Swim Lessons and Taylor playdates!

We have had a busy summer in July and August. LOTS of traveling and now swim lessons! And it has been hot hot hot!We are now working on 100 + degrees for over 24 days straight and they don't think it is going to end anytime soon! And we have broken numerous records for the hottest days - aren't we proud! Ha!The subdivision pool is like bathwater - not very refreshing! We have been venturing out to Dick Nichols and Deep Eddy for some cooler water.

Since getting back from Durango we have had some play dates with Taylor, who is Harris's favorite person! He is loving that we spent the Frio with her and then Durango and now play dates at home! Nonnie came in town to take care of Taylor while Christine and DJ work, so we kept Harris out of daycare to spend time with Nonnie and "Tae Tae". And Tae Tae has come over a couple of Fridays to stay with us also. Funny thing Taylor said when Harris would not nap and was very fussy "Will you take him upstairs and rock him! I can't stand the fussing!" You and me both Taylor!

Harris loves the water hose - its a great entertainment when your bored and these is not much to do in the HEAT! I think we change about 4 outfits a day and finally we just go naked when your always covered in sand or water!

Harris's teacher Lisa - she was great!

Harris did so good at swim lessons. He became much more daring after the second day! He loves to throw himself in the water in the baby pool - doesn't care that he goes under, water in his nose or eyes! Most kids his age hate to under the water. We are having to be right on top of him to pull him up when he goes under. He is all boy! And he loves to jump off the side. He says "jeet" or sometimes it sounds like jump. He is much more daring than all the other kids in the lesson. He has learned to kick and stroke his arms. He really can dog paddle good - but not really stay afloat if we let go. He almost can pull himself out of the water onto the ledge. Very impressive for being so little.

We are so ready for some cooler weather! Wish for 98 degrees, something other than 106 - Ha!

Our Beach Trip

Picture on the plane beginning our big adventure!



Our trip to Wrightsville Beach:





We took Harris on his first plane ride and first trip to the beach. This was his second time to see Eric's parents "Memaw and Papaw". I was soo stressed about this trip - primarily for the travel! We woke up at 4am almost missed our flight b/c little Austin airport for some reason was crowded as if it were Christmas! They were closing the gate in 2 minutes if we hadn't made it. We had a layover in DC and then flew to Raleigh and you were awake the whole time! I think we read the plane instructions on every flight - you loved the pictures of the planes - I think pre baby I had never looked at those once! Then we had a 2 hour car drive to the beach (all with a VERY busy toddler!)- can you say STRESS! But we made it and you did soo great and finally slept in the car.

Once we were there we had a fun time. You didn't know what to think about the beach the first day. It was cold too! We had you dressed in long sleeves for the 72 and windy weather. We hung out at the beach and played in the condo. The second day at the beach you had a lot of fun! We met a family from Arizona and once you saw some other boys playing you joined right in. They had some great beach toys that you loved.








This was not at the beach, just a funny pic. You stole the syrup from the fridge and ran away to sip on it. You love syrup! You eat waffles or french toast almost every morning. When we are tired and in a hurry you get oatmeal.

Memaw and you having a good time diggin in the sand.






First day: dressed warmly and somewhat not so sure of the beach. You liked the playscape at the condo the best on the first day. We stuck your toes in the water and you were not so excited about that!

Memaw, Papaw and you! They were excited to see you. They had not seen you since you were 8 weeks old.












Baby and Mama. I was cold!

Digging some more.

Second day!

Daddy attempting to build a sandcastle that you thought was soo funny to tear down!

You got in the water!

We had a fun trip! Next time we will go in August! Us Texans like it to be warm when we are at the beach. The water was too cold, even for daddy. I think we ventured out to maybe waist deep and just for a second! The flights home went pretty well. The last flight was the hardest with you. Daddy had to walk you and the nice older man next to us was very entertaining to you - he helped a lot!

17-18months old

We made a quick trip to Waco for a wedding shower for Lu, a trip to the Zoo, and to swim at Nonnies. Wow Waco has a great Zoo for such a little city! We were there 3 hours and didn't even finish! We are definitely going back soon when daddy has business in Waco! I think you loved the aquarium the best! The dark room and all the colorful fish were exciting to you! We were bad about taking pictures - we took 3 all weekend! It was soo hot and we were trying to go through fast b/c I had to get to the shower - so we forgot about pictures.

