Bee Sting

This post is a little late seeing as how it was last weekend that this happened, but better late than never. Monk had a GREAT day on Saturday at a friends cottage. He was able to do many things that he loved like riding in the boat and playing in the water.
An unfortunate event happened at the end of the day. Monk was stung by a bee. He did pretty well for not understanding what had just happened to him. Seeing him in pain and the fact that he didn't understand why his finger hurt so bad made me cry too. I wished that it could have been me who got stung because man do I hate seeing that little kid hurt.
Luckily I had some suckers along because there is really nothing that a sucker cannot fix for this 1 year old.

Butterflies

I felt you move last week for the first time FOR SURE! I have been waiting in anticipation as this is my absolute favorite thing about carrying babies in my tummy. As I was lying in bed reading a magazine I felt you move and it was the most amazing thing ever. My face exploded into a smile and my body was overtaken with adrenaline. I can't wait for you to experience the rush of adrenaline that a person has when something exciting is happening to them. I can't wait to meet you babyT. I pray that you are healthy and happy in your little uterine home.

Hippy Photo Shoot

Just recently when I take the camera out to take some pictures Monk starts to "smile", which means that he shows ALL his teeth and blinks his eyes. I have NO idea where he learned this and then after I take a couple of pictures he needs to come and see his work. I should really video tape the whole process because it has to be one of the funniest things that I have ever seen.

Allergies, What?

Why are there so many kids out there nowadays that have allergies? And the peanut allergy, oh my word, it is spreading like wild fire. Monk went to the doctor yesterday for his 18 month check up and I had to discuss allergies with the doctor. I never thought that my kids would have a problem because neither Fisherman nor I have allergies, but low and behold our mister sensitive skin may have some food allergies. I have known for awhile that he had eczema and so we just watch what soaps and lotions we use and try to keep him out of the bath tub as much as we can, but just recently he has been breaking out in a bright red rash around his mouth after eats certain foods. It doesn't seem to bother him, but I was just worried that his throat was swelling or something. So next week we are due to see an allergist and the kids is only 18 months old. SHEESH!

A Camping Man

This weekend we went camping as a family with some friends from church. We borrowed this lovely pop-up camper and had ourselves some good ole' family fun. There were many obstacles that we faced, but looking back it was fun.
Monk had a blast playing with the other kids that went and LOVED playing in the dirt. I have never seen a kid so dirty in my life. There was so much to explore there. It was right on a lake so he went boating and swimming. He fed the ducks and learned many new tricks from the older kids.
The first day there Monk didn't really know what to think about everything so he kept his pacifier close at hand, but soon he learned that he was free to do pretty much anything he wanted.

I have to admit that camping with kids is a little more work, but overall we had a good time. Monk had a blast!

Heartbeat

Yesterday I had a doctor's appointment for baby #2. Everything seems to be going fantastic! I am 13 1/2 weeks along and going strong. We got to hear the heartbeat for the first time at this appointment as well. I want to say that it was more exciting for me with this baby because I know what is to come and how much this little heartbeat will change my life forever for the better. With your first you are excited, but with your second you just know the joy that is to come and it made it all the more earth shaking for me. I cannot wait to meet this little being and to know what it is. My mom said to me yesterday, "so are you still not going to find out?" I asked her why she always asks me that because she did the same thing with Monk and she said that she just can't believe that I wouldn't want to know and that it is very unlike me to be so patient with something this huge. When she told me that, I knew that was true. I am sure everyone close to me knows that I am a very impatient person. I want to find out, but there is something about that moment right after you put all of your energy into something and then hearing what your reward is. Granted both a boy and girl are a reward, but I just feel like it is my "job well done." (and I also have a VERY patient husband that keeps me going) Hearing that heartbeat makes me a little impatient though. I CANNOT wait to meet you baby #2!

PS Just so you realize, I blogged twice today :)

Eighteen Months 8/8/07 - Monk

A whole year and a half. Where has the time gone? For your 18 month pictures I decided to take them myself. Since I am only going to take pictures of you every year now I wanted to take these outside seeing as how you have a winter birthday. I didn't know what I was getting myself into. You HATE the sand! Your dad and I struggled to get you to do anything but cry. We called in some reinforcement and your good cousin Christian came through. Who knew that a good ole' armpit fart would get you to laugh hysterically? Actually I should have guessed seeing that you are a boy. You are starting to act more and more like a little boy. You are using more words and are constantly helping your dad and I. I always read that toddlers like to help, but I never fathomed it would be this much. You throw wrappers away after you have finished a snack. You pack your bag on the days that I have to go to work. You absolutely love to push the garage door opener and to turn the lights on and off. You strive to please! I better really cherish these moments because before I know it you will be a teenager and want nothing to do with me.
You are slowly but surely getting the hang of one nap a day. Some mornings are still a struggle. As much as I didn't want you to give up your two naps, I am enjoying it because now you are sleeping longer and going to bed a little earlier. This past month your dad and I have actually had to discuss some discipline tactics that we wanted to use because all of a sudden you have a mind of your own and don't want to listen to what we say. You are finding it hard to control the impulse to play in the dog water about 10 times a day.

Monk, I love waking up to you kid. Every morning that I go into your bedroom, I greet you with a "mornin' monk." You smile back at me and I just treasure those few seconds that we get to share every morning. It makes me feel like you love seeing me as much as I do you. This past month you have used the word Mama more than ever. I always knew that you cared for me because of the way that you would look at me, but when you say mama I can feel in those words that you love me and that I am one of your most favorite people. You have become more attached to me than ever this past month and I hope that you can feel my love to kid. I tell you ALL the time, but I hope that you can feel it in my touch and by the way I look at you.

Love, Mama

Picasso...or not

I went out on Friday night and picked up some finger paint because I thought that monk would LOVE to do some painting. He was not in his high chair for more than 5 minutes and he looked like this for the whole time. He just doesn't like messy hands I guess. Another option for finger painting that my sister just told me about was to use pudding, that way it doesn't matter if they eat it.

Beating the Summer Heat...

...by longing for the snow

Co-Existing

Last night Monk had the opportunity to have a friend over to play. Actually the whole family enjoyed having her over. Fisherman and I found ourselves laughing many times. Monk had a little issue with sharing, but overall they had a good time. I titled the blog co-existing because at this age they don't interact with each other much. I took many pictures and could not choose which ones to use so I hope that you enjoy ALL the ones that I have chosen (there were even more than this).

They started the night off playing with the balls. It is a good thing that we had two :)
Next on the list was eating. Fisherman and I were joking about the difference between how girls eat and how boys eat. Now to give Monk a break he was eating pizza and his friend was eating grapes (less messy).
She enjoyed the grapes VERY much!

An after dinner hug

I know they say not to swim after you eat, but I figured that they were not going to do anything too vigorous. Monk's friend is contemplating whether to get in or to stay out.

This picture cracks me up because Monk looks like a pimp. He was trying to entice his girl friend to come in with his good looks. Girls dig toddler bellies and farmer's tans don't they?

A little break from all the swimming. This picture makes Monk look like he was choking his beloved, but it was a little less violent than it looks. She was sitting on my lap and I was soaking it all in because Monk doesn't sit by me too often. However, once Monk saw another little person on my lap he was quick to get up himself.

And the night ended with Jammies and Baby Einstein. Thanks for coming over! You entertained us with your facial expressions and your sweet nature. You are welcomed anytime! We hope that you had fun too and that you were REALLY tired when you got home.