Playing Outside

Last year, my sister got money for a sandbox for her birthday. The only problem was that when her birthday came, Mommy and Daddy couldn't find a sandbox, so this spring they bought one. IT IS GREAT!!! The sand feels cool between my toes, and a little crunchy in my teeth, which I have 4 of now. 2 on top and 2 on bottom. We spends lots of time playing in the sandbox. We build sand towers and then knock them down and build them again. We even bury my sisters feet in the sand so she can pull them back out..

The weather has been perfect for playing outside in shorts. It is a little cool in the mornings, but by afternoon, the sun is shinning and it is nice and warm out. We play outside most afternoon's and evenings. My sister even plays outside by herself. The windows are open and Mommy and Daddy are still checking on her all the time, but she stays right around the sandbox and she is always talking so it isn't hard for them to keep track of her.

There was a lot of cool little yellow flowers in our yard. I got to crawl around and smash them. I have even found these little brown things that are called pine cones. They are all over under our pine tree. They feel funny when I pick them up. Some times, they are soft, but other times, they are scratchy and they don't taste very good either.

I am almost 1 year old. I will turn 1 next Tuesday on June 2nd. It is hard to believe that I am almost 1. I am sort of starting to say some words. I say some words that sound like MaMa and DaDa. I sometimes also say Ba, which means ball. The last few days I have been standing without any help. I would pull myself up on the edge of the couch and then just let go and stand there. Then before I fell, I would grab the the couch again. But, last night......I was playing with some toys..... and I just stood up from sitting on the floor. Then I did it again, and then again. I was standing without the help. Then I got really brave and I bent over and grabbed some stars off the box next to me and then bent over again and set the stars back down. It was great. It won't be long and I will be walking.

Mobility

I have finally have gained more independence. No longer do I need someone to pick me up and carry me to where I want to go. No longer do I need someone to sit me back up when I fall down. No longer are my sisters toys, that are just out of my reach, safe. Life has taken on new meaning. I am independent.

Last Monday was the first time that I crawled. The best part is that Mommy, Daddy, and Maya were there to witness it.

My Big Girl Bike

Last Saturday, the weather was perfect for a bike ride. It wasn't any old bike ride, it was the first ride on my new Big Girl Bike. It was a Dora the Explorer bike. Grandma Lisa got it for me for Christmas and Mommy and Daddy got me the stylish bike helmet, knee pads and elbow pads. I had never ridden a big girl 2 wheel bike before. I wasn't to sure how this was going to go.

It took me a little while to get warmed up to the idea. When I first started out, I kept rotating the pedals backward, which of course applied the brakes. So at least I knew how to stop. Then after a few minutes, I figured out that I just had to pedal this bike, like I pedal my tricycle. After that, it was all over. I was riding up and down the sidewalk with ease. I was going so fast, that Mommy and Daddy had to run to keep up with me. I bet we made 8 trips to the end of the sidewalk and back.

I would race down the sidewalk to the end and then turn my bike around and race back home. I have even masted the cornering capability of my machine. Although, I did push the envelope a little to far once. Good thing Daddy was there to catch me. I figured out the hard way that you have to slow down when going around corners, especially if it is a sharp corner. One lesson I also learned was that training wheels don't help when you make a sharp enough turn. Good thing I had my helmet and pads on.

Funtastic

Funtastic is the cool place not to far from where we live. It is a great place. It has slides, it has big padded steps, and all this other cool stuff to run and jump on. They have cargo nets, and an obstacle course and as you can see from the picture. It is a very colorful place.


We have been there 3 times for birthday parties and a few other times, just to go and have fun. One day, my friends Makenna (red slide) and Faith (yellow slide) invited me to meet them at Funtastic for a few hours of fun. These slides are really fast.

The best part of Funtastic is that everything is padded so it is almost impossible to get hurt. I like to jump off the steps onto some of the other padded blocks. I bounce off and then run to the top of the steps and jump off again.

It's Spring

I found Cheerios

This day I was all cleaned up for Church. I had on my Sunday cloths and my hair was all combed, so Mommy thought she would take a picture of me.
I am not really starting to talk, but I am making a Da, Da, Da, Da and a Ma, Ma, Ma, Ma sound. I also like to scream as loud as I can when my sister is around. Then she does it right back at me and we go around for a while. It makes Mommy and Daddy laugh.

Mommy gave me a hair cut the other day. This was my second hair cut. Mommy got me high and tight on this one. I like it. A few months after I was born, Daddy trimmed my hair to even it out. I was getting long and dark on top and short and light on the sides. So he buzzed the top for me. About a month ago, Mommy gave me my first hair cut. She didn't get it as short as she did this time.