You loved swimming a Nonnie's. This was the 4th time for you to get into a pool this summer. We have been going to our subdivision pool after work and on the weekends. At first you didn't care too much for the water, but at Nonnies you were having fun splashing and watching Will and Annelise swim.

this was a cute pic from our Memorial Day Weekend at the ranch. Of course we didn't take many pics there also. We had a fun relaxing time (as relaxing as you can get with a busy toddler) just the 3 of us!

After changing your outfit 3 times (getting dirty and wet from the water hose) we let you go naked in your boots. After all that's how it should be in the summer- right!

Harris you are 1 1/2 years old! And you are a mess. You are a very busy bee. Everyone comments on how active you are! I know its a good thing - but I really would like if you would sit still a couple of times during the day.

What you are up to:

• You are very independent - you don't want us to help! It can be using your fork or spoon to pick up food or help you on the Ipad - we get a strong No! from you if we try to help.




• You love your Duplo blocks. We have had them for awhile and you never cared for them until now. You stack them and them push them around saying "choo choo" or "vroom vroom".




• You are all boy - you love cars trains, and planes. Ever since we flew on a plane you will point to the sky when you hear the planes go over. You can say "truck" and "car" an now know the difference between a car and a truck. You used to call everything a truck.




• You LOVE to play in the car. And you honk the horn with your foot - its the funniest thing! We have a tantrum when we go inside or we bribe you with something. Not so fun playing in the car right now since we are at 100 degrees most days already - but you seem to not notice the heat at all! Ha.
  
  
  


• You love to help water the plants- sometimes its the wrong plants or the pavement - ha.




• You have kind of gotten out of this stage - but you love to help scoop the dog poop! EVERY time we went outside you would point to the poop and say "dog poo" and run to find the bucket and scooper. We could not get out of picking it up! For the first time since we bought the house our yard was pretty close to being free of dog poop. Very hard task to keep up with when you have 3 dogs - but you helped us!



• You love the dogs to chase you. Reece is such a good sport about chasing you or letting you climb o her - she is such a great dog for you!



• You love to streak. Every time we take your clothes off or getting you naked you take off running. You think it is soo funny!
  


• You have gotten so good with baby signs. You can sign "more, please, and thank you" all thanks to daycare! It is soo hard to not give into you when you are rubbing you tummy so hard "saying please" - for things like gummys or the ipad.



• Your vocabulary keeps getting bigger. You are repeating us more. You attempt more words everyday.



• You love the Ipad and our phones still! We can't get on them in front of you or we have to give them to you.



• When you hear music you start dancing - it is soo cute!
  


• Sleeping - ahhh I have given up!!! I now believe what people told us before - you will never sleep again until your child is 18!!! Your sleep gets good and then goes down hill! I think it was all the traveling that messed it up lately. We went to the beach, then the ranch, and then to Nonnies, and now we have had 2 very bad nights! We had to do cry it out last night and this morning you were mad at me! You wouldn't come to me when we I came to get you out of the crib! Poor little guy! I can't wait until you are 4 - I'll lay on the couch and tell you to play and watch tv while I sleep! Ha! Or if we would let you sleep with us we would probably have no issues, but I have to tell myself No! because I don't want an 8 year old in my bed!



• Currently we are dealing with hitting and biting. It is hard to punish you because you are too young for spankings and I don't think you understand timeout. So we say"no!" but you just laugh at us and hit or bite again - so a little difficult time on how to get you to stop???
  


• Oh - "out to eat" has left our vocabulary! Since you could care less about eating, you will not sit in your high chair and want to run around the restaurant or have someone carry you around to look while the other person eats by them self! So now we eat a lot of togo food or we eat at the restaurants that have a playscape - thank goodness for those! Wish the nice restaurants would have playscapes - I could eat Eddie V's once a week! Ha!
  
  

Easter - 4 hunts, water balloons, and driving the barbie jeep

We had a fun Easter. Harris hunted eggs 4 times and by the 4th he got the hang of it! He learned to put the eggs in the basket and go look for more! When the Easter bunny came the morning of Easter is when Harris discovered that there was candy in the eggs! Love those nummy's (gummy lifesavers). We hunted in the neighborhood hunt, the Stroller Strides hunt, at our house, and Uncle D's and Aunt Christine's house with the cousins.

Checking out what the Easter Bunny brought us and hanging in our new Elmo PJ's. We love Elmo!


Hunting Eggs

First hunt. The neighborhood hunt. Not so sure what to do and why are all these people here?

Attempting to swing at the Easter Bunny Pinata.

Found a sucker and then it was all over. Wouldn't take the sucker out for anything.

