Hi Doog,

Its been a long time since I've updated! Mom has been a tad busy. You've grown leaps and bounds, almost so fast I can't keep up. Just yesterday we were driving to Grandma and Poppi's and I had Jack Johnson playing in the stereo and you said clear as day, "Momma? I like this song!" It was great.

We are back to naps because I didn't last long with you having no nap. We have a routine that we do and after lunch you and I go lay down and sing songs in my bed. You will shortly drift off to sleep, begrudgingly, and sleep for at least an hour or two, giving Bubba and I some time to do our thing. It's good you are taking naps because lately you have been getting up at 6:45, walking in bright eyed and saying "Hi!". If you crawl up into daddy's warm cozy spot you usually will fall back asleep for another hour.

Maysen can do no wrong in your eyes and as you can see in the photo above, whatever it is he is doing, you wish to be just like him. Right now it seems to be the backtalking, getting into things. I think it's Maysen that has taught you to find out where I am before you get into trouble. The other day Daddy caught you in our bathroom saying "Mommmmmma? Where are you!?" when I didn't answer or come walking in there, you started getting in the cabinets and make up. The newest "oh great" moment was just the other day. You asked Daddy to watch a show in the playroom and when he turned it on, out the garage you went - broom stick in had to use the handle to open the garage door. I found you riding your trike down 1st street.

We are almost done building our house and I can't wait to make new memories watching you grow there ...

Mr No Nap

So, when I get to the point I'm fighting you for 2hrs to nap, it's time to NOT nap. And that's where we're at. It's an adjustment but if you finally DO nap, you're up until 10:00pm and that is not an option for mommy and daddy time! So, by about 4:00pm you're absolutely exhausted but you catch a second wind from somewhere and make it until about 7:30. Total Catch 22. Nap and stay up until 10:00 and I'm frustrated and TIRED ... or push through until bedtime. And that seems to be winning right now.

But you're not so happy ... Love you.

First Broken Bone

Last night you broke your right collar bone. We were at the model house showing Papa and Grandma Sherrill the house and you and Bubba were upstairs and BOOM. You and Bubba ran into each other with Bubba landing on top of you. After your nap yesterday you woke up intolerant to using your right arm. We saw Dr Kordesch this morning and sure enough! You had xrays and it’s broken. Poor baby. Luckily your bones are growing so fast it’ll fuse within the next few weeks and “all” I have to do is try and keep you from being too rough with it. Should be easy … right? Right!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Roo.

The last few months have been a wild ride. Over the last few months, you have turned 2 and had your second Christmas. But when it was here, it was a great time. On 12/24/09 while daddy worked until noon we all 3 stayed in our “cozies” and made Christmas cookies for Santa. You liked eating most of the frosting.

After having Christmas at Poppi and Grandma’s we went home and you helped Bubba get the Christmas cookies out for Santa. You slept really good that night and by the time to open presents at our house, you didn’t want to! That’s OK because I told dad, “We can just open the rest for his party on Sunday.” Then I realized that I hadn’t set any gifts aside for your birthday, so it all turned out good!!

You turned 2 on 12/27 and we held your party the same day! Mary, my hairdresser, was to come at 3:30 and cut your hair for the party. 4:00pm came and she still wasn’t there so we moved ahead and Grandma Bobbi did the honors and cut your hair. She used to be a hairdresser years ago, so she knew what she was doing. MAN, how you changed with that one haircut!!

 The next day we headed out for our Winter Wonderland vacation. Daddy took the week off and we rented “the mountain house” and left for 4 days. Before we left town, we did stop off at where Bubba gets his hair cut and Cindy cut it “right” for you.

 You loved Eagle Crest and the 2nd day we were there, we got snow! You played with Bubba in it and had a ball. Last winter you went out but had no gloves and you HATED that. This year you had snow and all the stuff to keep you warm and you loved it.

Dad, Bubba, and you built a snowman but you were scared to touch it or even pose for a picture with it. No thank you! We played games and played toys, watched movies, and snacked and you had a lot of fun. One of the best parts for you, I think, was going swimming at the indoor pool. We put arm floaties on you and just kicked and flapped your arms, stuck your head under water and blew bubbles. Natural swimmer!!

 You jibber all the time and are starting to make sense now! Instead of “ooce” for drink, you say “ink” now. You can repeat just about any word that we say. “Why?” is a frequent question around here followed by 4 million “Momma, mmmmmmmommmmm”. You are my constant shadow these days. Naps are fading I fear. It’s a struggle every day, and you will go probably 2 days a week with no nap. Bubba can do no wrong in your eyes! You constantly have the “Monkey See, Monkey Do” thing going on, despite the injuries it might bring.

I can’t believe you’re TWO already and it’s been so fun to watch you grow. Can’t wait for many many more. We love you, Roo/Doog/Doogles/Rooble.

23 months, Crib Freedom!

