Elo, Leo...our baby.

I feel bad I haven't been very good about documenting my little buddy's early life. He is so much fun. the literal highlight of our whole family's day is constantly loving on his every move and it is probably ruining him for life.

Leo turns three in a few weeks and he's so much fun. He doesn't require any song and dance like I felt the girls did. It always felt like if I didn't keep them in the thrilled zone we crossed over to a dark side for hours. Leo wakes up happy, forgives fast, takes no for an answer (unless it's the gummy vites...he really just wants to eat the whole bottle and I need to ban them from the house forever), he loves being outdoors and doing work...like carrying heavy things (unless he doesn't want to, then he says, "it's too heavy for me", shoveling things and wiping things down. If he wasn't scared of all noise, I imagine he would want to vacuum things like his pops.

He sleeps with me. There is something so restorative about sleeping with my kids. If I could watch any of them sleep it hits a reset button in a way nothing else does. I love it. I love his breath, his bed head, his common sleep positions, his tiny snore, his bedtime songs, how he sings, how he doesn't want me to leave so he tells me to snuggle but then he doesn't snuggle. I love how he falls asleep hard in less than five minutes because he worked so hard all day long he is out! I love how he cuddles with his blanket and gets mad at me when I sneak it away to snuggle with it at night.

Leo likes to use the word poop a lot. This is new, haven't experienced it since my childhood with four brothers.

Me: What song do you want to sing?
Leo: Poopy Poopy Little star, poop song...

Me: Want to take a bath?
Leo: Poop bath.

Me: Let's get your shoes on to go to the park.
Leo: The poop park?

Me: Leo we are going to go to the beach and build sandcastles.
Leo: Okay, poop sandcastles.

Sometimes he forgets and just adds poop to the end of any sentence, "I'm hungry. Poop."

The latest is a quick fart noise with his mouth at the end of every sentence. It's really quick, just a little air pushed through the teeth against his lip real quick. I'm hoping this isn't a tick and is just a boy thing.

Leo has declared once in the past six months, "Mah Penis is big." I called Chris immediately to ask him if he taught him that line. Nope. I have no idea where that comes from, because it isn't big, it's tiny and who cares about a two year old's size? The other night I went in to join him in bed after he was asleep and it was a hot day (we have had huge, record breaking 85 degree temps around here like five times IN APRIL) and so he was sleeping in a diaper and a t-shirt. His hand was in the front of his diaper just hanging out.

Leo still loves Alice the most of all of his siblings, but guess who he is wanting more and more for the nurturing stuff? ME! And I love it! Of course he loves to work along side his dad or rough house with him, but if he is hurt or sad or left out, I'm his girl. I love it. He also loves his Ruby too, and he and Betsey are buddies once a month or so, otherwise rivals.

He is very intentionally pestery. He takes what you want just to pester and get a negative response from a sibling. He walks VERY slowly to me when I call him over for a diaper change or to get dressed. He always commandeers the things Betesy wants and ruins her cute play efforts with friends, so I'm always glad when there is good weather and I can coax him outside.

Leo could take us to the poor house just with the quantity of life cereal he consumes single handedly. He really only wants to eat Life. We had to stop buying it to diversify a bit but he's picky like almost all toddlers. I don't cater, but he goes hungry or helps himself later.

He loves the park, Paw Patrol, Trains, DIGGERS are his fave. We got to the park in a new community being built and there are excavations always going on, so we stop and he watches from the car window and loves it when the operators discover his interest and wave or so something else cool. He talks about getting a digger daily.

I feel like he talks in a silly lower voice some of the time. It makes me chuckle.

Leo loves pink and fought Betsey for her pink camping chair in exchange for a blue one. He also wanted Frozen underwear when we talked about potty training.

Leo has a love for Batman (He calls him Fatman because that is what Chris calls Leo, so that is what Leo thinks Batman is called), Spiderman is his fave, He seems uninterested in Superman, and he talks all the time about Elsa from Frozen and how she can build houses with ice. I one imitated her hand movements with my palm up and he corrected me, you can't fling frozen fractals with your palms up, they have to be down.

Leo is firm. He doesn't get budged to do some things even if the bribe is really great. He loves diapers and want to skip potty training. He has had some fun success when we have coaxed him onto the potty while he watches a show, and we have had some crazy celebrations, but nothing that has moved him closer to choosing to potty train. I really want it to happen!

He was jealous of Betsey's birthday.

He asks for Oma every morning when he wakes up.

Leo is super social. He talks to all people at the park and asks their names and tries to play with them. Even older kids. He's just super outgoing. I love it.

We had a good few weeks where we were all taking turns being sick and it hit me, Alice and Chris the worst so there was a lot of tv watching. So now, Leo fakes sick all the time to try and watch a show or get out of something he doesn't want to do. Great.

That feel better!

Elo turns TWO!

I can't pretend I remember precisely who Leo was at two because it's been four months since then and I'm writing this in September, so whatever...he's still two! The pics are from May. The description is from September.

