Pumpkin Patching 2009

Let the comparisons begin!

Here I am in October 2007:
And, this was taken last year at the same Phoenix Pumpkin Patch 2008:
And this year - 2009...: And this one...
Another fun comparison is last year's tractor pics and this year's tractor pics... Here I am last year both driving the tractor and sitting in it's wheel: and . And this was this weekend: and
More pics to come since it is Halloween week! I only have one costume this year and I think mommy has turned me into quite a... Oh, don't want to spoil the surprise... I'll probably have a roaring good time wearing it!

Pictures from the shower

Mommies friends sent out the pictures and it certainly looks like they had a lot of fun. I'm not so sure about the baby food they tasted! Mommy said a couple of them were quite yummy but others were not so good. I was not ever really much of a fan of the jarred baby food so I don't know what I'd think about it!

But, here are a couple pictures from the fun they had at the sprinkle for my baby sister! Baby food tasting game: Ashley and Dinora tasting the options...
The whole group! Hoot Hooty Hoot: And a cute hat for the "winter":
Lastly, here are some of the Thundermommies:

Update for the beginning of October

It's been some time since we have had a post. Mommy is at 29.5 weeks now and she compared her measurements now to when she was pregnant with me at about the same time. So, at 28 weeks with me she was 42 inches around. She measured 36 inches around this evening at 29.5 weeks. Mommy is doing great though and I love my baby sister! I like to call her Baby Bean and tell everyone about her. She got some fun presents at a wonderful shower our friends threw for mommy yesterday too! Thanks so much to Uncle Lincoln for coming to play with me and daddy! Oh, and thanks to Kim, Claudia, Dinora, Pauli, Nicole, Julie, and Ashley for celebrating my mommy and baby sister.

Here are a couple pics of some of the "ahh cute" things she got! This is in quotes because I say it a lot!
And here is one of the really fun diaper cake that her friends made. I like to take the diapers off and put them back on like a puzzle!
Mommy said her friends took pictures at the shower so she will post those once she gets them too.

Until next time, when I have a sneaking suspicion you will see me in my annual pumpkin patch pics and then my costume!
Love to you all!

Some pics and videos of our September

I can't really believe it is October tomorrow. Where does the time go? I have been very busy. I am adding all sorts of words to my vocabulary, so many mommy and daddy have stopped counting and usually just sit in wonder at my words. Last night, while mommy was making my dinner, I asked for the quinoa and peppers and chicken. And, not only did I ask for it but I loved it! I really like quinoa - it's yummy in the tummy (another one of my latest phrases. Singing phrases is another specialty. I enjoy singing up a storm and making up words and songs... I love to tell people I am in a band and that I play instruments, like guitar, violin, piano, saxophone. He is in a band...

The other thing we did this September is head back to visit our buddy at the zoo, our friend Giraffe. We do love us some tweezas!

and this one...
Here is a still shot of our giraffe time:

We had been doing a lot of playing inside... having friends over and going over to our friends' homes. Here is me dressing up with my toys and costumes at home:

And, finally... the grand finale of our September! It was ONLY 95 degrees today! Which means we were able to go to the park for the first time in like 4 months!!! And, here is what I did at the park...
Yes... that is me rolling in the sand. And, yes, my mom is so cool that she just sat there and watched me. She just kept saying to my teachers at school today that I am all boy and if I eat dirt then it won't kill me (she picked me up and I had some sand in my mouth). So, nope, mom is not concerned with me rolling around in the sand.

A random Friday evening thought... from mommy about me...

So, J is sound asleep in his big boy bed. It has taken him almost 2 weeks but last night he finally stayed in the bed and didn't cry. Now this makes it sound worse than it was. Here's how things happened:

On Friday, Sept. 4th we had our dear friends the Gooches and the Days over for a Big Boy Bed party! We took the crib apart, we brought the tot bed out of the closet (where it was in storage), and we put the new airplane sheets, pillow, and wall decals in place! The kids had a great time putting the stickers on the wall. Mike will have to get the video off of my phone and onto this site. And we had pizza, brownies, and just a ton of fun! The goal was, of course, to stay up a little later and party a little harder so he would fall asleep well.





And, in that manner things went fairly well. He didn't stay in the bed. He came to the door, which he couldn't open because of a door knob guard, and he cried so hard for less than 5 minutes. Then, all was quiet.


Next morning was a bit tough at 6:20... Saturday night similarly cried and then was out. Sunday morning up by 7. Sunday night more crying... well, then Tuesday, he got up at 5:45! Yes. Insane. We were thinking the tot bed might not actually work for us.

But, we persevered and he would cry a little every night until last night! Last night, he got into his bed... stayed there... and was silent! And tonight the same thing. And, he has been getting up exactly at 7:15. I feel pretty confident that he has made the transition.

Another random thought this evening... food and eating. We were at a little Italian place. Joseph ate shrimp, grilled veggies, mushroom chicken, and roasted red peppers. The table next to us had another little guy about Joseph's age and he had fried chicken fingers. So, why is it that Joseph eats all this stuff? It's not the first time I have really wondered this little gift of Jman. We have several friends who have picky eaters and I posted something on Facebook tonight that showed that we have buddies back east with similar finicky natures.

