The cheapest, cleanest paint there is

All you need is 3 things...a bucket, a brush and some hose water and TA DA you have painting!

My personal opinion, the best kind of painting there is. No mess, no clean up and fun fun fun! He loved it to say the least!

Hasn't quite mastered his painter's etiquette yet...

13 Months

13 Months

Our baby boy is SO big now! We are loving watching the transformation from baby to toddler and seeing his little personality, preferences and silliness grow by the day. I feel so lucky to spend each and every day watching him grow and change.
So here are a few of our new things for the month...


He is really stable walking or better yet running it seems now! He is also climbing on/off things some things even that aren't really climbing approved too.

Little Gym

Food- peanut butter and jelly sandwich, egg (whites and yolk), hot dog, grapefruit and  mandarin oranges. Went through a little bit of a picky (welcome to being a toddler stage), but getting better as long as he CAN do it!

 Eats with a fork on his own

New words (or ones that have changed)...lots more talking and attempts at communication-
go
ruff ruff (dog)
all da (all done)
Day-see (daisy)
tep (step)
yes 
Mi Mi (Milo, kitty) often sounds more like Nigh Nigh
K-tee (kitty)

And finally after months and months of signing with him, he did his first sign back to us. YAY! Now he signs-
more (constantly)
all done
eat (done a couple of times)
light

He can stand from sitting on his own

Claps, also his sign for he wants music on on or you to sing to him

Lowered the crib to the lowest setting...cutest thing in the morning he wakes up and stands in the corner closest to his cd player and claps and dances

Had thrush for the first time...Boo...but we survived it quite easily thankfully

Self weaned off nursing other than morning right after he wakes up still doing

Follows simple directions- "bring me a book" and is making connections with things...do you want to go outside? and he will bring you his shoes

We participated in our 1st research study at UC Davis...very interesting for me being on the participant side for the first time

Can climb down stairs independently

Really starting to enjoy reading and will bring books to you

Loves art...painting drawing, playdough

And is still in love with all things music- listening, dancing, playing instruments...daily or better yet all day long

Began "stomping" his feet to be silly or when excited

And just today went down his slide all on his own

This month was filled with birthday celebrations, a trip to lake port, pear/apple/berry picking, welcoming a new friend (Ryken) into the world, playing at the park...and so much more!

Wordless Wednesday

What I will miss MOST about summer ending

Although it still doesn't quite feel like fall, this weekend was a little tease, but we are back to another warm day today, I know that summer is quickly ending. Anyone who knows me well enough knows I LOVE summer...I love the heat, being in the pool/lake, being tan, bbqs. warm nights, it staying light out late, traveling, all the fruit...the list goes on. But, all good things must come to an end. And though I will miss all of those things, this is what I will miss most...

Our family evenings together...we hurry to get dinner down, get out our bikes and head down to a neighborhood park. Carson waves "hi" to every person, car, bike and dog we pass by on the way and can't wait to get into the playground when we arrive. Lately it seems like we have been dashing back home trying to beat the sun before it goes down completely.  I have loved this recent family ritual and will miss it most when we are barely getting dinner on the table and the moon is already out, or the rain clouds have made their way in yet another day, but I know only a few seasons and then it will be summer again.
Sadly the video of him playing won't upload...so settling for a park picture.

Wordless Wednesday

12 Month Photo Shoot

We took these pictures with the fabulous Ashley Cain, the Sunday before Carson's birthday. And despite the lack of an afternoon nap, he was SO happy and it was by far our favorite photo shoot thus far. We LOVE the pictures! And that is an understatement. I think they truly capture the little boy our baby has become, his personality, smile and sweetness just bursts from each picture and it melts this momma's heart!
So here are a few favorites...really hard to choose....

Wordless Wednesday

Baby Ryken

Reed baby #2 made his arrival last Thursday. We couldn't be more happy for the Reeds and more excited to finally met this little boy we have all been waiting for! He is perfect in every way and although Carson was a little jealous, we know that they will be soon best buddies just like Brandt and Carson.
Hospital visit-

Walking out of the hospital after meeting him for the first time was so surreal for Mikey and I too. Just a little over a year ago it was us in the hospital with Carson, meeting our son for the first time, exhausted beyond belief, excited and so in love with our son and now a year and a couple weeks later...he is running through the halls, waving to everyone, babbling up a storm and can barely be contained for a few moments before he is off again. How in a tiny year did our tiny baby become such a big boy!

Needless to say we are so excited to have Ryken here and another new, tiny baby to snuggle with and a new buddy for Carson!

The whole family...Jilly and I are quite outnumbered I must say! :)

Wordless Wednesday

Farmer Carson

Labor Day weekend was spent up at the lake house and although we did the typically boating and playing a million games we also had our fair share of farming fun! We got to go visit one of Carson's great grandma's friends pear orchard and picked a TON of pears. Carson loved wondering through the orchard and helping us pick. He thought it was hilarious throwing pears into boxes which kept him entertained for quite some time. We happened upon a tractor too, which was a big hit for a little boy!

so so happy

helping Paps

guarding "some" of the pears

Then back at the ranch...or rather lake house we did some black berry picking and although we can home with quite a few I think we all ate a ton more!