neverending summer

Dear Summer,

Please stay around forever, because Kyle and I adore you. 

Love,

Krista

I've decided we will pretend it's still summer until Halloween, when we will be forced to acknowledge the season "change." This shouldn't be hard to do since our temps in So Cal are showing no signs of fall (yes!!). Today we went to a friend's 1st birthday party at a park in Huntington Beach and it was the perfect day. Kyle had a blast running around with all the kids and the shade and breeze felt awesome while I continued to work on my flip flop tan lines :)

These past few weeks have been so much fun with my boy. We went to Knott's and Frogg's bounce house, where he climbed up slide ladders and slid down like he was 4. We checked out the OC Zoo, where he brushed a goat and rode the train (which is becoming one of his favorite activities). We swam at Mammie's house, took tons of walks in the park with Penny, Kyle had his first ice cream cone and got his 2nd haircut by his daddy.

I'm sure I'll say this about 1 million more times in my life, but 18.5 months is my favorite age yet. I've noticed such a change in Kyle recently - he is developing a silly sense of humor and has started to become more independent. He climbs in his car seat by himself, gets his washcloth and towel from his closet when we run his bath water, blows bubbles on his own and uses a fork for almost everything. Yesterday I was standing at the sink washing dishes, and I could tell he was getting bored so I suggested he go get some cars from the living room and bring them into the kitchen to play with. What do you know, a few seconds later here comes Kyle with a couple of cars, which he happily played with until I was done! SUCH a change from 16 and 17 months! He's such a big boy and I just love that I get to spend so much time with him.

Knott's FTW

I've shared how I don't think we'll be going back to Disneyland until Kyle is a bit older, but we went to Knott's Berry Farm with my good friend and her little girl the other day and we had SO MUCH FUN. Camp Snoopy is awesome for little kids, even as young as 18 months!

There's a few reasons why I think Knott's is a better fit for us right now:

• I bought an annual pass (good for all of 2015) for $76. Their annual passes work differently than Disneyland - they are calendar year passes, so it makes sense to buy them in January, or before the year starts. Since I bought mine early, it was on sale (normally $96). I got in for free the day I got the pass, and if I want to go any time in 2014 before my pass kicks in it's only $9.99 admission. You can't even get into Disneyland once for $76!!! And Kyle is still free, so that's an added bonus.
• It's waaaaaay less crowded. We waited in 0 lines, they let us do the rides twice in a row without getting off, and I feel 100 times better letting Kyle walk around in front of me because I can keep an eye on him without a chance he'll get lost in the crowd. This is a HUGE plus for me because he's at the age that it's just not fun to be cooped up in the stroller all day. 
• He loved all the kiddie rides! They're right up his alley - cars, trucks, boats, airplanes. Super fun for a little boy (and girl!). 
• My friend Heather and I took turns watching the kids so we could ride the big kid rides - not as feasible at Disneyland when you have to wait 45 minutes. Kids would get restless. At Knott's during the week days this time of year, you walk right on!
• It doesn't have to be an ALL DAY thing. When you go to Disneyland, you want to make the most of your day - even if you have an annual pass. It's a process to park, ride the tram in or make the loooong walk into the park through California Adventure. That in itself is 45 minutes. At Knott's, it's easier to spend a couple of hours there doing fun stuff since it's not such a process getting in/out.
• Kyle had a blast and felt like such a big boy!

I'm still a huge fan of Disneyland - I mean, you can't beat the atmosphere, awesome shows, parades, food, characters, history, etc... but at this point in our lives I am team Knott's. I can't wait to go back tons of times this year and next!

toddler meals: the struggle is real

Kyle is generally a pretty good eater, but that doesn't mean feeding a toddler isn't stressful. Is he getting enough calories? Enough protein? Too many carbs? Is he hungry? Did he drink enough water today? WHY DID HE LOVE OATMEAL YESTERDAY AND TODAY HE'S SPITTING IT OUT?

Yesterday I was feeling like I was in a toddler food rut when Kyle wouldn't eat his oatmeal and I had run out of ideas for breakfast, so I sent a text to some of my mommy friends to get ideas for toddler meals. I wanted to share some of our favorite go-to's, along with the suggestions I received so I can look back when I need inspiration.

Breakfast - what we've tried

• We've been doing the Gerber baby oatmeal mixed with banana and a veggie (usually pureed spinach, squash or carrots) almost every day for about 6 months, and Kyle is officially over it.
• Today we did cut up fruit (grapes and apples), and eggs scrambled with some jack cheese and cut up spinach. He ate the eggs, but I had to feed them to him. 
• Greek yogurt and cut up berries is always a hit, and he'll feed himself (making a HUGE mess).
• Kyle LOVES bagels with cream cheese but I don't like to give him so many carbs/sugar without a veggie or protein!
• Smoothies - spinach, berries, banana, greek yogurt or peanut butter. Kyle loves these, and I usually make them a few times a week for breakfast and/or a snack.

