Summer is Here

To kick off the "official" start of summer, we went to the Slye's for a BBQ. I say "official" because apparently summer doesn't really start until June 21 even though it has been hot as fire for a lot longer than that. Since the Slye's have a new baby to contend with, we took the party to Baltimore. Plus, they have the BEST backyard, filled with lots and lots of plastic toys. We had a blast and the kids had even more fun. It was great to sit outside and sweat our fannies off with some of our best friends. Hello summer!

Samantha shows off her Dora the Explorer swimsuit

No texting while driving, Finn!

The only photo of all three kids

BUBBLES!

Wait, I was wrong: here's another photo of all 3 kids

(Sorry Jack)

What? Us get into trouble?

Why play at the water table when you can sit in the water table

Yum, popsicles and juice box

Also know as dinner

Sam: Quick the coast is clear

Finn: Let's blow this joint

Barrett is tuckered out just from watching the others play

A Time Out Gone Awry

Note to Self:

When you put your normally extremely vocal child in "time out" for two minutes and don't hear a single sound during those two minutes, the mission has not been accomplished.

Two and A Half!

Well, we are officially at the halfway mark. Finn is 6 months away from being three years old. And I have to say I'm a little choked up as I write this, because three sounds so old. But that is still another 6 months away, thank goodness. I have to say that so far, two has been a really good year: a busy, exhausting, exciting, frustrating, funny, and sometimes-want-to pull-my-hair-out kind of year, but a good one.

I know there are growth spurts, but I feel like we are having a growth sprint. In just 6 months, he has gone from my squishy little toddler to a long and lean, little boy. He runs like a big boy, he talks like a big boy, and he acts like a big boy (most days). . . a boy who can do everything by himself. Except sleep in a bed. Because he is still sleeping on his crib mattress on the floor in front of his toddler bed, not to be confused with actually sleeping IN his toddler bed. Because that would be silly.

I have started writing this post several times and always stop because I can't quite come up with the the things I want to say that I feel will capture Finn at this point in his life. Because with all of the drama that two encompasses (and there has been plenty), truly it is a magical year. He is learning and growing and changing so much that I wish I could press pause, somehow bottle him up so that I will always be able to remember him exactly as he is right this minute.

Two is a big year and so much happens and I'm just so afraid that I will forget who he is and what he's doing at this stage in his life. I can catalogue what he is doing (or not doing as is usually the case), saying, thinking, not eating and I know that I will probably do that at some point this year. But, when Banner sent me these pictures, I realized that pictures do speak a lot louder than words. And these pictures scream Finn.

Most of you know that we went back to Charleston a few months ago and had our friend Banner (Banner Photography), who also photographed our wedding, take some pictures of Finn--his first official photographs. I had high hopes riding on this photo session and that should have been my first clue that the session was not going to go as well as I had planned. Mainly because the primary subject was a TWO-YEAR-OLD. In my opinion, the photo session was a disaster: he looked every which way but at the camera and he did the exact opposite of what you wanted him to do. I was so frustrated. But looking at the pictures you would never know. Banner is such a pro and has such an amazing eye. She was so patient with Finn (and me). Finn left with a new friend to say the least and I couldn't have been happier with the finished product--Banner totally captured the energy, heart, spirit and CURLS of my two-and-a-half-year old little man. Here are a few of the highlights. Obviously, George and Night-Night made cameo appearances.

Movie Mania: Toy Story 3

If you haven't been living under a rock, then you know that Toy Story 3 opened this weekend. And guess who was one of the millions of people who saw it over the weekend?

Finn has been having a love affair with the characters from Toy Story for the past few months. Woody #1, Buzz Lightyear, a close #2. We have all of the Toy Story-themed paraphernalia: book bags, stuffed animals, talking figurines, pajamas, cars, toothpaste and the list goes on and on. So when Mark announced that he was taking Finn to see Toy Story 3 in the movie theatre, I only second-guessed him for about 10 seconds. Mainly because the point of going to see a movie in a theatre is to SIT and WATCH. Finn is not really a sit and watch kind of guy. But, he does LOVE Toy Story so I figured they would break even.

