New Discoveries

As I discover more and more about this world around me I have come to the conclusion that God did a pretty amazing job in His creation.I recently discovered that we have bunnies in our yard. Now Daddy has been trying to get rid of them for years, but I find that they are pretty cute. I even tried to chase one the other night, pulling Mommy behind me of course. I wasn't going to go near it without some support!!

I also discovered the world of forward facing carseats. I had been trying to see out the car windows whenever I could. This involved leaning as far farward in my seat as I could, then raising my butt up and twisting my head so that I could see out the side windows. So Mommy decided I was probably heavy enough (I am old enough & tall enough and needed to be 20 pounds) to turn around forward facing. The first morning I was still enjoying my bottle as we pulled up to the stoplight. But I just had to put my bottle down and let my jaw drop as I watched all the traffic go by, IN FRONT OF ME!!!! I got very excited and started pointing all the cars out to Mommy.

Mommy has given me a job to do every morning--get the newspaper from the driveway while she finishes putting everything in the car. So she opens the garage door for me, carries me down the stairs and lets me walk over to the newspaper. Once I pick it up I start walking back up to the garage and Mommy either takes my hand or picks me up (depending on the rush she is in!) and takes me back to the house door, so that I can throw the newspaper on the kitchen floor. One morning the newspaper was here before Daddy went to work, so he picked it up and confused me. I walked down the driveway and kept looking around at the lawn and rock bed for it.

Mommy got a little time to herself this week. A few ladies in the neighborhood have started getting together to do projects, crafts and just talk after putting the kids down for the night. She thought it was nice to get to know a few more mothers in the neighborhood, plus get a little time away. Besides she could walk and get back home in less than 5 minutes, so had more time to spend at the destination without staying out all night (she was home and in bed by 9:30).

Yesterday, I also discovered the reality that life doesn't last forever. I attended my first funeral for a member of our church. I did fairly well, but Mommy did have to take me out to the foyer when I started getting a little restless. There I found a few other friends to play with who were with their Daddy's, although I wasn't quite sure with the little fella who kept crawling up to me. I'm not used to kids younger than me! Mommy could still hear and see through the foyer windows. She thought the most moving part was when Amazing Grace was played with bagpipes and son & son-in-law stood up to salute the casket (was an Army vetran and both "sons" are currently in the military).

So I have decided that I am going to live life to the fullest and spend every waking moment exploring the world around me. I have more waking moments now to spend. I made the transition to one nap a day last week. So now I have almost 6 hours in the morning, then a 2 hour nap, then almost 6 hours more in the afternoon to explore everything around me. The transition was fairly smooth however, I do get fussy that last hour before nap and bedtime. But I am sleeping even better now at night, however still not quite 10 hours. Sunday morning I decided 5:45 was morning and would not go back to sleep even though Mommy rocked me for almost an hour. So the first time I woke I was up for the day--that's sleeping through the night as far as I am concerned.

Pictures of Me

Here's a great picture of me helping Mommy with dishes. I also picked flowers for Mommy earlier this week. Aren't they pretty?



A week ago M&D took me swimming at the public pool. There was a play area that had fountains, slides and other fun water park activities. I had a blast.


Bronco game time!

Here's a cute picture of me holding all my toys.

Games

I love to play games. Here's a few videos of me and my favorite games.The first one is called "There it is" and the point of this game is for an object to be hidden and for me to find it and exclaim "There it is". In this particular instance I am doing the hiding and the finding of one of my balls.

Mommy isn't sure of the name OR object of this second game,other than it seems to be see how many toys I can get in my arms and move across the room! However I can tell you it is great fun and keeps me occupied for many minutes at a time. Mommy just laughs at me and tells me that I look like her when she's cleaning house--picking up items and putting them back down again!!

I have mastered a few of the playground toys.I can climb on the rocking horse by myself. I try the see-saw but don't get very far without Mommy's help. I try to climb on the swing by myself, but it is much better when Mommy puts me in and pushes me. But the thing I have mastered the best is the slide. I can climb the steps (big girl style (meaning NOT on hands & knees, but just feet) using the railing!!) and after Mommy reminds me to sit down, she pulls me to edge of the slide and waits at the bottom while I wiggle myself forward and slide down!

