Monster Waves and Monster Trucks...

So, maybe vigilant wasn't exactly the word I should have used. But I guess once a week isn't too bad... Anyway- In August we were staying in Newport for the second time of the summer. Only it didn't feel much like summer. It was that week that every one in the Inland Empire loved, and those of us on vacation at the beach could have done with out. Weeks prior it had been in the high 90's and low 100's. Perfect 80's at the beaches. The week we went, was when it cooled down for a perfect mid 80's in the Inland Empire, and you guessed it- high 60's and low 70's at the beaches. It was cloudy and windy and cold almost the entire week. Not to mention that I got sick the first 2 days we were there. Needless to say, I didn't get a tan that week. We all spent most of the time in our condo. One of the last days that we were there, we decided to head down to Huntington Pier. We walked around, got some great deals on sidewalk sales and watched physco huge waves hit the pier underneath us. We then headed over to Color Me Mine. I really wanted something to do indoors- it was freezing! So Keith and Kaiden had some daddy - son time, and painted a monster truck. Green of course. Kaiden's favorite color, and 1st choice anytime color picking is involved. Keith tried to tape things off in the beginning, hoping to make the truck as close to perfection as a toddler can get it. He gave up pretty soon. No point. I think that they got it pretty close without the tape anyway.



The finished product!

I think they did pretty dang good!

Run Forrest Run! Keith Tri-Athalon

SOO... I started of this blog post as initially going to be "photo dump" of this summers highlights. Then when I started posting pictures, I realized how much we had done over the summer and how overwhelming the current task seemed to be. ( I mean really blogger.com - one photo at a time? Technology has evolved enough where virtually 100 years of knowledge can be contained in a microchip no bigger than a crumb, but blogger can only download one image at a time?...and don't even get me started on the having to post everything backwards so that it all flows the right way when posted) Anyway... So I am instead going to be vigilant in posting (one by one) the summer highlights over this next week. Starting with Keith's Tri-Athalon. Keith, Bryan, a friend from church Tyler and Brad Allred all entered into the Spring Valley Tri -Athalon. It was just a couple of weeks ago, and they all did pretty good. Keith has been taking Kaiden and Dylan out while he was training on bike rides and running. And it payed off. He also rented a speed bike this year for the event ( he feels that riding his mountain bike last year was the reason that he didn't do as well as he had wanted...he still did good, but we all know Keith's competitive nature) Keith started off great, finishing 2nd in the swim. Next was bikes- he lost a few spots in his transition from swim to bike - (he actually took the time to dry off and throw on some shorts!) but was still doing good. He finished #32 overall with a time of 1hr and 15 minutes. Not too shabby. He came in first of their little group, and that was really all Keith really cared about. (no sibling rivalry there! I guess we never really grow out of it!)

Spotlighting...DYLAN!

Soo...I have gotten reminded on numerous occasions, by numerous people, that blogging isn't one of my fortays. I guess to be a good blogger, you actually have to post blogs. Go figure! While they haven't said I was a bad blogger (I added that myself) most said that they wanted to see pictures of Dylan. He is a baby and he is growing fast, and I am not so good about keeping people updated. I have been so busy designing my photography website (go check it out :), and doing stuff with that, the blogs and many other things have taken back burner. I have however made the resolution to make a weekly blog! Yeah that's right on here and on my photography blog :)(maybe with it not being New Years it won't be jinxed and I will actually stick with it) So by popular demand, today the spotlight is on Dylan! Dylan will be 8 months on Monday...I know time flies! This little guy has got a few new tricks up his sleeve. He quickly went from the rocking crawl to a very effective army crawl. I swear he get's faster every day! Now that he is mobile, he has quite a few battle field moments. Babies just don't get that they shouldn't stick their head under big brother's video bike! Kaiden has also sprung a new leak of jealousy. Now that Dylan is able to get to his own toys and things that interest him, Kaiden is having a hard time being a "team player". It doesn't matter if it was something that he hasn't played with in years, if Dylan's got it, he wants it. We have some shining moments, but most of them start off with an "aww" moment of brother love and end 30 seconds later with Dylan crying and Kaiden with an "I didn't do it" look on his face.
Dylan has also upped his food intake to that of a grown man. Okay not really, but if you saw how much this kid could down in a sitting you would be amazed. He has gotten such a personality and hands down my favorite sound in the world is to hear him laugh! Even more than that is when they are BOTH hysterically laughing together! On the flip side I think also the noise that makes me want to pull my ear drums out is his start up cry/laugh. It is usually followed by throwing himself in a nice mini tantrum. Ahh, can't wait to see what the terrible two's will be like.
I have decided that he is partial to music. He loves to listen to music, music helps put him to sleep, and he even get's his little legs kicking to the beat. I wish I could get a freeze frame of how he looks when I sing to him. He looks up at me, with the biggest eyes and a HUGE smile on his face. It melts my heart! I'm no American Idol but for whatever reason he likes it (maybe he is really tone deaf!) So anyway- to the part that everyone ACTUALLY cares about...here are some various pictures of Dylan...

Here Fishy, Fishy...

 The first day was over 100 degrees. At that moment, sitting on the bleachers, holding a hot screaming baby and listening over the echoing water Kaiden and his cousin Hailee having a crying/screaming contest, I seriously questioned my thinking in putting him in swim lessons. Luckily, I had Heather and Heidi there to keep me company, and we laughed off our screaming children. Thankfully about 10 minutes into it, I think Kaiden realized that a boy is no match for a little girls lungs and let Hailee win the contest. He calmed down and made attempts to do what the teacher was asking, and a couple of minutes later so did Hailee. After that, they both did great. The next two weeks the temperature dropped and aside from a very friendly flying HUGE beetle that conveniently showed up everyday during the time we were there ( I think he had the hots for Heather, who was openly terrified of him) watching from the stands wasn't so bad. They both had their moments of hesitation and only once did we have another sob fest (the last day go figure) but all in all they did great. Much to my and Heather's surprise the both passed! On to level 2 next year! (this should be interesting)

Getting his certificate saying he passed Level 1

All the little fishies... Derek, Hailee, Kaiden and Tyler (check out Tyler showing some leg!)

Ha! This was a "deal" we worked out after the first day of swim lessons. He has been wanting this truck for months and constantly had been trying to figure out a way to convince me he should get it. So we made a paper chain, one for every day of swim lessons. At the top there was a picture of this truck. I told him each day that he did good at swim lessons he could cut a chain off, and the last day we would go get his truck. Every day after swim lessons he would greet me with a huge grin and say " I did good mommy! Now we can get my Piston Cup truck?" (It's really the Dinoco trailer- but try telling him that!) When I would remind him that he had to cut off his chains, he then would say " Oh, then lets cut off two chains, then all the chains and then we can get my Piston Cup truck?" Everyday. Each swim lesson ended with this conversation! When the day finally came, I thought he was going to pop a blood vessel because of how excited he was! We went to Target right after and he and his truck and his matching mack truck that he already had have been inseparable. 

First Fourth, Freedom and Fireworks!

Yes, I do realize that I am posting this over a month after it actually happened. What can I say? I have been busy! But hey, I am making an effort!  

 Well, this was Dylan's first 4th of July! From what I could tell, he seemed to really enjoy himself! He held on (and chewed) his little american flag, went swimming for the first time at Grandma and Grandpa Dow's and was mesmerized by the fireworks at Aunt Brooke and Uncle Bryan's house. 

 Kaiden's favorite part was the La Verne parade that we go to every year. He loves to watch all the cars and what can only be loosely referred to as "floats". Although he unfortunately missed the beginning with the entourage of Police motorcycles and the fire trucks. I am pretty sure that he would have been thrilled about that, but we were late...as usual. I thought he would get a bigger kick out fireworks this year. We went and bought him some sparklers and little things that he could do on his own, but he was a little apprehensive. He has been doing that lately- things that he couldn't wait to get his hands on last year, he all of the sudden has become very cautious and fearful. He actually asked around 10 p.m. if we could go home. In his defense though, it was a really long day! We will see how he is next year...maybe we will get to the parade on time next year! I wouldn't place any bets on that last one though!

