Christmas at Gram's

Christmas afternoon we went to my Mom's.


You can't quite see it, but his is saying "Whoa!" He loves this airplane and airport. There were a lot of little pieces though. :-)



A picture of everyone at the table (minus me, since I was taking the photo.)


Cookie! Kevin's favorite treat.

Christmas morning

What the tree looked like when Kevin woke up.

First gift on Christmas morning, a mp3 boombox, filled with songs from the Fresh Beat band (the Fresh Beat Band was the only thing he wanted for Christmas).


ELMO!


Playing with puzzles with Elmo.


Wrestling with his new stuffed puppy dog.


Giving Bailey a Christmas hug.

Christmas at Grandma and Papa's.

All decked out in his new Home Depot gear. Daniel and Phillip also got the same gear and they all had fun running around in it.


Taking a photo of Daniel taking a photo of me with his new camera.



Opening his gifts.

Pee!

Ahhh, every day you crack me up in new ways. And at least once a day you greatly frustrate me. :-)

Tonight you did both at the same time.

Just before bath time, I got you all undressed while Daddy was getting your bath ready. You ran through the house naked. Normally this is pretty funny. But it wasn't funny when I came down the hallway and Daddy came into the kitchen and simultaneously we saw you standing on the sofa pointed towards the cushions.

At the same time we yelled "Kevin you better not be peeing!". Daddy got to you first. And I heard, "Kevin! Why did you pee all over the couch?!" I thought he had to be joking. Nope, he wasn't. With a mischievous grin you smiled at the two of us.

Thankfully you only peed on the cushions, and those I can wash. The arms would have been a whole different story.

Ahh you silly boy.

Bad shopping day.

You really don't like shopping. I really don't like torturing you by taking you shopping but sometimes it is a neccisity.

Today was one of those days. So we went to Hobby Lobby and while I was trying to figure out which items to buy you began to get fussy.

For some reason your shirt was bothering you so you tried taking it off (you like to do that sometimes). All the while crying and screaming bye bye!

Well a lady decided to help me out. It turns out that your crying seemed to be upsetting her, so she walked onto our isle and screamed "Stop" at the two of us. And then she ran off.

I couldn't believe it! This was a grown woman! You did stop, but it really upset me. I immediately got our stuff and headed to the checkout line.

Part of me really wanted to go find her and give her a piece of my mind, but I was to upset and I really didn't want you to see me upset. I felt so bad for you, you really didn't know anything was amiss. But it was so incredibly wrong for her to act like that.

The Zilker tree

Kevin really loves Christmas lights. Anytime we are out he asks to see lights, "more lights, please". So I knew he would love to see the Zilker tree. I think his favorite part though was the bus ride.

This year they are doing a smaller version than past years, and I really liked the layout. But the bus transportation system needs a lot of work. No one really knew where the bus picked up by the downtown parking garages. And we had to wait almost 30 minutes for a bus ride back. But on the way there Kevin had a blast. He sat in his own seat like a big boy. And really liked talking to the homeless man who was sitting right behind us. The man behind us didn't mind either, I think they both enjoyed talking to each other. Although Kevin didn't say much, just "City Bus, Lights!" and at every red light he would say "Ready, Set, Go!" and then would look at me confused when we didn't go. Sometimes he would follow it up with "1,2,3..." or just repeat "Ready, Set, Go!" until we actually went.

When we got there Kevin was all about running around. We stopped and got him some chicken nuggets, Steve a pizza, and two hot apple ciders. And off to check out the lights. Sitting on the bus.

Eating chicken nuggets and checking out the lights.

Finishing off what was left of my now cold apple cider.

Not being a litter bug!

There was a little house set up for the US Post Office and they let kids write letters to Santa. Kevin mainly scribbled on his. But funnily enough when the staff member asked him what he wanted for Christmas he said "Go Go's" meaning the Fresh Beat Band (a tv show on Nickelodeon). He is addicted to them! Every time he has been asked what he wants he always responds with "Go Go's".

We really had a great time and Kevin seemed to enjoy it. We had great weather (a little chilly though) and there weren't a lot of people like there have been in years past. Probably because it was a Tuesday night. I think we will defiantly continue to go in the future.

