Park and Beach Fun

On Saturday we took Landon to the park to kill off some energy before hitting the grocery store. Landon has a lot more fun at the park now that he is able to run around. He particularly loved crawling through a tunnel that they had there.

On Sunday we spent the morning at the beach. We left bright and early so that we could beat the afternoon heat. Landon had a lot of fun. He hated the beach the last time that we took him so I was a little concerned about how he would react. Last time Landon would cry whenever his feet touched the water. We couldn't keep him out of the water this time around. Now that Landon is walking he is so much more outgoing and willing to try new things. Tinkerbell also went into the water for the first time. She's always ran away from the waves before, but now that her Landon was in the water she had to go in too to keep an eye on him!

New Foods

The past few days we've been able to try new foods with Landon. I found some wheat free flour and made Landon some pancakes out of it. I used water instead of milk and substituted the eggs with applesauce. They actually tasted pretty good. Landon absolutely loved them.

I also found pasta made out of rice flour so Landon was finally able to enjoy some spaghetti! I finally got to take those messy spaghetti pictures that everyone has of their babies. He even tolerated the small amount of sauce that we gave him. I was worried that he would have a problem because whenever I eat sauce it seems to make him sick after he breastfeeds. Although I haven't had sauce in months so I guess he outgrew that sensitivity. It gives me hope that one of these years he will outgrow his food allergies.

Today we made a trip to Whole Foods and found a number of things for Landon to eat. We found some rice crackers and wheat free fruit cereal bars. It's nice to now have a variety of food for Landon to snack on instead of rice cakes and apple slices. We also found wheat free/dairy free bread. His food allergies are not light on the budget. The bread alone was almost $7 for a small loaf, but it will be completely worth it to finally be able to give him some toast with jelly or even a turkey sandwich (minus the cheese). I plan on making him french toast tomorrow by using pureed bananas instead of eggs to dip his bread into. I'm sure he will love it.

Hot summer days

It has been so incredibly hot outside lately that I have kept Landon indoors. I have been trying to find ways to get him outside without us having a heat stroke in the process. He has a water table that he got for his birthday that he loves playing with. It keeps him cool and it is in the shade since it's on the porch.

Drinking the water out of the squirt toys!

You'd think we'd be in the pool since it's only a few feet away from our back door, but it's too hot to even go swimming. I am miserable in the heat and try to avoid it at all costs. I am beginning to think that FL is the wrong state for me! On days that I have the car I will be taking Landon to the park first thing in the morning before it gets too hot. He loves going to the park now that he is running around. Of course there is always the play area at the mall that he enjoys just as well. We went there today and he had a blast. Not only can Landon play and make new friends, but I can shop. It's the best of both worlds! We have taken Landon to the play area numerous times and he has never left my side. He was always hesitant to go off and play. As soon as we got there today he took off running. He played for over an hour. He had so much fun crawling through the tunnel and going up and down the slide.

Landon running around!

They have this cow statue there that he adores and sat in front of it with his arms spread out across it to block the other kids from getting near it! We'll have to work on his sharing skills, but I guess that is what happens with the first born.

"Who me? I'm not doing anything wrong!"

We also went to the library this morning. Every Thursday morning they have storytime for babies. There is usually a good turnout of about 8-10 other little ones. Landon really enjoys going and I think by taking him he has become more comfortable around other babies. He learns a lot from attending storytime. He's learned how to clap his hands and stomp his feet to the song "If You're Happy and You Know It" and he has also learning how to put his toys away. The story teller passes out little objects such as bells, balls, handkerchiefs, and such that the little ones can play with and then at the end of storytime she has them put them all back into the box. He came home after our first time attending and he put his toys back into his bin when he was done with them! I had high hopes and expected to see him put his toys away after each and every use, but it has rarely been done since. Hopefully after a few more weeks of storytime I will have a mini cleaning helper...a mom can dream right?!!

