ABC song

Lucas loves the "LMNOP" part. I think he thinks it's a funny word.

Birdy Quotes

L: "I need sunglasses."

(Puts them on)

L: "I look awesome"

Helping

Matt's been working hard on painting our stairs. Lucky for him that he had some good help taping off the area.

Birdy Quotes

M: Who does Daddy love?
L: Luca
M: Who does Mommy love?
L: Luca
M: Who does Lucas love?
L: Emma

We now know where we stand. ;)

"I Got It"

Luca has finally learned that soccer balls are for kicking. "No hands." Here he is getting all his two year old energy out at the park.

Joined by another player on the field: Friend Anna. Twin Ella is off on the swingset.

Watching the action (which in this case is a dog on the "field"):

As you can see in the video he ran and ran repeating "I got it, I got it." Apparently he is scared his other competitive team members (i.e. mom & dad) are going to take the shot from him. And watch that energy! It takes a lot to wear out a two year old.

Splish Splash

It rained all morning but we decided we needed to get outdoors. Perfect time for puddle jumping. Lucas had a great time and I ended up with a very wet and muddy little boy.

Dumping water out of his boots

A look out at the river

Chief Camp and Coming Home

I just spent a week at "chief camp" in Jacksonville, Florida. Despite the worry of making it through four days of role play it turned out to be a very enjoyable experience. We had a group of 36 chiefs to be and 2 great facilitators who taught us a lot in a short few days. We learned a lot about self-awareness, personality types, our conflict styles, interacting with hospital administrators (those non-MD, MBAs), and feedback styles. All sounds Kumbayah but it was actually quite fun. I did incidentally learn that Matt and I are more or less the opposite personality type (not that it surprises us) as are I and my future co-chief. Luckily I think that there is strength in seeing things from different viewpoints. Matt and I are both I's or introverts so at least we can happily be homebodies together :). It's funny how the Myers-Brigg can explain some of the things you think are just quirky about you. Anybody taken it?

Despite it being a great professional week and I believe quite useful for getting through my next year, it was hard to leave my kiddo at home again. Just reminds me that I spend way too many nights away from him. It's getting harder now that his awareness and ability to communicate is getting better. He actually knows the difference between me being home and not being home. On my second night away he got on the phone and was telling me "Mommy, come home; need mommy" in this pitiful voice. Breaks my heart every time even though I know that he is well taken care of and that he probably forgot that he was sad as soon as he got of the phone. Matt handled his single-dadness wonderfully as he always does. He keeps it light with humor as shown by the text I got about half way through being away "... it's getting like Lord of the Flies here without you. No food, dished piled in the sink... I swear Lucas was hunting for dinner in the living room yesterday." It's never actually so bad when I get home but it gave me a good laugh. I'm lucky to have such a sweet, involved husband.

Who wouldn't miss this sweet face?