...to the zoo

Yea! We have reached 1000 page views! Thanks to all of you that check-in on us to see what we are up to and I hope you have been enjoying. This past week we headed with our playgroup to the zoo again. This time I remembered my camera. I only took a handful of pictures because it is not the easiest task while pushing Landon and trying to keep up with Maddox. 

Here is Maddox balancing. Lately he is really enjoying trying to balance on different things and  balance toys on objects. He is getting pretty good at balancing on one foot. I think he can do it for longer than I can! 

Landon had his first taste of blueberry this day.  

The last time we came to the splash park Maddox was a little tentative. This time I couldn't get him to come out of the water. He really enjoyed himself. 

...and look at my boys

I love having two beautiful boys! I also love re-creating pictures of Maddox now with Landon. I love seeing how they both look so alike yet so different. Love them both with all my heart!

 Landon 8 months

Maddox 6 months

Landon 8 months

Maddox 8 months

Landon 8 months

Maddox 8 months 

...and watch big brother Maddox

Maddox is super sweet to Landon (most of the time). One day while I was brushing my teeth I sat Landon on the bed, where I could see him, happily chewing on a toothbrush. Maddox comes over to see what we were doing. The next thing I know he starts bringing in some "friends" for Landon. Before long they were having a party on my bed. It was just too cute of a moment between the two of them!

Maddox was also pushing all of the buttons so that the stuffed toys would sing for them. 

...and splash in the sink

I love how a little simple thing can make these boys so happy. Throughout the day I am telling Maddox to stop playing with the water in the sink. Constantly reminding him that if he wants to brush his teeth or wash his hands he needs to let me know. This is at least 5 times a day. On this particular day I "let my hair down" and brought Landon with me into the bathroom to check on Maddox and decided to let them enjoy. Maddox was thrilled at being able to fill up the sink and put his hands and feet in. Landon even scooted towards the water to kick his feet. Then Landon eyed Harold's toothbrush. He is so delighted to have the end of a toothbrush in his mouth. Who needs special toys for teething....not Landon! Days like this remind me to let my kids enjoy themselves even if it is "wasting water" or "making a mess" or "getting dirty" the happiness that it brings them to be able to explore and experience these things are well worth the clean-up!

...to an unplanned tea party

In our complex there is a clubhouse. It is located near the mailboxes so on one of our trips we decided to stop by to check out this little play room that they have inside. This room is attached to the gym so that parents can work out while the kids play. I don't think it ever gets used but I thought that the boys might like it. just the new setting and new toys was enough to keep them entertained for a little while. Maddox noticed this tea set first. He took out all of the pieces and made some tea for Lu and I. He quickly moved on to a puzzle that he found. Landon enjoyed chewing on one of the toy spoons (of course). When the day needs a shake up it is a great option for us. Particularly as a "play at home" mom options are always a great thing!

...and watch Toy Story on Ice

This past week Harold and I worked really hard to win tickets to see Toy Story on Ice. We just knew Maddox would love it and he did. Maddox sat quietly and just stared the whole time. I have never seen him quiet for 2 1/2 straight hours before! Landon was busy watching all of the lights for the first 30 minutes and then decided it was too much and passed out in his car seat. It was such a great experience and we took a ton of pictures for Maddox to remember every minute of it.

All Ready to go!! 

We got there right when the doors opened. So Maddox had  lots  of time to  soak it all in (and he did).

He played with his buzz lightyear toy throughout the entire show that by the time it ended one of the lights was already out. So after the show I ran to the vendor and switched it for a new one. 

Come along with the Castros and eat watermelon...

We have had a couple of "firsts" this week and they both have to do with watermelon. Maddox has never really liked melon. We bought a baby melon the other day which I cut up to have in the fridge for Harold and I. We always encourage Maddox to try every food even if he hasn't liked it previously. So he tried a piece and liked it and in the end ate half of the entire watermelon!! Being such a smart girl after I had cut all of the rind off I thought Landon would love to munch on this. It has been his favorite teether to date! He sucked on the piece for almost half an hour. I have since saved all of the rind for him. We went on a walk today and I gave him another piece which the minute he saw it his little feet got going. Of course big brother thought this was a great idea to chew on and thus the pictures of Maddox with the rind too.

Come along with the Castros and watch Landon standing...

Landon has made no attempt to crawl. Up until recently he has been content to sit and play. He now has decided that he wants to STAND! I mean whenever I am sitting on the floor with him he won't bend his legs to sit and he is so happy for me to hold him in a standing position. Whenever we go to the pool he would usually sit in front of me on the top step and kick his feet but now he wants to stand up and try to bend down and splash the water with his hands. His legs are getting stronger and stronger everyday. He can't stand on his own yet but I can prop him against something and his legs can support his body weight. I am starting to think he may be one of those kids that decides he doesn't want to crawl but that he wants to just get up and walk. We will have to wait to find out. 

Standing while holding onto his toy. 