Mark and Finn walked to the movie theatre, bought their tickets to the 10:30 AM showing of Toy Story 3 (have you ever seen a movie that early in the morning?), got their refreshments--popcorn and cokes and headed to grab the best seats in the house. Mark said that from the minute the previews started until the credits rolled, Finn didn't move a muscle. (Except to knock his drink over).

After the movie was over, Mark asked Finn how he liked the movie and Finn said, "do you want to watch it again on that big tv?" Mission accomplished.

Meet Barrett Lane Slye

My friend Alisha FINALLY had her baby boy. I say finally because she was nearly a week late. And those last days are tortuous. Especially when the day the baby is supposed to be here comes and goes. With no baby in sight. Anyway, the good news is that he is here! And he is precious. Big sister Samantha is happy to have a new baby to play with . . . to add to her doll collection. Here are a few pictures I "borrowed" from Alisha.

Barrett Lane Slye

June 11, 2010

8lbs. 20 oz.

Congratulations to the Slye family. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it to the hospital to meet baby Barrett because our entire family was sick. But I was able to go this past weekend and spend some time with baby Barrett and his big sister Samantha. It felt so weird holding a newborn after 2 years of toting my little man-child around. He is so sweet and such a good baby. I can't wait to go back for another visit.

Only Six?

Saturday was our sixth wedding anniversary. When I made the comment to Mark that I couldn't believe six years had already passed and he said, "really, only 6?" Hmmm, time flies when you are having fun!

To be fair, a lot has happened in those six years: move #'s 1 and 2, graduate school for both of us; move #3, new jobs, move #4, NEW BABY, new job for me (mom), move #5, new job for Mark, move #6. There have been plenty of ups, a few downs and a lot of things in between. All in all, I have to say that I love my life . . . because Mark and Finn are apart of it.

While I was going through our pictures looking for some to post of just us, it struck me as funny how few there actually were of the two of us . . . in comparison to how many photos we have of Finn. Which makes sense, because as great as our life was before we had Finn, it doesn't really compare to the life we have now.

And as much as I loved Mark when I married him, I love him even more now.

Conversations with Finn

Proof that the saying "kids say the darndest things" is spot on.

In the grocery store

"Dad, that man's standing up asleep."

The man was actually blind, not asleep. Finn drove the point home by repeating himself over and over, louder and louder, until Mark said they had a "teachable moment" when he explained that the man wasn't asleep, he was blind and his eyes were hurt so he couldn't see. To which Finn responded, "that blind man's asleep."

Talking to his Mimi and Bop

"I've got Woody on my butt."

Inspecting himself and his new Toy Story pj's while talking on the computer with his grandparents.

While Changing his Diaper

"Mom, I need some butt paste."

Getting in Trouble

"Noooo, mommy Lyles."

After calling him repeatedly to sit down for his music class, I brought out the I'm-using-your-last-name-so-I-mean-business voice, Finn Lyles, sit down right now.

On the Playground

"No ma'am you can't have my truck."

When a little girl reached for the truck he was holding, he snatched it away and screamed "no." I told him that it wasn't a nice way to treat his friend.

At Trader Joe's

"I'm eating my boogers."

When he was being really still and quiet in his stroller, I asked him what he was doing.

In the Shower

"Dad, that's a nice penis."

This may fall under the TMI category, but it's really funny, so I had to include it. Sorry Mark!

Anchors Away

Our friends, Geary and Summer Simon and their two boys, invited us out for an evening on their boat. Obviously we jumped at the chance. With two 2 year olds, one 4 month old and a handful of adults, there was never a dull moment. We all had a blast and so did the ducks who were hand fed dinner by Finn and Darren (and Mark). I didn't take my good camera because we are all familiar with what happens when I take a camera near water (I drop it). So I wanted to be safe. I was able to get a couple of shots on my phone. Thanks Summer and Geary, we can't wait to go back. Finn said he would drive next time.

So long Washington DC

Darren sneaks in some pre-dinner snacks

Captain Finn is ready

The two boys take her for a spin

AAMC Picnic

On Saturday, we went to Smokey Glen Farm for the AAMC company picnic. It's safe to say that Finn had the best time out of everyone. Jump castles, bouncy obstacle courses, putt-putt golf, ICE CREAM, playground, swings, did I mention ice cream? As you can see from the last picture, he wasn't happy about leaving!

New Toys

Who needs new toys . . .

when you have a rolling suitcase . . .

and a flashlight?