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Campers Flying by those Milestones

 Caleb on the airplane on 1st bday

 Going to wake up Dad.

 Happy First Birthday!

 Caleb Cake Smashing!

 Brendan never wanted to let go.

 Imagination Avenue

 Brendan and Camille at Imagination Ave.

 Caleb trying to stay up at Flip Dunk

 Brendan and his pal Thomas on a playdate

 Brendan and Thomas at the Children's Museum of Phoenix

 Duck feeding

 Checking out some cards in Gram's antique desk

 Cowboy Caleb

 Boys love the new swing set Pop and Gram got them. Took a group effort and a week of construction until it was finally up. Both Grandparents helped on the day we finished.

 Playing cars with Pop Pop

Caleb started walking right before his first birthday, around 11 months. He loves to put on shoes and has earned the nickname of "one shoe" when he motors around with just one happy as can be. You know he has a big brother because one of his first words was 'batman'. He's recently started dancing and it's adorable. In fact he's always responded well to music.

Caleb has many teeth and is still teething. He likes to sleep with the blanket Aunt Paula knit. He's been really good about going to bed when we put him down for bed and naps (most days). His favorite book was one he got from Great Grandma Josie on his birthday: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?  Caleb loves the water and has no fear.

Brendan is getting so tall. He can reach things and is becoming more and more independent. He just finished his first year of preschool at Cross Roads. At his going away party he didn't want to let Mrs. Gulden go during a hug. I could see the connection he had with her. Mrs. Wyse was also an amazing teacher at Cross Roads and we are so pleased we chose to send him there. He's happy there and growing. One day Mrs. Wyse could not be there and I substitute taught in Brendan's class. I was so proud of him.

One thing I love about Brendan is that I never know what he is going to say. He is inquisitive, silly, honest, and unbelievably logical. He's an excellent big brother, helper, and negotiator who loves computer time, National Geographic kids, dinosaurs, Curious George, super heros- especially Spiderman, Superman, and Batman, and playing outside.

Two days ago Brendan called for me while I was cleaning up dinner and I'll never forget what I heard and saw. He said, "Mom I have pee in my hair and on my face." And there it was. I could see the droplets. He ricocheted his own pee off the potty seat and sprayed himself. This was clearly no accident. His punishment was to clean it up. He did not like cleaning it so hopefully this won't happen again.

In all honesty the boys are wonderfully adorable and fun, but so messy! It's making me a little crazy especially since we are confined indoors now with the 100 degree weather. I just look at them and love seeing them play together. I love Caleb's little curls totting around and exploring everything from the shower to the kitchen cabinets, and really anything on the ground and within reach. I love how Brendan is a small genius making everyone smile and laugh telling jokes, learning about dinosaurs, and enjoying playing with other kids.

I still take off every Friday to do something fun with the boys and plan to continue. Just before Caleb's first birthday we went to Indianapolis for K$ and Nick's wedding. We got to see Paul and Andrea at the Children's Museum there. The museum was amazing with the Matchbox cars, dinosaurs, dragons, geckos, funny mirrors, trains, merry go round, and Withe Castles just before. We enjoyed our trip but the flights. Traveling with small children is not easy.

They are amazing blessings and we are grateful for our boys. Life wouldn't be the same without them!

Brendan at 3 and 1/2

Brendan is also growing up so fast and he is so awesome. I am so lucky to be his Mama. I think he's had a growth spurt as he is looking much taller to me these days. When someone asks how old he is, he will tell them "3 and a half," to which most people are a little surprised by his precision. Then, he will proceed to tell them something random with such detail and clarity that they are even more amazed by his intelligence and speech.

Our little preschooler loves his teachers and classmates and started a dinosaur class once a week. He loves being around other kids and we have play dates at least once a week. Brendan is wonderful and helpful around his brother. Sometimes he is a little rough with Caleb now that he is more mobile- but they are boys!

Naps are hit or miss these days. He has seemingly unlimited energy, even when he was sick on and off over the last two winter months. He had a few fevers this season but it really didn't slow him down much. He's a strong kid and so resilient!

 Playing at the Children's Museum

 Helping do the grocery shopping at Trader Joe's

 Blowing bubbles with his brother

 Having a hot dog at the Farmer's Market on Mom's 30th bday

 Snow day at school- he saw a snow angel on TV and was trying it out.

 Doing a car line up for Uncle Andy during the Super Bowl. He practices selling them.

 Volunteering with Mom as we picked a huge donation of gatorade for the Fun Run.

 Looking through all the Valentines he got at school.

 Play date with Paige and the Mommy group at the park in Chandler.

 Riding the camel for the first time at the zoo with Auntie K$. 

He was not fearful at all!

 Wearing earphones at the NHRA drag racing event in Chandler.

 Auntie K-Money and Brendan next to Adam and Nick's race cars. He said they went too fast and he couldn't see them while they raced.

 Being silly for the camera.

A visit from the wedding party from Indianapolis. 

This verbal little boy can rationalize and negotiate like an expert. It's pretty incredible the things he says and does. He's a fan of sweets and carbs. His favorite dessert is chocolate ice cream with whipped cream and cookies. His favorite word is poop. Eight is is favorite number and he is working on learning how to write his name.

