Fall 2010

Oliver turned 5 months old.  He continues to grow longer but can not seem to gain any weight.  His doctor is not worried so I'm not too concerned but it is funny to see him next to babies that are 3-4 months younger than him and have them look huge compared to him.  For his five month birthday I finally packed all the newborn clothes away as they were starting to get snug on him. 


5 months old and still only 10 pounds



Joseph often climbs into bed with Oliver.  When I found Joseph he said "look mom I reading walliver a story"
So stinkin' cute I hope they stay best friends for a long time.

We won tickets to see the CO Rapids (soccer team) play.  The game was fun but the best part was we each got a slanket!!!  Way better than a snuggie

I guess if baseball doesn't work out maybe hockey will. 

We went and fed the ducks and geese the other day.  Joseph loved it and laugh every time the bread got snatched from his hand.  Turns out even the ducks in Highlands Ranch are snobby, some of our bread was so moldy even they wouldn't eat it.


 Oliver watched the ducks with interest for a while then decided to take a nap.

 Joe Joe and No No + sand & water = two cute and messy boys



 We went to a little corn maze on Main Street in Parker with Carol, Noah & Lola.  Joseph had a blast playing in the hay and was entertained for over a hour.  Well worth the drive out to Parker.

Watch out Noah!!

Looking for Halloween costumes

We found this at Goodwill and I asked Joseph if he wanted to try it on expecting him to say no.  But he tried it one and was mad when we made him take it off.

Joseph held his cinnamon roll and told me to take his picture.  Best $0.99 roll we've ever had.

That's right I took a picture during church

 We went to our last Rockies game of the year on Joseph's 3rd Birthday.  The swag afterwards was a little lame but it was still fun. It was a little sad eating my last cheese steak sandwich and saying goodbye to all the regulars and our usher Linda. Forgot to take any pictures at the game but here's what Joseph looked like on his way home

Joseph turned 3 on September 29th.  I can't believe how fast time is going.  We went to the Rockies game then came home and met Jared for dinner at The White Chocolate Grill.  We had big plans for Joseph's birthday but didn't get much done.  Life just got the better of us but the good news is Jared didn't lose his job this year a first for Joseph's birthday week.    

Joseph is up to 30 pounds!!!! 

We celebrated his birthday with my family during our monthly family dinner. My mom made this awesome train cake. Joseph loved it and still talks about it.




 We went to Yogurtland many many times. My current favorite is pumpkin pie & cheesecake mixed.

We also went to Andy & Kristen's Wedding.  Fun was had by all and Joseph found himself a girlfriend.

The excitement was too much of Oliver to handle

I have no idea what 3 year old stuck his finger in the cake and then hide behind the dessert table.

I swear his finger is not about to get inserted in the cake



 Joseph has decided clothing is optional.  I often find myself saying "Joseph put some clothes on so I can take your picture without being reported to social services.   At least he decided to wear boots for this picture.  

 

Tag! You're it

My friend Susan posted these questions to answer on her blog. Join in the fun and answer them on your blog too

1. What is your favorite children's book?

That’s a tough one. There are so many to choose from. Growing up some of my favorites were:
Where the Wild Things Are - Maurice Sendak
A Chocolate Moose for Dinner– Fred Gwynne
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs - Judi Barrett
Dr. Suess, Beverly Cleverly, The Berenstain Bears, & Curious George

I have a (bad if you ask Jared) habit of buying books at garage sales, especially children’s books. I probably own at least 300 children’s books and yet I buy more almost every week. Lately Joseph has been choosing the books and he loves anything with a puppy or train but I don’t mind because I love reading stories with him anytime. If fact I was reading stories to Joseph at 2:00 AM yesterday as he was sick and wanted his mama close by. How could I resist that cute feverish face.
My least favorite book is Goodnight Moon. I think that book is so stupid and can’t believe it is so popular.


2. What's your favorite meal (I want particulars, specifics) Don't just say breakfast or dinner


Aebleskivers. I don’t make them well though so I have to have other make them for me. I can eat tons of them in one sitting. You can put whatever you want on them and being an adult now I should switch to eating them with jam or something healthy but I still favor them with my special powder sugar & sugar mixture. Totally not at all healthy but so good!!!

3. Would your favorite weekend getaway be spent with your family or alone? C'mon, it's okay to answer this one truthfully.


