Back to School: Awesome Lunchbox!

Mylo is starting preschool for the first time in September (YESSS!!!) and he gets to bring his own little lunchbox everyday to eat with his new friends. I did some research and found a super cool YumBox lunchbox for him that he got to try out at summer camp. The box has a pre-portioned illustrated tray that has protein, vegetable, fruit, grain, and dairy spaces to make packing a lunch easy and nutritious. I want one for myself!

I don't know about you but I am so ready for fall, back to school (and work!), and back to routines. I'll try to soak up these next few weeks but secretly I'm counting down the days.

Burritos

A few weeks back, Teresa had me take some photos of Fiona. This is what we were going for...

But then there was Mylo. The energetic older brother.

Really, he just wanted to be involved. And he is so sweet with his little sister! 

So somehow, this is what we ended up with. I like to call it the burrito photo shoot. Some of my best work I'm pretty sure. 

Happy Birthday Myles!

Mr. Mylo turned THREE last week! Where did the time go? It was the first holiday that he has asked me if I'm getting him a present so it was also the first time I actually bought and wrapped him one! In the past he has gotten ample presents from family and friends so I never bothered with it. We bought him some Magna-Tiles and a remote control car (Patrick's idea and a huge hit). I also made him cupcakes from scratch (this delicious recipe) and regretted it immediately, who do I think I am? SOOO time consuming.

Here is a little snapshot of our three year old:

• He is a curious, sweet, sensitive, inquisitive, caring, energetic, gentle giant. He weighs 40 lbs and is very tall for his age, entering into 5T clothes already. 
• He loves his baby sister, cousins, Rafa, and being with our family. Our little extrovert often asks me first thing when he wakes up in the morning "who is coming over to our house today?" 
• He loves to read books of all kinds but especially about animals. Bunnies and ducks are two of his favorites. 
• He likes to eat shrimp, hot dogs, berries/fruit of all kinds (nectarines are a current fav), grilled cheese, and of course ice cream. He also still drinks a ton of milk.
• His favorite TV shows are Blaze and the Monster Machines, Super Why, and anything to do with trucks and construction. He is also majorly into Space Jam right now which cracks me up. 
• Although he doesn't even watch the TV show, he is totally obsessed with Ninja Turtles. I swear he almost cried for joy when he got a Michelangelo T-Shirt for his birthday. 
• He has a huge vocabulary and is CONSTANTLY asking why why why? We are very excited for him to start preschool in the fall and quench his thirst for knowledge :P
• He loves playing soccer with his dad in the field across the street from our house and throwing rocks in to the water at Lake Washington. 
• He's a great little sleeper still and would nap for 3-4 hours a day if we didn't wake him up so he'll sleep at night. 
• Patrick has taught him to ask people questions about themselves so everyday he'll ask people "How was your sleep mommy?" "How is your day Mimi?" "How was your work Daddy?" -- It's pretty much my favorite thing. 
• He does not enjoy brushing his teeth, having his finger nails cut, bugs of any kind, ketchup, or potty training. 

Happy Birthday Butter! I love you!

Family Trip to Southern Cali

Last week we took a family trip to Southern California to visit Patrick's aunt and uncle, Kathy and Mike. They live north of LA in Ventura County and were SO generous to welcome us and our extremely energetic toddler into their home for a week. After all the sickness and busyness of this winter it was absolutely wonderful to relax and soak up some Californian sun. Mylo had a blast playing at the beach as you can see above. He wanted to run back and forth "like a jet."

Speaking of jet's, he was SOO excited to be going on a plane. For the most part he was a good little traveler (a few meltdowns along the way, after all, he is two) and we made it there and back in tact. 

We explored a lot of Ventura County with visits to Ojai, Carpenteria, Santa Barbara and Oxnard Beach. My favorite was probably Ojai, we had a wonderful time exploring Bart's Books (an outdoor bookstore!), the Sunday farmer's market, and may cute shops (FIG was my favorite!). We also had a wonderful breakfast at the Ojai Cafe Emporium that included an amazing croissant cinnamon roll!

