the BIG picture: Lion days of summer?

Life with Dawson is nothing short of an adventure...rescuing him from the room where he just closed the door and has no way out. Protecting him from the evil toilet water (yes, he knows how to open the lid now and I've caught him splashing around a few times...at least there were no "leftovers" in the bowl!) And conquering "the nap".

But some adventures are more fun. Like watching him take steps behind his push toy. Seeing the gears turn as he copies most every move we make and thing we say. Or at least makes a solid attempt.

Last weekend we spent on Lake Wisconsin with my family. It was quite the weekend...I would say there was not much relaxing involved but Grandma was there with some relief. We have gone the two previous years sans kid, and let's just say it was a big adjustment this year. But Dawson did love lounging on the hammock, kickin' it in his floaty and discovering all sorts of "no's" at a new place (in case you were wondering, he did find the toilet at the cabin).

Next week, Dawson is taking his first airplane trip! We are headed to Boston to visit my friend Lisa and her little man Brody. When we first found out we were pregnant, but didn't feel far along enough to share, I spent lots of time on the What to Expect When You're Expecting website and found a message board for expectant moms in September 2009. I was dying to talk to someone since baby was all I could think about. It was great to compare stories with people and ask the questions you are afraid to ask people you know for fear of great embarrassment. Enter Lisa. I was joining in a discussion one morning and there was the other mom-to-be that had similar thoughts with a sense of humor that made my nerves disappear (at least for 30 seconds or so). We exchanged emails and were a little surprised by how much we had in common: same birthday, anniversary a week apart to high school crushes, pregnant with our first with the same due day (and both with a boy we would eventually find out) to name a few...

We hit it off instantly and emailed several times a day throughout out whole pregnancy. And since our little men were born we have been on the phone basically every day since keeping each other sane, exchanging ideas, fears and frustrations.

So next week we take off to visit Lisa and Brody (born 4 days before Dawson). We are so thrilled to have our little men meet and to hang out in person!

A few new things D is up to...
- Will "roar" and "moo" (although the "moo" is more like brrooo") when he sees a picture of them in a book or when we ask him what they say
- Is starting to "oink" too...although it sounds more like "ink, ink"...it's stinkin' cute
- We have been doing a few signs with Dawson (more, all done, please, thank you, etc) and he has caught on to all done. Once he is done eating, he will very exaggeratedly sign all done and say "ah-duh". It's really funny...he rocks his highchair when he signs....I wasn't kidding when I said "exaggeratedly" (which who even knew was a word?)
- Points at things that interest him

Check out some photos from our time on the lake....Thanks for checking in!