Birthday Party Pictures

Water gun with Grandpa

Boy

Boy, n. 1. Noise with dirt on it.

Pool smile

This was a picture from a few weeks ago. Momma was really proud that he went in the water. One step, mind you, but that took him a month to do last year. Yea progress.

Stroller

My friend, Corinn came with us with her three boys. She had this awesome stroller with a section in the back for older kids to stand or sit. Alex adopted Corinn's stroller once he discovered this great way of getting around.

Window to crocodiles

Horse

He actually smiled for the camera!!!!! Patrick and I took Alex to the Cameron park zoo on his birthday with some good friends. He had a blast!

Pool trio

bday party

For all those interested but didn't get a balloon in the mail, I am sorry. Writing on a balloon is not easy when you have a little one trying to play with them. We are having a party for Alex on June 2nd. No presents, just playing with friends in the yard, some hot dogs and a cake. We will be in the front yard of our apartment complex. I will have a pool of water for the littles to cool down in, a pool with dirt and little digger trucks, squirt bottles of water, yard games, and hopefully, sun. We will be starting around 10 to make sure it is warm enough for the water and going until around 12ish. Hotdogs, chips and queso and cake will be served along with tea for the adults and kool-ade for the kids. If you have lawn chairs, you might want to bring them as I am not sure how many people will be attending or if there will be enough chairs for everyone. Sunglasses, towels, sunscreen and grunge clothes for the kids will be needed. I am so excited to see my big guy having fun outside with his friends and family. Hope you can all come and enjoy some outdoor fun with us!

I Did It All by Myself!!

You thought I was going to tell you a story about Alex didn't you? Ha. No. This is a celebration for me. As many of you know, I had a doctors appointment yesterday with the reproductive endocrinologist. Well, he could tell by the ulrasound that I hadn't ovulated yet but was close. He gave me a trigger shot that I was supposed to keep in the fridge and give myself this morning. I did it!!! Yes, me. The one terrified of needles. I gave myself a shot today. It realy was no big deal except that I took too long pushing in the medicine and had to therefore spend a few minutes lying on the ground afterward so I wouldn't pass out. I know for next time. How proud am I?!!! If we don't end up pregnant with this, I am going to go back and we will talk about starting the invitro process. He was a little concerned about it since I have a history of incompetent cervix and invitro gives a higher risk of multiples. I was more concerned that I would have to give myself a shot THREE TIMES A DAY during the two month process. Yikes. But I did it today and am confident that it would help me with my incompassitating horror of needles. If it doesn't, I am in for a horrific time. But, I am so ready to do anything possible to get another child. I really don't want Alex to be an only child and would love the oportunity for a larger family. Oh the nerves, excitement, and terror are very near. Keep us in your prayers. Our insurance will cover 90% of ONE invitro process so we won't get a second chance if it fails. I am optimistic but trying to be real at the same time and the two don't really mix.

Apple seeds

I was eating an apple and opened it to show Alex the seeds inside. He wanted to plant them. We put in all the seeds for two apples and got some growing. These have been taped to our window for a couple weeks now. So excited to get to watch them grow!

Cousin Cosette

Just like her big sis, Cosette loves to pose for the camera, too. Adorable.

Birthday!

Elizabeth and Cosette are now 3!

Smile!

Tractors and trains, oh my!

The best day imaginable for my son would be to have slides, trains, and tractors together in one spot. Well, he got it. They were replacing the ties for the railroad tracks next to the park and was my boy ecstatic!!

Mud

Picnic

Frustrated

Well, I have some adorable pictures from Elizabeth and Cosette's birthday that I would have loved to share, but unfortunately I have run into some issues. The pictures that I used to be able to email to my blog for some reason aren't showing up. Sorry about that. I will try to fix the problem ASAP. Update: I have to be on the laptop to get the pictures. Yet one more issue with the iPad. Grrrrr.

Confetti

Wow. I truly am brave. Last time this came out I vacuumed for a week straight.

Play dough and cars

Archery for preschoolers

Alex loves finding Daddy's missed arrows.

Buzzzz

Buzzz

Buzzzzz

Science

Everyone knows I love science. Well, I had a sick kid today and wanted to cheer him up a bit. This worked really well and got him off the couch for about 30 minutes.

