I should be working since I am at work, but I tried something SO amazing at Starbucks this morning (yes, honey, I bought Starbucks this morning!) I just had to share. It's a new product called Vivanna and is a flavored smoothie that can contain a coffee shot, if you want. Now, I know what you are thinking. Smoothies are not new. But THIS is like a healthy smoothie that tastes like a frappuccino! Today I tried a Banana Chocolate Vivanna with a shot of expresso. Delicicious yummy-ness. And with 21 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber, I still feel full at 10am!
Here's the stats on a grande with 2% milk:
Amt Per Serving Calories 270 ,Total Fat (g) 5, Saturated Fat (g) 2.5, Trans Fat (g) 0,Cholesterol (mg) 15, Sodium (mg) 170, Total Carbohydrates (g) 44, Fiber (g) 6, Sugars (g) 28, Protein (g) 21 Vitamin A 10%, Vitamin C 15%, Calcium 20%, Iron 15%, Caffeine (mg) 15
Click on the picture to link to the Starbucks site
We finally got some video of Elias showing off his new found verbal skills and couldn't wait to share them.
The first one is totally dark because I was in his room while he was going to bed and was counting with Christopher. He can count to 20!
The next video is of Elias naming loved ones in his picture book that Grandma made last Christmas. He doesn't name everybody he loves, so sorry if you are left out! Cute all the same...he names a lot of people now, including the kids in his class at school. He points to them on the class picture. We are working on him saying his own name, but all he does now is laughs!
I also thought I'd post some "oldies but goodies." These are a couple of our favorite videos that we haven't posted as of yet. The first is Elias listening to some music (with Mommy laughing and looking pretty dorky at the end). The second one is Papa T sharing some of his basketball skills with Elias. Maybe he'll pick up some skills of his own someday!
By the lack of postings, you'd think we hadn't been anywhere or done anything in the last month and a half. Quite the contrary...we have been HERE (Durham), THERE (Charlotte, Florida, Asheville, and Virginia) and EVERYWHERE (okay, maybe not everywhere...but we feel like it)! The usual has occupied our days: work, school, and toddlerhood. Just when we were thinking that being parents was comparable to a walk in the park, Elias' entrance into the "terrible twos" stage made us think more like marathon runners on an uphill run. We struggle to define what is behavioral and needs discipline and what is developmental and needs simple redirection or ignoring. This is a daily battle! Still, the majority of our time with him is wonderful and we have been thrilled to hear his vocabulary exploding. He can count to 20 by himself and can get to "K" in the alphabet unassisted. He says "Thank you, mama" and "Thank you Dada" with such a sweet tone, it melts us every time. He also says "Bless you" when we sneeze. We are working on "love you" but it comes out more like "YOU, dada" and "YOU, mama." We take it just the same... I am writing this post as I also study for an upcoming quiz; reading in between uploading pictures and providing some anecdotes of our days. This week (July 14th) I also have a paper due and need to prepare for an on-campus session for another class. Some weeks are certainly harder than others. Last week, as I was finishing an online midterm, my laptop decided it was time to restart to finish some Vista updates. Yikes! When I tried to get back into the test, I was locked out! Thankfully, my professor was able to print out my answers and grade my test the old fashioned way...on paper. My laptop should consider itself lucky I didn't throw it into the Eno River. After working hard all week, we spend our weekends playing and having fun. Our most recent escapades include a double party day, where we attended parties for two of my patients in one day. First, we celebrated Sofia's upcoming 4th birthday and then headed to see a little guy named Sufi. Times like those make me remember why I love being a pediatric nurse. Here are some highlights of our time there.
Elias in the jump house (click on this picture to see more)
the birthday princess, Sofia, with Mary Margaret
Sufi and me
Over the 4th of July, Brian, Katie and Taylor Grace were here and we had loads of fun, as usual. We attended the annual Eno River festival with them and melted away listening to music and enjoying the cousins being together. We had tried to stay up late to see fireworks the night before, but a thunder and lightening storm ruined our plans. We lit a total of two sparklers. Maybe next year. Here's one of my favorites from their visit (click on them for more). There should be many more happy memories with them now that they are in NC! If only we could remember to carry along the cameras (Katie! Where is YOUR camera?!)
Daddy and his flag-waving son (click on the picture to see more)
On a trip at the end of June to see Christopher's Dad and his wife, Kaylyn, Elias said "Ba-Ba" for Grandpa. He said it the whole time and continues to say it when he sees his picture. Here is a video of him saying that and some pictures from our time with them in VA.
at the Children's Museum of Richmond (click on picture to see more)
at Hollywood Cemetery, overlooking the James River
3 generations
All tuckered out
Earlier in June, we met my Dad and Terrie in Asheville for the weekend and stayed at the greatest little Bed and Breakfast called the Sweet Biscuit Inn. They were not only kid-friendly, but TODDLER-friendly and we had a great time! We were super close to downtown Asheville and had a blast people watching and enjoying local fare. It was really nice to spend Father's Day with MY dad. Click on the picture of us to see more.
Other happenings in the last few months include a trip to Greensboro to see Kimary and celebrate her birthday. Her mom, Miss Debra fixed an authentic Italian meal with the biggest meatballs I had ever seen. Click HERE to see the pictures from that little trip. We also took a super fun trip to Charlotte in mid May and camped at Lake Norman State Park. It was Elias' first time camping since he was a baby, so it was quite an experience. Click HERE to see all those pictures. Hope you have enjoyed this giant posting...and that you are having a great summer. I wish I was on a long summer break, like back in the day when I'd spend all day at the pool. Where did those days go? For now, I look forward to my semester break in August and an upcoming family trip to Atlantic City.
