++Watch out Michael Phelps++

I wonder how many parents across the country make these types of comments to their little swimmers. We don't REALLY think Wyatt has that potential...he seems to be built a little sturdier than the swimmers we saw in the olympics. We're just thrilled that he seems to have taken very readily to the water. Well, I'm thrilled. Mark informed me that he is sore.

One of the greatest parts of our neighborhood is the community pool. It's two blocks away and open all the time. Never crowded, always available. We laugh because everyone down here in the eco-conscious South DRIVES their huge SUVs to the pool. Our neighborhood isn't that big. No one could be more than four blocks from it. We load up the wagon with the towels and the little swimmer and head out.

With the addition of his swimmies...he has become a fearless water bug. I don't know if I would call what he does "swimming" yet, but he keeps his head above water and is smart enough to spit water out if he accidentally takes any on. His favorite game (and the reason for daddy's soreness) is swimming to the ladder, climbing out and jumping "in". I say "in" because I hold my breath each time he jumps as Mark basically needs to pull him into the water so he doesn't land back on the deck. I think he told Mark "one more time" roughly 50 times. I'm happy to lounge on the steps or chat with friends. We'll work on flip turns next summer.

++First day of school++

Yet another thing about Tennessee that just seems a bit backwards to me is that they start school just when us Minnesotans are hitting our summer stride. No complaints here...it means Wyatt now spends five hours on Wednesdays and Fridays being enriched mentally, physically and emotionally...or at least that's what I tell myself as I am loving my time alone. I had to take this shot of him by the front door, just like we did every year growing up. I tried my best but couldn't get him to wear the backpack...or put the juice down. Notice the totally non-matching firetruck socks (gasp!). I put those on as one last effort to smooth the transition. Nonetheless he told me as soon as we pulled into the parking lot "Mommy, I want to go home." When I picked him up and asked if he had fun: "yeah!!!" (with arms raised in the air). Clearly no worse for the wear. As for me, the house got a thorough cleaning---hey, I thought this was supposed to be my fun time!

++A New Niece++

Our little bit of pink in our sea of blue arrived today! We're all excited because she has a great birthday 8-8-08 (consolation for my sister who has been wondering what took this baby so long!).
Cora Irene Buchholz arrived at 1:07 am (or something like that) and was 7 lbs, 8oz (again...a little fuzzy on the details as they came during a 4am phone call.) We're just super excited that she's here and healthy. I'm a little bummed that she doesn't have red hair though...
For those of you who don't know already, she's named after my Mom's mother (Cora is the pair to Wyatt's Carl). She was very special to us. Irene was my dad's special aunt. I can't wait to see some photos...and to hear how Larson is adjusting to the new addition to his family!

++22 Months++

I'm still looking for the machine that will freeze time. I'd like to keep our sweet little boy sweet and little forever. The picture above was a huge breakthrough for us. It was taken at the Children's Museum. Wyatt had already decided to leave the George exhibit and head onto the next exhibit when I asked for a picture--he actually agreed to sit there for this photo! He even cooperated and looked at me. It doesn't hurt that he's really into George these days. We end up with another book each time we go to the library.

During his twenty-second month Wyatt mastered his colors (after about six months of him knowing blue...we have branched out). He's really into telling us what color everything is too. From his cup to his outfit to our outfits...we know what color everything is. My favorite is when he says orange...he says it as if he is speaking french...three syllables...so cute. He's also into telling us "I want to [enter request here] too". The photo below resulted after he heard Mark tell me he was going to mow the lawn. For the next twenty minutes he informed me: "I want to lawnmow too." The resulting image was so cute I had to grab my camera. Litterally he mirrored his dad back-and-forth for the entire front yard. I paid fifty cents for that lawnmower at a garage sale...huge score.

We're surviving the heat with lots of indoor activities. Mark made this fort the other day. It kept Wyatt captivated for all of five minutes...then on to the next thing.
He is OBSESSED with Bee Movie these days. I am once again eating my pre-parent words as I admit that my child watches it almost daily (you would resort to these things too if it was 100 degrees out every...single...day...). We ended up buying it yesterday so we could send the other copy back to Netflix. We are not movie buyers so this was a big thing too. If you haven't seen it, it's pretty cute (or at least it was the first time...the tenth time it gets a bit boring).