I can't stop the full gamut of feels for this kid. They go all day every day. He is the happiest kid. He wakes up happy and he skips naps happy. He jumps, gallops, runs, hugs, cuddles, kisses and dances...all happy. He goes to nursery happy...like any nursery, even out of town. He sleeps in pack and plays happy. He can be happy when he is hungry. He is stronger than Benadryl, and yes...he did have some on a road trip this summer and no, it did not do its job. He is all jabbery thinking he can say everything and be understood and boy do I want to understand him. He says so many things...there is no way to list them all...phrases five words long. He uses pronouns and adjectives and he tells me he loves me. Gah. I just love a two year old boy!

This might be my fave pic ever. 

He looks like Chris, right? 

He has lots of pink things to wear...

He loves a cuddle if he is hurt...this is on the master bathroom floor...Ruby's so happy he chose her.

This expression is a serious score for me to have caught. It is his, "You are dead to me, why are you still talking to me, I can't hear you at all" expression.

He loves watching Ruby "ooohhh aahhhhh" ride horses. He calls them neigh. And he makes a throat clearing noise for their sounds.

He got stuck in the bathroom and wanted out but never cried or got mad. He just waited. It was at least a half hour of stuck before my friend Mercedes with Go Gadget skinny hands was able to move the drawer that was out that he is standing on so that it wasn't blocking the door. IT was amazing. I don't know how she did it.

Jumping to Sissy.

He developed a pre-birthday love for Thomas the Train. He doesn't care he is called Thomas. He calls all trains "Choo choo twain." He also has the same exaggerated lisp as Betsey so his choo choo has more tongue up in there.

We just adore this kid!

Leo, Lilo, Elo, Witto Man...

My little buddy did not take kindly to Santa this year. Can you tell? I love these pics. I didn't really get around to Christmas formal attire for the kids this year due to homelessness but these jammies are their Christmas jammies (Seahawks colors) and they look cute in them. Gotta love the tiara and the cute cupcake hat Alice is wearing. Kind of random. Chris took the kids while I prepped for Ruby's birthday party.

Leo is 18 months old now and so cute and happy and fun. He likes trying to dress himself.

His little ankles are always crossed like this...

can't see the crossed ankles as well here...but...

He's a mess maker.

Yep. Marker all over the bathroom floor. Thhhhhanks.

Leo loves his Alice. He wants her at bedtime sometimes and she loves putting him to bed. Here he is totally sacked out in his sissy's arms.

Leo loves his blankie. He has started taking it out of his crib.

Cuddles at naptime with mommy.

This isn't a happy baby when he discovers his blanket is wet in the dryer.

He really enjoys feeding himself and especially loves nachos.

When he sees my phone he wants to call daddy...can you blame him? Fun! He loves Facetime and especially loves Daddy.

Sometimes he throws mini fits. Not really tantrums, they aren't loud, but he just digs in and is grumpy.

He is always happiest when naked. He loves being naked. He was suck a little performer this particular day.

Playing with daddy is what Leo lives for. He loves his dad so much...just runs to him when he gets home from work, "Dadda!" And then the fun starts. Leo however, doesn't appreciate the vacuum. He HATES loud noises and so that isn't a happy part of the coming home process since Chris lives to vacuum.

Leo devours these squeeze pouches. He eats so many of them, we might go broke because they aren't cheap. I should probably take him off of them but they contain so many veggies and legumes and fruits that would otherwise never be in his diet so I keep buying them. Honestly, he mostly eats puree still for this reason!

We just love our little man. He is starting to show us so many things that are unique to raising boys and we think it is so much fun.

Baby Lambs...

We were so excited to go see the baby lambs at my friend's house, but boy oh boy are they loud when the bleat. Really loud! The kids didn't find them cuddly as imagined, but we were still glad to have seen them. 

When Betsey is nervous she makes this face...

My friend, Thala holding Leo.

Leo is ONE! (And I am 37)...

I love this little man. So. Much. However, he isn't always that easy to hang out with all day, every day because he isn't that happy. I sometimes wonder what is wrong with him, but then all it takes to have the happy guy emerge is a change of environment...usually a change to a new place, he doesn't like the same old thing all the time. Leo thrills us with his progress. The girls and I literally watch his every move. He isn't walking, he pulls up to standing, but doesn't' really even walk along the furniture yet. He is very offended by the possibility of spending time with any other humans more than just his five family members. Like he screams and cries and wails passionately even ten minutes after being left with anyone other than the five of us. He prefers daddy to EVERYONE else and giggles when he hears Chris's voice at the end of the day. He. Just. Loves. His. Dad. A lot. He is a good sleeper but isn't a random sleeper, he only sleeps in his bed. 

 Anyway, for his (our) birthdays we went away for two nights to stay in Port Townsend. We invited my parents to join us and it was a fun little celebration. BUT before we could go, I had to get him the one year old big boy haircut I had been awaiting. 

Let's just say that the last place in the world that Leo wants to be is the new environment of the local Kids Cuts. No toys, cool chair, candy, animal cracker could distract this kid from sheer horror as the kind lady worked her shears around his head. It got painful enough to witness that I seriously didn't even care if the cut was finished. I just wanted him out of his misery. This is a big reason why his first cut was very full of choppy, uneven cuts. 

