Family Zoo Trip

It really is time that we start taking advantage of this beautiful weather and going to the zoo more often.  For the past few months or so Micah has actually been taking a notice to the animals.  We know this because he gazes adoringly at them and giggles!  Today we had the opportunity to enjoy one of daddy's days off and headed to our zoo. 

Here is a picture of Micah and Daddy checking out the monkeys!

And of course blowing raspberries at the jaguars...

Here they are:

We had so much fun.  We had the opportunity to see 3 lion cubs playing with their mommy.  It was adorable.  They got so close to the glass and Micah thought it was the funniest thing.

We're so lucky to have gotten 3 new baby cubs!  We talked with a zoo keeper and he said they are slowing introducing the cubs to the daddy.  They have been with him only 7 minutes at a time so far.  I guess dad is stronger than he knows.  Soon enough they'll be all together as a family. 

I had a hard time getting Micah to pose with me...

He will of course pose with dad no problem

We had such a great time together at the zoo, we headed home to play. Micah is getting much stronger nowadays and is tolerating standing more and more.  We still use his knee imobilizers because he doesn't like to lock his knees.  A lot of the standing toys are meant for younger children and Micah is usually way to tall for them.  I got an idea today to put some bed post elevators on one of his standing toys and it raised it a few inches and made it much more comfortable.  He still doesn't love it, but it's better than not doing it.

Thanks for reading!  Glad to share some new fun things with you all!

Fall discoveries

It was finally chilly this morning.  Well chilly is 61 for Arizona now.  I took Micah for a walk this morning and enjoyed snapping a few shots of him at the park adjacent to our house.  You can just say, he's not camera shy!

Like this pose mom?

This slide looks fun!

Aw, mom, I know I'm handsome!

(Love the little head tilts!)

Lord help me! This boy is such a ham! I swear, every time I point my camera at him he's ready.  Makes it easy to take some really good shots though.  He had fun sliding down the slide with my help too! 

My little guy is such a trooper. All the pictures of him at the park were taken this morning, and we found out that he has a double ear infection. A fever tipped me off, but look how happy he is still!

This next shot is a pic from when we went to the pumpkin farm with my MOPS group. There was only a handful of families there, but we had a really great time.  Nonetheless, it was 100 degrees out, which definitely doesn't feel like fall weather.

He really wasn't quite sure how he felt about sitting on prickly hay, and really showed no interest in the pumpkins.  But we had a good time as a family and enjoyed our morning out.  Can't believe he'll be 20 months in 3 days...where does the time go!?

Fall is almost here!

Micah and I are enjoying the new cool weather that's been around this last week.  We're pulling out new fall clothes and Micah is looking pretty spiffy! 

Here he is looking oh so handsome with a new sit and stand toy we got second hand! 

Some of the fun new things Micah is doing we we ask him to...

"Micah, where's your...belly..." "Where's your toeties...where's your feet?"
"What does a lion say?"

He only wanted to cooperate with the lion question :)

I've posted a video of this on FB before, but this is a picture of Micah "Praising the Lord"...I can't remember how it ever started, but he caught on quick and when we say Micah praise the Lord, he does this...

One thing that Micah thinks is particularly halarious...I was trying to teach him where his head was and he grabbed a toy and hit his head with it.  Not thinking, I said "bonk!" And now when we say "bonk" he hits his head :)....oh, boys will be boys!



September Happenings

Just a few updates and pictures on Micah and us all...

We have been keeping busy with lots of errands, playdates and therapy appointments. Micah is growing all the time it seems! Here is a picture of our little guy trying to pull up on the couch. He just needs to figure out how to lock his knees and get more comfortable upright...

He still commando's all over our living room and is trying to get those knees up...but no luck yet. Here's little man in the tub playing. He's enjoying picking up cups of bath water and drinking it. It's definitely got to be under close supervision...he'll just keep drinking and then he may just get sick...

He loves playing with his toys! Here's a favorite...his play table!

