Busy Baby

Almost two weeks have gone by, so you better believe there are a lot of pictures waiting for you to view on this update...and lots of cute stories to go with them!!!

Saturday, June 7th, Kegan attended what will be his last wedding for a while. Why you may ask...Matthew is not wanting to take him any more. Why, you may ask again...well here is the scenario. We get to the church, we sit down and visit while the music is playing, while guest are being seated. Before the grandparents or the bride and groom even start to be escorted in for the ceremony Kegan is ready to get down from the chair and run...so out go Matthew and Kegan. I have a great husband who lets me sit in there and enjoy the ceremony, while he plays with Kegan, trying to keep him somewhat quite in the foyer. Great -ceremony over and off to the reception - Oh, Kegan should do fine there...nope! Below is the last picture taken before him and his daddy headed out (I was helping with some stuff and had to stay), but only after Kegan spilled the drink all over himself and his daddy.

Well, at least he looked real cute for his last wedding appearence for a while!

Sunday came and things were good - Matthew watched Kegan while I went to church to finish setting up for VBS, that afternoon.

Monday morning - Day 1 of VBS! The theme was Outrigger Island (Hawaiian, basically) so I tried to dress Kegan for the occasion each day, as you will see...well everyday but Monday...he just looked cute on Monday!
After a busy morning at VBS and a great nap for Kegan we took some time to draw and color...

then some time to eat our crayons...yuck! I love it after he sticks one in his mouth because he will make a terrible face and then sit there and try to get the wax off his tongue and teeth!

After some drawing and indoor played we headed outside once daddy got home.
Weee...running up and down the driveway is so fun!

Our next door neighbor came to say hello and had her razor scooter and Kegan decided he must try it! Of course Matthew held on the entire time, but Kegan was really enjoying it...not scared of it or anything.

Haha...I had to turn and take this picture. Kegan had been walking around and playing and Matthew decided to lay down on the driveway, so Kegan went over, next to his daddy and just had to lay down like him...knees bent and everything!

Then a little jumping on the neighbors trampoline! This, he also enjoyed!


Tuesday - Day 2 of VBS and the first of four themed shirts!
My little rock star in his fishing shirt.
This is a new little toy I got down from the attic for him. It had been in my classroom, when I taught for kids to read in to, etc.... Anyways, he loves to hear himself on the microphone...and loves pushing all the buttons!

The Setliff's were heading off to Ireland for a week, so Tuesday night we picked up pizza and went over to say good-bye...and Kegan of course played.
I know...not safe...but we were keeping a close eye on him. He was helping his daddy and Uncle Josh move the seat up closer to the peddles on his tractor bike. Doesn't he look like he knows exactly what he is doing...haha...

Hand me another tool, please...

My feet can touch...but only one pedal at a time...and I am still not really sure what I am supposed to do...


Wednesday - Day 3 of VBS
What a day and what a cute outfit - #2 in our themed outfits for the week.
So not the greatest picture...he looks a bit confused, but isn't the Hawaiian shirt so cute. Mrs. Setliff got that for him in Hawaii. The puzzle shape, thing, he is holding - he loves it and does a pretty good job and moving the shapes around and putting them in their spots. I turn the thing around so he chooses which shape, out of the two showing, to put his shape in to...I promise...he really is good at doing this...and loves to do it...over and over and over again....

That night we went back to church for the kids performances and he got to play a little on the blow up toys...after church...when most of the big kids were gone.

Thursday - No pictures. I believe by day 4 of VBS him and I were both just exhausted. I will say he took GREAT naps during that week!

Friday - Day 5 of VBS.
After cleaning up and putting things away Kegan and I headed over to the John Deere store in Taft with his daddy so we could all see Matthew's new tractor. This tractor even has a buddy seat...a perfect spot for Daddy's favorite tractor companion!



So I am not sure where in relation to the weekend these pictures were taken...I can't remember...but they are SOOO CUTE! Matthew and Kegan just started playing and "rough horsing"...as much as you can with a 19 month old (that's right 19 months this month...). I just started snapping pictures. Enjoy!
Kegan and his daddy chillen and relaxing.

