Happy Birthday, Blake!

My baby is one year old. So isn't it fitting that the last post I made on here was his birth photos? lol I have obviously not kept up with the blog since having two kids, although I have still taken some pictures of them. I still have to edit them, but here is one birthday picture to start with... until I get my groove back and take something better. Taking pictures of a little boy who has just learned to walk is hard as he is just wanting to go and explore and getting eye contact is about impossible! This was the last one I took of him the other day and I was happy to end with a keeper. :)

His birthday theme is John Deere. It may seem simple enough to most people that know Derrick is a farmer. However, ever since he was born, I've struggled with not wanting to "label" him with anything. I just wanted him to be a little boy and experience everything: cowboys and indians, cars and trucks, planes and trains, superhero's, etc. But, I finally let go of that fear of having him be just one thing... he'll do it all on his own in his own time. If he doesn't want to farm, he doesn't have to be a John Deere guy for life. He can be a man in a suit if he wants, even if he was a farm boy to start out. :) And with that, I finally found my inspiration today for his name artwork while rocking him to sleep.... a whole year after he was born. I've tried out so many ideas but just never found one that I thought worked, because, again, I didn't want to label him with just one thing that he was stuck with his entire life. So, if he doesn't like tractors when he grows up, he can get rid of his name in a frame for something he does like. Artwork image to come when I finish it...

blake matthew

I have to share these pics of our little man - I'm biased, I realize, but seriously, is he not a beautiful baby?! :)
Thanks to my friend Katey for all the help!
Enjoy!














Katey, you are simply amazing for getting him in this pose. Thank you so much!!

abbie update

Abbie has somehow gone from being a baby to being a toddler. I'm not sure exactly when or how this happened but it has. And boy is she a busy girl! Although she will still sit and read by herself or play by herself, she is constantly running around, climbing on the couches, getting back down, going from room to room... looking for things to get into. Or maybe she just finds things to get into; maybe she really isn't looking for them, she just happens upon something when she goes wandering. Either way... she keeps me hopping, and at this point, hopping is not on my list of things I really want to do right now. lol

It started when I was going through all the boy clothes and accessories that Amy brought over... she used one of the tubs of clothes to climb onto the couch. Now she doesn't need the tub, she can climb up on the couch without any other assistance. And, thankfully, she seems to know how to get down off the couch by herself, without falling off. She still makes me nervous, though.






We like hot chocolate - bottoms up!



And chocolate pudding, made with avocado instead of milk is the best...


Yeah, I'm cool.



But just look at my curls!


Abbie likes to sit on the computer desk if I'm at the computer and we will look at other photographer's work. If there's pictures of babies, she's all over that.


The other day, before it snowed again, it was so nice outside we walked up to the post office and got the mail. Abbie didn't want to go inside when we got back so I grabbed the camera quick and we stayed outside for awhile. She loved it! I wouldn't let her get too close to the big puddles, but she still had fun. When it was time to come in, she stood outside the door while I stood inside and said "no" when I said we were going inside. Yes, another sign she is a toddler. The use of the word "no".

babymoons

Awhile back, I'd asked Derrick if we could go somewhere. Just the two of us. And leave Abbie overnight, for the first time, with someone else. Not only did he fulfill my request, but he did even better than what I'd asked for. I'd asked for one night away, possibly around Sioux Falls in a bed and breakfast or something like that. Instead, he took me out to Rapid for two nights. We left Abbie with Mark, Megan and Clara and although it was my first time away from Abbie for that long of a time period, it was great! Was I glad to get home to her at the end? Yes, I definitely missed her. But it was sooo good to get away and just relax and not have to worry about changing diapers or if she's been in the car seat too long or did I bring enough snacks and milk? I told Derrick afterward that I think we should make that an annual tradition - for him and I to go somewhere in January or February by ourselves. And here is some of the evidence of our trip:




There was some snow out there, but otherwise the farther west we drove the less snow there was. I felt pretty silly sometimes because I'd only taken my snowboots with me. lol





For only being a two day trip, we made the most of it and got to see everything we wanted to. Custer State Park, Rapid, Spearfish, Deadwood and all the scenery in between. It was great! I only asked that next time we go out that way, I not be pregnant. Seriously - the only two times I've been out there I've been pregnant. lol






The interesting thing this trip was how much more wildlife we got to see just driving around.





We even spotted bigfoot and he posed for a quick pic....



With a new baby almost here, it's been nice to have a child who will sit and just read.



I got these books on how to incorporate vegetable purees into regular foods kids will eat. And while it was a lot of work, especially at 9 months pregnant, to get all of the puree cooked, packaged and frozen, it's been worth it for the few things I've tried so far.



First, it was cauliflower puree mixed into garlic mashed potatoes and Derrick couldn't tell it was in there. Next I tried squash mixed in with boxed mac and cheese but it was pretty sweet so it was a noticeable difference. I would try something different next time for that one. But then I tried broccoli and sweet potato purees mixed into homemade tomato soup (I never buy canned tomato soup anymore) and it was absolutely delicious and you couldn't tell any difference in taste. The next thing I want to try are these beet pancakes. We'll see how it goes! :)

Well, as the title says, babymoon is plural. (Not sure it really counts as a babymoon, since we already have one child, but I think it's such a weird term, I just wanted to use it anyway.) I got a second opportunity to have a night away before baby #2 arrives. Derrick took me to Sioux Falls overnight and although we didn't really do any shopping, we did get to eat out and go to a movie and go to the Sertoma Butterfly house, which was pretty cool. We both thought that Abbie would enjoy it, even at this age, so we'll definitely go back sometime. When we first walked into the garden area with the butterflies, it was like we were transported to some other climate. Even though it was warm that day and we didn't need jackets outdoors, it was still cool to go from winter to tropical rainforest.








One of them even landed on Derrick!






The place also had a small collection of fish; the display was still under construction, but it was neat to see what they've started with.








And finally, a random picture to end with, since it's snowing again today. Although this is a picture from the blizzard we had not too long ago.... worst weather I've seen since I moved up here almost 9 years ago. Glad baby boy didn't decide to make his appearance during this!