Tike in Training

We're headed to Hilton Head this weekend to celebrate the 4th with Tim & Megan.  While there won't be fireflies, there will be fireworks AND a Firecracker 5000.  On Friday morning I'll be running the 5k and Nora, when asked, said she wanted to run in the 3 & under 25 yard kids run - so we signed her up.  We figure we can't just throw her on the starting line with no practice so we've been doing some "training" runs out front.  We're not sure if they'll be running on grass or pavement so we've been practicing both and she's loving every second!  And, as a special treat after all of her awesome running, Nora got to join our countdown and have her own mini rootbeer float tonight - another first!

Floating Towards the Fourth!

Kicking off an official summer week with an official summer drink!! I LOVE JULY 4th! This week is different for a few reasons though. 1) I'm in Florida, not in Ohio. Usually the week of July 4th I'm soaking up some Ohio Summer and getting pumped up for my favorite holiday but 2) this year, I'm working...Mwee-Mwah. Light at the end of the tunnel is that it's a short week and we're heading to Hilton Head after work on Thursday for a weekend at the beach with Megan and Tim, and you better believe I'm going to hunt down all the fireworks I can find and show up packin' all kinds of Red, White & Blue ridiculousness!!!!!! Bike parade anyone??

Death by Chocolate?

One of these days, Cort's luck is going to run out. Today was not that day but he made a great run at it! While we were sleeping (the guess is around 5am or so) Cort ate nearly an entire container of cocoa powder, clearly in different places all over the rug. For those who don't know, Cocoa powder is about THE most toxic form of chocolate for a dog to consume - and it doesn't take much to make them REALLY sick - or kill them. Go big or go home I guess. Anyway, he was less than OK by the time I woke up and realized what was going on as he was wobbling around the house cross eyed, running into things and having muscle spasms in his back legs. After I made him throw up (hooray for hydrogen peroxide!) he was doing better but we crashed the vet almost an hour before his already scheduled check-up just to make sure he was ok - attention craving much. He got an all clear and all his vaccines and they sent him on his way (still a little cross-eyed and amped up on caffeine.) He spent the rest of the day in a panic over not being allowed to eat - continued to counter surf, went for a bike ride and because he didn't abuse his body enough today, to close things out, drank about 3/4 of a jar of coconut oil. If he doesn't kill himself and keeps this nonsense up, I might do it for him!

Monkey See - Monkey Do

Before I could even utter the words "count me in" the moment was over...short lived peace. In other news - the bean box met it's demise today. Never stood a chance against a leaky milk cup. Now I have to come up with some new things to fill her bin with.

Sassy at 17

Here we are - 17 months! This little monkey has attitude (and a tan)! She learns so quickly and it's becoming even more apparent how much she's studying everything we do (and taking notes). Nora and I have had our share of run ins as she's tested her boundaries with scratching, biting, pinching, hair pulling, stepping on and other not so nice things - just for the fun of it. Usually it happens right before she wants to go take a nap so at least her ornery streak is somewhat justified by tiredness. The word no continues to infuriate her, but she knows we don't fall for her tantrums, so they're getting shorter and less ferocious. Aside from those typical toddler antics she's getting bigger, stronger, braver and surer of her maneuvering every day. One of these days her words are going to catch up with her many many thoughts and opinions. In the meantime, she's still holding her own communication wise, capable of letting us know what she wants to wear (note the single shoe), eat, do and see plus she's got her mama's gift of wearing her thoughts on her face (we'll have to work on that!). She is still an outside girl with her rock bucket and shovel close-by whenever we're out back but this month we've been doing a lot more work on swimming and she's doing really well. She LOVES going to the pool, which is good because it gets us outside despite the hot weather. Overall - she's a lover, a smiler, a dancer, a digger, a thinker and a busy, independent kiddo, always up for a party or an adventure - especially if it includes dogs! Ooh and she even managed to pee on the potty once this month too! She's becoming a big girl right before our eyes!

Peek into the Day-to-Day

This is what we typically come in to find in the mornings or after (during) naps these days. Nora is the little neighborhood watcher, peeking out the blinds to see what's going on outside. You can't get much past her either, she notices right away when things are different outside her window. Now she just needs words to describe what she sees rather than squeals.

N is for Nook!

I've been wanting to make a spot for Nora (and all her stuff) for months now, and the way our house has been set up just hasn't been working for us lately so today was the day! While Kyle was at work, I moved stuff, cleaned stuff, then Nora & I went and bought a couple things and even built/assembled some stuff. The rug was the catalyst to it all and now it has a home! So, after a hard day of work, Nora has a place to play and a place for everything to be put back in the dining room turned playroom AND now we have reason to use the table that was lost under a pile of stuff in the dining room because it's right next to the kitchen!!! There's still some work to be done and flair to add to the wide open wall but all and all I'm really happy with the new arrangement and I think Nora, Cort & Kyle are too! In other news - Nora peed on the potty for the first time just before her bath tonight! Yay for her being a little big girl!