Did pretty well for the first one. Of course all the chocolate melted in your cute basket.

Family pic and Uncle D's.

Annelise, Taylor, Uncle Rhett and Will at Easter lunch.

Cousin Will playing with you in the kitchen. You loved the kitchen and Will was soo good with you. Only boys in the family!

Lunch

You actually ate pretty well.

Kenneth and Linda

Did not want to get out of the Barbie Jeep! You loved riding around it. Your cousins drove it until the battery died. Your really saying "When do I get one of these"

Yes on Easter we have water balloon fights on Easter in Texas. The kids had so much fun. Lots of screaming and running around. Baby didn't care so much for getting wet, just watching everyone running around.

Cousins

We had a great Easter!

16 months post, Rough Week, Nonnie Visits, and Austin Zoo!

• 
  
  Harris you are 16 months - 9 days ago.


• 
  
  You weigh 18.9 lbs (-3%), Height 30in (10%), Head 47.5 (50-75%). Still very small with a big brain! What you are up to:


• You love bubbles (and can say the word very well),


• You are really into climbing - especially in and out of the chairs - you are so proud of yourself.


• You love animals - especially on youtube. Before kids I would have wondered why anyone would film their cows mooing or pigs oinking, sheep baaing, etc - BUT now I know!!! Toddlers love to watch it! You point to the computer and say "Moo".That means "mommy turn on youtube to the cows mooing".


• You eat French toast for breakfast or apple poptarts, Lunch is usually hotdog, chicken, turkey, or ground beef, peas or greenbeans, sweet potatoes, and apples or blueberries, or grapes. Snack is a PB&J and banana, and dinner about the same as lunch. Still not a good eater! Would rather eat fruit all day and raisins. And you love French Fries and wendys hamburger - we treat you once a week. (that's usually the best meal you eat)


• Love to stroll around the block.


• Words: Bubbles, Hot, Elmo (love to watch Sesame Street), All the animal sounds, up, out, dog poop, hot dog, Reece, Remi, nigh night, that's all I can think of for now..

We went to the Zoo this weekend. The Austin Zoo is really not a zoo but a non profit rescue facility for abandoned animals. You really soaked everything in. You liked the sheep, the goats, the pigs, and the wooden duck! Mommy really enjoyed seeing the Molly the lion trying to get back into her house that the zoo keepers were cleaning (she really worked at pawing the door). They also had bears, tigers, prairie dogs, and lots of monkeys. Next time Nonnie comes to town we will have to take her!

Daddy and you with the duck! You saw it first and said " duck". You love ducks.

Hanging out in the stroller - it was hot, even for April! Will have to go at 6am in the summer! You LOVE the dishwasher, we try to load the dishes when you aren't looking, because you love to grab the silverware and run... not the safest thing. We have decided to hand wash all the knives because too many times we look away and you of course grab the sharpest objects!

Dinner with DJ, Taylor, and Nonnie

You and Taylor in the sandbox

Nonnie and Baby Uncle D Nonnie and Taylor

Taylor pushing you - this was funny because she barely could reach the swing!

We had a rough past week with being sick! It started with allergies and then turned to an ear infection with a stopped up tube, 103.5 temp for 2 days. Nonnie had to come take care of you so we could go to work and you basically stopped eating for a week. And of course this would happen to you.... 5-15% of children who are vaccinated with the measles virus get a measles rash - and you were one of them! To end the rough week, you got the measles rash, had to be out of daycare again, and then were put on an antibiotic that gave you horrible diarrhea. Your great sleeping went away - we were loving the sleeping through the night! Now you literally are skin and bones, you are soo skinny! We wish you would love to eat and be a chunky baby!

Hopefully you will have a better week!

Rodeo Time!

You had a great time at the Rodeo! You got to see all your favorite animals! They even had a lemur exhibit which was fun to see! We watched the pig races, checked out the petting zoo, checked out the goats that were being groomed for showing, and ate some fair food -your favorite was the corn dog!

Goodbye Alimentum!!!! We will not miss your awful smell and pretty price (one of the most expensive on the market)! Yeah monthly raise!

you love to sit on the counter tops and play that you are making a bottle and warming it. Always something in your mouth, either a pacy or something that is not supposed to be in your mouth. We often put a pacy in your mouth when we are outside to prevent dirty things from going in your mouth!



you have a fascination with putting things on your head???

this goat was getting ready to be groomed.

not so afraid of the cows this time!

Practicing muttin-bustin.