WEA at 22 Months

Wow!!  Twenty-two months.....just two months short of two years old.  How has this happened?!  Those baby days are slipping away faster than I can even comprehend.  My little Walker-man, who is about half my size, is growing and changing by the day.  I really do love this time in toddlerhood.  He's still small enough to snuggle with and yet he's big enough to do so many things on his own.  His likes and dislikes are becoming stronger by the day.  His temperament is treading into those terrible twos and his emotions often get the better of him.  Yes, I do love this sweet little boy of mine!!

Walker's 22 Month Milestone/Achievement/Random Tidbits:

~he LOVES LOVES LOVES trains and trucks!!  His whole day revolves around "choo choos" and "tuck tucks".  He only wants to watch Thomas the Train, only wants to play with his train set, always carries a train or truck with him, sleeps with a train pillow, only reads books about trucks, tractors, and trains.  Yes, he's slightly obsessed!  

~he's also developed an obsession with the moon.  Every night he wants to go outside and point out the moon.

~he is right on track with is gross motor skills: he can run, he can jump, he can climb up and down stairs.

~he is still a pretty picky eater.  He prefers food pouches, yogurt, cheese sticks, waffles, oatmeal, and kids Cliff bars.  And he does have a sweet tooth.  His favorite is a "pop pop" (cake pop) from Starbucks.  Apparently I go to Starbucks a little too often because every day as we leave the gym he says "pop pop" until we stop in for our morning coffee break.  

~he had his professional haircut on Wednesday, October 8th.  Just a little trim to clean him up a bit.  We went to Peek-a-Do, a salon for kids, and he loved picking out at truck chair to sit in while Ms Donna cut his hair and he watched Frozen on his own personal tv.      

~so far he follows directions so well.  When I say it's time to clean up, he is the first one to start putting toys away.  For the most part, he's also pretty good about following most simple commands; come here, no touch, bring me that, put that away, etc.  However, this doesn't apply when Savannah is involved.  I could scream and yell all day and he would still be pulling hair, biting, pinching, hitting, grabbing, throwing, and every other act that leads to fighting between the two of them.  

~he is such a big boy at school.  He happily goes to his teacher at drop off and he always runs out of his classroom laughing and smiling at the end of the morning.  I think he really enjoys playing with the different toys (and a different train set) and playing on the playground.  I can tell that he's not really into arts and crafts because all of his papers that come home only have one little single line of crayon across it.  But this I assumed because he's too much of a busy-body to sit down and do any one activity.  

~new words that he is trying to say: "moon", "tay ewwww (thank you)", "moo (cow)", "pum pum (pumpkin)", "tik twee (trick-or-treat)"

fun times at his music and art class

waiting to get his hair cut

his first lollipop while getting a trim

my handsome boy afterwards

my early morning buddy

typical action shot around the house

doesn't everyone need a lawnmower handy while making dinner?!

playing with daddy's fathead

We have all really enjoyed Walker's 22nd month.  He's becoming so much more playful and just fun to be around.  He's constantly active and wanting to get into any and every thing.  And he's still such a little snuggle bunny.  He loves to be held and give hugs and kisses.  When he says "mama" and gives me a big squeeze wrapping his arms around my neck, I melt.  I really do love this little guy more and more everyday.  Oh how I wish he could stay this age forever!

First Homestead Visit

Last weekend we went on our annual fall getaway weekend but we visited a new spot---The Homestead in Hot Springs, VA.  After a long and adventurous drive (almost 6 hours) we arrived at the fog covered resort.  We enjoyed a yummy dinner in one of the hotel's restaurants and then headed to the game room.  Savannah and Walker had so much fun playing rollerball, air hockey, pinball, basketball, and other arcade games.  I think this was their favorite spot at the resort.

Saturday morning we had a fabulous breakfast buffet in the main dining room before catching a shuttle to the equestrian center for a morning carriage ride.  Despite the misty, foggy morning we were still able to enjoy the beautiful fall scenery during a quiet, peaceful trail ride.  Afterwards we headed back to the main hotel and went for a swim in the indoor pool at the spa.  Walker took a nice long nap after lunch while Savannah and Oscar went back to the game room and briefly checked out the put-put course.  Dinner was at Sam Snead's Tavern located in the town on Hot Springs, just behind the resort.        

S bowling

W preferred playing with the balls over actually knocking down pins

running wild in the lobby

S having a chat with one of the horses

family photo on the carriage

the fog really started to roll in by late morning

thanking the horse for the ride

the front of the hotel 

the grounds behind the hotel

the view from our room

a wedding outside our window

the indoor pool

on our way to dinner

The part I dislike most about traveling is bedtimes.  No one goes to bed on time and it's always a struggle to get everyone settled.  Savannah slept between me and Oscar and Walker slept in a crib next to the bed.  Walker was the last to go to sleep because he's too busy watching everyone else try to fall asleep.  I think he finally quieted down around 10:00.  And just like on every vacation, he's still up bright and early.  I went for a run both mornings and he woke up right before I returned to the room.  We snuck out Sunday morning so Savannah could get a few more minutes of sleep.  My little man and I headed downstairs for a coffee and enjoyed sitting on the front porch of the hotel just rocking away. 

We went back to the room, woke up Savannah, and headed down for another glorious breakfast buffet.  We had hoped to spend the morning outside but the rain killed those plans.  So we took a few pictures before loading the car and heading home.  Thankfully we cut off an hour of the drive by taking a less adventurous way home.  We made it home before 4:00 and still managed to make our weekly Jason's Deli date.

early morning with W

breakfast time

my two most favorite little people

my boys

So there goes another fabulous fall weekend getaway.  I love these yearly quick trips.  It gives us a chance to spend a little more time together and to form new memories as a family.  As much as I have enjoyed these past few years of visiting Virginia and West Virginia, I'm kinda looking forward to just going 2 hours west to Asheville next year.  This mama is just not cut out for road trips and unless we're going to Sea Island, anything further than three hours away is too much.
Now it would be nice if Mother Nature would send some of that nice fall weather our way.  I'm ready for those crisp, cool mornings and having the fire going and pulling out the cozy sweaters.  Maybe this is the weekend that it comes :)