A Day at the Zoo

We have a very nice Zoo here in Tucson and we enjoyed a Saturday there a couple weeks ago.

Look what hatched!

Happy Valentine's Day

So Carter celebrated his first "at school" Valentine's Day. They made their own valentine's boxes and exchanged valentine's with each other.

He was super excited to show me all his "VALUMTIMES"

At the start off class, not really sure what the whole "Valentine's Day" thing was about.

Then he saw candy and was A-OK.

Things to Not forget about the ones I LOVE most...

There is just not enough time to do baby books anymore, so I rely on this blog to help me remember certain things about the boys that I love, are amusing, funny or just growing tidbits like . . .

Carter measured at 39.5 inches today. He just turned 3 1/2 9 days ago.

Likes to EAT:

Edamame in the pod

Turkey Sandwiches

Toy Story Fruit Snacks

Hummus

Any Cheese

Whole Apples

Fortune Cookies

Pistachios

Chicken with Ketchup

Broccoli

Green Beans

Salad

Does not like:

Grapefruit

Blueberries

Squash (he gags until his eyes water = I've stopped forcing it. His squash is like my tomatoes)

He orders hamburgers at any restaurant but barely touches it. So he likes the thought maybe.

Things he says:

It's ok buddy. (Mainly if Cam is crying)

Huuuh, Not again! (If he is frustrated by something)

I'm not gunna do it, I'm gonna do it yesterday. (If he is frustrated by me)

WHY? (Always about everything)

Hey, What you guys talking about?

What you said? (You can't slip anything by him anymore)

Ok, I'll start (Referring to singing grace at the table)

He talks a mile a minute and wants to know everything about everything

Loves to sing anything. Mainly, the grace Day by Day. Tell Me the Story of Jesus, Bah Bah Black Sheep, Hush Little Baby and his ABCS

Loves the books My Truck is Stuck, Little Critter and We're Going on a Bear Hunt.

Loves Legos, trains, forts, riding his bike very fast.

Has discovered jumping on one leg is fun and mud is great. He likes to put his own shoes on, brush his own teeth, buckle his own carseat, pour his own milk....you get the picture.

He started preschool on January 6th. Has adapted relatively well. He cries when we part about 1x a week now, (He goes 3 days a week so 1 out of 3 isn't bad) Is quite shy in school and has some trouble participating when he gets nervous. He is my timid and safe kid for the most part. Has been learning the letters S, C, V, H but still doesn't like writing them so much. Can pick out his name anywhere. Can spell his name when asked. Can tell you his birthday and full name. Has a great sense of direction and who lives where and close by certain things. For example, he knows Bill and Sara live very close to his preschool. Or Daddy works past the mall and can get us home from those familiar places.

He is a joy and spit fire in the same moment. Like the brightest sunshine and hottest fire all in one. His smile can radiate right through you. He is tender and loving and very sensitive to feelings. He is perceptive and cautious. He is happiness and a bucket of 3yr old the-world-ain't-fair frustration wrapped in the most handsome little man. I am in awe of his little mind everyday.

Camden:

Measured at 36.5 inches today

Loves to eat Period, end of sentence.

Favorites include Blueberries, Raisins, grape, carrots and ranch, salad, edamame out of the shell, fruit snacks. He is not a huge pasta or bread boy like Carter, mainly fruits and veggies and any meat with ketchup or Ranch dressing. Loves to dip anything in some kind of sauce.

Dislikes: Maybe Broccoli though he will eat it if told to. Calls them trees.

Loves his die cast cars from the movie CARS. Lightening McQueen, Chick Hicks, etc. Love trains. LOVES Puzzles, and letters and things that he has to think about. Loves to look at books. LOVES to dance to anything. He does sort of a ballet style frolic that is hilarious and quite agile all at the same time. Loves music. Always asking for it louder. He is always jumping. Learned to ride a scooter this month. Still has no desire to ride a bike, would rather push is lawnmower when we go on walks.

His favorite color is yellow.

He is my daring, run in the street, jump off the couch, tough but -always needs a kiss better- kid.

He is talking so much these days. We are lucky he got his ear tubes when he did because he has surpassed his milestones since them and continues to build a large vocabulary.

Some of my personal favorites include:

"No you can't"

Pack-pack, for backpack

Pan pake, for pancake

Cawwrtur

I wubba you, I love you

Patch and Casa, for our kitty cats Patch and Picasa

"Hey you man."

