Cruz is THREE!

Our little Mango is three, you guys!

Today we are celebrating every amazing thing about our guy, Cruzer. These last three years have just flown by, but I also can hardly remember life before he came into it. Well, except when I remember all the sleep...and all the happy hours, that is. =)

Since I just talked about ALL the things that make this kiddo great a few weeks ago, I won't repeat myself, you can just go read about it here.

But....let me just say this.

He really is something special, you know that? 

He makes me smile every single day. More times than should be allowed. He blows me away with every word that comes out of his mouth. He brings out the silly that all too often we adults forget can be so much fun. He makes me giggle. I mean, really giggle. He melts my heart when he grabs my hand to hold it while he sleeps. He makes me so proud. He makes me the happiest me I've ever been. And he makes my life better just by being in it. I can't wait to wake up every single morning because I know I get to see his sweet little face.

What I feel for him is enough to make my heart explode. It's that good.

I am so lucky to be the one he calls mama.

And we have been so blessed to have him in our life.

Happy birthday to my best little buddy!!  You are loved more than you will ever know.

Cruz Lately

Chambray shirt

I think it just hit me that our little man is going to be three in less than two months. THREE!

How does that happen?

Well, I know how it happens, but you know what I mean.

He has definitely turned into the rambunctious little guy that I've always hoped for. He loves running around like a mad man, tearing up the house & refusing to put it back together, wrestling, jumping in puddles (why?) and on beds, the couch, off curbs, lots of jumping.

Case in point. Cruz got a new pair of  Nike P. Rod 8 shoes, which according to him make him run "so fast!" Shortly after this picture was taken he ran straight across the field at his cousin Kayden's flag football game so Papa and I had to go chase him down in the middle of a play. #headslap

And he loves his daddy. I mean, I know he loves me but the relationship those two have is enough to make this mama a tad jealous. But it's also exactly how I pictured how it should be.

He's still such a good kid. I've said it before but I just know our next kid is gonna be an a-hole as much as Cruz has spoiled us. 

And he's funny. He loves to laugh and I love doing anything to make him laugh. He's extremely ticklish. And he loves telling jokes. His fave? "Mama, there's a chicken on my head!" No, that's it, that's his joke. And he thinks it's hilarious...I still don't really get it, but I laugh anyway.

But don't get me wrong, there are plenty of tantrums. And boy is he stubborn. He gets that from his daddy. Oh, ok he gets a little, alright basically all of that, from me.

He is the best singer. Seriously this kid loves to sing. He's learned so many songs from school but his faves are country music - "beachin'" "play it again" and "drunk on a plane" to name a few and every time we watch Frozen and "let it go" comes on, he looks over at me and says, "mama it's our song!" and generally asks me to dance. #heartmelts

Speaking of Frozen, it's probably his favorite movie these days. Oftentimes we act out the characters. My fave is pretending I'm Sven and he's Olaf and I chase him around trying to bite his carrot nose. I loved movies growing up and love even more getting to watch them with Cruz, under the teepee on a weekend night, with a yummy snack. Yes, always a snack.

My best little shopping buddy has started tiring of all the shopping so that isn't as much fun anymore, which is why there is online shopping or you just bribe them with treats if you absolutely must go. Treats are like having a magic power in my mind. 

I must admit I do love shopping for this guy. 

Slub Tee (similar)  //  Jeans // Sunglasses (similar) // Beanie (clearance, but love any from Little Boss Shop)

He's still a great eater. Loves basically everything and will try anything at least once, which is so good in my book because I was the pickiest eater ever growing up and I don't want him to be that way. He loves grilled chicken, steak, fish, shrimp, fruit, veggies, normal kids stuff like Mac & cheese, pasta, pizza, corn dogs and treats. This kid loves him some treats. And I love all the gadgets they have out there to make eating even more fun than it already is. We love basically every Boon product that has ever existed and this plate. This plate is where it's at.

Fred and Friends Food Face Plate

And the things he says? I don't know where his vocabulary came from but I love all the words coming out of his mouth. Like...

"I got an interestin' idea, mama, let's go to the park! Isn't that interestin'?"

No matter how hard we try, he still calls hamburgers, han-guh-burgers.

