A visit with 'Irene'

This past week, Ty and I decided to take a very impromptu trip to visit his sister who just moved to Maryland. I am telling you...I don't think I thought this out very well. 12 hours...in a car...with an 18 month old. Need I say more? Needless to say, we all survived (I may have less hair and maybe a few more gray ones) and are back home.

You probably won't believe this (alright, you will...because it's me) but I only took ONE picture the whole time we were there. Yep. That's it. It never occurred to me to actually snap photos of Miles playing with his 3 cousins or his aunt and uncle that we get to see probably twice a year. I am hoping to have the one picture that I actually did take up sometime with in the next day or so (of all things, we took it with Ty's phone).

Anyways, while we were there, hurricane Irene made herself known, but all was well. We had some downed trees and a lot of rain, but overall, it was pretty much like a normal thunderstorm we would have here in Georgia.

The only day we were able to get out was Sunday (we came back on Monday) so we went down to the Inner Harbor in Baltimore and went to the aquarium. Miles LOVED it and was pointing and making his 'fish face' the whole time. Thinking that getting a pass to the Georgia Aquarium is a good idea....even though I am not a big fan of it.

So that is about it. We went. We played. We ate. We slept (horribly b/c Miles wouldn't sleep in his pack-n-play). We drove. Next time we are flying. : )

A few more things...

So I think instead of always posting pictures I am going to start just writing stuff. Now don't get me wrong, I am still going to post pictures, but not with every post. It is so rare that I actually take pictures. Miles is too busy to photograph and well I am too forgetful. : )

I have been watching Miles a lot lately and I believe that he is going to be left handed. This doesn't surprise me at all. Ty is left handed, as well as his mother and my dad. So he definitely has the lefty gene. Now not everything is done with his left hand (but the majority is) so I am not sure if that means he isn't quite sure yet or maybe we have an ambidextrous on our hands (no pun intended.)

Also, I think he is going to be a quarterback or pitcher. He can throw a ball. Seriously. I am impressed everyday. He throws far and he throws precisely. Who knows, we will see. I don't care what he does (even though I really didn't want him to be a jock) as long as he is happy.

One thing is for sure, he is going to be a book worm like his parents. The boy could really care less about his toys...all he wants to do is read a "ook" and point out ALL the pictures.

Anyways, that's it for now. Just though I would share a few of my thoughts.

Beach Trip

A few weeks ago we headed down to St. Augustine for a little bit of R&R. Well, not really R&R, because that term doesn't exist with an 18 month old. Lets just say we took a little trip to "get away" for a bit.

Miles loved the beach. Well, not exactly. He loved the water...hated the sand. He is a lot like me. I would love a "beach" with no sand. Grass maybe? Does that exist?

Every time a wave would come he would say "WEEEEEEE!" It was pretty darn cute.

Unfortunately, the pool had a major leak while we were there, so we didn't get to spend too much time in it.

My mom and her husband went along with us and I have to say it was very nice. They watched Miles for us one night so we could go to a ghost hunt around the light house and the old jail. Very creepy, but very fun.

If you are ever in St. Augustine, make sure to check out The Columbian Restaurant. It is AMAZING! We actually went twice this visit. YUMMY! Their 1905 salad is great and so is there mahi. I'm drooling as I type this.

Anyways, it was a fun trip but like always, I am glad to be home. There's no place like home....

Happy 18 months!

18 months...already?

My baby boy is 18 months. When did this happen? Six more months and he will be TWO!! I keep thinking "that can't be right," but it is.

Miles is a big bundle of joy these days. Of course, he has always brought me joy, but lately it is very overwhelming. He gives kisses on demand and points to his eye when I tell him " I love you." I assume it means he loves me too since I have been teaching him to point to his eye, his heart, and me when I say it.

He is also really expanding his vocabulary. I have no idea how many words he says, but his newest words are: lawnmower, robot, monster truck (daddy taught him), pool, go!go!, and daddy (not dada anymore).

He can point to almost all the animals in his book when asked where it is and loves to show off his animal sounds.

He knows where his head, ears, eyes, nose, ears, and peeps (penis) is. He also loves to clap his hands and stomp his feet when I sing "if you're happy and you know it."

He is still a picky eater, so the majority of the time he is eating either PBJ, corn dogs, chicken nuggets, or vienna sausages. I know...it's bad, but it is what it is. He also LOVES fruit and cookies...but will NOT eat a bite of veggies...that is what multi-vitamins are for. : )

At his 18 month check up he was in the 50% for weight (26lbs) and height (33inches), but of course his head is still the 95%. Lots and lots of brains.

He will probably be starting daycare with in the next few weeks and while I am sad to not be spending as much time with him, I am really looking forward watching his little mind get to work on learning lots of new stuff.

