Summer Lovin’

We’ve been LOVING summer time around here! I can’t believe how quickly my little eighteen month old is growing up. He makes summer so fun!

 

We’ve spent our days…

 

Celebrating Mary (my friend who watches Jace once a week while I work).

 

Riding the Carousel for the first time.

 

Playing soldier at the Mysi’s (my friend who watches Jace twice a week while I work).

 

Driving to California with Grandma and Grandpa Steiner.

 

Meeting relatives.

 

Taking baths with Cami.

 

Learning to LOVE the water! (As long as it isn’t in a tub or shower.)

 

Connecting with 2nd cousins.

 

Having dreams come true.

 

Enjoying family.

 

Watching birds.

 

Sliding.

 

Loving generations.

 

Taking self portraits.

 

Enjoying Grandma’s side of the family.

 

Getting to know Great Grandpa.

 

Eating snacks.

 

Writing stories.

 

Watching Elmo.

 

“Calling” Grandma.

 

Watching more Elmo.

 

Slip ‘n Sliding.

 

Sitting in police cars (at National Night Out).

 

Visiting Daddy on his last day at K&D.

 

Visiting with Grandma and Grandpa.

 

Rearranging the living room.

 

LOVING Elmo.

 

More Slip ‘n Sliding.

 

Playin’ at the Splash Pad in Corvallis.

 

And that’s our summer in a BIG nutshell!

A Good Little Napper

Jace was having a very happy morning—contentedly playing and entertaining himself while occasionally wanting to just sit in my lap and play with a remote or read a book. We hadn’t hit the grumpies yet (our signal that it’s time for a nap), but he started getting more insistent about wanting my coffee. To distract him, I asked, “Do you want your binkie?” and got it off the kitchen counter. Instead of taking it from me, he walked to the stairs, shook the baby gate and said, “ni-ni".” I gave him the binkie and his blankie (which he immediately rested his head on) and put him to bed without a fuss at all. I love what a good napper he is becoming!

 

 

This picture is of our morning routine—Jace enjoys a breakfast of milk and a waffle in the recliner, while Toby begs.

 

***Disclaimer: Not all naps are this easy. He’s really good at waiting until he’s in his crib to poop, and then won’t fall asleep.***

This is Our Life

In case you’re wondering why you haven’t seen much on this blog these days…

 

 

This is Jace’s reaction every time I get the camera out. He just loves the camera so much. He’d rather play with it than let me take pictures.

 

But when he isn’t trying to take all things button/electronic from us (remotes, cell phones, cameras, key boards, laptops…), he can be found saying “Gar-Gar” (car), “bagckle” (buckle, and both these words are more barked than said), “naa, naa” (snack), “Da-ye” (Daddy), “Toh-ee” (Toby and said very deeply), making all sorts of animal noises, and silly face after silly face. This child is so expressive!

Easter

 

Our Easter Sunday was off to a really quick start when I woke up to the sound of Jace coughing over the monitor. I wondered why it was so light before 6… turns out it was 6:48, the time we were supposed to be leaving the house for church! I was very thankful to have taken the time to gather everything together the night before! 20 minutes later and we were out the door (I did my makeup in the car). The only thing we forgot were Jace’s shoes (which we’d been up late searching for one of the night before).

 

We had three really nice services at church (Nolan and I enjoyed attending one of them together!) and it was so fun to see all the little kids in their Sunday best. I do have to say, though, I think Jace was the cutest one there!

 

After church we headed to lunch at Marie Callenders with Rayanna and Jared. Jace ended the lunch by walking around the restaurant yelling happy noises at everyone.

 

I loved having a coordinated little family! I made my Easter dress this year (I tell you about it on my craft blog here), and then our friend Mary went shopping with me and bought Jace’s little outfit. It has stripes that match my dress. And Nolan got a new white polo. This was the little Easter family I’ve always dreamed of!

 

Jace is really good at telling us when he wants to leave. He points toward a door, waves bye-bye, points again, and then starts grunting.

 

Our sleepy little boy on the way home.

 

Jace’s Easter basket—eggs from a basket Mary got him (that he discovered earlier in the week), a magnadoodle for our upcoming trip to Maryland, a toothbrush and fruit snacks (his absolute favorite).

 

Getting into his basket

 

SO excited about the fruit snacks!

 

I love this picture.

 

He knew exactly what to do with his toothbrush—even though he’s never had his teeth brushed with a normal one. I’ve had a baby one up until now that is a little rubber thing that goes over my finger. He has watched me very closely, though, when I brush my teeth!

 

Later he had fun playing in his room which included standing on his chair with blankie…

 

…playing in his kitchen…

 

…and taking clothes out of his dresser.

 

We had a great Easter and hope you did too!

A little bit of what Jace is into these days…

Blowing Kisses

Eating

(and sorting it into his cup holder)

Getting big boy haircuts

Watching Toby run around outside

Looking up to his cousins

Trying to play Wii (and he carries a Wiimote all over our house, shaking it like he’s seen his cousins do while playing)

Reading books

More specifically: Brown Bear, Brown Bear and Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin. We read these OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER again…

Pulling diapers out of the box.

Trying on baby girl shoes that Mommy makes

Playing in his kitchen Josiah and Micah passed down to him

And just a whole lot of looking cute! He is walking all over the place, loves kissing Mommy, Daddy and Toby. Says “woof woof woof” for dog, “Blub blub blub” for fishy, and “ow” for kitty. Is really good at saying “no” and “stop.” He loves to be silly. He mimics everything I do—pulls credit cards out of my wallet and tries to swipe them, found an old check book, found a pen, and tried to write on them, and “types” on my old cell phone keyboard just like I do.

We’re having so much fun!