Love the chunky legs!

I don't know who that man is behind him. hehe

The table is also a great height for him to hand onto. 

    

Come along with the Castros and watch the boys take a bath together...

The boys have always taken a bath together but for the first time I put Landon in the big bath tub. Usually his baby bath tub takes up more then half of the space leaving Maddox with little room to play. It was such an exciting time for the both of them. 

I love how Maddox has to do anything that Landon does. I thought it was supposed to work the other way around!

He loved being able to splash around!

Maddox now does this "fake laugh" can you tell?!? lol 

Come along with the Castros and take a walk at the zoo...

This week we went with our playgroup to the zoo. It was a great time for everyone. It was a warm day out and Maddox had his first experience at a splash pad. Although I didn't bring a bathing suit or towel for him, it was hot enough for him to run around in the water and pretty much be dry by the time we got back to our car. I don't have any pictures of animals because I forgot my cameras memory card inside my computer. I did catch these two moments on camera. The first picture is of Maddox at the splash pad. He was so hesitant at first. Usually he isn't very cautious so it was kind of funny to watch. I think he didn't quite understand that I was going to let him run around in the water and get wet without a bathing suit. I told him it was okay and after that he had a blast. I'm sure the splash pads here in Florida will be visited frequently by us in the upcoming months. The second picture is a rare moment with Maddox and Oliver holding hands. Oliver is the son of Erika, who organizes our playgroup. Maddox and Oliver have two completely different personalities. So the two of them holding hands or even interacting is very rare. I think that it is a sweet picture of the two of them!

Come along with the Castros and discover Coral Reef Park...

We have recently ventured out to a new park. There are so many parks here in Miami so it is always exciting to go see what we can find. This park is on a huge piece of land in which there are different pieces of work out equipment. As we walked Maddox (and Harold and I...hehe) had to test them out. It was the perfect day for a stroll.

Landon always loves a good swing!

Landon loves that he can now sit in the stroller without his baby seat especially because he can lean forward and bite on the tray!

Look how talented my boy is. I guess he gets it from his papa!

He actually did really good on this one. I'm thinking about getting a treadmill so that  on a rainy day here he could still get his energy out. hehe

One of his favorite activities of the day. Oh the poor ducks!

Come along with the Castros and pick strawberries...

This morning we had a playgroup outing to a strawberry field. Since Harold was in his class I was flying solo with the boys. I was a little nervous as I couldn't bring the stroller into the field and thus had to carry Landon. This meant that I had to be as quick as Maddox with Landon latched on. I did it! Maddox was so well behaved too. He had a great time picking the strawberries as well as running around with all of the kids. There were also some great low trees for climbing. Maddox loved climbing on them with his friend Sienna. They have a bakery too. They are known for having good sticky buns. So we had to try them and boy were they great! Maddox asked me if he could have a "sticky hand" which I thought was cute because I had told him earlier that these buns would make his hands sticky. It turned out to be a great morning despite the fact there was a chance of rain but turned out to be a sun blaring 82 degrees. After naps we went off to the pool which ended our day perfectly.

So funny how Landon is a floating head  here. 

Come along with the Castros and swim...

We have had a bunch of very warm days this winter. Hard to believe Maddox has been in the pool about 5 times this year (I mean fully in the water). We are only in March!! This past week though was the first time that he jumped into the water and swam down to the other side. He normally stays on the steps which the water  then reaches up to his chest. I take him during the day when the pool is empty! It is so nice and relaxing to have this amazing pool to ourselves. I can't wait for the water to be a little warmer so I can go in with Lu too. For now we sit on the edge and Landon will kick his feet in the water or stand up on the top step which just covers his little ankles. He seems to really like it because when I pick him up to sit on my lap he tries to slide back down into the water. The only problem we ran into was that Maddox didn't want to get out and it is a big pool. It took me a good 5 minutes to convince him to get out of the water. He would stay in there all day if I let him!  

This is his "whale" or "dolphin" pose. I'm not sure which because  he changed his mind a couple of times. 

He is standing in the water here and oh so happy!

Come along with the Castros and take a picture with Instagram...

I have always loved taking pictures but have never gotten into using any kind of photo editor. Until I meet Instagram! (I use it on my i-phone and am not sure which other phones it is compatible with...sorry) It is so easy and I LOVE the way that the pictures come out. The picture with Landon sitting in the high chair is at a Mexican restaurant. It was our first time eating Mexican food since leaving Mexico and it was Landons first time in a high chair at a restaurant. Which is so fitting considering he is our little Mexicano. I took the picture of the palm by our pool. This past week the moon has been out very early. This picture was taken around 4:00, and although the  picture doesn't do it justice, you can see the moon (that tiny dot) in the left corner. 

I also found this app called color blast. It is fun to play with too. I LOVE the first picture of Landon but am not sure if I love it better in full color or below with little pieces of color. 

Can't wait to take some more pictures to share!