Fall is here!

We've started swimming lessons, Kindermusik and co-op preschool so far this fall. Guillermo is the oldest in his co-op class and one of the youngest in his music class. Both classes are sheer bliss for our little socialite. Swimming continues to be a challenge, but we're just going to push through and do a YMCA class each month until next summer.

We've only got one month left of the 2s. It's bittersweet watching my baby grow into a little boy. At the end of summer, Guillermo woke up one morning and told me that his diaper was "bugging" him. He then took it off and threw it across the room. He hasn't worn a diaper since. We had a few pull-up days when I thought that maybe he'd get excited and forget to use the bathroom, but now we're on to underwear everywhere we go. Our lives now revolve around the potty. Yesterday we even tried out a portable unit!. Wow! It happened so fast! I'm so entertained by the little boy underwear--the laundry filled with superheroes, Toys characters and the Sesame St. gang. I love watching my kid pick his underwear depending on his mood...he could care less about his clothing, but boy, those underwear have to be painstakingly chosen each day.

We are feeling the busy days of fall as we go on school outings, make plans for birthdays, holidays and an upcoming weekend trip to La Conner for the Festival of Family Farms. We've also heard that the winter is promising a LOT of snow, so we're planning how to tackle those frigid winter days with sleds and cocoa....ah, this mommy is happy that the leaves are turning. Family seems to become more important in autumn. It seems like the time for memory-making and thanking each moment for being so special.

Hopefully I'll post more now that summer has ended. For now, here are some pics of G's first day of school.

Summer fun

Here are a few pics of G and his buddy, Anthony playing at the new park very near to our house. I can imagine that we'll be hanging out there a LOT in the future since it's a huge sports complex as well as playground, splashpad, BMX racing area, skate park...pretty cool!! Anyway, Guillermo LOVES it. We took his Skoot there last night and he rode it around the whole complex like a little pro.

Splash pads!!

Today was Guillermo's first successful trip to the splash pad at Audubon Park. We are lucky to have a splash pad about 3 minutes from our house! I was hoping he'd like the splash pad after spending last summer being a bit too timid to enjoy it. Although it took him a little time, once he stuck his toe in, he was hooked. Here are some pics that my friend took of Guillermo and his friends Anthony and Andy. Maybe I can convince him to take his shirt off next time!

Two and a half

Hitting the 2.5 mark at our house has been such fun. G is talking more and morel. He's started with "why" which is joyful and awful at the same time sometimes. He most often asks it when he's asked to something that he'd rather not do. Spring has sprung in Spokane so much of our time is now spent outside. Guillermo has become enthralled with knowing everyone's name. He asks dogs' names as often as people's! Today I finally told him to just ask a boy at the park, and he ran back to me yelling, "That's KELLY, mommy!". Mr. Social! We constantly comment on how much he reminds us of my mom. It's more shocking than anything--I'm sandwiched between the two most social people I know, while I'm somewhat of a hermit crab! Well, it will keep me young (or maybe make me old?).

Best statements from our 2.5 year old:
"Group HUG!"
" I love you, mommy"
"Salsa [the cat] is not old, mommy...he's a big boy"
"I'm cutting Salsa's tail!" (while using a nut cracker on the cat's tail actually)
"I love mommy, daddy, Andy, Jeanine, Matt (repeat, repeat)!"

Happy Hunting

Last Saturday we were fortunate enough to be invited to the Gonzaga University annual egg hunt. Guillermo was quite the hunter, but the volume of eggs was not quite equal to the volume of 3 and unders in attendance. Most kids got one or two eggs rather than a million in their baskets. Guillermo got two and was more than happy with that number! Here are some pics of G and his best buddy, Andy having some Gonzaga playtime. It was a beautiful day and fun was had by all! Now that they have this hunt under their belts, they are ready for the mommy-planned hunt that will be happening on Easter!

28 months

Long time no post...I think it might be a Facebook issue. I feel like I need to post sometimes just for my own memory later!!

Anyway, the dude is 28 months today. Stats: 3'1" and 36 pounds.

So much has changed since his second birthday. He's talking more every minute. Hilarious phrases include: "Something weird, mommy" (randomly said about just about everything), "I not like it" (usually said after spitting something into my hand), "this too sow-y" (sour) among about a thousand other daily phrases. I cannot believe what happens one these little things start talking! Favorite toys include his train set, garbage truck, Pixar Toys cars (he has almost every one and TWO of some!), puzzles (mainly for throwing pieces on the floor rather than working), coloring crayons and books, and his paints and easel. OH, and let's not forget his piano, accordion and other musical instruments. We're still watching Lawrence Welk every Saturday night at our house. Guillermo actually asks to watch it! Luckily we enrolled in a Music Together class, so he has some musical outlet. I think he might be one that sticks with liking music, so I'm preparing myself for whatever instrument he chooses in later years (you know, getting my ears ready for the first few years of practice! I can just cross fingers that it's not violin since the sounds that children make on those are completely awful!).

We are trying to decide what to do about preschool next year. Most preschools won't take kids under 3 (they follow the state school cut-off of turning 3 by Aug 31) which means that Guillermo might not be attending more than our weekly co-op preschool until he's almost four. I feel both happy and sad about this--though we do have plans to try to do 2 day a week co-op classes next year rather than 1. So many things change when the babies enter our lives, no? I applied for and was offered a job a few months ago, and actually turned it down because I wasn't ready to leave my kiddo in daycare. I was surprised by my attitude, but ever since, each day spent at home has been more and more enjoyable!

That's all for now...until the next sporadic monthly post...