RAIN RAIN GO AWAY!

This morning we woke up to rain, rain and more rain! The back and front yard were both flooding from all of the rain and our chances of playing outside today were about 1%! So this blog entry is about what Dalton and Mommy did to today to keep ourselves entertained! Please note that all of this is before his nap today around 1:30pm!

Woke up and realized someone had WAY TO MUCH WATER before bed and Dalton's sheets had to be changed as well as his PJ's...so ironic that I just put clean ones on yesterday so laundry at 8am...UGH! Then the request for "cereal and milk" at his toddler table and he watched CARS...luckily that DVD came in the mail earlier in the week! We moved on to playing trucks, reading books, play doh (he didn't even eat any until Mommy got on the phone), mommy sorted through some of Dalton's baby clothes for a friend and later Dalton discovered them too, painting on the easel, played Mommy and Dalton band with Dalton on drums and Mommy on piano, CD player with new CD out of most recent Happy Meal and we did some dancing. He is busting out quite a few cool moves here lately...so fun to dance with him! Oh and I can't forget that mommy fixed lunch and baked cookies (oatmeal raisin...Dalton thought they were chocolate chip...I wonder how long that will last)! NICE BIB! The only thing Dalton could find in the tub of his 6-9 months clothes that I was sorting through for a friend!
Finger painting!

Paint brush painting!

He asked me to take his picture...he is becoming quite cheesy!

WASH WASH AND WASH SOME MORE!

Dalton has a new obsession with washing his hands! Actually it's probably more of an obsession with the different kinds of soap...adult soap, kid soap and "slippy" aka bar soap!

This is Dalton cleaning up after painting today! Wash, wash, wash!
Mommy and Daddy Soap!

Dalton soap!

"Slippy" aka bar soap!

DALTON GOES TO BED!

Dalton has had this hooded towel FOREVER and he has always LOVED IT! He likes to pretend he's a frog when he's all wrapped up straight out of the bath! However, lately he has taken it to a whole new level since he found a new favorite book...Froggy Goes To Bed! Dalton and Froggy are A LOT alike when it comes to going to bed...they both like to procrastinate! Mommy has to skip a few pages in the book because Froggy was giving Dalton some ideas that he had not thought about yet regarding putting off going to bed! i.e. open the door just a crack, have a snack, etc. Dalton aka Froggy watching a little TV before bedtime!
CUTE BOOK...Dalton has even started reading parts of it to me...by memory of course! He especially likes the first page and tries to say it really fast before I can read it myself...too funny!

A HOUR IN THE LIFE OF A TODDLER

Earlier today Dalton and I went and had a short play date/lunch with my sister and one of her daughters! She made the comment that Dalton is at a FUN age (and don't get me wrong he is at a VERY FUN age) and then she noticed how he went from project to project not staying but a few minutes at each one! And then I think she remembered how exhausting it can be keeping a two year old entertained...although he does a great job keeping himself busy most days! And then this evening Dalton and I had been outside about an hour when I realized how much we had done...luckily I had been taking pictures! Dalton playing on one of two climbing toys this lucky little boy has!

Dinner outside...eating on the patio is one of his favorite things to do...we usually eat lunch (weather permitting) but tonite was a special treat getting to eat outside! He loves it:)

Just this week we have started getting birds at our bird feeder...the one on the roof just left the feeder and he had a friend with him too! Dalton really likes watching the birds.

Some things never go out of style...sand and water...what a yucky mess but he loves it!

Dalton having a little "tummy time"! He kept wanting his shirt off today...it was rather hot in the mid 80's today...mommy made him keep it on!

It was so BRIGHT outside Dalton asked for his sunglasses and of course..."Dalton do it" and he didn't want me to help! They are a little CrOoKeD!

Dalton making sure they are on straight...love my little boy!

HAPPY EASTER!

Happy Easter! This morning Dalton slept in and when he finally woke up I told him that the Easter Bunny had left him a bucket full of presents and a trail of Easter eggs starting from his door to the bucket! He was not impressed and wanted to know if "Easter Bunny gone yet?"...poor guy he saw an Easter Bunny at the mall a couple of weeks ago! And Dalton didn't like that Easter Bunny at all so no wonder he wanted to make sure he wasn't in his living room anymore! We (mommy holding Dalton) followed the trail of Easter eggs and when he saw his Easter Bucket he wanted down...can you blame him?!?!? WOW...look at all of the fun stuff...mommy and daddy had a few Easter presents for him too!
I think he likes what he sees...the Easter Bunny might not be so bad after all!

