Fun with Sidewalk Chalk

With all the springlike weather last week we got out some toys that haven't been played with for a while. Logan found a rekindled love for sidewalk chalk.

He made piles of chalk everywhere, counting as he went along.

We outlined his body.

Piled chalk under the tree...

"Look Mommy! Chalk under tree!"

Admiring our work.

Lots more chalk drawings to come through the summer, I'm sure.

Spring has Sprung!

Well at least for today and we couldn't be happier!

Logan and I spent pretty much all morning outside and Jacob joined us when he wasn't napping. Aside from the cute pictures, the other bonus of spring and outdoor play are long naps for Logan. :)

Logan has taken to grabbing handfuls of grass, shoving it in his mouth and saying "Mmmmm berries..." Weird kid.

Jacob is sitting unassisted now so he can get in on the outdoor action.

Wagon rides for 2!

Yay spring!

Dance Class Finale!

Last night was the finale to Logan's dance class that he and Scott have been attending for the last couple of months. (I posted about the class a couple days ago, Dance Class). Jacob and I tagged along last night so we could see what they had been doing each week.

Class began each week by the kids playing with balls. Whenever I told Logan that it was a dance class day, he would say "Oh! Play with balls?", it might have been his favourite part. All the kids grabbed a ball and ran around chasing them.

Chasing his ball.

Next they did some warm ups in a circle. Logan did pretty good at following along.

Circle time.

Hands on his knees. (Some of the pictures are pretty dark...it was hard to take pictures as everyone was moving and there was a huge mirror in the room that the flash kept bouncing off of.)

Next, all the kids and their parents lined up and walked "in a line" around the room. They marched and clapped, ran while moving their arms doing the "wheels on the bus motion" and they galloped as well.

Clapping and marching.

Running! One of Logan's favourite things to do.

Scott says that they would then usually use some sort of "prop" that the teacher brought. So one week, they moved through hula hoops, one week they played with bean bags, one week there was a big parachute, etc. But last week and then this week they were preparing a special dance for the last night. So that's what we saw tonight. I must say it was pretty humorous to watch 10 two and three year olds run around while their moms and dads did the routine.

Getting ready...

...to move their hips!

At the end, everyone sat in a circle and got their certificate and a class picture.

Father and son.

The dancers!

It was a fun night. I think Jacob really like the music and of course there was lots going on for him to watch.

6 Months!

So Jacob turned 6 months yesterday! It's crazy how fast the time is flying.

He now weighs 13lb and is about 25 inches long, he's certainly not a huge baby in that respect.

He has pretty much mastered sitting up unassisted and is experimenting with solid foods. Even though he has not yet discovered the beauty of a good sleep at night time, he does nap well and is generally a very happy little guy.

He loves Logan and watches him like a hawk whenever he gets the chance. Before we know it, they will be playing (or fighting) together!

Happy Half Year, Jacob!

Dance Class

Logan and Scott have been participating in a dance class at our local rec centre for the last few weeks. I haven't been able to go since it's just before Jacob's bedtime but they apparently always have a good time.

They begin each week by playing with balls while everyone arrives and them move into a half hour program. There have been a few theme weeks; wear your favourite colour, wear your mittens and hat, bring your teddy bear and next week they will put on a dance that they performed for an audience. Jacob and I will be going for this big finale.

I usually wait until after Logan wakes up from his nap on Thursdays to tell him that it is a day to go to dance class and he gets all excited. When Scott gets home from work, he usually reminds him as well!

Grabbing a ball upon his arrival.

In the mirror.

He loves the balls.

Showing his excitement for dance class.

Pointing his toe.

Playing with hula hoops.

Jumping from one to the other.

Listening intently.

I'll be sure to take some pictures this week at his final class!

Jacob: First Taste of Solids

With his 6 month birthday only days away, we decided to take the plunge and offer Jacob something other than breastmilk to eat!

We started with Oatmeal and will move on from there. He didn't LOVE it but he didn't hate it either.

Part of the problem is that he's so short, he can hardly see over the tray!

He kept trying to grab the spoon.

"Ummm, ok, I'm not sure about this..."

Helping Mommy

It's much better this way!

He tried some banana this morning which went over well. Who knows how it will go from here!

Puddle Jumper

A sure sign of spring is puddles everywhere!

Logan (like most kids, I'm sure) goes out of his way to step/jump in puddles. If he's not dressed properly, he needs to be watched VERY closely so that he doesn't get soaked.

I took advantage of Jacob's nap today, dressed Logan and we headed out to play in the puddles. At first, I think he thought I was crazy encouraging him to jump in them but he soon thought it was great!

Walking slowly...

Jumping with caution...

It gets pretty deep.

Bigger splashes.

Going for it.

He wouldn't put the bubbles down...

Full out splashing!

Wahoo!

Bubbles

Logan and I went outside to play this afternoon during Jacob's nap. He found a bottle of bubble stuff in the snowbank so we played with bubbles for a while.

Every time I blew some bubbles, he would chase them as they floated away saying, "Bubble! Come back!" Since none of the bubbles "listened" he would return to me and say, "Mommy, bubbles ALL gone."

Waiting on Spring

I've mentioned before that we're waiting on spring.

...waiting to get outside at least once every day.
...waiting to be able to hang the laundry outside.
...waiting to be able to play in the sandbox.
...waiting to be able to have Logan run so much that he gets tired.

At the end of last week we got a nasty reminder that it is still winter. Snow, and lots of it. However, the temperature is creeping back up again and I'm getting ever so hopeful.

In the meantime, here are some reminders of winter, just in case I wake up tomorrow and there is no more snow on the ground!

We thought it would be fun to go to the market on Saturday...not true, it was a blizzard. Spring, please come back, we love the market, but it's outside.

Logan with a big jug of yummy apple cider.

Selling apples in the snow...spring would also bring reminders of summer which would involve local produce that is not apples!

Even the oranges and grapefruit got cold.

Logan isn't sure about winter. I think he likes flopping down into the snow but finds it hard to move in all his snow clothes. Plus, have you ever tried to put mittens on a toddler?

"Mommy, what happened to my thumbs?"

It looks pretty, but it's cold.

Slowly, the snow is melting.

He's warm in there, but he doesn't look too happy. It will be so much faster getting outside when we don't have to put on so many layers!

After a quick trip to Walmart the other night, Logan is all ready for a new season!

Snazzy fireman rain boots...

...which match his awesome rain coat.

We're ready and waiting, anyone else?

Jacob and his Soother

Logan never took a soother, never ever. I remember when Mom and I went to visit Pamela when she was in New Brunswick and Logan was about 8 months old and I was STILL trying to get him to take one. He could have used one.

I did not hesitate giving one to Jacob, I hoped SO much that he would take to a soother (I probably prayed about it too!) He didn't really love it in the beginning but he used it to fall asleep. He would take it as soon as he was laid down in his crib and suck until he fell asleep.

Recently he has started taking it at other times during the day when he needs it. It's wonderful. Yes, one day he will have to get rid of it. We will cross that bridge when we need to but in the meantime, I think it's very helpful when he needs it and he looks pretty cute with it too.

I love when he smiles from underneath the soother!

The soother string can also provide hours of entertainment.


And one without a soother just because he's so cute!