That's about it for the monthly report on the little guy. He goes back to school (along with the big kids down here) in two weeks. He went to a summer program at his new school for the month of July and I was really happy with it. He didn't come home covered in paint once! We were constantly told what a nice, sweet boy we had by his teachers. I will have to say that while it's nice to hear that your kid is cute, or smart...nothing melts your heart like being told you have a nice kid. Now how do we make sure he stays that way?

++So far behind++

Not sure how to go about catching up. My neighbor friend Sarah called me out on it last night. Glad to see someone is so interested in what I have to say next. I need to start with a quick MN-WI trip recap before we move on to more current events.

Here's what we did:

Wyatt took a boat ride on Grandpa's boat. Grandpa learned a lesson when Wyatt informed him he was "all done" right as we got to the turn-around point.

We saw the Stevens Point 4th of July parade. Here Wyatt and Dad are watching the approaching firetruck. The highlight of the day.

Playing ladder golf with the cousins.

Driving the fire truck at Riverfront Rendezvous. After Wyatt got off he got mad if anyone else got in the truck...as if it was his fire truck.

Reuniting with old friends Hudson and Lauren. Buddy Aidan couldn't make the party since his new little sister, Chelsea, made an early appearance. The good news is that we got to stop by and quickly meet Chelsea and see Aidan.Despite what this photo may tell, playing with Sophie was a big hit while at Aunt Phyllis and Uncle Dick's house.

All in all, Wyatt was a super good traveler. The two hour plane ride is a perfectly tolerable with a toddler. He adjusted great to sleeping at three different places and to napping in the car for a couple of days. The biggest highlight of the trip for Wyatt: riding the "bus" to and from the off-site parking at the airport. Go figure.

We're surviving down here. The seven day forecast doesn't include any temps under 95. Fabulous. It's almost like January in Minnesota. You just don't go outside. We enjoyed our time with my parents. Wyatt still hasn't figured out Where Nana and Bompa went. He was really thrown off because when they left Tuesday, so did Mark for a 3-day trip to Michigan. He was convinced they all went somewhere together. He continually asked me to go to the airport too. Dad is home now so all is well.

++Back in TN++

We're back home. We made it safely through what was affectionately dubbed our "planes, trains and automobiles tour." Wyatt would add buses, boats and firetrucks to that list as well. Our little traveler did great. He doesn't like to be told he has to sit down when the plane is taking off and landing though (I should win a Tony award for my fabulous interactive "Wheels on the bus" rendition that occupied the last 15 minutes of the flight...perhaps those seated around us wouldn't agree). Now back to the daily grind...and the heat.
The good news? Wyatt started his new school today! What a perfect day to be home alone. I have to admit that I was a little nervous for the first day of school. New places are never fun. Let's just hope that the tears I left ended quickly.
The other news...we are getting visitors again today. It just my parents. They'll be here for two weeks (yes, that is not a typo). I've decided that the length of their stay makes them more like tenants than visitors so I am not stressing out to have everything "just so" for their arrival. I should at least have all the laundry off the kitchen floor though...better get back to work. Photo recap coming soon.

++6 Months in the Mid-South++

I said I'd update the report card after six months. Interestingly enough...there's not much new to say. We still like what we like and we still don't like the same things. We love the house and the neighborhood...just wish we could transport it to South Minneapolis (ha ha). This house would eat our old house for lunch.
We've made some good friends...Wyatt included. I feel like I have a few people I can call if I need something...or something to do. While Mark traveled last week Wyatt and I got invited over for dinner twice! The heat is becoming a little more tolerable (that comment was fueled by the "cold front" that blew through recently pushing the temps back into the high 80s.) Can't wait to see what 70 feels like in MN.
We know this won't be our home forever and so we just live in the moment and enjoy it here. This is all said as I am hours away from hopping on a plane back to the homeland. Lots of fun planned with friends and fam...back where we belong. (Does anyone else like how I use my blog to peer pressure my husband?)