Happy Easter, 2011 - 2 years old

Isn't he so dapper?

He had a great time with his second cousins

The first egg he found. This one was too easy.

As soon as he shook the egg, he exclaimed "Cars Mommy!".
How did he know?? Smart kid he is!

Great Grandpa Bill sent up some bubble wrap with his basket.

This was a BIG hit.

His basket consisted of Cars dive toys (that he can take into the shower), bubbles, toothbrushes and toothpaste (Buzz Lightyear and Lightning McQueen).

This Easter 'basket' came from Grandma Karen and Grandpa Doug

He shook the egg, that was a see through green color, and exclaimed: "Socks!" How on earth does a kid know what a rolled up pair of socks looks like through an egg?!?

This one was harder to find. So hard, in fact, that we just told him where it was.

Finally, a couple of weeks ago we got some nice weather... haven't seen it since though!

Neglect

Sorry I have been neglecting the blog. I have been traveling for work (Orlando, Ft.Lauderdale and Tampa this week, Missoula, MT May 1-3), but I still haven't gotten the thank you cards out for Ares' birthday, because I'm so busy. Sorry all! Hopefully Easter pics to come soon! All of the video's I've taken recently won't upload!! grrr

Back Seat Driver

I hate the way Google formatted this post. It did not look this spaced out when I typed it. Stupid blogspot, i hate this program more and more each day. Here's some silly things my son has done: Taking Ares to work this morning, I went through a yellow light (might have been considered a little pink at the time). Ares says "Uh-Oh. Red is stop mommy." -Smart Ass.

Between his bottom two front teeth he always has a plaque build up, regardless of how many times we brush his teeth. So yesterday, I decided to attempt to floss his teeth. After putting the floss through 6 or 7 times, it got the job done. "More mommy". I told him that we were done, the floss worked and I didn't have to do it any more, and he says "put da string my mouth!". I guess it's good to start young. I had to tell him that we'll do it again tomorrow. He was OK with that, because for the next half an hour I got nothing but kisses from him and TONS of laughs. I let him stay up an extra 15 minutes so I could get more =) (He also loves to have his ears cleaned and his finger nails clipped - always has, but his feet are too ticklish - I hate that part.)

I hate boogers, I hate ear wax, I hate eye boogers, I don't love dry skin. I've learned to deal with Ares' eczema. He used to cry when I would try to pick at his ear if there were something there. The other day I picked at something in his ear, and he turned around a said "Now the other one". HA! I WIN!

Ares loves fruit and (some) veggies. He's starting to understand that they're not real treats though. Yesterday I gave him a bag of fruit snacks. He finished them in record time and asked for some more. Here's our conversation:

Ares: Fwoo sacks pees (fruit snacks please)

Me: No, you can have another package after dinner.

Ares: I want cake pees.

Me: We have no cake.

Ares: OK, den pizza pees (then pizza please, which is funny, because he doesn't really like pizza)

Me: We have no pizza, dinner's on the stove, we'll eat soon.

Ares: Cookies?

Me: *laughing* Wow, Ares, are you hungry?

Ares: No, *as he runs to the TV* Mommy, Cars TV

Me: No, we're going to eat dinner soon, no TV

Ares: *thinking* Bwuzz Wightyeeer? On da TV? (Buzz Lightyear, from Toy Story. He's seen the movie twice, I'm not sure how he can remember the characters so well.)

Me: Go play with your dinosaurs Ares: *running* Rooooaaaarrrrrrr

Like none of the previous conversation ever happened.

I'm starting to think that Mother Nature is like an old abusive boyfriend - we take nothing but crap, constantly, and when we've just about had it, they do something to make us so happy (80* Sunday), and then it's back to the same ol' sh*t all over again. (40* Monday/Tuesday). Grrrrr

Thankfully, this was last month, and not too recently.

Ares loves spending time with his Great Grandparents. He doesn't see them much, but he loves the attention when he does! Here we're celebrating Grandpa Schmidt's 80th birthday. That same chocolate cake in the pictures is what I believe put me into labor when I was having Ares a few years ago.

Ares sings soccer -

- with daddy, but if mommy starts to sing he says "No mommy. Daddy sing." I know I have a bad voice, but a 2 year old is not supposed to know the difference.




Whelp, I can no longer upload videos. You've gotta check out facebook for videos of Ares. this one was super cute, and only 19 seconds long, but it still will not post. BOOO GOOGLE!

Ares' Birthday Party

Fifty people came to the party. 50! It was pretty crazy here for a few hours here in the Miller household. Lots of friends and family. Ares had a great time. He got to play with a few of the kids, and had a great time handing out kisses and hugs to the adults. He LOVED opening his gifts up, (well, except the clothes, which he threw behind him, but mommy liked those!). He got to many toys, and each and every one of them he was thrilled about. Loved the bubbles, L-O-V-E-D the cars and trucks he got, he even hugged tight and kissed the stuffed Daschund he got. Personally, I'm really excited about the money I got to put in his savings account! Since the move, Adam and I haven't been able to contribute much (read: any) to his account. Ares' cake was exactly what I was hoping for (aside from price) and he loved it. What's even better, is the two cars that were topping the cake are functional. 'Whitening Mackeen' even goes pretty fast when you pull it back and let go. His lego/dinosaur table is amazing, thanks Grandpa Miller! He also received a zoo pass, a picnic table (for our kitchen for snacks and sippee cups to sit on), a slide, cars PJ's, tshirts and matchbox cars and balloons just to name a few. I think it was Ares' best day ever. He got to see LOTS of his grandparents/Great Grandparents, Auntie's, friends etc. Although I was SOOO exhausted when it was over, I had the best time because I knew Ares had such fun. There's nothing better in this world than seeing him have a huge smile on his face enjoying himself as he did.