Kathy and Mike babysat for us one afternoon/evening so we could meet up with my friend Jenn and explore the new Broad Museum in downtown LA. We had a great time learning about modern art and drinking margaritas without the toddler!

We celebrated my birthday with lots of dessert, pasta and a fun hat that Mylo couldn't get enough of. Thanks Mike and Kath for a wonderful week! 

NOW, REMIND ME WHY WE DON'T ALL LIVE IN CALIFORNIA??

Myles: Two and A Half

Today my little baby is two and half years old!!

It's so fun to see his personality developing the older he gets. He is a chatterbox and has even started to make his own little jokes. He'll debate or negotiate EVERYTHING until he gets what he wants. He wants to name his little sister "Starla," after the girl monster truck in his favorite show Blaze. He loves all of our family and is constantly making lists that include everyone by name  He still sleeps with his favorite stuffed animal, Cowy, and his pacifier every night. He is a big boy and still my baby all at once. I LOVE THIS AGE!

More about Mylo at 2.5 years old:

He loves eating olives, pickles, blueberries, raspberries (which he calls gras-berries), bananas (which he calls two-nanas), shrimp, cheese, yogurt and granola, and of course ice cream.

He loves playing with his monster trucks, trains, planes, play-doh, Etch-a-Sketch, puzzles, legos, stickers, and balls.

He loves reading books about animals, construction, Blaze, counting, and anything with sound effects.

He loves watching the TV shows Blaze & The Monster Machines, Winnie the Pooh, Curious George, Mickey Mouse, Little Einsteins, and Paw Patrol.

He loves being with his cousins, outdoors, cuddling with mommy and daddy, "playing" with Rafa, the snow, laughing, stomping, and generally being silly.

Christmas This Year!

The Christmas season has been so fun this year with a toddler. Last year Myles was only one and a half and didn't really grasp much of what was going on. I actually skipped even having a tree because I didn't want to be a referee all month trying to get him not to touch it.

This year everything is new and exciting for him as he discovers the season! He is obsessed with our Christmas tree, pointing out all the ornaments to people who come by and telling everyone at school about how tall it is. He was fascinated that we got it home by strapping it to the top of our car.  We went to Zoo Lights for Rory's birthday and Mylo loved meeting the Reindeer and riding the carrousel with Daddy and Pa. He got to meet Santa, who happened to be our friend Colin all dressed up, and was all smiles and eagerness. It's so sweet to watch.

We are headed over to the snow in Eastern Washington for Christmas and I'm really looking forward to watching him discover sledding!!

I'm also looking forward to taking pictures of all his cousins in their Christmas pajamas! He and Rory will be matching in Hanna Anderson PJ's and the Hillis cousins (above at Thanksgiving, JD, Kenedee, Mylo and Jae) are all coordinated as well. SO fun!

'Tis the Season!

Catching Up

Hello!

It's been a while. Like Jenny said in her update, it's great to be blogging again! For me, blogging is about keeping a record of our lives, sharing the fun things we discover, and staying connected with Jenny. It's so great to be back!

These past few months have been a whirlwind for our family. The biggest change being that I started a new job at the end of August! Although I've been involved since the beginning, I am so thrilled to be spending my working hours dedicated to the 30/30 Project! Here is an announcement of my new role if you are interested in reading about it. Not only am I excited to be back in my field (international development) but it is such an honor to be working with my family on something that is so close to all of our hearts personally.

Mylo continues to grow, both in height and personality! He is SUCH a chatterbox, narrating every detail of our lives. I need to start writing down some of the hilarious things that he says so that we have a record. He is a sweet, spirited, hungry little guy who keeps us on our toes and makes us laugh and smile every day. He LOVED Halloween this year and is obsessed with pumpkins so naturally we dressed him up as a plump one for his costume.

We have more to catch up on but since we are back up and blogging those can be full posts after Thanksgiving!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Turkey Day! Jenny and I are making pies today, like we do.

Happy Birthday Myles!

