Happy Friday!

 

9:30am

 12:00pm

 12:30pm

QT with my cutie

Lately, the boy has been very sporadically needy and always wants Mommy. He's pretty independent when he wants to be, but when things don't work out, it's always "Mommy do". Today, after a pre-lunch meltdown (where he also caused his sister to have a meltdown too), after his sister was put down for her nap, I asked homeboy if he wanted some special time with Mommy. At first, I kind of regretted asking that since there seems to be a million things I could be doing instead - such as clean up the lunch mess and prepare dinner. On a regular day, after Char is put down, I go downstairs to clean and cook while Lucas entertains himself. I just wanted to be different today... and this change was awesome!

(Back story) Tuesdays and Thursdays are generally more hectic for me since Lucas goes to preschool in the morning. I aim to have some special time with Charlotte while he's in school, but that usually results in simply running one errand and putting her down for a quick nap. It kind of clicked today that maybe Lucas has been acting up because he doesn't get that special time that we used to have now that he's in school AND he has to share his Mommy time with Charlotte too. 

Anyway, when I asked him what he wanted to do, he said "sit Mommy". I was already lying on the couch when I asked him this and he just wanted to climb on my back (free back massage!) and lay there. Again, I asked what he wanted to do during special time. He got off the couch and got one of his many sticker books and said "sit Mommy". He gave me a kiss and hugged me, then started putting stickers all over my arm.

So, from 1:30 - 2:00, the two of us just sat there on the couch while he put stickers on me. The only verbal exchanges between  us were "thank you" and "Mommy don't know" (when he asked me what was on the sticker). I could've been cleaning and cooking, but that can wait. Sticker time with the boy was totally worth it!

 Our special time

 The result of special time

 Not from today, but Mommy + son couch love!

Today's take home -  spend your time wisely, especially with those you love. And my kids are growing up WAY. TOO. FAST! On a different note, yesterday was Back-to-School night, is it just me, or does my boy look like he's taking a mug shot? And yes, it does feel different being on the other side of Back-to-School night. Mommy's getting old...

Hello Fall!

Another summer has gone. I can't wait till next summer when BOTH kids will be walking/running around! However, I think I might regret saying this next year... Anyway, after a year of living in South SJ, we finally "discovered" Almaden Lake Park. It's a shame we discovered it so late since it looks like such a fun place to explore. We will definitely be back!

Charlotte's first time on the swing!

Teeter totter (did I just make that word up?) with the Easton girls

But before the park (on Sunday), we went on a Costco run on Saturday. Yup, life with two kids is exciting.

Char's first time sitting in a cart

Watching Cars 2 (this is what happens when Mommy's sick)

And now it's Monday! Happy Monday!

7 Months Old

Whoa whoa whoa... our little lady is seven months old!

As I was trying to snap her monthly picture on the couch, I started to remember how it gets harder and harder each month as she becomes more active and more aware of her surroundings. 

 First time at a library story time (un-Ergoed)

 Mommy's still taking these cheesy photos on the couch

 Such a happy little princess

This month's highlights include: 

- First time going to a library story time (without big bro). She was very interested in her surroundings. Poor girl, Lucas went to his first story time right when he hit 3 months.

- In the middle of transitioning both kids into having a shared room.

- Trying out more and more pureed foods (and also becoming more picky with food). 

 

- Rolling around and starting to "talk". 

Oh boy, this lady is growing up WAY. TOO. FAST!

Wrestling/Kissing Match

The good thing about having kids close in age when you're at home is that they can entertain each other while you snap pictures of them.

Aren't they precious?

SLO trip #2

This past week, we took our second family trip to SLO (again!). This time, it was to celebrate Goong Goong and Ma Ma's 40th anniversary. The ENTIRE Shinn family came to celebrate. Was a house with six kids under the age of four pretty chaotic? You bet it was. But at least the kids had fun, and I'm guessing the grandparents did, too. 

 

 Tractor ride at Avila Valley Farm

Tractor ride to pick apples

It was opening week... GO NINERS!

 Grandparents with the Shinn kids 

 All the Shinn cousins

Shinn cousins + grandparents

26

 

Today marks Lucas's first official day of school! Yesterday the boy turned 26 months old. To "celebrate" that as well as Labor Day, we took a quick trip to Yogurtland after dinner. 

 

"Lucas say 'cheese'"

When I told Lu that he would be going to school tomorrow (today), he was super excited. He woke up earlier than usual (7:00) and was ready. When we got in the car, we had a nice talk about going to school and he was looking forward to "make new friends". When I parked the car, he clapped and cheered. However, right when we were about to walk into his classroom, I felt his hands tighten and I just had one of those Mommy intuitions that the boy was going to be a hot mess. Although he was completely fine going to summer school in the same room and with the same teacher, something just didn't sit well with him this morning. After trying to calm him down (didn't work), we just decided to go cold turkey and let him cry with his teacher. Looks like this boy is one tough cookie cause he seemed to be doing fine when I picked him up. I came a bit earlier and once he saw me, he yelled "Hi Mommy!" and ran towards me. I told him class wasn't over so he ran all the way back. Lu told me he had fun at school and played with "bubble water" and "bubble bike". I have a feeling there's no such thing as a "bubble bike" since he laughed when I said it. And that was his first day of school. 

 

Waiting by the door, writing a love note to Mommy at school.

In other news, Lu loves cars, sports, and Star Wars. We realized he truly does understand us when we talk to him. We go to Sweet Tomatoes on a weekly basis because he loves his "olives mac and cheese blueberry bao bao ice cream vanilla chocolate". He is talking up a storm, but it is still a bit of a challenge trying to understand him 100%. And of course, he's a major cheese ball and loves to ham it up for the camera.