Christmas program

On Monday, Kevin had his first ever Christmas program at school. The teachers said that the kids would be on stage and sing two christmas songs. I laughed, they seriously thought my son would stand still for TWO songs! Haha. Well the joke was on me. Kevin actually sat still for the two songs, although he popped up as soon as the songs were over. I tried to get some photos, but Kevin was on the opposite side of the stage as I was standing. I should have gotten closer to get better photos, but honestly I couldn't take my eyes off him. He was soo cute. So here are some of the photos. And sorry for the bad quality. He is in the green sweater if you can't find him in the group shots.
Kevin is sitting right in front of the Christmas tree. The first song they "sang" was if you are happy and you know it. So Kevin kept poking his cheeks, like dimples, the entire song. It was pretty cute.

And as soon as Jingle Bells was over Kevin was up on his feet ready to go. I was so impressed that he sat for as long as he did. I think it was a record!

Silly boy!

Kevin and I like to go on walks each morning. The other morning I asked him if he wanted to go for a walk and he ran over and climbed into his stroller. But instead of climbing in the seat he climbed into the storage compartment under the stroller. I thought it was funny and snapped a few shots. He didn't think I was funny when I refused to go on a walk with him in the storage compartment. :-)

Amazing!

Kevin is so amazing the last few weeks. Today I got up to him talking in complete sentences. He just looked at me and said 'mommy look school bus' then 'bye bye school bus I love you'
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Christmas with Santa

Kevin wasn't to sure about this Santa guy. He liked looking at him, but sitting on his knee was another story. Regardless it is a fairly cute photo. :-)

Kevin's 2 year checkup.

Kevin had his 2 year check up today. Developmentally he is right on track. He is weighing about 32 1/2 pounds (90th percentile), his head circumference is in the 73rd percentile (but we already knew he was one smart cookie). :-) And for his height he is 35 1/2 inches. I have also heard that if you take the height of a 2 year old and double it, that is will be their adult height. So if that holds true Kevin will be 5 feet 11 inches.

And to just play around I looked up my measurements when I was a kid. My Mom has always said that my Doctor said I would be lucky if I hit 5 feet tall, (I'm 5' 1 for the record) :-). Well at 2 1/2 years old I was 30 inches tall and weighed 20 pounds. From age 2 to 3 I didn't grow one inch! I didn't get to Kevin's height or weight until I was 4 years old. And at age 4 I was wearing a size 8 shoe, Kevin already wears a 9. So it looks like he isn't going to get my short genes! Yea!

Ditching the pacifier

You really LOVED your pacifier, and the attachment was getting to be too strong. You didn't need it anymore so for your second birthday we ditched the paci. We decided to do it the day after your birthday party since that was a celebration and more memorable than

I had many ideas on how to ditch it. 1. was to have you give them away to little babies who would need them. But I was really afraid you would see a baby with one and take it away. 2. was to have you physically throw them away. But I was worried that you would go fishing back in the trash to get them. 3. So we decided to just go cold turkey. I grabbed all of them put the in a ziploc bag and put them in the top of your closet in the way back. That way neither of us could get to them. :-)

The first night 11/22 went fairly well until you woke up at 4am screaming "Mine! Pacifier! Mine! Sucker! Mine!"

The second night 11/23 was a little more difficult you didn't go asleep nearly as quickly and throughout the night I would hear you say "Mine, Pacifier"

Naptime on day three was probably the hardest. By this time you hadn't been sleeping well for days and you were really cranky.

Thankfully everything seemed to go back to normal after about a week. And to help I got you a reward of a stuffed Cookie Monster. One of your favorite characters.

A very happy birthday!

Today Kevin officially turned two. It was exactly 2 years ago right now that I first saw Kevin. He was born at 9:55 pm and I first saw him at 10pm. He was so tiny, and pink.

And now he is running around like a little crazy man!

To celebrate his birthday I began the day by walking in his room singing Happy Birthday. I must have been pretty funny, because he just laughed at me. For breakfast Steve made blueberry pancakes, Kevin's favorite. We took him to play at Hoppin Hippo, his new favorite place. He had a great time. In the afternoon we let him watch his favorite tv show, The Fresh Beat Band (he calls them Go Go). And Steve burned him a CD of the Fresh Beat songs, so the rest of the evening he kept saying Go Go, more Go Go Please.

It is amazing how much he has grown in the last two years. I really can't believe two years have gone by. The future is going to be awesome!

