First Girlfriend

Danny has his first girlfriend. Truth be told he shares Jackie with Garrett Atkinson, but he adores her all the same! The whole Atkinson crew has been in town for their annual beach week (left today) and Danny couldn't get enough of Miss Jackie...oh and everyone else and all their doggies.

Representing mommy, daddy, Garrett and Matt's alma mater

Tiki shirt for the tiki bar

Me and Mrs. Kari Atkinson

Best buds

Happy (Belated) Birthday Sweet Love!

I know Danny's birthday was over a week ago, but it's never too late to profess our love for him, right? Now, where do I start? Danny is two years old and absolutely the sweetest and cutest little kid around (in our humble opinion)!

He's in a wonderful phase right now where he's both into being independent and still pretty well behaved. He'll go upstairs by himself to "find monkey" (his monkey blanket) and when we yell up there a few minutes later to check on him he's just "playing tars" (playing with his matchbox cars). Side note: we, of course, don't leave him unattended for long and know that the days of him drawing on the walls with crayons are not far away. He's really pretty good around other people, socializes but doesn't dominate, and remains the best restaurant date ever! He very much wants our acknowledgement of everything he sees in the books we read or out the car window. Like you can't turn the page until you agree with him that that's a "meow" and he'll have a hernia if you don't also point out the bulldozer along the side of the road. Speaking of bulldozers...

A Few of His Favorite Things:

• Bulldozers and other construction site equipment
• Bike rides (and wearing his helmet!)
• Playing with his matchbox cars
• Listening to music (specifically "Ripple" by the Grateful Dead, "Wagon Wheel" by OCMS, anything by Jack Johnson and anything Motown with a good beat. If I sing, "Rock me mama like a wagon wheel," he replies, "heyyy mama wock me".)
• Dancing and playing guitar to above music (and he actually has pretty mean dance skills - my favorite move is when he turns his back to you, sticks his butt out and just shakes away)
• Mickey Mouse (still!)

He's so smart, sweet and affectionate, yet also so funny. And relatively calm except right before bed when he gets a burst of energy and becomes a wild man. He's obviously been talking for a while now, but only in the last month or so has he been talking this much. All words that start with a "c" come out with a "t", ie. "tolin" (Colin) and "tars" (cars). And all of sudden it's mommy, daddy and nanny, not mama, dada and nana. Interesting because we called my maternal grandma "nanny" too.

Some Other Cute Sayings/Doings:

• Loves to stack things and point out anything on "top" like a carrier truck carrying cars down the highway
• "Oh my word" when he sees something exciting or new
• "What are you doing?" or "People doing?"
• "My man" and a fist pump
• "Habby dabby to you" (Happy Birthday to you)
• "Hiding" just about anything (including food)
• "Help me" (actually what he says when he wants to help you fold clothes, sweep the floor, etc.)

He's a very good eater - will try most things at least once. He likes standard kid food like grilled cheese, chicken fingers, fruit, etc, but also things like refried beans, salsa and most meats that I prepare. His favorite, of course, is mac and cheese!

As for birthday celebrations, we really spaced things out. He got his first present from Aunt Kelly, Uncle Spencer and Connor when we were in Virginia Beach and then more presents from Grandma and Ron on Thursday, followed by even more presents from Papa and Lita on Friday. Jimmy and I got him his first surf board and a couple other little things and Nana, of course, spoiled him rotten at her house on Sunday.

Swimming with mommy at Nana's

Happy Birthday Danny - we love you so!

Danny Turns Two!

Today is Danny's 2nd birthday! I had high hopes for an amateur photo shoot and a sappy tribute to the little boy I love so, but no such luck! The only pictures I have of Danny today are the ones I took of him at the doctors office, as this mama is not feeling well! Birthday celebrating to take place this weekend, followed by a proper birthday blog post for the light of our lives...

Where's the cake and candles??

Beach Boy

Spring has sprung, so we've been hitting up the beach and the pool at Nana's condo!

Post sun and surf naps are the best

Character

At only a couple of days away from two years old, Danny say and does the darndest things! He cracks us all up.

Heading to the store to get "tookies" (cookies) 

Looking dapper after his bath

Farting on Mickey

'Sup?

Showing off

Just being cute

Virginia Beach Vaca

This past weekend we were in Virginia Beach so Jimmy could stand next to one of his oldest friends, Eric or "Sugarbear", as he tied the knot. Congrats Eric and Brianna! The best part though, if you ask Danny, was getting to play with his cousin "Tonnor". Getting two toddlers to pose for a picture together = impossible. Danny may or may not have peed directly on Connor's toy truck while in the tub together...

Toy! Toys everywhere!

Helping Danny open his early b-day present

Mimmy stickers!!

Tubby time!

Insta-Lately

Wow, I'm a huge slacker! I haven't blogged in forever. We've been busy and preoccupied. More to come!

He likes wearing grown-up shoes - mine and Jimmy's!

Little frozen lemonade on a hot day!

Case in point

Toes on the nose in Virginia Beach

Fever out of nowhere last night/this morning :(