He loves saying peoples full names, like Cruz john Manganaro or Katie Marie Manganaro, but evidently the other night while Nick was laying in bed with him and Cruz was inevitably talking his ear off, Cruz said, "dada your name is Nick Michael Manganaro but sometimes mama calls you Nick 'momo jones' Manganaro. That's not right, is it?"

Does anyone else use the word momo? Nick and I always have used it to nicely reference the word dummy and I guess I've said it in reference to Nick before (like the time he backed out of the garage and crashed his mirror into it, for example) when talking to Cruz. And he picked up on it. Oops. Nick came out after C was asleep and said, "momo jones, huh?"

And my favorite? When he is sitting on the toilet, doing his business, his cheeks flushed red from pushing and he says, "mama, poopin' is hard work."

It is, buddy, if really is.

See! Don't you see why I talk about this kid? He is just good stuff.

Shorts (sold out, similar & on sale!)

And now it's off to plan the birthday festivities. I mean, I just can't be outdone by year one or year two. He's been telling me he wants a fireman party...does anyone know where I can rent some Dalmatians??

(You can check out his other birthday parties here: first and second)

Linking up with Annie for her Thoughts for Thursday!

Cruz Lately

While we had the best time at our adult only resort, little man was always in my head.

When I saw the ocean, I thought about him running in it. 

The sand, I thought about him digging in it with his scoop and pail.

The jungle birds and lizards, I basically had to stop myself from calling him over to look at them.

Don't even get me started on our stroll through town with all the families. Those parents should just be happy I didn't try to pick up their kiddos and give them a long squeeze.

Vacation was great, don't get me wrong. But nothing compared to the happy and excited "mama!" that came out of his mouth the moment I saw him for the first time since being back and him running so hard into my arms that he almost knocked me over. Man, I missed him.

Back into the swing of things and I'm realizing how self-sufficient and older he seems. Words and full-blown sentences were just flying out of his mouth. This kiddo also has himself quite the attitude lately it seems. I want to be upset about it, but it's just too damn cute.

Last night as I was putting him to bed, he all but fought me not to sleep in his room.  He said, "mama I sleep wit you an daddy?" all puppy dog eyes. "No buddy you need to sleep in your room and we'll see you in the morning."

He replied, ever so seriously and basically yelling, "Yes! I said so!" 

And I held strong. Yes I did. Until he started crying big, huge, real tears. Normally I don't give in so easily but I wanted to cuddle with him. So into our bed he came.

He snuggled in, made himself comfortable and immediately said, "Mama rub my belly. See I leave my shirt up for you." And points to his belly, while moving my hand to it. Of course, I rubbed his little belly, bossy or not. 

After he fell asleep I put him in his room for the night and settled in myself. That is, until 4am when I heard him yelling for mama at the top of his lungs.

And I didn't even try to rock him, I wanted more cuddle time, plus let's be honest, I wanted to go back to sleep myself (as if that happened), by the time I got him back to sleep my 4:40am alarm sounded and it was out the door to the gym.

So now I've had my workout, sent a few work emails and I'm ready for work. And look at this guy, would ya? Sound asleep.  And he's going to be quite a bear when I have to wake him up for school here any moment. 

All I can say is that it's good to be back. I've missed this little bed hog.

Linking up with Ashley for "It's the little things."

Happy Wednesday!

Cruz Lately

Cruz seriously seems to get more fun every day. His personality is becoming even more pronounced, he says some of the funniest things and he is just the sweetest boy.

Granted, he is also a shithead. Yes, I called my kid a shithead, but you would too if you got to experience the tantrums, the fits, his stubborn personality and, god forbid, telling him no.

With all of this being said, some of the stuff that comes out of his mouth is just too much.

{Boogers}
This kid produces more boogers than I ever thought was possible. I mean, I've seen kids with liquidy snot running down their faces, but his are legit greenish yellow, solid boogs. And he feels it necessary that after digging way up in his nose, he walks over and hands me his "boogie" so I can first examine it and then dispose of it. Thanks. Thanks a lot, dude. Sometimes I will get "it's a big one, mama" while he's handing it over.

{Thermometers}
I'm realizing that it's time I remember to buy a new thermometer for little man. Currently, we are still using the one that is used anally (oh my what a horrible word). The other day it was sitting out after using it (it was clean, mind you), Cruz picked it up and said "mama, is this for sick?" I replied, "yep, buddy, that tells us if you are sick." Then he said, "can I stick it in your booty and see if you are sick, mama?" Um. No?? Gross.