Kaiden got some patriotic war paint compliments of Mike Kessler...

Yes...We did it. Dylan is in the contest!

So we had been joking about it for awhile. A cutest baby contest. Sure, you say it every now and then when your child makes a cute face, or you get a great picture. To actually go through with it is another thing. Certainly, we weren't one of THOSE parents. You know the kind that I am talking about...the ones that think their child really is the most beautiful baby in the world, even though they look like a small version of Al Pacino? But I guess we are one of THOSE parents after all. After enough people mentioning that Dylan should be modeling, or that he was the cutest baby they had ever seen etc. We decided that maybe were weren't delusional and that we weren't just seeing our baby as down right adorable just because he was ours. So we did it. We entered him. It started a few days ago. It's through Kost. Here is the link to his page...he is the lat one on the right in the second row. You can vote for him everyday, but only once a day. If you are interested click here...

A Block of Wood and Cheap Wheels...

We heard about it for a week. Ever since Keith came home with that blue box. That dreaded (*cough*) I mean wonderful box that holds a block of wood and some cheap wheels. Otherwise known as a Pinewood Derby Car. He came running into the living room, thrilled with his new car, but even more thrilled that he and daddy were going to build it together. It was a three day process, and a week over all. So each day, for a week, he would ask constantly, "now can we build it together?" He is so proud of his car. He painted it all by himself. (Keith did the taping) He even chose it's number. We asked what he wanted the car to be and he said " His name is Herby and his number is 25. 2, 5 mommy...2 and 5." He didn't get the chance to race it, (not that it matters, it was hardly made for aerodynamics) but I am sure there will be plenty more to add to his collection throughout the years....

Time...Where does it go?

Dylan is 5 months. Well, he has been for a little over a week now, but let's face it-blogging isn't a priority! :) This little guy has come leaps and bounds. He is as plump as a Christmas ham! Makes me wonder if he hadn't been sick early on and lost all of that weight if he would been even bigger! In his short five months, this little guy has been through a lot. Because of that, it feels like he has been with us for much longer than 5 months, but I still wonder where all the time went. He is quite possibly the happiest baby I have ever met. He is always smiling and laughing, squealing and talking to himself. Quite the opposite of Kaiden as a baby! Kaiden squealed and talked- and only laughed and smiled when no one was looking or before any camera's came out. 80% of his baby pictures are of him scowling at the camera. Not Dylan! This kid is just happy! And he continues to perform for the camera! Yeah! He has accomplished rolling over-almost sitting up on his own, figuring out and reaching for toys, shoving his entire fist in his mouth, and of course drenching himself and whoever is holding him (usually me) in spit up. (he is fine, but he still has some acid reflux) He loves to bounce up and down in his excersaucer, and can't get enough of baby einstein and his own reflection! He has very strong legs, and his constantly pushing himself to stand. He's been doing that since about a month old- but he keeps getting stronger and stronger. And he has definitely gotten the being adorable thing down. Keith keeps pestering me to enter him into those "cutest baby" contests! We'll see. Right now he is battling a cold-poor thing. I am taking him and Kaiden to the doctors today. Kaiden has a double ear infection, so hopefully Dylan doesn't have it too. Anyway- these past 5 months have definitely been crazy, but I wouldn't change a thing (okay maybe a few things- the no sleep thing the first 2 months definitely could've been done away with) We are so lucky to have this little guy in our family, and I can't wait to watch him grow!