I have 2 teeth now and I have found a new food to eat. It is Cheerios! They are really good. I especially like the multi grain Cheerios. I have been perfecting my pincer grasp for a couple of weeks now. Sometimes, I still get the Cheerios stuck on the back of my hand or on my cheek, or on my chin. They can be a little hard getting into my mouth. For some reason, when I get done eating them, there seems to be alot of those little Cheerios in my bib.

Not Much to Update

There really hasn't been much to blog about lately. Mommy and Daddy are in the full swing of their winter college classes, Mommy is on her last class. That is so exciting. Since we couldn't think of anything to update on, Evan and I thought we would rewind a little bit and talk about what happened in between Christmas and New Years. This year was very busy. We had all our cousins, on Daddy's side of the family, down for the weekend. Now all my cousins on that side of the family are girls and they are all older than I am so I had lots of people to play with.

We played all day long, except for 2 days when Mommy took them shopping. I got to go 1 of those 2 days. The other day, I was too tired from playing and I had to take a nap. One of the days, while they were down, we lost power for the whole day. I think it was a Sunday. After we ate lunch we got the finger paint out, well hand paint in my case. We made beautiful pictures.

As it got dark, and a little chilly in the house, Elizabeth and I decided to get the coloring books and crayons out to do a little coloring. Daddy set up candles, so we could color by candle light.

We had to have a picture taken without the flash, just to get the true effect of not having power in the winter time. It was a little hard to color between the lines.....wait.....I can't color between the lines in the light. I am only 2 1/2.

The worst thing about having 4 girl cousins, and a sister, and a Mommy, is that it left Daddy and I out numbered. Daddy is big and could take care of himself, but my cousins didn't have any pity for me. This is what happens when you have a house full of girls.....you are only six months old.....and I couldn't do anything about it but sit here and look cute. I know that this pictures is going to come back to haunt me when I get older.

After they were done dressing me up in my sisters bunny ears, they did play with me. We would get my toys out and push them around and I would chew on them and they would help me back up if I fell over. I guess it isn't so bad to have girl cousins. I will forgive them for the bunny ears thing.

Snow, Snow and more Snow

This winter has been great. We have a bunch of snow on the ground. It seems like every week we have been getting a snow storm. I have heard that we have already surpassed last years totals and it is only January.

Uncle Mike and Aunt Mindy got me this cool Dora shovel for Christmas so I can help Daddy clean off the side walk. The snow has been really fluffy so it isn't very heavy. I can pick up big shovel fulls.

This was one of our earlier snow storms. I was helping Daddy clean and I got tired. So I decided to sit in the snow and take a little break. I got thirsty from all the hard work so I decided to eat a little of the snow.

My First Tooth

What is the big deal!!! Why is Mommy and Daddy always sticking their fingers in my mouth and feelin around. Hey...Did you at least wash your hands first!!

It is not only a tooth....It is my very first tooth. It popped thru the skin just after New Years. I spent the few weeks before it came thru drooling all over the place. I would wear a bib most of the day so I wouldn't get my shirt all wet, but when it finally came thru, I didn't drool anymore.

Now I think the one next to it is about to come thru.

Christmas 2008

Christmas this year, started off with my Mommies side of the family. We had everyone over to hour house for a big celebration. We ate a late lunch or early supper, depending how you looked at it, and then opened presents. First, we had to take a picture off all the kids. This was the first Christmas for both me and my cousin Ian (upper left). He didn't seem to like getting pictures very much. I think that he was just tired. He brought his Mommy and Daddy all the way from Grand Rapids. It is on the other side of the state. I had to make that trip a few times, and let me tell you, you get a really good nap in.


Christmas morning, Maya and I got to have Christmas with our Mommy and Daddy. It was so much fun. We also took a few pictures of my sister and me in front of the tree. I wasn't really sure what to do with the presents when I got them, so Mommy, Daddy and my sister helped me open them. I liked to hear the sound of the paper tearing so I would grab a hold of it and try to rip it. It was a great Christmas. We had lots of snow out side so it was what everyone calls a "White Christmas".

We left our house around 11:30 am for my Papa and Grandma's housing in the center of state. I got to sleep all the way up. Once we were there, we ate a meal and then had more presents to open. Again, we took more pictures. Here is all my cousins on my Daddy's side of the family. From the top row left there is: Jessica, Taylor, Makenna and Sarah. in the bottom row from the left is: Elizabeth, my sister Maya, and me. My Aunt Wellie was also taking pictures of us, so it was a little confusing on who we should look at. I just put a big smile on and looked at however was looking at me.