Just admiring his daddy.

ahhhh....

Anticipating the tickling....

Fallen over laughing...

Sunday was Father's Day. Kegan and mommy got up...while Matthew went to go check the sprinklers in the fields and made breakfast. When Matthew got home Kegan gave him the card he decorated and a "Worlds Best Dad" shirt.

After breakfast and getting ready we headed off to church, then had lunch at jack-in-the-Box. I know...big time, but that is what Mattew wanted. We knew if we went some place nicer it would be busy and if I cooked at home, Kegan would sleep while I was cooking and we were eating...then wake up right as Matthew wanted to sleep (what he said he wanted to do for Father's Day)...so Jack it was!

This week has been a bit less busy. It has been nice, though, lots of time to play outside and we have even been able to meet Matthew for lunch a few times - something Kegan and I both enjoy since Matthew has to work so late into the evenings with harvest starting.

Out to eat on Monday.

Now you see me...

...now you don't!

Monday night Kegan discovered a new trick. If the dogs squeaky ball gets stuck under the rocking horse and he rocks on it...he can make it squeak. Haha....

This was not forgotten after Monday night though. Tuesday, Kegan gets the squeaky ball out of the dog toy box, puts it under the horse, climbs up and rocks...with lots of laughter!

I had said we spent a lot of time outdoors playing...here he would not even wait long enough for me to change him into his swimmers...haha...

(Maggie is not being hurt here...she loves to run up to the water and try to drink it.) Luck for her Kegan likes to do this....lucky for Kegan...Maggie likes for him to do this.

OK...now we have on our swimmers and shorts...and we are still giving drinks to Maggie.

Maggie and Kegan playing in the sprinkler. Running in, belly first!

Side note - Why, you might wonder is Roo not in any of these pictures. Roo HATES the water and stays as far as she can from Kegan with a water hose or any sort of sprinkler.

Going to meet daddy out on the farm for lunch. Before we can go to eat...a quick tractor ride for Kegan. Here they were getting up in the tractor and Kegan heard a plane, told Matthew, and sure enough a crop duster comes flying over the barn...so Matthew and Kegan stand to watch it go by.


More outdoor fun...this time, just a swimmer...no shorts...a compromise in time to get ready made between Kegan and mommy.

Having fun watching the pin-wheel spin in the wind. He discovered that if he put the pin-wheel in the water and then held it up to spin...he could send water spinning...so he enjoyed doing that for a bit. What a discovery for him!

After a hard day of playing Kegan needed a good dinner for his stomach...cheeks...nose...and forehead!



Random Updates and Stories:

* His vocabulary continues to improve with new words being added. I have lost track of what I have and have not updated on, so I am going to stop keeping track unless it is something big or particularly funny. He is always trying to mimic words we say and use them...so I am glad he is eager to try.

* We sort-of...kind-of got one little poop in the potty. We were all in the kitchen and starts going "Melmo...Melmo" (his potty is an Elmo potty) so Matthew runs to take him there, while I am finishing up dinner. When Kegan gets up Matthew says there is a little something in there, but is not sure if he got it in there because he actually did what he was supposed to...or if it just happened to be stuck to his bottom and fell off. Either way we praised him, showed him, and he got a little M&M. Nothing since then...sooo...I am guessing it was a fluke. We are still not really pushing the bathroom thing...I don't think he is fully ready...so we are just letting him get used to seeing it, sitting on it...etc.... Ok...done with nasty stories. I will say, though, Matthew and I both realized we hit a milestone in our lives personally, never before had we truly celebrated a poop...hmmm....yuck....

