Christmas Photos!

We had a fantastic Christmas week  with the Hammell G-Rents, Ome G-Rent, Uncle Troy, Aunt Sammi, and Stanley.  Some of my favorite pictures from the week are in this blog, but also a link to all the photos taken. 

PJ sharing with Stanley

Everybody loving the cousin interaction

G-Ma and beautiful Stanley

Stanley's parents watching her.  I love how happy they look.

Ry reminding us a third grand child is coming.  Can't wait to get a picture of PJ wearing this shirt.

Ome and PJ outside.

Best part of the trip was helping Poppy on the tractor.

Favorite picture!  PJ and Poppy are so serious.

Medford Children's Museum

G-Ma works at the Medford Children's Museum in downtown Medford.  PJ's favorite place is the truck area.  Its a pretty cool area, of shredded recycled tires and construction vehicles that can push/dig/roll over the shredded tires.  There are also buckets that can be filled and emptied, which PJ loves to do.  PJ found the big tunnel you can climb through to get to a slide and then slide into the shredded recycled tires.

PJ climbing through the big tunnel.

PJ found a toy drill, he gave the "how could I possible leave this fun" face when we said it was time to go.

Asleep with G-Ma

PJ is a good little car sleeper.  A little sunshine, a favorite song sung and he will likely close his eyes for a short cat nap.  Today was no exception.  G-Ma sang a little sang and mid-request for her to sing more, PJ fell asleep.  I love how he is clutching her jacket, even while snoring!

Train Time

The Medford mall has a train during the Christmas holiday time that drives all around the first floor of the mall.  G-Ma had seen it several times while at the mall and though PJ would love it!  He loved it so much that he said nothing and didn't smile once.  Trust me that is the true sign that PJ is in his total glory.  He walked down the line of cars with G-ma trying to decide which one he would get it.  Of course he picked the yellow car, we are pretty sure that is his favorite color, either that or he likes saying yellow.  PJ and Daddy rode the train together, and according to Daddy PJ never once cracked a smile but did say "Choo-Choo" very seriously a few times. 

Blurry picture with G-ma, checking out the full train

On the train with Daddy.

This is where PJ was the entire ride, he waved to everyone on the floor, but kept his stoic look.

Blogging for a Year-Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!
Ry, PJ and I are celebrating in Medford with Poppy, G-Ma, Ome, Uncle Troy, Aunt Sammi, Stanley and the 4 dogs (Oliver, Rosie, Bella and Cheyenne).  Presents are being shared, food is being enjoyed, and the warmth from the wood stove is keeping everyone toasty warm.  A perfect Christmas with family.
One of the many presents gifted this year was a book version of last year's entire blog, as well as a promise to keep it going for another year.
We have been blogging PJ's happenings and tracking the Younk-O-Fun adventures since Christmas 2011.  Its been fun to post regularly for our family and friends near and far to watch PJ and the family as a whole grow and change.  The blogging has been as much a gift for Ry and I as it has been for the G-Rents and Ome.  Blogging has helped us to take a moment from the day and not only document it, but to stop and enjoy that moment ourselves.

Thanks for reading!

Let year two of blogging begin!

Reading...

PJ has started to take his books with him on car trips.  Today's mid morning reading resulted in some shut-eye mid story.  Counting apples can really take the energy right out of a little guy!

Sold!

According to our new neighbors and long time friends the house we have been trying for the last couple of months to buy has added a SOLD sign to the FOR SALE sign!  We are hoping to close in the next two weeks.  Stay tuned for more details as they unfold.

Unplanned Pool Time

We were on our way to Medford for Christmas break, unfortunately, the snow storm has made other plans for us.  About 90 miles outside of Medford we had to stop and spend the night at a hotel due to poor road conditions.  We are making the best of it by swimming in the pool, jumping on the hotel bed, and eating out.

PJ and Daddy getting into the pool, while Momma Chey watched from the side.

Daycare Bubbles

Tonight Ryan walked into PJ's daycare room to find that the kiddos were all playing with big bubbles.  The excitement of the children as the big bubbles went into the air and they could quickly pop them was worthy of capturing on video.  I love how PJ's legs get bouncy from the excitement of more bubbles.

Sunday Funday

Sunday Ry and PJ hung out with the Calv family on Whidbey Island.  Ry sent me a bunch of pictures all day to document each part of the day.

PJ played patty cake with O and Uncle Chris.

PJ and O played with big boxes

PJ and Daddy watched the Broncos. PJ was getting excited because Daddy and Uncle Chris were excited by a Bronco play.

After dinner PJ got a little silly on the floor.  (I love his smile in this picture)

Look at the tired face on PJ, time to read a book and go to bed.