The most recent happenings around here is that you have now graduated to not being in a crib! Last weekend (11-7-09) we took the front off your crib. You didn't like it one bit! I think it was the losing-the-security-wall feeling behind. You cried and didn't want left. You'd get out of your crib and get books, try to take your PJs off. Finally since we have a video monitor I just laid you down, turned it on and sat outside your room. When you'd get out of your bed, I'd go right in and when I'd leave I could see you on the monitor looking around like "What in the world?!...." But that was a week ago and you're sleeping like a champ now. We have to sing songs (I lay my head down) and you always con me into one more (holding your little number 1 finger up). Naps are only going to happen when Bubba's home. You won't nap if he's not around. So your naps now are from about 2:30 - 4:00.

This was your 2nd Halloween. Last year you were a dragon, but you didn't understand what was going on. This year you totally got it.

We put the suit on and you weren't happy about that. But we went to Soren and Lindsey's first and by the 3rd house you were right up there saying "Tank Too" and falling off their top step because you couldn't turn your suit around quick enough. You, just like your brother when he was 3, were the talk of the neighborhood.

Today Bubba had his 5th birthday party and I can't believe that next month you will be having yours because you are TWO! You loved watching all the kids and playing around. Wendy brought you a present too along with Maysens. A pack of 3 trucks, which Maysen HAD to have, so he gave you some of his others, which you were just as happy with. However, I learned today that you wrote all over the playroom's walls earlier with marker. Dad had to replaint part of that wall. Way to go, slick.

You are really starting to open up with words. You say: (the new ones) Oh man, up, down, yuice (= drink), Scooby Doo Be Doo, *shoulder shrug*, Bubba this and Bubba that, Dots, Daiey. Cute things you do now is squint your eyes up in a smile and say "NOooooooo" (like, "no, silly .. "), shrug your shoulders if you say something like "Where's Dots?". Also, you want to pee so bad on the toilet. But, everything is "poop". So you will grab your diaper and say "poop" and that means you want to sit on the toilet. You wish so bad you'll pee, but not yet! So we just keep trying ....

I think that's it for now! I love you, Roooby-Doo.

21 months

Baby Roo,

Life has gotten crazy lately so I am sorry there is no new pictures of you up lately except this one of you standing with Bubba on his first day of school. You love him so much and want to do everything he is doing right now.

You are growing so fast it's amazing. Your words have sprouted like weeds! You mimic just about anything we say such as, "All Done, Daddy, Bath, Bubbles, Dog, Cat (Meow), Bubba, Num-Num, Ossssh (outside), Show, Shoes, Juice, Momma (you pat your cheek), bye-bye, TOP (stop), OUCH, Nannas (banana), Owie (for everything you want attention to), Ball" and others but those are the main ones.

You went swimming while we took a family trip to Eagle Crest and you love it. We put the arm floaties on and you went around like you owned the place.

You love chocolate milk and bananas are a new favorite, but to be honest you'll eat just about anything. Naps are becoming shorter. You get up around 8:00am but won't nap until 1:00pm. Now that Bubba goes to school from 11: 30 - 2:15 you don't get much of a nap. NOOO! I'm not ready for no naps. We both need them.

You are Mr Attitude lately. When you don't want to come in you'll squeel at the top of your lungs, grab my shirt or try to pinch my cheek. That doesn't go very far because you get in trouble, but you try! You'll fall to the ground like you can't walk if we're coming inside and you dont want to. You also try and escape out the front screen door.

We are moving out of this house ... the house you were brought home from the hospital (twice) in. I'm sad that we are leaving those memories behind but I know that this is for the better of our lives. We are getting a bigger house and have hopes of building a house where you and Bubba can play and have more room to grow.

I love you, Little Roo.

19months

My mister Fin,

This last week Daddy and Maysen went hiking with Papa, Josh, and Jonas. You and I stayed home together and had a great time! The second the boys were out of the house, you clung to me like "Who's going to run and chase me now!?" You also soon realized that you didn't have to compete with your brother to speak so you started talking on your own! You spit out "uh oh, oopsie, woops, ouchie, wet, down, up, and more (while signing it)".

You had your 18mo check and all was well there. Nothing to add but you're doing great! Your stats were:
height: 32" (45%)
weight: 25.5lb (50%)

You continue to be Mr Independent. If you want to eat and I try to feed you, you won't eat. YOU have to be holding the spoon, thank you very much. And if something goes down you don't like, you throw a tantrum. They range from throwing yourself on the ground, to trying to hit us or Maysen, to running full speed into my leg or the couch for effect. Its rather comical.

You are very sensitive and become rather shy quickly. If you get put on the spot, you will put your finger in your mouth and tuck your head.

You love to be outside and will take any opportunity to sneak outside. Almost Hudini.

We stopped giving you the bottle at bed/nap. You seem to do OK with it but haven't been doing naps for Amanda when she is babysitting. You are offered a sippy cup at night but really don't use it (I'd rather you not ..) so that habit is broken! What a big boy ...

More to come, my growing boy ...