I would choose my family 90% of the time. I love spending time with all my family immediate and extended. Some of my best times and memories are from camping, playing games and other activities with family. That being said there is also times when being by myself for a while with a stack of books and movies sounds awesome too.

4. Who is your Hollywood heart throb?


Nick Lachey

5. What is your least favorite chore to do?


Cook dinner and clean the living room 10 times a day.


6. What is your favorite season and why?


Summer for sure. It’s hot, the sun is up late, fruit is in season, flowers are blooming; the kids are all outside playing while the adults are sitting around talking, the 4th of July, parades, smore parties, everything and everyone seem slower, plus usually you don’t have to see any snow!!

7. If you could change one feature about yourself, what would it be?


I’d like to be a few inches taller.


8. What is your favorite thing about yourself?


I remain calm in a stressful situation


9. Do you text while you drive? YOU BETTER SAY NO!


Absolutely not, if fact I rarely even text. It’s much easier to just call someone and get all the details worked out than send a bunch of texts back and forth.


10. If you could get rid of one piece of technology, what would it be?

I’d say anything that requires ear buds. I hate how everyone get so wrapped up in their iPods, games, phones, etc and tunes everyone else out. It’s one of my biggest pet peeves. I hate when I’m trying to talk to someone and they just try and carry on a conversation while still listening to their iPod. I once had a girl come over to babysit and she kept one ear bud in while I was giving her instructions. It gave the impression of “what you’re telling me is not so important that you deserve my full attention” Needless to say I never called her back to babysit again.

Great Photo Update

The peanut gallery has complained that our blog has not been updated for a VERY long time. Here's some highlights from our lives in no particular order.

Oliver's first trip to the pool that he got to swim. I'm happy to report that none of us got a cold afterwards and the swim diaper in Oliver's swimsuit does in fact hold baby poop.

One of the McDonald's by our house sells their ice cream cones for $0.25. We have been several times and spend more in gas getting there than we do on ice cream.

Joseph played hard all summer from the moment he woke up until he went to bed. One night when we told him to go up to bed he only made it to the stairs. Like mother like son I guess.

For some reason the expression on Oliver's face cracked me up so I had to take his picture. The picture didn't quite catch the expression but I still think that kid is adorable. He is still sleeping great and slept right thru the flash of this picture.

This was taken today. Joseph decided he wanted a bath and so he filled the tub up and climbed in. I was in the office and thought "that water has been running for a while" and went to investigate. This is what the tub looked like after some of the water had drained. Joseph decided he was done with his bath after 5 minutes later.

Not sure what Oliver is thinking about

My best friend Leah Miller Salinas and her family came for a visit. He son Joaquin is almost the same age as Joseph. They had great fun together and I wish they lived closer so we could see them more. Maybe one day we'll make it out to NYC to visit them.

Joseph decided a few weeks ago that he wanted to use the potty and has pretty much potty trained himself. He is super excited to wear his Mickey Mouse underwear and one day I found him with 6 pairs on at once. He is doing great and has only had a few accidents. The worst was last weekend a few minutes after I had taken him to the bathroom and he pitched a fit that he didn't have to go potty while waiting line at Yogurtland. Needless to say had the line not been so long and people not been so close to the front I'm sure the huge puddle might have driven customers away. It was one of the few times I honestly did not want to claim Joseph as my son.

We have been to ton of Rockies games this year. Joseph loves going to the games and is super cute as he cheers his team on. He asks several times a week to go to another game. He also will randomly shout out "Go Rockies"
Joseph and Jared got to walk around the track at Coors Field before a Rockies game a few weeks ago in the Rockies Rookies Parade.

We stopped at Bass Pro Shops to look at the fish while Jared had a job interview in Denver to be a kindergarten teacher. He would have been hired if he had his certificate already. He was going to teach while going back to school to get his certificate but that is on hold right now. He took the Place test (like the bar exam for teachers) in August and got a 291 out of a possible 300 but he still has to go back to school and take the classes to become a teacher. Turns out to get his certificate he would have to do another 2 years of school. So that is on the back burner for now and we are hoping that the company he is temping at will hire him full time.

This is one of the first times Joseph wanted anything to do with Oliver. He is starting to really like Oliver and has started to give him hugs and kisses without being forced to.

How can you not love that cute boy!!!