Here's my theory... I ate all manner of things when I was pregnant. I also made Joseph's baby food from our food when he was little. His first favs were avocados, sweet potato, peas, and butternut squash. I remember when he was about 9 months old I bought some Earth's Best organic baby food in jars because we were going to be traveling. I opened it up and it smelled so odd... and I tasted it! YUCK! I wouldn't eat it! He wouldn't eat it! Why is it that baby food doesn't actually taste like real food. I mean, the fruits seem to hold more of a natural flavor. But the veggies and the meats are just way off. Have you ever eaten them?

Oh well, as I sit here and write this post Mike is laughing and we are watching my tummy bounce all around. Baby Girl Greto (G-G) is growing and just being so fun... and Mike was just saying that we better watch what we write because she will probably be picky...

We will see. Ok. It's getting late. Next time.

CarTunes

This past week I went with Mommy & Daddy to VA to see my Pop-Pop & Mom-Mom. One of the many fun things we did was to visit Pop-Pop's airplane at Dulles. I was so excited on the way to the airport that I was singing the whole way. Check it out!

August 2009 and a year in AZ

It's hard for us to believe that we have been here a year and 3 weeks! The time really has flown by even though the heat doesn't. Although, we are very, very thankful that it has only been in the LOW 100s the past few days, we pray it continues!

We thought we'd just bring you up to speed on a few things!
Mommy has been very busy celebrating all of the Thunderbabies that are on their way. In July she helped host the 4th Baby Shower in 4 months time! And, there are more to come. She said that people who might not be ready for kids shouldn't drink the water out here. She has learned to do some cool things, like make a cool diaper cake:

I have been very busy myself... I love my school and I am learning all about the potty and big boy beds! Mommy will have to post some new pictures about that topic.

But, I digress because I have much better news! News that I am telling everyone that will listen! BABY SISTER is my latest and greatest new phrase! Yes, it's because I am going to have a Baby Sister! So, you see folks... I am now very often found talking about my baby bean and my baby sister!

Here are the pictures of my baby bean! My Baby Sister!

And here she is sucking her fingers inside mommy's tummy:

What to do when it's so hot out?

When it's over 110 and it's summer in the desert, we do a lot of playing inside and at the pool. Here are a bunch of pics of me with my wonderful international buddies! as you can see, I have tons of friends from all over the world! Reen and Sui are from Japan. Caroline and Luke are from MA and have moved back there -- I miss them a LOT and ask mommy to see Luke and Carrine often. Sebastian, my birthday buddy, is Chilean/American. And, Jacinta (Jaci) and Vicente are also Chilean 100%. Please enjoy our wonderful images!
Me and Luke playing the BIG Tonka Dump truck -- thanks Luke for passing it on to me!
Me and Reen playing at his house! We are good buddies and he is an excellent baseball and basketball player!
Here we are after a YUMMY meal at Mari, Kenta, Reen and Sui's house. They live down the street from us.
Here is the whole kiddo gang hanging out at Sebastian's house just this week!
I am working on my chop-sticking skills! Aren't I pretty good?
Lastly, here's the three of us at dim-sum with our friends Tony, Jeanette, Mari, Kenta, Reen, and Sui.

The Retro Rocketman Blasts off!

Well, sorry I have not written in some time. Mommy has been going to bed early because she is so sleepy. You might know, she has our baby bean in her tummy. And apparently baby beans make a mommy tired.

I have also been very busy celebrating my second birthday. You saw the pictures from the party. It was a blast. I have also been getting presents in the mail for weeks from wonderful family and friends back east. How I miss you ALL!!!!

Miss Sarah, as you might recall from some of my earlier posts, was my dearest babysitter back in VA. She is very wonderful and knows how MUCH I LOVE things that fly! Well, for my birthday she sent me a Radio Flyer Retro Rocket! I just got it yesterday and daddy put it together for me so it was waiting when I woke up.

Well, if you want to see something funny... here are a couple shots that daddy took from when I got to open the box.

Thank you Sarah!
Love
Your J-Man, Rocketman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIkl_PViHLs

At 2!

Mommy wanted me to note a few things for you all now that I am TWO!
I love to sing! I sing Happy Birthday, I sing my alphabet, I sing and count (my numbers have their own ordering so don't think you know what number comes next when I count!), I play my guitar with daddy. I like to dance and sing Ring around the Rosie -- pronouncing ASHES with much gusto! Also, I mostly love to sing at Chapel at Preschool. My favorite songs are Oh! How I love Jesus and Jesus Loves Me -- these songs have hand motion, signs and I love to do them too. What else? I love asparagus and can say it! I love broccoli and can say that too! I love to RUN! I make the announcement and then run, run, run. I also have adopted a new habit that mommy and daddy are not so fond of... screaming when told NO. I am not a fan of being told No. I was put in real time out yesterday for the first time... I hope I can stay out of time out. Hummm...

I celebrated a great birthday with all of my friends on Sunday with buddy Sebastian. Then, on Wednesday, my actual birthday Reen, Sui, and Bella came over to play, eat pizza, and eat cupcakes. What fun!

Oh, lastly, I am dare-devil with mad balancing skills. My favorite thing to do with my horsey and my motorcycle is to STAND ON THEM!!! Yep, who needs sitting when you can balance on the back. I haven't fallen yet although mommy and daddy keep telling me to be careful. I also got a soccer ball and a baseball and bat for my birthday. I pretty much all BOY!

Here's a couple pics:




Here is a cute shot of me and Bella reading my new book of things that GO! I love it... so did she: