Warm (HOT) Spring Days.

Starting his mower. How about that Winterstein belly? Too cute.

Christopher helps Daddy cut the lawn. He LOVES the tractor. He was very serious while riding along. When they drove back towards me, CRW would get this smug half smile on his face as if saying "see what a big boy I am, Mommy?". He did this row after row. He was so proud of himself.

Splashing in his new pool on a very hot Monday last week.

We've had a taste of summer last week and we took advantage of it. Spending as much time as possible outside, we've broken in the new pool and sandbox, blew bubbles til we were dizzy and played at the playground. This new weather suits Christopher fine, he was getting antsy with indoor play. Our days have settled into a nice pattern: up by 8, breakfast at 9, indoor playtime, snack at 11, then a nap at noon; in the afternoon we have lunch at 1, then head outdoors and play til we are exhausted, CRW will have a snack at 3, his dinner is at 5 then playtime with Daddy and finally bedtime at 6:30. We are a busy but happy little family.

Hoppy Easter!

Our Easter was perfect. My mom put on quite a spread as usual. We had a nice crowd down Bayside, including Marnell's family and his friend Matt. But to me the best part was watching the kids have fun outside playing and looking for Easter eggs. I love watching Christopher enjoy all the kiddie traditions that I have longed to share with my children. I can't believe these are the days. I am savoring.

Christopher makes sure he didn't miss a spot.

Christopher LOVES this little mower the East Bunny brought him. He turns the key, saying "turn", then pushes the throttle and finally taps the top when I tell him "check the oil". After all this he finally pushes the thing around the yard, or now since it's raining, around the house.

Christopher getting help from Daddy during the Easter egg hunt.

Christopher would find an egg (with our help), pick it up and say "Egg", then place it in his basket.

Christopher double tasks during the egg hunt.

Sophia's cousin Corey had fun rounding up Easter eggs in the yard. He is too cute, always smiling and in a playful mood.

Marnell's friend Matt joined us for Easter (as well as Marnell's family) and prepared this beautiful Rockfish. It was topped with a creamy crabmeat sauce. YUM! It tasted even better than it looks.

And while we are on the artsy food stuff, here is my bunny cake.

Anti Internet.

Last Sunday was very warm, so Christopher tried on his shorts and enjoyed a Popsicle with Daddy.

I don't know why Christopher rarely smiles at the camera, he's so serious. Matt on the other hand, is quite a ham.

Last time I watched Matt it was a little hectic. Now both boys are on the move, and they don't always stay together. We were playing together in Christopher's room when Matt decided to head down the hall. At first I couldn't locate him. After a short search, I found Matt on the bottom shelf of our buffet table. Too cute.

The boys played together nicely with the Fridge Farm, thanks Leah!

The newest addition to our family, Madeline. For even better pics, check out Kevin and Sarah's blog, listed on the right.

I don't know what it is lately but I have been seriously unmotivated to anything on the computer. I think it started months ago when being in the office was difficult with Christopher under foot. Then slowly I realized that I don't actually miss it that much. Lately I cringe just thinking of logging on to check email, blog or whatever. I don't miss it at all. Weird. But I know I have a huge fan base out there to please, so I am dutifully blogging away. That last sentence was dripping with sarcasm in case you didn't notice.

What have I been doing with my time then? I have read 2 Jodi Picoult novels, Harvesting The Heart and Keeping Faith, both excellent books. I am currently painting shelves to house Christopher's toys. And of course as always I am playing preschool with my one year old.

Christopher has learned colors geen (green) and boo (blue). He has been perfecting the shape sorter, although I need Ryan to make more wooden shapes since CRW has cleverly hid most of the pieces. He, like his cousin Leif, is addicted to Dodo (Dumbo). He only watches the first 15-20 minutes with the animals and train. He loves the train. When the song "Casey Junior's coming down the track..." he gets so excited, hops up and down with wide eyes chanting Ti-ti (choo-choo). Lately he has the bad habit of clinging to my legs. I learned that he only wants to see what I am doing up over his head. So he gets lots of up close and personal cooking shows while sitting on our kitchen countertops. With the bad habits come good habits, he has learned manners. Instead of whining, he'll say "peese?" when I say "no whining". It is so cute. The other day he was stuck in my room and wanted the door opened. He started whining but after I warned him "no whining" he said 0ah (open) da (door) peese (please). I was so tickled, was this his first sentence? He is such a chatter box especially first thing in the morning. Before we can even get him out of the crib he is going through his list of words like he's telling us his dreams.

Our Little Parrot

Christopher will say anything you tell him to. Yesterday we were playing with the color fish puzzle Aunt Amy gave him for his B-day. With each piece he removed I said the name of the color. And he repeated each color! Of course it wasn't perfectly clear, but it was obvious he was mimicking each word I said to the best of his ability. He has such a vocabulary! Recently it's "high" and "low" and "Dumbo" and lots of "teet teet" for birds. Oh-- and "Baby". Every time he sees his picture in the house he says "Baby". Sophia and Amy stayed with us for a few days. Each morning and after every nap the first word out of his mouth was "Baby". He also asks alot for Papa. On Sunday he said Aunt Amy and then again on Monday when he saw her picture. That little memory of his is getting a workout! I made him a photo album of his family members and he enjoys looking through it, trying out different names. Then we talk about recent visits or something the person gave him. On Wednesday I said "today we are going to see Grandmom" and he responded "Ga-ga?" and I smiled and confirmed, "yes Grandmom". Then he ran to his room, opened his picture book to Grandmom's page and said "Ga-ga". Smart fellow.