Daily life for a 14 month old!

My typical day begins with me waking up between 5:30 and 5:55 (after 9+ hours solid sleep!) just to see if its morning yet and Mommy trying to get me to sleep for at least another hour or so. Yesterday I woke up at 5:54 am but since I hadn't gone to bed until 8:30 Mommy knew I had to sleep just a little longer (since Mommy's goal is to get at least 10 hours out of me every night), so we rocked and cuddled until 6:15 and I woke up when Mommy tried to put me back in my crib, so we were up for the day (but Mommy's thinking was at least I slept almost another 20 minutes in her arms!). This morning I woke at 5:22 am, so Mommy had plenty of time to attempt to get me back to sleep, so I didn't even get to rock with her, since she was just patting my back and rubbing my head in the crib. I fell back to sleep by 5:40 and slept while Mommy worked out and got ready for work. She actually had to wake me back up at 6:50 to get changed before walking out the door. Most mornings I enjoy my bottle while Mommy is either working out, showering or just getting ready (depending on what time I am officially up!!). I help get the newspaper every morning while Mommy loads up the diaper bag and her purse in the car.
Then while M&D work I get to play all day. I enjoy my walks and helping get the mail (and by helping I mean I first find my hat so we can go outside, and then on the walk to the box I get to carry the keys, and I pause to pick up rocks which fell on the sidewalk and put them back into the appropriate rock beds). I also have lots of fun dancing to Gaither music or jumping off the footstool in the living room. I go, go, go all day until I lay down for my naps and then go, go, go again once I wake up. Daddy usually picks me up around 4 each afternoon and I get to play with him until Mommy gets home. Once Mommy arrives home I give Daddy kisses and head upstairs to help cook supper (and by helping I mean that I play in the tupperware drawer or the utensil drawer (i can finally reach it!!!), or try to get into the garbage can or just sit on the kitchen floor with books and toys to keep Mommy company). Once supper is ready I show Mommy how to put the food on my highchair tray so that I can eat, after folding my hands to pray!!
Then usually for the rest of the evening we hang out downstairs playing with toys, while watching some TV and doing laundry or some other little housecleaning chore. Then it's bedtime. It is becoming more and more my favorite part of the day. I get to brush my teeth with Daddy while Mommy gets my bottle ready, after which I give him kisses. Then I go into my bedroom and pull my "night-night" book (a toddler devotional book) off the shelf and put in on the rocking chair and am usually trying to climb up into the chair when Mommy comes in. While Mommy reads I drink my bottle and rock some. Once my bottle is finished I exchange it for my pacifier, help Mommy say my bedtime prayers and off to the crib I go. Sleeping soundly until morning and I do it all over again!!
The routine varies on the weekends because I get to stay home with M&D. Usually Mommy and I run errands early Saturday morning (either letting Daddy relax or rushing to beat him home from work). After my afternoon nap, we usually play outside for a while. Sunday morning we have church in the morning and football in the afternoon.
All in all, I would have to say that my life is pretty good. Each day varies somewhat as I learn more and more and discover new things in my exploration of the world around me.

Corn

We had corn for dinner a few nights ago and I actually got to eat some. I wasn't quite sure what to do with it when Mommy first gave it to me, but I quickly figured out a way to get it eaten. Please enjoy!

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day weekend I got to go camping again, this time Aunt R came with us. We went to a new area on the other side of the divide--up through Poudre Canyon. It was about 2 1/2 hours away. We got to camp just in time to set up camp before supper Thursday night. By the end of the weekend there were 7 campers, 15 ATVs (counting 2 small ones and a dirtbike among them), and 29 people around the campfire. Here's just one quick peek of the campsite just before we tore down. Lots of room for me to run and play. It was a beautiful weekend,
full of dirt and ATV's. Papa has a 4-wheeler that is just my size. I had fun climbing on & off it all weekend. Daddy even let me sit on his a few times. Aunt R. even got the fun of driving around on one.

The days were pretty nice up in the mountains, getting up to abot 70 degrees. Warm enough that I wanted to play in the creek we camped by. My feet would get red, but I was never ready to get out!Yet after the first night, Mommy made me wear gloves to bed because it got so cold. The first morning was only 23 degrees when we got up. And according to Mommy my hands were icicles. Don't I look cute?!

