Happy Camper

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Happy Camper

Brendan is now walking, running, and climbing on furniture on his own. He knows more words than I can list, but my favorites are: "Do Dog Do" (Go Dog Go) and "pica" (pizza), "Reesey Reese", "hummer" (Hummingbird), baby, Pop Pop, Elmo, Word World, Hulk, keys, and feet. He loves to read and we probably read anywhere from 5 to 15 books a day. He will grab a book throw it at you and say "read." Lou and I don't have the heart to tell him no.

We stopped nursing this month and he has done so well. He drinks organic whole milk from a sippy cup and eats well. He lets us know when he's finished eating by throwing his food everywhere. Bed time is still going well and he sleeps 10-12 hours a night.

I think he's gonna need a playmate soon an being around all of my helpful neices and nephews helped me see things get easier as kids get more independent. Brendan can follow simple directions like putting things back. He gets along well with other kids.

Camper never wants to get out of the bathtub. Loves to paint, draw outside with chalk, and be chased. He also enjoys playing with rocks. He eats cat food almost everyday when we aren't looking and has been wearing marti gras beads every day for about a week now. He is full of energy and life and is a happy lil' toddler!

cousins

Sedona

We have been in Sedona 5 days to celebrate Daddy Lou's birthday. Here is a family photo. More to come.

Brendan Explores...

Playing bocce ball.

swinging out front.

way too much fun with a golf club. watch out for Dada's TV!

Celebrating Mama's big deal at the Wrigley Mansion.

I apologize for not keeping up to date as much as I should. Brendan is a walking, talking, and vocabulary building each day. Brendan enjoys exploring everything these days. He repeats words and can get most of the first syllable.

Our One Year-Old

Brendan is active and curious as can be. He is a wonderful handful and rarely sits still. He loves swimming, playing with his ball, reading books, and clearing off tables! Brendan's vocabulary is impressive and I am quite surprised at the things he knows and can communicate. Proud too of course!

He is crawling, climbing, and cruising the furniture. I went to put a stamp on a letter and he destroyed the whole room by the time I came back the other day. My house will never really be clean again and we will leave trails of cheerios behind us, but we are enjoying it.

Brendan's personality really can warm your heart.

He loves hearing about and watching animals and to learn about everything around him. The best toys are pots, pans, tupperware, and utensils in the kitchen.

He also has a push toy that he will do laps around the house with. Grandpa taught him to climb the stairs and today he climbed and climbed and climbed!

We still do not let him watch television, though he has watched some Planet Earth on BluRay. I seriously think his social and verbal competence is because of it. We try to eat as a family at the table every night and he will eat just about anything. He loves cheese like Mom and raspberries like Dad. We feed him colorful food from all of the food groups and if he doesn't like it he throws it over his shoulder.

He now has 6 teeth and brushes them himself every morning. :)

Brendan's First Birthday

Brendan's actual birthday at Dr. Lichtsinn's office. He's a healthy 23 lbs. and tall.
Da-da read to him just before his shots.

Birthday lunch at Oregano's across the street from the hospital he was born at. He was dancing to the music and playing with other children dining nearby.

Brendan opened some gifts from Mom and Dad on his birthday.

Brendan and his Grandma at his birthday party.

All of the guests wore their favorite hat for the Hat's Off to Brendan theme.

Kids craft table.

Photo with Mama and her big green hat.

Being the Birthday boy is tiring!

Tearing into the cake and making a mess!

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

How old am I game.

Cat in Hat themed entry. Guests were asked to write a birthday message in chalk.

Favor table with used Dr. Suess titles. Dr. Suess books were everywhere.
We also had Dr. Suess inspired food.

Good bye and thank you message.

The invite said, On June eighteenth, two thousand and nine, We rushed to the hospital, as fast as could be. We rushed there so quickly, We rushed there, we two. In our suitcase we carried little clothes all in blue. For we knew that we soon would at last get to meet Our beautiful boy, oh so precious and sweet. At six o'clock sharp, we greeted with joy, The love of our lives, our new little boy. We soon took him home. Now the days quickly pass, As sweet little Brendan Is growing so fast. As we look back with joy At this year filled with fun, It's again time to celebrate Our wonderful son. So join us on Saturday, June ninteenth to celebrate Brendan's first! The party's at three, So please don't be late. We'll have for you ice cream, games, and cake on a plate. It's sure to be fun. So please RSVP! You will have a good time, You will not want to miss, A Cat in the Hat celebration like this!

Children's Museum

He made a hat and got a globe and robot in the gift store.

Flowers for Mama in the play garden.

Went straight for the ball in the three's and under play area.

Checking out "the Climber" with Da-da.

Adventure through the Noodle Forest.

In the beginning of June, the Phoenix Children's Museum had a birthday party for it's second birthday. Daddy took off of lunch and we all went downtown to the museum.

Viva Las Vegas!

The new bridge at the Hoover Dam/Lake Mead.

Brendan ate good at the Wynn Buffet. He had pasta, bread, lamb, prime rib, chicken, squash, asparagus, carrotts, and god knows what else! Here he is outside of the theater and casino.


Daddy and Brendan checking out a statue of Julius Caesar.



Uncle Mark W. and his mother Karen at Caesar's Place.

For Mother's Day Brendan made me a reusable bag with his name, handprints, and footprints. Aunt Julie and Uncle Bill offered to babysit on Cinco de Mayo and surprised us and his Grandma's too.

On Sunday we drove to Las Vegas for an important deposition Lou had on Monday. Brendan was a good traveler and we got to visit our friend Mark W.

Brendan takes over the world!

Brendan and his buddy EeeBee sitting on the rocking chair. EeeBee has Daddy's old blanket stuffed inside of his legs. Such a meaningful gift from his Gram at the Baby Shower.

This picture was taken by Brendan's cousin Sandra in the Limelight Lodge in Aspen, Co. She takes the best photos!

This is post park picnic. We moved to the front yard and Brendan was practicing standing without holding onto anything else. "Look Ma no hands!"

Here we are at the park playing in the sand. Brendan and Reese always make friends at the park. Kids are drawn to us! Brendan tried eating sand a few times, but has since figured out sand doesn't go in the mouth.
On a walk. Pulling on flowers as we walk. He holds onto them even after we get home. He had these flowers for about 20 min.


All played out. He passed out one morning while Mom was in the shower.


First taste of lemon. He kept going back for more despite the sour taste.


Go ASU! I love to play with hats!

Watch out he's smart, quick, charming, and a real go-getter. Brendan is taking over the world at 11 mo. He explores all day and his language is developing rapidly.

He will wait for you to repeat the word and attempts new words often. But usually not on command! Darn! His vocabulary is now Mama (sweetest word coming those lips- it melts me.) , Dada, ball, Keeeey (kitty), Ese (Reese) hat (with a 't'. It was haaaa before), spoon, tree, and his all-time FAVORITE WORD: CHEESE! This kid loves cheese like Mom and Aunt Julie do! It is hilarious. When Bill and I took him to Subway he started chanting "cheese" as they put it on the subs. He also calls everything ball. A volleyball, tennis ball, m&m, blueberries, and random objects.