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I took last Friday and this past Monday off from work, and we headed for a family vacation in Chattanooga. Daddy had never been, but we thought it would be a fun place to take Levi. We had a really great time. We headed straight for the Tennessee Valley Railroad when we arrived in Chattanooga on Friday.
Levi didn't want to let go of his ticket once we handed it to him.
His favorite part of the ride was when we rode through a tunnel and the man telling us all about the train and the area surrounding the railroad tracks turned off the light. Levi is still talking about the "dark tunnel"!
We went to Rock City and Ruby Falls on Saturday. Kevin took the pictures with his camera, so I have none to share right now.
On Sunday, we rode the Incline Railroad and then went to the Tennessee Aquarium. Levi did so well at the Aquarium. He walked around almost the entire time, holding my hand, unless I put him next to a "window" like below. He was very interested in the turtles and enjoyed "finding Nemo". He also liked putting his hand in the touch tanks; although he was so short that he didn't get to actually touch any of the fish.
The hotel where we stayed had a pool, so we went swimming Saturday and Sunday nights. On Sunday night, another family was at the pool who had twin little girls. Levi wanted to "play together". He also wanted to copy them when they were practicing floating with their mom. The back of his head would barely get wet - his feet in the air like he was a jack-knife - and he'd say, "Mama, I floating!" The pride and satisfaction on his face were priceless, and as any mama would do, I said, "Yes, Levi, you are!"
A couple of Levi's favorite things that he's learned about since spending so much time with Daddy with summer.
Yes, he said, "Chewbacca"!
Who would have thought a two year old would like Uncle Jesse the best?
There are a few things that Levi says that I think are just adorable. Okay, maybe more than "a few", but Daddy recorded these two on Levi's second birthday.
This one he picked up from Audy and one of her friends, Lacey. Here's his version of "How you doing?" Do you hear that extra "n" - "How do-nin?" It just makes me smile.
I can't remember the exact story for how he started saying this, but I think it is too funny. "I busy!"
Tomorrow is Levi's 2nd birthday. I'm taking the day off work to have fun with my boys. Hopefully, I will have some great pictures to post!
Tonight, no pictures, just quick little notes about Levi. He has begun to take an interest in going potty every night before bath time. For the past five nights, he has successfully used his froggy potty, including a couple of times for big jobs. We're not pressuring him into using the potty at this age, but I can't help but encourage him!
His expanding vocabulary is at times daunting. He's called Daddy, "Kevin", a couple of times after hearing either me or someone else use his proper name. He can count to ten - and has been for several weeks. He knows several shapes and even more colors. He is a sponge!
This weekend, we purchased bunk beds that we've currently left as two twins. Levi really likes the new bed - at least he likes to sit in it and look at it. He hasn't started sleeping in it yet. We will try that in about a month, after a couple more trips to Augusta for my work.
Sleeping is still not going great. Some nights are better than others.
Sorry for the long break to those who read my blog. We've been busy. I know that really isn't much of an excuse, because everyone is busy. So, I just have to ask for forgiveness - and give you the best update I can.
After approximately one week in our new house, we had to make a trip back to Augusta for my work. We are blessed to be able to stay at my in-law's house, which also means I get to take hubby and child with me! Levi really misses his papa, and he could barely contain his excitement when we pulled into their driveway. His papa is pretty smitten with Levi, so he didn't seem to mind all that much when Levi decided he needed to be his helper on one particular evening.
Levi's vocabulary is expanding at an incredibly fast rate. He really is a sponge, and some of the things he says just crack me up! One day in Augusta, Daddy took Levi to the shoe store to buy him some church shoes. Levi walked into the store with Daddy and told the man working in the store, "I buy shoes!"
We got back home on Friday, June 25. That night was Levi's first night without his "pap". I rocked him to sleep, telling him that he was a big boy and that his daddy and I were so proud of him. I must admit that I cried after I put him to bed. I knew that his best friend to date was gone and that my baby was really becoming a "big boy".
This picture was taken on Saturday, after his first night without his "pap".
Levi didn't cry nearly as much as I thought he would that first night or over the following days. But, he does still occasionally ask for his pap. His sleep has also been affected, because he had been so used to soothing himself back to sleep with his pap. We tried something new last night, and it seemed to work okay. We'll keep trying a few more nights before we know for sure.
Levi went to the pool for the first time last week at Audy's apartment complex. He did really well kicking his feet, but he really liked watching Audy flip and "fall down".
Daddy, Levi, Audy, and I went to a baseball game - Levi's first - on Saturday night. Levi was very excited. The background noise is loud in this video, but I think you can still hear his sweet voice telling you where we are and what he wants to do - PITCH!
Even after we explained that we were there to watch baseball, he still wanted to pitch. Once the game started, he decided that he'd rather hit and tried to take Audy down on the field so he could show off!
After the game, Levi got to see his first firework show. When the lights turned off and the fireworks started, his eyes grew to the size of saucers and he teared up a little bit. We covered his ears, and he sat in daddy's lap for a little while watching, then he moved to my lap. I covered his ears, and he pretended to go to sleep! He "woke up" for the finale and moved to Kevin's lap. He didn't cry anymore, but he told us on the way home that he "didn't like fireworks."
Since he didn't seem too thrilled with the fireworks, we decided to skip the firework festivities on the 4th, after celebrating the 4th and Q's 60th birthday (a little early) with family on Sunday.
Moving update: the moving company has already picked up all our boxes and paper; we are finally beginning to hang some pictures on the walls.