Ares' 2nd Birthday Pics

It's almost Birthday Time!

It's been a little stressful planning this birthday party. Not because I'm doing a whole lot for it, but the cake was cancelled because the pieces didn't come in, Adam pushed off helping me clean the house for about 8 days, rumor has it that my friends were having a hard time with gift stuff (to give or not to give) that shouldn't have stressed me out, but did, blah. I'm really excited about having family come up and stay with us again.

- hate cleaning the house, but LOVE everything else about it =)

Ares is still obsessed with "Whitening Mack Keen" as he says. Grandma Karen bought him this little matchbox car (right) a few weekends ago, and it has left his hands twice. (OK, slight exaggeration). We don't let him take it to the table when we eat or in the bathtub. Oh, and he can't fit it through the sleeves on his jacket, so he has to put it on the ground while we put his jacket on him.

We put together his Power Wheels Jeep last night. I think (hope) he's really going to like it. I think he'll be scared sh*tless when he first pushes the gas pedal down and it moves though. My guess is that he starts to cry and climb out as fast as possible. He'll learn to love it though =)

Give me an A!

'Ares, how do you spell your name?'

'Aaaaaye, Arrrrrrrrrr, Eeeeeeeeeh, Ssssssssssssss.' (Takes about 10 seconds for him to spell.)

Now, if only we can get him to know his last name.

I had some left over brownies from work in the car with me, when Aunt Cindy dropped him off at work so I could take him home. He asked for one, and I told him he had to sit down in his car seat to get one (this is our every day battle, and I hate getting him into his car seat), the kid never moved so fast in his life. I don't think he's ever had a brownie before.

After this little piece of brownie was finished I started driving, and he was so good that I gave him another small piece (quarter sized). I tried to give him two of his matchbox cars that were in the front seat, but he wouldn't take them. 'No, mommy. I messy'. I look back, and he's got brownie all over his face and his hands - too cute, if I weren't driving I'd have taken a picture. Luckily, I had wipes within grabbing distance, so I passed one back, where he 'cleaned' himself up for a few minutes before asking for his cars.

The picture is from crazy hair day at school, to celebrate Dr.Seuss.

Adam took Ares to the car show this past weekend while I scrapbooked (it's been over a year since I've scrapped). I think they both had a good time. Ares came back smelling like 'Whiiiiiiite CASTLE!' He can't just say 'white castle' he SCREAMS it! I guess he's a fan. But mommy got that diaper, ewww!

Where's my little boy?!

Newest Obsession: Cars - The Disney version.

He wakes up holding his new 'Cars' matchbox car. First thing out of his mouth 'Cars, TV mommy'. (He has to specify TV now, because when he asks for 'cars' I send him to his play room to get his cars.) I think he's probably seen the moving almost a dozen times in all. Today, randomly, he came up to me and said 'Mommy, lightning McQueen push blue car'.

When he plays with his matchbox cars, he pushes them, and makes his voice change to sound like he's changing gears. Crazy little boy.

I can't get over how much this kid is talking. He still doesn't have 'this' and 'that' down yet. He uses them interchangeably. It pains me to see my little boy grow up right before my eyes, although, ALWAYS knowing what he wants sure does make things easier... however, the terrible 2's are starting.

He has started to suck on/chew the ear to his 'mousie'. It drives me nuts, and I can't figure out how to get him to stop. I think he's been doing it since I took his paci away 6 months ago or so. I took the mousie away for a few days when i washed it and hung it to dry, and he didn't miss it, but as soon as i gave it back, he squeezed it, gave it some water from the sippy cup, (too cute) and proceeded to eat it's ear. *sigh*

I'm addicted!

I've started clipping coupons. And now I read multiple websites that tell me what coupons to use and what stores, and it's amazing how many FREE things you can get! My first time out, I bought $185 in goods, and only paid $80 for it. That's not really good compared to what other people save, but I just started. Last week, I went to Target, and my $59 original bill came to $29. It's SO addicting!

Now for what everyone has been waiting for - Ares.

He's at that age now - a momma's boy. Today was the worst. He woke up crying twice last night, but didn't want daddy at all. He refused to let me leave my closet and screamed hysterically until i put on a red shirt. (Me, not him, mind you). He had to sit on my lap when I pee'd, and God-forbid me being allowed to flush the toilet. Poor Adam, each and every time he went close to Ares, the kid would run and scream back to me. Grrr. Then today, when I handed him over to Auntie Cindy, he again, went crazy. Not a fun stage. - but at the same time, it is a fun stage. Example: The children's museum in Cincinnati. He had a great time, and we had a ton of fun with him.

Some of these pictures are from IKEA. He had the best time playing with the kitchen and the slide. I think we were at each section for about 15 minutes. This little boy loves to cook. I should let him help me make something some time!