If this isn't brotherly love I don't know what is

Joseph is getting his own sense of style!! I love it when he dresses himself

I had a nanny this summer and it was fantastic!!! Meet Madeline not only is she Joseph's best friend she would watch Oliver for hours and takes better care of him than I do. The "mommy gene" is strong in her. She kept asking all summer if she could babysit Oliver overnight and assured me that she would get up with him no matter what time it was.

She walked Oliver for hours in this stroller and he loved it. Our house was super sad when school started this year. Joseph still asks everyday to go to Madeline's house and he lives for the weekends when she is home.

This happened on our way to a Rockies Game

Luckily Grandpa Buck came and rescued us from the freeway and we were on our way again.

Happy 3 month birthday Oliver!!! He is still a super happy and content baby. He is now sleeping 10-14 hours a night!!! He is rolling from his back to his tummy and loves to helicopter around on the floor and in his bed.

Oliver hit double digits in his weight!!!

Joseph went poop for the first time all on his own and didn't tell me until afterwards. I wanted to go to Yogurtland to celebrate but Joseph just wanted a hot dog instead.

Inception

Folks-Went to see Christopher Nolan/Leonardo Dicaprio's "Inception" on a free screening last night. Here is my Review of the Movie.

This is the most Intelligent movie I have ever seen- therefore don't go see it when you're tired. Inception is unlike any movie I've ever expereinced and KUDOS to Christopher Nolan who both wrote and directed this layered movie. Gotta give him props in both roles as there was A LOT to keep track of and he absolutely nailed it! The movie is complex and layered and completely believable despite the implausability of the plot. The idea, which is the central crux of the movie, is absolutely brilliant. I can't stop thinking about the movie and how deep inside me there is an idea like this that needs to come out in book form.

You must see this movie. It is fantastic! I will never again be able to tolerate loose ends at the end of a movie. The juxtaposition of the timelines was a stroke of genius! I waited in anticipation of the end to see how they were going to tie up all the mastefully created loose ends, of which there were many- oh they tied them up alright!

Simply out, I have been inspired and have spent most of the day lost in thought as to how to write a book or otherwise tap into my creative potential. One of the best praises I can give of the movie is even though I saw it for free, I fully intend to pay to see it again in IMAX so I can follow the craft, rather than the plot this time.

Again, this is a thinking movie- it fully engages you and draws you in and, in fact, messes with your mind (in a good way.) If you don't like this movie it's because you are stupid- literally-it's because you didn't get it and the concepts went over you, you got lost and weren't thinking it our for yourself.

Go see it. In IMAX. Though I don't recommend it in 3-d (ours was in 2-d) but there was a scene which we agreed would be great in 3-d. Go see this movie, and later read my book that I'm writing after being so inspired. Plus the poster and trailers are somewhat misleading. The scene of the Crime is in your mind- only the tip of the iceberg. But you don't have to take my word for it.

47 stars out of 10!

Happy One Month Birthday Oliver

Warning this post is super long and full of info most of you could care less about but I need to record it before I forget.

Oliver you are one month old today!! I can’t believe how fast the time has flown and how quickly it seems you’ve always been part of our lives. It strange to think about the past and remember you were not born yet.

For the most part the transition from one to two has gone fairly smoothly. Most days have been fine but I’ve had my not so great days are well. The worst being the day I was so moody and Joseph was driving me nuts. He wasn’t really doing anything super naughty but I just wanted to smack him. To keep myself from hitting him I had to lock him outside for about 10 minutes while I calmed down. Last week was difficult as well as I had strep and was so sick that just walking from my bed to the bathroom took all I had. Luckily Oliver was ok just eating and sleeping next to me. I’m not sure what all Joseph did or ate. He would bring me the milk and his cup when he needed a refill. The family room was trashed when I finally made it out of bed and down the stairs. Luckily my mom came up and took care of all of us and cleaned my house. A huge THANK YOU to her!!

Oliver is nursing fairly well which has been a huge improvement to Joseph who never took well to nursing. However when it comes to sleep Joseph has him beat. I remember Joseph being a better sleeper although maybe I’ve just forgotten. Oliver sleeps 5-7 hours at night before wanting to be fed again. Joseph is sleeping is his worst ever. Bedtime with Joseph was always super easy. We’d put his PJs on, say prayers, put him in bed and say good night and he would sleep 10-12 hours. Now he fights us every step of the way. He won’t go to bed unless Jared or I lay down with him until he falls asleep. Once asleep he won’t stay asleep and is usually up a few times a night. He either climbs in bed with us or makes me get up with him and go back to his bed. Between feeding Oliver and Joseph waking me I’m lucky if I get 3-4 hours without being woken up.