* I think I told you that we broke down and got a DVD for the car...well Kegan now LOVES to watch his DVD (he says something to the illusion of DVD when it comes on the screen)...particularly Elmo...LOVES Elmo. So, although I am not a huge proponent of my child watching TV and he still does not watch too much at the house...except Sesame Street and/or part of Barny (he says Barny, now...super) he has actually learned a few things from Elmo. He can do parts of the "Itsy-Bitsy Spider", shakes hands when a particular song comes on, and when they are talking about singing "high" with an opera singer...he makes his voice sing high...just to name a few particular things. At least he is interacting with it. All to say...if you have a kid and are looking for some kid videos they will not get glassy-eyed on, but will enjoy and be interactive with...try the Elmo ones. Ok...done with all that.

Well, my little angel has woken up. I need to go and see what all we have to explore and discover for the rest of today!!!

Tortuga

Hmm...not sure if that is how you spell it...it just sounded more fun than "turtle". BUT, that is what I am here to quickly write about today.

If you looked at the most recent post, prior to this one, you would have seen that Kegan got to meet a turtle at Grandma's house. Well...let me tell you that little bit of schema (for all the non-teachers out there, that is merely a fancy word for background knowledge) went a long way! This morning Kegan had finished his breakfast of waffles, almond butter, cherries, blueberries, and milk to which NONE of it got on him or his tray...he stayed perfectly clean...not even a little almond butter went into his hair, which is HUGE for him. Anyways, back to my story - I was not done with my boring bowl of cereal, so I let him down to play before we got in the car to head to VBS. I heard him playing around with the toys in his room, so I just sat there enjoying a little serenity for a brief moment...THEN here comes Mr. Kegan bounding around the corner carrying a little board book he has on sea creature opened up to a certain page. He brings it over to me, puts the book in my lap, points to the picture (of a turtle) and says tootle...aka "turtle"! Wow! No one showed him the book, pointed out the turtle to him...nothing, he did that all on his own. I was so proud! He also pointed out to me the star fish and said "sta" - he has 2 puzzles (he calls those "puz") which have star fish in them. Wow!

One more thing - he put his little crocs on again, all by himself, on the correct feet and everything (one shoe with the back part up and the other shoe with the back part behind his foot)!

Ok - I am done bragging!!! :)

More Water Fun x 2

Phew...we have been on the go. And...I believe I realized that I might be a bit obsessed with the camera and taking pictures of my son. I sat down tonight and thought...oh...we have been so busy during the day time this week I have not really taken out my camera a lot...compared to most weeks. Well, I would say, I still had WELL OVER 100...probably more...pictures to choose from. Granted we had "destinations' this week that we took pictures at...but still... In my defense, Kegan really is growing, changing, and developing so fast that I fill I must catch it all and to do so takes TONS of photos. Anyways...enjoy this week in review!

Last Saturday day (May 31st) we had some friends come down to visit with their 3 kids...and one on the way. They are such a sweet and family and have great kids - we thoroughly enjoyed them and Kegan had a blast have 3 other kids to play with in the house.

They arrived mid-afternoon on Saturday and we all headed out to the beach. Let me tell you, it took Kegan NO time to get excited. He has not been to the beach in about a year, but as soon as Matthew let him out of the car...zoom...off he headed to the water. I did not even have a chance to put on his little swimmer and swim trunks.
Stepping into the water with daddy...who thankfully quickly ran after our darting son.

After inspecting the umm...lovely?...Corpus water and sitting right on it, I dragged him back to the car to change him...and off his was again. No lie...that is Matthew's arm running to catch up to Kegan who is running after little Matthew, all toward the water.

Woo-hoo!! Splashing in the water!

I LOVE the face..."Catch me if you can!" - totally a Matthew face!

Running like crazy...he took a few dives into the water because of his love for running through the water...but did not cry/complain/fuss one time about the salt water. It did not seem to bother him AT ALL...thank goodness...because he did get some face fulls and he loved laying down in the area where the tide came up to and rolling around...I think he must have liked the sensation of the waves going back and forth...I don't know...but it was funny to watch, because he would lay down, but not put his head all the way down because he did not want the water in his ear, I guess, but it would throw in off balance easily...soo cute!

Ok...so I had to bring the sun-block out to the water, so we could get it on him. I gave it to Matthew...since I had the camera and was leery of holding the camera and putting sunscreen on Kegan all at once, Matthew did...well...tell me what you think - Did he go a little heavy on the face? Obviously, it did not stop Kegan from splashing it up and having a good ol' time.

