On Father's Day we had LT's 2nd Birthday Party! He had a wonderful time and was in a terrific mood the whole day! He especially enjoyed the company of his cousin, A ... LT just adores her every move!!!
Today is LT's 2nd birthday! Daddy, LT and I have celebrated all day long - starting with a special breakfast this morning from Dunkin Donuts. We took him out to breakfast yesterday morning so he could get his favorite Mickey Mouse chocolate-chip pancake from Megan's. After breakfast today, D presented him with his new Mickey t-shirt and new Lightning McQueen car that he got in Disney world this week. He loves both and wore his new shirt today. Then we told him the 3 of us were going to Adventure Aquarium in Camden to see the fishies! He was soooooo excited right away and began exclaiming "NEMO!"
LT loved the aquarium so much. It was hilarious to D and I that he kept saying "shark bait, ohh ahh ahh" - from the part of the movie, Finding Nemo, where Nemo is initiated into the "club" in the fish tank with the other fish friends. I guess to LT the displays looked like huge fish tanks and he kept chanting that line. He loved the hands-on parts too, he was able to pet a shark, sting ray, jelly fish, and a few small snails and urchins. We got him a stuffed animal shark and he napped with it on the way home.
Our evening was followed by a trip to Ruby's Diner for his birthday dinner, followed by a trip to Home Depot to "ride" the tractors. It was a great day and now I'm not sure who is more tired - LT or mommy! Gotta gear up for LT's birthday party and Father's Day tomorrow!
We have been waiting to share the news with everyone, but we're nearing 12 weeks now and feeling ready - we will be welcoming our second baby sometime around the New Year! Due on Jan 3rd. We had a great ultrasound this morning, everything is looking good and baby has a strong heartbeat! It was so amazing to hear baby's little heart beating and seeing little arms and legs bending. We're so happy and glad to be sharing the news with everyone now!!!
For those of you who may not know, D recently defended his dissertation and earned his doctoral degree, officially becoming "Dr. K@#*&!@$" (no last names allowed here but you get the idea) ...
Yesterday our family traveled to Temple for D's graduation and doctoral hooding ceremony. We are all so excited and proud of D for accomplishing this tremendous achievement. He worked very hard on this degree for years. LT was particularly enthusiastic during the formal academic event - he called out "daddy" and "yay" several times during the ceremony (whoops) but we all still saw the big smile from the side of D's face when he heard LT over the speaker's voice.
Landon loved the tassel
Dr. K and Dr. K
The head of D's dissertation committee and advisor
After the ceremony, followed h'orderves, then a quick tour of the TU campus, a trip to D's office, and a visit with many of his co-workers so he could "show off his son." We then headed towards home and all went to dinner at Hibachi, thinking Landon would love the entertainment of the chef right at the table. He did like it ... for a little while ... then running through the restaurant and looking at the fish tanks became much more appealing than sitting still and eating.
It was a long day, but it was a special, memorable event that we'll all hold dear in our hearts. Most of all - I am soooo proud of my husband. He truly deserves all the accolades he receives. Proudly introducing "Dr. and Mrs. D---- K-------" xoxo
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Its been nearly a month since my lost post, but everything has been great in the K family. We have been having so much fun with the warm weather. Landon would gladly stay outside and play all day! We've been visiting our local parks and playing in our yard and community just about everyday.
This weekend we were able to finally assemble LT's Little Tikes Cottage & Playhouse during his nap on Saturday. LT just LOVES his "house" so much. He has a hammer, nails, and screwdriver, and he's been a very busy worker-man.
Here is a short video of LT playing in his new house. At the end he says "bye" and starts running ...
Checking out his new house
Inspecting his "nails"
Checking his mailbox
Mom-Mom and PopPop K and Aunt W joined us for a BBQ on Saturday. Aunt W was preparing for the Broad Street Run and we celebrated both my and Aunt W's birthday!