A Thanksgiving Day funny.

Today has been pretty busy, and I will post pictures later (left my camera at my Mom's house). But today we had a pretty funny moment. As most of you know we are University of Texas football fans and Steve graduated from UT. And my mom went to two Texas A&M system schools. So she considers herself an Aggie.

While at dinner we were all laughing at Kevin repeating what everyone was saying. So my mom looks at Kevin and says "Kevin say Gig 'em". Instead of saying it, he smiled and stuck up his middle finger at her. We all bust out laughing.

Now please don't get the wrong idea, to my knowledge Kevin has never seen anyone flip the bird. And it certainly isn't something we do. But the timing was too funny! And it just reinforces that Kevin will be a little longhorn. :-)

MINE!

Kevin has hit a new phase, and while doing research, I came across this. It fits Kevin perfectly!

If I like it, it's mine.

If it's yours, it's mine.

If it's in my hand, it's mine.

If it's in your hand, it's mine.

If it looks like it could be mine, it's mine.

If I've EVER come in contact with it, it's mine.

If I can touch it, smell it, see it, taste it, hear it or think about it, it's mine.

If it's mine, it must NEVER appear to be yours in any way.

It it's mine, it's mine FOREVER.

Ahh the joys of toddlerhood. :-)

Kevin's Birthday party.

Kevin will officially turn two this Friday, but since it falls on Thanksgiving weekend we celebrated it this weekend. Kevin had a great party! The theme was Elmo/Sesame street since he is a huge Elmo fan. Despite the wet cold weather everyone came out and helped us celebrate. The kids didn't seem to mind the weather and had a blast playing in the backyard.

Kevin really had a lot of fun. He wasn't too sure about us singing him Happy Birthday though. At Andy's party last weekend he really seemed to enjoy it. So I was really surprised when he began crying when we sang the "Happy Birthday dear Kevin" part. I think it was a combo of everyone looking at him and singing at the same time. But right after we were done singing, he was all good and ready to eat cake. :-)

Kevin did an amazing job at opening his presents. I really expected him to open one and go off to play with it, or for other kids to help him open them. But instead he opened them all himself. And he didn't really stop to play, but instead he was really excited to open them all himself.

His friends and our families were so very kind and Kevin got a TON of new toys. He is crazy about his puzzles, new train, and the little people barn. The play-doh and the doodle pad are also huge hits. Especially the play-doh, although he doesn't really like it when we tell him he isn't supposed to eat the play-doh. :-)

Here are a few photos, when I am able to I will post a video of us singing him Happy Birthday.

And I want to sincerely thank everyone for coming out and helping us celebrate. We are so very glad you could join us!


One of the women from my Mom's group did this cute presentation with pears and writing the food name on a piece of paper and sticking it to the pears. I loved the idea and it got me thinking about making little Elmos. I think they turned out pretty well.

All the kids loved chowing down. I think the fruit platter was the biggest hit.

My mom got a good workout at the party. Kevin loves being pushed around in his little car so my Mom was awesome and oblighed. I think they both had a blast.

Kevin checking out all the food. But what he really wanted was one of the Elmo apples. He was really wanted to eat Elmo's nose. :-)

My amazing nephew Daniel loved the cookie monster headband.


Jonathan was the eldest of all the kids, but he had a blast playing with all the little kids. But even he had to escape. So he stuck his head in the activity cube. Such a sweet, silly boy.


Kevin's birthday cake.

Getting ready to light his candle.

Opening presents!

All the presents have been opened and Kevin was ready to PLAY!

2 year photos

Last week Steve and I took Kevin to Portrait Innovations for his birthday photos. We had a great time! They did an amazing job and for the most part Kevin was on his best behavior. They took over 100 photos and there is now way I can post them all here. So here is a slide show of the photos they took.

Andy's birthday party.

When I began my Mom's group a year and a half ago I met a dear friend, Leslie. It turns out that Leslie and I graduated from Carroll H.S. together. Her close friend Jenny and I wrote for the school newspaper, and my dear friend Charlie and her were on swim team together. We thought it was a neat coincidence to meet each other, for what may be the first time (we aren't sure if we met in HS or not). But found it very interesting that her son Andy, and Kevin shared the same due date (11/15/2007). Andy was born a day early, while Kevin was 12 days late.

