our friday.

he's a climber!

Colton has been into climbing things.
He wants to stand on his little car and then step onto the couch or recliner.
He wants to stand on his bouncing turtle and just stand straight up.
He wants to climb over the back of the couch.
He tries to climb onto our king sized bed. He can slide off all by himself and land on his feet.
He climbs onto the rocking chair in his room and sits to read himself books.
He climbs onto the storage boxes in his closet to play.
Today he climbed up into his highchair without help.

We are constantly looking at each other and saying "He's such a little boy!!" as he climbs, throws, tackles, and makes a giant mess.

It's the most fun ever!!

Look who can climb up into his highchair all by himself!!

peering around me to see what Daddy is doing in the kitchen.

sliding down...only to turn around and climb back up all over again.

warning: nakey 17 month old.

Colton,
When you read this as a young man...well, please forgive me but I just had to share--you are too cute not to!! Your Dad wants to use the pictures as a bargaining device when you want to date. I'm okay with that.
We love you sweet cheeks!!
:) Mommy.



Thursday.
This is how he fell asleep.
He was playing for a bit before nap...I didn't think anything of it since this isn't uncommon.
I went in to cover him up and this is what I found.
He had pulled off his diaper and was sleeping sweetly.
and yes, honey...it happened on my watch. :)

Friday.
Our own backyard...why use the expensive water diapers??
He's figured out how to spray the hose with one hand and spray his hand with the other.
Quite talented I say.

Friday.
Rockin the nakey with sandals.

My favorite pic is the left.
Cutest buns ever!!

our stay-cation.

@ 17 months.

It's crazy to answer "He's 17 months" when asked how old Colton is. 18 months in August. 1 and 1/2 years old. Wowee. What fun we've had...and oh how he grows and changes daily!

Colton's stats are :     28 pounds & 32 inches!!

Wes had 3 days off in a row!! We had a lovely stay-cation.

Sunday = church, lunch at Jason's Deli, I ran errands during Colton's nap & Wes trimmed the front yard, Wes played softball, we used our birthday gift cards from Kelsey & Peter for Cold Stone ice cream while watching a movie.

Monday = Lowe's trip & Wes put in misters on our back patio. It truly drops the temperature a noticeable amount! After Colton's nap we went to Chris & Steph's for a swim and bbq ribs.

Tuesday = Yoga & dentist for me--backyard playing for Colton and Wes. Maryann & Scott just moved back to Vegas so we had them over for lunch. Bible study for both of us.

It was busy..but so wonderful to have 3 days at home--just us--before we go to Washington for our annual summer trip.

Colton came out to greet me after I returned from running errands. He found this broom and got right to work! I didn't have the heart to tell him it was upside down.

eating a nectarine! right down to the pit.
when the fridge is open, Colton will dig around in the veggie/fruit drawer.
he'll pull out an apple, baby carrot, or nectarine and start munching.
he also opens up the drawer where we keep cheese sticks, grabs one, and holds it up it us to open.

Colton and Jaylyn had a play date on Saturday.
We went to the park. They ran in circles around Dianna's house. Then they ate fruit at this little table.
In order for us Mommys to eat...we put on the movie Cars. Colton sat for about 10 minutes. That was it. He was up and running again. And my meal was half finished. :)

Coolest food ever!! = WHIPS yogurt by Yoplait.
Colton loves yogurt. However, it goes everywhere when he eats it. And it makes the stickiest mess as it covers his shirt & hair, the highchair cover & straps, and the floor.
So...I found this at the store last week. Since it is whipped, the consistency isn't as runny so it stays on the spoon.
It is amazing and worth the few cents more.

Bugaboo in the backseat.
Top 2 = full of songs as we drive! He has started to point out semi trucks, delivery trucks, and tractors as we drive. He has several books that picture trucks and he is really into them!
Bottom right 2 = new sunglasses! He barely wears them. They really have become a new toy. :)



Colton and Daddy played in the backyard...enjoying the misters, the water hose (Colton can spray it now!! Watch out!!), and picking flowers.

What a great Daddy!
see Colton's fingers? Yes, they are in scratch position. He is quite the feisty one. And yet Wes still has a smile....even though his son is about to attack.

We took turns wheeling Colton around in the office chair. He thought that was rad!
Oh the things you find to do indoors when the mid-afternoon heat is so incredibly high!!

summer love.

big boy Colton @ 16 months.

1st day of swim class!
this picture makes me tear up.
he looks like such a big boy!

holding hands is hard for independent Colton.
but it makes for safety in a parking lot...and the cutest pictures!!

can't you just hear it....come on, mom! :)

happy boy!
just finished playing in the water at the splash park.
so fun! we'll be back for sure!!

Reunion Trails Splash Park in Henderson.
It is the coolest park!!

@ 17 months.

amy saw this sign on her vacay...love it!

he loves to spin! and spin. and spin. and spin!
see the arrow above his eyebrow? that'd be the corner of the table he smacked into from all his spinning. :( 

a quickly growing boy:  

gives a hi-five, followed by fist bump.

waves bye-bye to water in the bathtub and people who are leaving.

gives the sweetest kisses.

saying please & thank you with sign language.

dancing to the beat of the music.

we'll say, "where's Colton's belly?" and he'll pick up his shirt and point to his belly.

our very pale boy wears a lot of sunscreen. he loves to help and puts the sunscreen, one tiny spot of it at a time, on his belly.

where's Colton's belly??

knows his routines!

getting ready

when i put on lotion, Colton quickly comes and holds up his leg for his turn. don't forget our arms and our bellies!!

i ask, "want me to do your hair?" and he bends his head forward while i make it spiky and handsome.

