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Saturday, August 22, 2015

Denver trip 2015 - Just Austin and me!

On August 10th, Austin and I flew to Denver for 3 nights to visit friends and Austin's birth state/city.  Campbell was not invited on this trip :)  We left him behind in Houston in the care of DiDi, MiMi and Daddy (in the evenings/overnight).  Austin was super excited about flying on an airplane but was more excited about watching a movie on the airplane.  He thinks movies are the best and is slightly obsessed these days.  So I packed the kindle with 2 movies downloaded on it - Planes and Monsters Inc.  Once we were allowed to turn on approved electronic devices, I turned on Monsters Inc for Austin with his headphones and he was set.  Then I realized I forgot to bring a book for myself.  Ha!  I am so used to wrangling a child that I never think to bring a book for me.  Needless to say, Austin did great on the flight (much better behaved than Campbell :)

We rented a car and drove straight to the Roons house in Arvada.  My friend Rachel has 3 boys - Brody at 4.5 years, Garrett at 2.5 years and Tyler at 8 months.  She graciously let us stay with them - we took over Tyler's room and he moved in with his parents.  The other 2 boys share a room.  I have known Rachel since my freshman year in college in the dorm.  David and I spent alot of time with Rachel and her husband, Adam, while living in Denver.  In our pre-child days, we would meet to eat marginal Mexican food after Saturday night church almost every weekend.  We also spent a couple of weekends in the mountains together skiing.  Those were the days....jk :).   When arrived on Monday at their house, we spent the rest of the evening outside just playing in their cul-de-sac.  We thought about swimming but it was a little chilly - about 75 degrees.  It felt so good!  So we walked/rode bikes/rode scooters/ rode in stroller to the pizza place in their neighborhood and ate outside, of course.  After dinner we let the boys play at the park.  Then stopped for ice cream on the way home.  It was so nice out!  

On Tuesday, Austin and I drove to Georgetown to ride on the Georgetown Loop Railroad.  Rachel and the boys almost came but it was a 50% chance of rain and she wasn't sure about keeping 2 boys and an infant dry in an uncovered train in the mountains.  It ended up being gorgeous with no rain in sight.  Oh well!   Austin and I had a little date driving to the mountains, riding the strain, and then eating lunch in Idaho Springs at Two Brothers Deli.  We rode this train last year when visiting with MiMi and Campbell too.  We headed back to the Roons' house afterwards and Austin took a short, much-needed nap. That evening we headed to Veronica and Ryan's new house nearby.  They have 2 kids - a 3 year old girl named Ellyse and a 1 year old boy named Mack.  Christina and her 1 year old daughter, Aria, also came.  The Roon family came too.  It was a full house and crazy to think that just 4 years ago, we were all kid-less.  We caught up on life and chased kids around at the same time.  So fun!  

On Wednesday morning, Austin and I met my friend Pippa and her 2 oldest girls at the Denver zoo.  Pippa's oldest girls are Hannah (5, almost 6) and Ashley, 2.  She has a baby, Stella, who is 7 months that stayed home with her husband Matt who was working from home that day.  I met Pippa through another friend (and recruiter who helped me find a job when leaving EY), Michelle.  But it is such a small world - Pippa was also a Tri Delt at UT but was 3 years ahead of me.  I didn't really know her then but became good friends with her in Denver.  She used to live very near Wash Park and now lives in Broomfield.  Hannah was super sweet and mature during our zoo and Chipotle trip.  Austin liked following Hannah around and Ashley followed them around - hilarious!  I loved catching up and chatting with Pippa and hope she will come to Houston and/or Austin soon!  After the zoo and lunch, Austin and I drove over to our old neighborhood.  I drove Austin by the house he lived in when he was a baby.  I miss it! :) :(  We drove by Wash park and then to Bonnie Brae ice cream.  We met Christy, Hayden and Maddie there.  They are so grown up....not sure if Austin remembers that he played soccer with them last year when we stayed at their house for 2 nights.  We enjoyed chatting and eating the best ice cream in Denver, or anywhere, in my opinion.  After ice cream, we drove back to Arvada and the Roons house.  Austin had a 45 minute nap in the car.  That evening, we attempted to go swimming at the Roons neighborhood pool.  Apparently the life guards spotted lightning, twice.  We never saw it.  We think they just wanted to go home. The boys got to swim for 30 minutes or so in the chilly Colorado pool water....chilly for us, at least.  

On Thursday morning, Rachel and the 4 boys and I drove to Denver to Wash Park. We took lots of old bread to feed the ducks.  At one point we had 32 ducks swarming around us.  Campbell would have loved it - Quack Quack.  The boys played on the playground too.  Such a fun morning at my favorite park!  When we got back we quickly ate lunch, I showered and we packed our bags.  It was time to head to the airport and then to Houston.  Boo!  On the bright side, we were going home to see Daddy and Campbell.  During the plane ride home, Austin watched Monsters Inc AGAIN.  That kid.....

I hope to make the Denver/Colorado trip an annual August adventure.  Rachel says we are welcome back anytime and Pippa invited us to her family's house in Breckenridge.  Yes, please!  I will definitely take my Colorado native with me.  Daddy and Campbell may be invited next time.....we'll see.  :)

About to board our plane to Denver

Campbell wanted us to pack him in the suitcase

Waiting for our luggage

Sharing the scooter...a life lesson

I spy 3 diggers.....

3 happy campers.  Ice cream works every time.

Can you tell he is excited?

Choo-choo!

