30 Going on 13!

A date night with friends reminded me of the movie "13 going on 30" - except in reverse order.

A trip to the roller-skate rink on a Friday night will definitely bring you back to your younger days. I'm pretty sure we were the only ones over 14 skating. If only I had a camera, you could have seen for yourself...

• Gavin dancing to the Chicken Dance when they announced his bday, the big 3-0! we were trying to embarass him, but it didn't work. he loved every minute of it!
• Me biting the dust when this girl came out of nowhere & ran into me.
• Anthony 'trying' to be cool by skating backwards. While he was def better than me, but i'll tell you, that didn't take much.
  

So that was us. On other hand, Ruth and Gavin were showing off all sorts of tricks - like her skating underneath gavin's legs and gavin doing the "running man" dance move with skates.

As you can tell, the other couple we were with totally showed us up, but I think they planned it that way cuz it was their idea - well - Gavin's idea at first and then I guess Anthony agreed. But I promise he had never seen my on roller skates or he may have re-thought his decision.

But I actually new 3 of the kids there from church so I was feeling sorta cool - like I was in the "in-crowd". And one of them even offered to help me when I fell. So at least I have friends, right :) And for anyone else interested, next weekend is Michael Jackson Tribute Night!

Pathetic

After only a few short months of use, Anthony's x-box stopped working - just like that.

At first Microsoft thought they would fix it, but apparently it had been 'tampered' with so they sent it back a few weeks later.

These things have a 30%-50% failure rate so we weren't about to buy a new one. And the company he bought it from, out of business, so buh-bye warranty. $250 down the drain.

After a long evening of trying to resurect the machine -alongside a good friend who also happened to be an engineer and successfully fix his own - and taking apart every possible screw, still no luck.

But alas, Anthony found a way to make it work, it just requires a fan [stolen from tan-man's room] to be blowing on it every second. Pretty pathetic, huh!

Even better, it has an automatic shut-off. After a few hours of use, it still overheats and turns itself off.

But honestly, I'm actually kinda excited about it being fixed too. And it allows me the perfect time to do my own thing - like BLOG about Tanner or read book for book club...only 7 more days away - without feeling guilty.

OCD

Tanner has these two of the rolling push toys. One day I found pushing one and pulling the other - simultaneously. I thought it was just that once, but now he does it ALL THE TIME!

Do you think he's a little obsessed?

He also is obsessed with the broom. We have to keep it next to his high chair due to frequency of use, but Tanner equally tries to play with it.

And the kids vacuum.

Now my only question is why don't they make ones that actually work for the little kiddos to use. Seriously, they think this stuff is fun.

Surprise

Since we're remodeling our guest bathroom with the bathtub, we've been letting Tanners take showers with us in the morning.

Except when I let him take a shower, he decided to leave me a nice surprise. Yuck!

Even better, this is what he was found doing while I was cleaning it up...

The next morning, Ave spent the night and I asked her to watch the Tan-man while I showered. When I can back, Avery informed me they were having a picnic and the entire room was filled with every blanket and toy possible.

Then the next day, Tanner took a shower with his Daddio. I was still waking up and not thinking 100% so I dried him off with a towel and let him roam around. But then he paused and started making "the face" and I knew it was coming. The only problem was I was currently occupying the toilet and couldn't quite move fast enough...so Tanner left yet again another surprise.

Some days, you just can't win!

Playmates

Tanner has a new playmate.

It's his cousin Madison. Aunt Kristie has been taking over for Grandma and watching Tanner on a regular basis while I'm at work. These two have so much fun together...

Like chasing eachother around the house and playing tag

Tanner stirring up magical concunction for Madison to try

Going on playdates to the library, splash park, etc.

When Tanner was just a newborn, they looked a world of difference at 6 months apart. But Tanner is catching up quickly and tries to do everything she can do. Except Madison talks like crazy and can say all sorts of words. And well, Tanner is still limited to the basics - up, mom, da-da, ba-ba, april (yes - he says my name and it sounds like apple), . But they play so incredibly cute together.

Grandma still comes to visit too so he still gets his time with her. He especially loves giving out hugs and kisses, and always saves some for her too.

It's almost too good to be true!

And seriously, if you are ever looking for someone to help with your kiddos, Kristie is AMAZING!

New Set of Wheels - Part II

Now it was time for Tanner to be riding in style.






The helmet is still a little too big. What was the sales person thinking! It is adjustable...but after reading the label this helmet is meant for a 5-yr old.

But he was able to enjoy his cozy new bike trailer so he can now join Anthony and I for rides around the White Rock Lake. Now that the weather is cooling off, it's PERFECT!


Well, the helmet and being strapped in took a little getting use to, but once we started moving...

It was good times! Cheers to many more fun family bike rides!

And yes, I decided to splurge and go all out on the most expensive one. But it's the only one that includes shocks to absorb the bumpy ride and an infact sling/support system for younger riders.

Even better, it easily converts to double stroller.

And the best part is Deloitte covers 50% of the bill related to all health/fitness items, and even this qualifies. Sweat!

New Set of Wheels

So after some "convincing" by my hubbie.


A government incentive program offering $4500 trade-in for our 1994 Jeep we paid $2000 for over 3 years ago.


And looking all over DFW for a dealership that still had one in stock on the last day of the program.



We finally got a brand-spanking new car w/ only 5 miles on the odemeter. It's a Toyota Rav4. Now - I do admit I use to think these cars were funny looking - but now that they've re-designed - I actually like better than the CR-V and they get better gas mileage. Plus, I'm a sucker for deals so the special Toyota was running definitely helped.

Really...I'm not much of a car person so I could less about one kind of car I drove...but I DO love it!!


But the car negotiating process, I HATE! Being an accountant, it makes it hard to talk about the "details" with people who have absolutely no clue. You say, tell me the interest rate, and they say, "Well, you're driving the car not the montly payment." And then they use the same line over and over no matter what your question is. Because they have no FREAKING clue so they don't know how else to respond. When we thought we found a half-way decent person they still managed to mis-calculate the price quote 3 times, and when we finally agreed and were signing the papers, they still had the wrong amount written. And it's not like we negoiated a super great deal - we still paid full "sticker" price for the car - but they happened to charge us TWICE for all the dealer add ons. So when we FINALLY left the dealership HOURS later...we realized we never paid them the $2000 down. The "finace guy" was so FRAZZLED by not getting the price right they never asked us for the moo-lah - and we had both assumed the other person had done it.


Did we go back? No. But our conscious got the better of us and we did call - in which case the salesperson decided to make a "personal delivery" to our home to return the missing garage down opener right away so he - of course - could pick up the check.

Date: August 22 2009

Backpack

Everyone the backpack goes, Tanner is sure to follow.

But when it was time for Avery to leave, and say goodbye to the backpack, we had to search the whole house looking for it. Of course, if I only would have checked his favorite little hang out place - I wouldn't have this problem. He was conviently "staching" it away in my closet.

Date: August 26 2009

Moments

As we said a family prayer before eating, Tanner clasped his hands together and bowed his little head for the prayer. Initially, it only lasted a few seconds - he had to sneak in a quick peak. When he realized we were still praying, he quickly bowed his head again - hoping we didn't notice.

Tanner is learning to pray - completely on his own. So simple, yet profound. And as a parent, I've never been so proud.






Date: August 18 2009

Summer Fun...Having a Blast

Where did the summer go? It seems like I'm just starting to enjoy it...and it's already practically over. And I'm SO jealous of everyone who took these month long vacations with their fams! Sure, we went here, here, and there...I'm still in desperate need of a vacation!!

Well - here it is folks - some highlights from our summer:

• Barney and Bailey Brothers Circus - If you ever want to feel like a kid again, go to the circus. While it was prob a little too much for Tanner, I enjoyed myself. My fav was still the elephants. Some things don't change.
  
• My sis, KT, came to visit from Seattle. She helped with Tanner were able to spend some time together - going to Surf N Swim wave pool and Nasher Scupltpre Center - which has awesome Kids First - Free Saturday Program.

Tanner was ready to jump in the water if we didn't stop him.

Ave did NOT want her picture taken, but I finally got a cute one of her silly smile!

Ave was trying to "help" get Tanner to look at the camera. And it worked!

We miss you already KT!

• Tanner's cousin, Emma, was baptized. I actually tried to take a pic at the church (but got in trouble) so the only pic I got of the special day.

