Love Thursday: TV Rediscovered

For those of you who know me, you know that I don't even know how to turn on our TVs unless Ryan is home to walk me through it (to my defense, there are about 4 remotes and it's a complicated ordeal and until now not worth the effort since we didn't have cable). But now we have Direct TV. Those days are over.
And Dylan and I are discovering the Sprout channel together, a PBS station for preschoolers. It's all the rage with 2 year olds. Now we are in the loop.
And after 3 years without cable, this is really going to take some getting used to. Plus, we have the DVR recording feature, which is the Direct TV version of Tivo. Thursdays are going to be SO awesome now!
And speaking of Thursdays, this week marks the start of a new season of our favorite shows: The Office and Grey's Anatomy.

(and for those like-minded souls out there, check out the Grey's writer's blog each week for their commentary on the episode here).

Oh, and guess who had a DRY diaper this morning after 12 hours of sleep? Then used the potty like a champ? And then later used it again before naptime this afternoon??!

Love Thursday: A Manly Meal

Upon reflection of what Courtney must be enduring with the loss of her husband this week, I realized the time is entirely too short with the ones we love. As such, I decided to make more of an effort to appreciate my family. So tonight I made a special dinner for my boys in celebrate what they mean to me. The menu: Corn, Roasted Potatoes, and Steak. A real manly meal.

And while you may find it outrageous to learn that I've never made corn on the cob myself, I will assure you that I took the necessary steps (internet, you are my friend) to ensure my maiden run was properly executed.

Here's the spread in it's final form before being gobbled up:

Love Thursday: Stickers

Dylan loves stickers. And thanks to Julie and Kathy, we have two very special sticker colorform fun pockets that Dylan really enjoys.

Here is a little video of us doing The Very Hungry Caterpillar one together:


Notice the fire-truck sirens that go by in the background? Then Dylan points out the "trucks"? We do indeed live near the fire station, but it is actually really cool. The sound of the trucks that go by make me feel comforted to know that 'help' is only about a block away if ever we needed it. We drive by it everyday and count how many of our trucks are there. And on our walks, we often get a wave from the firemen sitting outside. Then one time Dylan was even invited to come sit up in one of the fire engines, which was AWESOME! So there you have it. What could be an annoyance, is really a blessing.
Ok, now go watch it again!

Love Thursday: Fishies and Forts

Today we all ventured out to the Cabrillo Aquarium.
It was a small-ish aquarium, perfect for an hour or two visit, including a tidepool touch-tank.

Here he is giving the fish in the tank a 'kiss'!


On the way home we missed our turn for the street leading us to the freeway. Once we turned around and turned up the correct street, we watched a nasty car wreck just about 50 feet ahead of us (in which the jeep/hummer car did a 180-spin just missing our car by a couple yards)! Imagine if we hadn't missed our turn, perhaps causing us to just miss being one of the cars in that accident?! That could have been us. We pulled over and I almost got out of the car to try and help... flashbacks of last year come to mind. But Ryan knew better. Since we were in the middle of LA, there were plenty of other people already running to help out. I have been thinking about what happened again back in December and I'm thankful that Ryan had the foresight to know what was best for our family today, gently telling me to stay in the car this time.
We drove carefully the rest of the way. Dylan fell asleep in the car, giving us time to talk and enjoy the rest of our time together before taking Ryan back to work. Then Dylan and I came home and took a nice, long nap.

Tonight we had the perfect post-aquarium visit dinner: fish.

Then Daddy and Dylan built their first fort together, which Dylan lovingly referred to as their "how-t" (which I guess was 'house').

And in two days it is Dylan's birthday. Two years. I can't believe it has gone by both so slowly and so quickly at once. I dread how fast Dylan is growing up, however I love watching him grow. It's a bitter-sweet road. And so I buckle-up (it's the law, and part of a campaign here in California, don't you know?) and get ready for the next year's ride!

Love Thursday: Disneyland

This past Sunday we went to Disneyland with Ryan's family. It was Dylan's first EVER such experience.

During our visit to Toontown, we toured Mickey's House and then had a private meeting with just us and Mickey, which was pretty special. Dylan wouldn't give Mickey a hug (being a little leary of the big-headed, wide-eyed mouse, I'm sure), but he did give an enthusiastic "high-five" which was cute!

His Auntie Meghan (Mimi) got him a super-cool Mickey Balloon.
Somehow Meghan knew that Dylan NEEDED a balloon. And she was right.
It was definitely one of the highlights of the day for Dylan!