{Boobies}
I've also seen more and more "boy" in him. An example of this? The other night Cruz's aunt Brittany (BB) was over. While she was doing him a solid and had him up on the counter washing off his face, he reached over with both hands and grabs her tatas and said "BB's boobies!" and started giggling uncontrollably. Fortunately she's a good sport and laughed along with him. What can I say, he gets it from his dada.

{Dingers}
He is slightly obsessed with his dinger. It doesn't help that he and his daddy have conversations about theirs. I should stop them, but I have to admit I'm interested in hearing how the male mind works sometimes. His favorite thing to say after bathtime is, "mama I have a liiiittle dinger, but daddy has a biiiig dinger."  Ahhhh...

{Pee}
And this one has to top the cake. If you "like" my Facebook page, then you are well aware of this little gem, but if not (and I can't imagine why you're not, so click here!) and enjoy!

We've been giving potty training a go, so Cruz is rocking his undies. Well, on Saturday morning he walked into the kitchen while I was making breakfast when I hear him fall and start crying. I turn around to see that he had peed down his leg and all over the floor, slipped in his own pee and then fell right into it. I stood there for a second laughing at the site while he was "real crying" until I composed myself and lifted him out of it, urine dripping off of him. You've got to be kidding me. If this is what the potty training scene is about, I'm not quite sure I'm ready for it.


But then there are the times he is just the sweetest guy and gives me a face like this, asking if he can 'sit in mama's arms' and I just melt all over the place.

{Don't Forget!}
Oh and as if all of the above didn't make you feel like a hot mama - don't forget to enter our giveaway for a $75 Victoria's Secret gift card. Just in time for Valentine's Day and to shop for something fantastic!

Just last night, I asked the hubby if I could trade in the necklace he got me for Christmas for a cart load of items from Vickie's. He said yes and I didn't hesitate to press "order" immediately after! Aren't I just the nicest wifey, taking back a necklace bought with love and trading it in for loads of clothes and shoes?? =)


Hope you're having a great Monday!

little things

Cruz Lately

I just can't get over how fun...and funny...Cruz is these days. The kid is smarting up right before our eyes and he wows us almost daily with the new things he knows.

I mean, he already knows how to pump a keg and get daddy a beer. Don't pretend you're not impressed.

Note: C did not actually pour a beer, nor has he ever drank any - at least I don't think he has
This pic is for fun only  :)

He is also the best welcome home surprise...ever! I was so happy to see my little dude - and my big dude - waiting for me as I was coming down the escalator at Eppley the other day. And a Thomas Happy Birthday balloon? The sweetest. I will let you guess who picked that one out. 

And later that night at dinner, my money-hungry little guy decided to face dive into the wishing fountain inside La Mesa restaurant to grab some "monies" as he likes to refer to them. He was playing with Day and Ace while the adults finished eating and the next thing I know, I hear Dayvaney yell my name see Cruz's head peek up above the side of fountain...and he was soaked! I was that mom who had to scoop my 'soaked from head to toe' little one out of the fountain at a restaurant and carry him dripping wet while getting disapproving looks from most of the patrons. The only ones who didn't give me those looks? The mamas with toddlers. They gave me that "I know how you feel, sister" look. Which I appreciated. Five minutes later, we were all laughing about it.  It really was pretty funny.

What was not funny? Picking up Cruz from daycare and having the teacher tell us that he was bitten that day...by another kid.  Um, excuse me, say what? My kid was bitten? By another kid? Please tell me you're kidding. But they weren't. They informed us that the other kid's - a little girl - parents were notified of her behavior as well. 

Evidently they were both going for the same toy and that little girl decided to sink her teeth into Cruz's precious little arm so she could play with it.

The bad thing for that little girl? My kid knows the names of all his classmates, so he keeps saying "Evy, no bite. Ouchie! Dat's naughty" while shaking his pointer finger in the air. All I can say is Evy better watch herself next time I'm at school. Kidding. Or I am. Ok, I am. But look at those teeth marks in the picture below! Girlfriend sunk her teeth in deep.

Between all the beer and bites, I just can't help myself from loving every minute with this little guy. Can you blame me?