Easter Egg Hunt

Tanner knew just what to do...

And didn't waste anytime doing it.

Checking out their loot

Avery was mad that Tanner got more than her.

Even after it was over - she wanted to keep on looking and did.

She had to fend for herself and go w/the big kids and run fast -

and that's something to be proud of.

All Tanner's eggs were filled with bubble gum (seriously - what were they thinking!)

- which she got to keep and was happy.

Afterwards. Tanner enjoyed playing on the playground

running around - ganster style

and riding down the 10 ft slide

but NOTHING could beat - rocks, rocks, and more rocks!

Man I LOVE this boy!!

Avery was laughing hysterically during the Easter Bunny's Magic Show.

She even got to do the Bunny Hop next to her too.

Tanner, on the other hand, was trying to play hide n seek in the bushes.

Spring Break - Dallas Zoo

For more fun filled adventures, we headed over to the Dallas Zoo.

Tanner's been before, but just as a baby. This time, he really got into it.

His favorite animal - the monkeys.

The zookeepers had just fed them lunch and they were swinging all of the place.

We also got to watch a huge gorilla enjoy his lunch - up close and personal. The only thing separating us from the huge mammoth was a piece of glass.

Avery is Tanner's best friend - so we thought it would be more fun if she came along with us.

Avery's favorite part - riding a real horse! She was smiling the ENTIRE time.

She said it was even better than riding the carousel.

Most of the kids were scared of the horses - but I thought I'd let Tanner get close to see how he did. Turns out he wanted to go for a ride too - so they let him.

Any like any cowboy, he was holding on tight all by himself.

On the Children's section, he got to pet a live chicken.

To be honest, I don't think I've ever actually touched one before either -

but it was the softest thing ever.

Not nearly as exciting as the real horses, but they pretended

The duck pond. Tanner was trying to make a statement - leave me alone!

Tanner and Avery had fun peaking through at the chicken, lamb, and one fat pig.

But have you ever seen a pig that wasn't fat?

This elephant was trying to find every last piece of hay - even if it meant sticking it's nose outside the fence. It was just a few feet away.

And last but not least, the carousel ride. Tanner was having so much fun, he refused to get off. He had no concept of the ride being over and us being broke :)

But the smile, absolutely priceless.

Spring Break - Water Park

Put on some shades and read with caution - otherwise you might be blinded from the WHITENESS!

It's not warm enough to go swimming outside - unlike my friends in AZ or Southern CA - so we went to this fun indoor water park.

While Tanner had a panic-attack at times when he dove face first into the water - I've never heard him laugh and giggle so much!

Chillin in the water

One second he's loving the water.

Thinks about if for a second, then goes for a dive.

And it did not end happy.

Tanner tried to get as close to the water as he could - but didn't want him splashing the rest of him! Look at how far he's sticking out his bum!!

Lazy River - Tanner also loved the lazy river - at least until we were goofing around with him and is face went underwater. He wouldn't forget it.

Slide - We got him to go down the slide by himself, but there was a huge pile of water waiting for him at the bottom that we overlooked - so he was having fun until he face planted into it. Oh well.

His favorite part - pulling himself up along the ledge of the pool. He was SO amazed at how strong he was and/or how much less he appeared to weigh in the water. Once he discovered he could hold himself up ALL BY HIMSELF, he didn't ever want to let go.

Added bonus - hot tub!

Tanner's First Haircut

...has been long overdue. Finally, the mullet had to go!

BEFORE:


DURING:

He got a little nervous when he heard the sound of the clippers, but otherwise was fantastic. He stayed still and didn't make a peep.
But maybe it was the sucker, tv, toys, and everything else that was distracting him. Definitely worth paying a few extra bucks to go to a kid friendly place.

AFTER:


He looks SO much older! He's not my little baby anymore!!!

Future Bobsledder

Tanner's in training for the 2026 Olympics. He's already got the pot-belly like gold medalist Holcomb so we'd figure we'd start training him early.

But in Texas, you have to impromise. Our driveway became the sledding hill and the garbage can lid and water floaty his sled.

Take a peek at the first few runs...

Except I'm freaking out about him going down this 10-ft course by himself - I don't think I could ever stand to watch him go the real bobsled course after watching so many experienced people wipe out during the Olympics.

After we went down a few times, the track got faster and Tanner was loving him sledding. He wanted the sledding part to last forever and didn't like that he had to walk back up when it was over.

Winter Wonderland

Dallas had a record amount of snow - over a foot - in one day. As a kid, I use to dream about these days, but learned to settle for the 1 inch of hail that would instead fall.

Tanner got to experience the snow it is full majesty the first years of his life. But not knowing if or when it would ever come again, we suited up and made the most of it.

At first he just kept staring at in amazement...

This quickly became his favorite activity - building a snowman & knocking him down.Poor snowman didn't stand a chance.

