Trick-or-Treat

Happy Halloween!!! This year Blake wanted to be....Superman! Shocking, right?! I tried taking him to Target and finding him an actual costume, but he just wanted to wear his Superman shirt with his cape and that was fine by me! :)

This year was a big step for Blake because this was his first year trick-or-treating at an actual neighborhood! We practiced our "Halloween etiquette" all week, but I still wasn't sure how he might react to the whole tradition.

Oh boy did he surprise us all!!! Blake went wild with happiness. He was so energetic when going to the different houses. He would run up to a house, say trick or treat, thank the givers, and then he would do a victory dance because he got candy! HAHA!

It was also cute to see his reactions to the other kids dressed up. I think Blake thought they were really the characters and he was on Hollywood Blvd. He saw Elsa and Anna from Frozen. He also got really excited when he saw a little boy dressed as the fire dog from Paw Patrol. However, his favorite was seeing a family dressed as The Incredibles. He literally thought they were the real thing! We went and talked to them and luckily the family played along and talked to Blake. He was star struck and thought he was the coolest kid in the world meeting the actual Incredible Superheros. HAHA! It made my night!

I think his first official night of trick-or-treating was a success. He even got a special sleepover with Granny (Rae) and Papa. He had a wonderful night.

It's nights like this that I am the proudest mommy in the world! I am first of all so proud at the little boy Blake is turning into. He is growing so quickly. Secondly, I loved stepping back and watching him experience the night. He was so polite and social and energetic and fun. People loved talking to him and meeting him. I can't help but just beam with pride. I couldn't ask for him to be any better! He is my world and my best buddy!

Picking the Perfect Pumpkin

This past Thursday I took a day off of work to spend it with Blake. We had the very important job of picking out the perfect pumpkin and we took that very seriously ;)

It is our yearly tradition to go to Hillridge Farms for our pumpkin picking. Blake really likes that place because of the train, but I think he had fun with the other activities too.

Overall, mission accomplished! We did pick out the two most perfect pumpkins! Spending the day with Blake was amazing and I am so glad we gets these moments together!! He is a hoot!!! :)

Super Blake

One of the things I love most about being a mommy is watching the phases and interests that Blake experiences. I find it so amazing how certain things catch his interest. First it was Thomas the Train, then it was Cars and Planes, and now it is Superman. :)

A few weeks ago Blake saw The Incredibles for the first time. That was his first exposure to superheros. He also has a few Superman shirts, so I guess it was only a matter of time before he would become fascinated with them. A few days ago he said "Superman to the rescue!" and then he wanted to "fly". Flying is a great arm workout by the way!

Luckily Granny, Papa, and Aunt T found a Superman shirt with a cape on it! That cape has made all the difference! He hasn't taken the shirt off for 3 days... except to sleep! He loves it! I think we might have a good idea of what he will be for Halloween too....

Superman (ahem Super Blake) has been great at "saving" mommy from any danger at the house...like pretend spiders and monsters. However, Superman also does normal things like playing soccer...

...and flexing his muscles...

...and reading books....

...and hanging out with his favorite ladies! :)

We love our little superhero!!!

Blessing From Heaven

This past week has been really hard on me. One of those weeks in which you feel like you are just spinning your tires. I have felt like I have been seriously behind at work, with the big Homecoming week approaching and I am in charge of six events along with my normal teaching.

On top of it all, I have had a sense of Mommy Guilt. I get it every now and then, especially for the past 5 months. I worry a lot about Blake. I have guilt because this wasn't the life I originally planned for him. Although it was not my choice, I still have to watch his life change into one parent households. I have to answer him every time he asks where daddy is. I have guilt about what his future might hold because of the life I am providing him. I have guilt about doing enough for him and teaching him enough. I guess sometimes I just worry about raising Blake in this crazy world we live. All I want is for him to  look at me one day and see all that I am doing for us. I hope he knows that I want nothing more than to be a good role model for him. I hope I get to see him grow up to be a wonderful young man who does amazing things.

 Earlier in the week my mom told me that during times of anxiety I should step back and look at Blake. I didn't really know what she meant by that, but she explained that he is my gift from Heavenly Father and he is still so young that sometimes he might be trying to tell me something that is an answer to a prayer. I just said, ok.

 I didn't actually realize what that mean until I was having a major moment of anxiety last night as I lay in bed alone. My mind was just determined to think of all my worries and failures and I just cried. How pitiful right? Well about 5 minutes into me crying and feeling totally awful I heard Blake's door open. He NEVER wakes up at 9!!!! I quickly wiped my tears and said hey to him. He simply said hey back and climbed in bed beside me and fell back asleep. I thought of what my mom said and I figured this meant that I needed to just stop and be thankful for what I have....the gift laying right beside me. I stopped crying, tried to, and laid down to go to sleep with Blake. As I watched him sleep I tried to think of the good things I do as a mom. I remembered how Blake is so smart and just learned his ABC's.  I remembered how Blake is so happy and all of the things he loves playing. I remembered how social he is and how he loves being around people. I figured I had to be doing something right!

Just as I was about to close my eyes and go to sleep, I kissed Blake's cheek and I whispered "I love you, buddy". Although he was asleep with his eyes closed and everything, he whispered back, "I love you, Mommy". That was it. A simple answer to my prayers that I needed to hear. Sometimes a quiet moment like that is all you need to wash away some of that mommy guilt. As long as we have love then I guess everything else will be ok. He is my world and I know he won't always be cuddling in bed with me, so last night was a moment I treasured.

Although our lives are still changing and adjusting I know it will all be ok....

Say What?!

Blake is the funniest kid I know. He literally is so dramatic in everything he does and says. Almost like a perfect little 2 year old comedian. He knows how to make people laugh and he purposely tries to be funny. Even when he gets in trouble, he tries to get out of it by laughing.

Recently he has entered into the full blown "sponge" phase. He has started to say things and I have to think about where he picked that up. Luckily he hasn't said anything bad yet, but I know our day is coming. Here are some of his most recent phrases that have had me cracking up...

"Not funny, Mommy!" - Blake loves for me to chase him around the house, but he doesn't want me to actually catch him. One day I decided to kick it into high gear and get really close to him. He stopped in his tracks and threw his hands out to his side and yelled "Not funny, Mommy!!!" I busted out laughing. Where did he get that...and he said it in the perfect context!

"Ohhhhhhh Boy" - Blake went to visit Heather's preschool this week and he came back home saying this. The funny part is how he drags out the "oohhhhhhhhh" haha. He puts this little tone on it like "really....you just did that?!" Such attitude.

"Get outta here" - This morning while eating breakfast, I tried messing with him and tickling him. He just looked at me and said "Get outta here!". Luckily it was in a cute and funny tone instead of a mean tone. I just laughed. Seriously, where did he hear that one?!

I remember getting so excited when he would learn new words. When did he jump to new phrases?! My little boy is growing up so quickly! I have to admit, it looks like he will be a goof off like his Daddy and a sassy pants like his Mommy. I am sure we will be getting called into the Principal's office a time or two in the future. :)