Friday, August 16, 2013

Tahoe in the Summer!

I've never been to Tahoe in the Summer!  Wow!  What a change!  I'm used to the pretty snow, and I was shocked to see pine needles, pine cones, and water streams in its place.

Gee (my new name for Grammie), Grandpa, Uncle Ben, Aunt Aubree, Bill & Cara were all in Tahoe to play with me, chauffeur me, feed me, change me, and generally laud my presence.

Uncle Ben & Aunt Aubree are moving to Jordan (the country) next month, so this was our last time together in Tahoe for awhile.  Makes me sad, but I can't wait for a trip to visit them!

Don't miss some really special photos...keep scrolling!

Fun on the speed boat

Dada kneeboarding 
Mama and Miss Cara chatting while I play in the sand with Uncle Ben & Aunt Aubree
The whole gang being entertained by my antics


 

No explanation required...


Playing inside the ottoman
Wheelbarrow rides with Grandpa



Admiring the perfect pinecone

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Misc cute summer photos!

OK - preschool starts tomorrow, so Mama wanted to get some cute photos of me up quickly!  
Photos from last weekend at Tahoe are pending...to be posted within the next few days.  

I loved this summer!  So much time to play with friends and family. 
My vocabulary has exploded and I'm really giving Mama & Dada a run for their money...I haven't sat still since last July (when I first learned to crawl).  I had my 2 year high risk evaluation and I blew them away in every category!  Yeah me!!!  


My standard sleeping position

Silly dressup with Gee (my newly created name for Grammie)

My new big boy high chair since I am eating so well!

Learning to be calm and look at books myself

Just chillin' while watching Mama & Dada wine taste

Watch out for me in 14 years...

Being silly with Grandpa

At the park with Mama

Silliness at bathtime

Extra silliness

Extra extra silliness at Gym Zone

At traintown with Gee

Where Mama tries to put me when I misbehave

I missed the potty...

Traintown carrosel with Gee

I love rollercoasters!

A little time for posed photos




Sunday, July 7, 2013

I'm TWO! Happy Birthday to ME!

Today started as a day like any other.  Dada fetched me when I started chatting to my invisible friends in my room and took me downstairs for breakfast & milk.  We went on a long jog up to Skyline Park, while I bobbed happily in my jogging stroller.

When we got back home, Mama was waiting.  And, then they told me...today was my birthday!  How could I have forgotten???  Silly me!   I don't remember my birthday from last year since I was just a little guy. But, now I'm a big dude (which I tell Mama frequently), and today I am going to remember.

Mama and Dada debated whether to have a large celebration for my special day, but in the end, we agreed that the most important people in the world are just we three...so we spent the day together, happy as can be.

I got a new prized possession.   A Bicycle!  But, I like my new helmet even more...a shark head complete with a fin!  GRRRRRRR!  I'm kind of obsessed with teeth right now (maybe I'll be a dentist), so the shark teeth have me captivated.

I tasted a bit of cake, but I'm really not a sweets kind of guy, I prefer the salty stuff. So, I got spoiled with lots of extra chips and guacamole today!

Mostly I just enjoyed hanging out with my parents who are still pretty cool.

Milestone report for my second birthday:
I can run, but I can't jump
I can climb like crazy (I am a monkey)...and move my step stools everywhere to help me reach the things I couldn't (and frequently the things I shouldn't).
I like to dance, which means squatting repeatedly and turning in circles (only counter-clockwise).
I eat all my food by mouth (HOORAY). My favorites are crackers, yogurt, hotdogs and mac & cheese.
I have over 50 words and can put 2-3 words together when I feel like it.  I am learning about 5 new words a week now...this week was teeth, cow, "where'd he go" (while raising my arms up in questioning), tree, ah-choo (sneezing), phone, wine (whoops!), and big doodie (thanks grandpa!).
I know about 10 animals and the sounds they make.
I know all of my body parts, including the "unmentionables".
I am a bookworm and read out loud to myself all the time, though no one can understand me.
My favorite animal is still the woof-woof, and my puppy is arriving soon!
My favorite article of clothing is socks.
I am stubborn and frequently pretend I do not understand what my parents are asking of me, but I do know...
I am fascinated with the duality of on and off.  This refers not only to lights or fans, but also to the sky which is on during the day and off at night.  Only I don't know how to say "off"...so I say "bye bye on".  :-)
I love my parents, and give hugs and kisses upon request (only to keep them happy)...but mostly I really pretend to love them to postpone bedtime. They always let me stay up longer if I cuddle with them.
I have the best smile on the planet and good looks to back it up!

