Sesame Live!

I love discounted tickets to family activities. It gives Blake and me the opportunity to get out and see or do something new.

This past weekend, we had the opportunity to see Sesame Live! Make a New Friend at the Modell Lyric Opera House in Baltimore, MD. Blake's dad was able to join us and we also spent some quality time with my brother, sister-in-law, and my nephew and niece.

Thankfully it wasn't as packed as I thought it would be for a Saturday afternoon. We paid, I think, $12 for Grand Tier seating but we were actually seated in the Orchestra. It was pretty rad!

Blake got a little nervous at first when they turned off the lights and there were flashing lights on the stage. The characters started coming out and it was a bit much for him... but once he saw Elmo... it was a wrap! This little boy was standing on his dad's lap and clapping his hands and pointing to Elmo.

I don't know how Elmo does it. But I love that he makes my son so happy!

Sesame Live! Make a New Friend

Sesame Live! Make a New Friend was a 90 minute show. I had no idea they expected kids to pay attention for that long. And I honestly didn't think Blake would last. After 45 minutes of dancing, clapping, pointing, and smiling with Blake, they turned the lights back on and there was a 15 minutes intermission. We thought the kids would be done by that point but instead Blake just ate his snack and drank some milk.

After intermission, there was still 45 minutes left in the show and Blake was back to dancing and clapping on his own.

It makes my heart jump for joy and kind of makes me want to shed a few tears when I see him so ecstatic over things like that. I just love that he is so enthusiastic about music.

The next show we're going to see is Disney on Ice in November!

His social life is ridic!

Blake has playdates all the time. I love it because he is regularly socializing with his buddies and he gets to play outside of the house. A change of scenery is always nice. Plus, he gets tired out and takes a wonderful afternoon nap, giving me time to myself! ;)

But with all of his playdates comes lots of friends. And with all of his friends, comes lots of birthday parties. LOL! I swear Blake has a birthday party to attend every month. It's so adorable because he absolutely loves it.

This past weekend, we were watching his new buddy (the 2 month old I nanny for, let's call him Sam). Surprisingly, I survived a birthday party watching both boys. Sam was in my ergo carrier and after a bottle, right around the time we arrived at the party, he fell asleep. So with him sleeping on me, I was able to still run around and carry Blake all over the kiddie gym.

It was probably one of the best birthday parties I've seen. The gym coordinators were ON POINT! They had so much enthusiasm and tons of energy to run around with the kids. If Blake were old enough I'm sure he would have had even more fun. But he still had a blast exploring the gym on his own. Climbing, sliding, throwing balls, jumping, and rolling around.

But back to those gym coordinators... I nearly fell in love with both of them. They really acted like they totally love what they do. Their love for kids really shined through and I felt the warmth! I'm thinking of changing kiddie gyms for Blake and because of those two staff members, I'm really thinking about going there.

Mommies NEED to Get Out

I love working from home and studying from home because I get to stay with my little man.

BUT I also love having a night off.

Now that he sleeps through the night, I am able to get so much more done. And on Friday night, I was finally able to get out of the house and drive my car without listening to toddler tunes on the radio.

I pumped up the music, danced by myself at red lights, and sang off tune like nobody's business! It was Mommy's Night Out! I even got to dust off my heels and wear them out! Ohhhhh yeahhhhhhhhhh!

Met up with Stephanie and Jess, two wonderful mommies that I am so lucky to have met. Had dinner and drinks and listened to live music. Girl talk was rushing to get out of our mouths. Oh, but it felt sooooo good. SOOOO INCREDIBLY EFFING GOOD!

Fall Festival

On an off-day with no other kids to watch, I took Blake to play with one of his BFFs, Max, at a Fall Festival around the way. We went on a Wednesday and hoped to avoid the hustle and bustle of the awesome fall festivity goers... and we totally did!

Apparently all of the older kids were in school so toddlers were running wild that day. It was easier to manage Blake and his curiosity since I didn't have to worry about older kids running by him and knocking him down. 

image credit: Stefani Chung Photography

The first thing we did, which in hindsight should have been the last, was play in the sandbox. Blake and Max could have stayed there for hours if we let them!

image credit: Stefani Chung Photography

image credit: Stefani Chung Photography

image credit: Stefani Chung Photography

image credit: Stefani Chung Photography

There was also a cool corn maze, and one made especially for little kids. Rubber ducky races, a netted spider web they could climb all over, a train they could "drive", an obstacle course, and so many other things to tire them out... I mean, keep their creativity trains going!