One of his favorites...snoopy on a motorcycle!

VERY EXCITED!

All dressed up in his first jacket and tie! As soon as he got dressed he wanted to go straight to Daddy's office and sit in his chair! I guess he sees his Daddy in a suit and tie everyday sitting in his chair so it would make sense that he should sit in the chair too now that he had his jacket and tie on!

So handsome...I can't believe we have waited this long to put him in a suit...he wore it most of the day and had no complaints...he likes to be just like his DADDY!

THE EASTER EGG HUNT!

We arrived at my parents house for lunch and an Easter egg hunt with Dalton's cousins! Due to YUCKY weather the Easter egg hunt was held inside with plastic eggs ONLY! I hadn't really been practicing hunting eggs with Dalton...so I had no idea how this was going to turn out! Family Photo!
Playing a little basketball before lunch...he had to take his jacket off, roll up his sleeves and pull his shirt out for this game! He didn't have much competition since he didn't seem to want to let anyone else play with his basketball!

Someone spotted an egg OR did mommy point to it?!?!?

He kept opening them as soon as he got them...he wasn't really all that excited...like his older cousins they are ten and five!

However he was VERY excited about the chocolate that he found in some of the plastic eggs! This picture was taken on our way to wash hands and face!

GREAT IDEA DADDY...ZOO TRIP!

Once we saw the weather was going to be AMAZING today...Daddy suggested that we head to the zoo! And WOW did have have a great idea...we were almost HOT! It was really neat because Dalton actually got that we were going to the zoo and talked about the different animals he wanted to see, etc. We have a zoo pass so we can come and go as we please and plan on spending LOTS of time there just like last spring/summer! This time we took a short trip and hit a few exhibits seeing the grizzly bears, black bears, sea otters, snakes (not mommy's favorite) and alligators just to name a few! Then we stopped for a quick lunch in the shade and afterwards we asked Dalton if he wanted to see the monkeys or play at the park and he chose the park so off we went. They have a great play area for big and little kids and this was Dalton's first time to explore it...he had a fun time!Daddy and Dalton posing by on of the waterfalls and wearing shades because the sun was SO BRIGHT!
When we got home and asked Dalton what his favorite part of the zoo was he said "drive jeep"! The funny part was last summer he was scared to death of this jeep!

This is when he decided he wanted to sit on the monkey's lap!

Mommy trying to get Dalton to pose with her for a picture! My big boy doesn't have much time for pictures these days!

Driving again...different jeep!

This is as close as mommy ever wants Dalton to be to a snake! YUCK!

WAY BACK WEDNESDAY...SLEEPY SACK!

One of my favorite baby gear items is the sleep sack! Once Dalton graduated from the swaddling he went into a sleep sack...no worries about the blanket getting up over their head and no worries about them getting uncovered in the night! Well we have now at just a little over 2 years finally graduated from the sleep sack to nothing...yes he was still wearing the sleep sack XL...he has quite a collection from S, M, L and XL! He has no interest in a regular blanket or PJ's with feet so he is currently wearing PJ's with socks to bed and yes now I worry if he's getting cold or not! So far he is still sleeping through the night fine...my baby boy is growing up! sleep sack, sleep incline, sleep bumpers...whatever it took to get him to sleep!

ANOTHER GREAT IDEA FROM AUNT DAWN!

Well, today as we (my sister and I) patiently waited for news about the birth of our brother's daughter brainstormed about ways to get Dalton back in the tub! For whatever reason the past week or so it had become a challenge...he has always loved it before now! I know, I know he's a toddler and his likes and dislikes change about ever 2 minutes or so! Last week I added some plastic Easter eggs...great for pouring water back and forth but tonight we added "the balls"! This was the great idea my sister had and it WORKED! He couldn't wait to jump in once he saw all those balls waiting for him! And it is pretty funny when they bounce back up when you push them under water! So thank you Aunt Dawn...one more toddler mystery solved. Balls, balls and more balls = happy toddler!

Dalton washing his own arm...he has to tell you all the parts he's washing!