Woo-hoo...back from a water break at the car and into the water he goes...


"HI!"

Helping Matthew dig a hole in the sand. The child does like to get dirty where ever he is...just like his daddy!

Matthew must have read the last blog, because once again here is one of the 4 pictures Matthew took of Kegan and I...and this was the only one were we were relatively close...he was running around and playing in the others...so once again, my proof that Kegan does indeed have two parents.
(I don't know what he is doing in the picture...but I thought it was a funny facial expression.)

Ewww...seaweed...

Matthew and Brian's pride for the day...the "nose" sculpture...nice, huh?

Sweet moments between daddy and son.

Kegan, daddy, and little Matthew off into the waves (Which, by-the-way, also did not bother Kegan. He loved going out deeper into the water and having it higher up on him.)

A short video of running on the beach. (Please excuse the wind noise)

Giving Kaylee a hug at the house. It was so cute...they would give each other hugs all weekend. Such a ladies man already...haha!

Emily was pushing Kegan in the rocking chair...this made me laugh - he looks very worried and she looks a little mischievous in this picture!

The Alderson's stayed till Sunday afternoon - I think Kegan was sad to see all the kids go - such excitement and entertainment.

Just playing around...like the sticker. I don't know if Kegan put it up on his head or if Matthew did...but it made me laugh...then he walked around with it on his head for quite a while. What a nut! Speaking of stickers...Kegan has really gotten into stickers lately. He loves to stick them on himself and pull them off....on and off...on and off.
What a great grin!!!

Monday - June 2nd
I promise, no animals were hurt in the making of this picture. Kegan wanted to see outside...I wanted to take a picture of the flowers, but not have to go out there...so I raised the window a little. I guess Maggie underestimated her size!
Kegan liked seeing his puppy, though!

I got it on film...the first set of shoes Kegan put on all by himself! Way to go big boy!
(Granted, they are his easy to slip on crocs...no laces, buckles, or Velcro involved...but he did have to use his fine motor skills to match up the foot to the hole in the shoe, turn the shoe the right way, and he put them on the correct feet (lucky)....)

Woah...I did good! I think he looks like he is looking down at his feet, shocked he got them on.

Monday we were out running lots of errands with aunt Stephani (Stephy is sort-of what he tries to call her...working on that long name...) to get some stuff for VBS next week. He actually did very well for all the places we ran to. I was proud.
Monday night he got to help daddy set the sprinkler in the back.
This is what happens when daddies are left in charge...for even a little bit. Yep..I opened up the back door and this adorable drenched child greeted me with a look of shock!

Look how well he is taking charge of things and really paying attention to his son's where abouts...haha...

Tuesday - After working up at the church with Aunt Stephani, we came home, Kegan napped and then he got up and outdoors to play we went...and experienced side-walk chalk for the first time. First thing...he tried to eat it like a Popsicle...yuck! Once he realized that was not good and I tried to show him he could write with it...he decided the dogs needed a little chalk on them and proceeded to try and write on both dogs...to no avail.
I had to laugh when all this was going on. Kegan was very determined to try and write on Roo and she was ducking away...pulling back her ears...whatever she could to avoid the chalk!

There we go...now we got it...writing on the sidewalk. What you see is about what we got...not too interested in the stuff, yet.

Roo's panting soon became more interesting. Kegan was fascinated with her tongue and kept trying to reach out and touch it. As you can see...he also thought it would be fun to mimic her.

Not too much green chalk on the side-walk...but he did get a more colorful face!

After dinner - I guess he has seen me sweep up after him so many times that when he got down from his chair, he went to the broom closet, got out his broom, and "swept" around his chair and under the table. Now if only I could get his sweeping to be a bit more useful!

Ride on horsey!


