Quick, before I get Sidetrack'd

One day last week Little sat in my lap as I perused various blogs in Google Reader. One post had a picture of the blogger’s baby girl which precipitated the following conversation.

Little: Mommy, what baby is that?
Me: That’s baby Anna.
L: Why is that baby Anna?
M: Because that’s what her Mommy and Daddy named her.
L: No, Mommy. Because that is what God named her.

We talked a little more about how God knows the babies’ names and calls them by those names even before the Mommies and Daddies pick the names. She seemed satisfied and continues to tell us that God gave us our names (as well as the fruits, vegetables, animals, etc). It was really a very sweet conversation about the sovereignty of God wrapped in the terms of a two and a half year old.

Boo decided this week that it was time to get serious about this walking thing. Tuesday evening he walked around the living room several steps at a time. Yesterday he got adventurous enough to walk on the concrete when we were playing outside (although he did not like to put his feet in the grass!).

He’s still very much in that wobbly early-walker phase. He has to concentrate hard on what he’s doing and pause every few steps to regain his balance. Or he drops to the ground and gives up the walking thing for a faster mode of transport – all fours.

He’s getting more confident all the time as he takes more and more steps. Currently he can make it about halfway across a room in a single walking session. Soon he’ll be walking more often than crawling. By the end of the summer I’m sure he’ll be running all over the place.

And then I’ll lose my baby to the cute little toddler he’s becoming.

In honor of Boo’s birthday, my first attempt at cake decorating.

…and “thank you” and “uh oh” are my two main words.
…and I have 5 teeth and 2 more about to break through.
…and I drink milk and juice from my sippy cup.
…and I sleep with two silky blankets, a stuffed monkey, and three pacis.
…and I look more and more like my sister as I get older.
…and all of my tummy and sleep issues seem to be long gone!
…and I love my big sister.
…and I want to be in the middle of whatever Little is doing.
…and I love to eat.
…and I am the messiest eater ever.
…and I would eat my weight in grapes and apples.
…and my favorite foods are fruit, sandwiches, mexican, and pizza.
…and I have a bright smile that lights up my face.
…and I love to giggle when I get tickles.
…and I decided this weekend I could take a few steps at a time.
…and when in a hurry I put my head down and crawl faster (think charging bull).
…and I love to sit in the floor and look at books.
…and I have really bad hair (think mullet).
…and I love to go for rides in the stroller.
…and I still like to be worn in the BabyHawk.
…and I kick my feet when I’m excited (the more excited, the faster I kick).
…and I start dancing most any time music comes on.
…and I’m thinking about walking, but still only thinking.

I saw this idea at Little Bits of Life a few weeks ago and thought it was such a good idea that I would steal borrow it. Thanks for the idea, Aubrey!

I was a bit scarce last week as I dealt with kiddos, life, and plans and prep for the boy’s first birthday party Saturday night. Now, another Monday is upon us ushering in a new Menu Plan Monday. Here’s what we’ll be dining on at chez Sidetrack’d this week:

Sunday – lunch: leftover pizza / dinner: chicken salad sandwiches

Monday – leftover chicken salad, chips, raw veggies & dip, fruit

Tuesday – grilled brats, beans, and fries

Wednesday – salads with chicken (chicken, mac & cheese for the kiddos)

Thursday – Awesome Turkey Sandwiches, raw veggies, fruit

Friday – tacos, chips & cheese dip, rice, black beans

Saturday – lunch: pizza / dinner: leftover taco stuff

For more menu inspiration, visit I’m an Organizing Junkie.

Last week my baby turned one. We spent quite a bit of time last week and over the weekend celebrating his first year of life, and now it’s time to blog about Boo.

Last weekend I promised Little that we could go to Chick-Fil-A on Wednesday after BSF as part of our Boo’s birthday week celebrations. (Boo doesn’t really care where we eat as long as there is food, so this year I got away with letting Little pick the venue.) My friend S and her two sweet girls came along and we had a nice lunch. After we ate I let the kids play on the playland for a few minutes which they both really enjoyed.

On Thursday we went for Boo’s one year well-baby checkup. The doc said he is doing great and gave him an A+. He weighs 21 pounds 12 ounces and is 29 inches tall. His weight puts him between 25th and 50th percentile, and his height is up from 10th percentile to the 25th percentile which made the doctor happy. He is meeting all of his milestones nicely.

This weekend we had some friends over for a birthday celebration (more on this later in the week). Boo had fun eating his cake (boy did he like that part!) and opening his presents. The most exciting part for me, though, was when he decided to take about 7 or 8 steps – by far the most consecutive steps to date. He just picked up the toy he was playing with and took off. It won’t be long until he’s left crawling behind which is both happy and sad for the Momma.

Anyway, that’s a bit about our birthday boy’s week. More to come in the following days.

I’ve intended to post pictures of Little’s new haircut the last couple of days, but I don’t have any “after” pictures yet. So, you’ll have to make do with something funny she said.

The other night we were eating a calzone casserole that had pepperoni in it. Little kept calling them peppy-ronis. When I smiled at the use of her new word the following conversation ensued:

Little: I say funny words.

Matt: Like what?

Little: I say peppy-roni when really it is peppy-O-roni. That’s silly!

She was just as serious as she could be. Matt and I about choked on our dinner we were laughing so hard!

He stands very well.

He cautiously takes a couple of steps between pieces of furniture.

He “walks” holding onto our hands.

He spent 30 minutes last night pushing Little’s stool around the kitchen.

This boy of mine is about to take off.