Prayers for Claire-Bear

Usually my posts are all about me but I wanted to ask for some prayers for my sweet cousin Claire, Uncle Andy and Auntie Kelly.  Claire is having some not-fun tests done this week and next and could use the prayers and good thoughts. Here are some pictures of Claire back in the day.  I know I shouldn't say this, but she is my favorite girl cousin. ;0) We love you Claire-Bear! You are the bravest girl around and we know you are going to be A-OK! Can't wait to see you in a few short weeks. XOXO

The Kennel Aftermath and 11 Months

The aftermath of our trip was exciting. After Leland's kennel stay, he got to take a trip to the emergency vet for an injection of steroids.  We thought he was being super good because he missed us.  False alarm, it was an allergic reaction. He looked like the chipmunks I saw on my trip...only about 80 pounds heavier. See for yourself.

On my trip, I turned 11 months. I am roughly 21 pounds and 30 inches tall.  I have 8 almost 10 teeth...give me a few more days. I am babbling from sun up to sun down.  My first intentional words were "Dada" and "ball."  Although Mommy swears they were, "Mommy is awesome." She is the only one who can understand my thick baby accent.  You will notice my picture this month isn't awesome. I blame the photographer for taking more than 1 nanosecond to take a picture. I have things to do!

I have learned lots of new tricks. Besides taking a few steps here and there, figuring out how to open the liquor cabinet and the occasional wave, I am now spending time in Leland's kennel.  I open the door, kick him out, and help myself to his water and Kong.

I am very hungry, all the time. I help myself to things in the pantry and cupboard..I can now reach the 3rd shelf in the pantry.  My meal of choice is yogurt melts and I shout with glee every time I see the package.  In this picture, the cook was taking way too long so I removed the cupboard door in protest. I think she got the message.

I draw my own baths. Even when it's not bathtime. Because I can.

Leland has learned that he cannot hide from me. I am tall enough now that unless he sits in the center of the bed, I can get to him.  It's a good thing that he started taking Alprazolam for his anxiety.  As you can see, he seems to tolerate me pretty well!

And last, but not least, as an 11-month-old, I have officially gotten my first hair cut.  I look like a little boy. Here I am with Mommy's hair stylist, Marianne Sturm.  Fun fact: the same lady who does my hair has also done Barbara Eden and countless other TV stars' hair for their appearances at the New Theater Restaurant. Translation: I must be famous too!

More Estes Park

Get some snacks, this post is going to take a while to get through.

When we got to Gigi and Papa G's the weather was a bit blustery so we hunkered down and hung out inside.  Luckily there was lots to entertain me so I didn't get bored. I read books with Gigi.

I did laps and laps around the house with Great Aunt Deborah.  Boy did she try to tire me out! No worries though, I kept to my no naps and late bedtime "schedule".

I played with central vac outlets, tupperware, and toilet paper but my favorite toy was the doorstop.  It reminded me a lot of Kong, which I was looking for constantly after Leland went to the kennel. Here I am with my new toy.

After a day of worrying about me taking headers down the stairs, Mommy decided a baby gate was needed.  So Mommy, Gigi and I took a road trip to Loveland's Home Depot to pick up this beauty.  Shout out to Great Uncle Bob who figured out how to put it up and undoubtedly saved Evan and me from a trip to the ER.

The weather finally cooperated enough for Mommy and Daddy to walk me down to town for a little shopping.  I was the King of the Castle in town.  Everyone loved my sunglasses. I was extremely annoyed by them but Mommy and Daddy were pretty tricky and mummy-wrapped me in my stroller so I couldn't yank them off.

When Auntie Darcy, Uncle Scott and Evan arrived, Evan and I got along like peas and carrots. Ok maybe not at first but we warmed up to each other once Evan realized I wasn't trying to steal his Mom and I realized he wasn't trying to steal mine.  Evan taught me lots this week: how to share and how to talk (I said my first word intentionally...Dada and pointed and laughed at my Daddy!). I taught him how to stave off a nap and to cry when his Mom left the room. Here we are snuggling with Auntie Darcy.

Once the Weidemanns were here, the hiking resumed.  Even though Uncle Scott was sick, he was a trooper and we all went to Lilly Lake.  Here I am proudly examining my Lilly Lake patch that Papa G just gave me after taking a few steps on the trail.  We also stopped for a pictures along the way.

When we weren't hiking, Evan and I were sailing the high seas on the beloved pirate ship.  Yes this pirate ship made the journey all the way from Kansas and this stow away was well worth it.  We had fun but I am still waiting on my turn to ride...

This trip also marked the beginning of a beautiful thing: me and ice cream. I tried it. I loved it. It. Was. Awesome.

Here Evan and I were at the Hidden Valley trail after picnicking with the chipmunks.  Mom was a little skittish at how close they were getting to my lunch but I can't blame them. They love Gerber yogurt melts too.