Mommy being sick = chaos

I have been sick all weekend, but today was definitely the worst of it. Landon knew full and well that I wasn't feeling good and that he could take advantage of it. He took advantage of the fact the I couldn't lift my head off of the couch and destroyed the place. I have never seen him be so destructive before. Landon pulled out every last toy that he own and tore up any paper that he came across. He even made a game out of knocking the trash can over. While I was in the bathroom he even managed not only to knock the trash can over, but to pull out a can of chocolate frosting and eat the remnants of frosting that were in the can. He's allergic to chocolate so every part of his body that had the frosting on it turned into a rash. He sure didn't make my day easy. I also caved and allowed him to watch his favorite show "My Friends Tigger and Pooh" over and over again just so he would sit still. I don't like him watching tv, but I sure wasn't able to get down and play with him, and with the way he was acting today I didn't have many other options.

The destruction that Hurricane Landon left behind! And yes that is a swing and the bathroom trashcan in the middle of the floor!

Landon came across a brush and started brushing Tinkie!

Here's a cute little video of Landon dancing to his favorite show:

I hope that I start feeling better tomorrow so that I can get this place back into order. I would also like to see my sweet little Landon reappear instead of having a rambunctious toddler...although I know this is just the beginning!

Happy Father's Day Kevin!

I wanted to take a moment and recognize Kevin today seeing how it is his day- Happy Father's Day! Kevin is the best Daddy to Landon. With the exception of breastfeeding, there isn't one aspect of parenting that Kevin doesn't take part in. He helps with the diaper changes, bath time, story time, bedtime, and has even become very good at picking out clothing for Landon. I couldn't have chosen a better man to father children with and I am looking forward to watching Kevin and Landon's relationship grow as Landon grows. Kevin works so hard so that I am able to stay home with Landon and I just wanted to say thank you Kevin for everything that you do. Happy Father's Day- we love you! Here are some Daddy and me pictures of Kevin and Landon taken throughout the past year.

Landon is sick

Landon has been sick since yesterday. It is the first time he's ever really been sick. He had a high fever all day yesterday and couldn't keep anything down. Yesterday morning I took him to Mother Goose storytime at the library and he wasn't clapping to any of the songs or interacting with any of the other babies. I thought he was just tired, but then during the last story he threw up everywhere. I felt so bad for taking him out not knowing he was sick. I brought him home and he spent the whole day sitting and sleeping on my lap. He wouldn't eat or drink anything. I tried nursing him more often to keep him hydrated, but as soon as he would sit up after eating, it would all come back up. He woke up at 4:00 a.m. this morning coughing a lot. He is doing better today. He has had a slight fever off and on all day today. I know he's still not feeling well though because he is really fussy and not really doing much of anything. He just wants to lay on the couch. He was really dehydrated yesterday because his tongue was completely white, but he's making up for it today. He's been nursing all day long, but still won't take any juice or solid foods. At least I know he is hydrated now. I hate seeing him sick and am hoping that he is completely better by tomorrow. To top things off I have been feeling sick all day today. I hope I am not coming down with anything. All I want to do is sleep this headache off, which is impossible with Landon.

A busy weekend

We were able to get out and enjoy the zoo again this past Saturday. Landon loves the zoo. He has an obsession with animals. He loves every different kind of animal, if it has fur, he loves it. I think Landon could have stared at the chimps all day long. Actually I think there were several animals that he could have stared at all day...that is until they come close to him! Landon and I fed the giraffes and he was terrified of them. They do come right up to you as you're feeding them and wrap their tongues around your hand. He was mesmerized by the giraffes until it was our turn to get up close to them. Once he came face to face with them, he had a change of heart and wanted to get away from them.

We took Landon to the little splash park that they have at the zoo to cool off for a bit. He was hesitant at first to go off and play, but as we were leaving he decided that the water looked like fun after all! He had a fun time and I am sure that by the end of the summer he'll really be able to fully enjoy the splash park.

Landon getting a lift from Daddy to the splash park!

Splashing in the water

Somehow Kevin walked away more wet than Landon did!


The zoo tired Landon out!

After the zoo we made a quick stop by the hospital to visit a friend who had just had a baby. Landon enjoyed playing with their other little girl who is just one month older than him.

Landon wishing the he had a baby sister!

Briana gave Landon a kiss!

On Sunday Landon and I went with my Mom to a baby shower. Landon enjoyed all of the attention that he received from everyone. He was so tired out by mid afternoon that he fell asleep in my arms. Landon has never fallen asleep outside of the car seat or his crib before. Not only did he fall asleep in my arms, but I was able to hand him off to my Mom who laid him down on the couch. He didn't wake up once and slept for over an hour and a half!