Aunt R. braided Mommy's hair for her, so that it wouldn't get all tangled up with the wind from riding. When I saw the tie in her hair I wanted my hair up also. I kept pointing to my hair and saying "Ba" which means back--back in, back away, back anything. So Aunt R. combed my hair and braided it for me also.

I love to give my love to everyone, especially my Daddy. Here's a picture of me giving Daddy kisses before taking a nap. Notice my dirty face! I got cleaned up a few times a day, usually before naps and eating. All in all it was a wonderful weekend filled with fun and fellowship.

Bronco Girl!!

The other day I was playing with a Broncos giveaway toy and somehow managed to get it caught around my arms. Not only that, but it was on my back!!! So Daddy called me Bronco girl and Mommy ran to get the camera while I attempted to get it off and finally gave up and helped pick up the garbage. Anyhow, thought you would enjoy my time as Bronco girl!

B-I-N-G-O

Yesterday I was helping Mommy with the dishes (and by helping I mean I kept climbing on the dishwater door, reaching into the top tray to grab cups and bowls!) and singing my new song. Mommy thought at first I was attempting the alphabet since she had practiced singing & signing them with me earlier in the week, but Daddy corrected her and told her I trying to sing B-i-n-g-o.I'm pretty good--I sing D-I-hum, hum..D-I-hum, hum....Here's a video of me, where I am singing at the start and also as I walk away from Mommy.

Speaking of dogs....I got to play with one all weekend long. We dogsat for Static. I wasn't too sure of him the first night, but by the 2nd day I was busy playing with him, petting him and chasing him around the house. Although he didn't like it when I pulled his fur!!

I also pushed my 8th tooth through a week ago. Now I'm balanced out--4 on top, 4 on bottom. Mommy hardly even knew I was working on it until she saw it, although as she thought back there was an evening I was a little fussier than usual.

The most exciting news of the week (at least for Mommy!!) is that my sleeping habits are back to where they were in March-April (before teething, sickness, etc.). Not quite all night, but 9+ hours. I get up around 5, but after minimally intervention from Mommy I go right back to sleep until about 6:15 or so. At least I let Daddy sleep "all" night!!

Colorado Musings

Here's a picture to remind everyone just how beautiful Colorado is!! Here's the long story: Saturday it was raining on the front range; anywhere from light drizzle to a downpour. Mommy & I ran errands in the morning looking for a raincoat for me, so that I could go to the Broncos game with M&D later that evening. We had just gotten home and was putting brownies in the oven for Sunday's potluck, when Aunt R. called saying she was stranded at the Denver airport. She had taken a friend down to fly out and the windshield wipers stopped working. So being the smart girl she is, she was not going to drive the car back up to Estes Park. So Mommy & I hop in our car, with the windshield wipers at full speed and drive down I-25 to pick her up. The rain started to clear up as we left the airport. We were almost back to I-25 when the clouds parted and the snow-capped mountains could be seen. Isn't it gorgeous? All evening the news was interviewing all the skiers and snowboarders on Loveland Pass. (just as a side note, most of the snow was gone by Wednesday afternoon, so didn't stick around long!)

Anyhow, since Aunt R. was already late for work, she decided just to spend the night with us, go to church with us Sunday morning and then Mommy took her back in time for work Sunday afternoon. So M&D got a date night to the football game and I got to stay dry and warm playing with Aunt R. at home!!

Helping with Laundry

Yesterday I was helping Mommy with laundry and found a pretty "necklace" to wear! Mommy thought it was so funny so she just had to take pictures of me. I also found a fun pair of socks to walk around in. Aren't I cute?!

It's A Jungle Out There

In all my discoveries I have found that the world is a big place, a great big jungle out there. Mommy thinks it is funny when I play in our willow tree. It really is like a jungle for me, trying to weave myself through those branches. Enjoy this little clip.


Here's a picture of me just lounging on the patio just like Mommy.
I am learning and discovering new things every day. This past week, the world of communication was opened up to me. I mean I have already been able to get my meaning across somewhat, with pointing and a few words, but now I have started to learn sign language. My first word was "MORE". What a wonderful word. I sign it and I get something in return!! Although Mommy thinks that I started using it whenever I wanted anything, not necessarily more of what I just had. But hey, whatever works right?!
Enjoy your discoveries of your world around you today!