I took my first hike in the snow around Bear Lake.  I couldn't really four-wheel it in the stroller so Great Uncle Bob helped me hoof it.  Mommy used to come here lots when she was little so she was super excited for me to see it.

Our last hike on the trip was Sprague Lake, which if you recall had also been my first. The circle of hikes. Evan and I were tired from hiking Bear Lake so Mommy and Auntie Darcy Ergo-ed us.   We saw an elk getting ready to give birth off the trail and Mommy high-tailed it out of there.  She had flashbacks of her near-hoofing in the Elk incident of 2008.

After 12 days away from our Leland, we were ready to head home. I was fairly unimpressed with the car ride so we made it home in record time.

Here's one last family shot as I bid adieu. Thanks Mimi, Pa, Gigi and Papa G. for the fun times in Estes! 

It's Been A While...Estes Park Part I

Oh hey, remember me? I have been off discovering the mountains. When we last met I was gearing up for my first trip to Estes Park, Colorado. A little back story: Mommy and Daddy's families have been going there for a long time. Mommy's family has been going there since the 1950's and Daddy's family has been going there since the early 1990's.  I am lucky because we still have Mommy's family's cabin and Daddy's parents just built their retirement home out there.  Because of this, Mommy thought Estes was the perfect place to get me baptized. So she planned a little destination baptism...it's like a destination wedding but less expensive to plan which Daddy loved.

With the news of termites invading the house and heavy hearts from dropping Lele off at the kennel for his extended stay, we set out on I-70.  First stop, Topeka to spend the night so Gigi and Papa G could caravan with us.  Mommy insisted that we do a family photo shoot where she and Daddy got married in the backyard. Daddy was a bit disgusted by our wardrobe choices but here we are.

Here we are at the beloved Estes Park sign on the way into town.  It was a long drive with lots of stops and lots of flirting with the ladies as we made our way across I-70 but we made it.  After 12 hours in the car, the last hour of which I was voicing my disproval at the elevation gain, I say we look pretty good!

As I said before, the whole reason we came to Estes was for my Baptism/Christening.  Mommy was very excited that Reverend Huth, a friend of Great Grandpa Landis and former chaplain to the YMCA, was willing to do the baptism.  Here is the man himself.  He brought his wife Sara.  They. Are. Awesome. He baptized me, brought me a gift from Jerusalem, gave me bubbles and encouraged my parents to give me more cake.  Also in attendance was Mimi and Great Grandpa Landis's dear friend Ginger.  I was so smitten with her that I practically jumped into her arms when I first saw her.  I had the same reaction meeting Great Uncle Bob (Gub) and Great Aunt Deborah (Gab)for the first time at the Denver Costco. I know good people when I see them!

Here are some of my favorite people who came out for my special day.  Gammy Sheryl (Great Aunt Sheryl) and Bobo (Great Uncle Benny) were there too but they were the ones taking all the pictures!  Also in attendance via FaceTime were my Godparents (Auntie Kelly and Uncle Andy) and my Auntie Darcy and Uncle Scott who you will see LOTS of in the pictures to come.  I love technology! All my people in one place!

After my baptism and lunch, I was pooped...literally and figuratively.  I spent the rest of the day relaxing with Mommy and Daddy on the porch enjoying the view. Here we are on the porch with a throwback picture from when they got engaged.

The next day, I went on my first picnic in Rocky Mountain National Park and Mommy and Daddy took me on my first hike around Sprague Lake.  Even though I had at this point only taken two steps by myself at the cabin I was in no way going to walk around the whole lake.  Oh wait, did you catch that? I WALKED.  Yes my first steps were taken in front of Mimi and Gammy Sheryl at Hitali when I was panicked because Mommy and Daddy walked out of the room...although if you ask Mommy and Daddy they will deny these were my first steps because they did not see them. Back to the point, here I am on my very first hike with the assistance of Mommy. Check me out.

I found these guys waiting for me at the finish line.  I love my Mimi and Pa!

 We celebrated my first hike at one of Mommy and Daddy's favorite restaurant, Poppy's.  Mimi and Pa are friends with the owner and he sent over a complimentary, yummy looking plate of onion rings but apparently onion rings aren't for babies so no one shared with me. RUDE. I enjoyed my meal of pizza scraps and crackers anyway.

Here I am at my first picnic in Upper Beaver Meadows. I was forced to dine in my stroller because picnic tables aren't made for babies, but I was ok about it.  After a yummy dinner with the Groesbecks and the Davis families at Sweet Basilico, it was time for us to say goodbye to Hitali and head over to Gigi and Papa G's house to spend some quality time with the Groesbeck side. Stay tuned. After my nap, I will tell you all about my crazy adventures with my cousin Evan and the rest of the Groesbeck clan.