Our favorite new store

Last Saturday we ventured out for our first trip to IKEA. I had seen a cute table and chair set for Mikey online that I wanted to check out and it was the perfect day to go. As soon as we arrived we asked each other: "How have we not been here before?!". For future reference, whenever it is cold and ugly outside THIS is where we will be taking Mikey when we need to get out of the house for a few hours! The place was great! We were a little confused with how everything "works" around there (you write down the big items you are interested in and then locate it in their warehouse prior to checking out). Once we got the hang of everything, it was SO MUCH FUN. And cheap!!

We first found the table and chairs. Adorable and worth every penny. Mikey loves to set his farm up on the table and play (we don't praise the OTHER things he does like flip the chairs over constantly so he can say "uh-oh" or attempt to stand on the chair and/or table to touch the light switch, windows, etc).

The great thing about IKEA is that they encourage you to try out everything. There are great toys out in ALL the departments for kids to entertain themselves with while the Mommies and Daddies are shopping. Mikey especially liked when we got to the children's bedroom section. Mikey LOVES beds! At home he will ask for "bed?" (meaning our bed) and he'll climb up, he jumps on it, curls up with a pillow and does his snoring sound....the kid LOVES the bed! So naturally when we came to the children's bed section, Mikey was in heaven. He must have tested out EVERY BED in the place! He did the same thing in each one....climbed right on in, put his little head on the pillow, closed his eyes and made his sleeping sounds. SO CUTE. People were coming up to us going "get the camera out!". Mikey had so much fun.

Speaking of beds, Mikey is still in a crib. And we want to keep it that way for as long as possible. How else will I get anything done (ex: SHOWER) during the week without Mikey contained in the crib?! Last week I went to get him from his crib after his nap. He was standing up and I said "Okay, let's get out" as I put my arms out. The climber that he is hoisted up one leg as if he was going to climb out of the crib himself!! I immediately was like "NO! I'll help you". The good news was he didn't have a sleep sack on. I think the sleep sack will be able to deter him from successfully climbing all the way out. So now, every time he is in the crib, the sleep sack goes on----naps and bedtime. That's not saying I'm not worried about it. This past week I have been quite nervous with the anticipation of hearing a LOUD thump as Mikey exits the crib. He does love to be in there with all of his "friends" and blankets, so I'm hoping it was only in my presence that he tried to be independent and let himself out. I guess only time will tell.....

Cross your fingers for us.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

We hope you had a FUN day!

Love,

Michael, Allison & Mikey

Mr. Independent

Here's the scoop from your latest pediatrician appointment:

Height: 34.5" (52nd percentile)

Weight: 27 lbs (36th percentile)--your weight was calculated via a math problem, as you wouldn't step on the scale yourself. Mommy got to stand on first and then I held you to calculate YOUR weight. We don't need to document Mommy's weight on here....

Head Circumference: 46.5cm (6th percentile)---you have always had a small head circumference, yet you seem very proportionate to us. Weird.

You are becoming more and more independent every day. We are only allowed to help you when you ask for "help" (which you say AND sign).

Every time I go into your dresser drawer to pick out a shirt, you always yank out this one:



or your Star Wars t-shirt (could be worse!);

and you boycott your Trip-Trap chair and only want to sit here:

You even bring your toys and sit at the table to play with them. I guess it's time to get you a small table and chair set!

Now the question is.....where do we store of all of this STUFF?!?!?!

Happy Birthday, Mimi!

We hope you have a GREAT year!

One day at a time....

Due to all of the activity of the party, Mikey came home on Sunday evening quite exhausted! He opened his gifts from Mimi and Grandpa and a few more before calling it a night. It has worked out wonderfully as now he has a present to open each day!

When Mikey opens a gift, he gets so excited about each item, he only needs to open one gift to be content. He asks to open the gift and starts playing with it immediately. Why rush it? It helps the birthday celebration last even longer!

Here are some of his favorites thus far......

Happy Birthday to YOU!

Mikey celebrated his 2nd birthday with a party at My Gym on Sunday, February 27 at 2:30 in the afternoon. His friends Brody, Chloe, Zoe, Ellie, Abigail, Molly, Ruby, Maggie, Nora and Alexandra were all in attendance--Mikey and Sam Frost (from NH), Jimmy Casey (from NJ), Kaylie and Madyson Tolska (also from NJ) were there in spirit. The party lasted for an hour and a half. It was JAM PACKED with lots of activities for the kids and we cannot believe how fast the time went. Mikey had a ball! He participated in activities that I haven't seen him participate in during a regular gym class. It was like he knew the party was for him!




My favorite part of the party was when Mikey was brought out on a train with a special birthday hat and he was paraded around the "big red circle" to a "Happy Birthday" tune. The look on his face was priceless. (Picture to be inserted when I get it)

The kids enjoyed Elmo cupcakes (made by Mommy) after we sang "Happy Birthday" and finished up on the swings before we said goodbye. What a FUN day!



On Mikey's actual birthday, he attended Eva's House while Mommy and Daddy went to work. Mommy made carrot muffins for snack to share with Mikey and his friends. (Pictures to be inserted when Eva emails them to me)

For dinner, we went to Friendly's. Mikey indulged in his first hot fudge sundae made with vanilla ice cream and topped with whipped cream and 2 cherries! He LOVED it. He kept saying "Mmmmmmm" after every spoonful!






Happy Birthday, buddy!

Mikey is TWO!

(Man, it used to be A LOT easier to get these shots when you were younger!)

Here is a quick list of all the things that make you so special these days:

• You love to show off your toys to anyone and everyone that comes to visit in person OR via skype (more specifically your cars, tractor, "choo-choo", trucks, ball/bat, and farm);

• Your attempt to jump is also your famous dance move----your feet are not yet leaving the ground and it is my most favorite thing to watch you do;

• You are now in L-O-V-E with your Daddy and it is so sweet to watch. You are constantly saying "Daddy" and you get so excited when you hear his key in the door when he comes home from work (you also say "Mommy" and lots of single words at this point.....not yet putting 2 words together);

• You recently began to display some separation anxiety when I leave you on Tuesdays at Eva's house. You have the saddest face and reach/lunge for me when I hand you over. This morning you clung to me as soon as I unstrapped you from the car seat. Eva says you stop less than 2 minutes after I leave, but today you had me crying in the car. I did not want to leave you crying on your birthday.
  

Happy 2nd Birthday, Mikey! We find ourselves thinking that we love you so much today, how could we possibly love you even MORE tomorrow....yet we do! These past two years have FLOWN. You are such a joy to be with and we are so blessed that you came into our lives. WE LOVE YOU!

xoxo
Mommy & Daddy