Big Girl

I am officially a big girl now. As of Sunday, I am weaned. I think this is more exciting for Mommy then it is for me. I had a bit of a hard time adjusting Sunday and Monday nights. I was still getting up at least once a night to eat (which is the only time I nursed, since during the day I have whole milk from a cup and real food & a formula bottle right before bed), so when Mommy decided no more nursing, that meant that I didn't get to eat at night. So Sunday night I was up for 2 hours , Monday night for 1 hour and Tuesday night about 40 minutes, although I only fought with Mommy for less than 10 minutes each night. The rest of the time was me wanting to be held and rocked and not put down. I would be sleeping in Mommy's arms and then she had the nerve to try to lay me back in my crib. I would wake up when she put me down, realize that she was trying to leave and sit back up. As soon as she picked me up I would be asleep again. So it was more of a challenge for Mommy trying to trick me into laying me in my crib and make me think she was still holding me, and slowly remove arms and hands from my body until I was sleeping soundly in my crib. Wednesday and Thursday night, I had to have minimally intervention from Mommy. Wednesday I was up 4 times and last night I was up 3 times but each time Mommy just had to pick me up, rock me about 3 times and lay me back down and I would fall right back asleep. So each night is getting better. But I am pretty excited when Mommy offers me a bottle right away in the morning!!! I mean 11 hours is a long time without food.

Picnic in the park

Yesterday M&D took me for a picnic in the park. We met friends there, for sandwiches and some playtime. Since the sky was threatening rain we decided to ride the train instead of swimming at the beach. After the train ride, my friends and I played in the sand. Mommy's favorite part was when Bella was crawling away and I tried to hitch a ride (like a pony!!). Mommy couldn't help laughing as she pulled me off and attempted to discipline me. Bella didn't seem to care too much!!

Also this week, Mommy decided that my hair was long enough to have some pretties in it. Although today when Mommy came to pick me up, I couldn't decide if I wanted it in or out and I was very frustrated. But don't I look cute!!

Family Reunion

Last weekend was Mommy's family reunion at YMCA of the Rockies/Snow Mountain Ranch. So we didn't have very far to go, just up and over through Rocky Mountain National Park (with a stop at the YMCA/Estes Park Center to pick up Aunt R). It was a very fun weekend. There were 15 of us in one cabin and another 11 in a rental home. I was the only child in the cabin, so I was the designated entertainment every morning and evening!!!
It was fun to meet all my relatives. I got reaquainted with G&G even before the reunion since they stayed with us 3 nights and G1 took care of me 2 days that Mommy worked.
The first day we got to the cabin mid-afternoon and hung around the cabin most of the evening, with a evening stroll to the park with my cousins. On Saturday, we went for a short hike to the waterfalls before M&D went white water rafting. (To view their pictures go to http://www.rapidimagephoto.com/ on the Clear Creek River, Adventures in Whitewater, 7/26/08 Intermediate: although I believe they will only be there for about 25 days). M&D are in the 2nd boat in the front (starting with #23) with G2 and Aunt R. Aunt M and Uncle B are in the first boat. The swimmer was Aunt Teri.
Sunday morning we took some group pictures. Then everyone kind of split up for the day. Some went to church, some went hiking again, Daddy got a long ride on his ATV (where he saw 2 bull moose), Mommy took a nap with me, and some took a trip to the medical center (Uncle Bob was diganosed with bronchitis and so spent the rest of the weekend laying low), while the rest just relaxed in the cabin. After lunch I got to go watch the zipline. Even G1 went! But the weather turned bad so G2 didn't get his turn, but I think everyone who went had fun. That evening we had a campfire. Have I told you before how much fun I have outdoors?! Well, again I had a blast getting myself completely filthy. Before bed Mommy made me go back a take a bath. But it was fun while it lasted!!
Monday G2, along with Aunt R and 2 cousins got up at the insane hour of 3 to go watch the sunrise. I mean sometimes I am up at 3, but that's just to eat and then I go right back to sleep!! So 2 more cars went at the more decent hour of 9:30 to meet them in the park. We hiked to the scenic lookout at the Alpine Vistors Center, then drove down towards Estes before driving back up the one-way gravel road. Along Fall River Road we stopped twice to hike to waterfalls and Mommy even let me walk up the hill. We saw quite a few elk and some marmots. Once at the top, Aunt M and Uncle B had to leave to head back to the airport, and the Kellogg's wanted to tour the gift shop some, so it was just M&D, G&G and I heading back to SMR.
Once we got back M&D, along with G2 went for another scenic drive, so I got to play with G1 again. Daddy wanted to show where he had gone 4-wheeling and scout out camping spots for future trips. The road went through Stillwater pass for 20 miles. The beginning and end were fine, but the 2 miles at the top were tight, windy roads. It took 1 1/2 hours to go across, but once reaching the highway it only took 30 minutes to come back around. The highlight was seeing one moose and just seeing the scenic beauty of the mountains and creeks.
When I woke up Tuesday morning, M&D were ready to leave so Mommy could work. It was pretty foggy right away so it was slow going. We dropped Mommy off at work and Daddy and I continued home to unpack. It was a great, fun-filled weekend. See below for a slideshow of photos taken from the weekend.

