little boy

Our little guy is such a hoot.

Since we finished planting the trees last weekend we have enjoy the last few evenings out on the patio for dinner and drinks this week.

Call us crazy but it doesn't get any better then watching our little boy run around in the yard playing with the dog, getting VERY dirty and laughing all the way to the bath tub.

You can't tell in these pictures but our boy is cutting four molars right now. No fussing here, just a slight runny nose and lots of energy.

We love you buddy.

 Life is good!

backyard project

Before .......After

We are 80% done with our backyard project that we started on this weekend. With ANY home project the estimated time to complete the project is much less then the ACTUAL amount of time. Ugh! Either way as Rog would say, this is what makes a house a home.

Ben and I both knew the direction we wanted to go for phase two of the backyard, but I left it up to him to gather supplies, material and all boy work that I am not interested in. My job was to wrangle the little rascal and keep him happy all weekend. We were lucky to have grandma come over and help on Saturday while the big machinery was in the yard. Rumor has it that there was a fun bath, lots of playing, laughing and cuddling happening inside.

Good morning Sunday, playing in the dirt ALL DAY LONG

Mean while back out in the yard we had a skid steer rock'n'roll'n by none other then daddy. Grandpa and uncle Bill were hard at work digging holes, pulling trees, chaining things and giving daddy lots of help.

 

We worked from sun up to dinner time on Saturday and by the end we were dragging. Of course today came and we were up bright and early to keep hammering along; shoveling dirt, rock and clean up. We were lucky that Bridger took a nice long two hour nap which allowed Ben and I to lay the batting so no weeds could get up, shovel all the per ma bark/rock into the beds start the clean up process. Just as luck would have as soon as we took a five minute break the baby was up.

Bridger helped in the yard before he took his nap and couldn't wait to get back outside and help mom spray off the patio with the hose. I think in total we changed at least 5 times between the three of us. Of course Bridger had several outfit changes through out the day. At one point we gave up and just let him run around in his baby bogs and diaper while we finished. HE LOVED PLAYING IN TH DIRT!!! such a boy.

This weekend was VERY successful. In total we planted 5 new trees, moved 3 trees, replanted 2 of those, hauled 3 cubic yards of rock into the beds, dumped 4 cubic yards of dirt, moved a 1,000 pound decorative rock to the back yard using the loader and we all still managed to smile at the end.

 

The backyard is taking on a new identity and we are proud to say we worked hard.

Until next weekend....

Trees, baths and spring cleaning

This weekend is one of those weekends were I feel like it was more like a three day weekend versus a two day one because we got so much stuff done on the never ending to-do list.

We went to the tree auction on Saturday and scored two beautiful big trees to put in the back corner of our yard.

The boys digging holes!

Yay for that, but little did we realize that they no longer offer delivery and planting services like they did two years ago when we bought 4 trees. Awww!!! Plan B .... Ben called guncle Eric to help with the situation. Thank god for good friends! The boys were able to get the trailer and tree hauler and unload the trees today in the back yard.

Taking a break, whooo that is heavy!!!

Next weekend is the dirt, rock and completion of the backyard landscape as long as the weather hold off. This backyard has been quite the never ending project so I will be glad when it is FINISHED.

Bridger loves his bath time and he has now moved into his own bathroom and taken over. From toys to towels the boy is nuts for baths. He has figured out how to get into the tub (head first) and how to get out of the tub, by swing his legs over. Watch out because when he wants a bath he will be the first to let you know.

Is there anything better then having the house spotless and clean on a Sunday before you gear up for a new week. NO! Because in my opinion it allows my family to recenter ourselves for the upcoming week and not worry about other distractions. I love the feeling and this feeling was much more frequent in my non baby days then it is now, so today I am grateful to have a little bit of that feeling back and I have vowed to try and keep it up throughout the week so I don't have so much to do on the weekends. We will see how that goes :)

Let's see I think our summer count down is 34 days.... cheers to that! Which means that testing for my little first graders are coming up soon too. They are going to rock, I just know it!

What do you mean mama, I'm not making a mess!

sounds

This week we have been BUSY. So BUSY. Between our normal schedule, our not so normal schedule, commitments that we have made  it has left left little time to sit and listen to all the sounds around me.

So as I am typing this and trying to figure out a fitting title to the blog post I am grinning from ear to ear listening to my boys playing in the living room. When I say playing I mean, daddy doing leg lifts while Bridger is sitting on top of his belly laughing hysterically. Now they have moved on to nursery rhythms and the treasure box. O how I relish in these little moments because often times I take these moments for granted and they pass by so quickly.

What's the count down till summer.... I believe 36 days. But who's counting? :)

The director of Bridger's daycare was helping out in his room yesterday and I had to stay late at school (the latest I ever picked Bridger up) and after feeling more guilty then ever I hustled over and ran inside to see my boy only to discover that he was in the big gym playing bball with the other kids and having a ball! So glad. Anyways on our way out the door Albree the director stopped us and chatted for awhile, as we were getting ready to leave, Bridger started waving bye and saying Al...bee, Al....Bee and pointing to her. I found out that Albree and Ms.Shelby had been working with him on saying the teachers names. Looks like he has mastered that skill! Cute or does that mean I was gone for too long day. Either way I am SO VERY grateful for the fantastic girls that take care of Bridger.

Puppy love

We have some serious puppy love happening here.

Bridger and Gabby are best pals and today was the start of what I have always imagined life would be like with a toddler (o I am NOT ready to say that yet) and our dog.

Now that Bridger is walking and able to get around fast, he can catch Gabby while she is laying down and climb all over her. So sweet.

Gabby is a trooper. She puts up with it for the most part, of course there were a few times where she got up quickly and Bridger got bucked off, but our boy is tough and as we laughed he followed suit.

Today started off pretty gloomy and rainy.

We planned to go down to the market but since the weather wasn't too good we decided to stay put and have a cooking and pajama party.

The stove was on, the aromas were spreading throughout the house and the boys played all morning.

It was great.

13 months old

Our boy turned 13 months yesterday.

No way am I sitting down!

Who is Bridger at 13 months:

- he is strong willed (that's for sure)
- he is a walker and walks with his hands up as if to tell us it is a touch down. So cute
- he can identify and use the correct words for mama, dada, gabby bby, and his own name when asked bridger, bridger
-He loves to use his pointer finger to touch different things that he sees and of course I try to combine some auditory learning anytime I get a chance.
- He loves having us read books out loud to him, he isn't quite ready to sit through any book that is too long though
-he is cutting 6 teeth right now, two molars (yikes!) and two on top and two on bottom
- we are working on the transition of bottles to sippy cup. I am not pushing to hard since I am working right now, soon 40 days I will be home all summer and will then work on weaning.
- favorite toy right now is mom or dad's computer or cell phone otherwise it is his slide. He loves to stand on it and crawl back and forth from the couch to the slide top.
- he knows how to get off the couch/chairs in the living room all by himself thanks to Olivia showing him last week!
- I am pretty sure we have hit the 25 pound mark according to my scale. It seems like just in the last week he is starting to really blossom into a toddler.

Today while I was driving to work and reflecting on this time last year I could remember making a to-do list of things that I needed to take to Bridger's daycare and wondering how I would remember everything and stressing about what time I would need to get up and out the door to make it to work on time. O how time flies and how things just naturally work it's way out. Life.

Today we are thinking and planning our summer activities: swimming, zoo, soccer tots in late summer, wings center, library, camping, fishing, bike riding, play dates. let's just say that we are excited and have even been wearing shorts the last three days! We are ready.