Two and a half!

The Boy is two and a half years old today.

He loves trucks and his Thomas train set but still gives his stuffed buddies hugs and kisses. He's not so good at the soccer but rocks his Gymboree activities. His vocabulary is gigantic and he wields it in remarkable ways - "I love (stuffed)Kitty and I love Cat, but Kitty is mine and Cat is your so you love Cat." "Can you read this book(for the 500th time in a row)? Oh yes you can read it, yes, yes, yes, mmhmmmm." "I need some cookies because I want them and I need them, okay?" He is 37 inches tall and getting skinnier everyday. He says "please" every once in a while and "thank you" all the time.

I am so incredibly proud of you my love and cannot believe you're already two and a half.

A Legoland Photobomb

On Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, we went to Legoland before heading home. The Boy went on his first ride but refused his first face painting. He loved Duplo Village but was kind of afraid of the Lego Man. He loved the airplane ride but was still too little for the littlest of the car rides. Next time.

Requisite shot of The Boy stuffing his face with a croissant.

Christmas in California

My dad stated several months ago that he didn't want to spend Christmas at home. The boys and I were spending this Christmas with him, my best friend/brother was coming home from India and Dad just wanted to devote the day to spending time with us rather than running around in the kitchen.

His first thought was to go to Tahoe but then he decided on the beach. Carlsbad it was!

We arrived at our hotel and waited for our rooms to be ready in lounge whose fireplace belied the sunny and warm California day outside. Here is The Boy waiting with his uncle.

Once we checked in we discovered a playground which was literally right outside our window. The Boy had to investigate.

After the playground we wandered out to watch the sunset.

After dinner with Grandpa, Uncle and step-Grandma we went for a walk through town before returning to our room and opening a single present before going to bed - a tradition from my childhood. The Boy was ecstatic to unwrap some Thomas trains and some track.

Christmas morning we found a bung of Duplo blocks, raisins and a little soccer player in The Boy's stocking, a Razor scooter(also from Santa) and some more Thomas stuff - Including Percy. Percy is The Boy's favorite.

After breakfast(strawberry and cream cheese stuffed French toast, TYVM) we went back to the hotel, where Dad claimed the public fireplace as our own... and we sat to open presents.Here's my 3rd favorite person in the world opening a photo album I made for him of pics from a trip we took... 18 years ago.

And all of us in front of the fire.

Then we went for a walk on the beach. Here's my crippled self stuck up on the boardwalk.

And The Boy in his Santa hat(thanks Dad) on the beach with Hubs and his uncle

Then we took the requisite family shots up on the cliff.

Christmas dinner whilst watching the sunset was the perfect ending to a pretty perfect Christmas.

In case I don't say it enough, and I don't think I've ever said it on here, I absolutely love my state.

Happy New Year!

Or belated Happy New Year. As tradition dictates, we spent January 31st at home, cuddling and giving The Boy a bath before bedtime. Born out of necessity/timing The Boy's first NYE, we bathed him last NYE(and took pictures) because it was what we had done the previous year. We did the same this year, but this year was tinged with a palpable bittersweetness - there's only another year or 2 left of this funny little tradition, and that breaks my heart.

Anyways, here's what this year's NYE bath time looked like: