October fun!

Boy oh boy, have we been having fun this month.   It has been busy but the weather is finally cooler and we have been spending so much more time outside.  I REALLY like to be outside in the sunshine.  Of course there are always the exceptions in Arizona.  Take last Wednesday for example.  We had a special "orange" class at Stroller Strides and then all went to the pumpkin patch together.  Sounds like a great October activity right?  Not when it is 98 degrees outside!  And to make it worse Mommy found me an orange shirt with long sleeves!  Apparently Halloween means long sleeves for everywhere else in the world but here.  So it was hard for Mommy to find anything that was more appropriate for the hot day.  But we made the best of it.

What is this hay stuff?

 The whole Stroller Strides group

 Lunch break!

 Playing in the corn box

Mommy and me in matching orange

After the pumpkin patch Mommy was really busy.  She told me we were going on a trip the next day.   Daddy had already left and Mommy and I were going to drive up the next day and join him.  Mommy packed all my stuff and her stuff.  On Thursday, we went to Stroller Strides in the morning, came home, had lunch and were off to Palm Springs.  Mommy explained to me that this was a big meeting for Daddy's company and that Daddy and she would be really busy.  So that meant that Grandma Miaja was coming to stay with us and watch me.  We got there late and Daddy helped us up to the hotel room and then left for an event.  Mommy fed me dinner, gave me my bath, and then got me to bed.  She put me in the bathroom to sleep!  Can you believe that?  Oh well, I got over it soon enough and fell asleep. 

The next morning Mommy and I spent the morning in the hotel room and after my morning nap we headed down to the pool.  It was a pretty pool and had a shallow end with a sandy beach area.

I had fun swimming that first day but had even more fun playing in the sand.  After lunch, I went down for my second nap and when I got up Grandma Miaja was there.  We all hung out for a little while and then Mommy and Daddy left for an activity.  Grandma and I went exploring after they left and found them starting their activity.  Here they are getting their instructions.  Daddy is in the red shirt and khaki shorts and Mommy is next to him in jeans and a black jacket.  She was overdressed for sure, but she was so excited to be out with adults that she didn't care. 

Grandma Miaja and I left the resort that night and went exploring the area and did some shopping.  I had fun hanging out with her and didn't miss Mommy and Daddy at all.  After dinner, it was bath time and bed time and another day was done.  The next morning I woke up with Grandma.  I had a lot of fun playing in her room with her.

Mommy, Grandma and I all went to breakfast together.  I ate lots and lots of yummy fruit.  I must be growing because I have been so hungry.  Then Mommy went off to the gym and Grandma Miaja and I went back down to the pool to play. 

Grandma and I headed back up to the room for lunch and nap.  As soon as I woke up we headed back down to the pool again.  Daddy was done with his day meetings and wanted to show me off I think because he swam me all around the pool and let lots of strangers hold me.

We were there until I got bored and then Grandma took me back up to get dressed.  We got to see Mommy and Daddy getting ready.  It was their formal dinner night and they looked nice.

We once again headed off the resort to get some dinner.  And it was the end to another fun day.  Once again I woke up with Grandma Miaja.  I had lots of fun with her.  I don't think I ever heard the word "NO" the whole weekend with her.  I can't wait until I get to stay with her again.   After a late breakfast we got in the car to head home.

The first couple of days after our trip we were all pretty tired and grumpy.  But once we got back into our routine I felt better. All the sleeping and eating I have been doing have been giving me the energy I need to walk.  I have decided that it is time to just walk.  If I need to get somewhere really fast then I crawl but otherwise I am on my feet.  It sure is fun to walk.  I can carry all kinds of stuff around and it is a lot easier.  Now my bedroom toys can be in the living room and the living room toys can be in the kitchen.  Mommy thought I made messes before, but she hasn't seen anything yet.

The other day she left the dishwasher open for a few minutes and I was all over it... literally.  But I made sure to get down and run away like nothing had happened before she could get mad.

Mommy has been feeding me more and more finger foods.  They are trying to feed me what they are eating too.  I feel like such a big girl and love when we all eat dinner together.  Here I am eating deconstructed dinner of potato, chicken, brown rice, tomato, and carrot.

It was yummy!  I really like to eat this way, but they still insist on giving me pureed stuff too.  When are they going to realize I am a big girl!  My guess is soon enough because Mommy started getting ready for my 1st Birthday party next Sunday.  I thought I would mention that I already have lots of gifts!  I am not really sure what they are, but Mommy is excited about them and I am excited about ripping and chewing on all that paper.  I can't wait! 

I will leave you with some pictures from today.  We had beautiful weather and Daddy let me come outside and play while he worked.  It was so much fun.

11 Months (and a half) and counting...

Wow, I am almost one year old!  This year has been a roller coaster and October so far has been no exception.  But I am loving life, happy, and playful.  There is not much else an 11 month old can ask for.

So the big news -  I am walking.  Sort of.  I am taking steps on my own, therefore I walk!  However, I am such a terrific crawler that I don't really see the advantage yet of walking.  I feel very unstable and it takes me a long time to move each leg.  If I think about it, it goes even worse.  But at my best I have taken about 10 steps all on my own (usually when I have a toy in both hands and can't put them down to crawl).  Here is a video that was taken on September 25th - the day I took my first steps all by myself.  Mommy and Daddy sat down with me and I would take steps between them.  They were very proud of me!

And this is three weeks later and the extent of my walking.  Notice how fast I am when I get to my knees.  It is no wonder I like to crawl better.

The last week of September Mommy had finally had enough with my getting to sleep process.  She would get angry when I refused to nap.  I was usually exhausted, but I can't let her win, right?  So I would fight and fight.  And eventually I wouldn't have to nap!  Great arrangement I thought.   But Mommy started putting me in my crib, AWAKE, and let me just sit in there and cry until I fell asleep.  What the heck!  The first couple of naps I cried for over an hour.  Nightime took much less time because after crying all day I was exhausted. Over the next couple of days it slowly sunk in that I can cry but I might as well lay down to do it.  So now when she leaves me in there, I cry to let her know I am mad, but then fall asleep in 5 to 10 minutes.  To top it all off, she decided that I was no longer going to get bottles in the middle of night.  Man she had it in for me.  So now she makes sure I have enough during the day and I have been sleeping much better at night.  I am now napping around 8 AM for 30 minutes to an hour and around noon for an hour to two hours.  I am going down between 6:30 and 7 for bed and sleeping until 5:30 to 6.  I am feeling much better now that we have a schedule.  When I am up I am happy and playful.  And I only cry if I am hungry or it is time for bed (unless I am sick, which I was this week, but you DON'T want to hear about that!).   Mommy thinks this is the best thing that has happened to our relationship in a long time.

Cranky is a rarity these days - unless warranted of course.

I thought I could escape, but they caught me. 

I thought I better share some recent pictures because I know that is what you all want to see anyway.   Mommy bought me my first bike helmet but it doesn't quite fit yet.  Man, kids can't have any fun anymore.  Here is the trial run we had in my helmet the other morning...

The helmet is for the bike trailer, but Daddy takes me out anyway.  I like to sit back and hang out as we cruise along.  Yesterday Mommy came with us and we got to stop at the park and play for a while!  I loved the slide and wanted to go again and again!

Yeah, I am cool like that

I am too little to crawl through there Mommy!

Walking up stairs is even harder

Tic Tac Toe - I win

At first I was scared...

Then I thought it was fun

A little less scared this time

What is up with my hair!

Trying to get back up so I could go down again...my legs were moving, I just wasn't

Disneyland!

Two weeks ago Mommy and Daddy loaded me in the car for yet another trip.  Boy it seems like we have been traveling a lot lately, but this time we drove to L.A.   The car ride was hard.  I took a good nap in the morning and by the time we left I wasn't very sleepy.  I slept for the first hour and a half and then was awake for the rest of the drive.  Mommy climbed in the back seat with me for the last hour, but that didn't even make too big of a difference.  When we got there Grandma Jeri and Papa Delbert were already there.  Grandma Miaja, Auntie Michelle and Cousin Peyton were next.  Then we got a surprise visit from Auntie Marilyn and Uncle Neal, they brought me a pair of cute sandals and a pair of baby Ugs.  Finally Uncle Kane, Auntie Dani and Cousin Rylee arrived.  I took my bath and went to sleep much later than my regular bedtime that night, but I slept all through the night.  It was a good thing because the next day was the first of three busy days in Disneyland.  I think the best way to tell stories is to show you all the pictures.  I am sure that I will forget a few things because we did so much and had so much fun.

The first morning we got up early and made it to the park right as it opened.  It was still a little chilli for this AZ girl and I had to wear socks and pants!  What a change.  We met Pluto right after we got into the park.

Peyton and I got to ride together in the double stroller.  I liked to try and pull her hair from the back seat. 

We went on the Toy Story Ride as my very first ride ever.  I was fascinated by all the characters that are just in the line to get on the ride, here I am watching Buzz Lightyear.  Daddy let me ride on his shoulders a lot this trip.

You can't see me, but I was sitting on Daddy's lap helping to point out the things to shoot.  That is Uncle Kane in the foreground.

Here is the crew as we strolled through Disneyland.

I fell asleep on Daddy's head as we waited in line for Captain EO.   I slept through the whole ride - it was nice and dark and the seats were like a rocking chair.  Daddy just put his hand over my ear when the show would get loud.