A Glimpse into the Future

Today, I got a little preview of what Kaiden and Dylan will be like together when they are older. I was in my room getting ready when I started to hear infectious giggling from the other room. I stopped what I was doing to get a better listen. It started with Kaiden making what sounded like a whooshing noise followed by a very pleased laugh, then followed by a delightful squeal from Dylan. I decided to investigate. I came down the hallway and poked my head around the corner to the bonus room. There was Dylan sitting in his excersaucer with Kaiden playing peek a boo with a pair of his basketball shorts! Kaiden was clearly delighted with how much attention he was recieving from Dylan, and each laugh got harder and harder. The harder Kaiden laugh, the louder and longer Dylan would squeal. Dylan would sit wide eyed and attentive waiting for the basketball shorts to come his way, wait for Kaiden to laugh and then get a huge grin on his face and give Kaiden his seal of approval with a laugh of his own. This went on for a few minutes. I watched quietly and then got caught. Kaiden insisted I stay and watch, oblivious to the fact that I had been watching him for some time now. But he was so proud that he was making Dylan laugh. He smiled at me and with so much excitement in his voice he says. " Look mommy! Dylan loves me! He smiled at me!" A few minutes later I was back in my room getting ready when I started to hear a different sound. A irritated, help me sort of grunting. I went back out there and found that apparantley the novelty of Dylans' "love" had worn off of Kaiden because there Dylan was with Kaiden's basketball shorts hanging on his face so he couldn't see. And then there was Kaiden, in a separate room watching his poor baby brother struggle under what he had placed on his face. I am pretty sure that he was even getting some small delight out of it. So there was my glimpse into "brotherhood" love and laughter, followed by torture. In true sibling style.
(Apparantly that evening he was back to loving him, because these are the photos I got of them playing together before bedtime)

A, B, C, D.....L, N, N, N, P ??

My day started at 7 am. Kaiden bounced into my room and announced (rather loudly) that he was ready for school. He had been waiting for this day for 2 months. We actually used it as leverage in the potty training process. Ever since he picked up his cousins from the bus stop, he wanted to go to school and ride the bus. Never mind that preschoolers don't ride the bus, he wanted to go. He reminded us constantly. Every time he saw a bus of any kind, he would ask if that was his school bus and if he could go now. Well, the Wednesday after memorial day, the day finally came. If he had his way, he would have been at that school, in his pajamas with no breakfast at 7:05 in the morning. He didn't want to waste time getting dressed and eating, or even for the teacher to get there. So for an hour and a half, every five minutes he asked if it was time to go. When it was finally time, he looked as if someone had just given him 100 cars to play with! He was so excited! I of course planned a few extra minutes so that I could get a picture before we left. He was not having it. He was very openly irritated with my attempts at capturing this big day for him. I had to get into the car and head out on our way with no pictures. When we arrived at the school, I was determined to get at least one cute picture of his very first day of school. He was again very openly irritated that I was wasting time taking pictures when he just wanted to be in the classroom. Although he couldn't run away like he had done at our house, he made sure that I did NOT have the Kodak moment I was hoping for. The only picture I was able to get of him looking at the camera and smiling was when he posed with the car he had brought for sharing time! While it may not have been the pictures I was hoping for, I couldn't ask for better. These pictures are Kaiden to a "T". Stubborn, strong willed, and oh so cute!
(P.S. He LOVES preschool! He talks about his friend Jack all the time!)

Boys, Boys and more Boys!

I have a handful of talents. Nothing spectacular, but I am decent at a variety of things. Make-up, hair, coordinating clothing, creative girly things....do you see where I am going with this? None of my talents include trucks, belching, or peeing on the toilet seat. So it remains a mystery as to why I am surrounded by boys! I love my boys, ALL of them Keith, Kaiden and Dylan. They make my life complete. They are high energy, destroy it so I can fix it, love life and love ME, boys. I might shake my head sometimes (okay a lot) but the truth is they make me smile, laugh and cry all at the same time. No one in this world treats me better than Keith does. He is a diamond in the rough. I am lucky to have him. And Kaiden...where do I even start? The kid has got personality. Even when your red faced angry at him, you still have to hold back a laugh! When he just runs up to me and gives me a huge hug and kiss and says " Mommy, I love you SOOO much!" I just melt! And Dylan...he gave us a run for our money (literally- that kid has been EXPENSIVE!!) right from the start. We are just getting to know this little guy, but I am already loving everything I see. His laugh is infectious! And his smile could melt ice! And I may be a little biased, but I think he is down right adorable!!! So there it is...my life with boys!