All ADORABLE and safe and sound in sissy's arms. 

Seriously, this kid is so darn cute, and look at Ruby with her lipless Pierce smile that I have come to adore so much.

A highlight for me this weekend was going a second time to the Olympic Game Farm in Sequim. It is seriously one of my most favorite things to do as a family. It is a game farm where the animals can walk up to your car, and it is a riot every time. We parked my parents' car at the entrance so we could all experience it together and it was so much fun. Due to driving 1 mph around the farm, Leo got to try his hand at driving.

At the overlook, before you enter the free range area...Betsey and Opa.

It is so crazy what goes on at this place!

I've never been so close to a bald eagle before!

These bears are in contained areas, and they don't seem scary at all, but this yawn sure makes this guy look fierce.

So close! Chris was a scaredy cat and kept rolling the window up when they got close.

Betsey looking at the animals...jut the shot I wanted...

Oh! She noticed I was taking a pic and that cute poser came out. I can hardly remember the time when she wouldn't let me take a picture of her for anything.

HELLO!

The condos are on the water at Discovery Bay and they have a nice dock in the condo timeshare. It was fun for the kids to go exploring down there and they did find some great sea creatures...

 Are you impressed? I'm impressed! How did they do that!?

 Daddy cuddles.

 Opa feeding Leo breakfast...which is a pouch of pureed fruits and veggies and Leo's favorite thing in the world. Seriously, he loves these pouches so, so much. It's like his bottle...like it is a comfort to him or something.

 Are other babies this cute? If they are, I haven't ever noticed. He is killing me with those daddy eyes. 

The view from our condo.

My little birthday boy with his presents. I didn't get him anything because he doesn't NEED or WANT anything. I figure this way, stuff will come up this year as he will change and do so much before he turns two and I can get him things he really does want/need then. My mom got him some beach toys for our summer at the beach...

He liked his beach toys! I love his little claps!

He looked like he was trying to blow that candle out...but he was really just preparing to grab at it.

Cake smashing...or just Safeway cupcake eating...we don't have a kitchen currently do to the remodel so it wasn't the usual homemade cake first birthday scenario.

He loved it. Was so happy!

Joy!

Bathtime!!!

So of course there was a birthday celebration for me too. I have some good people who love me because I didn't ask for anything or think it really mattered that we focused on the big first for Leo. So anyway, first, Chris had a gift for me that blew my mind. Like ten years ago, this image was on the cover of the adult magazine for our church, The Ensign. I loved it. I'm not really an art person like some are...so for me, there is art that speaks to me and art that doesn't speak to me really doesn't affect me generally. Anyway, so this strong reaction to this painting wasn't usual and hasn't ever repeated. It is a painting of Adam and Eve with Cain. When I first saw it I thought it was more of a nativity painting but the artist set me straight. I contacted the artist, Jay Bryant Ward and asked how I could buy a lithograph or canvas or SOMETHING of this painting. Well he told me the original was sold (of course for thousands of dollars) and that he hadn't had any replicas created in any price range. I told Chris about this and hoped someday it would change and be available, but honestly, I never even gave another thought to contacting the artist although the painting never left my mind. Somehow, Chris never forgot this and has even tried over the years to see about getting me a replica. This time when he contacted the artist (guys, who are reading...okay there are none...), he actually offered several options!! So when I opened this painting I was really shocked and impressed. It is a beautiful framed canvas signed by the artist who Chris contacted directly. I love it and I love Chris for being so thoughtful and thorough.

 My mom made me some really, really yummy chocolate lava cake which I have to say is the best thing ever. 

On our actual birthday...which was Sunday, the day we left our condo, it was time to go to Jeff's house and attend his ward to be with their family as Isaac was blessed. It was well timed because we were a short ferry ride away from their house on Whidbey Island.

Leo: You and I will have a picture like this for all of our birthdays that we are together. 

 He liked the ferry.

 Rubs.

 I live in a ridiculously beautiful place. It is so pretty that you don't become desensitized to it. I just gawk after all these years and all the beauty being always all around me...it never gets old or boring.

 More birthday kid selfies.

 Oh how I love these kiddos. Leo is so lucky to have these two constantly adoring him.

 We had ALL the cousins present for this event...and they like to sit together...and they like to chat and laugh and rile each other up. I loved sitting behind the bulk of them.

 I walked outside and Chis was walking with Molly on one leg, Betsey on the other and Addy up in the air. He is definitely one of the more hands on, playful in a big way men I have ever known and the neices and nephews all look forward to time around him. I didn't get the camera out fast enough to get it all at the right moment before Molly got up but it was cute.

 Leo and Isaac will someday look the same age and be best friends! On this day, Leo really just wanted to pull and tug at Isaac so I had to keep him at bay.

 Reeeeaaaacchh!!

 I was so happy that my cousin Jimmy and his wife and four boys came to the event. It is so good to catch up with him and his kids are always a fun addition according to my kids. 

More crazy beauty. No edits.