On Monday Myles turned TWO YEARS OLD! Who is this kid and what happened to my baby?! We celebrated just the three of us at my family's cabin in Idaho. He had huckleberry pancakes and played at the beach, I made a funfetti cake, we sang him happy birthday... it was simple and wonderful.

Here's a little bit about what Mylo is into these days:

• He is obsessed with animals and knows the name of everything from a kangaroo to a starfish. Going to the zoo is so fun with him, he especially loves the farm area (cows are his favorite animal) and watching the otters swim. 
• He is fascinated by anything with a motor and wheels --trucks, cars, airplanes, tractors, fire engines, you name it. When we go on walks he yells out "blue truck!" "red car!" "yellow tractor!"
• For being such an independent baby he has become quite an affectionate toddler. He loves to sit on our laps and read his books, snuggle in bed in the morning, and will even occasionally hold our hand outside.
• Every night before bed we have to brush his teeth, which has been torturous for all parties until we started a little game where he names off every one who has a toothbrush while we do the brushing. "Grammy toot-brush, Dada toot-brush, Grampa D toot-brush, Titi toot-brush, Ro toot-brush..." It's pretty much my favorite. 

Happy birthday big boy! Love you to the moon and back. 

Our 4th of July!

We had a great 4th of July holiday in Tacoma with Patrick's family. This year early in the morning on the 4th we joined in a little neighborhood parade which felt so small towny and quaint in the best way. Mylo and his cousin Kenedee had the best time marching around, playing with flags, and eating lots of donuts.

Anniversary Weekend in Eastern Washington

Last weekend Patrick, Mylo and I headed over the mountains to stay near Cle Elum for the weekend. I finally bought a child carrier for hiking (should have done this a year ago!) used online and we were able to go for two fun hikes as a family. It was so nice to get out of the city and into nature, Mylo loved it. We stayed at my family cabin and found this wedding picture of us SEVEN years ago on the refrigerator. It was great to sit outside, drink some wine, and laugh about how young we were and how much we've grown up. What a great start to our summer!

 Mylo is obsessed with holding our hands and jumping, swinging or being tossed in the air. Pure bliss.

Mylo's First Mariner's Game!

A few weeks ago Jenny and Jason gave us their Marnier's tickets and Mylo got to experience his first baseball game! We took Patrick's mom and Nana so it was a special experience for us all. I usually hesitate to bring him to thing like this that I think I would enjoy more without a squirming toddler but he was actually great (through all 11 innings!). He loved the Mariner Moose, eating all the stadium food, and walking up and down all the stairs. 

Predicting a Child's Future

I read this article recently and it resonated with a conversation that comes up often between Patrick and I. When I was pregnant we used to speculate about what our baby was going to look like and what type of personality he would have. That only multiplied exponentially once he was born and seemed to have a little personality of his own from day one. He was born scowling and opinionated, smiled and laughed early, is always (ALWAYS) moving and on the go, loves to eat, intensely focuses on what he wants to do, and isn't quick to let strangers touch or interact with him. From the beginning we've been saying how he is smart, dramatic, focused, and energetic. But where do you draw the fortune telling line? Especially now that he is beginning to understand what we are saying about him and others. People's personalities change a lot over time. It's easy to try to put a person in a box but it's so important for children to know that they can change and be themselves.

For example, up until a few months ago Mylo was not a very affectionate or attached child, he would push us away when we tried to snuggle him, wouldn't fuss if a babysitter came, and rarely even sat on our laps. But about the time we got back from Argentina there was a big shift with him and he has become much more affectionate, hugging and kissing us, wants to snuggle and sleep in our bed and cries loudly when we leave for work in the morning.  It's such a dramatic change for him but of course he is growing and shifting in his personality, he's not even two years old!

We are trying to make an effort to affirm him and who he is while not boxing him in or comparing him to other children. Definitely not an easy goal. Any advice out there? Would love to hear your thoughts on this....