Colored vinegar dropped onto mounds of baking soda. He thought it was too cool. After he mixed the colors in the cups and poured the contents onto the tray, we started over again. He asked for water and I obliged. I did fill one cup with vinegar so he could experience he difference. He told me the water was, "too big" meaning it isn't working right. I then showed him the vinegar. He kept trying to use the water thinking eventually it would work. (stubbornness could lead to a great scientific mind. At least there is one plus to it) He loved mixing he colors together and pouring them back and forth between the cups. These eventually were poured out onto the tray as well.

Great fun for the both of us!

Buckets of fun

Rant and rave

So I did the good momma thing this morning and took Alex to the whistle stop park. Started out having lots of fun running around with Alex chasing me. All the slides I passed were dry and Alex loves slides, so I decided to run away down the tube slide. Can you guess what I found at the bottom as I was sliding down in my ankle-length skirt?

Poop and pee. Yep, you read that right. Poop and pee. Slid right into it. Saw it at the last second so only the hem of my skirt got in it and I was able to catch Alex before he got into it too. I was so angry.

What kind of parent let's their child poop and pee at the bottom of the slide and does nothing to try to clean it up? (Yes, it was from a kid. I could tell that much.) even if the parent didn't see the accident, the kid's pants had to be off and their bum nasty. Look around and find the poop, even if you don't , or aren't able to clean it up, letting someone else know would be the good choice. I was the first person at the park today and so was the one to experience the grossness. I found my phone and called the parks and leisure department as I was leaving. Wish I had something to rope off the top of the slide so no one else would have to see it up close and personal like I did. Wonder how long the city will take getting it cleaned up.

So home we are now. Watching Sesame Street while I am posting this. So much for our fun morning. Time for laundry.

Stickers

Cleaning play

The table was really dirty and Alex was bored, so what else was I to do? We got out the shaving cream!

Super tower

Easter suit

His socks match his tie, too. Many thanks Grandma Franklin for the outfit. Isn't he the cutest?!

Egg hunt

We had an Easter egg hunt in the yard with the neighbors and their friends. Both Alexes had to open each one and eat the candy before going to the next egg. The older boys got a bit antsy with their slowness and so ran ahead grabbing handfuls of eggs and dumping them in their baskets. My Alex ended up with so much candy, he got sick. But, just like his momma, one good belly purge and he was good to run and play again. Momma took the basket away and he diddn't even care.

Bluebonnets

These are the best I could get. Alex loved rolling in the flowers. He said they tickled!

Bluebonnets

Marker madness

Monkey see monkey do.

Yesterday, my best friend Amanda picked up Alex and me to go visit Homestead Heritage in Waco. Alex could care less about that place, but he had a great time following her oldest boy, Gabe. Wherever or whatever Gabe did, Alex did, too.

Steve, Amanda's husband, is trying to get Sarah up on the fence to get a picture with the other kids. She was having none of it. Abby joined with no problem. Aren't they cute? You can see the bluebonnets in the field behind them.

Turkey

Alex had fun walking the fence with this turkey. He even tried having a conversation with it.

Alex loves his Daddy! Poor daddy has a cast on one hand and a splint on the other. Lots of pain meds made him sleepy and Alex had to do that, too.

Just like my son. Anytime he is put on the spot and feels shy, he growls!

He learned how to roll his tongue!

Mom's morning out took the kids across the street to the fire department. Alex loved the lights and his new hat.

Peanuts

Alex growled while trying to shell some peanuts.

Growing up

The other day I had a stark realization. My son is not a baby anymore. I now have a boy who needs molding, teaching, and a good dose of loving discipline. My parenting is taking a turn and becoming a bit more intense. I love it.

Alex can, and will pull up his own pants after going potty! If you have heard the stories, you know what a triumph that is. He still has potty accidents, but overall is doing well.

He is helping to clean up messes and taking his plates to the sink. On that note, we have had to put away our adult glasses and have purchased plastic ones instead as too many have been taken by little hands and dumped into the kitchen sink where they inevitably shatter.

I am loving bedtime with him more than ever. I have just finished the Winnie the pooh chapter book. I read one chapter each night and he sits and listens so well. I am now saving the little books for a short nap story and trying to find some other chapter books that wouldn't be too far over his understanding. Suggestions are appreciated.

Too cute

"Look, Mom. A train!"

Fwd:

Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

From: Laura Franklin <lcf1677@gmail.com>
Date: February 14, 2012 4:00:47 PM CST
To: lauracfranklin@me.com