Art 195 and 162

I have an amazing teacher! Dr. Sharon Brown is an Apple Distinguised Educator, who else to teach me the wonderful world of photoshop and iMacs? I am now conviced I need to purchase my very own Mac computer, no more ifs or buts about it! Here's me having a little fun with the iBooth.

I love love love her classes, she is an amazing teacher! But I can't wait to go home and hug my little man. He went to the pool today with his uncle Cris and auntie Jenny and second cousin Dominic. He's having a good time at least I know. I miss my husband too but I try not to think about him because the more I do I feel sad and this is important to me so I am focusing on the prize! :D I am an amazing photographer, now I will be an amazing editor!

Caspian's 2 year Check up!

30 Pounds 35.5 inches tall! and a head circumference of 50.5 centimeters round!

Can you see my pride bursting out of my chest? Well I can certainly feel it. My baby boy is no longer a baby, he has now been moved from having "well-baby check ups" to "Physicals" oh wow! I have a blooming human in my hands. How I love my tiny love <3 <3 <3

He is in the 75th percentile for growth, not bad. He's got about 3 feet 4.5 inches to catch up to his daddy lol

2Day(s)

 Just a few more days. Caspian and I spent our day blowing bubbles from his chocolate ice cream cone bubble soap and wand his Grandma Mary gave him. It was chocolate scented so he thought it would be a good idea to drink the soap and then he cried for milk from the sour taste, silly man! We went out for a walk since it was such a beautiful day outside and then came home to "clean" lol yeah right.. We blew more bubbles, read a few books and painted <3

Daddy came home and we went to see the Parkridge Townhome Apts near the Dehaven's house. I really like this place but Kevin likes Sky Terrace because they are right outside the gate. Each have their pros and cons, I am hoping to get into Parkridge if not there is always Sky Terrace. Plus Parkridge has a library right next door and is in a lot nicer area. We'll see what happens.

Its past 2 AM now and I have been procrastinating from editing the pictures from the Maternity shoot I did. I need to work on my discipline, it shouldn't take me longer than a few hours to work on a single session. I've always been so carefree and discipline just wasn't ever in my vocabulary until now. Caspian has been eating nothing but cheese and cracker and milk and juice. He refuses to eat vegetables or fruits and now stopped eating meats. I am starting to worry but I will continue to be the disciplinary and only provide healthy meals for him and provide a treat or "Kee" short for cookie when he actually eats his food. 

What gives!

Day started off so great! Family from mexico added me on FB that I have never even heard of before, a friend from CA called me whom I haven't spoken to in a year and I had money transferred money into my account today that I didn't even know of. I paid my financial hold for school and was able to remove the hold so I can register for classes now. And I got my Unit 2 and 3 reviews emailed to me from NYIP.

But somewhere in the day it turned around. Now i'm so frustrated with Caspian, I can't do skwat with a 30 pound wiggling toddler holding my arms down! Kevin was waiting outside the Sky Terrace Apts office doing nothing while we waited for him at Fatima's house. Caspian still wont eat anything past cheese and crackers, I am starting to worry.

Note: Yesterday I taught Caspian how to tell thunder to "Go Away Thunder!" and "Shh, be quiet thunder!" and it worked!

Man-Made Beach in Naperville, IL

We started off our day prepping for today's adventure. Uncle Al and Auntie Bridget were going to take us out to a man made beach in downtown Naperville, IL. We packed some sandwiches, water, powerades, and a strawberry-banana smoothie for the Chango. We got to the park around noon and the adventure began. 

:-) 

Uncle Al and Daddy broke the ice between the water and Caspian as they walked slowly into the water. 

 Auntie Bridget took over and eased Caspian into the pool/beach

 

Caspian's squinty eyes

She's such a proud Auntie, Caspian wasn't too happy about pictures but as a Mommy I knew that even this expression would be one I'll look back at in ten years and say "AWWW he's so cute"

I love this Guy! He finally got me to wear my bathing suit in public. 

My handsome husband came to get me into the water and got me to wear my TWO PIECE!! oh gosh! We shared a turkey and cheese on potato bread sandwich. Then everyone took a break and we had a nice lunch on the grass.

He was so focused on the people he didn't even look at his sandwich while he ate.

Maxing, Relaxing, acting all cool! 

Drinking his Smoothie

Caspian insisted on dumping the sand into the water, we thought it was cute :P

Building our first Sandcastle

Finally we took him over to the sand to play. 

A moat for our castle

Almost done with our moat

Our Castle is beautiful! Lol

 Grandma Mary and Ampa did not make it to the beach because they were taking way too long. But they made it to the BBQ afterwards. We had spicy brats, corn on the cob and hot dogs, yum! Grandma Mary took Caspian out on a nice stroll before dinner..

Grandma Mary taking Caspian out for a walk 

Ampa <3

Playing Hide and Seek with Gus

Gus says "meow"

Watching TV

Our family

Auntie Bridget or "Nani"

We all had such a great day at the Beach in Naperville today!! The BBQ was delicious too.. Then the universe shifted..

Lunch with Nana MaryLou Markert

The best part about visiting family is the honest and unconditional love. No matter how long or how short the time you've spent together you are Family and Family means Love. 

Friday we spent the day with Grandma Mary and Grandpa at the pool in their Willowbrook Condo :D

 We started out Saturday by calling up Nana MaryLou and inviting her to Lunch. Auntie Bridget, Kevin, Caspian and I all went together to pick her up and had a nice lunch at IHOP in Harlem, IL. 

 

He loves his "Nana"

I love spending time with this lovely lady.
She told us about things she had lived through, historic
moments, life experiences, 91 years old and she's still
a Sharp Woman <3 <3 <3

Nana and I :D

She helped him pick his Potato Soup

Caspian warmed up to her right away, he called her "Nana" and gave her his loves XOXO

Nana really wanted to share some Ice Cream for her Great Grandson 

Caspian was such a good helper!

Caspian helping Great Grandma Mary Lou push her walker out of IHOP. 

Going to Nana's home. Caspian was a hit, he waved "hi" to all of Nana's friends as she showed him off to all her friends. Apparently they all agreed he will be a "heartbreaker" when he grows up :D Lol Mommy is not too happy about that  hehe 

That's all her GRANDCHILDREN~20Plus!~ And GreatGrandchildren, all 10 of them! The collage was a gift from Auntie Bridget for Nana's 91st Birthday surprise party! Which we sadly couldn't come to because we were in Virginia. But we love her so so much from far way. 

Caspian found Mommy and Daddy in the collage right away! yay

What a proud son he is of his mama. Grandma Mary's (St.Paul High School and JFK Highschool) Senior year portrait Class of 1970. Grandma Mary is so beautiful!!! And checkout her perfect bob :D So cool!!! 

 Bittersweet goodbyes. Or "See you laters" Caspian gave Nana a big Smooch and Nana held him tight in her arms.

Such a lovely time spend with our lovely Nana. We love her so so much and can't wait to see her again soon later this week while we are in Chicago. 

On our way home we drove by the Chicago Fire Soccer team stadium :D

 We also drove by Grandpa or "Ampa"'s job and Daddy's and Auntie Bridget's old High School, St.Joseph Catholic High School in Westchester, IL.

And last but not least, Daddy showed us where he spend a year studying at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellens, IL. Auntie Bridget is currently attending Junior College there. Daddy then went on to attend a year at Benedictan University in Lyle, IL. 

For dinner we went to the White Castle in Aurora, IL. Caspian ate his entire cheeseburger and got some M&Ms for being such a good boy :D