Music Monday

Jack Johnson is a family favorite in our house and tonight I chose to showcase his song, "Banana Pancakes."  Matty and I love when dada makes us banana pancakes for breakfast! Being that it's Monday, this song makes me long for the weekend.  It's all about relaxing, forgetting responsibilities and obligations and living in and loving the simple moments. It's just a super cute, fun song that makes my heart happy. Often times when there's music on (which there usually is in our house}, Matty grabs mine and hubby's hand and wants the three of us to dance. It is one of my most favorite family moments. I can't wait to dance with my boys to this song!

Thoughts of Warmer Days

Last Saturday, we took Matty to Cabela's for the first time. Have you been there? It is overwhelming {in a good way}. If you like fishing, camping, boating, hunting, etc., you will love it. Plus, it is cheap, family fun!  There is so much to look at and they even have a restaurant. Matty liked looking at the animal exhibits and the aquarium, but his favorite part was feeding the trout:

Somehow we managed to get out of there without buying a single thing, but it got us very excited for the spring and the beginning of camping season with Peterson!

Publish Post

Music Monday

Matty has taken quite a liking to Thomas the Train. So much so that bath time, which he usually loves, turned into a tantrum this past weekend, complete with a naked baby chucking toys down the stairs and refusing to get in the tub without Thomas. Thomas is wooden and doesn't like water, but Matty didn't grasp that concept. Eventually Matty gave in, but Dada did go out and buy a water-friendly Thomas to ensure that bath time goes smoothly from now on.

Source

In honor of my train adoring toddler, I bring to you tonight, The Doobie Brothers, "Long Train Runnin." Thank you, Matty, for loving trains, making me think of this song and allowing me to discover an amazing performance of a great tune!

Late Starts

Yesterday, snow and ice forced a late start and reinforced my longing to be a stay at home mama {or at least a work at home mama}. I love getting up early and tidying the house, sipping on my coffee, and slowly making my way into the day. Speaking of coffee, I think I am developing a coffee cup addiction. Drinking coffee out of a pretty cup makes it even more enjoyable. { See my newest addition below}.

Sorry for the digression.

As I was saying - late starts - they are bittersweet.

I love the simplicity of the early morning: reflecting on the previous day and the anticipation of what this new day holds. Most weekday mornings, I don't get to meditate on these things because it is rush, rush, rush.

I love late starts because they allow me the opportunity to listen to and enjoy the noises Matty makes as he wakes, speaking softly to himself, often laughing at some secret only he knows.

Mostly I love them because I actually get to see my baby boy in the a.m.  He is usually still asleep when I leave for work.

On this particular morning, as I dressed him, Matty grasped at my freshly showered hair and said "hair wet." Then I pointed to the snow outside his bedroom window and he said "snow, cool!" He also said a million other cute little phrases that made me smile and cry because I just can't get over how much I LOVE this boy. These little things mean the world and I wish I could experience them all day. Every.single.day.

I dislike late starts because they make me really sad when I eventually have to leave for the office.

Leaving him in the hands of family, rather than daycare softens the blow, but still, it breaks my heart.

Would you want to leave this face? Ever? I don't think so. Come on lottery! This little boy is depending on you! ha. :)

Music Monday

Today, as we remember Martin Luther King, Jr., The Beatles, "All You Need Is Love" comes to mind.  It is quickly becoming one of Matty's favorites and I can't wait for the day that he truly understands the beauty within the song.  For now I'll simply enjoy the cute little doo doo doo and ahhhh sounds that Matty makes as he attempts to sing along while he waves his arms in the air to the beat.

I also dedicate tonight's Music Monday choice to my hubby, who is celebrating his 32nd birthday ♥

21-Months-Old and Counting

Lately I have been thinking about how wonderful it will be when Matty turns two.  I know, I cannot believe I am saying it either! Of course I have heard a bazillion horror stories about the terrible twos. I also cannot wrap my head around the fact that my baby is growing so quickly {wipes away tears}, but the pro that overshadows all of the cons is the fact that I will no longer have to remember how old Matty is in MONTHS...in Matty's own words, "woah, cool!" The past few times when asked his age, I stutter for a few seconds because I can't remember! I feel like such a bad parent, but seriously, it becomes confusing! So for only a few more months, I belong to the "my child is {fill in the blank} months old" club.  I am most definitely looking forward to my membership expiring and being able to simply reply "2" whenever someone asks how old Matty is for one whole year!

Here's some recent photos of my almost two-year-old {thankfully, the Christmas Eve, vacuum attack boo boo is almost faded}:

Music Monday

I have been absent for the past week, just taking it easy with the family and reflecting on the past year, but I'm back tonight and excited to bring you the first Music Monday post of 2011! It's a song by The Weepies titled, "Can't Go Back Now." It's such a sweet song and of course I relate it to my Matty. His expanding independence amazes and terrifies me. I know there will come a day when I will have to sit back, watch him go down paths, pray they are the right ones and offer guidance when they are the wrong ones. But like the song says, "in the end, the only steps that matter are the ones you take all by yourself." I know I'm getting way ahead of myself, but this song really pulls at my heartstrings...

"Yeah, yeah go where you want to go.
Yeah, yeah be what you want to be.
If you ever turn around, you'll see me."