when we brush our teeth, Colton will open the drawer with his tooth brush in it and then hand it to us so we can rinse it under the water.

meals

we'll say, "are you hungry?" he'll go to his highchair and wait to be picked up.

leaving the house

we'll say, "it's time to go! where are your shoes?" he'll go to the front door and pick up his shoes, walk over to us, and turn around to be picked up so his shoes can go on.

bedtime

we'll say, "it's time to brush your teeth" and if it's bedtime he'll go to the bathroom door near his bedroom and wait for us to come open the door to commence teeth brushing.

naptime

we rock and read 3 books, then ask, "are you ready to snuggle?" he turns around and his head finds its way to our shoulder. we turn on scout--20 minutes of lullabies, turn on the humidifier, sing Jesus Loves Colton, then pray. he gets comfy with his bum up in the air, raises his arm waiting for you to hand him bunny, which he tucks under his belly. then waits for you to hand him giraffe, which he tucks under his belly. and don't forget the item of the day tucked under his belly, too.

reading one of mommy's favorite authors.

loves:

playing with trucks while making a vrooom noise

reading books

somersaults & jumping on mommy & daddy's bed

closing doors (we open) he says DA! --his version of ta-da!

sliding the doors back and forth in his closet

sitting in daddy's sock drawer and playing

giving & getting raspberries on bellies.

 water! : swimming, splashing, water table, baby pool in backyard

bath time

elmo's world

drinking water with ice in it.

yoga baby.
colton mimics mommy's down dog pose.

favorite munchies:

strawberries

goldfish

string cheese

cheerios

bananas

pears

mommy's chicken burritos

mommy's southwest mac n cheese

baby carrots

banana carrot zucchini mini muffins

drinks:

whole milk bottle, three times a day.

water--must have ice in it! :)

mommy's green monster smoothie

green monster smoothies are yummy!!!

sleep:

wakes up between 6:30 and 7am

naps from 12 to 3pm

bedtime 7:30pm

*morning naps occur only if Colton wakes up earlier than 6:30am!

hello july!

why, hello july!
you certainly showed up quickly.

sunday.
play date.

my sweet friend, Dianna & her daughter, Jaylyn came over for the afternoon.
colton isn't quite sure what to do with this hug!
*update...a week later, he's hugging her right back when he saw her after church. adorable!
but, son...no dating for at least 20 years. :)  

monday.
laundry & cleaning & grocery shopping.
swim class @ 4:30pm
rita's italian ice--grand opening = free!

tuesday.
yoga @ 10am.
swim class @ 4:30pm
bible study @ 6:30pm

wednesday.
the fourth of july.
parade.
nap for colton=chick flick movies for mommy & the week of hope ladies (alli & jamie). what a treat to watch girly movies & munch air-popped popcorn!


boulder city parade.
it was cloudy and cool (at 85*). we even had rain!! then it warmed right up.
no fireworks for this little one...bedtime is 7:30pm. the view of fireworks from our backyard spanned the valley, including the strip. so cool!

thursday.

pool time with our friends.

dance party in the bathroom.

dinner out.

bathroom dance party.

 best back-seat driver ever!!
he's starting to point out big delivery trucks, boats, and semi-trucks when we drive.

the boys chilling out after pool time.
travis, colton, garrett.

friday.

morning. gloria & i cooked all day long.

evening. date night with my husband.

 


lucky us...a night out!
BW kicked his parents out so that he could have kristi & steve over for a DN.
steve asked wes the next day at work if colton was always so active. unless he's sleeping, YES!! :)

saturday.

morning. costco with week of hope ladies to stock up for the next week's camp.

afternoon. swimming & bbq with Wes' workout crew.

muffins by mom!

Colton has decided that fruit and carbs and cheese are his foods of choice for the past few months.

We try to give him meat, veggies, all the yummy food we eat and he doesn't want a thing to do with it.

Until 2 weeks ago.

I made these muffins...packed with veggies...and he devoured them.

He loved them so much that he carried one in his hand all day long as he played. Eventually he'd pop it in his mouth and then ask for a replacement for his empty hand. I had to cut him off at 4 muffins!

Since the muffins, Colton has enjoyed more veggies and more meat/protein than before. Yay!!

Just a phase of not liking foods...I know...but I am pretty sure all Mommys & Daddys worry about their son's diet.

uncertain 1st bite.

mini muffins are perfect Colton sized!

giving you his...yummy face!

see? even I like them!

I found this recipe on pintrest & followed some suggestions by comments posted (subbed the butter for applesauce & all white flour for white and wheat). I have made this recipe 3 times now (Wes suggested to cut back on the sugar after the first batch and I agree, just as good!) ...and have quickly learned to double this and then freeze. :)

Banana Zucchini Carrot Bread

1 extra large egg

3/4 cup sugar (recipe calls for 1 cup, but I cut it back & it's still good)

1/3 cup applesauce

1 dash salt

1 tsp vanilla

3 medium bananas, mashed 

1/2 cup grated carrots

1 cup grated zucchihi

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup white flour

1 cup wheat flour

1. Preheat oven to 350*.

2. Add bananas, applesauce, carrots, and zucchini. Mix well.

3. Add sugar, beaten egg, and vanilla.

4. Sprinkle in baking soda and salt and mix. Add flour. Mix well.

5. Pour into loaf pan, 2 muffin trays, or mini muffin tins. Makes 1 loaf, 12 muffins, or 35 mini muffins.

6. Bake loaf for 60-75 min, muffins for 20-30 min, or mini muffins for 14 minutes.

7. Let cool on a rack and enjoy!