Morton Arboretum

Every summer my good friend Tracy and I plan an outing with her three boys and Wilson. Last year we did the zoo and this year we went to the Arboretum. Wilson had a blast in the Children's Garden, the only downfall of the day was that it was 95+ degrees! The boys were totally zonked by 1:00 and were ready to go home.

Friday Night Dinner

We got together with my Dad for dinner last Friday and got some great family pictures. For those of you who haven't heard, our memory card corrupted in the middle of Wilson's birthday party and we, of course, had no idea so we kept taking tons of pictures. Oops. After many tears (from me, not Darren) we bought a new card and new camera and are thrilled with our idiot proof / moving toddler proof purchase. The second photo down is of the four generations - the 3 Eds (my Grandpa, my Dad, my brother), and then Wilson.

Birthday Boy

I can't believe my beautiful baby is 2! Time has flown by. He is doing such "big boy" things. Yesterday he ate a McDonald's cheeseburger without it being cut ut into pieces, which I know doesn't sound like a big deal, but after cutting up food into itty bitty pieces for the past 18 months and then seeing him sit on a stool and eat a cheeseburger...I just about lost it. He brings so much joy to our family, he is so smart and so funny! Happy birthday Wilson!

Splash Park

Darren was on vacation last week, so we took a family outing to the Campton Hills Splash Park. We thought Wilson would really get into, being a boy and liking to rough house. He was so cautious the entire time, but he did get into drinking the water (see bottom photo)!

Act 2, Scene 6

Act 2, Scene 6
Wilson is diaperless, pantless, underwear-less.
Darren is on the phone with his mother.
I am downstairs.

Darren: "Hi Mom...." Blah Blah Blah, conversation continues....
THUD... THUD...
Wilson: "Poop!"
Darren: "Ma - I gotta go - Wilson just pooped on the floor..."

There's Hope

Our potty training extravaganza was derailed yesterday by the fact that we had no food in the house. Wilson and I literally were out the door by 7:30 and home by 12:15, and in that span of time we did: Target, Woodman's, Trader Joe's, Sam's Club, and McDonald's. And these were not short errands - these were my monthly shops - this was it for July! That is impressive with a 2 year old I must say. Anyway, it killed me, but I put a Pamper on him and hoped for the best. I have to hand it to him, even throughout all the sippy cup distractions I provided him that morning, he was pretty dry when we got home! That poor kid had maybe gone once I would guess.

So here we are today, he's napping. I haven't used any Spot Shot, I haven't done any laundry, we haven't had any accidents. We are moving right along.....hopefully.

Potty Training - Day 2

My Best Friend

Potty Training - Day One

My goal is to have Wilson potty trained by the age of 2. My deadline is quickly approaching. We've been dabbling in it....we put him on the potty, he goes, we put him back in a diaper, blah blah blah. It's time to get serious. Summer school is over, as Darren says, time to start the hardcore training. So, day one we spent the day in big boy underwear! He did great until about 10:45 when the juice caught up with him. He just won't tell me when he needs to go!!! We got back on track though until Darren got home and you can see from the top picture, well, we had another accident. Darren and I being 1st time parents were definitely NOT prepared for this!!! Anyone who is in a hurry to get their child out of diapers is a fool! We got cleaned up and recovered from our dry heaves and moved on to the plastic bloomers you see in the bottom picture. We're going old school now...

More 4th of July Pictures

Here are a few more pictures from the 4th. Note the giant fruit trays behind Wilson in almost every picture. He didn't leave them the entire time. We do feed him, I promise, but you certainly couldn't tell by the way he was jamming cherry tomatoes, grapes, strawberries, and pickles into his mouth. All choking hazards too....yeah! I think in the middle picture he is actually attempting to eat his glow stick necklace. That's my brother in the bottom picture with Wilson. He'll be the primary caregiver Mondays and Wednesdays this year while I'm teaching. While I left to help clean up, E.J. let Wilson cram 8 (eight) grapes in his mouth at once. I came back outside, Wilson looked at me, opened his mouth, and grapes came spilling out onto the ground (while everyone cracked up of course). Nothing to say - I laughed too, so I can't be mad!

4th of July

Here are some pictures from the 4th of July at Aunt Mary's house. We had beautiful weather! No fireworks this year though, Hawthorn Woods shoots theirs off on the 3rd. Next year for sure!