Sophie and Dave at the Petting Zoo

On Sunday, Josh's mom went to get Sophie for the night, and we came over to play (it was our half day off Sunday). We hung out and had dinner, mostly just let the kids play. They are really loving building things with Legos these days.




My attempt at a cute fall shot including a pumpkin.






On Monday, Josh needed some time to prepare for a class he's teaching here at work, so Divana and I took the kids to the petting zoo in Gas City again. Of course, they had a blast, but he llamas didn't appreciate our food this time-who knew they wouldn't like potato chips?





Sophie feeding some goats. Video of the kids feeding animals.











There is a really nice playground within the park, so we took the kids there to burn off some energy.









My little daredevil. He did get stuck and had to get help to get down. Almost made it though!










Looks like they're coming up with some kind of plan here.





Josh's sister came up with the rest of her family for dinner.






Finally got a picture of Caleb smiling! So cute.




Tomorrow we're off to Columbus to hang out with my mom for the weekend. We're hopefully going to the Dora and Diego exhibit that is at their science museum right now, and Josh and I will be going outlet shopping on Saturday. I wish the weather forecast looked a little better, but we'll make the most of it!

Photo Shoot at the Park

On Sunday, I took Dave over to the park and while there took a bunch of pictures. Dave gets a little neglected when we are on duty all weekend, so I try to take him to the park (on campus) to give him a little mom time.





He started off great on the swing. Of course, there are two swings and he feels the need to have to swing in both of them. Because that must make perfect since to a 2 year old.











Here's what happened when I tried to convince him that both swings did the same thing. I won't be having this conversation anymore...so much easier just to stick him in the other swing!











He recovered quickly from his mini meltdown.












Of course he has to be a daredevil everywhere we go. At least this little slide thing isn't very high off the ground!












Super cheese! I didn't even pose him for this. I know, hard to believe.

Gas City Petting Zoo

On Thursday we took Dave to Gas City's petting zoo. I guess it's run by the city or something, it's randomly located in a city park. Anyway, free entertainment-and you get to bring your own stuff to feed the animals. So we packed up a gallon baggie of stale cereal and Dave had a blast.




Look! More awesome animals. (He actually does say awesome now, which is hilarious)












Josh, Dave, and a deer.










Dave checking out the llamas. He calls them mamas though because of the book Is Your Mama a Llama? Great book by the way.








The only mishap of the day was when Dave got nipped by one of the turkeys. Since they don't have long tongues to grab the food, it was trying to bite at the food in Dave's hand. Dave handled it very well and was more scared by it than anything.





Feeding the goats. Here's a video from the petting zoo.






Other than the petting zoo, we haven't been doing a whole lot lately. Just enjoying this awesome weather that we've been blessed with this past week.





Dave cheesing out from being tickled.










This is his TV watching post. Not at all dangerous or anything.











And this is what happens when he falls. So far, he's fallen that direction. It really is only a matter of time before he breaks something.

New skills

This face either means he's being super cute or is calculating his next move.





We have had a very eventful week in terms of Dave developments. The biggest one being that he can now climb out of everything. Cribs, highchairs, pack-n-plays. He is quite the climber and goes around saying "I climb!". My favorite so far was when he tried to climb up the oven.




He climbed into his toy basket to watch tv.






Obviously, his new climbing skill has been a bit of a challenge, especially when it comes to naps and bedtime. He has pretty much stopped taking naps at Josh's parents' house because he either gets his legs stuck in the bars or climbs out (which is a pretty far drop for him). At home, I just have a conversation with him about not climbing out before I lay him down. It's been pretty successful so far-only one break out attempt since we started the pep talks.

He also learned to say "I love you" this week. Sometimes he repeats it to me after I say it to him. Other times I just tell him to say it because it's ridiculously adorable. It certainly helps to hear after all the trouble he's been getting into lately!


Last Thursday we took yet another trip to the pumpkin patch. Hey, it's free and Dave loves it.





Here's how we get Dave to smile for family pictures.









It takes a lot of work to get him to smile at the camera!









Dave in the maze of giant pumpkins.









Loving the tractor. Here's a video of him "driving".






And another video...attacking his play gym.

22 months (and Sophie's birthday)

I actually remembered to take his pictures early in the morning-check out his cute Cars pjs! He looks so big to me in these pictures.

New things that Dave can do: he has started saying "I need this, I want that" when asking for something. He also tends to say "mom" instead of mommy. Definitely wasn't ready for that change. He is officially in all 24 month/2T clothes, but they are huge in the waist when he isn't in his cloth diapers.