Wednesday we picked up aunt Stephani and headed over to see Grandma for lunch. Lunch was...active...good food...good company...active child! After lunch we headed back over to Grandma's work to see all the people she works with...ok, to show Kegan off...and to see LOTS of tractors! Tractor number 1 out of who knows how many he sat on that day!
Not a typical steering devise...not a problem...Kegan's got a hang of it.

Woo-hoo! I am ready to go!

Aunt Stephani and Grandma look on has Kegan has to touch EVERY SINGLE TOY. I think he was on sensory over-load. He would run to toy for 2 seconds, run to another toy, then another, then back to one...it was like he was afraid if he stopped to long at one he would not get to see them all.

Gramdma pushing Kegan in the 4-wheeler. (Which had to be done with-out him seeing you do it, because if he realized he was getting help, he would go "no...no..." - He likes to be VERY independent! at a LOT of things!)

OOO...more tractors outside!

After a nice long and much needed nap we headed off to church for the youth wacky-water-Wednesday.
A few blueberries to snack on, while on the way there, turned into a very funny picture!
Haha...this is what Kegan would look like if he got a tooth knocked out...lucky for him, just a little blueberry stuck on the tooth!

Big kids...no problem! I can hang with them...adios mom!

Walking through one of the water toys.

Playing in the little pool.

Woo-hoo...sliding is better than walking this thing!
Funny... (for those of you who might worry...grandmothers...I was there, off to the side and did catch him before he went into the water)

Even funnier...

Up-close and personal peanut butter face.

After we left church we headed over to Grandma's house. We got to eat supper, see Uncle Kyle and...meet a turtle Grandma rescued off the road in the neighbor hood. I think Kegan and the turtle were equally aprehensive about meeting eachother. Kegan finally tried to feel it...the poor turtle stayed hidden in his shell.


Thursday - Back up at the church - morning, lunch, nap time, and a little of the afternoon. Aunt Stephani another lady in the church and I were setting up our room for VBS and Kegan was "helping". He actaully did VERY well and played pretty hapily...especially considering the amount of time we were up there. It was all worth it though, becuase when we left that church we got to go to the farm with daddy.
Kegan and Matthew standing by a seed test plot on one of his fields. Don't my two men look so handsome, and Praise the Lord - check out the nice grain growing behind them!

After a long day of working at the church and checking over daddies fields nothing really hits the stomach like some nice pis pisa (aka pizza)
Yummm...hungry anyone?

Ignore the fact that it is a Christmas cup and look what he is doing. I realized Kegan was always wanting our drinks and I started to think it was more becuase he wanted to drink out of our cups than what we were drinking...so I started (this pizza night) to put his drink in a "real cup" not a sippie cup and he did very well and just dribbled twice down his shirt. He was very good about setting the cup down real softly and being careful to keep it upright. I was proud of him. (We tried it again today and did very good till the end of supper, and he accidently tipped it over and spilt it on his tray.) I think we might try to keep doing cups at the table and just do sippie cups through-out the rest of the day's activities (ie - walking around anywhere)


Friday - No pictures. We just went up to church again to finish up with the decorating, then Aunt Stephani watched him, while he napped, while I went and used a gift certificate, from my birthday to go get a little pedicure. After that we came home played, ate, played and went to bed. He was ready for it, too! What a day...what a week, infact!

Potty training - Well, Kegan has no clue what it means to go "pe pe"...but we do know a stinky...we have yet to make it to the toilet, but he does come and tell him "pew pew", while holding his nose, and I ask if he needs to go to the potty and he will say yes, and he runs to his Elmo potty...and sits down shorts, diaper and all...we have a lot of work to do...haha...anyways, we have yet to actaully go in the potty, but he is trying...so yea for him!

His vocabulary continues to grow - I love getting him to try new words and hearing his version of the word as he mimics us. I will try to catch some on video to post. I will also try to get him putting together his puzzles. He is very good at this...I am hoping this means he will be good at math (both using the logical/visual/ step by step/etx... part of your brain)...we shall see. In the mean time, putting together puzzles with each other is great entertainment!

He is sleeping now...prepping up and gearing for all the new adventures we will encounter tomorrow!