Photo Friday-Easter Fun!

We had quite a fun Easter weekend filled with egg dying, egg hunts, and a certain bunny leaving his footprints in our house. Tyson wasn't sure what to think of the egg hunts, but he loved dying the eggs and enjoyed hopping like a bunny to find his Easter basket.

Even Lola joined in the festivities by putting on her Easter best.

Have a great weekend! We're off to enjoy the spring sun (FINALLY)!

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie....

I know I've mentioned plenty of times the awesome eating skills of our child. The kid is willing to eat pretty much anything I put in front of him. With two hands. As fast as he can shovel it into his mouth. A trait that I'm certain he got from his Daddy.

His favorite foods (in no particular order) are currently carrots, applesauce, raisins, chicken nuggets (hello, Morning Star-I heart you), strawberries, cherry tomatoes, and blueberries. I'm sure there are others, but these are the ones that happen to bring out the intense "more please" sign and crazed expression when his plate is clean.

Please note the healthy choices. At nearly 17 months old, our child will choose a carrot over a cookie, a strawberry over a donut, and a cherry tomato over candy every single time. I'm proud that we have made a deliberate attempt to limit Tyson's intake of candy, sweets, and junk food while he's still so young. He's had a couple jelly beans, bites of our cookies, and even a few tastes of ice cream when I'm willing to share. And, while he enjoys the junk food, he's just as happy to go back to his raisins. Mission Accomplished.

Or so I thought...Last week, we caved and gave him a Dorito. Just one little piece. A taste. And then, without warning, he grabbed the bag and dove in head first.

If you give a kid a Dorito....

Dude likes his salty snacks.

For the record, he signed "more please" before we even had his hand out of the bag to take it away. Apparently healthy habits aren't as easy to teach as I had thought.

My Kid Is Afraid Of His Own Shadow

No, really. He is.

This weekend Daddy pointed out Tyson's shadow to him. To borrow a line from Pretty Woman, "Big Mistake, BIG. HUGE."







Apparently shadows aren't an irrational fear for a 16 month old just as birds aren't an irrational fear for a 30 year old.

Photo Friday-A Video!

Tyson has a new found obsession with hopping. A few weeks ago we taught him that the Easter Bunny hops, and, since then, he has found it appropriate to hop just about every place we go.

He also yells, "HOP!" as he does it.

Cute, right?

Although I'm pretty sure the old man who watched him hop into the grocery store this morning thought something was wrong with him.

The video is when he first learned his new hopping skill. He's since perfected his talent.

Photo Friday-On a Thursday!

I forgot photo Friday last week. I have no excuses. I tried to come up with a really good one, but seriously? I got nothing.

Nanny came from Florida last week to visit us. Obviously retirement in Florida has given her plenty of time to rest up as she quickly wore both Mommy and Tyson out.

There was playing and shopping and two (yes, 2!) Mommy's Nights Out-Oh My!

We loved having Nanny here and can't wait until she comes back for the Summer with Papa!

Our Weekend Plans

I've always been afraid of birds. It's not an irrational fear. Umm, hello-beaks! And talons!

Did you know that a red tailed hawk know to attack their prey when they turn their backs? Or, that a black vulture could kill a newborn calf? Or, that a goose could break your arm with it's wing?

One day a bird will swoop down and peck your eyes out-around then you'll also realize that my fear or birds is not irrational.

It seems I have not educated Tyson well enough on the dangers that birds possess.

The kid loves buhds (birds). He points to them in the car. He points to them in the trees. He points to them on the TV.

"Buhd, Buhd Mama! Buhd!"

So this weekend? We're watching the movie The Birds. That'll teach him.

Photo Friday

Mommy Says:

Due the traumatic experience Tyson (and Mommy) had at his first haircut, we've taken to cutting his hair at home instead. This way Mommy can self medicate herself first.

Last week, Daddy gave Tyson a much needed haircut. He actually sits relatively still for Daddy and laughs when the razor tickles his neck!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

17 Month Letter

Dear Tyson,

Today you turned 17 months old. That means you have blessed Daddy and I with your presence for roughly 516 days. I have been alive for approximately 10,934 days (give or take a day or two-I didn't account for leap years and my math may be slightly off).

You have probably derived two things from this opening paragraph:

1) Mommy is really, really old.

And, more importantly

2) Mommy has too much time on her hands. I, on the other hand, have derived that you have been alive only 4.8% of my life. And, while this may seem like a small amount of time to you, I have no doubt that it has been the most significant and rewarding time of my life by far.

Words cannot describe the joy you bring to my life on a daily basis. Sure, raising a toddler is hard and (EXTREMELY) challenging at times, but I can completely forget the exasperating 20 minutes I spent trying to put you in your car seat when I hear you whisper, "Momma." I don't even remember the 100 times I told you to sit down on your chair when I hear you laugh. And, when you give me kisses at bedtime...well...I have hard time remember you ever doing anything wrong.

I love you with all of my heart. Happy 17 months little guy!

Love,

Momma

Photo Friday-Odds & Ends

Mommy Says: To make up for missing Photo Friday last week and to help lighten my mood, I've put quite the effort into this week's episode-complete with collages and 1960s effects. Insert jazz hands here. Please enjoy and try not to drool-he's really stinkin cute.

On Tuesday, Tyson went to the closet, selected a purse, slung it over his shoulder, waved goodbye to me, and sashayed towards the door. Daddy's mortified I happened to capture this on film. I'm sure Tyson will share his sentiments at the tender age of 13. Personally, as a mom, I'm just so proud he picked a purse that matched his outfit.

His first time with playdough. He wasn't so sure he liked the texture of the playdough, but he loved stacking the containers the dough came in. He also loved putting the playdough back in to the containers. Clearly, I may have already instilled some of my OCD on this kid.

Spring is here! Kinda! We're taking what we can get now and Tyson's loving every minute of it. Yesterday we went for a walk that consisted of watching Tyson splash in every puddle and attempt to jump down every sewage drain. Clearly, he forgot about the OCD behaviors during the course of he walk.

Oscar the Grouch.

I've had quite the helper lately. He always wants to be right under my feet. Yesterday I put him to work in the kitchen. I can already taste the breakfast in bed he'll be cooking me this Mother's day. PS-if you look closely, that is a dog in the cupboard on the middle photo.

Our friends and family sent us several bouquets of beautiful flowers this week. While they helped to lift my spirits, what really made me smile was watching how much Tyson loved to smell them.

Here's hoping your weekend is filled with spring walks and beautiful flowers!