Here he is washing his knees...later he was washing his toes and he kept saying "tickles tickles"! He is a VERY ticklish little boy!

Oh and last but certainly not least...

Dalton's newest cousin was born today and we are so thrilled that mommy, daddy and baby are doing great! More about her in a later post!

Happy Birthday new baby cousin we love you:)

JUST LIKE EVERY SATURDAY MORNING...

Dalton gets up rides his monster truck and has brownie batter for breakfast! Not really...but that's what happened this Saturday morning! Just like we thought he went straight for his monster truck when he got up at 6:45am and jumped on and rode around the house a little bit...it's not really an indoor toy but since it's still new it's not TOO YUCKY from being outside so for the time being it's an inside toy too!

Next on the agenda was getting the brownies in the oven to bake for a meal we are taking to one of Daddy's friends who just had a baby last week...every new mommy and daddy deserve a plate full of brownies and a hot meal that they didn't have to cook:) Anytime I bake I ask Dalton if he wants to help...he usually doesn't but today he did so we got out the stool and got busy (well mommy got busy)! Dalton spotted the video camera and insisted on watching himself over and over again...so that kept him entertained until he saw the yummy brownie batter! "Dalton try!" is what he kept saying so mommy let "Dalton try" and of course he loved it! He didn't eat too much because as you can see most of it is on his face! YUMMY, NUTRITIOUS BREAKFAST!
He can't keep his eyes off the video even while he is licking the spatula...silly boy...that may be why it's all over his face and everywhere else:) GOOD TIMES!

"DALTON RIDE A MONSTER TRUCK!"

Dalton has been VERY INTERESTED in monster trucks for quite some time now! It all started when Daddy (who LOVES the library) found this great DVD about monster trucks...Dalton was hooked and then he wanted to buy monster trucks when we would see them at the store, etc...he has quite a collection! I remember my dad and my younger brother going to a monster truck jam when he was little and that was a LONG time ago...I had no idea they were still such a BIG deal! Apparently, I have a lot to learn as a mother of a boy...I guess I have some checking out to do at the library as well...books about what every mother needs to know about raising BOYS!

Anyway about a month ago one of the houses across from us rented out to some just out of college guys who have quite a few toys in their garage. Some of which are BIG 4-wheelers and every once in awhile they take them out for a spin...well Dalton thinks they are monster trucks! And since he has never really seen a "REAL" monster truck it kind of makes sense...they have BIG tires and the frame of the 4-wheeler sits up high off the tires! Who knows...but he does think they are monster trucks and every time we go for a walk that was all he talked about. A couple of evenings ago the guys were out in their garage and Dalton and I stopped and introduced ourselves and talked to them about Dalton's fascination with their "monster trucks' a.k.a. 4-wheelers! They offered to let him sit on them and said he was welcome anytime...but of course he didn't have a lot to say once we got there and there was no way he was going to sit on that 4-wheeler! The guys were really nice and Dalton looks forward to showing him his new "MONSTER TRUCK"!

Mommy and Daddy got Dalton a new riding toy today...he loves his Tonka Truck one but it is getting way to small for him...this one is supposed to be for ages 2-5! We shall see:) It is a 4-wheeler that he scoots along in but guess what he thinks it is...you're right "Dalton ride a monster truck!" He wanted to park it by his bed...luckily we talked him out of that one...I think he rode on that toy for 30 minutes or more! I sure hope the new doesn't wear off anytime soon! Safety first...Daddy helping Dalton with his helmet! At first he didn't want to put it on and then he left it on for over an hour even during dinner!
Dalton looking cute on his new monster truck!

WAY BACK WEDNESDAY...CEREAL FOR THE FIRST TIME!

Today at our weekly play date I was watching one of my mommy friends feed her 6 month old baby food and WOW that seems so long ago for Dalton!

And I guess it was...anyway I came across these pics today and thought that I would share! Dalton's first attempt at cereal and if my memory serves me correctly he wasn't too impressed but I was pretty excited! I also remember thinking how messy it was back then but I had no idea how messy a toddler gets when he is feeding himself!

There's not a bib BIG enough to contain most of Dalton's meal time messes:) It got much easier once he figured out not to stick his tongue out!

He looks pretty excited watching mommy load up that spoon with cereal!