Naptimes are difficult nowadays. He enjoys napping with mommy, but not on the bed...in his rocker! :(

Kisses for momma...

Lastly, here's one of Micah's most enjoyable activities yet... (terrorizing the dog) oh, I mean playing with the dog! :)

Vacation, First hair cut and MORE!

Last weekend we enjoyed a great weekend as a family up in Overgaard, AZ. We rented a cabin for 3 days and spent the weekend with Matt's parents. There was not a lot to do where we were at all. We were told that there was no where to buy fresh produce or meat, so we packed a lot! When we got there we found there was no Fry's or Dominicks...BUT there was a Family Dollar and Dollar General. I have never been to a dollar store like those! Apparently in small towns they are more like full fledged get everything you needs stores. I went into the store with my M.I.L and then called Matt in the store because I was so shocked. There is everything you could possibly need. Albiet, no grapes or salad...but eggs, ground beef, clothes, laundry detergent...anything!

Our cabin was nice and it had an amazing view on the back deck. It was a nice retreat for our family. We enjoyed a great hike on our Saturday. I had 1 particularly great morning alone during one of Micah's morning naps. I sat out with my coffee and listen to some music while reading...bliss <3 Hike on Saturday

After that weeekend together we headed back home to Tucson. We drove a better route back with more stops. Micah enjoyed his first stop at...(almost ashamed to say) McDonalds. He had his organic food while we ate unhealthy oatmeal with cream and a egg sandwhich. We did give him a few bites of our egg and oatmeal, which he loved. I never envisioned myself giving him a french fry till he asked for it...but what can I say, he loves them!

After stopping for lunch we saw a cute barber show next to our lunch place and Matt decided to get a haircut. We liked the place and decided to get Micah's first cut here as well. I made sure to keep the curls and he actually didn't touch the back, only the sides and top. Here are a few pics from his cut!

Thankfully so easily distracted during his cut...

Haircut Certificate

He now has bangs...:)

So big now! 1.5yrs!

Commando Crawling

Excited to share that Micah is now commando crawling. He has been for the last week and a half and we couldn't be more excited about it. It started by Matt pushing Micah's feet from his bedroom to the living room. Micah would pull with his hands but couldn't move any distance with out a hand pushing him along. All of a sudden, 15 minutes later he does a pull by himself! Then we get him to do about 4 pulls! Now he's all over the place! Playing with the dog, pulling at my blinds and soon enough all over the house I'm sure.


God is so good. This was a complete and definite answer to prayer. For those of you that have prayed for our son, we thank you. This is nothing that just physical therapy could have done. This is God for sure!

We look forward to a long weekend with Daddy off and are eager to share our adventures with you when we return!

Lots of love,
Crystal

Motherhood

Could being a mother ever be more grand? I spend my days with my delightful son and can't imagine it any other way. I hear him wake up in the morning and see his happy smiles when I get him up. I snuggle him close in his rocking chair and feed him breakfast. I change him out of his pjs and put on a fresh diaper. We play and giggle and toss balls to one another. Our day takes off...full of adventures games and mountains to be climbed.

It truly is completely and utterly indescribable. Being a mom is the greatest gift in the world. It cannot be fully appreciated or understood until it happens to you. My darling boy is 16 months old and grows stronger and more handsome each day. He is such a joy and a blessing.

A favorite thing of mine about being a mom, is watching my husband with my son. Sweetness. He loves that boy so much and is such a good good daddy. Micah's face lights up when he sees him. He squeals and laughs and grabs for him. I know if he could get to him he crawl right over and tackle him. It is a precious relationship that I feel so priviledged to witness.

Many people have aspirations of what they want to be when they grow up. My dreams were to be a neonatologist...a nurse...a missionary and a teacher. But my very first dream...was to be a mom. Gods most precious gift. Sometimes I just sit and think, He gave me him! This little baby boy to treasure and keep safe and teach him about my Savior. Thank you God for entrusting this precious gift to me. I know that he is not mine. He is Gods.