I was really hoping to take Blake apple picking but the hay rides weren't running that day so I'll be trying to go back again another time.

image credit: Stefani Chung Photography

Two Kids and lots of adventure!

Man, I miss updating over here!

Blake has basically had a constant playmate for the past two weeks. I recently picked up another part time position to care for a baby boy. So I'm now nannying, caring for Blake, working, and studying. Of course my school course load isn't as major as it has been since I started back up but it still takes a lot of time!

Along with all of that, I've also been watching Blake's cousin on my off-days from nannying. ;-)

But it has been a blast! And Blake's face lights up every time his cousin or his new friend walk through the door. It's incredibly adorable. He loves having friends to play with!

Over the weekend, we also went to visit my cousins in NYC and he got to play with their kids and explore the city. Non-stop fun for this little guy.

First time on an NYC subway

Admiring the view from Liberty Island

Peace Fish Down

The semester is in full swing and instead of aiming for a full course load and then withdrawing later, I decided to go part time. So I'm taking two classes this time around. Online classes. I'm two weeks in and already feeling the heat!

And I love it. I love having something for myself. This is MY thing. School is MY thing. Not a play date, not a family event, just me... something for myself.

It's tough juggling my time but I'm still swimming. :)

He's wearing long sleeves and jeans! We're so excited for Fall to be here!

Blake has been super awesome lately. I mean, he's always awesome but you know... just extra awesome.

He is still sleeping through the night. (Yes, I still think of that as a gift every night. LOL!)

He learned how to say a few more words this past week. Please (peace). Fish (psh). Down (down). It came out of nowhere. Just one day, he decided it was time to break out the new words he's been practicing behind my back.

I found out he may have a food sensitivity though. Not 100% sure about it because we didn't get another blood test. He just had one a little after he turned one year so I don't want to take him back just yet. That was rough. His doctor said we can just use process of elimination since he's not having major reactions and it's not an allergy.

He's been having loose stool lately and his little diapers have been piling up with #2s. He just hasn't been able to control that mess. I feel so bad! I change him as soon as I smell the wrath but he ended up getting his first diaper rash through all of it. Poor kid.

So yeah, he's a huge cheese lover and he's been into yogurt for awhile. As of this past week or so, he has been asking for cow's milk more. He used to drink maybe two ounces a day but now he's up to ten ounces. He still drinks water, juice, and my breastmilk but he just tacked on about ten ounces of cow's milk. I've noticed since he upped the volume of dairy, that's when all this mess started.

No dairy for Blake for two weeks. Absolutely, posilutely no dairy. Hoping his gas issues go back down and he can catch a break in those diapers. For now... we're trying out almond milk and soy milk and adding probiotics to his drinks. He isn't complaining. You know, as long as he has his Lollacup.

Help us support a beautiful organization!

Playworks is an incredible non-profit organization that provides support for healthy play as part of a positive learning environment for our kids. According to research and actual statistics, 85 percent of principals report that students are more engaged in school since having Playworks on site. The safe and healthy play Playworks brings to schools helps students succeed in the classroom — and in life.

Active Living Research determined that "regular physical activity promotes important health benefits, reduces risk for obesity and is linked with enhanced academic performance among students. The U.S. Surgeon General recommends that children engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week, yet fewer than half of children ages 6 to 11 meet that recommendation."

As a nanny and a mother, I strongly support an active lifestyle for our children. One of my cousins (and best friends), Nina, was recently accepted in the ING New York City Marathon. Nina is one of the most wonderful special education teachers I know. She works incredibly hard for her classes, and always thinks of how to keep the children engaged while helping them succeed.

She has chosen to run the ING NYC Marathon to raise awareness for the Playworks organization. Nina set up a site to give you more information on why she has chosen to run for this cause. You can also make donations there.

Blake and I ask that you visit her marathon site here: http://www.crowdrise.com/playworksnyc2013/fundraiser/ninauy

Please take just a moment to read why she is running, what she is doing to help raise funds, and find out how you can make a difference!