Next year, my birthday is already on my calendar, and I'm going to have a huge party. I'm counting the days!

The first in Mama's version of a photo-shoot





My new bike & helmet!
Chatting on the phone with Uncle Rainbow (Ken)...one of so many wonderful family members who called me on my special day!  Thanks Grammie, Grandpa, Boppy, Granddad, Gran, Uncle Ben & Auntie Aubree!

I hollered "Go, go, go, go go!"


Then I got to go to the park with Mama!

Last week, I got an early birthday present from Grandpa & Grammie...a huge monkey...

and a music set...

But I really loved the basket they came in!
Just a cute photo of me lounging with Grammie... 
My new outfit courtesy of Gran...
 And a special thank you for my special gift from Granddad & Boppy too!!



Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Gran's Birthday in Iowa - and other summer fun!

I got to visit Iowa for the first time this past weekend for my Gran's birthday celebration.  We spent the weekend at Uncle Hans & Aunt Kristi's house in Iowa City.  Uncle Chris, Aunt Chloe and all my cousins were also there.  I loved running around with all my cousins, playing in the kiddie pool, the pretend kitchen...and mostly knocking over the lovely castles that the girls kept trying to build. Destruction is WAY more fun than construction!  The grown ups enjoyed making a dinner straight from the farmer's market on Saturday, and a 7 course catered dinner on Sunday. I'm a little miffed that I wasn't invited to participate in those events, but I enjoyed my mac and cheese with my cousins even more!  

We drove out to Gran-Aunt Mimi's Animal Farm on Sunday for a lovely brunch.  Honestly, the eggs and goat cheese that Mimi made from her own chickens and goat's milk were the best eggs I've ever eaten!  I'm not sure if Mama can ever convince me to eat another egg again!  I got to play with her Saint Bernards, hold a 10 day old Basset hound puppy (who, at 2lbs13oz, was more than I weighed at birth), pet a baby chicken, help hunt for eggs, ride a goat, and MORE.  BUT the BEST part of the whole morning was that I got to meet my new sister for the first time.  Entropy, my Portuguese Water Dog, has been living with Mimi to learn how to mind her manners for the past month.  She has to stay there a little longer until her puppy teeth fall out, but I can't wait until I get to play with her every day. She loves water as much as I do!  

Sunday afternoon we were treated to several hours at the pool!  I enjoyed the water slides and the wading pools especially, and my cousins got to show off in the deep end.  


Playing with Gran, Laura and Sophie
Casual dinner on night 1
Daddy with his brothers Uncle Hans & Uncle Chris 
Morning brunch at the animal farm 
Gran and Aunt Mimi 
Bubbles with Cousin Laura 
How many Declan's would it take to equal one St. Bernard?  (Answer: 7-8)
Old MacDonald had a farm....
With Mimi & Chevre, the goat

Riding Chevre
Sophie, Laura and Harper petting a baby chick with Gran Aunt Mimi 
My turn!
Checking out the hippo's teeth!

Cousin Laura giving me a lift! 
Gran with all 5 grandkids - Me, Sophie (6), Laura (8) holding Lexi (9m), and Harper (6)

The whole family with Ropy!
Mama and silly girl Entropy
Laura and Harper at the pool
Aunt Chloe with Lexi
Dada and me!
Before Gran's birthday weekend, I also had some more fun closer to home. 
I got to go to Train Town in Sonoma for the first time. It's a full functioning miniature railroad, with stops at carousel rides and a petting zoo. 








My first roller coaster!
 

I love sour cream!

We also just got to hang out at home!


Loving my favorite hat!

I know this thing plugs in somewhere!!

At my gym class...notice I'm the one not participating in "circle time".  Would you, when there's no line for the slide??
Chillin with Dada in my pool

We went to Elk Grove for cousin Michael's wedding, and I got to see Great Grammie too. 

Four generations
Note the bridal party in the background....does this make us white trash?
At the wedding...too hot in the Central Valley for pants!
My Chippendales look with Grandpa and Mama

My new haircut courtesy of Mama
Cheese!
I love shoes...any kind of shoes...but boots are especially cool!