Camping - June 2010, Take II

2nd Try becuase I guess the pictures couldn't enlarge the first time...

This last weekend we went camping - the 1st scheduled one of the summer. Summer weather even decided to make an appearance, which was really nice not to have to bundle up or hide from the rain!
This was also Andy's first trip camping. Camping is never easy w/a Baby, but it was nice that the kid-to-adult ratio was in our favor. He was in good spirits and even slept about as normal as we could expect. All though he wasn't sure about the boat ride on Papa's boat - just had this look of bewilderment... I think he might have heard too many stories to relax on it! :)
Abby LOVED camping this year. She is really starting to get into the the boat rides, dirt, and eating really badly. Boat rides and S'mores - what else is there really?!?

Abby and MJ spent a ridiculous amount of time in the lake on Saturday. Really, it was crazy. That waster was FREEZING given the spring we have had and how early in the summer this trip always falls. But, they were in it - for hours! They did take a break to polish off nearly an ENTIRE bag of Animal Cookies and make sure their Daddies got wet as well!
Andy just sat in his "Fishy Boat" and took it all in. I wouldn't say he didn't like this boat either, I would just say he had the same look of bewilderment. He never once tried to climb out of it though. And he sat in there for a good hour probably. So, I guess you can say he liked it as much as he could?

All in all it was a good trip. Andy got a lot of cuddle/lap time, we got to visit w/good friends and family, and Abby got to play, play, play. We all slept good at home on Sunday night and I got to plow thru a TON of laundry - not much of which was mine!

Scrapbook Mania!

Okay, so I'm behind on scrapbooking. Really far behind. But, my only consolation is I know plenty of people that are MUCH further behind than me! I know that is bad... But, it is the "glad it happened to you and not me" thing.

Anyway, my goal is to have his book done - up thru 6 months - by his 1st birthday party. Then I can set it out for people to look at during the party. I *think* that is what I had done when Abby was ONE. But, quite frankly, I can't remember! He is the second baby. At this point, I think I should just be thankful that I have pictures of him printed out and not in a shoe box! :)

Anyways, my sub-goal is to get two pages a night done until I'm there. Trav has been a WONDERFUL trooper and keeps the kids out of my hair and has let me attempt this after dinner each night. Tonite I got all cockey and was excited that I got THREE pages done. Side note: only got ONE done last night when I actually went to a friends house for the soul purpose to scrapbook (talk, talk, talk... :)). So, I owed the book one, but I got done THREE. THREE I tell you!

Anyways, I started on number FOUR and got lost in my own kid's cuteness.... Here is Andy in Mid-December - Taking a bath. His smile just melts my heart. So, I thought I would share...

Artistic Andy!

I think I said the same thing when Abby took this class for the time, but I will say it again! It is moments and mornings like this that make being a "Stay-At-Home-Mommy" all worth it. The mental, physical, and monetary sacrifices seem to pale in comparison when I get to do something like this with my kids!

Andy really enjoyed it as well. It was SO hard to capture a "good" smile or expression, but I think I got a few. He ate paint. He played "Peek-a-boo" with his art work. He literally crawled thru his paintings. He wore paint tins as hats and used them as drums. All in all - I think he had a GREAT time!

Remember you can click on the picture to make it bigger and see each picture better...

Fathers' Day - 2010

Happy Fathers' Day!!!

Today the Kids and I took Trav to the Childrens' Musuem for Fathers' Day - His Choice. It was cool. I think the last time we went as a family was probably Fathers' Day 2008! Seems like it is some place that I either go during the week or Trav takes Abby to for a "Daddy-Daughter Date" on a random weekend. Anyways...

They just opened a new exhibit yesterday - Pet Hospital. For those of you that have been there before, it replaced the old "Baby Hospital" that was in major need of a remodel. So, that was a welcome change when we got there! Abby stayed in there for a LONG time. But, fear not - she didn't forget to hit the "face painting" station before we left!

This was Andy's 1st trip to CM2 "Out of the Stroller"! He crawled around w/all the other kids in the "Baby Garden" while Abby was playing Vet.

He really enjoyed it as well - his little head was sweaty from crawling around non-stop! He loved the fish take, the mini water area, and especially HIMSELF in the mirror - kisses galore!

Hope all the Daddies out there reading this had a GREAT day - especially mine!

Love you Dad,

Dani

Andy - June 2010

Here are just a few random shots of Andy the last two weeks. First, he has three main objectives lately. 1. Make sure ALL the magnets are off of the fridge, 2. Unroll ALL the TP in the bathroom, and 3. GET SISTER'S CRAYONS! As soon as we turn our heads he is OFF down the hall to either the bathroom or the art table. The other night Trav was in the kitchen, Abby wasn't paying attention, and this is what I found when I came down the stairs. Have you ever seen a happier baby? He found the crayons!!! And no one was there to take them away - well, until after I grabbed the camera and documented it!

The bottom pictures are from Kati's Bridal Shower. He is all MAN - had to find out what was in the Victoria's Secret bag! He is so cute! :)

Kati's Weekend

This weekend was Kati's Bacholette Party AND Shower. I think she had a GREAT time. She was silly and goofy and excited, but yet adult, and easy to deal with! Better than some Brides that I saw that night (um, Angelina anyone? :)). The shower was the next day and I think those of us that were at the activites the evening before were a little tired and hung over, but it was still fun!

Here's to you Kati - We wish you and Rob the BEST!

Bye Bye Boobies. Hello Burbon!?!

It is official! Andy is weaned! Not a huge milestone, but it is when you are the one affected I guess. Worth noting as far as we are concerned! We made it 10.5 months. Prettty good I think. He is healthy, his brain has all the right ingredients now, and hopefully no food allergies in the future (fingers crossed - which is hard to do while typing!). Abby was DONE at 6 months, Andy I think could have gone on forever had I let him (take note ladies - boob man!). But, it was time for me to get my body back and he was getting more and more distracted. So much so, it wasn't convenant anymore to have "milk on board" because we had to go and hide and find quiet places. Anyway, rambling. But, this is my last baby, so give me a break! :)

Last week Andy and I got out all the Pump parts, got them together, and got it out of the house! I can't beleive how much room all this baby stuff takes. I can NOT wait to get the rest heading out the door!

A Dorm mate of mine from College had a "Pump Emergency" this last week and Andy and I came to the rescue! We were HAPPY to help... Well, maybe me more than Andy (see below)... His eyes say "Really, we are done? But, can we still cuddle?" Of course Little Man!

Anyways, it was out the door and the next day he moved onto other things. Short attention span/memory is a blessing I think! :)

Baker Bound

Trav took the kids and went to Baker, by himself, for THREE LONG days.
I missed my kids a lot, but I got a TON done as well.

And, I will say I enjoyed a little bit of alone time.
But, the moment they walked back in, I couldn't beleive how happy I was to see them!

This is how Abby and Auntie Marilyn spent the weekend:

They did take some time off to Celebrate Trav's Birthday in Style!

Look how proud she is of that cake - she is glowing!

Grandma Brown and Andy spent the weekend bonding over Whiskey.

I think there is some in the bottle she if feeding him...

And, of course there was some picture taking. Top one is out at the Ranch

(where Steve & Marilyn live now, but where Trav spent a LOT of time growing up).

The bottom picture is w/Grandma right before they took off home.

All in all, it was a GREAT trip says Trav. But, he did mention he had a new appreciation for what I do all day and that he would it again, but not for awhile! :)