Valentine's Day Pictures

While moving all my pictures from vacation so far to the computer, I contemplated starting a blog post when I realized I never posted these photos taken for Valentine's Day. Better late than never I guess!

What has Mr. Griffin been up to?

It's been a while since I've posted an update. I can summarize what Griffin has been doing with a variety of photos......

--continuous smothering of Duke when he has the chance

--came home from daycare with his first 2 tattoos (how long are these supposed to last?)

--still obsessing over wearing the rubber boots.....everywhere we go

..........just had to post this adorable pic of him sleeping one saturday morning

--spent 2 evenings a week apart quite sick (fever of 103) and didn't leave the couch

--enjoyed his camp chairs with Charlotte, like an old couple

 --after a fun bath of course.....she's getting so big!

 --got a new backpack for daycare. what a big boy. 

 --learned how to ruin a full page of stickers in 5 minutes

--and of course, more smothering of Duke (who loves it)

Stay tuned for our first family road trip........we leave Saturday! 

Like father, like son.....

I realized a lot of my posts lately don't include much of Drew. To say he is not involved with Griffin would be completely false, those who know us well already know that Griffin is a total daddy's boy.

I made sure to take pictures of the regular, everyday kind of things we do together…times when I wouldn’t normally get out the camera. These are all from a couple weekends ago. Daddy is a really fun guy. When they aren’t out gallivanting around, they’re wrestling or tickling or playing with a ball, tools, etc. No wonder Griffin loves him so much. 

feeding the horses

checking cows

 Driving lessons began at 2 1/2...............he ought to be good by 16:

best buddies!

30 Month Update

Griffin is 2 and half years old!

We’ve had a very relaxed start to the year. So much so, that I had kind of forgotten about the blog! This winter has been cold and snowy, the first “real” winter we’ve had in several years. So we are spending more time at home and inside that we normally would. I’m sure Griffin will be thrilled when the weather warms up and he is outside running wild again.

He’s becoming more and more of a little man with such a personality. Two terms to describe him would be independent and strong-willed. Those should be quadruple bolded and underlined 7 times. The last month has been filled with the phrase “no help!” or “I do it”…..a lot of times followed by major meltdowns when he’s unable. Buckling his seatbelt, brushing his teeth, dressing/undressing, opening any snack packages, all things that he must do himself. This month has also had a fair share of terrible-ness with defiance, yelling, pouting (with or without crossing his arms), and a lot of other fun things that some nights left me feeling exhausted by the time we got him to bed. However, the tides might be turning since lately I haven’t had the “all I’ve done is fight with him about everything all night” conversation with Drew while we are getting ready for bed ourselves. I’ll keep my fingers crossed we are getting somewhere!

We are not getting anywhere with potty training. He still does really well at daycare but is becoming more resistant to telling us at home when he needs to go. Last night we picked him up from daycare, had dinner with friends, got home and realized he did still have “big boy underwear” on, so I immediately asked him if he needed to go potty, he very insistently said he did not……..5 minutes later he says, “I peed my pants”…….as it was happening. An hour after that he went #2 on the bathroom floor. I’d say maybe 3 ft from the toilet. Then he always runs to tell us what he’s done? I want to spank his little bottom because he knows better, but I keep thinking about all the advice out there that says not to make it a negative thing or they will never go. I could see him turning defiant on purpose about this. Thankfully, I read a great blog post from a friend of mine potty training her son that is 2 days older than Griffin (thanks Jackie!) and I can’t wait to try some of her ideas with him tonight.

All hunting seasons are over until April, so we look forward to lots of extra time with Drew and the adventures we will have. Griffin is so much fun and despite the want-to-pull-my-hair-out moments, he is (without a doubt) the best part of our lives.

 

he thinks he should lay down now, every month

he came up with this pose on his own, "how bout this?"

he also asked for some pictures with his lincoln logs,
he knows a good photo prop when he sees one....that's magic right there!

Children galore!

The weather is miserable today. Lots of snow, bitter cold, and the wind is really getting with it. It's a nice day to stay inside and be lazy.

Friday night, we enjoyed having some of our closest friends over for dinner.....including Josh, Nicole, and Landrie (see her blog here) who came down from Springfield to stay the night. Our small little house was bursting with noise and commotion, I can only imagine how wild it will be when they are all mobile and going 100 mph.

BFF's

sweet little Ella is walking now

Mickey Mouse sucked them in for a little bit

sweet little Charlotte sits up on her own

Chase is so sweet

 We have not seen baby Landrie since shortly after she was born, in August. Although she is much bigger now, she still seems very breakable compared to all the kids I see regularly! Griffin is very good with little babies. He has yet to show a jealous bone in his body and is rather careful for a 2-year-old.

awkward looking standing hug

he held her hands for a while!

such a cutie!

love her pouty lips

saying goodbye, see you soon!