Thursday, July 5, 2012

playtime

Keegan was pretty close to catching the car going around the track. 

Keeg is a kicker. His feet landed on one of the arches the other day, he pushes against it so hard that he collapsed the playmat. And then wiggled his way out. 


Logan enjoyed a big bowl of pasta. And then he got to have a big bowl of ice cream! 



Mower Man

Logan LOVES lawn mowers. 

    
Josh let Logan "help" once... wonder what will happen next time? ;) 



And a highlight of a visit to Aunt K's pool is Uncle Donny's mower. Logan calls it a "tractor mower" :) Uncle Donny let him drive it around the yard yesterday - coolest thing ever!!



Family Update


Just a little update on each member of our little family (you know, stuff that doesn't really have pictures):

Keegan is turning into such a fun little baby! He's definitely come along way from his first few months of grumpiness and is now a mellow, smiley baby. He loves playtime! Keegan's favorite play spots are in the doorway jumper, exersaucer, playmat, bathtub, highchair - basically anywhere we put him, he's happy and playing with toys - oh and the POOL! Seriously, I've never seen a baby so content in the pool. He will float and splash for hours! I have to make sure to take him out to at least eat and sleep every few hours because he doesn't fuss at all. He doesn't mind getting splashed and just likes to watch everyone else swimming. Keegan is a great eater and does pretty well sleeping at night (though, still not in his crib). He loves to watch Logan play and will often reach towards Logan and his toys. Every once in awhile, Keegan will have a conversation with Josh. They will take turns talking back and forth - it's really very cute. Most days, Keegan is a Mama's-boy - he likes to be near me, I don't have to be holding him just in the same room. I'm pretty sure his bottom teeth are starting to come in, so he's been a little more clingy lately and is having some bad nights. (Teething is definitely my least favorite part of baby-hood.)

Logan is getting closer to his 2nd birthday and it seems he is learning something new everyday. He is constantly making us laugh with his new sayings and habits! This week, he was doing something and we clapped for him saying, "Yay Logan!" and he bowed his head and said "thank you" over and over like he just finished his solo performance on stage! Josh and I were laughing so hard! Logan also has gotten much better at the pool, sometimes it takes him awhile to warm up but when he does - he goes crazy! He doesn't have much fear of the water it seems. Yesterday he was jumping off the side into my arms over and over! And he kept asking to go "down there" (the deep end) where Aiden was swimming. Logan also LOVES the beach - he wants to be down by the water a lot, or in the ocean with Josh but is also happy to play with the sand. He gets so excited when I put his swimsuit on - asking "beach? beach?" again and again. Logan is talking more and more everyday. He speaks in sentences now, "What's that noise?" "Look I climbing!" "I got it." When I ask him where his Daddy is he replies, "Daddy working. Trooper!" Or he'll tell me, "at the troop!" He's also in an independence phase - which means everything takes a little bit longer, so we just slow down and wait for him to figure it out or ask for help. 

Josh is loving work, which is good because he's working a lot! He had his promotional exam a few weeks ago - passed it and is waiting for the official email announcing him as a Trooper First Class (TFC). Which, to my understanding, is just like a regular Trooper - but with more leg room. ;) Juuuust kidding. He will be off "probation" which opens up more extra duty jobs and he can apply for special departments now too. Actually, he's preparing now for a test at the end of July. It is a test that allows you to take a class that is required to apply for the SWAT team. I'm not sure about the application process. And then there's actual SWAT school. It's a loooong process, but this is the first step - and Josh is so excited/nervous. He's working his normal 12-hour shifts and has tons of extra duty (pay jobs) lined up for this month. I think he's either working, on a pay job, or on call for court almost every day of July. CRAZY busy! The crazy people definitely come out in the warm summer weather. Josh is also a bit busier with his new calling in church (2nd Counselor in Elders' Quorum). But it's been fun for him so far. 