I DID IT!!! I POSTED!!

Alrighty, I am going to TRY my hardest to keep this blog up. I feel like I have NO time anymore and the time I do have....well I just don't want to spend it fighting with my computer. We have put all of our pictures onto a really big hard drive that is not on the computer and if makes the whole process of putting pictures onto it and then getting into it to create a blog a lot more time consuming. Anyways, here I am and I am going to (like I said) TRY to keep it up. I have been a really bad mom lately and have not taken any pictures of Miles. Poor kid. I know when you have another kid, the pictures are less and less...but I don't have another kid. So with that being said, if you are reading this and you have pictures of my child, (you know who you are!) send them my way!!

He has started to LOVE to just lay down on the floor for no reason.

So a lot has been going on lately. Miles is ALL over the place. He runs. He walks. He dances. You name it. He is a very busy little boy and has really started to do and say a lot of things. His new favorite thing to do is growl. Yep...growl. We read ALL day long. He is literally obsessed (takes after both his parents, sop we can't say anything). So we have this alphabet flash cards and the letter "L" is for Lion and I try to make the sounds and well...he is listening. This morning while we were watching Good Morning America he started growling and I wasn't really paying attention (I was on the computer and he was in his highchair eating) and I look up and there is a lion on tv. I swear it was SO funny. Wish I would have had a camcorder.

He loves to talk is pretty much babbling ALL day long. His favorite words are "no", "book", "car", "truck", "dada", "cup", "bye bye", "all gone", "again", and "up". And I should use the word 'favorite' losely b/c well, those are really the only words he knows. There are few others (that aren't coming to mind) but you get the idea.

He actually knows what "no" means and will tell ME no. Seriously. It has already started. If he doesn't want to do something it is "nay nay nay" and with a shake of his head to top it off. We have also been trying to work on eating with a fork and a spoon and that is going OK. He can definitely hold it and bring it to his mouth but he isn't good with putting force into fork where the food will actually get onto it. Instead, he likes to use the fork with one hand, pick up the food with the other and bring them both to his mouth. I guess he gets the concept. He is pretty darn good with the spoon and more often than not gets the food in his mouth...and a lot on his shirt. : )

Miles has really been enjoying the pool and LOVES to jump off the side. We really have to be careful with him because he will just start jumping, it is quite scary to say the least.

I am at a point where I think he needs some outside learning and playing, so hopefully with in the next few months he will either be in a preschool or learning center of some sort. It WILL NOT be full time...just 2 or 3 days. He LOVES other kids and I just feel a bit selfish to keep him with me all day. I know he will love it...even if I don't. : (

I know, it has been awhile. What can I say, I have been super busy. This last month I would be surprised if I took more than 5 pictures of Miles. Since he has begun walking, it is hard to watch him and try to take photos at the same time. Anyways, here are a few. Also, I figured I would make a list of things that Miles is now doing.

* He is walking. He was taking steps before his 1st bday, but I didn't count that as "walking." I would say for the past 4 or 5 weeks he has been fully walking.

* He says "dada", "mama", "car", "look" (sounds like ook), "book" (once again, sounds like ook), "grumps" (umps, this is my grandfather), "all gone" (ga gone), and "block" (it really just sounds like ck part of block).

* He claps his hands.

* He blows raspberries.

* He plays peek a poo.

* He eats 3 meals a day, 2 snacks and 3 sippy cups of milk.

* He wears mainly 18 month clothes.

* He LOVES to read. All day long he brings me books and wants to sit in my lap while I read to him.

* He sleeps fully through the night. We were having issues with this for a while, but I think he was too hot in his fleece pj's. Ever since we started putting him in footless cotton pj's, he sleeps great!

* He will eat about anything...except for veggies. The only way I can get him to eat them is if they are in the squeezable pouches. Oh well.

* He loves cars and trucks. I think he is a little obsessed.

I know the lighting isn't great in this photo, but I love the way his eyes stand out.

Sea World Adventures

This past week, my mom, my sister, her children and Miles and I went to Sea World. This was Miles' first time and my second and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. I thought that it was much more small baby friendly than Disney World was and I think Miles enjoyed it more. There still wan't a lot of rides that he could ride on, but the shows were great for him. There was a lot of action and it kept his attention quite well. The ticket to get in is good until the end of this calendar year, so maybe, just maybe we will go back.

Miles was clapping with everyone else when Shamu did a trick. LOL!
The walrus. He was HUGE!

One of the whales. Unfortunately, since that trainer was killed a year ago, they aren't allowed in the water with them. Needless to say, the show wasn't nearly as good as it used to be.

My mom, Miles and me.

SHAMU!!