Spencer’s 1st Train Ride

In a desperate attempt to get out of the house, I decided to take the boys to Concord Mills Mall last week. We haven’t been since before Spencer was born, so I was excited to walk around the mall while not pregnant! When I told Alex we were going to the mall, he surprised me by asking to see the “shark” and didn’t say a thing about the train. It took me a minute, but I figured out he meant the big catfish at the Bass Pro Shop. We had a lot of fun walking around, almost catching the fish feeding (the presenter talked too long and Alex got too antsy), riding the train, and eating French fries. We even spent a long time in the children’s play area (I usually try to avoid it) after Alex developed a crush on the pretty blonde girl he was chasing. Spencer was very well behaved, sleeping the first half of our walk and staying cheerful until we got to the car to go home.

Alex didn’t even know this was a ride until Cery’s birthday party in August. He definitely recognized it as a ride on our mall trip!

I was so excited that we happened to arrive just in time for a feeding. Too bad the nice guy spoke waaay too long and Alex got antsy and insisted on going back out into the mall.

Alex was so excited to have his pick of train cars.

This photo cracks me up. Spencer wasn’t scared, but I think the forward facing camera surprised him!

Chocolate Face

Things are slowing down in the Strunck household as we wait for Baby’s arrival! We ran errands and did lots of cleaning last weekend, and will probably do some more cleaning this weekend … then we sit around and wait!

At least I was able to capture this silly moment: Alex ate a HUGE chocolate chip cookie after running errands over the weekend. What a disaster! I had to treat and wash his shorts 3 times before all the chocolate came out!

Just a Day in May

Alex has had a rough few days as a two-year-old, so I was very relieved to have my happy-go-lucky toddler back on Wednesday! Good thing, because I had an OB appointment and errands to run! Here’s a taste of our fun day and an update on Baby.Next!

*Alex woke up to find a construction paper rocket from Daddy on the table. How exciting! Rockets are his new obsession of the week!

*When I told him we needed to get in the car to meet Daddy at the doctor’s office, he insisted we visit Baba instead. Not sure which Grandma he wanted to see – but he wanted one of them!

*Alex was so excited to see Daddy’s truck at the OB office and thought it was hysterical that I got out and he got in. I have such a wonderful hubby – he took Alex to Target to do some shopping while I went in for my appointment.

*Hard to believe that I will be 31 weeks tomorrow! Time has gone by so quickly!! Baby.Next’s heartbeat sounds great and he is growing just as he should be. My belly is huge, but he is measuring perfectly and my weight gain has been very minimal (but still healthy!). We’re still on track for a July 11th due date – though I haven’t made up my mind on C-Section versus labor. The doctors I’ve met have been wonderful and I am SO GLAD I’ll be having this baby in Charlotte since I was not a fan of my Wilmington doctors. Here’s a peek at baby’s face from an ultrasound at 28 weeks: this is a profile shot of his face. You can make out his nose and mouth – then you can see his eye and his little fist in front of his face. He moves around all the time, so this picture was the best we could get!

*After the appointment and oohing over Alex’s new shoes he bought with Daddy, I took Alex to Starbucks. Silly boy drooled over all the treats while I ordered my coffee, then ended up choosing a juice box and fruit pouch. I guess juice boxes are more exciting than cookies when you cut your kid’s juice with mostly water! Afterwards, we went by the park:

Wearing his favorite Mater shirt and new sandals!

Almost a year ago! This was taken June 13, 2012 – and he still loves the steps!

My sweet Alex is such a gentleman! He was several steps in front of me on the sidewalk when he veered off into the grass. I was planning on walking along the edge of this puddle, but Alex, looking very concerned, said, “No, Mommy! Stop” and motioned for me to follow him in the grass. I guess he didn’t want my shoes to get wet!

Precious Cookie

Alex loves to go grocery shopping with me for three main reasons:

1. Samples in the produce department

2. Driving the race car shopping cart

3. Cookie!

About half way through our list, he starts chanting, “cookie, cookie” and points down every aisle towards the registers. We almost always go to Harris Teeter for this very reason. They keep a box of cookies just past the register for “kids of all ages”. It’s pure genius – instead of a cookie in the bakery, you keep reminding your child to be good and they get their sweet reward at the end. Alex is always very happy to devour his cookie while I’m loading the groceries in the car and strapping him in his seat. He even bites the cookie into a crescent moon shape and tells me it’s the moon (sometimes he makes a flying bird instead).

The other day was different, and I’m not sure why. As we were pulling out of the parking lot, I looked back and saw that Alex had proudly propped his cookie on his window sill.

He left it there for the 4 minute drive back to our house.

He still hadn’t grabbed it until I had come around to open his door. Tim said he must have been testing my driving skills. I sure wish I knew what he’d been thinking!

Driving Around Home Depot

Alex had so much fun in the Home Depot car today while running errands:

Watch out! He’s driving with both steering wheels!

A little concerned when Daddy walked out of his line of sight.

Daddy’s back!

Monster Trucks

Alex is in love with monster trucks! It’s a pretty big deal when he plays with a toy more than his choo-choo – and that has definitely happened since three of his friends gave him monster trucks at his birthday party. Luckily, Daddy and I also find these particular monster trucks to be a lot of fun (they can climb over other cars and blocks). So, I decided Alex could spend his birthday money from GGma & GGpa Strunck on more monster trucks, provided we could find the same kind.

We were in luck! While running errands at Big Lots, we checked out the toy aisle and found lots more monster trucks. Alex was excited to be on the truck aisle, but you should have seen the smile on his face when he saw the monster trucks. He picked his favorite two, kept them in the seat by him, gave them to the cashier, and carried them to the car. I think he knew this was special and that he was spending birthday money! Thanks, GGma & GGpa Strunck!

The orange one was his very favorite.	Showing off his purchase.
Walking so proudly towards the car!	We opened them as soon as he was strapped in.

Food Lion & a Balloon

Alex and I ran out to Food Lion the other night for grilled cheese sammies and tomato soup. It was cold and windy and we were home alone for yet another night (Tim worked out of town 4 days last week). Apparently the bagger was impressed with Alex’s handsome eyes, so she asked if she could give him a balloon. Man, was he proud of that balloon!

On another note, look carefully at the trucks on the entertainment center. Silly boy loves to turn them upside down, tell me, “uh-oh,” shake his head at them, and put them back up right. We also have several car pile-ups a day on the floor.

I Learned My Lesson!

Alex and I ran into Toys’R’Us for a few things and I learned a big life lesson! If you let a toddler out of the buggy to try out a chair, he will make a bee-line for the Power Wheels on the next aisle. When you try to put him back in the buggy after letting him admire the Power Wheels, he will kick and scream and you will have to carry him on your hip through the check-out and to the car. Lesson learned – but I did get some cute pictures before his melt-down!