As for me, I'm enjoying my life as a mama and wife. I love my little boys and the rare occasion when Josh is home to join the fun too! Haha I've been going to physical therapy for some knee pain and it seems to be working - finally! I'm also considering it a successful summer so far, as I have yet to find a place for our swimsuits in the closet/dresser. We have been in the pool or at the beach a good amount this summer - so the suits are either being washed, packed in a beach bag, or drying. No need for a swimsuit drawer this summer :) I (sadly) have NO pictures of my kids playing on the beach because we are all usually having too much to remember the camera/phone. But that is my goal for next trip - pictures! I'm also having fun trying new meals and desserts I find on pinterest. I think Josh's shift/troop is enjoying it too - I often send in the desserts for them because I don't want them here. I'm also working on getting this baby weight off - I've lost 15 lbs so far (only about 100 more to go!) After my physical therapy finishes, we're thinking about joining a gym - with a day care center - that's pretty cheap... we should probably start looking. ;) 

Saturday, June 30, 2012

bye bye binky

Well, we did it. We said good bye to the binkies. On Tuesday June 19, we flipped Logan's world upside down and gathered his binks from around the house/car and took a trip to the trash can at the curb. I told him they were going bye-bye and we went back inside to play and wait for the 'trash truck.' 

big boy

waiting

there they go!
He actually did really well. The first day was pretty bad - crying and asking for them over and over. But we just kept saying, "Remember the trash truck took your binks." And on day 2 he stopped asking for them altogether. 

But he's no dummy. Aunt Deanna, Shannon, and Troy came to babysit one night and I forgot to tell them that we took the binks away. So when Troy took Logan upstairs for bed, he found Keegan's binky and tried to give it to Logan. Logan said, "baby's binky" and so Troy found a different one and offered it to Logan. At this point, Logan could see Troy had no clue and took the opportunity for a few hours of having his binky back. Haha. And then he really decided to take advantage and requested things like a pillow, milk and then juice. None of which he gets at bed. I think we're going to be in trouble with this one - he's not even 2 yet!! When we came home, Logan still wasn't asleep and Josh went up and caught him sitting like a King with his illegal pillow, juice cup and binky. And we all had a good laugh! We definitely love our Logan Ryan!

first foods

Keegan started cereals shortly after his 4 month well-visit. And it quickly turned into one of his favorite things to do! After a few weeks, I added some carrots to the cereal and ruined all his fun. He HATED it! Gagging, shaking his head no, and spitting it back at me. And he didn't start tolerating it until day 4 of carrots. I was worried he was going to be one of those kids that is awful to feed... but he just needed to get used to it. Well I think. Since then we've done peas, sweet potatoes and pears - and he's definitely into this eating thing again!
before the first bite -
all smiles for a spoon coming at his mouth




gag




June 2012

Logan rode the big kid rides
at Funland on the Boardwalk
 
with Jackson and Aubrey

He talked about these trucks
the whole next day!

brother lovin'


loves some chocolate! 

they followed up their popsicles
with a cupcake

enjoying some ice cream with Daddy


Logan's moved out of the high chair
 and loves his new spot at the table

needed to eat the apple like a big boy

cool dude


Keegan doesn't stop moving so most
of my pictures of him are blurry


moved up into his big bath seat
because he rolled off his lounger seat
one too many times! 

first time he sat solo -
he's even better now!
Keegan is also rolling and scooching.
 Stop growing up!!

JD had a birthday!
And we celebrated at
the Orioles/Angels game - thanks JD! :) 

this is what I wake up to every morning
Keegan would rather not be in his crib.
So he's this little burrito baby next to me.
But we're sleeping through the night
 - so I'm not complaining! :) 

then and now

We snapped some pictures at this beach house this week... and they looked really similar to ones from last year. Guess we'll have to keep this tradition going. 
                                     
                                   
July 2011
June 2012


 


And I was REALLY close to crying when I compared these pictures - can't believe how big Logan's gotten in just a year and I know it's going to happen to Keegan too! Logan had just started walking in these pictures and now he's a potty-trained big boy! Anyone figure out how to make this 'growing up' thing stop??