More Summer Fun

Summer seems to be flying by at the speed of light! But boy has it been fun, and it's not over yet!! Here is a run down via pictures to date.



John took the week off after our NC trip. It just so happened we both had Friday off. He suggested we take James to daycare for the day and then head out for a fun couples day sans James. So we started off with a round of golf! 

Post day date lunch beers at a local brewery.

We spent an evening at KC Bier Co. (aka the new love of Brookside parents everywhere!). We enjoyed dinner and an adult beverage while James played in the kid friendly bier garten. Double win!!

We took a ride on the Street Care one morning to pass some time. James LOVED it!

We enjoyed a Saturday morning play date at the splash park with Savannah.

love!

This may always be one of my favorite pictures.

We started reinforcing some time out time in our house. James clearly has his own opinion on how timeouts should go.... :/

Mommy enjoyed a weekend in DM with her family of origin, sans kids and spouses. It was a great weekend and yet weird because I felt like I should have been tending to a wild toddler. Many beverages and desserts were consumed!

We enjoyed a nice dinner out, just the 5 of us.

I returned on Sunday afternoon and had a snuggle session with this sweet boy.

Shark week happened and James LOVED it!

I caught James one night impromptly feeding Pooh. "Dink it, Pooh!"

 

The result of a 4 AM wakeup on mommy's day off

Play date with his buddy Ben and his momma.

Summer is for water play and popsicles!

Another Friday night at KC Bier Co. Only this time with a homemade ice cream sandwich paired with a beer. YUM!

Fun at KC Bier Co. Daddy is clearly the "fun parent".

Saturday morning park session with Uncle Kyle and Aunt Bethany who just moved back from KC and live just 3 blocks away. YAY!

Ice cream night

"Gammy" made an impromptu stop in KC to give us some love and lots of story time. :)

Summer, we oh so love you, and will be soaking up the remaining days as fall quickly approaches!

Happy 4th- North Carolina Style!

We spent the week in North Carolina over the 4th of July holiday. It was a great, relaxing week with family and was fun to reminisce back to the days when John and I used to visit pre-James. It's where our story officially began with John proposing 8 years ago on the 4th of July while taking a walk on the beach and fireworks going off all around. Here is the week's recap with pictures. A great time was had by all and we're looking forward to the next visit!

Waiting to depart from KC.

About to take off from KC to NC. Note that John is already asleep catching flies. Ha!

Ahhh....finally, the beach! Obligatory walk on the beach upon arrival.

The last time John and I sat on the same bench we were 3 years into marriage and sans James. A lot can change in a just a few years.

 

Cousin Brittany joined us at the beach.

Obligatory Bojangles Bo-Berry biscuit for breakfast on day 2.  A guilty, southern pleasure.

James and John asleep on the couch at 10:00 AM. Bedtimes were ROUGH on vacation.....

Morning walk on the beach collecting shells while the boys nap.

Bubbles on the beach!

Finally loving the water

Strollin' and snugglin' on the beach.

Happy 4th!!! All festive in 4th of July jammies.

Beach snacks and chats with momma.

Happy 4th! This was as good as it was going to get for a family pic.

Celebrating our "Engage-iversary" with a waterfront, seafood dinner. **Not pictured- our screaming, hysterical toddler that refused to be decent at dinner.

Ice cream treat! I heart this picture and that sweet, little hand.

Good 'til the last drop!

More water fun!

Sand fun with momma

My boy.

The last time we were at Atlantic beach in 2013 and present in 2017.

An attempt at getting a family picture.

Beach babe.

The result of hitting daddy with a stick.

We enjoyed an evening of fun with John's family. His cousin has a little girl just a few months older than James so he enjoyed all of the girly toys their house had to offer. :)

 

Headed home!

21 Months

I wasn't planning on doing another age milestone post until James turned 2, but after thinking about it there are just too many funny things going on now that I have to document.

• His personality is really blossoming! His expressions are so funny and he is sharp as a tack, noticing everything in sight and not forgetting past things we have done, places we have gone, etc. He is also starting to become rather sensitive. There have been a few times that I have had to reprimand him for things to which he just looks down and pouts.
• His vocabulary has exploded in the last month. I have lost track at all of the words he knows, etc. He is also repeating EVERYTHING which has now created the habit for us of spelling everything.
• Potty training- he is still sitting on the potty before bath. I think he has actually peed in the potty one time and it was not intentional. He has the most fun with flushing and then clapping in excitement that he "used potty". He is however becoming more aware of when he fills his diaper, often quick to tell us when he poops. I would be willing to bet that he is potty trained by the end of this year/early 2018. He will transition to his new 2 year old class in August and from what I have been told the teachers are great when it comes to potty training.
• Things he loves
• Being outside
• The stroller
• Peanut butter
• Crackers- any variety really
• Watching Royals games
• His friends at school
• Puzzles
• Books
• Climbing
• Things he dislikes
• Currently- the bedtime routine
• Coming inside if he's been outside
• Vegetables
• Going to bed (see next bullet point for more details!)
• Bedtime- to date is NOT going well. Bedtime has been a battle spent with much protest, tears, and telling mom or dad to "lie down now!". The newest shenanigans has involved James thinking it's fun to tamper with his diaper leading to some "not so fun" poop encounters. Lord, help me!!

All hard times aside, this boy is sure fun and is the best gift and blessing imaginable. I will say, he's lucky he is cute! We love you sweet boy! Keep growing and keep keeping us on our toes.