Clearly he didn't understand the importance of keep the gloves on!

The next morning there was even more snow outside. Avery built a huge snowman.

I'm not sure who enjoyed it more - Anthony or Avery.

The trees looked absolulely beautiful. Luckily they upheld the massive weight from the snow. Unlike our neighbors and friends, we didn't have any trees or limbs go down.

Stardom

Tanner found Ave's tap dance shoes and started dancing away. This is months old, but it still makes me laugh everytime I see it.









If only his father were to find out what we've done to his son!!!

My Little Rascal

I don't know if it's the unfortunate double cowlick that makes hair stand up straight like Alphafa or the fact he's into anything and everything.

Either way - it's undeniable - he's my little rascal.

The scary part - he's only 18 months! what is coming next???

Here's what he's been doing...

• Tries to jump, but only gets as far as his tippy toes.


• Points to eyes, ears, mouth, nose, teeth. But beware, we're still working on the GENTLE part.


• Folds his arms and bows his head when it's time to pray...although he still usually cheats and "peaks" in the middle.


• Likes to "back it up" whether its my lap, a chair, or heck, even a fireplace.


• If you start to laugh out of no where, he'll join in too.


• Constantly unplugging and plugging things in. His fav is the small fan in his bedroom or the Christmas tree. It's good entertainment - now, if it were only safe.


• Loves his belly button and will try to find yours.


• Will holds an entire conversation with you or will try to read you a book to you - except it's all gibberish. (sshhh - he still doesn't know!)


• If you take something away from him, he'll scream and even shed real tears. But instead, if you ask him to return it to the right place, he'll put it back no problem. Phones, pens, it works for anything! It just has to be his idea and not your own.


• Obssessed with Legos. He waves his arms and jumps with excitement when we get them out to play. At first he just enjoyed knocking over his creations, but now enjoys building even more.


• Loves attention. He still makes his super silly face or his squinty smile or his fish face. He's a TOTAL ham. Or more recently, he started blowing kisses. It's adorable!


• And thanks to Grandpop, he's learned a whole new set of sounds to make with his mouth.

Moves to the beat when he hears music. Or sways his hand like a choristor at church when the congregation begins to sign. Or today, he even tried to sing with us.

• Throws everything, especially his little toys. Except he can't aim, sometimes they go backwards or no where at all - or sometimes they hit other people - so we're hoping to curb this bad habit soon.


• When he knows he's not suppose to do something, he'll look at me with the sneaky smile, proceed to laugh, and then keep doing it anyways.


• Gives "bumps" and high 5's


• Unveiled his sweeth tooth & discovered a love of candy While I never freely offer it to him, he still manages to get his paws on some. Mostly, he just pops the whole thing in there - wrappers and all.


• Never leave him alone with a cell phone. We had a contest to see who could unlock a cell phone first between Tanner and my mom...and Tanner won. He might look innocent...

• Prefers markers and pens to crayons, but still likes to scribble.


• Falls asleep with his favorite blanky and pacifier. And lately, I'm trying to figure if/when/how to ever break of this habit.
• Eats like a man. He packs in more pancakes than me. And he even prefers veggies to meat. That's right, he LOVES his veggies.
• Stands in the bathtub and refuses to sit. Thus, we prefer showers.


• Constantly moving, updwards and down. He know likes to climb the couches and ottaman. and even gets adventerous and tries to climb his own toys.


• And he when he tumbles and faceplants, he just keeps on going. He'll be running and whack his face on a chair. Nothing phases him. He rarely cries from physical pain.


• Makes all sorts of aninimal noises. His fav - is the dog!


• He lost some of his baby chub - and is now proportionately taller than wider - but still very very stocky.

the NAKED truth

• He's learning how to talk. We're trying to focus on the positives, like please and thank you, rather than the incessant - No! No! No! that we usually hear. Or the grunting. He's starting saying two syllabul words, like Baby, Trash, Hello, Shoes, Uh-oh, Avery, Juice, Milk, Please, etc, and pretty much repeats any words I ask him too.


• No matter how sad or tired, if you sing, "If you're Happy and You Know It," he'll immediately start clapping his hands. Now that we've spent a few more weeks in nursery, he's knows the motions to the "Wheels on the bus" and my personal fav is when he immitates the baby crying.


• He's finally getting those back molars, which means he's constantly chewing on his fingers.
  


• If you put his finger in his mouth, you may not get it back.

People always told me little boys were always mommy's boys, but I never invisioned it would be quite like this. When I'm in the room, he sees no one else. He loves me to hold and cuddle him. And whether it's morning or at night, he gets a death grip around me when he thinks I'm going to leave. It's his 6th sense - he can always tell when I'm about to leave - and it never ends happy.

But I can't help myself - the feeling is mutual. I LOVE LOVE this little boy and can never get enough...even if he's filled with trouble.