Learning Table

Kailer's newest toy is a Fisher Price Learning Table. This particular table is food-based. So in the center there's a bowl that spins and sings the alphabet song, there's a slice of pizza with different shapes on it, some fruit in the corner, a cup that after you push on it is either "full" or "empty" along with two cookies create a counting song. The Learning Table has been a lot of fun for Kailer and has helped to keep him from pulling himself up on the coffee table and t.v. stand ... though he still does on occassion.

Last night, sometime after 1:30 but before 3:00 a.m., I woke up and Dan sensed that I was awake (as he couldn't sleep) and he said to me, "I can't get that counting song out of my head"! So it looks like the learning table as had an impact on all of us. Ha! :)

Working his way around the table.

Holding that spoon that's used to stir the alphabet soup!

Enjoying some play (goofy) time with Daddy!!

(I think I see where he learned to make silly faces!)

"Cause he's a BIG boy!"

If any of you have seen the Chevy commercial where the little girl exclaims,"'Cause I'm a BIG girl!" then you will appreciate the title of this post. We finally graduated Kailer from his infant carrier to a "big boy" car seat. He seems to like it more, which is a good thing, because strapping a child into a car seat that he doesn't like can be quite challenging. It's hard to believe that this will be the last car seat we buy for him.

In comparison, this is Kailer in his infant carrier the day I brought him home.

One Year Ago....

One year ago today, I stood in our driveway teary-eyed, 30 weeks pregnant, Mesa by my side and waved to my husband as he pulled away to leave for the Montana Law Enforcement Academy in Helena, MT for 12 weeks. The fears of being alone for the last 10 weeks of my pregnancy mounted as he drove off that day. We were, however, very blessed with the fact that Helena is approximately 1.5 hours away, so when Dan was released from is classes on Friday evenings, he would head home and spend the weekend with me; typically leaving after dinner on Sundays. Watching him leave each week eventually got easier .... UNTIL ... the weekend that Kailer was born. Every weekend had been the same, up until that point. We would have a nice dinner together on Sunday, hang out for a bit and then he'd leave. But on that Monday evening, when Dan left the hospital, well that was by far the hardest - for both of us! There I was with a cherub of a baby in my arms and his daddy had to leave to head back to the academy. I held Kailer extra tight as we walked Dan down the hallway, as far as we were allowed to go, and said our "good-bye's".... as the tears started to flow.

Dan returned on Friday evening and we repeated the good-bye routine for 3 more weeks and at last it was time for us to go to Helena for his graduation. Looking back, I often wonder how single mothers do it for more than a few weeks. Having a baby and taking care of it by yourself is a lot of hard work and it's exhausting!

We are all so very proud of Dan and the person he has become and the career path he has chosen. He continues to amaze me each morning when he comes home and shares the previous night's events - how does he do it, how does he deal with all of the crime, violence and stupidity that exists? Thankfully those 12 weeks gave him the foundation to build upon - this is what he was trained to do!

So in honor of Dan and his career, I thought today I'd share a few photos from his time in the academy. I also ask you to keep our law enforcement officers in your prayers. I think they are easily over-looked, yet they go out day in and day out to serve and protect you and your community. Tell them Thank-you and pray for their safety every day. We love you, Dan!!

My "Special" Husband!

He will probably kill me for posting this picture - but it's nice to know that some fun was had by the men and women of M.L.E.A. Basic Class 138. Maybe this was some sort of training? Not sure! :)Time to hit the books.
Giving a speech at a reception held the night before graduation. I should also mention that Dan was chosen as the Class Representative, which meant that he was the only student to give a speech at graduation.

M.L.E.A. Basic #138.

Kai-bug's 1st Easter!

After an early morning feeding (5:45 a.m.), Kailer went back to sleep this morning until 8:00 a.m., which was just about the time his Daddy was getting home from work. So we all settled into the big bed (our bed) and had a little Easter fun. Kailer opened his package from Grandma McGinty and checked out his Dad's Easter basket.

New Wyoming hat and bunny rabbit.

"Oooh, what's in here?"


"Yep, I think I'll try this one!"

Camo eggs...of course, only for my boys!

After Church with his bunny, Easter egg (from Church), his new Duck that quacks and apparently the Easter Bunny took his shoe and sock in exchange for his goodies!

Happy Easter!

Kailer's first visit to see the Easter Bunny was a success!! I was a little nervous as I stood in line for 20 minutes and right as Mr. E. Bunny was arriving, Kailer was starting to get impatient. Somehow, though, I managed to keep him entertained for another 10 minutes as the children in front of us got their pictures taken. My heart broke as I watched a little girl, probably around 1 1/2 years old, sit on he bunny's lap and start to cry hysterically!! Not only did I feel terribly bad for her, but I thought to myself, "Oh gosh, I hope Kailer doesn't react that way!" At last it was our turn and the lady taking the picture instructed me to hold Kailer facing me, walk up to the bunny and set Kailer on his lap (in hopes that he wont get scared, since he wont see him as we were approaching). So I followed her directions, sat him down and he instantly looked up at the Easter Bunny and gave him a great big smile. Phew, my child wasn't going to be one to have a break-down! I told Dan about our adventure when I got home and his response was, "I don't think he's going to be afraid of much of anything." He's probably right!

Happy Easter!!

1st Word?

Well,there has been some controversy amongst Dan and I about Kailer's first word He started saying the the /b/ sound in early January, followed by /ma-ma-ma/ in early February and around the middle of February he started using the /d/ sound. So depending on the day and who he is around, he may or may not say "words" like ma-ma or da-da. According to definition a child's first word is used with meaning. Neither Dan nor I are fully convinced that he's used these words with meaning, but we do feel that he knows which one belongs to whom. Regardless, I caught this on video and I'm pretty sure you'll agree that his first word, with meaning, is "ma-ma"... Oh and disregard that little /d/ sound that you hear at the end! He, he. :)

Wolfgang Puck

In the evenings while I'm getting dinner ready, Kailer joins me for his own kitchen fun. He has a few cupboards that are "Kailer safe" and he is free to open the and play away. Sometimes I'll even put a little water in a pot and let him go at it for awhile. A friend of mine said that once he's a little older a 1/2 cup of dog food and some water will buy me an extra 45 minutes .... we'll definitely be waiting a while before we try that out!! Though tonight he seemed to enjoy the fact that he got to the dog bowl and dumped the whole thing before I could stop him! :)
So as Kailer plays away with my pots and pans, preparing to be the next Wolfgang Puck or Iron Chef, I continue my busy work of preparing food while all the while stepping around him and trying not to trip on his "culinary creations!"
As a side note, did you know that some vegetables will actually spark in the microwave? Seriously! Tonight I was reheating some veggies that I had steamed last night and "crack, snapple, pop," and it wasn't Rice Krispies baby ... it was my carrots!! They actually were sparking. Upon doing a little research I learned that some dense vegetables (i.e. carrots, green beans, and green peppers) have higher amounts of minerals. These minerals act like tiny pieces of metal and can create arcing effects in a microwave. Hmm, who knew? Needless to say, I decided at that point that it would be best if Kailer NOT eat them; though studies say the arcing doesn't harm the veggies.

Just getting started into the cupboard.
Alright, now we're talking ... pot and pans are out!!


Trying out the handle - I guess it's edible?

Telling me about his cooking experience. Every time I watch this I wrinkle my nose each time he does. He is a true show-off!!