Decorating the Tree

It was late when we finally got back home and set the tree up in the living room. This year, we put it in the corner of the room where Evan's swing use to sit. He wasn't using it much now that he can sit up so Mommy and Daddy put it away. We did however, get to snap a few pictures of me and my brother, before we had to go to bed.

A couple days later, we got all the Christmas ornaments and lights out and started decorating the tree. We had a great system this year. Daddy was taking the ornaments out and putting hooks on them. He would hand them to Mommy and me to put on the tree. I got to decorate the bottom half and Mommy got to decorate the top half. We put lights, and ornaments on it and then finished it off with fruit flavor candy canes. I got to eat one after it was all done.

Our Christmas Tree

Last week, we made our way to our local Christmas tree store and bought our Christmas Tree. This was my first trip to the place. Mommy, Daddy and Maya have been getting trees there for the last 3 years. It was a cold day, so we all bundled up in our warm clothes, hopped into the van and drove the mile down the street to where the trees were being sold.

There were alot of Christmas Trees to choose from. We looked at a quite a few different ones before we decided on the perfect on for out house. It wasn't to tall, it wasn't to big around and it would fit perfect in the corner of our living room.

This is my sister Maya in front of our tree that we bought. She helped pick it out this year. It was hard to get any pictures of here because she was running between all the trees. She would stop and Daddy would try to take a picture and before he could click the button, she was off again.

Once we bought the tree, the nice people at the place tied it to the top of our van and we drove home and set it up in the Christmas tree stand. We didn't decorate it that night, because it was getting late, Maya and I didn't get a nap and we were getting pretty tired.

Guess what I am doing!!!

GUESS WHAT I STARTED DOING????

I am starting to eat solid foods. Well, sort of solid foods. It is rice cereal. So it is still pretty liquidy. Mommy started feeding me this just before Thanksgiving. At first it was a little hard getting the food to go down. I kept pushing it out of my mouth with my tongue. Now I am opening my mouth as the spoon gets closer and eating like a champ.

I can polish off a few ounces of rice cereal and then almost a whole container of carrots.

I also did the most amazing thing today. I rolled over on my tummy for the first time. I have been really trying for the last couple of weeks, cut couldn't quite get all the way over. I wasn't strong enough to get my body over my arm that was underneath me. Today, I was laying in the hallway while Mommy was working and I did it. I rolled over to my tummy.

Apple Spider

At the beginning of November, Daddy, Evan, and I made the trip up to the farm because Mommy had a Spanish paper to write. It is much easier for her to write her papers if we are not around, and it gave us a good opportunity to see PaPa and Grandma. Our main focus of the trip was to make apple spider (apple cider). PaPa made an apple press a couple of years ago and we have never seen it in use. I got to hold the container that the cider ran into when it was being squeezed out of the apples.

Every once in a while, I would accidentally put my hand under the stream of cider. Of course I had to lick it off.

Halloween 2008

A few weeks ago, was Halloween. This was my first Halloween as I was only born in June. Halloween is this funny holiday that you dress up in goofy outfits and go door to door and say "Trick-or-Treat". Then the people at the house give you candy.

Since this was my first trick or treat, Mommy bought my this cool bear outfit. It was soft and fuzzy and everyone loved it. Unfortunately I didn't make it very far thru trick-or-treat because I fell asleep in the van when we were driving from house to house. It was still fun. We went to see our friends and family that are in the area.

I am on a perfect 4 hour schedule now. I wake up from my nap and eat, then I am awake for about 2 hours and then take a nap again for 2 hours. WHAT A LIFE!!! How can it get any better than this.

This year, I got to be a beautiful pink and purple butterfly. Since Mommy bought my brother Evan's outfit, Daddy got to pick out my outfit. He looked a few different stores until he found the perfect butterfly outift.

We made our usual trip to Uncle Ryan and Aunt Megan's to see Colin. This year he was a monkey. We took lots of pictures at their house and visited for a while before we were off to the rest of our stops. We are going to make it a tradition that every year we take pictures, so everyone will be able to see us as we grow up.

Not much has been happening. The weather is getting colder so I don't spend as much time outside, but I still bundle up and go out and swing and go for walks and drive my jeep around.

An Update from Evan

Hi, this is Evan. I thought that I would give you a quick update on what has been happening around here. My big sister has been teaching me to read. Just kidding. She was spending tummy time with me in our bedroom. We were playing with toys on the floor.

