Cupcake Kiddos

A few weeks ago I watched two of the sweetest girls I know, Miss Veda and Miss Averi. What a delight to spend time with them! We spent the morning laughing, jumping on the coach and making cupcakes.

It's so fun to watch the kiddos interact as they get older. Love. Them.

A Winter Walk

We are so enjoying this mild winter. More please!

Baby Weston

Smitten.

Pure love.

Little man.

Proud Daddy. <3

Weston just a few mins old!

Aunt Becky!

Opening his eyes

Weston's first bath

D meeting Weston for the first time.

Heart is full.

Uncle Daryn!

All snuggled in.

Baby Weston is here! He arrived on December 9 at 4:23 am. He is 7lbs., 14oz., 21.5" and alllll sorts of cute. Our hearts are smitten and so is the proud Dad. :) Dawson got to meet Weston during his first bath. He was really excited to meet him and was very concerned when we was crying. He kept saying "Baby Weston is so sad", 'Baby Weston is so cute".

How special to have a boy cousin so close in age to grow up with. I can only imagine the adventures that are to come with these two boys. What a pure blessing. Our hearts are over flowing. Welcome Weston! We love you little man!

Santa Train

A little over a month ago, Nana picked up the Train Crazy Kids as an after thought for .50 cents at a garage sale. Ever since then Dawson has been OBSESSED with it. I can't believe it still works after all the hours of play we've gotten out of it. It's basically a documentary about all things trains.  I could recite to you the song that plays in it, "When I grow up I want to have some fun, work real hard and get my job done!....". You can just image how great the other 2 hours of it are!

So when I found a real life "Santa Train" ride, I got tickets for us to go. Dawson loved it. It was such a neat experience. We was a little like "Wow, a real train, with a real Santa?". It was fun to be able to do something he is so madly consumed with and tap into it. Makes him seem like such a little man to have such strong interests. And he even let me take his picture with Santa!

All aboard!

D's first time meeting Santa.

The happiest boy.

If anyone is interested in a showing of Train Crazy Kids, Dawson would be happy to share the love. It's pretty much showing all the time!

2 Years Old

Out to lunch at Ella's Deli

Averi and D on their way to the park

At the Big Rig Gig up close with a real Firetruck!

D and his sidekick, Sammy

Walking Sammy

Playing with his buddy Jackson

Applefest 2011 with the Kalscheurs!

One cool dude.

Among the leaves changing colors and the fall air settling in, a second birthday was celebrated. Dawson turned 2 on Monday. We celebrated with a family Mickey Mouse themed party on Sunday afternoon. On his actual birthday, he had preschool in the morning and decide that napping would just get in the way of the celebrations apparently! So off to the zoo with Dad we went. After the zoo we went to Qdoba and out for ice cream. The weather was as picture perfect as possible. 365 more please!

A friend told me today that when your kids are young, the days go slow and the years go fast. I couldn't agree more. Dawson is getting more and more animated and expressive each day. His communication continues to grow in leaps and bounds and his sentences grow in length and his stories grow in detail.

He is loving preschool and the teachers describe him as a happy, independent kid. I get bits and pieces from him about what he does in school. Mostly play dough, slide, cars, books, Averi, Miss Jackie, Miss Teri, color is what I hear from him. There have been a few times I've heard him singing a few lines from a song at school. The other day we were out for a walk and I sneezed and he said "Gazuntite Mama!".  It was pretty darn cute. Pretty sure he learned that one from school because we never say gazuntite!

Another funny story about Dawson: a week or so ago, we were in the laundry room and I was handing him clothing from the washer and then he would put it in the dryer. He was so proud. As I would hand him things we would categorize them as "baby" or "das a BIG one" depending on the size, which has become a regular thing around here lately. I would hand him one of his socks and he would say, "Das Dawson's sock. Das a baby one." Then I would hand him one of Daryn's sweatshirts and he would say, "Das Daddy's. Das a BIG one.", etc. You get the point. So I handed him a pair of my underwear and (can you guess where this is going? and said, "Das Mommy's. Das a BIG one!" I told him I would try to not hold that against him. Later on I handed him a pair of Daryn's underwear to put in the dryer and he said, "Das Daddy's. It's so stinky!"....too funny.

At 24 months, Dawson is...
- Curious, sensitive, independent, observant, endearing, affectionate, smart, kind 
- Sleeping 7:00pm - 7:30am
- Napping in the afternoons (usually 2 hours)
- Very tall for his age
- Talks contantly
- Is starting to show off and get hyper when we have people over
- Loves to hold your hand and lead you around
- Is obsessed with his big boy bed and is sure to get any new visitor (and repeats!) a tour
- Would live off of fruit snacks, juice, grapes and french fries
- Is just starting to play with kids around his age instead of along side them
- Adores parks and riding in his stroller
- Often found playing with matchbox cars and track, train set, coloring, watching Mickey Mouse or reading books.