Breakfast - ideas from friends

• Waffles with peanut butter (we tried this and he wasn't a fan, but I think I'll try again now that he's a little older)
• Hard boiled egg whites
• Nutri-grain cereal bars with berries and yogurt
• Bacon! (I don't eat bacon so I never cook it, but Brian loves it so maybe I'll have to learn)
• Sausage 
• Pancakes (I've NEVER made them myself before! Must try, and look for a healthy recipe!)
• Toast with peanut butter/almond butter
• Steel cut oats mixed with peanut butter (this sounds amazing and I can make a big batch for all 3 of us. I picked some up today, so we'll try it tomorrow)
• Muffins (looking for a healthy recipe to maybe make myself)
• English muffin with cream cheese
• Cottage cheese and fruit

Lunch/Snacks/Dinner - what we've tried

• Cheese quesadillas - his fave! I'll try and cut up spinach or chicken into tiny pieces and hide it in the cheese. Sometimes it works :)
• PB&J - 2nd fave
• PB & honey or banana
• Grilled cheese - hit or miss
• Cut up deli meat and cheese
• Greek yogurt
• Cheese & crackers
• Cooked veggie. Likes: baby carrots, peas, cut up zucchini tossed in olive oil. 
• Corn on the cobb - a favorite
• Fruits: strawberries, banana, apple (slightly cooked and peeled), grapes, cuties
• Pasta - doesn't like... not even mac & cheese! I'm assuming this will change someday
• Baby bean burritos - hit or miss
• Cooked chicken/turkey - hit or miss
• Rice - hit or miss
• Soup - hates it

Lunch/Snacks/Dinner - ideas from friends

• Fish sticks - want to offer them to Kyle because I secretly love them :)
• Craisins
• Pickles
• Hummus on pita bread

Ok, looks like I still need more ideas for lunch and dinner, so feel free to share! The dream is for him to eat whatever we're eating, but we're just not there yet. Thanks to our growing toddlers, and their amazing ability to bring stress to the dinner table :)

Jeep love

I took this photo over the weekend, and I wanted to share it because every time I look at it my heart smiles. Kyle loves Brian so much, and he was just so excited to be in his Jeep and to be hanging out in the garage with his dad. I can see the twinkle in his eye, and I love that he isn't wearing his fake smile, but a real one because he is just so happy. At least I like to think he is :)

I truly can't wait to watch their relationship grow over the years. Kyle is lucky to have such a loving dad.

18 months

I asked my friend Morgan (@momoliti) if she would take some pictures of Kyle at 18 months and she captured him perfectly. I love these photos so much because I can see his personality in all of them, and I know they'll help me remember what he is like at this sweet age. He fell asleep on the way home from our little photo shoot, so during the quiet drive I was replaying the morning and thinking about how much fun I have with him and all of the little things I love about being his mama:

1. His cheesy smile for the camera and the way he says "chssssssss" in his high-pitched voice.
2. The way he shuffles his feet and walks silly when he knows he's doing something he probably shouldn't be doing.
3. How he thinks that if he curls up in a ball between the couch and the ottoman he somehow becomes invisible.
4. How much he loves ice, playing in the sink (still!), the hose, digging up sand/dirt, clicking his high chair straps, running up and down hills, being tickled and chased, hiding in his closet, running around with a towel on his head, playing with Penny, elephant pictures and sounds, gym class and wagon rides.
5. His continued obsession with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and the way he says "Daisy" in his sweet baby voice.
6. His love for tortillas and chips, and how I can bribe him to eat pretty much anything if he gets a tortilla chaser.
7. How he opens his mouth, sticks out his tongue and says "aaaah" if he wants a bite of whatever I'm eating.
8. His stubborn streak and how he sometimes won't do a puzzle or animal sound because he knows I really, really want him to do it.
9. How much he hates sitting still at story time.
10. How sweet he is to babies and little kids, holding their little hands and giving hugs and kisses.
11. His amazing 2-3 hour afternoon naps that I do not take for granted.
12. How he's starting to "count" by pointing to things and saying "two two two."
13. How much he loves opening the refrigerator and staring at its contents.
14. How much he loves gym class and coach Lisa.
15. How he points to his cheeks when we sing "then you're face will surely show it!"
16. How he laughs at daddy's Donald Duck impression.
17. The way he curls up in a little ball on my chest when I'm in my work uniform and he knows I'm leaving for a while. 
18. How he gives daddy a sweet kiss goodnight every night.
19. His southern drawl when he says "hiiii" and "byyyyye."
20. How he asks me to rub his feet or hold his hands at night.
21. How he thinks he's such a big boy when we let him eat a snack or meal in the big chairs at the table.
22. How much he LOVES animals and making all the sounds.
23. His red curls and huge man hands. 
24. How I had to buy him the shoes in these photos because after we tried them on at Target he cried real tears when I put them back on the shelf.
25. The way he asks nicely for things: "asky plsssss."
26. Infinity more memories that I hope will never leave me.

Thank you Morgan for these sweet pictures that I will treasure forever!