Joseph is starting to warm up a little bit to Oliver. He still wants almost nothing to do with him but every once in a while he takes an interest. For example one day we were in the backyard playing ball and Joseph hit a few over the fence that backs to the road. Oliver was asleep in his baby cabana so I was going to leave him sleeping and take Joseph and walk around to the street to retrieve the balls. Joseph totally freaked out that I was going to leave Oliver and insisted that he come too. He also wants to be in more pictures with Oliver but still won’t sit too close and will only touch or kiss him when we make him. Usually it’s because he threw something and it hit Oliver. Usually it’s a ball but he’s also hit him with a crayon, cup, bagel and probably other things I didn’t see. My favorite is when I try and put Oliver by Joseph he’ll back away and say “I don’t want it”. Personally I’d rather Joseph want nothing to do with Oliver than have him hitting, biting or trying to harm him. When Jared was little he pushed his little brother Andy off the counter. According to my mom I took a big bite of my little brother Carl. So hopefully Joseph will continue to ignore Oliver rather than follow his parents’ violence.


This is how I often find Oliver in the morning. It doesn't matter how tight we make the blanket he usually gets his arms and sometimes his legs out. My favorite is when he has one arm out the top and the other out the bottom.


For Christmas Uncle Andy gave Joseph a Build A Bear dressed like Darth Vader. I couldn't resist having a Darth Oliver. I thought it was funny, Oliver didn't agree with me.

Here's our new heavy weight. Oliver is 7 pounds 1/2 ounce. Not too shabby gaining 1 1/2 pounds in a month.

Here's how you can often find us in the morning. All 4 of us in the same bed.



This is where I found Joseph this morning. Right inside our bedroom by the door. That frog by his head is made out of cement. Not the best pillow but he seemed to like it.

This month has not been super eventful. We’ve been on a few outings mostly just to the store, church, park or to visit the proud Grandparents. We went to the Wildlife Museum two weeks ago because the library gave me a free pass. For being free it was alright but not worth the money otherwise. Joseph’s favorite parts were giant pinball like machine you added balls to the top and once it reached a certain level all the balls would roll down and simulate an avalanche knocking skiers and trees down. The other was a fish projection on the floor and when you stepped on it the fish would swim away. I had to laugh at this as Joseph decided since there were fish there had to be water and insisted he take his shoes off to play with the fish.

Sorry the video is pretty dark but here's Joseph playing with the fish at the Wildlife Museum

HowDee Pardners

So I heard on the Radio that the movie theater by our house was doing a Toy Story 3 promotion this weekend so, since Mommy was sick I decided to take Joseph to check it out. As part of the celebration, Woody and Buzz were supposed to be on hand to entertain the kids and render themselves for pictures. We went at the scheduled start time but there was no one there and even the movie theater seemed pretty empty. So we walked around for awhile and came back. When we came back we found "Woodee" and "Buss." All that was missing was a Big Bird with a droopy eye as featured in our wedding video. So here are the fotos of "Woodee" and "Buss" (don't want to get sued after all.)

So since we were basically in Disneyland, we decided to check out Circo Vasquez at the Aurora mall. Seriously though we did decide to go to the Rockies game. Long story short, Rockies has a 4 run lead in the ninth inning with 2 outs. I thought, this one's over so I'll put my mitt away. Well the Brewers hit a 3 run homer and load the bases to get within one run and possibly take the lead. Remember my glove is in my bag, instead of on my hand where it resided for the other 26 outs. Sure enough the hitter fouls one off and I look up and quickly do the calculations- yep its heading right for me. So it comes in, theres no obstructions and it comes in and hits me right in the hand, pops up and bounces off my hand and the stiff next to me gets it. All the while my glove was in my bag. It was destined for me, never had one come at me so clean and my glove was in my bag. So then later I get a text from a friend that says, "hey were you at the Rockies game wearing a green shirt and did you almost get that last foul ball? I saw you on TV" Great, a failure on live TV.

Then today was father's day. Since I'm such a die hard Bachelor fan, I got the Bachelor video game for Wii. I know it doesn't come out until next month, but Leigh Anna and the boys were able to pull some strings and got it early. Don't believe me eh? Perhaps these fotos will convince you.