Mommy and Daddy are starting to use this new toy, now that my legs are getting stronger. I still can't spend a long time in it, but it occupies me for a while. There a lot of cool things to play with on it. I spend a few minutes a day in it. Usually when Mommy or Daddy is making supper and can't play with me.

I was at the doctor's the other day for my 4 month checkup. Luckily there were no pokies this day. I have dropped off on my weight a little bit. I am only in the 50th percentile now. Last time I was around the 75th percentile. The doctor said that there was no need to worry. I am 26 1/4 inches long and I weigh 15 lbs. I can roll over to my side, although I haven't figured out how to roll over on my tummy yet. I also found something else new. I stick my tongue out a little past my lips and blow air out of my mouth and guess what, all this liquid stuff comes out. It is so much fun, I tend to end up with a very wet chin.

A Warm Fall Weekend

A couple of week ago, we went to an apple orchard. It was really busy that day. Probably because the sun was shining and it was warm out. When we were there, we went thru a barn that had pigs, chickens, lamas, and an ostrich. We also got to see them make donutes and apple spider (cider). Of course we had to sample it. We bought three donuts and 1/2 gallon of spider and sat down on a picnic table and ate our donut and drank a few cup's of apple spider. It was a great day to spend with my Mommy, Daddy, and Evan. We also when for a hay ride around the apple orchard. That is were the apples are grown.... On trees... When we got done with the hay ride a nice lady offered to take our picture so we could all be in it.

We also washed the van that weekend. I got to help. I was the rinse girl. Daddy would wash the van and get it all soapy and then I would come along and rinse all the suds off. Now you can just image the kind of fun that we had that afternoon. I am only two years old and my Dad let me have the hose all by myself. The hose with water running thru it...........and sometimes, he would kneel down to wash the bottom of the van.........in a position that he could not get away very fast.....and I was standing behind him.....with the hose....that has water running thru it.......are you getting my drift here. Needless to say, we were both wet by the end.

But, I am not tall enough to rinse the top of the van so he did help me out with that part of it. We made a good team that day. Mommy enjoyed watching us so much that she snapped a few shots of us. I even tried to get her wet, but she could move a little faster than I could drag the big hose....with water running thru it.

The End of Summer

Sorry it has been so long since our last update. It has been really busy. There has been a lot going on. But now everything has calmed down and Mommy and Daddy are in the full swing of their fall college schedule and work. That means that Evan and I get to go to Miss Cindy's house two days a week, while Mommy and Daddy are working.

I still get to go for walks with Mommy during the day and Daddy in the evenings, when it is warm outside. On this particular occasion, I took little Elmo for a walk with us. Usually I am riding my bike to the end of the side walk. We go down the street, past the scary house and the poky tree (pine tree), around the corner to the end of the side walk. There used to be flowers growing in an open lot there, but someone mowed them down.

When Aunt Mindy comes over, we terrorize the neighborhood in my Power Wheels Jeep Hurricane. We remove the safety screw that only allows us to use the slowest speed (don't tell Daddy) and then we race down the side walk and back home again. I am getting really good at driving it. I have only ran into the garage once and smashed the downspout. Daddy didn't get mad, he just laughed.

At night it is mostly the same ritual. Evan or I get a bath, depending on which night it is, and then for me it is a nice sippy full of Leche Chocolate (that one is for you Uncle Dave and Aunt Monika) or Chocolate Milk. Sometimes I also get a snack depending on when we ate supper.

I am getting stronger. I can stand up on my own legs if someone holds me so I don't fall over. I can grab at things if they are in my sight. I can follow people as they walk past me. I can turn my head to whichever way the voice is coming from. I can roll over on my side, but not all the way onto my belly yet.

As you can see, by hair is filling in nicely. Mommy and Daddy trimmed it a while ago just to even everything out. I smile alot, and I mean alot. Especially at my big sister. She is fun to watch. she does silly things to make me smile.

I did find this little friend that helps me go to sleep. It is my thumb, and the best part is...........I have two of them. So when I get tired of the right one, I just stick the left one in my mouth and work on that one for a while. Daddy is glad that I found my thumb. He said that way they won't have to try to take a paci away when I get older.

My doctors visit

Ok, someone could have warned me about this. It isn't fare. I had to to have two shots today at the doctor. Oh sure, they butter you by taking your weight, which by the way is 13 lbs 12 oz, and your height, 26 in.

They check you all over, talking to you in that sweet, high pitch voice, which makes me smile and then....

WHAM!!!

it hit me in one leg. I let out a yell and...

WHAM!!!

it hit me in the other leg. I thought "what is going on, we were having so much fun". Did you not like the way I was smiling at you? I thought we made a connection?

I didn't know what going to happen next.