Now The Dude Is Sad

Not that the jayhawks lost, but that he has as much hair at 2 months as he does at 1 year and 2 months. Woe is him.

Let's Go Hawks!

Game Day T-Shirts
Clap-Clap
Clap-Clap-Clap

Fun In The Sun

The fam went to visit both sets of grandparents in Sunny Scottsdale Arizona. What a great respite from the frozen tundra up north. We actually had to wear sunscreen! We spent the days running, hiking, urban exploring, and walking through mansions in the hills still under construction (too bad we forgot our camera on that adventure).

Oh yea, and swimming too. I think the dude liked all of the adventures that didn't involve his feet coming in contact with grass.

One Small Step

Now we are really going to have to keep an eye on him.
Walking1
Walking2
Walking3
Walking4

Can't Take Your Eye Off Of Him For A Second

Let mom explain...We don't just leave ladders laying around for The Dude to climb on. We're more responsible parents then that. I was packing up some of the big boy's clothes that don't fit him anymore. I had gotten out the footstool to assist me in reaching the top shelf in the closet. I needed to step out of the room for no more than 30 seconds and came back find the baby boy, who can't take more than three step unassisted, standing at the TOP of the ladder laughing!!! Nobody warned me about the terrible ones.

Video1
Video2

Oh, by the way, we got a couple inches of snow this week...

But we're still having fun inside climbing on ladders...

NEWS FLASH - Dude Took His First Steps

That's right, the dude took his first steps. The big question is, did he take these monumental first steps towards his mommy or daddy? Well, the answer is neither, he took them towards his doctor. I was trying to show the doc how he could clap when we clap at him, which he apparently was too scared to do in front of her. I had to show her something, so I showed her how he could stand on his own. Just as she said "Yeah", he reached out and took 2-3 good stride length steps towards her. Made me feel bad, until I got him home, and he did it again for me. He's only taken one step for mommy, and 7 for me. But who's counting?

I haven't been quick enough to capture it on film or video, so in the meantime, here are some videos of the dude almost walking. Enjoy.

Dude Walking
Standing and Clapping
Walking Soon
ABCs

So you think it's cold where you are?

I know there are those of you out there that think it's cold where you are, but I don't want to hear it. Here is a pic of an exterior door to our house, where the cold has seeped it's way in via this door hinge. Yes, this pic was taken from INSIDE the house.

House Arrest

What a difference a week makes. Last weekend, it was 40 deg. We had the dude outside playing in the snow and sledding down hills. It was wonderful. This weekend, with wind chill, it will be -35. Yes, thats a 75 degree difference in one week. What do you think the weather is like in San Diego this weekend? What ever happened to global warming?

Happy Birthday to the Dude!

So the dude turns one. The week leading up to his birthday was a busy one. Grandpa was going to be out of town on the dude's birthday so we had a party for him a week ago at a restaurant, where he stuffed his face with chocolate cake.



We celebrated his birthday last Saturday to fit everyone's schedule, where he got some cool presents and stuffed his face with more cake. Yesterday, the dude's little friend from his "Mommy and me" class had her 1yr birthday party, and wouldn't you know it, they had cake there too.





We did, however, teach the dude that it is ok to eat that much cake in a week as long as we go swim a few laps over the weekend. So, we enrolled the dude in his very first official swimming lesson. He might have been the youngest kid in the tots class, but he seemed to enjoy it more than every other kid there.

The Century Post

It's been 51 weeks since the little guy arrived. His birthday is next week can you believe it? For post number 100, enjoy:

Happy Birthday!

Mommy turned 30 today, and doesn't she look awesome? She had a "cut and color" that turned out to be a "cut and cut and cut and color".

Holidays in New Mexico

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from New Mexico. We hope all of you had a wonderful holiday season. Everyone in New Mexico had a great time and the dude got to meet two cousins for the first time in the matter of a few weeks.

New Addition to the Family

Congratulations to my brother and sister-in-law. Yesterday, they welcomed Camille Christine into the world. Born one day overdue, weighing 7 lbs 7oz and 21 inches long...we couldn't be happier because both baby and mom are healthy!

Let it snow, let it snow....

It has been a rather warm year for the Northland, but I knew we couldn't make it out of December without at least one snow storm. At least along with the cold weather and snow, comes christmas and presents!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the kids!

Well, Hello Mr. Fancy Pants

Still learning the features of the awesome new camera. Here are a few of our first attempts at getting fancy with photography.

Be Patient

Our blogging hiatus will end after the Holidays and we can't wait to update you. Here's a preview of things to come...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. We got to host thanksgiving dinner for the first time, and boy was it an adventure. Dinner for 20. I didn't think it could be done, especially with a little man scooting himself all around the house (he can kind of crawl now, did I mention that?). Right about the time we thought it would be easy, the turkey pan cracked and the juices spilled out all over the stove. However, when we look back, that really was our only set back. The rest of the night was great. The cat escaped too and we didn't get him back in the house until 1am. Oh, and the dude can pull himself up to kneeling and standing positions now.

Maybe I did get a picture with Bill...

Now that I think about it, we did get some pictures with Bill. He was really a good sport about us putting him in poses with the dude. What a nice guy.

Wedding in Lawrence

We finally got to visit Lawrence for the first time as a family. A college buddy of both of ours got married over the weekend all the old jayhawk swimmers and friends came out of the woodworks. It was great to see everybody over the weekend and the wedding was spectacular. A party for the ages. Just like back when we were 20-somethings. Oh, yea, and the dude met Bill Self while we were walking through Allen Fieldhouse and the athletic department to say hi to the new swim coach. I proceed to say something really dumb like "Hi Bill, I've got your starting point guard in 20yrs right here". I mean he must hear that all the time. What an idiot I am. I should have just said good luck against Florida and shut the hell up. For the record, he was very nice, talked with us for several minutes, replied to my stupid comment with "Well, he looks thick and sturdy enough, how about power forward?". Bill Self Rocks. So does Lawrence. Oh, yea, I had my camera with, and I forgot to get a picture with Bill. Jesus, could I have screwed this encounter up any worse? At least I didn't faint.