Making Summer

While most people associate summer time with vacations and relaxation it is one of my busiest times of the year.  I spend the majority of it working on and making things...a garden, a harvest, applesauce and lots and lots of jams and pickles.  This year I am happy to add to that list a baby girl!!! Sarah Marie is due November 14th and she is growing fast and healthy.  I suspected a girl this time around because it has been a very very different pregnancy.  I had no morning sickness the first trimester but was extremely tired and emotional so I figured they were girl symptoms :)  We are very excited about our coming addition. I posted a video of John saying he is having a sis on Facebook but am having difficulty getting it to load to the blog...sorry because it was really cute! I would guess he knows something is changing and mom is getting a big belly but he doesn't talk about having a baby or seem excited yet. Hopefully as it gets closer he will be ready.  John is a talking machine these days...sometimes we still can't tell what he is trying to say but he keeps trying to say it!  He loves swimming and playing in any kind of water so he is lucky to have grandmas and friends with pools nearby.  John is becoming more of a kid each week as he grows and develops likes/dislikes and opinions.  He can be very stubborn and wild like me but also has times of quiet concentration when he likes to be alone playing or doing his own thing like Steve. He eats fruits and veggies at all times of the day (celery for breakfast anyone?) and never wants to wear shoes or clothes for that matter.  He likes to cuddle on the couch and watch Curious George when he's tired but doesn't want help with anything...ever. I used to say "Myself!" as a toddler and John's mantra has become "Me do, no help!" I have to smile at that even when he's on the verge of a frustration breakdown because I figure it's all coming back around to me :)  I think Steve and I would agree in saying he is a very fun kid even when he is a challenge.

Spring into Springtime!

John enjoying a celery stick at 9am...he went into the fridge and picked it out himself!

Waving hello from his new playhouse

Happy Birthday to you!! Already a 2 year old.

Easter egg hunting with Payton...it was difficult to get them to put the eggs in the basket without opening them first.

John has had a busy April so far and we aren't even through the month yet! He had fun Easters at Payton's Friday night and at Gma Joan's Sunday. He loved finding eggs and opening them on the spot, spilling the contents in the grass, then going to find another one. The next big event was his birthday of course! We had a small family party Sunday night where John hit the mother-load for awesome presents...sandbox, playhouse, wheelbarrow, scooter, 4T clothes, puzzles, vacuums, race cars and more. I thought he would be overloaded with all the grown-ups and attention, since he and Payton were the only little ones there, but he was very social and playful all night. He even gave a hug to the gift giver after we opened each gift and ate some delicious ice cream cake (even though he doesn't like sweets that much). It was nice to see so many grand and great grand parents for John to know and love! He is a very lucky kid. Now he spends his sunny days enjoying his new and old toys every minute he can. We went to his 2-yr check up yesterday and the doc says John looks strong and healthy (which we already knew of course!). He weighs 35lbs and is exactly 3 feet tall which puts him in the 97% for size...where he's been since he was born! The doc contends that he is big but is not concerned about his weight or size since he has stayed in the same % since birth and will "just be a big boy". There was a shot in the leg but John was quick to recover and finish eating his beloved apple. A visit to the doc no longer wears him out or slows him down like when he was a baby...nothing really does come to think about it! He is super active and loves to showoff his speed and strength and will beam a coy smile to any lady we encounter during our errands and outings. I can't wait till it is warm enough to get this boy in the pool...he is going to be a great swimmer!

Winters Ending

John is now sleeping in a big boy bed!