Seattle Spotlight: Discovery Park

Seattle has a lot of great urban nature spaces but few can compete with Discovery Park in Magnolia. The three-mile loop within the park passes through forest, fields, sand, and cliffs along the Puget Sound. We LOVE going there with Mylo because it’s never overcrowded and he can run wild on the trails. Here are a few pictures of our walk there last Saturday, it was so nice to get outside and enjoy the fresh air after having been cooped up sick for a few weeks. Happy spring everyone!

Life lately and my little toddler!

Hi everyone! I feel like I'm not keeping up on the blogging very well these days. I mentioned before that in January I transitioned from working four to five days a week and it's been a bit rough on my blogging routines (and all of our routines to be honest). Any advice out there from working moms about how to find time/energy for your favorite hobbies?

In other news, Myles is at the most fun age yet! Ever since he turned about 18 months he has been spouting out new words every day and is just incredibly excited about all the new things he can do. He loves going on walks, to the park, zoo, hanging out with his cousins, reading books, and playing with all kinds of sports balls, trains, and his plastic turtles and ducks. One of his favorite little games is just to point at me and say MA! and then to point at Patrick and say DA! It's pretty much the best.

Santa Pictures - better late than never!

These are late but I had to share! Mylo and his cousins Kenedee and Jae posing for pictures with Santa. Mylo isn't so sure about him but Kenedee is pretty excited! 

Best Buddies

Look at these two buddies! I love seeing them "playing" together. When I was pregnant we worried that Rafa wouldn't adjust well to a new baby around. I read a few websites online and when I was in the hospital just after his delivery we had my mom bring a little blanket that he had been wrapped in home so that he could smell the new baby scent and being to be introduced.

I'm not sure if that little blankie made any difference but it turns out that all of our fears were completely unfounded. I wouldn't say that Rafa is crazy about Mylo but he is so patient with him and even let's him chase him around the house when he's in the right mood. Mylo on the other hand is OBSESSED with Rafa. Just mentioning his name brings a smile to his face, even when he is in the midst of a tantrum or has just fallen down. I love watching them together, my little babes. 

Myles trying to share his bottle

Welcome Anna and Talon!

Our dear friends Brittany and Victor welcomed their adorable twin babies, Anna Rubin and Talon Victor on November 16th. As you can see from the photo above I am in a state of baby bliss. They are perfect, cuddly, tiny, and smell amazing. I might have a touch of baby fever. :)

My sister, Brittany, and I were all in the SAME exact hospital room for the births of our babies --- how weird is that, talk about a special place! Being back in that room last week and watching B&V welcome their little ones brought back a flood of memories from Myles' birth over a year ago. As you may have read in his birth story, it wasn't an easy labor or delivery. But being with the twins and their elated parents actually brought back a lot of positive memories for me of our five days and nights in the hospital after Myles was born. There was something very special about those early few days and weeks when Patrick and I were learning to be parents and how to take care of our tiny infant. After my C-section and tumultuous labor I was more or less bed-ridden for the duration of our time we were in the hospital. My entire focus was getting back on my feet and learning to breastfeed Mylo. Patrick changed every single diaper those first five days, walked Mylo around to console him, swaddled him, and tracked my medication and feedings. We were exhausted, excited, overwhelmed, and so happy to be with our son. And more than anything it felt like we were a team. Being a parent is hard and wondrous work and I am incredibly grateful that I get to do it with my best friend and with so much support and love from our community. 

Welcome to the world Anna and Talon, you are so loved already!

Halloween Fun

My little Superman!! Mylo won't wear anything on his head these days so we went with the simple Superman outfit for Halloween. He was comfortable and that made everyone happy. With him starting to take his first steps he does kind of act like a little Superman so it was appropriate! Patrick and I were Mr. and Mrs. Cat--- bet you can't guess who's idea that was. :)

Hope you had a great Halloween, love seeing all the pictures of everyone's costumes. 

This is an example of the struggle it is to get one cute picture of Mylo and I!!! Thank goodness for iPhones so you can take a million and then delete. His faces though.

 And a little gif of us trying to get a photo of him in his skeleton jammies -- no mama!!!