Christian James -- 2 Years Old!

Happy 2nd Birthday to my BIG boy!!!

Wow. Where did the time go? I feel like we just brought you home from the hospital and were enjoying the snuggly newborn days with you and waiting for your first smile. And as much as I loved that stage, you have only gotten more and more fun! I'm so lucky to get to spend my days with you! You are full of energy and love to go, go, go! All boy you are! 

We have been keeping busy these last few months, so I haven't done an update since 22 months. 

You went to your first Easter Egg hunt.

And had tons of fun dying Easter Eggs all by yourself for the first time!

You also had been showing interest in using the potty -- asking to go and telling us when you had went. This had been going on and you had been using the potty off and on since you were around 18 months. However, based on your interest and staying dry for long stretches (sometimes even during your nap) we decided to try the 3 Day Potty Training Method right after Easter. You were finally 22 months old which was the age they recommend for potty training with this method. You did GREAT the first 2 days. The second day you were even running to the potty yourself! But by the 3rd day, you didn't even care when you had an accident and would splash in it...so we decided to just keep letting you go when you wanted to go and we will try again later.

You also are not the biggest fan of pull ups. You prefer a diaper or big boy undies!

With the nicer weather returning, diggers, the sandbox, and being outside have become some of your favorite things! 

Since it is that time of year, we often will go on "digger hunts" -- We jump in the car and drive around looking for diggers that we can watch. When its time to go home you usually cry and ask for "More diggers." Because of our digger hunts, you also have started asking for diggers as soon as we get in the car!

You also love going for walks, but prefer to walk and not ride in the stroller. You also like to walk Bax.

Stuffed animals continued to be a favorite until just recently. You used to sleep with a whole zoo in your bed! Now you sometimes just prefer one stuffed animal. You haven't seemed to develop a favorite necessarily. But you always have to have blankie and binky...although, we lost your original blankie on our family vacation.... Mommy probably took it harder than you did though. Luckily, I had packed your spare blankie that I had made for you awhile back and you openly accepted it despite having not accepted it ever before. You never looked back.

You LOVE all things that go! Cars, trucks, dump trucks, diggers, garbage trucks, air planes, you name it! So when the local ECFE had a Moving and Zooming night, you LOVED getting to see all the different cars and getting inside them to check them out!

Grandpa Dan came to visit all the way from New York this month. You definitely loved getting some quality time in with him since you don't get to see him often.

We went on our first real family vacation this month! Your favorite part was all the different forms of transportation we took (Air plane, bus, train, boat) and seeing the fish underwater. You didn't say so, but you had a blast playing at the beach too! Can't wait to spend more time in the water this summer!

The zoo is also becoming one of your favorite places to go -- you love running around to see all of the animals!

You are also started to know your friends by name and will even ask to see them! The other day as we were coming out of church you asked to see Cooper. Luckily he lived close by and was free and we were able to meet up for a quick play date!

Daddy turned 30 this month and we celebrated him with a day full of fun followed by a surprise birthday party with all our friends! You even sang him "Happy Birthday" which was super cute!

You are still mommy's little helper and love to help clean the house (Sweep, mop, vacuum, wash windows) and have even started enjoying helping with laundry. You ask to do these things often even without any prompting! You also are a big imitator -- mommy and daddy have to watch what we do and say because you will copy us! The other day at the zoo you copied a little boy in  the dinosaur skeleton grabbing the bones and shaking them saying "I'm in jail! I'm in jail!" You did the EXACT same thing right away!

Just recently mommy also started letting you help make your own breakfast. You can stir the eggs, put your toast in the toaster and even put the peanut butter on your toast. So independent!!

You also love umbrellas -- your grandmas came to visit and spoiled you so much and now you have your own umbrella! Although, you were a little rough with it and broke it the second day of having it, but it still opens, just not all the way.

While you are still probably too young to really begin dramatic play, you have started doing a bit of imaginative play! While we were on our cruise you would use the bread and pretend they were cars at dinner, driving them all around saying, "vroom, vroom!"

You will have your official 2 year appointment next week, but from my measurements at home here are your stats!

31 pounds
34 inches tall 

Everyone who sees you thinks you are at least 3 and almost 4! You are a big boy for sure :)

Wearing a variety of sizes -- mainly 3t but some 2t and even 18 month shorts. Shirts are all 3t and a few pairs of 4t pajamas!

You are also quite the picky eater these days. But last month you had some really goopy eyes and when we went to the doctor I asked if we should make you eat what we eat. Lucky for you, the doctor said no! When you are closer to preschool age we can start to reason with you. So for now, you get your pick!

