Happy Father's Day!

In celebration of Daddy's sabbatical, Reagan and I have decided to get up every morning between 5:30 and 6:00. Here we are getting geared up for the day.  I like to be the first to say "Good Morning, Sunshine" to her. And, most days, she loves it.

 Speaking of other things she loves. We have a new game where we push each other around on the walker. The arms raised are the giveaway--she loves it, except for when I pick up the pace and lose her around a turn. Then, not so much.

She also likes to snuggle with me during "rest" time...Mommy and Daddy have become realistic and stopped referring to it as "nap" time.

 We take walks together in the wagon. I usually snitch on her when she launches her hat or wub-a-nub overboard but a couple of times she has tricked me and we have had to retrace our steps to retrieve things. It can make for some long walks...Leland loves it.

As you can tell, Reagan is giving Mommy and Daddy a run for it. She is always moving, sticking things in her mouth and making messes.  Mommy found her covered from head to toe in Vaseline last week when she found the big tub of it on the Pack and Play.  That night, she ate one of my beloved books at bedtime when we were busy reading something else.  She is constantly trying to "read" parenting magazines on the nightstands and by read, I also mean eat.  She is busy.  ALWAYS busy.

 And this busy girl turned 11 months last week.  If you look at her thigh, you just might see a fat roll forming.  Alright, maybe that's wishful thinking.  Even though she's only 16 pounds and still has feeding therapy and now needs to see a nutritionist, she is as happy as can be.  Here's some other things we know about her:  Her laugh sounds like a pterodactyl.  She hates dresses. She loves music. She is fascinated by dolls and trucks.  She sleeps like a dream.  She hates surprises. She has 6 teeth. She loves splashing water.  She gives the best hugs.

 This past weekend was Father's Day and what better way to celebrate than by making Dad do some manual labor? We had a fun little trip to Suburban to pick out plants. Did I mention how much I love shopping there??? They have awesome carts for kids. I like to race the aisles with it.  When we got home, Daddy used his Daddy muscles to plant the first pieces to our backyard landscape. I, of course, "helped."

For all you who worried that Daddy worked too hard Father's Day weekend, fear not.  We played too. Here I am sitting in my office chair testing out the new Xbox we got him for Father's Day.  Oh, yes, that is a diaper. I'm still "working" on the potty training thing.

Happy belated Father's Day to all my favorite daddies in the world...Pa, Papa G...most of all to mine! Love you to the moon!  Thanks for all you do for us!  XOXO

Rocky Mountain High

We just got back from Estes Park for Reagan's baptism and it was pretty much the best trip ever.  I got to see almost all of my favorites--Mimi, Pa, Gigi, Papa G, Auntie Kelly and Uncle Andy, Cooper, Claire, Grayson and Gammy Sheryl. I made new friends with Mommy's cousin's wife Cindy and her two kids, "Big" Griffin and Abby. We had the BEST time.

The 10 hours of driving went much better than anticipated.  I only asked to get out of my seat a few dozen times and talked excitedly the entire way about every farm animal I saw. Newsflash--there are A LOT of farm animals along I70 so I didn't sleep until Denver. The video captures how most of the ride went.

 Our first hiking stop was always the first stop Mommy and her family made when she was growing up...Sprague Lake. Here are all of us with Mimi...you will notice I get a little territorial of my Mimi when other cousins are around so I will be sitting on or next to her in the majority of pictures.  Have to stake my territory! Oh and excuse Reagan's face...she didn't get the memo that we weren't scowling for the picture.

 Reagan and Abby had a mutual infatuation with each other.  Reagan even let Abby hold her! She's usually a little skittish around other kids because of me so this was fairly historic.  Here they are snuggling after dinner.

We spent a lot of time at Hitali, the cabin where I was baptized, Mommy and Daddy got engaged and Mimi's family has gone for 40+ years.  We have a lot of memories there, now including Reagan's baptism.

Reagan's baptism by Reverend Huth was wonderful. Our family was joined by our dear family friends Ginger and Reverend Bill and his wife Sara.

I tried to steal some of the holy water during the ceremony but no one skipped a beat.

Reagan was the belle of the ball even when she stuck her foot in the baptism cake.

All of the attention may have gone to her head.  Reagan mastered the princess wave and continued to do it the entire trip.

Mimi had the sense and forethought to put together restaurant bags for all of us kids full of all of our favorite things.  I received what I have now deemed the best gift of all...Thomas the Train book and set.  It provided hours of entertainment. Sidenote: I kept calling one of the trains "Craphill" and it wasn't until Mommy did a little Thomas research that she realized I meant "Clarabelle", Thomas' coach car.

We managed to FINALLY get professional pictures done of the family.  Reverend Huth's daughter, Kim, is a fantastic photographer. Here we are waiting for our turn.  Reagan's outfit is courtesy of Auntie Darcy.  She may have two boys but she knows great style for girls!

I got lots of good cousin time. Here we are post-picnic discussing the views of the park and where to sweep next with our pine branches.

We got in a good "hike" around Lily Lake with Gigi and Papa G.

I say "hike" because this is what it looked like the majority of the way.

I saw some animals. I rode a bear. Like I said, best trip EVER.

 I was sad to go at the end of the trip but I know it's not goodbye. I'll be back.

L-O-V-E

 May was all about L-O-V-E for me. I got to spend time with Gigi and Papa G when they came to visit. I loved baking cookies with my Gigi.  Here she is teaching me the art of making a nice, rounded chocolate chip cookie. I could care less about the shape, I was more interested in eating the finished product.

Here I am after sneaking a cookie. I couldn't help myself. They were so good...chocolate chips AND M&M's...it's like heaven in my mouth.

 Evan and Ryan came to town so Auntie Darcy and Uncle Scott could find a place to live.  We got along like two peas in a pod. Here we are eating our respective cupcakes for Papa G's birthday. Try not to judge my parents for all the sweets I eat, I love them and am obviously my mother's child.

This was the first time we met Ryan and Reagan and I were immediately infatuated. I love babies and Reagan felt some camaraderie with him after seeing me in his face all day.  Here they are comparing notes on my harassment of them.

This was the first time all of us Groesbeck grandchildren tried to get together for a picture.  As you can tell things escalated quickly...

Lesson learned: getting three infants and two toddlers for a picture is not the easiest task.

 We had a breakfast date with Mimi for her birthday, which is the same day as Papa G's. I, of course, ordered the pancakes and yes those are chocolate chips in my huge pancake...I told you I love sweets.

 I've been pretty into planting things this spring. I was lucky enough to catch EPIC planting trees in our front yard. It blew my mind seeing the forklift. Here Papa G and I are supervising.

 I even managed to help plant some pots for the front of the house. Gigi and Papa G forgot to tell me to use my hands and not my face for the planting. I loved it, obviously.

Reagan is learning all sorts of new tricks and keeping us all on our toes. She has figured out how to walk while holding on to things and has even shown her problem solving skills by utilizing household objects to get her places: exhibit A.

 Reagan turned 10 months old and is changing every day. Her hair is growing. She is gnawing at everything in site as she cuts four teeth at once.  She's almost 16 pounds and finally busted out of the 6-month clothes. She cries every time Mom and Dad step out of view.  She loves playing with my trucks and cars. I'm a bit biased, but I think she's awesome.

And lastly, a confession.  I may be young, but I am in love. I tell everyone I meet that I love Allison.  She is older and wiser. She accepts me for me when I rip all my clothes off and run around like a mad man in my diaper.  She puts up with my tantrums and lack of sharing and loves to pick me up...literally. Mom and Dad don't know why she likes me when I act like a maniac but I am smitten.  Just look at my face.