And after 12 hours at Disneyland, no nap, and lots of snacks, this little boy was TIRED.

...And so were we.

Love Thursday - Jacaranda Trees

Los Angeles may have it's downfalls, with the smog and traffic. But it has so much more. It has near perfect weather most of the year, beautiful parks and gardens.
And Jacaranda Trees. In Bloom. Right Now.

The delicate, purple flowers line our sidewalks on our evening strolls. It seems to soften the city for me in my mind, making it feel less urban, highlighting the seemingly year-round spring season that makes LA special.
And since I've discovered them last May when I saw them first bloom, I've loved these trees. Soon they will no longer be purple and summer will take hold, but May is special here for us, in part because of these trees.

Happy Mom's Day

For Mother's Day Ryan asked me what I would like to do. I thought about what would make the day special for me. Digging deep I realized what I really wanted was a simple day with my family. We ended up driving down to Mission Viejo to meet Ryan's grandparents and Aunt Nancy for a picnic at the park there. It was a beautiful afternoon and Dylan really enjoyed playing on the incredible playground there. Later, after a nice nap, we all took a long walk before dinner.
And it got even better as I opened up the freezer to find a lovely (and you'd understand the depth of this gift if you knew how much I adore ice cream) Baskin Robbins ice cream cake.
Yeah, that was a nice touch. Good job, Ryan.
We've been devouring that little cake since Sunday. It's nearly gone but I'm going to savor that last piece tomorrow after my workout.

Love Thursday: Milk Martini

If you remember way back when, when we were trying to wean Dylan from the bottle... yeah, well maybe we haven't totally kicked the habit here. As far as bottles go, we are still down to one-a-day. Like a vitamin.
Just before bedtime (and brushing his teeth, never you fear all you future dentists out there), Dylan snuggles in between us in our bed with his baby-martini of sorts: his bottle. For a while we had decided this was important to make sure that Dylan got enough calories (because he doesn't eat much most days and, as parents, we worry). Now it is such a special time for us as we unwind from the day and signal that it is nearing time for Dylan to go to bed. If something is amiss in the routine, Dylan is sure to point it out, patting at the pillow next to him and saying "ma-ma" or "daa-dee" for us to come join him on our respective sides of our bed as he glugs down his milk-martini.
And I know our pediatrician would frown on this practice, but frankly I don't care. It's not hurting anyone and he's not a fat kid by any means who should be curbing their whole-milk intake. And I know that in due time this little babyhood ritual will come to an end. So for now, I'm hanging onto my little baby boy a little longer because I'm quite certain that he won't be going off to college with his "bah-bah" (bottle).

Note: The other day Dylan ratted me out as I was gathering him up from daycare. He was overtired and fussy and a bit weepy, and through his tears out stumbled his request for his beloved "bah-bah" (obviously he was tired). One of the daycare caregivers was standing there and overheard. She asked in an obvious trying-to-not-sound-surprised tone, "Does he still get bottles at home?" Uhhh. Yeah. But let me explain. We are still working on this, it's only once a day now, and... and it's milk, not whiskey.

Love Thursday: Long Walks

When we first moved back to California, we promised eachother that we'd try to enjoy the weather here, getting outside as a family as often as possible. As such, for about two months now we've incorporated an evening walk into our schedule. The crisp evening air, cooling from an earlier warm afternoon, the sun setting over the mountains - it is a special time for our family.

Usually we set out just after dinner, at 6:30 and walk until the sun just sets at 7:30pm. Over the past few weeks our walks have developed into an actual route which takes us past our favorite houses in the neighborhood. My favorite house is a tudor style home with a swing hanging from the tree and bright colored flowers lining the edges of the perfectly manicured yard. The family that lives there appears to be about 5 years older than we are, and we often talk about our future as we pass by, making special note in my mind of that moment each time.

I look forward to this time together as a family all day long.

Love Thursday: A boy and his kitty

These two are close.

At first I thought Thaddeus (our kitty who is more like a doggie) was watching Dylan eat his lunch. But then I noticed that Dylan was sharing his lunch with Kitty.


The love of a boy and his Kitty:

They cuddle.
They wrestle.
They even play with frozen veggies at lunchtime.