Sickness!!

Mommy has been slow helping me post since she has been so sick the past 2 weeks. It is not fun having a cold in the summer! I was sick the weekend before her with a runny nose and an eye cold, so it's my fault Mommy got sick. And since we were both sick at the same time with runny noses and coughing neither of us slept too well. So once I was a little better I got to go to daycare while Mommy slept all day. She even missed 3 days of work. After almost one week of coughing, sore throat and runny nose, she convinced her doctor to give her antibotics. FINALLY she is starting to feel better, although she had one coughing fit last night.
So sorry I have not been able to tell you about my world, but starting now I will try to catch you up!

40th Wedding Anniversary

P&G have been married 40 years. That's a long time (especially when I consider I only have just been alive 1 year!!). Anyhow the family decided that we should do something special for them, so a wedding was planned. It was a beautiful, very hot day for an outdoor wedding. Many people came to wish P&G well. When the guests started leaving, that's when the party really began!! All the girls (other than Mommy we was miserably sick with a sinus infection/cold) started dancing to a song and I just had to join in.
Here's a cute picture of my family.

Mommy's Week

I have decided that I am much too busy to sit still for pictures. I usually walk right out of them--I mean I have new teeth to push through (I now have 7 teeth--4 top/3 bottom), rooms to explore, music to play, just all sorts of things. Mommy tried all week to get a new picture of me. Finally, while I was occupied with my discovery of Mommy's purse, she got a quick picture of me.

However, Mommy's week as been very exciting. Aunt Rachel came down with 2 of her friends to cook Thai food for supper for Mommy and Daddy. I got a little of the rice before it became fried rice, but Mommy thought the rest too spicy for me. Here's a picture of the cooks.

I told you last time how lucky Mommy is because she sees all sorts of wildlife at work. The twin fawns visited again with their mother, but were too quick for a picture. But later this week a bear came to visit. One of Mommy's co-workers is a bear expert/control for the town of Estes Park. So when he heard a bear was on the Y grounds he got a bunch of the staff to go visit it. Here's just a few pictures before it was scared away.

Then this afternoon, Daddy took Mommy and I to the BBQ fest in downtown Loveland. It was pretty good food. I tried a little bit of Mommy's pulled pork and Daddy's potato salad. What a busy week.

Fourth of July!

Happy 4th of July!! This weekend I got to go camping again. I got really really dirty! I ate dirt, rocks, charcoal and even macroni that fell on the ground!
It was great fun. While Mommy and Daddy were out ATVing, I worked on my stair climbing and figured out (with Gramma's help) to climb down. Watch how good I am at it.
I was the only kid in the camp, so I got lots of attention from everyone. I even made some new friends with some of the other "campers" (although Jas wasn't so sure about me!!).
We came home a little early so that we could take baths (as you can see I really need one!), and do laundry before Mommy and Daddy had to go back to work. They even had time to go out on a date this afternoon, so I got to play with some of my cousins.

Birthday

Tuesday was Daddy's birthday, so we went out to eat with Gramma, Papa, Lance and his family. Here's a picture of the birthday guests. I had lots of fun walking around exploring the restaurant.