Brendan likes to watch Toy Story, Cars, Dinosaur Train, & Curious George.
He likes to read about and watch Batman, Spiderman, and Superman. He recently got some superhero underwear he loves. Every opportunity he has to go outside he wants to. He's been practicing on his big bike and likes to play sports too. His first tee-ball game was yesterday and it was adorable. His grandparents came out to cheer him on too. Lou is coaching the kids and they had fun. He will play every Sat for the next two months.

He had a snow day in January at school and he got to play with snow with his classmates. The annual Fun Run was the last weekend in February. He ran in the 50 yard dash and had a blast. He got a medal and has been wearing it almost every day. His other grandparents got to come to this event. His other cool new accessories are his Papa's Looney Tunes tie and his Spiderman watch.

Crawler Caleb

Caleb is on the move and we really have to keep our eye on him. Around 9 mo. he started to crawl and pull up on the furniture. He is now an expert mover, crawling, climbing, and getting to everything he can. He wants to stand up and walk and I don't think it will be too far off in the future. Everything he finds goes into his mouth and I've had to pull out paper, kleenex, a rock, & leaves from his mouth. I think he did get a little bit of a leaf yesterday though. He started with just 2 bottom teeth and he also just got in his two top teeth.

 We go to the local Farmer's Market a couple times a month.

Visiting Uncle Bill and his new puppy Bailey.

 Future Musician still fits in a box.

 At the train park with Great-Grandma

 At the Phoenix zoo just after the dragon ate a rabbit whole.

 Naked baby!

Playing outside

 Standing in the crib

 Mom's 30th Birthday

 Crawling around having fun.

Somehow Caleb made the climb on top of the couch while I was rinsing something in the kitchen sink and when I looked over he could have fell backward into the hard floor. I sprinted over just in time to grab him. He is so fast moving now and curious. Safety is becoming an issue.

Our little man can say Mama, Dada, ball, yea, and hey. His favorite song is the alphabet song. He laughs his hardest when we throw things into the air. Mom & Brendan were having fun throwing diapers in the air and later Brendan was launching cars and baby loved it.

Mommy separation anxiety is in full effect. He just wants to be near his Mama all day. While I take care of him primarily, his Dad, Grandma, and sitter Vanessa also help out.

Time flies...

City of Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton w/ us at the Local First Festival

It has been months since my last post and the boys are growing up so fast. I tell them I wish they would stop growing and be little boys forever. Brendan teases right back insisting he is going to keep getting bigger until he is 4, 5, etc.

On the playground @ preschool

So, let's start with Brendan. He's a proud 3.5 yr old now attending preschool twice a week for 4 hours. His two teachers are the best teachers he could possibly get and his class is now pretty big with mostly girls. This month he started a dinosaur discovery extracurricular, though he could probably teach the class he knows so many dinosaurs. He's told me that he wants to be a paleontologist in Antartica when he grows up.



Brendan and Caleb have their own way of interacting and it's a beautiful thing. They light each other up and will go back and forth with words or sounds. Brendan is a great big brother and helps. He has nick named Caleb "Poopa."


Brendan is into superheros like Batman and Spiderman, his matchbox cars, dinosaurs, and recently discovered the Bearnstein Bears. He loves being outside with other kids. Every time he sees the neighbor kids outside he wants to play with them. He is very friendly and is gearing up for his first team sport this spring- Tee-ball.

Holiday party @ preschool

Crusin' in our 'hood

He is starting to pick up some of the things Lou and I say. He told his Dad he "couldn't do two things at once" the other day and told me, "I hate to tell you this....but I have to poop." We never know what is going to come from that kid's mouth. He has a photographic memory and doesn't easily forget things. He is pretty amazing!

Christmas Day @ Aunt Paula & Uncle Joe's

Caleb is growing like a weed and on the move. He is able to roll, scoot, and about ready to crawl. A few days ago I went in to the playroom, where his crib is and he was standing up on his own!  The crib was moved this month after  he and Brendan were not ready to share a room just yet and baby needed to be out of Mom and Dad's room. Caleb is still getting up once to twice per night to eat at 8 months old.

On New Year's Day Caleb said his first word, "Dada". A few weeks later came Mama. Surprising since he is a total Mama's boy and wants me to hold him or be close by all day. We are working on the separation anxiety.

Christmas morning 2012

We love our naked baby buns!

Fun only brothers can have!

He is still working with only the two bottom teeth and everything he comes into contact with is going directly into his mouth. He really likes bananas, O's, and blowing raspberries. He never did take a bottle or the sippy but he does like drinking right from the glass. His favorite song is the Alphabet Song.

Crazy lady bringing 2 kids and a dog to farmer's market

Caleb has the most beautiful blue eyes. We must have a recessive gene somewhere. They are so so blue and pretty. He is still a big guy for his age. He's someplace around 22-24 lbs of goodness and has been healthy for the most part. He had small ear infections in December and our whole family has been passing around the cold/flu this last month.

Every Friday we do something fun like go to the zoo, library, park or the Children's Museum. It's so cool to see the boys pass by milestones and do things they were unable to do the previous time we were there.  

The boys are a lot of work and a lot of fun. I'm so lucky and proud to be their Mom and feel very blessed. The days are long but the years sure fly by!

Fondue on New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve w/ my favorite men

Lil' shopper @ Trader Joe's