Little Boy

Monkey, you are such a little boy. Not that we ever doubted that you wouldn't be. You go 100 mph until you crash and burn all day, everyday. I always know when we have driven by a dump truck, loader, tractor, or any other large piece of machinery because I heard the signature "ummm, ummm" from the back seat. Every morning you check the back yard to make sure the snowmachines are still there, and you let me know that they are safe and sound with an "ummm, ummm". I love it!!

One of your most favorite spots is behind the wheel or handle bar of any vehicle or toy! Your smile is never bigger than when you are standing behind the wheel of Dada's truck. You love to ride your own little 4-wheeler around the house. Especially when we are pushing you fast! You will go over and sit on it, put your feet up on the front fender, and look at us like "come on, what are you waiting for, let's ride!"

Last week, I was sitting on the kitchen while you were bouncin' around in the kitchen playing. All of a sudden I heard you running around chasing something. I turned around to find you with hockey stick in hand chasing your little green ball around. Who taught you how to play hockey? How did you know what to do with your stick? We had just brought the sticks down a few days before. Amazing little one!

If I would let you, you would spend the entire day in the garage.....checking out the 4-wheeler, the snow blower, the air compressor, circling Mom's car, checking out the buckets, and repeating this over and over. You cry when we have to come in from the garage. And we must at least touch the 4-wheeler before we get in the car to go anywhere. If we don't, you play stiff-as-a-board when I try to put you in your car seat!!

You love to be licked by the puppies! I know, why do I let my son be licked by the dogs? Because I love puppy kisses just as much as he loves puppy kisses. Whether they be our two goofy dogs or Shasta across the street, you giggle with utter glee every time you get a puppy kiss!

Thank you for being the little boy I always dreamed of having! You make your Mommy's day everyday!! I love you sweet Monkey!

Redoubt is Erupting

Mt. Redoubt is keeping things interesting around here. It's been a new experience for me, as I grew up around tornadoes not volcanoes. The power of Mother Nature is incredible though. As you can see from above, it created it's own lightning storm! Amazing!

The explosions on Saturday brought ash our way. It was falling as we were unloading from a weekend of snowmachining. It was bothersome enough that Sam was doing a doggy cough. Consequently, him and Shiloh were treated to a slumber party in our bathroom that night. A shadow of gray was noticeable on the snow in the morning but thankfully, was later covered up by a fresh layer of snow! It has created havoc with the airlines, as many are stranded either here or down in the Lower 48 trying to get up here. I just pray that it doesn't blow next week when we are trying to get out!

In Between

I'm stuck in the stage where maternity clothes bridge on look ridiculous, and my normal clothes feel funny! You know, where your bump sticks out just far enough to make it look like you have a hot water bottle strapped to your belly. All the increased flutters and kicks make up for the not-so-attractive feeling though. The baby even kicked hard enough for my Hubby to feel it the other night!!

First Flutters

I felt you move inside me for the first time yesterday afternoon little bean! I was snuggling with your brother in the rocking chair, and he must have been sitting too high on my stomach for you. You kicked to let him know that he was in your space! The sibling rivalry has already began! He didn't feel it but Momma knew it was you! I can't wait to feel that next little flutter of life inside me!

Random Thoughts

• You have started copying some of the things we say! We were building block towers the other night, and Daddy was karate chopping them down saying "hi yaw". Next thing we knew, you were saying "ha yaw" right along with Daddy! Not 10 minutes later we were getting your jams on for the night, and I was singing Ring Around the Rosy to you. You started saying "ases", "ases" with me!! I love it little one! We went out and showed Daddy how you are starting to pick up words so well! How did you get so smart?
• On second thought, now Mommy and Daddy have to really watch what we are saying in front of you now. An uber challenge for both of us! Daddy brings home his job site potty mouth pretty often. And Mommy is known to drop a few colorful four little words. I never used to be much of a potty mouth, but it's amazing how being a nurse has changed that. It only takes one patient to bring out the best colorful phrases. Thank goodness it's much worse at work than at home.
• I really hope our summer is like our winter has been. Yes, it's been cold, but I can't remember the last time we have had a cloudy day! I can deal with the cold when the sun is out every day. This time of year it's even a warm sun! Warm enough that the doggies will go lay out in the yard on the snow and take a nap in the sunshine!! I could take a summer full of hot, sunshiny Alaska days!
• After your bath this morning, you grabbed your blanket to snuggle with it in all your buffness. I let you have your moment, as I'm sure it felt good to wiggle around bare naked on that softness. Figuring we were safe from the piddle because you blessed your bath water right off the first dip. Wrong! I looked down and you were admiring a huge puddle on your blanket. I, being a silly Mommy, thought maybe you had thrown up the water you had just swallowed and choked on (yes, the same bath water you piddled in....I can't have my eyes on you at ALL times). After an investigative smell, I realized you had piddled on it. The bad part.....you refused to give up your blanket. Ugh!! No amount of distraction was working either! After 15 minutes of loving your blanket, I managed to get it away from you and into the washer!

Your Books

You are so into your books right now. It makes my heart swell even more. You will grab a book and sit down "reading" through it. You love to take them over to your chair and "read". Every morning after we wake up and have our milk, you sit up and reach for your books.

Lately, you are favoring the Bill Martin, Jr./Eric Carle books Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?. I think we read them 5 or 6 times this morning in the first hour we were awake!

I love that you love to read little man. I only hope you keep this love throughout your life!

Recharged!!

Hubby and I had a date night Saturday! It was way overdue, as the last time we went to dinner by ourselves minus Monkey (love him dearly) was December 27 when we were back in Iowa. It was nice but left a bad taste in our mouth b/c he lost his wallet that night! Needless to say, I was overly excited to go out Saturday.

We dropped Monkey at his Great-Auntie's house and made our way to Anchorage. We enjoyed a delicious dinner and good conversation at Simon & Seaforts! My whiskey pepper steak was to die for and the creme brulee for dessert was a must! After dinner, we went to see Gran Torino. Hilarious and sad at the same time. We figured we hadn't been to see a movie in the theatre since Miracle (the remake about the 1980 gold medal Olympic hockey team) in 2004!!!

FIVE. YEAR. AGO!!!!!!!!!!!!

That was before we were married! Boy have we seen alot of movies on our own TV though!

It was a wonderful night! My husband made the comment on the way home that he felt like "we were single and dating again"!! How fun, huh! We definitely vowed to not wait so long to make time for us! Makes us a better Mommy and Daddy! Makes us feel that warm, tingling feeling for each other all over again! I'll take that anytime!