This past weekend we celebrated Sophie's 2nd birthday down in Indy.






The birthday girl. Here's a video of blowing out her candles.











The boy cousins. Neither look all that thrilled to be taking this picture.









Grandma and grandpa with baby Caleb.






Josh went to visit his friend (another Dave) in Cinci on Friday, so Dave and I went on an outing to the local pumpkin patch. My friend Emily joined us and helped out corralling Dave.







Dave, mom, and the donkeys.














Goats! They were going crazy for Dave.











Hay maze. He remembered how to get through from when my mom took him last week. So he kept running in and around it.










And here's a cute picture from the bath, and a video of putting the dinosaurs to bed (in the bath of course).

Loving Fall

The weather has been so fabulous lately. I was definitely ready for the summer to end. Although I know I will be wondering if I can get it back whenever the true cold weather comes this winter.

Anyway, fall means it's time to discover all the cute things I bought Dave at the end of last season.




Could he be any more stylish? I especially love his new kicks...bought for $4 at a local consignment shop!







It's also time for football season. Not great news for Colts fans, but still fun to watch.





Mom bought Dave an adorable Colts jersey.










I have this exact jersey. Gotta love Dallas.







My mom has been visiting lots this past week because she was working in Fort Wayne. On Saturday, she took Dave to the local pumpkin patch where they have hay rides, corn mazes, etc. Here's a video of Dave with the goats. Goat whisperer.

I think I can safely say that Dave knows his colors now. He has been working on getting them down for about a month or so. He's been pretty consistent about getting them right for the past week, so I'm going to count it! Dave and colors.

Otherwise, Dave has been a complete momma's boy the past couple of weeks. Even more so this weekend. Hopefully he grows out of it quickly, it's getting tiring!




Josh picked Dave up from his nap and here was the result. Screams for mommy and hysterics. I think we're getting closer and closer to those terrible twos.










Thankfully he snaps out of his fits pretty fast.






And one more video. Our friends the Lauers bought Dave a set of Cars (the movie) cars. He now takes them everywhere even though he can barely carry them all. And he loves to "race" them on the coffee table. Too cute. Cars!

Random Pictures

This past week I have not done a great job taking pictures of Dave. Although I'm sure he appreciates the break! So, here are a couple from this week, but also some other ones that I never got around to posting.




Newest fashion this fall? Obviously it's the colander hat.












Learning how to operate a screw gun with Great-grandpa Dave.









In the middle of "I'm gonna get you" with Dad. Dave runs around saying "get you!" so that we will chase him.









Hanging out at grandma and grandpa Bowyer's house.












Big cheese!










Looking adorable in the bath.






Sorry no videos this week-I'll upload a bunch next week.

Trip to Evansville

This past week we have been off work, mostly hanging out in Evansville with my family. We were able to split our time up really well, getting to see everybody (my aunt and uncle from Kansas were in). I'll let the pictures tell our week...






Dave loved my grandpa's new ride. Here's a video of him getting in and out of it. I even got a ride-grandpa and I had to do a shopping trip to Walmart for the party he threw on Saturday.











My mom has these awesome squirt guns at her house-Dave loved them! It kind of looks like the water is on fire somehow because of the way the sun is shining.









We spent a bunch of time in dad and Kyra's pool. In this picture, my uncle Steve is hiding behind Dave's airplane float and scaring him.







On Saturday, we hung out at my grandpa's. It was crazy hot, so mom got Dave a kiddie pool. As you can see, he's pretty serious about it.













Here's mom, Tony, and Dave at grandpa's Saturday night. Notice my mom's cute hairdo...Dave and I went to the salon with her on Saturday to get it cut.







My mom left Sunday to go back to Columbus, so we spent the rest of our time at my dad's house. The weather was junky on Sunday and Monday, so we were cooped up for those days. On Tuesday, the weather was much nicer, so we took a trip to the Evansville Zoo (we get in free thanks to our Ft. Wayne membership).





Dad and Dave checking out the bear cat.











Since I'm usually the one behind the camera, I have very few pictures of Dave and I. Of course he's not looking...but at least he's smiling!







He loved the river otters exhibit. The tunnel cuts through their little pool area, so they were swimming all around.












We hit the zoo just in time for the giraffe feeding. Dave absolutely loved it. He even touched the giraffe's nose at one point.





So there's a look into our past week. It was very relaxing, and awesome to see everybody.

And here's another video. Dad was showing Dave pictures of cars on the computer. Cars!
They also had a blast going down the street to check out the "big truck!" (which was actually a tow truck). I think they had to visit it at least 4 times a day.