Pancake Breakfast

Saturday morning PJ and Ry went out to Arlington to bring the trash and recycling to the waste center.  While they were in Arlington, Ry had to stop by the airport to see if there was any action going on that PJ may enjoy.  Sure enough there is a new hangar/FBO being put into place and they were hosting a pancake breakfast to show off their new facility.  Ryan was really impressed with the owner and the facility.  PJ loved the pancakes and being near airplanes.

Eating pancakes

Dinner Friday Night

I am out of town on business tonight until Wednesday so Ryan is solo parent for the next few days.  Luckily Ry is really good about sending pictures while he is the solo parent so we can keep the blog up to date and make me feel less homesick.  Tonight I got a picture of PJ eating dinner.

Love that Chili face

 

Happy Birthday Daddy and 19 months to PJ!

Today is 12-12-12, the last repeated date we will ever see in this century.  People are celebrating in all sorts of silly ways just because its 12-12-12.  Well we are celebrating because its Ry's 32nd birthday, he is coming home after being away for 8 days, and PJ has made another month fly by with the joy of having a toddler in the house.
The top 5 highlights of the last month, in order of things I am most proud of:

• PJ is now saying Dada, he says it a lot.  He knows who Dada is, he loves his Dada, and he loves to talk about him.  With Ry traveling a lot lately, its nice to tell him that his son woke up today saying his name so excitedly, that I was a little worried I wouldn't be enough.  In the car on the way to school we list out all the people that love PJ and then we go for a round of "name repeat". PJ loves to say "Momma" in a low voice, or super slow, or super fast, etc., you get the idea.  Then I am suppposed to say "Porter" back at the same tone/rate.  Its pretty cute and now he adds Dada.  So first he will say my name then I will say his, then he says Dada at the same tone/rate.  When Ry is in the car Ry wil say "Porter" and then PJ will say "Momma" and it will repeat until his little toddler mind is on to the next thing.  Sometimes this will last a good ten -15 minutes other times its just to make sure I am listening to him.  I love that Dada has been added to the game. 
• PJ figured out his Melissa & Doug puzzle, it has 8 pieces of different kinds of transportation. Up until this month he has taken off the all the pieces and then tries to get one or two pieces back on, before asking for help. He loves to do it with you, but this month is is all about doing it by himself and will keep trying until he gets it right. Last night PJ got a little frusturated once or twice and asked for help. Right after I showed him how the piece fit he took it out and did it himself. After several attempts last night I saw with my own eyes PJ put all the pieces in the correct spot. Not only did I see him get it right but it was so fun to see him try out each piece before he got teh correct angle. (For the record Ry witnessed this last week right before he left on his trip.)
• We sing a lot to PJ.  We often have music playing in the background and we sing along to the songs or make up our own songs.   This month PJ has been picking certain songs that he wants to sing.  His favorite being Old McDonald Had a Farm, If You are Happy and you Know It and You Are My Sunshine.  If I stop before he wants me to stop he says "Mo, Mo" so sweetly that I can't help but go another round.  PJ has also started to sing along with me.  He sings "EIEIO" during Old McDonald, and loves to shout out "Hooray" during If you are Happy and You Know It.  In the past few days PJ has even started to sing along with his own words.  Our trips to and from school have really improved this last month!
• PJ is becoming a little helper.  He loves to watch as I chop up things for dinner.  He stands right next to me and helps by holding the next thing that needs to be chopped up.  He goes and picks up things that are dropped on the floor.  Obviously I have been grunting a lot when I bend over because PJ also grunts as he picks things up for me.  PJ loves to fedd the dog.  I put the food in the bowl and then he has to touch the bowl, sometimes carries it but at least helps me carry it to Chey.  When I say "Its time to feed the dog, do you want to help?"  He excitedly says "Yeah!" 
• PJ is starting to notice my belly!  He loves to lift up my shirt and pat my belly, then pat his belly.  Whenever PJ pats my belly I tell him his brother is growing in there and we are going to meet the baby soon.  I doubt its registering but at least I can say I warned him, haha.

Zoo Lights

PJ and met up with Uncle Jake and Aunt Tashi at the zoo. This holiday season the zoo decorated with a lot of lights around the trees and in animal shapes. It was very pretty. PJ's favorite part was the safari lights. There were speakers set up near the safari lights that roared like a lion and trumpeted like an elephant. He kept roaring back. Although he loved he also did not let go of Jacob the entire time. I got a photo of PJ clutching Jacob, so sweet.

Good Morning

This is the sweet face that greeted me this morning. Ready to get up, but still wants his blankie to cuddle. Check out the bed hair!

