1/2 Year Birthdays

It's hard to believe but my baby boy is now 18 months old. There is just something about this time 1/2 way between ages that I love. All my boys seem sassier like they know they are approaching the next age & therefore decide to enter the next stage right then & there. He throws temper tantrums like we have never seen in this home. Take something away from him that he wants & he screams, pushes you away, lays on the floor & cries & then eventually gets up, smiles & walks away like nothing happened. Luckily this doesn't happen that often. Usually we get to experience a sweet, lovable, happy baby boy. You love to giggle & will laugh at just about anything especially your daddy & brothers. You have an infectious smile, more of a smirk actually. You squint your eyes & suck on your lip to soothe yourself. You love the animals at the zoo & stare intently at them pointing & yelling at them. You LOVE books. Being read to. Reading them with your brothers. And looking at them on your own. You know a ton of words. Too many to count but some of your favorites are mine, ball, car, choo choo, Spongebob, peese (please) & dank you (thank you). Whenever daddy works late or leaves the house before you wake up you walk around the house pointing at his pictures saying "Dada, dada, dada" over & over. You are such a joy & add so much to our home. With each day that passes your personality emerges a little more & you fit right in with your crazy brothers. I look forward to watching you approach age 2 & hope that you will leave the terrible twos behind you over the next 6 months so go ahead & spread out those tantrums.

Happy 1/2 Birthday my little mama's boy!

Few & Far Between

As parents of 3 young boys our date nights don't come as often as we would like but when they do they are always treasured moments. Last night was no exception. The boys were fed & left in the trusty hands of their auntie Kim who is always willing to help us out (especially since her night life still continues after we get home) & we were off to enjoy Shabu Shabu at Yojie. Semi-dressed up in non parenting clothes, good conversation & only ourselves to worry about. What more could we want for 3 hours on a Friday night.

Random Ten on Tuesday

1. Daddy has traveled this month & been super busy with work. So he is not home most mornings when they wake up & sometimes only makes it home in time to put them to bed. And in case you can't tell the boys are super excited to have some quality daddy time. 2. Johnnie will be 4 in 5 1/2 weeks & just recently he has really started looking older. Still very thin but he is stretching out & getting muscular. He has a new found love for games & movies on the iPhone. And he lays around the way I would expect a boy to. All spread out & relaxed. 3. And just like that he looks like such a baby to me again. This is him tired after his swim lesson. 4. My 1/2 marathon training is going well. I am up to 7 miles for my long run. It feels pretty good. When I come home I'm not too tired so either I'm running too slow or my body is getting used to the pounding of the pavement and thankfully so are my knees.

5. Joey is now 31 months old. Feisty. Stubborn. Loving. Sweet. And most of all such a boy. He really loves to lay down. In the front yard bushes & anywhere in the house especially to watch a movie. Take your time Joe. 3 isn't going anywhere. 6. I avoided it as long as I could but I finally gave in & joined Facebook. I have been enjoying catching up with old college friends.

7. Just a typical warm afternoon. Stripped down after naptime because they are too warm to wear clothes. 8. It seems my boys really don't like being cooped up in the house. Jimmy (& even Oscar) were trying to escape out the front window.9. Jimmy is such a fun loving little guy. I take them out of the bathtub one at a time youngest to oldest & it usually works out okay but not tonight. While I was putting Joey's pjs on I heard laughter coming from the bathroom & when I came in this is what I saw. Jimmy happily playing in the tub in his pajamas. I wanted to be mad but he was just so darn happy. 10. Evening picnics. Everyone has been talking about what a cold summer we have been having but here at the Bolander house we have been enjoying warm 75-80 degree days & 70 degree evenings allowing for dinners outside. On this particular evening while daddy was out of town they were treated to McDonalds happy meals & they were very happy to have these on the front lawn.

Remember

My son has always brought a huge smile to my face but there are times when he tests me. Grunts instead of answers, whining, saying no & basically just trying to push every button I have. But this week he has pushed me more than usual. It's almost as though he wants to see how far he can take it before I'm dragging him up the stairs to put him in time out raising my voice & letting a toddler get the best of me. We always end our evenings with hugs & I Love Yous but sometimes I need to just take a step back, take a deep breath & remember that this little stinker made me who I am today, a mama! And with that privilege comes the ups & downs of parenting. I love him & in case you couldn't tell from the photos these are Johnnie & me through the years.