Morning snack of Pirates Booty while we watch the steam engine pass

Checking out the view

the view

More view

Friends watching Planes Fire and Rescue

Forgotten 3rd child - Precious Tyler

Pippa, Ashley, Hannah and Austin

Pretty Hannah and Austin - Oregon trail anyone?

Our house.  Looks exactly the same.  No new landscaping :(

Cheesy smile with Hayden and Maddie



Just 4 boys eating pizza on the porch

Sure beats the view in Houston.  This is their backyard. 

Swinging in the Colorado air

Making music....

Calling all ducks.....

Take 1

Take 2

Take 3....Excellent!



Saturday, August 1, 2015

Campbell at 15 months

Campbell turned 15 months on July 7th.  At 15 months, Campbell weighed 20 lbs 10 oz, which is 18th percentile and was 32 1/4 inches, which is 86th percentile.  His head was 18 1/2 inches, which is 55th percentile.  He grew faster than his curve (was 9th percentile in weight at 12 months).  Big boy!  At 15 months, Austin weighed 23lbs 4 oz (58th percentile) and was 33 inches tall (96th percentile).  At 15 months, Campbell is walking and running already.  It's hard to believe Austin did not officially walk until 16 months.  Campbell is constantly on the move.  When we go swimming, all he wants to do is be out of the pool walking around, climbing steps, or getting into trouble.  It's not that he doesn't like the water, it's that he would rather be walking in it (baby pool or wading pool depth) as opposed to floating in a section he can't stand in.  When I try to keep him in the deep part because I am either alone with Austin who wants to truly swim or dive off the diving board, he sometimes screams at the top of his lungs.  He definitely has the screaming and tantrums down.  We have started enforcing a time out of 1 minute or until he cools down when he has a tantrum because he doesn't get his way.  Oh boy, trouble!  Sometimes he will walk into a room and get a certain look on his face like "what can I destroy or find that is trouble/danger in here?".  He sure loves watching Austin and takes in everything he does, which is not always a good thing.  Austin enjoys tackling Campbell and pinning him to the ground.  Campbell has learned to bite or grab Austin when he does this, along with a full force scream.  It is a daily battle and we are working on this.....

Campbell enjoys eating but when he is done, he clearly tells us by screaming "daw" which means down/done- he likes pasta with chicken meatballs and red sauce, watermelon, hot dogs, cutie oranges, carrots, sweet potatoes, graham crackers, applegate breakfast sausage, strawberries, banana muffins, raisins, and much more.  He likes meat much more than Austin does or ever did.  I can usually get him to eat any meat - hamburger, pork tenderloin, chicken, turkey, etc.  He has even had popsicles and a few bites of ice cream every once in a while.  He is starting to want to eat at the little kids table when he sees Austin there, but I am going to make him eat in his high chair as long as I can.  

He is wearing mostly 18 month shirts and still in 12 month shorts.  I keep trying the 18 months shorts and swimsuits on to see if they will stay up, but his little waist is still too small to keep them from falling down.  He'll get there... He is in size 3 diapers still.  Campbell sleeps about 11.5 hours at night (7:30-7) and takes 1 nap that is usually 2-3 hours starting around 12:30pm.  He has 2 loveys - one blue elephant and one blue bunny.  He calls them both "Ba", which means Bear.  Austin's lovey is "Bear" so he thinks his are "Bear" too.  His elephant and bunny might always be bears.  Ha!

Some of the words he says are - DaDa, MaMa (only when he is whining and needs something), Ba (bear), "Da" (down/done), "Daw" (dog), "Quack Quack" - the best duck noise ever, "Voooo" (for Moo that a cow says), "Cheese" for cheese when he sees a cell phone and smiles ready to take a picture, "Bye" for goodbye with an excellent wave, "Shasha" for sausage (breakfast sausage most days), "brew" for broom, "Dada" - for DiDi - different than DaDa for daddy, "Baaaa" for ball and in reference to golf I think because everytime we drive in to Lakeside he starts screaming "Baaaa".  He says "Waaa" every time he wants water or something to drink.  He understands so much it is crazy.  He lifts his shirt when I say "where's your belly button?", he says "shhhh shhh" when I say "let's go brush our teeth".  He will start putting toys away when I say "let's clean up", he says "mmmm" and holds play food to his mouth.  He will find a paper towel left out and bend down to clean the floor.  He will find a grocery bag of sorts, put it on his shoulder and say "bye". 

He loves to play outside which is tricky right now because it's so hot.  He will throw fits if I close the door and don't let him out.  Mean mommy.  When in the yard, his favorite thing to do is go behind the house or garage out of sight, and his is quick!   You sneaky little guy.  He also loves the hose, who doesn't?  He likes his cozy coupe car and any ball, of which we have plenty!  He is learning to play golf already just by watching Austin with his plastic clubs.  As soon as he hears music, he dances or bobs his head - it's hilarious!  He also loves people - he will purposely try to make eye contact with random people in the grocery store or Target.  It's so cute.  He also loves looking at the pictures in frames throughout our house.  It is looking like he is our extrovert and toddler who is not scared of much.  He was scared, or should I say hesitant, about the fake talking man at the entrance to the restroom at Buc-ees, but who isn't?  He did go through a couple of months where he cried and cried in our church kids room.  But the past few times he has done much better - no tears!  

Campbell, you are an energetic, spunky, and loving little boy.  You sure keep all of us on our toes, our tippy toes.  We love you little guy!




blondie

Riding a truck that is not exactly meant to be ridden.  Oh well!

I fit!

Joy!  Ice cream truck ride at the mall

Watermelon - yummy!

First popsicle!

Playtime selfie

Lining up his putt