"Bad Boy Mommy"

Since Carter has been at preschool 3 days a week we have been getting out own time together. He comes alive during this time. We go to the library for storytime which he LOVES. We shop or play trains all by ourselves and he is so eager for the one on one attention. He is very good at picking out letters. He can tell you the letter C, D and S always. He knows his full name and birthday. He loves to watch Cars, Toy Story and Kung Fu Panda. He is Carter's shadow but not so much mimic. He just likes to be where he is. They can do 2 separate things but need to be in the same room all the time. He is okay with me leaving and says "Bye Mom, see you laaaattteeeeeerrrrrrr." as I walk out the door. He thinks I always have to go to the grocery store.

He is my blue clear calm lake and Tsunami all in one. He can be the biggest love and scariest screeching dinosaur in a moment. He is peace and comfort, contentment and the best sense of completion. He finishes our family, he makes us whole simply in his quiet presence. He is the deepest belly laugh. He is like the fresh coastal air on a summer day, a little humid and heavy, warm but mind clearing and refreshing. I feel loved by him all the time, even in the moments when he is sad or mad or screeching like a pterodactyl. He is passionate and sincere. I love his heart.

The Comforter

Sometime last Thursday night between 8 and 11, Carter woke up and moved his blankie's and himself to be closer to Camden who often insists that we sit with him until he falls asleep. Maybe Carter thought he was comforting his little brother. Maybe it was the other way around.

Superbowl in San Diego with the Shepherd's

Well, you would think San Diego would be sunny and warm. Not so. Frigid and raining but nonetheless a great weekend for cuddling around the Superbowl game and taking a couple trips to the city by train and beach by scooter.

View from our room.

View from inside the room.

View from the train.

The ride there was wet and cold and so was the 10 minute walk to the city but it did clear up coming back on the train which was nice.

Looks like we tuckered Cam out. He missed the whole train ride home.

and by the way, he is like a 50 lb sack of potatoes when he's sleeping.

Favorite picture of the day. Carter just wrapped his hands around Jeff and cuddled in for the ride home.

Carter slept quite well that night too and even slept in. We were all ready to go out when he woke up at 8:30 the next morning. That is serious sleeping in for him.

Sunday morning.

Scooter ride to the beach.

On our walk to the beach we saw a boat that had run into the night and was beached. With the change in tides the sand sucked it down and they were not able to get it out again.

What a waste of 1 MILLION DOLLARS. Seriously.

I don't know if you can read the name of the boat but it says, SMOOTH OPERATOR. That sure was some smooth operating if I do say so myself.

Just lounging.

Cam's blue eyes are the best. Just like Jeff's.

Giving Ellie some love

Happy girl.

I think you are too big for the slide grandpa.

Jhett driving away.

Jeff day dreaming away.

ASID Gala

Jeff and I attended the ASID (Arizona South Interior Design) Gala on Saturday evening with Jeff's work. It was a black tie event so we had to get all dressed up.

This picture is actually at the end of the evening. You can't tell (I hope) but my dress had ripped along the entire left side. I don't mean a small 1 inch hole. The entire zipper busted, so I had a gaping 9 inch slip along my chest and hip. I wrapped my shall around me and tied it in a bow. It looked like part of the dress, though I could barely move. Jeff also had tomato juice from dinner all over his Tux. I think we better just stick to Mac n Cheese at home from now on.

Before the wardrobe malfunctions, standing outside the Ritz Carlton. It was a lovely night. The fire pits were going and we looked out over the Tucson valley.

Bond. Jeffrey Bond and his sidekick.

Special Visitors

Dave and Elise and Baby Oliver came to visit last week for Dave's birthday. We went out to Benihana's for a special dinner. It was the boys 1st experience cooking tableside. They were both quite amused.

I love Camden's face in this one. The chef was flinging shrimp tails in his hat.

Carter has the chopstick thing down.

All of us. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVE!

Then home for cake. Cam fell asleep on the way home so Carter helped with the candles and singing.

Carter is so excited he's grinning ear to ear.

Carter wanted to light the candles. Mommy explained the dangers of fire instead.

Baby Oliver

Such a good and fun and happy baby.

There are MANY more fabulous pictures on OLIVER'S BLOG to your right, if you would like to see more of their trip.