Growing up

Someone must have informed my tiny boy that he is about to take on the big brother role, because he sure is doing some grown up things lately...

...like going for walks on Daddy's shoulders

...and eating dinner at the table like a big kid

...and using a fork to feed himself.

I'm not so sure my mama heart was ready to see my tiny boy become a big boy over night, but here we are and I could not be more proud of all he is learning these days. Ok, maybe I should say most of what he is learning these days. Along with his new found freedom has come some acting out as well. Such things as holding his ears when we tell him no, taking his shirt off whenever he deems appropriate, and swiping things that he finds lying around (phones, glasses, food, etc.). I guess it's all par for the course, but there is no rest for the weary (aka very, very pregnant mama) around here. 

One busy little boy!

Keeping this active little boy busy this week has kept me on my toes, for sure! We (along with Aunt Jesse, who's visiting for the week) have gone on all kinds of adventures...

we colored. a lot!

we turned the heat on before we FROZE! Even dinosaur was cold :)

 

 we practiced our counting on Mommy's new Kindle. SO cute!

we made fall cookies with Aunt Jesse

we decorated (umm, a.k.a. ate) those fall cookies

(Porter's creation)

we had a picnic in the park on the perfect fall day

and played at the park. Happy boy!

we (ok, Porter and Aunt Jesse. Mommy doesn't do all that much climbing these days, lol!) climbed up and down and over and under everything at the park that would stand still!

had such a fun day!

When only Daddy will do...

Yesterday morning started with me going to get Porter out of his bed after hearing him wake up. Only, he shook his head and said "No, Dada!". Okkk...so we went downstairs and got Dada. I tried to put him in his high chair for breakfast, but he only wanted to eat breakfast in Dada's lap. I tried to wipe his face off after eating...he only wanted Dada to do it. Seeing a trend?! Well what do you do on a day like that? Be thankful that you have a husband who's able to work from home for a day so that a little boy can have his Dada within reach ALL.DAY. Not kidding! My usually whole-heartedly Mama's boy wanted nothing to do with me. Ouch! Instead, he was Dada's sidekick. Sean sat on the couch, so did Porter. Sean got on the computer, so did Porter. Sean had a snack, so did Porter. Yes, that was our whole day :) While it was very sweet, we were beginning to wonder how we were going to explain to Sean's work that his office space needed to be turned into a playroom so that his tiniest intern could join him at work. Thankfully, mommy and Porter are friends again today and Daddy was able to go off to work. I'll forever remember this day as "The Day Daddy Was Forced to Work From Home"...

Oh yea, and not only did he have to SEE Dada, he also had to be able to TOUCH Dada. Poor Dada worked with Porter's foot in his lap for a few hours.

And when he moved to the desk, Porter moved faithfully close beside with (with his farm animals. Never go too far from home without your farm animals!)

And when Dada got done working and sat on the couch, so did Porter...

...but not without being able to touch him ;)

 

 

Porter, one day when you think you want to have nothing to do with mom or dad because you're way cooler than us...I'll remind you of this day ;)

BBQ, smoke, a port-a-johns

This weekend was Sean's first BBQ competition. He's had his smoker (a.k.a.- his favorite 'toy') for about a year and a half and has really enjoyed trying different meats and cooking styles. This past weekend, his work was helping sponsor a local charity event and we thought now's as good of a time as any to enter his first competition. And wow, what an experience! Short version: 30 lbs of pork, multiple bags of smoked wood chunks, massive amounts of smoke inhalation, 12 hours of cooking time (overnight!), about 2 hours of sleep on a cot outside (for him), and this very pregnant mama using a port-a-john (1 of my top 3 biggest fears in life, and no, I'm not telling the other 2) multiple times in the dark. Phew! All in all, a great experience and he was very happy with how it turned out. Not a win, but he did come in 2nd place (ok, I guess I should tell you that there were only 2 competitors in his division) and I'm pretty proud of him ;) We had several 'fans' ask where our restaurant was because they had never heard of "Porter's BBQ". {So, just in case the whole accounting thing doesn't work out, we've got a back-up plan!} So I guess it was some pretty legit BBQ. I can only take credit for the table scape and some shredding of the finished product. Way to go honey!