Growing

Is it really mid August? I am so far behind on this blogging thing. Everything around here is growing, especially me, and I can't keep up. This is an old picture. I am definitely 34 weeks right now but sorry, 32 is as close as I can get for the moment with phone pics.

More importantly Rob's resume is growing. He is the man of the hour. Last Saturday, Rob donned his very first pair of bike shorts (a major feat all on it's own) and a nervous-eager smile in order to compete in his first century ride. We dropped him off at 7:30am to start the grueling endeavor to conquer 103 miles and 7000 feet of climbing in the tree lined rolling hills of Boonsboro, MD. He had never ridden over 60 miles in any single ride before that so who knew what would transpire. As luck and will would have it, he finished the ride! I am so proud. I am even more proud that these words left his lips as he collapsed onto a bench to scarf down his post race food, "OK Anna, I'm ready for you to join me next year". He will do it again!

Let's continue the theme here. Peanut is growing...exponentially it seems. At his latest check up, he was 24.5 lbs (25%) and 35 in (97%). Where did this height come from?! The Mr. is the thin one in this bunch so I understand where he gets that. (The pediatrician also told me I was petite so that's probably where he gets it. Ha ha. Petite? Bless her. She will have my business forever.) To accompany this physical growth is a surge in the amount of difficult behavior. This is directly proportional to the shortening of the length of my fuse of patience. Anyone have any exciting discipline tricks up their sleeves? 

This hard behavior in conjunction with my limited ability to bend over is in turn is growing the list of things we need to buy for the house, in order to keep things out of sight for the little man and his upcoming little brother. I am also wishing we could grow a cash tree somewhere. I am currently working on sanding and painting this $15 yard sale beauty of a buffet/dresser, so we have some more storage space in the living room.  The right paint color is still eluding me. I will keep you posted.

Speaking of growing trees, we have some things growing beautifully in the backyard: tomatoes, flowers, rhubarb, green onions, basil, cilantro. If only there weren't so many green tomatoes in the compost bin thanks to Peanut's eagerness to help.

OLYMPICS!

Folks, I hope you all are planning on tuning in to NBC for the next two weeks because it's Olympic time! This is definitely my favorite sporting event ever. I will have it on all waking hours as I do chores and attempt to take care of my child without being too distracted. What are you favorite events? Of course mine is swimming but as an exceptionally close second I'd have to go with diving. I still plan on being there one day day if only as a spectator, but hopefully I'll be a Mom or a coach (I'm not pushing my personal dreams on anyone now am I?). Ha!

I thought I would just note that this marks a milestone here for this blog. I started this blog as I headed out on my adventure, four years ago, to work for the Olympic committee at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado, Springs. How fitting. Oh where life has taken me since then! Happy watching. Go team USA!!!

Big Sunday

Today was an exciting day! Peanut hit the 18 month mark this week, which means he spent his first week in Nursery. Hooray for us! No more running around the halls for the last 2 hours of church. My pregnant belly is starting to make that quite difficult. Anyways, he walked right in, found an exciting toy and didn't pause to look back. So we left him be and came to pick him up 2 hours later, with no mention of a problem. Gold star for Peanut! We now have approximately 10-12 kid free Sundays to enjoy before Cashew makes his entrance and we start the cycle over again.

I can't believe Peanut is really a year and a half. To update you on his growth I will begin by summing him up in one word: HILARIOUS. Our kid is a riot. His new favorite bedroom antic is to take his diaper off and then look at me when I come to get him up in the morning and say "dirty, Mommy, dirty", as he relaxes there buck naked. Another winner is when he pulls up his own shirt, points to his belly and says, "Baby". He has also done this to Daddy and Aunty Katie at one point or another. He'll figure it out.

So if you haven't noticed already, he is quite the talker. He says about a million words and phrases a few of which include:

COOKIE

PWEASE (please)

TANK OOOOOO (thank you)

POOPY

OH NUTS

I WANT THAT

EAT

DINK (drink)

BANKY (blanky)

TRUCK

CAR

WATER

KICK, KICK, KICK

GO, GO, GO

BOOK

YELLOW

DOOR

BABY

Some of these have become quite manipulative. The response he gets from any adult as he politely, pleases and thanks them, has been so positive he now uses it to his advantage. It has greatly rewarded him thus far. He also loves to wave and say hello and goodbye to anyone and everyone. He has impeccable timing as well. For instance, in church today, the man speaking told the saddest story about Haan's Mill, and right as he finished, Des looked at Rob, Katie and I and said, "Oh no". Incredible.

To my complete delight he is also becoming quite the little fish. One night after we had gone swimming at the pool, I put him in the bath and laid him down to wash his hair. As I'm scrubbing away, he starts moving his legs saying, "Kick, kick, kick". I about died and went to heaven. He then flipped over and put his own face in the water without any prompting. Lo and behold Olympic Swimming Trials were on that night too. Timing is everything.