After all the big people, including Rylee rode the Matterhorn, we went on Alice in Wonderland.  This was another fun ride.  I played with Mommy's sunglasses in line.

The Cheshire Cat is one of Daddy's favorite characters.

We got a surprise when Uncle Steve and Aunt Shari and Cousin Josh came to see us at the park.  We all had lunch together and then headed to Toon Town.  Rylee had a great time in Toon Town, but I got really sleepy after lunch.  We all went on one more ride - the Roger Rabbit Cars - and then Mommy and Daddy took me back to the condo.  When we got home, Daddy and I played while Mommy went to go get stuff for dinner.  Then Daddy took me to pick up everybody else at the park.  We had a nice dinner and I went to bed.  Mommy and Daddy went back to the park later that night while Papa Delbert and Grandma Jeri watched me.  They told me they had a good time watching the shows and fireworks at night.  They also went so some rides like Indiana Jones a couple of times because there were no lines.  I am glad I got to sleep.

The next morning we all woke up and I played with Rylee and Papa Delbert while everybody got ready.

This was a very special day.  It was the day that we were going to celebrate Rylee's 7th birthday and she was going to get a princess makeover.  Grandma Miaja made sure that Peyton and I didn't feel left out and had outfits for us to wear too.  Here we are after Rylee finished her Birthday Girl Makeover.

While Rylee was getting her makeover, the rest of us went to California Adventure.  Mommy and all the boys rode the Grizzly Mountain Ride and they all got wet.  Then I got my picture with Mickey.  I thought he was pretty weird and I wouldn't let him stand behind me.

Then we met at Ariel's Grotto for a lunch with the princesses.  Here we are with Ariel.

Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty made sure to say hi to me too.  I wasn't sure what to think of them, but I was very curious about her gloves.

The family!

 (a rare smile on my face - there was so much going on at all times that I was very solemn the whole trip)

After lunch we wandered over to the Bug's Life area.  We had a lot of fun there.  I rode a ride with Daddy  that took us way up into the air and spun around.

Auntie Michelle was tossing me up in the air - weeeee!

We rode the Chew Chew Train ride - it was a lot of fun and I was talking and pointing the whole time.

It was at this point that I decided I had enough of the stroller.  I was ready to be out and walking like everybody else (with a little help of course).

After Bug's Life we went back over to Disneyland for awhile.  While we were walking up to the Castle, we met up with the Fairy Godmother.  Rylee was getting her picture taken with her when all the sudden a group of Princess's all came up and Rylee got a picture with all of them!  Unfortunately both Peyton and I were asleep.

Here is Mommy watching Rylee getting her picture taken.

 Grandma Jeri bought all girls Parasols with our names on it.  Here is Uncle Kane holding Rylee's.  Daddy thought that was pretty funny and took his picture.

We then headed back over the California Adventure where the parade was going on.  I thought Mr. Potato Head was silly!

We then had our dinner while we waited for World of Color to start.  I liked being out of the stroller and playing.  I was looking pretty frazzled by this point in the day!

Who, Me?

I entertained everybody after dinner by walking around with Daddy and Rylee.

While we waited for World of Color to start Auntie Dani was the only one that could keep me and Peyton happy.

I feel asleep before the show really started, but Mommy and Daddy said it was Phenomenal!

We didn't get home until late that night and I had trouble falling asleep.  It was just too busy of a day - but very worth it.

The next morning everybody was moving a little slower. Peyton and I played together.

We didn't get to the park until around 11 AM.  We spent most of the day in California Adventure.
We started by doing some shopping and then everybody except for Rylee, Danielle, Peyton and I  rode the Tour of California.  I wasn't thrilled to be left behind and in my stroller to boot.

Then we all took pictures with the 'Cars'

The girls got to ride the Grizzly Mountain Rapids because they missed out the first time and Grandma Jeri and Grandma Miaja got soaked!  Then we spent a lot of time in the Grizzly Obstacle Course.

Then we headed over to the big kids rides.  I didn't get to go on any of these rides so somebody was always stuck watching me.  Luckily I took a good nap so I was easy to watch.

Daddy, Rylee, and Uncle Kane on the swings.

Mommy, Daddy, Kane, and Rylee (she is behind Daddy) at the front of the California Screaming Roller Coaster.

 We all got our picture taken with Woody and one of the Green Army Men.

The day finished up with one last visit to Disneyland for some shopping and last minute character pictures for Rylee.  Then we went shopping at Downtown Disney.  Grandma Miaja let the girls get Build-A-Bears.  She sure did spoil us this trip.  I had another rough night getting to sleep after all the excitement of another day.  The next morning we woke up and headed home.  This drive went much smoother because I slept almost the entire way home.  I was worn out. 


I can't wait until it is my birthday trip to Disneyland.  But hopefully Mommy and Daddy will take me back sometime before that.  It really is the happiest place on earth!