Your favorite foods include:
Fruit! Mainly berries
Frozen bananas (I think you have another tooth on its way in)
Mandarin oranges
Grapes
Cheese sticks (most days)
Peanut Butter Sandwiches
Grilled Cheese
Chicken Nuggets
Smoothies (with spinach mixed in so you get some veggies!)
Sometimes you like frozen corn or frozen peas...weird
Crackers
Granola Bars
Craisins
Peanuts

Favorite Shows:
Planes
Cars
Paw Patrol
Thomas

Favorite Books: 
Anything with diggers, trains, or cars

Favorite Toys: 
Diggers for in the sandbox
Shovel
Vacuum
Lawn Mower
Dusty airplane
Shape Sorter Pot
Lightning McQueen Car
Tractors
Sometimes Thomas
Play Doh
Painting

Your Schedule has pretty much stayed the same with just one nap a day.

7am - Wake up, maybe watch a cartoon, then have breakfast
Get Dressed

8am - Independent Play while mommy cleans up from breakfast

8:30/9am - Head out the door for our morning activity (library, play date, walk, park, volunteer at church, run errands) or play outside

9:30/10am - Snack

11am - lunch

12pm - Nap (usually for 2-3 hours)

2/3pm - Play outside or afternoon learning activity

4pm - Mommy starts making dinner and you either play independently or watch a show depending on how much tv you have already watched that day and your mood

5pm - Dinner

6pm - Bath
Maybe a walk as a family if we have time

6:45pm - Brush teeth and read books

7pm - Bed

You continue to just keep talking more and more! I love that we can have conversations now! Sometimes I will have to guess A LOT and still won't be able to figure out your words, but most ot eh time I can and its getting more and more clear.

Some of your favorite phrases:
"I'm all ready" as you try to go down the stairs
"I try it" when you want a turn or to taste something mommy and daddy are eating
"Where go?" when you are looking for something
"Hungee!!!!" as you try to open the fridge

Here you are...all ready to go and trying to leave without mommy since you have your car keys

You must have had a growth spurt because for awhile there you were always crying "Hungee!!!" and eating non-stop. Now its a fight to get you to ea again! It does look like you grew an inch and a half since 22 months!

You love to sing songs. 
-The Itsy Bitsy Spider
-Row, Row, Row Your Boat
-Happy Birthday
-Amazing Grace
-ABCs

"Race" or "chase" are also favorite activities, as well as playing squirt guns. It's going to be a fun and active summer, I think! Luckily Baxter is a good sport too, when it comes to chasing!

Things You Know:
-Some of your colors -- You almost always get orange right and usually blue, but you also think everything is blue :)
- You can identify a star and a heart
-Can count to 4 if you feel like it


You have grown and changed so much and I feel so lucky to get to be your mama through it all! I can't wait to see your excitement for all we have planned for your birthday as we celebrate YOU! And I apologize in advance for planning you a Thomas Birthday Party because you loved Thomas 2 months ago when I started planning your party...now I think you like diggers much more. Please don't cry :) Here's to you being the independent, adventurous and active little explorer that you are and watching your grown more and more into a big boy! 

Our First Family Vacation!

Whoa! Here we are again and I haven't blogged in nearly 2 months! But that's okay, because I was off busy just living life. Life is SO full these days with our almost 2 year old!!! I can't believe Christian will be 2 THIS week!!! Stay tuned for a birthday party post and a 2 year old update! 

Over the last 2 months we have been busy with house projects and playing outside as the weather has gotten nicer {sometimes}. Jim's dad also came to town to visit for a long weekend right before we headed out of town on our FIRST family vacation!!! 

On Mother's Day we flew to Florida to get ready to leave on a cruise to the Bahamas. While we cruised to the Bahamas for our Honeymoon, this cruise would be with Carnival -- {A day at sea, their Private Island Half Moon Cay, and Nassau} and not with Norwegian -- {Grand Bahama Island, Nassau, and their Private Island Great Stirrup Cay}. 

Christian did pretty well on the flights, once again. Although it was a bit more work keeping him seated and entertained. The flights for this trip were his last as a lap child. Christian really enjoyed the free shows on the first flight! 

Despite this probably having been Christian's 15th flight {at least} he finally got his first pair of wings! 

We had a lay over in Atlanta before we left for our final destination in West Palm Beach. 

Little man is becoming such a big boy! He insisted on wearing his back pack all through the air port. 

And even walked right onto the plane all by himself! 