The amount of joy that Dawson has brought during some darker days this last year has been priceless. Looking into his big, brown eyes makes you forget about all the rest. He's worth it. All of it. Getting through and getting back up is so important because there is a purpose and a reason waiting for you. I don't know what God's plan is for our family and our future and that's overwhelming at times. But what I do know is that Dawson was put in our family and on this earth for a purpose as was Daryn and I. There are no accidents and we serve a God who walks through it with us, aches, tears, laughs, joys and all. I don't know why our family has gone through what it has, but I do know that God placed Dawson in our lives to lighten the load and give us light when all else seems grim. As my relationship with him grows, I am taken back by how much my love for Dawson can duplicate by the minute. I love this boy so very, very much.

First day of (Pre)School!

Happy 1st day of school!

Gear in tow.

D with his backpack...and me in the background holding it up so he doesn't tip over.

Checking out the classroom.

Ms. Teri, D, Mom and Ms. Jackie

Today was Dawson's first day of preschool. He is attending CCS in Mt. Horeb Monday and Tuesday mornings from 8:30-11:15. The philosophy of Montessori is really neat. Here's is a little blurb from their website that sums their mission:

Our Mission is to provide a nurturing and challenging Montessori educational environment for children  in which they explore the world and their place in it through hands-on learning experiences and positive social interactions that reinforce the knowledge and skills essential for independent thinking, resourceful problem-solving, active citizenship and life-long learning.

He did so well today. No tears (for Mom or Dad either ;). We were trying to say our goodbyes and he was like "Yeah, whatever Mom and Dad, I'll be fine. What's the big deal? Just get out of here already!"

He got good reports from Ms. Teri and Ms. Jackie. Playdough, snack time, trucks, songs and stories. They also mentioned he was sensitive to noises (kids in other rooms, background music, etc.) which is really funny because it is something we know of Dawson but forget that might be a characteristic of his and not all kiddos. From a car horn in the distance, a motorcycle driving by, the washing machine, etc., he is always listening and asking "What's that?".

It will be fun to learn more about Dawson through them and see how much he learns!

23 Months

Lil' ham much?

Brady, D's buddy...

Big boy bed!

D loves his big boy bed...he is one proud dude.

Dad getting fancy with his photo taking skills.

One of two favorite things to do at Grandpa and Grandma's. The other? Swinging.

Playing at the park.

Swing, swing.

When I talk about D loving to run, does THIS photo give you a good idea of what I mean?

....can this season really be around the corner?!

With summer winding down and the 2 year mark just a month away, time seems to be speeding quickly by. Life with Dawson lately has been so much fun! His big conversations are growing more detailed and elaborate by the hour. His memory floors me, as he recalls details of places, conversations and events of weeks prior. He's a tiny human now! ;)

The big event this last month was transitioning Dawson into a "Big Boy Bed". He did much, much better than I ever imagined. Pretty much no difference for him. He was so funny "helping" me take apart the crib and set up his new bed. We could hardly get the sheets on fast enough before he could crawl back up and start jumping on the bed. He is very proud and shows his bed to all that come over.

Dawson will also be attending a montessori preschool this year as mom's design work has out grown nap times. Averi will be in his class as well! We had orientation last week and he seemed very comfortable as he wondered around the classroom playing with new toys and discovering the classroom. He will be going to CCS on Monday and Tuesday mornings from 8:30 to 11:15. His first day is this Tuesday!

At 23 months, Dawson...
- Is a great independent player as long as you are within his sight. He'll grab your by the hand and say "Play with you" he leads you to his next destination.
- Loves to play with cars, trucks, tractors, buses, trains, etc. Any transportation vehicle will do.
- Knows basic colors, 12 shapes, ABC's and can count to 20.
- Adores his Grandparents
- Obsessed with: Mickey Mouse, String cheese, Juice, stickers, Mickey Mouse, his Packer shoes (crocs on lend from Jackson), Sesame Street app on my phone and...Mickey Mouse.
- Will never outgrow: walks (strollers rides), asking questions, (Who's that?, What was that? Where ____ go?) and playing at the park.
- Loves to use the word "so": "I so tired", "It's so dark", "It's so windy", "I'm so hungry", "It's so hot/cold", "It's so cute"...
- Appropriately and with inflection uses phrases like: "Oh no, I made a mess!", "Oh my goodness!", "We're almost home!"...
- Friends: Veda, Averi, Jackson, Brady, Oliver

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(Here's the part about where I gush about how great Dawson is :)

Dawons is SUCH a joy. He listens well, plays great independently, is fairly even keeled, always up for an adventure, likes to snuggle and give kisses, sleeps well and is full of life. If I could hand pick the qualities of a child, Dawson would be the product of that list. I thank God everyday for the light and blessing he brings into my life. My love for him grows exponentially each day.