finding good deals on food and then prepping a bunch of meals to add to my already full freezer.  Or speed cleaning every square inch of my house because we have company coming over.  Or organizing Josiah's entire room and closet the day after Christmas so that there is a place for everything.  And just tonight, Mike and I came up with a doable way to exercise... there is a workout room in the clubhouse of our neighborhood - and we can alternate days going over there after dinner.  Just don't ask me how it's going in a few days... you know, it's that pressure thing.  I'll give up.  :)

In 2 year old news.... I had the most exhausting day of potty-training yet.  5 trips to public restrooms while we were out for all of 2 hours this morning. (Which means lifting 37 pounds in and out of shopping carts at least that many times... not an easy task) 2 cashiers who heard more than they probably wanted to about him telling me he needed to go poopy in the potty.  3 times over the course of an hour of trying to put him down for a nap, each time I'd hear him insistently yelling "Mommy I need to go potty!!" over the monitor. I think we just need to stay home in the mornings for a while. 

Well, that's enough random rambling for tonight.  I need to go get a little sleep so I can be out the door by 6:30 tomorrow morning to sub.  Why oh why must Virginia Beach high schools start so early?!!

Is it still Christmas-time?

This was our first year without a real Christmas tree... and we went crazy and let Josiah pick out the new tree.  Of all things, he fell in love with this white tree with colored lights (which I begrudgingly consented to after trying to sway him towards all the classier, more natural ones).  He woke up every morning to come see the tree and would say over and over "I really like my white Christmas tree!"  Although it took a little while, it eventually grew on me too.  In fact, now I don't want to take it down! 
 

Making a gingerbread house (a first for all 3 of us!)  Josiah has had very little candy ever, and as soon as we poured the candies out to start decorating, he grabbed as many as he could and wouldn't stop eating them!  It's a wonder there was any left for the house!

We spend Christmas Eve with my side of the family...   First at Nana & Papa's house (where I didn't take any pictures), and then on to my parents house.  We had a delicious fried turkey (thanks to Mike), seafood lasagna, beef brisket and a bunch more yummy food.  Josiah and I made sugar cookies while we waited for dinner, and then we all headed upstairs to spoil each other rotten with presents. 

A snowboard for my 2 1/2 year old?!!   Grammy of all people did this one... we're going together to Massanutten in a few weeks, and I guess she couldn't resist :)

We spent Christmas morning at home with just the 3 of us.  I had all intentions of trying to keep it to a modest 3 presents for Josiah, but once we found a fourth gift, we just somehow kept going.  Nothing too elaborate, but he had lots to open and he's enjoying his Ikea easel, Jungle Junction toys, Chuggington trains, and Little People amusement park. 

The rest of Christmas Day was spent with Mike's side of the family.   Once again, Josiah got lots of fun new toys (including an electronic drum set, picnic table and lots of cool cars).  Mike even got some toys of his own, and we had another delicious fried turkey and a great day with family.

The one thing I don't have pictures or video of, was probably the best part of our Christmas season:  reading our Advent book together each night.  Josiah really learned the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus, and he amazed us by his ability to recite much of it himself.  He also really enjoyed giving gifts to people, and since he was with me when I did most of the shopping, I had to remind him not to spoil the surprise by telling people what we bought them (which he did anyway on several occasions).   I hope the rest of you have had a wonderful holiday.  As always, it goes by too fast!

No Hermits Here

It is so fun to experience things with Josiah at this age.  Watching him learn something new or see something for the first time is such a blessing.  He doesn't miss a beat, that's for sure.  He's figuring out how everything works and it's amazing how much he remembers.  We have thoroughly been enjoying our memberships to fun places like the Zoo, the Aquarium, and the Children's Museum.   In fact, I think our Zoo membership expires in a week or two, so maybe we'll take advantage of this nice weather we've been enjoying and go one last time in the next few days.  Anyone want to go? 

It's kind of funny because Josiah really just LOVES to play at our house... he could be a total hermit if I let him, but if we're being really honest, Mommy gets a little tired of playing cars ALL day everyday.  So we go out a lot.  :)  Once he's out, he's happy as can be too, so it's not like I'm dragging him around miserably.  And since he turned 2, it's been really nice to have so many opportunities for him to interact with other kids and to burn some energy.  

We love going to the park in our neighborhood, and he always asks if there will be other kids there.  He loves making new friends.  In fact, even when we go to the grocery store, he introduces himself to other kids we pass in the aisles.  "Hey boy, what's your name?"  ;)  "Hey (insert new friend's name), do you like V8 juice? (or whatever else is on the shelf nearby)"  "Mommy, what is (new friend's name) doing?"  He definitely doesn't know a stranger.  Every Thursday morning, we go to the "Just 2's" Storytime at the Oceanfront Library and it's GREAT.  We occasionally hit up the Toddler Tuesdays at the Aquarium, although that one is a little crazier.  And when I can get moving early enough, we drive out to the Children's Museum in Portsmouth.  There is so much fun stuff to do there!   It's kinda neat because I actually remember playing in the little Grocery section of the old museum when I was a kid!    Here are some pictures of our last visit a few weeks ago:

Shopping at the Market:

Anyone know what this thing is called?  

Driving the City Bus

Fishing

The Art Room

The Percussion Room

Brushing Teeth

Fighting Fires

 Lots of Trains

 And a Picnic in the Car