soccer begins!

Hunter favorite toy has been a ball for a while now and one thing he loves to do is to kick a ball so we knew we had to get him into soccer.  Most programs have an age requirement of 2 or 3 but we found Lil' Kickers start at 18 months.  So we signed him up for the spring session.  Today was the first day and as we drove out of the driveway Jeremy looked at me and said "here we go, the first of many sporting events".  Hunter was very happy to take the field and kick the soccer balls.  To start class we did stretches and then some running games.  Our little boy was heartbroken and had tears because all he wanted to do was kick the ball.  Made me sad but we have to follow directions.  After the running games and stacking cones (which made Hunter a little happier) it was time to play with the balls.  Over all I think Hunter did great and had a fun time.  He was worn out by the end and was ready to go home.  

Hunter waiting to play with a ball

finally getting to kick a soccer ball (gramps in the background watching) 

such a big boy

From snow to 70 degrees

We were lucky and got a taste of spring on Thursday and Friday.  The temps got into the 70's and Hunter was able to play outside and enjoy the warm weather.  On Thursday morning Malinda and Wes came to town.  Since it was still coolish we opted for a morning indoor activity.  The boys had never been to Monkey Bizness so we thought we would try that out.  It was a good time for the boys to run off some energy but we probably wont go back any time soon.  I think they were still just a little too young to enjoy it or there were too many older kids that got in the way:-)  I took a little video of Hunter but didn't get Wes on camera...they spent most of the time apart from each other...

There were only a few balls in the whole place but Hunter made sure one of them was with him the whole time.

That afternoon we stopped at my boss' house to check on her kitty cats while she is out of town.  Hunter has seen cats at the pet store but never without glass between him and the cat.  I didn't know if we would really see the cats because most of the time they are in hiding.  But it was our lucky day because we got to see both of them!  They were talking to each other and Hunter kept saying "cat" and laughing when they would "talk".  Hunter was able to pet one of the cats but then found their toys and was more interested in those then the cats.  He did try to throw a ball to one...needless to say she didn't fetch it.  After that adventure we stopped at our park to play for a while before dinner.

Friday it was even warmer and we were able to play at the park in the morning and then go on a wagon ride and play in the backyard in the afternoon.  First day he was in shorts since last fall and he ended up scraping his knee:-(  But it didn't phase him...I actually didn't know until after we came inside and I saw the scratches on his knee.  I know it was the first of many to come.

morning at the park...met a little girl who was a few weeks older than Hunter

shorts!!

so much fun watching him run outside

Don't know where the softball came from but it ended up in our yard so now it's Hunters

Bow's soccer ball that he shares with Hunter:-)

Again...this frisbee just ended up in our yard one day...Bow loves it and so does Hunter

Dollar Tree had kid size rakes so I bought Hunter one; he pushes it like his snow shovel.

Attempting to throw the frisbee to Bow

His little cheeks got red from playing so hard.

Snow...lots of snow

Over the past 10 days we have had A LOT of snow.  I was able to stay home with Hunter and enjoy being couped up while the snow was falling and making the roads horrible.  County Government offices even shut down...something unheard of.  Jeremy was able to work half days on the really bad days.  We all enjoyed the time we spent together.  Hunter is getting a lot of use out of his snowsuit and boots!  Hunter and Bow enjoyed the snow...but now they are both ready for it to be gone:-)

Hunter loves to carry around the little shovel

Poor Bow had troubles finding a spot low enough to go to the bathroom

Loves the snow

running full speed into the house

never without his shovel

smiling at Bow

cute boy with his scarf

looking outside

second round of snow

little pine tree might not make it...

backyard

A Boy and his Dog

Hunter LOVES his dog and I'm sure Bow loves Hunter too.  They have so many sweet times and so many funny times and a few not so funny times when Hunter can't leave Bow alone.  These two just make me smile.

buddies

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How did I capture this??  This makes me laugh:-)

Valentine's Day 2013

For Valentine's Day, Hunter got a big stuffed teddybear that he loves!  I had it sitting on the couch so when we came downstairs in the morning he could see it.  He didn't know what to think but soon figured out it was his to play with.  Bow also thought it was his but has learned its another toy for Hunter to wrestle giving Bow a break:-)  He also got a blanket with a deer on it from us.

That morning we met up with Malinda and Wes at the Johnson County Museum and played around for a while. It's so much fun to watch the boys run around and play.  They have their favorite things they like to do.  Wes really likes the tractor and grocery store and Hunter really liked the golfing (which makes me really nervous to watch him swing the club around).  Then went home for lunch and a nap and later over to my parents for some more playtime with Wes and for valentine's from Great Grandma Slack and my parents.  

Wes working as a cashier

Hunter and Wes the Farmers

Hunter checking out where he needs to hit the ball

and his attempt to hit the ball

Our journey

At 17 months, 2 weeks and 5 days our breastfeeding journey came to a close.  Oh what a great journey it was.  About 4 months in, I lost my supply in one breast (tried all the crazy things the internet suggested,haha) but kept going on the other.  When Hunter was 8 months old, he/we had Hand, Foot and Mouth and didn’t want to nurse.  I thought this was going to be the end of it and at the time, I wasn’t ready.  But after he got over Hand, Foot and Mouth he was good again.  When I was at work, I would pump.  For a few months I pumped 3 times a day, cut that to 2 around 7ish months, then to once around 10 months and by 11 months I wasn’t pumping at all.  I will say that day was joyous!  I don’t know how people exclusively pump…I hated pumping. But I’m very thankful my employer is very pro-breastfeeding and accommodating for nursing mothers.  After Hunter turned one, he basically nurse before bed and during the night and when he would wake up.  Sometimes before napping too.  Some would say he nursed during the night for too long but it was quick and got him back to sleep and gave me a few more minutes with him since I was working during the dayJ  In December Hunter slept through the night for 8 nights in a row!  I could tell that my supply was diminishing and each night we put him to bed I would think it’s the last time for nursing.  A few nights after Christmas was the last time he nursed before bed and then every few days he would nurse during the night.  The last day he nursed was to take a nap.  He was having lots of trouble going to sleep and was crying really hard.  I knew (and I think he must have known this is it) I had something but not much.  He nursed and fell asleep.  We now offer him milk before bed; sometimes he takes it sometimes he doesn’t.  He still takes a paci throughout the day and to sleep.  I'm not concerned about it.  Especially during the past few months with all the germs going around; I use it as a germ blocker:-) Another thing about this boy is that he loves to touch skin.  When I rock him at night he has to be touching my neck or my stomach.  I never thought about it while I was nursing but I guess the touch of skin makes him comfy.  

I never had a goal to nurse him as long as I did.  Each month that passed I was happy to have made it and I knew when it was time to stop, we would both be ready;-)  I’m so happy I was able to continue with breastfeeding Hunter as long as I did.

Yo Gabba Grabba!

Hunter loves the show Yo Gabba Gabba.  The intro is his favorite and he has perfected a dance to go along with it:-)  Unfortunately we didn't make it to the live show when they came to KC last week but hopefully next year we can go.  Here is video of our little buddy doing his dance:-)