Toddler Obsession: Cars & Trucks

When I found out we were having a baby boy, I wasn't really sure what to expect - but I did assume that we would probably end up with some small vehicular toys in our house.

I was definitely not wrong.

Here's a little glimpse at life with our 20-month-old boy.

The first thing Lincoln says when he wakes up every morning?  Car.

What he exclaims anything he sees anything on wheels?  Car!

The only books he will let us read to him?  They feature cars.

Several months ago, he added "guk" to his vocabulary - we thought it meant truck.  But then, he stopped saying it.  Until a month or so ago - when it came back in a new form: Truh!

And now, everything is a truck.  Today he pointed at just about everything in the entire house and shouted TRUH!!  I'm glad that he loves something this much.  But it's making communication somewhat difficult.

But at least he is easily entertained - I could probably just walk down to the edge of the neighborhood and let him watch cars and trucks drive by for hours on end.  He would be content.

Preparing to push baby sister around in her "truh" - aka double stroller.

It kind of seems like this is an obsession we may be dealing with for quite some time. 

I'm linking up with Growing Up Geeky for Toddle Along Tuesday!  What does your toddler love more than you can understand?

Why We Love Fall!

Fall has always been my favorite time of the year.  There's something about the crisp air and the crunchy leaves and the blustery days that just makes me happy.  Lincoln seems to be enjoying the opportunity to play outside more often after the long, hot summer.

Every time we step outside, it is a big production to make sure that all of the large wheeled conveyances go with us. 

Thirsty dude.

I typically don't let him off the deck.  He is too fast and sneaky, and I expect I will have to crawl under the deck to retrieve him.  34 weeks pregnant and crawling under decks don't exactly mesh well.  But thankfully he enjoys playing on the deck just fine.  Maybe it has something to do with the huge collection of toys.

And the chair.  For some reason, sitting in mommy's chair is pretty much the ultimate in entertainment.

Throw in a toy car or two, and the day is complete.  I don't know about you, but I can't think of anything more exciting.

This photo is not staged.

But it's apparently exhausting for the little man.  Just too much fall fun! 

Simple Moments v.1

It's sometimes hard, in the midst of all of the toddler fussing and tantrums and semi-sleepless nights, to appreciate the little moments.  I entered this "mommy journey" intending to pay attention to everything.  To capture the details.  So that I won't ever forget all of the beautiful little things in our lives.

And I'm really trying.  Never mind that we were in the middle of a four-hour nap battle when I took this photo.  Even just a few hours after the fact, I find it captivating.  Look at that little face!  What is he thinking about?

It's fascinating to watch his imagination grow.  He spends hours playing with his cars and trucks.  Sometimes he literally takes twenty minutes to line them all up.  And heaven help us if we try to move them while he is working on this project. 

This past week, I've noticed a lot more interaction with the people toys in his collection - and not just the vehicles.  Example: apparently the firefighter has decided he wants a career change and is now driving a loader.  I can't wait until he knows more words so that I can eavesdrop on conversations between all the toys.  I think his imagination is going to take him all sorts of places.

I almost cried when I downloaded this photo to my computer and looked at it up close.  When did he grow up so much?  There's not a lot of baby left in his sweet face.  I don't understand where the last 20 months have gone.  Please, time....slow down.  Just a little.

I'm linking up to The Simple Things over at Simple as That today!

Miniature Kitchen Assistant

I am really glad that it's the weekend.  We've had a pretty exhausting week around here.  

Hoping for a quiet, relaxing time.

Maybe a nap.

Or possibly just a chance to get the house under control.  I found the kitchen counter a few days ago, but the table is another story altogether.

The good news is, if I decide to deal with the pantry (ie dig out the expired things from the very back, where they may or may not have been since early 2009) - I have a little guy who thinks stacking and organizing cans of soup and boxes of crackers and bags of marshmallows is the best thing ever.

Maybe in a few years, he'll be old enough to be in charge of the pantry organization project all by himself? 

I'll keep dreaming.

Baby Bump: Week 34

Getting closer!

How far along? 34 weeks.

Weight gain/loss: Haven't checked since last week.  I really don't want to know.

Feeling: I've had a little more energy this week, but have also been nauseated and dealing with morning sickness again this week.  And having a toddler throwing tantrums when you don't feel well is really hard.  Lots of frustration all around.  We are currently in a 2+ hour battle of wills to get a small, exhausted boy to nap.... :(

Maternity clothes?  Henceforth in this pregnancy, when I am at home I will likely be wearing Andrew's hoodies.  I mostly feel like a whale.

Sleep:  So much better this week than last.  I still wake up every couple of hours, but Lincoln slept almost all night almost every night this week.  If I could make myself go to bed when he does, I would actually get a reasonable amount of sleep.  I'm averaging 5-8 interrupted hours right now.  It's not too bad.

Food cravings:  This week all I have wanted is soup.  But canned sounds gross and I've never made any myself.  Hopefully going to give that a try tonight and see how it goes.  And conveniently, since I'm planning a soup-making marathon, I happen to have the corresponding veggie to baby's size this week on hand!

Addie is the size of a butternut squash!

Gender: Girl
 

Movement? She's very active and enjoys hanging out at the very front of my belly, so that I feel stretched and weird.  I had an anterior placenta with Lincoln so these front crazy movements are freaking me out a little.

What I miss?  Being not pregnant.  I know I'm growing a miracle and it's beautiful and I couldn't be happier.  But I hate not feeling like myself.

Best moment this week:  Drama classes are done until spring.  Big relief to have that off my plate.  I also found the surface of the kitchen counter while trying to get organized this week.  Hadn't seen it in awhile!

What I'm looking forward to:  Hopefully going to attempt to get out of the house for some fun fall activities this weekend...pumpkin patch, Enchanted Forest, etc.  I really need to get started on Halloween costumes.  Last year we looked awesome.  So far this year, I don't really even have a plan.

Next Appointment: October 24 at 34weeks, 5days.