Singing Happy Birthday to Aunt W and Mommy
LT helped blow out the candles
Carrot Cake
Aunt W and Mommy
This year we spent Easter in Kutztown at Aunt W's house. Landon had such a wonderful Easter! He just loves to play with his big cousin A and their doggie, Daisy.
LT sitting on top of A
Snuggling with A
Trying A's "sit & spin"
While we have been outside at the park, I have found that LT is nearly too big for the baby swings (at least his feet are), so we've been practicing using the big boy swing. This video clip is the first time LT stayed on a big boy swing by himself. Notice he's very serious and concentrating :-)
His upper lip appears yellow because we like to pick dandelions and smell the flowers! (to LT these are beautiful flowers)
On Thursday afternoon Landon woke up from his nap crying. When I got him out of his crib he was hot and sweaty. Although his normal post-nap self is sometimes cranky, he was out of sorts more than normal. After a bit I decided to take his temperature and discovered that LT had his first fever - 105 degrees! I immediately gave him a dose of children's Advil and called the Pediatrician right away. I was pretty scared since it was his first fever and it seemed awfully high. I thought I was going to be driving to the hospital, but I followed their directions and a few hours later, his temperature dropped considerably. Friday morning, LT had a temperature of 102 and we decided to bring him into the doctors. Turns out he has his first ear infection! Now he's taking his first antibiotic ...
I feel so blessed that Landon has been so healthy so far. Considering he'll be two on June 18th and this was his first fever and the first time he's ever taking an antibiotic, we're doing really well! Maybe breastfeeding for LT's first year helped or maybe he's just lucky - but either way, I feel lucky to have such a healthy and wonderful son. Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for having blessed me with such a healthy, loving, and wonderful boy.
We had a lovely weekend. I have to report that LT got the best haircut of his life thus far and looks super handsome (gushing mommy here). Saturday night we went to church, where Pop was an alter server. Landon LOVED the singing! He clapped when the songs were over and stared in awe as the parishioners sang. He did wander in the middle aisle but only for a minute - it was funny to me anyway. We shared a meal at the Olive Garden afterwards with his grandparents and Aunt P and Uncle R. Luckily we had a whole private room to ourselves so when LT decided to do laps around the table it wasn't a problem. It wasn't until he took off and ran through the middle of the restaurant that daddy had to go chasing after him.
Sunday we went to M's third birthday party in West Chester. LT's favorite parts were the juice box (a treat for him), the swing set outside, but especially the two doggies "Chestnut" and "Henry". If I haven't mentioned it, Landon LOVES "puppies" (dogs). He followed the puppies around the entire time. They were small to medium sized, so he was in heaven. M looked very pretty in her birthday dress and she had a nice party!
Monday we went to the Y and Landon happily played in the KidZone for 1.5 hours while I took a Vinyasa Yoga class. The class was really good and LT enjoyed his time too - a win-win! Monday evening we went to Mom-Mom and Pop P's house for dinner and LT ate a fairly decent meal this time. We played outside afterwards and hooked up with the neighbor's kids. Landon playing with 4-year old Maddie was so cute. The pair could have been brother and sister with their matching blond hair and blue eyes, but Maddie had a beautiful head of curls! LT was immediately taken with her! He repeatedly reached for her hand and she happily walked around with him and shared all her toys. They tried ring-around-the-rosey together and hugged a bunch. It was adorable. LT definitely has a thing for the ladies!
This morning we signed LT up for "Perch" swim lessons! I am soooo excited. I really hope he enjoys this. He has 2 new bathing suits and I can't wait to see him in them. The lessons don't start until the end of April. I'll be sure to update how that goes.
Mom-Mom K joined Landon and I this morning at the Delaware Children's Museum. It was our first time and we loved it! It reminded me of the Please Touch museum on a smaller scale. The place was very clean and had lots of fun activities for little ones. Landon really enjoyed the "choo choo" area with trains he could get in and out of. There was a lot of open space to run between exhibits and lots of padded play areas, which were good for Landon. We enjoyed running around with him all morning and exploring the DCM.
