2 Weeks and Counting...

 2 weeks, 14 days, 336 hours..... However, you look at it, my baby is about to turn the BIG "2".  I really thought after how hard turning 1 was for me, that it could only get easier. WRONG.... boy am I struggling with this one. We've already experienced the terrible two's, (wish I could say, we've been there done that and are over it.) we've hit the very independent stage. So why is this so hard for me ???? Several of our play group friends, are already talking Preschool, soccer, T-ball, dance.... YICKS, make it stop !!!!!!  I'm so not ready to release Hunter to the "real" world, call me crazy but I enjoy our Mommy/ Hunter time and no way am I ready to give that up.

 I don't have a lot of pictures this month, as we've been couped up in the house for the past 4 weeks with RSV. Good news, I think we've finally kicked it !!!!

 We snuck out of the house the other day for a beautiful morning at the park. Although, I can't really complain about all the rain we've been getting. It sure does make being stuck at home even tougher. So when the rain drops dried up and the sun popped out we ran for the park. It seems so crazy to have 80 degree temps in February, but it was very welcomed the past couple of days.

 My little baker helper hard at work...... Hunter has become very interested in the kitchen and what goes on in it. In fact, he's figured out how to move the kitchen chairs around to the counter and climb up all by himself. ( Now nothing is safe anymore) We use to hide things on the counter out of his reach, time to find a new hiding place.

Watch out world, our 25 pound, 35 inch little monkey has figured out to take off his clothes. Yep, we had a streaker the other night ( nothing but bare cheeks) Hunter's also really developing with new words and pharse's daily. Although, I feel like I have become a personal interupter between Daddy and Son. Daddy thinks he's asking for milk, but in deed he's asking for a snack. Oopps.... and speaking of Oopps, his new pharse of the week is " Oopps Mess" and he is so proud to take you and show you his master piece of a mess. Way to go my little Tornado, Mommy and Daddy are very proud of you !!!!!

A Visit From Kelly and Seth

 We just LOVE when we have visitors, especially when it's family. We had such a great time with my niece Kelly and her husband Seth. Although, Hunter was recovering from his 3 week bout of RSV and was still confined to the house. We got to spend a lot of time, playing and cooking with Seth and Kelly. They had a few good days of decent weather and were able to get out to enjoy some of the popular sites that San Antonio has to offer. The Riverwalk, The Zoo, several of our Mexican restaurants.

 "Who was eating brownie batter, not me"

 One show that we all love to watch is "Chopped" on the Food Network. So on Sunday, we decided to play ourselves. The Boys against the Girls. Us girls were responsible for making the appetizer and dessert rounds, and the guys were in charge of the main course. With all the strange and new ingredients that were picked, all 3 courses turned out really good. (surprisingly)

 When Kelly and I opened up our basket of goodies that the guys had picked. We both just stood there for what seemed like 20 minutes, saying "What are we going to do with these nasty ingredients?"  The tasty items we were given were fennel, dried apricots, clams, and wabsi peas.  Really, what were the guys thinking, not only did we have to come up with something that resembled an appetizer but it also had to be edible. We felt like we were up against a brick wall. However, Kelly and I both have watched hours and hours of Food Network that we literally threw our ingredients into the pan with a little white wine and chicken stock and BAM.... a very tasty appetizer emerged !!!!

 Don't you wish you could have eaten this with us?

 Don't the guys look a little worried about what awaits them in the basket...... Only one could wish, Kelly and I picked much easier items than the boys did. ( just remember pay backs boys)

 Black Beans, Tomato Soup, Stew Meat, Shrimp and fresh spinach was the line up staring the boys in the face.The time given was One hour..... at the 50 minute mark Kelly, I and Hunter were gasping for air with all the smoke in the house..  Things got a little messy and smokey in the kitchen, but once the smoke cleared and dinner was on the table it was well worth the wait. Everything was very tasty. Good job guys !!!!

 It's been a week or so, and I don't remember exactly what everything was. I do know that they ground up the wasbi pea's from the appetizer course and coated the stew meat and then pan fried the pieces. They also whipped up a little tomato soup kind of sauce that was absolutely amazing. ( we even saved the extra and dipped our steak and lobster on Valentines Day in it)

Kelly and I were given two ingredients for dessert to work with. Dried Pineapple and spicy peanuts. So we created a banana split of sorts using ice cream sandwiches, banana's, homemade chocolate and caramel sauce, diced up pineapple and spicy peanuts. I must say, they were very tasty and great way to finish off a really fun and tasty dinner.

Mommy School

 A few weeks ago, we moved ALL the toys upstairs to the game room. It took some getting use to, but I'm pretty sure we all really like the "new" play room.  With my new favorite addiction to Pinterest, I have some big plans for this room in the months to come. Cute curtains, a reading tent, book shelves and lots of discovery boxes.

 Last week, we "officially" started Mommy School. Although, we somewhat stumbled into the routine, it's a good routine for Hunter and I.  We've  structured our day around a preschool type schedule. With free play, directed play, music, story, outside time, art project and learning time. Even though we've only been at this for 2 weeks now, there's a huge difference in how Hunter acts on the days that we stray from the routine. In my down time, I've been doing a lot of Internet surfing looking for different idea's and activities and basically writing a weekly lesson plan for us. It's been fun and interesting and kind of in a small weird way makes me really miss teaching preschool. I'm also working with another Mom from our play group who taught Preschool also, with  putting together a "play and learn" play date for the other Mommies to help them with different learning ideas, songs and art projects. 

 Last week we started with the letter "A" , and our color was green.  We focused our activities around those two things.  

 We made snow globes with food coloring, glitter and beads

 we worked on some one to one correspondence with marshmellows. Pretty sure the "one to one" took on a whole new meaning. One on the paper and One in Hunter's mouth. Over all he did really well with this activity. Although, Hunter is a very active little guy, he really enjoys sitting down and working on these types of activities.

 We made an alligator out of the letter A. and this was placed on the table where we talk about it at every meal. This week we made a bee out of the letter "B" ( pictures to come)

 we painted with an apple.  And ate lots of applesauce

This picture is out of order, but we made some bird feeders this week going along with our "B" theme. It's been rainy everyday so we haven't had the chance to get outside and hang them up yet. 

22 Months Old

 22 months old but going on 5.... ( with a few 2 year old temper tantrums thrown into the mix) Our little man has become such an independent boy. He knows what he wants and where to get it and for the most part how to get it. He's a master at reorganizing the Pantry as well the play room. He has no fear and loves to do as the "big kids do" With each day comes a few new words, and a few phases. "help me" and "dada boom boom" Funny story with that one, a few weeks ago we had a really windy night, and the light house I have on the front porch fell over. So the next morning before Greg left for work, he was walking over to pick up the light house and tripped and fell. All while Hunter was watching out the front door. Ever since that morning. Hunter's favorite little phrase is "dada boom boom" with a little giggle. Makes me laugh ever time.

 Our little guy weighs 25 pounds and is 33 1/2 inches tall. We're working on potty training, and have had a little success with Hunter going "poo poo" in the potty. I'm pretty sure I freaked him out with all my cheering and clapping that morning, but it was a BIG day and I mean BIG we ran right out to the store and got a BIG bag of M and M's and created our potty jar. Although, we've only enjoyed one little candy it's there and ready for our independent little man.

 Look who knows how to make his own lunch.....

 Mmmmmm, that's the best PB and J sandwich ever. 

 Last week we hosted a play date at our house for 12 of Hunter's closest friends. So in preparation for the morning we made cupcakes. Hunter helped with the measuring and mixing of the batter. Such a good little baker.

 And he even helped with the dishes. And cleaning of the floor, he lost just a tiny bit of water to the floor. But we had a great time and enjoyed a few hours of playing around in the kitchen with different items.

So first you must bake the cupcakes, then you have to clean up the mess and finally it is required to test your treats before serving them to your friends.  Yep, they were finger licking good !!!!!!