Thursday, July 17, 2014

sweet, sweet summertime

Bahaha. I love this picture :)
Last summer was probably the happiest summer of my life! I got to spend my days with little Mia and watch her grow. I was convinced that no summer would ever be able to beat that one.... but of course I was wrong! This summer has been just as fun and amazing! The amazing thing about baby's, toddlers, kids is that it doesn't take much to make them happy (I love that fact about Mia, she is constantly bringing me back to what truly matters and simple happiness)!
So how are we having fun this summer? We are spending as much time outside as possible! Some of Mia's favorite things that keep us busy are:
  • Hiking (I've changed my hiking routes from ones where I have to pack her, to ones that she can do herself! She loves to explore so I do my best to accommodate!)
  • Pool time. We bought a baby pool that has been the best investment ($10) ever!
  • Park time. I must admit that the park isn't my very favorite because Mia still can't do it all, but she sure does try! So it sometimes turns into a fight as she tries to follow the bigger kids to the very tallest of climbing and slides. It will be nice when I don't have to worry about her running and climbing all over everything. But when she is content playing on the baby sections and going down the slide a hundred times, it is so fun to watch the joy on her face :)
  • Play dates. Although Mia is still very much in the independent playing stage, she still loves to be surrounded by our friends! So play dates are good for our souls :)
  • Simply going outside. Some days we walk out the front door, I sit on the steps and watch Mia run around and pick up rocks, say hi to the neighbors, etc. I can't even explain Mia's excitement when I tell her we are going outside (versus out back)! Even though she doesn't do much... it truly is the little things that make her world go 'round :)
  • Blowing bubbles. Playing with balls. Eating homemade popsicles or smoothies. 
We don't own a home yet so I daydream about the days that I can watch or run through the sprinklers with Mia (some of my favorite childhood memories involve the sprinklers)! We also hope to have a garden and it will be fun to pick fruit or peas and eat them as we play outside! I can't believe I haven't added this to our list of out door fun.... Mia loves to color so I need to pull out the chalk! Maybe we will do that today :)
Our summer activities are simple and that is okay with me and my daughter. Our life is so happy and I'm so grateful I have my little bestie to enjoy the little things with!        
July 17:  Favorite summer toddler activities
July 24:  Helping Your Toddler to Communicate (Words, emotions, etc.)
July 31:  Dealing with Separation Anxiety
Aug 7:    Car Trip Necessities
Aug 14:  Deciding when the time is right for baby #2 (and/or how to handle these questions)
Aug 21:  Tricks for eating out with your toddler
Aug 28:  Feeling confident as a mom (How to feel this way, Your struggle with, etc.)

14 comments:

~Dawn~ said...

So many fun summer activities...and it will always continue to get better and better. Sweet Mia looks like she's having a blast on that slide.

Jamie @ The Jamie's + 1 said...

That picture made me laugh out loud!! Mia is presh!! I feel the same way about playgrounds, we have a love/hate relationship!!

P!nky said...

Such a wonderful picture and sounds like a wonderful summer so far.

hello erin said...

such a fun and awesome summer!! it always makes me wonder what the heck we'll do with these babes all winter!

KelseyB said...

My kids love to hike too....such a blessing, because we need to be outdoors as much as possible before we are stuck in for the winter! ha!

Heather Leigh_A beautiful ministry said...

Love love love this. Your post makes me "want" to love summer more lol

Leah @ Everyday Love said...

I don't know what I would do without playdates! Not only are they great for Avery, they are therapy for me!

Laurie @ Stylin Savanna said...

I'm with you girl!! Didn't think much could beat last summer, but I too was wrong, Savanna is so much more alert and aware, not to mention she loves to play! We love bubbles and her baby pool too!

Sarah said...

kids make everyday simple things seem that much better. You have to buy 3D sidewalk chalk! I have no idea how it works, but you draw something, put on the glasses and bam you have a 3D drawing. Not only fun for the kids, but entertaining for you too!

Anonymous said...

I love that pic of her going down the slide!!!1 So cute! I agree about toddlers being so easy to please, Chloe is happy to just go in the backyard!

Ashley Brickner said...

Summer is the best, right?! :). Love the pic!!

Hannah said...

I hear ya on the whole going to the park thing! We go to the park all the time because we have such a great one in our neighborhood, and Emerson just loves to run around -all of the big kid parts of the park! I love that he loves roaming around and climbing on things, but I can't leave his side for a second because he climbs and wants to do everything! It makes me a nervous wreck! It will be nice to let him run around on his own one day and not have to watch his every move. Just walking out the door brings on a world of happiness. It really is the little things! It sounds like we have very similar kiddos :) And goodness, sakes - that picture is adorable!

sara [at] journey of doing said...

Your summer sounds absolutely perfect to me!!

Annette said...

I'm so glad you're enjoying this special time with Mia. Reading your post brought back so many fun memories w/ Lewie. Now, of course, it's "big kid slides and pools" for him...Have a wonderful weekend! :)

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