Next we went to Joe's Crab Shack for lunch. We really like it there. There were so many decorations all over the walls and ceiling that it easily kept Landon's attention while we waited to be served. The food was yummy and the portion for Landon was just right! Mom-Mom and I both enjoyed our lunch dishes too.
We had a special morning and we are so glad we got to share that adventure with Mom-Mom K!
Happily, Landon is taking his nap this afternoon. Yesterday after a great playdate with CW and K, Landon fell asleep in the car on the ride home, and then never took a real nap later in the day. I'm not ready for no nap yet! It really made me appreciate his naptime. I need that mental break! We always have so much fun with CW and K and we can't wait to meet baby K this June!!
My camera batteries died almost as soon as we got to the DCM :-( but I did manage to get a few shots. I hope to upload more from Mom-Mom's camera soon.
Happy Lemons is the name of the album we're listening to A LOT! Its a Ralph's World album and I cannot say enough how much I love this CD! Since Landon and I dance and listen to music a lot during our days home and on our car rides, its important to have good music to listen to and he is quick to tell me to advance to the next track when he's not happy with a song. "Happy Lemons" might be my favorite song on the disc, but I really love them all. I think I know most of the words and I find myself singing these songs throughout the day, even during his nap! I'd recommend this album to any mom, it'd even make a nice gift for someone. We have 3 total Ralph's World albums and although I think they're all good, this one is our favorite. Landon has started "singing" when this CD is playing. He knows a lot of the words and thinks the lyrics are so funny! Now we get to sing together!
I'm always a little sad when something great comes to an end, and that is how I'm feeling now ... what a terrific week we've had here in the K home!!! With D home from work this week, we just had a great time together and made some special memories. LT and D are like peas in a pod! I get a kick out of watching them together. It seems boys are never too young (or too old) to laugh at burping and tooting!
We also had a special visit on Saturday morning from our dear friends in the G family. The beautiful and sweet "M" and her kind and thoughtful mom "B" came to see us and LT! Both D and I had the pleasure of teaching M in class and its so nice to see her doing so wonderfully in school and life! LT is enjoying his special new baseball bag and has been hysterical laughing as he pushes Thomas through the tunnel! He likes to make Thomas disappear in the tunnel and laughs as he propels him out the other end ... ahhh, I wish I could laugh so hard at simple things like this!
Playing with his new Thomas tracks & tunnel - thank you M & B!!!
xoxoxo
Hiding Thomas under the couch
D and I also enjoyed a nice night out to dinner on Saturday to our favorite, PF Changs! Mom-Mom and Pop P had a great night with Landon too!
This morning D and LT went out to breakfast together and LT had a mickey-mouse pancake and ate the whole thing! He smelled like syrup when he got home and was zooming through the entire house. I think he got charged up on all the sugar. Then we took him shoe shopping and got a new pair of sneakers - his first with laces that tie! He seems to like them and was keen on the idea that they'll make him even faster. Next time we buy shoes he'll be out of "baby boys" and into "pre-school" sizes. That's our "big foot!" This afternoon we broke out the Power Wheels from last summer and Landon is almost too big - unbelievable! We played with the puppy next door and 2.5 year old W for awhile this afternoon. Landon likes watching W rolling down the hills!
Daddy has been on spring break this week! Wooo-hoooo! We're loving every minute of it. Its sooo nice to have him home. When D hasn't been working on the last (hopefully) revision of his dissertation, we've been playing, playing, playing! LT is definitely in an extra happy mood this week since his best pal has been around!
We made a trip to the Please Touch museum today. It was crowded due to the rain and a lot of field trips, but it was still great. LT was so excited all morning. We took a lot of pictures (its so hard to get a good picture when LT is constantly on the go, and I just can't get any smiles on camera lately when I want them). Here's some shots from the morning:
