beating the heat

It has been HOT here in St. Louis for the past few weeks or so - I mean REALLY HOT. We have been under an excessive heat warning for at least two weeks and they just keep extending it because the temp is staying in the mid to upper 90s with a heat index of like 110-115 each day.

So because of the heat we have been had to be creative to find ways to beat the heat and stay cool with our little man. Ethan and I try to head out early each morning to spend a little time outside on a walk or run before the temps really get too bad (what's funny is that at 7 or 8am the temp is already usually around 80 something with a heat index already in the 90s).

We have been spending a lot of time indoors, as you might imagine. Ethan has been doing a lot of "walking practice." We like to say that he is now officially walking (he can take like 15 steps going back and forth between me and Pete) with such excitement that he prefers to almost run which results in a slight stopping problem - he usually crashes into us each time. But, slowly but surely he is getting it!

We have discovered a fun pool in a town nearby that has Toddler Time each morning and so we have been enjoying some splash time at least once a week.
Last week Ethan and I had lunch at a local coffee shop/cafe that has a fun play area for kidlins. It was fun just to change things up a bit!
And finally we have been spending time each Wednesday at the Botanical Gardens with our moms group. We try and get there early enough to do a couple laps around the garden and then let the kids enjoy the Children's Garden that has a great shady splash pad. Ethan has LOVED it! These are some of my favorite pics of the summer of Ethan and his friend Halle - taken by Halle's mom Kristin at the splash pad. So cute!