Broken camera

My camera is broken! Luckily, Brian knows me oh so well, after losing the last 3 or 4 cameras to my clutziness.  He got the warrantee and they are sending a new one....hopefully soon! We are going on vacation next week and I will simply die if I don't have a camera.  You know I will.

I will update you on my cute little boys regardless, but I don't have any adorable photos to share with you.  Landon is getting taller every day.  He is such a big kid although still awkward in his clothes - too big for 18 months, too small for 24 months.  What can I do? I dress him up in 2 year old clothes and think he looks adorable.  He's starting to speak more and likes to try to repeat almost anything I say.  His most effect tool for communicating, however, is the scream.  He sounds like a pteradactyl with his high-pitch, loud screech.  Even Hunter responds to it because we can't handle the noise it makes - so all of us go running when he wants something.  Hunter used to do the same thing and I remember wondering if he would ever speak.  And does he ever!

More about Landon: He is super snuggly and prefers to be held over just about anything else.  He ADORES this darn pillow.  We can't wash it anymore because it will go flat.  We got him a new one (with a pillowcase, so we can wash it) and he wants nothing to do with it.  When he sees his pillow (or blankets) he giggles.  It's so cute in the morning when he comes walking into our room after wrestling the blankets from between the crib bars - 2 blankets and a pillow, sucking on his paci.  It melts my heart every time.  He's great at the physical skills appropriate for his age, although I wish he were a little bit less of a climber. He wont' get in the pool until I am in and then he just jumps off of everything to get to me.  He'll turn, push off of me, and try to swim away.  He has no problem with being underwater and can almost get his body weight to the surface on his own!  He loves veggies and anything carbohydrate-y.  He prefers salts over sweets.  I got my first unprovoked "I wuvvvvv oooo" the other day.  He gives great slobbery, wet, kisses and he has my heart!

Hunter is turning into the world's greatest big brother.  Although he prefers whatever toy that Landon has, he is also so helpful and thoughtful.  Today he brought Landon a toy that he wanted and put it in his crib for naptime.  He will help Landon get up on the bed and tries to help him get off the bed too...but grabbing him by the head and pulling.  (He has yet to do this without us catching him).  He is finally night-time potty-trained! Woohoo! No more pull-ups. He loves food.  Lately he loves all food and we have started restricting desserts so he doesn't get pudgy.  When his 4T clothes started to get tight in the belly we thought we might have a problem on our hands.  We don't - he's still relatively thin and very active - but we're watching.

His health has been good.  We actually had another blood test today and will get the results of that in a few weeks.  He hates the flavor of the medicine and now we have to have them flavor it for us so he can't taste the phony grape flavor that it normally has in it.  He also LOVES to swim and begs to go in the pool on a daily basis.  He has a much more cautious personality and won't fling himself off the side as willingly as Landon will.  He also won't swim on his own unless you talk him into it, although he knows how.  He's a very bright kid and has recently started learning his letters on his own.  He amazes me.  He is so loving and frequently comes up, snuggles or hugs me and says "Mama, I love you".  He also sends me to my room on a regular basis.  I wish I could go when he sends me.  Somehow it doesn't work that way where I could just say "watch your brother" and I could take a nap.  One day....

Our summer has been beautiful and we're really excited for San Diego next week and my wonderful aunt's visiting the following week.  My dissertation is due on August 9th and I am working SO hard to get it done (currently my advisor has a draft and is editing).  I pray to get it done on time and to pass my defense so I am done once and for all!!