• Visa National Gymnastic Turnament - Thanks to Devin, we got free tickets to the suite at AA center for the Mens Finalist. Jonathan Horton was still my fav. I think I watched every hour of the Olympics last summer - so I feel like we're on a first name basis. Tanner was playing at my feet and then a minute later when missing. Tanner bolted out of there and was found roaming halls. It wasn't good day for him cause he later fell down the 2 stairs and banged his head on the corner of the chair. Otherwise, he was in glory exploring the suite.

Other than that, we've been hanging out at home. Sometimes, it's the everday life and small moments like these that I love!

• Whole lot of bubbles, baseball, and slides. Apparently, Tanner has "outgrown" the swing. he screamed when I tried to push him the other day cause he wanted the slide. A month ago...he was screaming when I took him out of the swing.

And anner loves to carry around the bat and ball, everywhere he goes they go.
And don't even think about trying to take them away from him...
even if you're trying to teach him how to swing or throw a ball.

• LOVES to give hugs and if you're luck, even a kisses. Tanner was NEVER the cuddly baby so I LOVE it and take FULL advantage.

• When I ask if he's a silly baby, he laughs hysterically and shakes his head no repeatedly. But then when I ask if he's mommy's little boy, he'll shake his head yes. Quite the ham.
  
• He loves the most random things.

Favorite hangout - my bedroom closet.

Favorite pasttimes - talking on a real cell phone. If he doesn't have a phone, he'll use any object - even a spoon - and when nothing else is around - his own hand. When he hears a phone ring, he even put his hand up to his hear and says hello. And then proceeds to talk non-stop!

Playing with an empty water bottle - or in this case - a diet coke can - can provide tons of entertainment. he's fascinated by screwing the cover on and off.

• 
  
  
  Emptying out his drawer full of clothes
  
  

  But who can resist that puppy-dog face!
  
  

  Tanner also has a love for ALL electronics, much to his father's dismay. Anthony's x-box 360 randomly stopped working...but of course it wasn't Tanner...he's a perfect baby!

  He also LOVES to remove the child safety plugs. So much for childproofing!

• He loves small details and has amazing fine motor skills. But now and then, he gets tripped up. Like he was trying to put a cover on a pen...and while he was close...he would get so frustrated and scream at the top of his lungs for not getting it right away. He's still working on his patience.
  
• When he finds something new, he'll sit there and be totally entertained for 30 minutes playing with it. It's amazing his attention span.
• Cars - He loves pushing around these little cars. He even imitates the sound that he makes, which he picked up totally on his own. It's a boy thing - they just know these things!
  
• His FAV toy is the probably the ride on fire engine. He can get on it and push himself around, but getting off of it is a different story. This is were the screaming at the top of his lungs comes into play.
  
• But then again, he also loves his friends baby doll strollers, baby dolls, tea sets, and purses. He's metro like that. His only "doll" he has at home in Elmo - and he's decided to like him!
  

It's not always fun and games.

• He's had his fair share of mishaps - like dropping a can of soup on his toe and it turned black & blue. Now he's down a toe nail. Or he fell straight back in the tub. It was bound to happed as he refuses to sit in the tub.
• Tanner likes to scream and shout - even through tauntrums - when he doesn't get his way. Reasoning with a 1 year old is hard.

All in all, it's like someone took my precious baby and gave me a new little boy! In the twink of an eye, he's grown up and is bigger and better than ever.

Other noteable milestones:

• Over the past 2 months, he's gotten 5 new teeth - 4 on top and 1 more on bottom. He never shows them off, but the trails of drool he leaves behind in one indication of teething. Otherwise, if you're brave enough to stick a finger in there, you'll find out too.

• He's been completely weaned of nursing and bottles. If you know Tanner, this is a BIG, BIG step cause he was in LOVE. Now granted, he still likes his milk, it's just in sippy cup form.
  
  
• He went from taking a few steps to learning to walk to running in cirles to get himself dizzy and think it's funny to walk backwards. But his frankenstein walk when he was first learning to walk is still my favorite.

• Avery LOVES to pick up Tanner, depsite the fact Tanner is a tank and weighs close to the same. At his 1 year appt, he weighed 24 lbs and was inches. I'd just hate to see what the 90% percentile baby looks like.

Date: Summer of 2009