Walking Out

PJ is barely 19 months old and is finally leaving daycare on his own two feet! Just in time because I am not sure how much longer I could carry him long distances. Don't you love his hat, from Ome!

My Little Singer

PJ is really starting to love certain songs.  When we sing them out loud he will say "No" if he wants a different song, or he says "Mo" (more) he wants you to keep singing the current song.  So this morning I asked, "Do you want to sing Old McDonald, and he said "Mo".  So I sang, and he actually joined in more than he has ever.  The sweetest sound at 6:30am!
I sang "Old McDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O", then PJ said "EIEIO".  He repeated EIEIO everytime I said it and then of course added his own animal sounds to whatever animal I sang about.  PJ even requested a few animals of his own. 

Belly Pic

Those of you that follow this blog regularly, may have see my belly in a bikini. Sorry for that rough eyesore. Here is a clothed pic of my belly at 28 weeks.

Sleeping Beauty

Tonight I had a ladies night with my growth group from church. Which meant Daddy had the evening routine all to himself. I got a text shortly after PJ was down for the night; proof that he was asleep. They must have had fun because the picture arrived just 15 minutes after bedtime! Apparently PJ didn't even flinch when Ry took the photo with the flash and camera sound!

Sharing Boys

The boys are practicing sharing this weekend while hanging with the Calv's. O and PJ did a great job this morning demonstrating that they did learn a thing or two about being in the same space harmoniously. Both boys thought climbing and descending the step later was the perfect activity and managed to do it without shoving or screaming.

Dual Feeding

We are hanging with the Calv's this weekend. Ry had dinner feeding duty for the boys.

Oahu Vacation Details

The Thanksgiving vacation was exactly what the family needed.  Each day consisted of waking up before the sun, having coffee in bed, breakfast on the hotel floor picnic style, beach time at the hotel's lagoon, lunch, naptime for everyone, pool time, dinner and then bed.  One of the days was pretty gray so we went up to the Dole plantation.  We explored the plantation by train, then a nice walk through a tropical hawaiian garden, and a delicious pineapple flavored frozen yogurt topped with a ton of fresh pineapple.  PJ's favorite word is apple, so he loved pointing out the pineapple, which he called apple.  PJ also loved eating the pineapple.  I have posted a few of my favorite pictures, but they are all in a picasa album.

Orange Painting

PJ made some fun orange art at school today.  This is one of the first that used a tool instead of his fingers.  Ry said it was his favorite to date, I think its because he loves everything orange.

Cuddle Puppy

First day back to work since our vacation and neither Ry or Chey want to get up.

As I got the camera out, Chey thought she would make a sweet situation sweeter by offering her belly for a rub.

Close up of the bums

Moved Out

We haven't mentioned it on the blog yet, but we are moving.  We have an offer on our dream home, but its a short sale.  We do not have the keys to the new house, since the short sale process is anything but short.  Since we have an offer on another house we had to sell ours.  So a few days after we had started the short sale process we found some fantastic realtors (a pair of super smart people) and put the Brier house on the market.  We did not expect the sale of the Brier home to be so quick, but after 4 days on the market it was sold.  We found some temporary housing while we wait through the short sale process.
So today was the official move out day.  We packed, patched walls, cleaned, and packed some more the entire day.  PJ stayed at a friends house, which made this mega work day so much easier.  I am going to miss this house.  Neither of us really expected to leave, especially not just 3 years after we bought it.  The house we are hoping to move into is perfect and the circumstances were too perfectly aligned that we think the move is right, even if unexpected.  We will miss all the great upgrades we made to the house to make the house our home.  We will miss the patio we were working on with my parents the same weekend we found out that we were becoming a family of 3.  I am going to miss PJ's first room.  We spent a lot of time in their feeding, book reading, naming the items on his alphabet wall, singing, diaper changing, soothing PJ through his first sickness and the list goes on.  We will also miss the perfect shed Poppy, Uncle Troy and Ry built right after PJ was born.  All three of them designed and built the shed, with final completion taking less than a week.  I can't I remember much of that time, but I know it turned out awesome!

The front of the Brier house.  

The living room, which went through the biggest transformation.  New fireplaces, new windows, new flooring, new paint color and removal of some odd painted picture frames on the long walls.  

This patio space used to be about a 2 foot wide dirt/wood chipped path.  We pushed back the dirt, put in the retaining wall, which resulted in so much more usable backyard space.

This corner of the yard used to be one big weed covered unusable dirt hill.

The perfect shed, Hammell-Younkin designed to match the house.

PJ's Room

Lizard

ON our trip we saw lots of these cool green, red and blue lizards on the island.  When PJ saw them, his response was always "WHOA!"