Luckily he zonked out for that flight and I was able to carry him off the plane sleeping until we put him in his stroller. 

A short taxi ride later and we were finally to our hotel by 1:30am!!! Christian loved the big bed ... and getting to sleep with mommy and daddy for the whole trip. 

We slept in a bit the next morning and then took a shuttle to a shopping area where we picked up some breakfast and walked to a train station. It was so warm and humid in Florida and we were happy to officially be on vacation! 

Vacation we love you! 

On our walk to the train station we saw a fire truck! As we stopped to watch it, some firefighters hopped out and gave Christian is own fire hat!! So cool! Unfortunately it didn't last past the train station... 

Christian also LOVED getting to ride the train! And sitting in his own seat like a big boy. So much for napping on the train... 

After a long train ride {and no nap} plus a taxi ride, we made it to the port! Once we were all checked in we got to board the boat! 

Bahamas here we come! 

Good bye Miami! 

We had an Aft balcony so we were able to watch from the back of the ship as we sailed away. 

After safety debriefing and getting settled on the boat, we headed to dinner and came back to find a fun towel creation {another favorite thing for Christian}.

We watched the sun set from our balcony, all took showers and headed to bed early. 

The next day was a Day at Sea. After a long travel day the day before, this was the perfect start to our cruise. We were able to sleep in and then enjoy the day. And by sleep in I mean wake up at 6:30am, have breakfast and then hit up the pool and waterworks first thing before it got busy. 

The entertainment on board the ship was pretty fun too. We went to a Towel Animal theater that morning and watched different towel creatures dance and sing. Christian thought it was pretty funny! 

But then he apparently got tired because he laid right down on the floor to keep watching. 

After lunch and naps {for all} we went to a Dr. Seuss Parade! Christian got to carry a cow bell and Jim and I got big signs of different characters and we walked through the ship all chanting "Dr. Seuss is on the loose! Dr. Seuss is on the loose!" 

We ended in the Starlight Lounge where we heard and watched The Cat in the Hat. Christian has never sat so well for a story time :) Too bad the library couldn't tell stories like that! 

We were able to enjoy some more time at the Waterworks that afternoon before dressing up a bit for dinner. 

My handsome boys :) 

Once again, we came back to a fun towel animal in our room! 

We all snuggled in bed and watched a show before calling it a night! I don't think we stayed up past 9/10pm all week! 

We had thought having a balcony room would allow us to hang out while Christian went to bed early and napped...but instead we often ALL napped {not at Christian's usual time} and then stretched bedtime and all slept together again. 

The next morning daddy was up before us so he got to see the sunrise. 

And then we were at the Private Island -- Half Moon Cay!! Private Islands are our favorite cruise destinations! 

We spent the day running in the waves, swimming, digging in the sand and soaking up the sun! 

Christian LOVED the beach. He would laugh and giggle as he chased the waves. And puddle jumpers are the BEST! He could run out into the waves and if he tripped or lost his footing he would fall and still float and swim or even flip onto his back, keeping his head above water. Puddle Jumpers are coastguard approved life jackets after all :) 

Daddy and Christian relaxing in the water. 

Such a beautiful beach. We wished we could have stayed! We played and played until Christian started to get cranky and it was well past nap time and then we headed back to the boat for nap time and then more time at the Waterworks. 

Oh...and a grilled cheese in bed. That was a regular thing on this trip :) 

The view of the island as we left. 

And another towel animal. Our room steward was the best! 

The next morning we woke up in Nassau! 

We had planned to hit up a private beach while in Nassau, but due to improper use of sunscreen while at Half Moon Cay, Jim and I were quite fried. Luckily Christian only was a little burned on the backs of his calves. 

So instead of going to another beach while in Nassau, we took another boat ride and went on an underwater fish adventure! If you ask Christian what his favorite part was about vacation, he will say this {the fishies} and the boat! 

We didn't visit Atlantis on this trip, but on our honeymoon we did and that is where we swam with dolphins! 

After the underwater adventure we went back to the boat for lunch and then Christian napped in the stroller while we walked around and checked out the street market and tourist shops in Nassau. 

After another visit to the Waterworks that night, we headed to bed and woke up to have breakfast in our room before getting off the boat and making our way back to the airport! It was definitely a memorable trip and cruising with a toddler wasn't half bad! 

Stay tuned for a post with tips on cruising with a toddler! 

Our overall trip was amazing, although we ended our travel day home with lots of mishaps -- including losing Christian's lovey blankie!!! Mommy took that much harder than Christian, though :) 

Love making memories with these people!