Well this weekend we were invited to Andy's birthday party and to help him celebrate turning two. Kevin had a blast at his party. Leslie had planned a little bug hunt for the kids. I didn't think Kevin would actually participate (the draw of the playground was really strong!) but to my surprise he did. And he found 27 of the plastic bugs. Even when we came home he wanted to play with the little bugs, he likes to count them and put them in his little bug jar. He can only count to 10, so when he gets to 11 he just starts back at 1.

Leslie and her husband David also made the cutest cupcake cake made in the shape of a caterpillar. It was so cute, I wish I would have gotten a photo of their handiwork. Kevin loved eating the cupcake, well actually he really loved the frosting. :-)

Andy's party was held at one of the local parks and playground. Kevin loved riding on the roundabout. At first he sat in the middle and just held on, but slowly he would get closer to the edge. He loved it so much he actually managed to climb on it while it was still moving. He did have one minor incident on it though. Some girls began to spin it and he wasn't holding on, so he just flipped off it. He landed face first and did a minor cry, until he realized it was spinning without him. And then he wanted them to stop so he could get on. He is such a resilient little guy.

We had a lot of fun!


Kevin taking a spin on the roundabout.

Holding on and giggling as they kept going faster and faster. With every spin he seemed to slide further and further toward the edge.


A frosting goatee from his cupcake.

Fun times!

The last week and a half have been a blast for us. A week after Halloween is my birthday and it is becoming a tradition that we celebrate by going to Wurstfest in New Braunfels. I have gone every year since I moved back to Texas, except two years ago when I was 9 months pregnant with Kevin, I sat that year out. :-)

This year we had a blast as usual. We were very lucky to have great friends join us which makes it even more fun. We did have to hunker down for a while due to it raining, but it didn't really dampen our spirits, although I think it did ruin my mom's shoes. Sorry Mom! :-)

We had a good time listening to music, eating a ton of food, drinking a few beers, and just hanging out. Kevin really liked riding the carousel, he got to ride it twice, the second time he wanted to keep riding, but it was raining and we were getting ready to head home.

Kevin was also really happy to get his first beer. Yea, you read that right, but it isn't what you think. When we first got there it was lunch time so we got sausages and beers. Well Kevin knows what a beer is so he asked my mom for some. She let him stick his finger in the top of her beer. He never actually tasted it, just let it drip down his fingers. But after that he wanted to stick his fingers in everyones beer. But when we were walking by one of the booths they had these little stuffed beers. A few years ago when Steve went to Oktoberfest in Germany he had brought me back one, and at Wurstfest they had little mini ones. Jokingly I thought it would be funny to get Kevin one, so my Mom did. He got a little beer keyring that sings and then belches. You can see it in many photos. He wanted to carry it everywhere.



Steve won Kevin a little elephant and a fish. When he got them he had to give them "hugs".

One of the guys working the carnival rides gave Kevin one of the little balloons. He had a blast playing with it.

Slow dancing with Mommy.


Chillin with Grams.


Hanging out with Daddy and holding his stuffed beer.

Kevin's poor nose

Kevin's poor nose seems to look worse each day, poor thing.
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Silly monkey!

Well Kevin did a few funny things today one was climbing on his dresser see the photo below.

Another funny was when he was watching Dora and said Aww Man at the same time swiper the fox said it. He said it so clearly and with such conviction it was hilarious.

He also began saying his own name today, it sounds a lot like Fevin.
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He's a monkey!

He really is a monkey!
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Happy Halloween!

For Halloween Kevin went as a University of Texas football player, he was so cute! To complete his uniform he did a face dive a few hours before we went trick or treating. So he has a nice skinned up nose to show how rough and tough he is. I originally put him in the uniform I got him, but he hated the shoulder pads. So to prevent a melt down (and to prevent him tearing his uniform apart) I changed him into his other UT jersey.
Kevin loved this house, the gentleman gave him 10 pieces of candy. He said he would give Kevin as many pieces as he could count. It was funny that at piece 7 the guy went to hand him more and Kevin stared at him in disbelief and at his own hands which were already full from the other pieces. Kevin had no problem giving me the pieces though so he could get more.



He rode in the wagon as we walked around trick or treating. For a split second his put his helmet on, and then if was off again. :-)