Halloween

I know this is late and out of order,but here are our Halloween costumes. Bub was Brobee, the little green one, from Yo Gabba Gabba. Soder was Mr. Clean and I was a dust bunny. I was originally going to be Mrs. Clean and wear a bald cap, but when I put it on instead of looking bald I looked more like a condom head, which I thought was not the best look for me! So my dust bunny costume took me, literally 30 minutes to do. I was way proud of myself an very happy to get to eat my hair that much! I loved it!

Visiting

Last week, Bub and I headed down to Utah for a week. It was so wonderful to visit everyone and Bub had such a great time with all the attention everyone paid to him. There was even a day of snow, although I have the feeling Bub is more comfortable with the rain of the northwest!

Sous-Chef Extraordinaire

Helping me shred cheese, or more specifically tasting it.

As this summer has begun to wind down, I have realized that Bub is getting so big. He now enjoys spending time with me in the kitchen. It usually only involves pulling all my cookie cutters out of my cabinet, followed by all our tuperware, but occasionally he also enjoys assisting me with actual cooking. Like last week, he was a great sous-chef while I was making pizza. Sure, it takes about 3 times as long, but I love his 'contribution' to the cause. He was very excited when he realized that cooking was about tasting as well. (especially tasting the cheese)  And standing on a chair next to Mama. And watching all the process along with listening to the awesome noise of the kitchen aid.  I am glad he enjoys the kitchen and hope that he continues to assist because it is always more fun to cook with someone.

Oh they grow up so fast.

Around 3 months

Around 9 months

15 months old.

Another parenting Gold Star!

After forcing him to try on a gently used (aka free) Halloween costume, we have come to the conclusion that Bub will probably NOT be a giraffe this year. Or maybe he will be a sad giraffe (there are sad giraffes in the world right?)

Mommy and me swim classes

This morning was our third Mommy and Me swim classes. While the classes aren't promising to teach my 10 month old how to swim, it is meant to introduce them to the water at an early age and teach some safety techniques. (teaching them to wait to enter a pool and how to float on their back until you tell them to sit up are just a few things they have taught us.)

Today, we got to teach them to go under water. Well, maybe 'teach' is too strong of a word, more like dunk our children at the count of three. Baby did a great job and no tears were shed. He didn't even pull any odd faces or anything. I was very impressed. It is an odd feeling to know that you are doing the right thing, but it feels so wrong because they don't understand what the heck is happening. (similar feeling when your baby gets their immunizations.)

While the guilt has subsided, the best reward for all involved is a nice nap when we get home. And while my guilt won't let me lay down, my little tadpole is sound asleep in a fleecy warm outfit covered with his favorite blanket. In my book that is a well spent $50 for classes.

Last Art Class

This Sunday was Soder's last art class. (he would love to take them all the time, but since the wishing fairy hasn't been around lately, this will have to do it for him for a while.) So this Sunday was Baby and my last 'exploring' weekend. (at least our last one with just us.) We started at the same art store, located below the Petsmart in U-village. We got our coffee and scone (Baby's new favorite thing ever). Since I didn't want to wait around for the stores to open at the mall like I did last weekend, we decided to take a drive. A while back (way back in the summer), Soder and I had taken a drive around and had found this yacht/sailboat club in Ballard. I decided I wanted to see the water today, so we drove around to find that same place. I eventually found it (after about 20 minutes) and decided to take a walk along the water. It was a little drizzly and cold, but it was nice to be out and walking around. I love to look at all the boat and read all the names (like The Dude, Soul Catcher, Arthur, The Raven, and Fishful Thinking) . I don't know what I would name a boat if I had one, but that thought kept me busy for most of the walk. It was a great time to just relax and walk along with my little jabbering baby. Before I knew it, it was time to leave and try to find my way back to Soder.
I know my way around Seattle (and the outskirts) pretty well and can get myself out of pretty much any problem, but Ballard is a whole nother story. I swear that the streets in Ballard move around just enough to get me completely turned around (this did happen when we visited in the summertime as well). What should have taken me only 20 minutes to get back took me almost 35. (Maybe this is the reoccurring theme of my explorations of Seattle, I get lost a lot more than I realize.) I had a great time and was only a couple minutes late picking up Soder.
Even after getting lost, I can't wait to go back and explore when it is all sunny and warm... I hope that day comes one day.

The faces they pull

I was playing a 'fishy' game with Baby the other day and Soder was able to video some of it. It is about 45 seconds long, which for me will be followed quickly with my mother and father calling me saying they saw the video on my blog. (which to me is so cute because they are getting more tech savvy everyday.) I love the faces he pulls and just to clarify I was clapping by his face and not snipping his nose every time.