Afternoon Activity

Howie has taken the bib game to a new level. 

Hoops and Yoyo

Hoops and Yoyo are two of our new household friends. I was introduced to Hoops and Yoyo by my dear friend Cheryl with the "Spastic Colon Sunday" sketch. They are these hilarious creatures from Hallmark that bring everyone joy and laughter. Here is their website: http://www.hoopsandyoyo.com/ I highly recommend it.
At the gym the other day, one of the other 5 am regulars (yes, contrary to what many of you believe, there are other people who work-out at 5 in the morning besides me!) was wearing a Hoops and Yoyo t-shirt. I commented on the characters and she told me that she knows the people who do their voices. I was like "WHAT?! You KNOW them?!" I realized that the conversation was quickly reaching sacred ground since Hoops and Yoyo are pretty much considered famous in my book and I was talking to someone who actually KNEW them. My 5 am friend shared that she went through a very sad time in life about two years ago and emailed them to show her appreciation for still being able to cheer her up, it was the only thing that could make her laugh. They have kept in touch since and these wonderful people have helped he family through some other rough patches. She is even planning to go out to Kansas and meet them!
Neeedless to say, I left Lifetime feeling like I had brushed up against something famous. Wow, to know Hoops and Yoyo. Now that is something.
Here is Howie enjoying some Hoops and Yoyo after a Cool Whip dessert...

Our New Normal

Just when I think that allergies have not really changed our lives too much, I find myself chuckling at something that I think is "normal".  After awhile, you get used to certain daily situations that are different due to allergies.  Here are a few things that I find normal...

6.  I never leave the house without "safe snacks" (egg-free, peanut-free, banana-free and of course, no peas) just in case we find ourselves in a restaurant that doesn't accomodate allergies. 

5. I write to Papa Johns to complain about how they don't post their ingredients on their website and their employees cannot find a list of ingredients in the store.

4. Howie has a large orange sticker on his nursery badge.  It pretty much screams, "Caution!  I am allergic!" and I love it!

3. Our kitchen cabinets are stocked with Hydrocortisone, Benadryl, and Epi-Pens instead of peanut butter.

2. I would rather wake up at 5 am to work-out than leave my child at the child-watch where they might not notice an allergic reaction happening. 

1. I am equally afraid of Howie eating eggs as I am of him sticking his fingers into an electric socket. 

New Fish!

Howie had a special night at Meijers. We picked up several toys that he can use on the deck. I was tired of him throwing his toys over the side to Jake and the flower beds. So I let him have toys that are bigger then the slats around the outside of our deck (hula hoops, large balls and a dump truck). But then, we also stopped at the fish department to pick up some new friends. Howie LOVES fish and he watched intently as the gentleman plucked our three fish from the tank.

Here is a video of the fish getting acquainted to our home.

Driving a Tractor

Harvest season is in full swing right now in the Midwest. We all push up our sleeves, get our hands dirty and pitch in to make sure the crops are brought to the table. Well, sort of. Howie has been doing his part with the help of John Deere.

Using a Tissue

So Howie has started showing signs of seasonal allergies. This is no surprise to us since he is allergic to many other things. At 15 months, he has mastered using the tissue. Here is the documentation. Warning: it's a little gross. :)

My Friend Emma

This is one of those rare shots that you just happen to snap at the right time. I couldn't resist posting it.

Our Little Boy is Growing Up

Howie has grown into a little toddler within the last few months. It really hit home when we recently went to see some dear friends of ours in the hospital after delivering their new baby boy.
His face has lost a lot of the baby fat and his haircut makes him look ready for preschool.
We are enjoying watching him discover life as he tries to make sense of the world...

• The fork is a mealtime challenge that excites him. He grips it with his fist (we will be working on his utensil grip so he is ready to hold a pencil and write books in kindergarten!) and jabs several times at a chunk of soft food such as chicken, tofu or pears. Such joy when the food gets to his mouth! It usually results in spontaneous clapping.
• He now says thank you at more appropriate times such as when you give him a sippy cup or when he is leaving the doctor's office. "Tank Ou!" It's enough to melt my heart (and the hearts of everyone else in the room) every time. It was reported that he was even using his manners in the church nursery this past Sunday. Our next word to add to the vocabulary: "Sorry". It will come in handy during those "self-regulation issues" when another child gets whacked in the face with his hand.
• Howie understands the importance of keeping a tidy environment. He gets very concerned when food falls on the floor, when his sippy cup is tipped over, or when his blankie is not properly put back into his bed in the morning... "Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh...." until he addresses the concern or you fix it for him.
• We are picking up vocabulary all over the place. Words include "gentle, Jakey, mama, dada, Emma, thank you, and no no". He likes to reprimand Jakey every time we exit the car. I pull him out of his car seat and he wags his finger at the dog in the side yard and says, "No, no.... no, no." Do you think Jake gets in trouble a lot? Yes.
• Our son is not just walking anymore, he is running, climbing stairs, and marching. Yes, marching, well only with one foot for now. He can slither down a flight of stairs at an impressive rate. He looks so much like a snake that it sometimes gives me the heebie-geebies.
• Shoes have become a new obsession. He enjoys finding shoes around the house and bringing them to the people they belong to. He will try to put them on that person, and does not quite understand the concept of only wearing one pair at a time. We've had several frustrated moments when Mommy won't put on the shoes he is holding because she is already wearing some.
• We are slowly learning how to demonstrate self control. Howie still likes to chuck things across the room, especially when he is mad or bored. He has recently showed some restraint when he hears, "No, if you throw again it's time-out." Time-out consists of 30 seconds to one minute in the pack-n-play. It's proving to be quite effective for now. He will refrain from throwing if he is having a good day.

Of course, there is always room for improvement. He still eats sand by the handful, throws pebbles at the playground and will not tolerate more than 15 minutes in his car seat. We love our little guy and he brings us so much happiness. It is a privilege to be a part of his growth and development.

Boots

We pulled out some of Rick's clothes from childhood. Howie particularly liked the boots. They are about 3 sizes too big for him, but that didn't stop him from tromping all over the place in his diaper.

Crunching

This is one of my favorite sounds. Perhaps because my child is little and needs to pack on the pounds (therefore I am conditioned to crave the sound of him eating), or maybe it's just because it reminds me of a little squirrel.
Go ahead, enjoy life with us... Turn up the volume on your computer and enjoy a crunchy snack.