Found a tractor at the park with his Grandma Debbie

Staying warm in Park City, UT

It's been a busy and enjoyable couple months since the last John blog. The holiday season was crazy and we haven't slowed down much since. I am subbing occasionally but like to spend my days with John...of course. He is getting so big...I thought the growth spurts kind of ended around this time but he keeps growing and growing. He moved out of his crib and into a bed last month. It took some time but he is doing pretty well now. He is perfecting his stalling techniques during nap and bedtime...more milk, more book, mama sit down. It's cute but something we are trying to get past. His vocab is increasing though he still doesn't say much unless he really wants to get his way! We traveled to Park City, UT with Grandma Debbie and Grandpa Doug for a week last month and John had a great time on the flights and with his grandparents for the week. Steve and I enjoyed snowboarding and a bit of relaxing as well. John wasn't sleeping well for about a week after we got home and he had a persistent runny nose and cough so we went to the doctors Tuesday and found out he has his first ear infection. He is still energized and playing all day which is great and since he started the meds is back to napping and sleeping through the night (mostly). One of John's favorite things to do these days is count his booboos for you, which he can kind of do. He's got 1 and 2 down and just this morning sounded like he got up to 6. His favorite song to sing is ABCs and wants to hear it over and over at bedtime. We are excited for Spring and warm weather and lots of naked pictures this summer!!

Winter...technically

Going in for a wet kiss!

The first week of January...85' and no reason to not get naked and play in the water like it's summertime

John cried till the end of the ride...then cried because he had to get off.

The view of the Charlie Brown show was much better from the bushes...why even install benches?

Too scared to see Snoopy alone but John was a trooper.

John's first theme park visit with friends from our Mom's group went as well as expected. He was intimidated by the rides and characters at first but did just fine when we could do things together. It was a beautiful day at Knotts Berry Farm...can't wait to go back when he's a little older and more willing to do the Camp Snoopy rides alone. We have had a really nice winter so far with little rain and lots of warm days to play outside. Today is a rainy day as I blog but John is finding lots of things to do inside...for now :). He is developing into a little man and growing nonstop. I feel like we can understand each other more each week. He has some words down and signs for things he doesn't say yet but he talks more than ever these days. He can be quite stubborn but since he inherited that wonderful trait from me I really can't complain! He tends to be a more serious kid but when he gets the giggles (usually from his Dada!) it sets us all laughing.

Thanksgiving Mealssss

Playing at Heritage Park...a regular stop during the week for John.

At the Kershaw Thanksgiving

Playing in Big Bear at the Bremer Thanksgiving

It was a fun and slightly less busy Thanksgiving this year. Sometimes I forget that most people have just 1 Thanksgiving rather than 3 or 4 but we are lucky enough to have most of our family close enough to celebrate with each group (for now at least!). This year we had 1 the weekend before T-day, 1 on T-day, and 1 the day after T-day with lots of family and yummy food. Good thing the T-day meal is my favorite foods! John enjoyed the company and attention from everyone, and there was even a bit of snow to play with in Big Bear.

Falling In

Hugs for Maggie who is so patient and calm with Johnny Boy!

John loves to stand and sit in his water table...a fun thing he learned in the summer when it was hot enough to do that.

Mom: "John where's your big belly?" John: "Here's my belly!"

Playing in the rain puddles on the side of the house. John's first rain boots :)

First hair cut!

I took this the other morning because I just couldn't believe how big he was getting. I think he grew an inch that night!

John is staying active and playful as the days get shorter and cooler. Rain can not stop this kid from playing outside so I bought some decent rain boots and a heavy rain coat so we can splash around even when it's wet and gloomy. If it's not we will probably join a playgym for kids so he doesn't go stir crazy and drive me crazy :). I am looking forward to the holiday season this year because he is so active and interested in everything. We are even going to have our first Christmas tree, stockings and presents on Christmas morning at our house. But Thanksgiving first...hopefully I will have pictures of John playing in the snow (if there's enough) when we spend a couple days in Big Bear with Steve's family next week.

A Happy Halloween

John was more interested in the running from house to house than the candy he got once he arrived...he wouldn't even carry his club or candy bag :)

At the pumpkin patch

We made it out of the hay maze at the pumpkin patch but John hadn't had enough so he played in it for a while.