Love Thursday

I love my wife and baby. It can't be said in a way more simple or more true! I love being a father and a husband, and I love our life together. Sure there are challenges and unknowns and worries, but I'd rather have my family with me while we go through them than do it alone. Life used to be about so many things, but recently I've found that it is really only about a few things: love, happiness, and togetherness.

Here is my recent favorite picture of the ones I love. Have a happy Love Thursday with the ones you love!

How does your garden grow?

Last weekend we decided to explore the Huntington Gardens. With longer summer days and a love for long walks, Ryan made the executive decision to splurge on a membership so we can return as much as we want. We went both Saturday and Sunday and I took Dylan again this week already, so it seems like we'll be putting it to good use!









We explored the gardens over a few hours. We went to the Children's Garden, which is always a hit with Dylan. And explored the beautiful Japanese Gardens complete with a bridge, Koi ponds, and rolling hills. The wisteria is in full bloom, reminding me of the walkway of my parent's house where I grew up.

So for this Love Thursday, I'm posting my favorite picture of my boys walking down by the lily ponds.
After an hour of sitting in the stroller as we explored the grounds, Dylan needed to get out and stretch his little legs. So he and daddy ran around together while mommy had a turn with the camera!

A Day at the Park

Happy Love Thursday everyone. This is one of my current favorite pictures. I love how Dylan has his bucket and shovel slung over his arm as they excitedly walk through the parking lot to the park playground. He loves the sand, loves the slides, loves the energy, loves the freedom of running around without (many) boundaries. And to be honest, I really love the nap that usually follows.

Love (Laundry) Thursday

My little helper. He loves to help me load and unload the laundry. (Each time, carefully checking that his beloved blankie isn't in there - if so, he protests).

My favorite part is how serious he is about the loading and unloading job. He has absolutely no clue besides moving stuff back and forth, and he's so diligent, grunting as he works because the clothes are so heavy for him to carry. And every so often I find a stray sock or shirt tossed inappropriately into the trash or back into the dirty/clean clothes.

Love Thursday - First Date

The place we went on our first date, 8 years ago, in San Diego. Ryan ordered a hot chocolate. I ordered a latte. He said he didn't like coffee and I encouraged him to at least try mine. He fell in love... with both of us. And this time he got the latte and I got the hot chocolate. Funny how things turned out, isn't it?

prayerful Thursday

In honor of family on behalf of Love Thursday, I wanted to post a picture of my favorite moment of the day. When we pray for dinner each night, Ryan reaches across the table for my hand and Dylan likes to join in. He recently started holding one hand on each of ours, making a little nest of hands for our prayer. It warms my heart when I open my eyes to see him smiling back up at me, making me count my blessings once more before eating dinner. This Thursday I want to thank my boys for that precious moment each night, holding my hands and filling my heart with love.

love (candles) thursday

I love candles. My husband knows this and the other night as he came upstairs to bed, he thought of me. And so he brought up a candle with him so I could enjoy it as I fell asleep, the yummy "hot cider" smells filling the room. This man knows me and all the little things that make me feel special and loved. And that is all I have to say about that.

love (bedtime reading) thursday

I love how Dylan loves our bedtime-book-reading-fest routine each night as a family. Neither Ryan or I have proved to be big readers ourselves (unless you count email, blogs, or science journal papers) and I'm tickled to watch how our son enjoys reading with us. I think he has figured out that reading more books stalls his having to go to bed. Therefore he requests passionately (as toddlers do with just about everything that is taken away) for more books.
And what could be more precious than a kid who loves to play peek-a-boo with you through the cover of his book?
Could you resist reading it again? Yeah, me neither.

a thankful thursday

Today is Thanksgiving and I'm reminded of what I'm thankful for: My family. My beautiful son and husband and all that I've been blessed with. This past year has really proved to be one full of blessings. And as much as I think at times that this is a hard time in our lives, time and time again I pause and soak up these precious moments as a family, remembering what my mother in law has told me. "One day you'll look back on this time of your life and think of it as 'the good ol days'."

I think she's right.

Love Thursday: fall

This family loves the fall. Especially the fall leaves in St. Louis. This year we were lucky enough to get to visit our beloved midwestern town during the fall season.

The trees were ripe with beautiful red, yellow, and orange leaves.

The laughter of our son as he ran around with crunchy leaves beneath his feet.

Breathing the fresh fall air. Snuggling under the trees for pictures together as a family, hoping for at least one with all of us looking at the camera. Gotta love the fall.




What do you love? (Post it on Karen's Love Thursday).