Tuckered Out.

After a long day playing with Sophia then going to Matthew's first birthday party, Christopher passed out on the way home. He didn't awaken when Ryan took him out of the car seat, or when he undressed him. Not even when he changed his diaper! He was put into his PJs and went straight into his crib without waking. If you know how light of a sleeper CRW is, then you know how rare this is!

Why I Love My Husband

Ryan works so hard. I am grateful that he goes to work everyday and provides for us such a wonderful life. Then often when he is home he is still hard at work. Last weekend he and his dad cut down our beloved Maple tree. It had died last spring and we finally decided to say goodbye and take her down. Watching Ryan quickly and efficiently bring this tree down safely impressed me. I was nervous and didn't know where he should begin. But the two of them didn't hesitate and in a matter of 2 hours it was all firewood. As I watched him way up in the branches I thought "Is there anything he can't do?". He has impressed me with his handy work repeatedly while remodeling our home. I am pleasantly surprised when he takes on a daunting task, researching and planning so that it comes out nicely in the end. The kitchen, the basement, the tile work, the siding. I was amazed with each new skill he learned. Now he cuts down a pretty darn big tree without leaving a scratch on that siding. Wow, how did I get so lucky? And to top it all off, he is the best Dad ever to our little boy. When he walks through the door after a long stressful day, "Christopher" is the first word on his lips. He doesn't leave the boy's side until he himself lays him to bed at night. He is one talented, tough and tender man.

Look out Paul Bunyan! Ryan bravely uses a chainsaw to remove some high branches.

Papa and Christopher watch as Daddy cuts up the fallen tree.

Christopher stands on the stump, wondering what happened to his tree.

Before bedtime I peek in on the boys to find Ryan reading to Christopher. Ryan reads so many books to him. Evenings are filled with lots of Daddy time.

I know it is not in focus, but I wanted to show off Ryan's birthday present to Christopher. This bird feeder sees a lot of action. Christopher loves it. When birds land on it, he stops playing, looks up at them, looks at me and smiles. Sometimes he says "teet teet". I think its great that Ryan is instilling Christopher with an interest in the outdoors. And to think Ryan once bird watched out of these same windows 30 years ago... amazing.

Happy Birthday Christopher!

I can't believe our boy is ONE! What a great year it has been. I love this kid more each day. And each day he amazes me more than the day before! Friday he woke up a chatter box. He now has well over 30 words. Last weeks words were "car" pronounced Boston style, "hot", "pee-pee", and "pot". As you can guess he is interested in the potty thing again. He definitely knows what the potty is for and can often tell us when he is going. This morning he told Ryan "pee pee" so Ryan put him on the potty chair and he went! Amazing! Anyway, backing up to his Big Day, we had a blast for his birthday. His actual birthday was spent with my family in Bayside baking cakes with cousins. That night at 5:17 pm, Ryan, Christopher and I celebrated together over CRW's life beginning one year prior. We had a small dinner and a little cake. I gave him building blocks and Ryan bought him a window bird feeder. (Christopher has a new fascination with birds). Saturday we threw a great Snoopy Birthday Bash and it was awesome. I kept it kid friendly, as I feel all little kid birthdays should be. There was great company, yummy food, fun games and happy kids everywhere. I really enjoyed it. I think Christopher had fun too.

Giving his beloved Snoopy a kiss.

Looks like Christopher performs better without an audience.

Proficient at the Bean Bag Toss.

Too bad Sophia had to blink, I really like this pic. Dad in all his grandparent glory.

Joe Cool!

Christopher loved this water bottle that Matt, Kim and the boys got him. It had a spring lid and every time Kim popped it open, Christopher would giggle giggle giggle.

"I want SNOOPY!"

"Oh and there's cake too?"

"Gee, this birthday stuff isn't half bad."

"I am ONE!"

Ryan: "Can Daddy have some Christopher?"

CRW: "Ha! Not a chance!"

CRW: "But Mommy can have some. I'm no dummy- after all, she is the "Momma""

Kaylin enjoys her ice cream cone.

Matt is practicing for his big day coming up in a few weeks.

Now its time for games, first lets try and get Snoopy's collar on.

Christopher had to try this himself. He was pretty good too.

Here are all the kiddies. I think only the Sophie(a)s are missing.

The crowd cheers Kaylin on... "higher, no to the right..."

Emily tries to pin a nose on ole Snoopy.

" We weren't this happy this time last year, were we Christopher?"

Mommy and son... so happy!

Snoopy buddies. I was so tickled to see Jonathan with his Snoopy shirt on.

Ready to party... Joe Cool style!

Goodie bags for the kiddies.

Yummmm!