Rub a dub dub

... this baby loves the tub. And I don't mean he likes the tub, he LOVES it. We have a little evening ritual that includes bathtime and it's his favorite time of day.

We get him undressed and when his little butt hits that water, he's in hog heaven. He stays calm while I wash him down, but as if on cue after his hair and face are washed, he knows it's time to swim!

Like magic, he starts smiling, cooing, waving his arms, kicking his legs, literally swimming. He works his way down to the "deep end," then we move him back up and he starts all over again. It's the funniest thing. Like he's on a mission. I've never seen anything like it.

Check him out.

Twilight

I went to the premier of Twilight tonight with some friends. Thank goodness Erin went early and saved a place in line. We would have been waiting at the end of the line, OUTSIDE!!!



The movie premier scene was pretty amusing. All of these teenage girls wearing their Twilight shirts (some home-made, some official) screaming and running to find a seat when they let the gates up 30 minutes before the show. There were shrieks of delight at the entrance of major characters, particularly the male characters, and during the romantic moments. A little distracting, but entertaining at least.

As far as the movie goes, I'm not commenting. I'll let you go see it for yourself and decide. Ha!

Afterward, Meredith, Erin, Jill, Julia and I went to a little Italian restaurant and got dessert.


The girls thought it was funny that the restaurant name had "Bel" (close to Bella) in it and a painting next to our table was signed by "Edward."

Meanwhile back at the ranch... well at the Hall's house... Craig was babysitting. Way to go, Dad!

And check out Isaac's cool sleeping-bag-cover-thing for his carseat. It keeps him warm when it's cold and windy like today and is compliments of what I'll call "The Great Jill Hand Me Down", for which we'll be forever grateful. Thank so much!

11 weeks old

I love this boy. And he's growing and changing so much.




He's getting good at holding his head up, he turns his head toward new sounds, tracks things well with his eyes, will smile back at you and coos when he likes something. Not a huge fan of tummy time, but he can lift his arms and legs off the ground and "fly". He does it best when he's mad and sick and tired of tummy time. He also likes to be held up to practice standing.



At the doctor last week, he weighed a whooping 16 lbs. 10 oz. So he gained a pound in the one week from his prior visit. (We've had a couple extra visits because of his cold).





Things he loves, as of late (in no particular order), are:

- baths in the big bath tub - video of this coming soon!

- playing with these chain link toys

- looking at his arm/hand/sleeve (no joke- he lifts his arm and goes cross-eyed staring at it)

- putting soft things in his mouth, like blankets dad wraps him in so he doesn't have to re-dress him after changing a diaper :)

- His yellow duck softie. He really loves this toy. He's always got the beak, or a wing or even the duck's hair in his mouth.

- And a new one from today is watching the ceiling fan go round and round. I couldn't believe how long that entertained him!

Business Trip

Dick was in Philly this week for business and came to see the boy he loves. No, I'm not talking about Craig - although he loves him too.

See you next week for Turkey Day!

More Prescott Valley info

Here's the site from a local's eyes. I can't wait to set up shop ...and eat some pizza.

http://oddballobservations.blogspot.com/2008/11/more-growth.html

Family Photo Shoot

We took some family pictures before a big Sunday dinner at my mom's house.

I guess all the big group ones are on everyone else's cameras. But, I did get one of...

Sisters!!!

Milissa turns 17 in December and Amanda is 18 (and a half). When did you guys grow up on me?

Isaac and Aunt Kristi

My dad watching Monsters Inc. with his grandbabies. It's become a Sunday ritual.

My brother Brandon - what a hottie ;)

All 4 grandkids!!

Okay - I think I'm all caught up on my Arizona pics now. Thanks everyone for a great trip. We love you.

Howdy Howden Side

Fortunately for us, Jeane, Jerry, Diane and Dennis were all down from the north for the winter. This works out great for us because they're just a short drive away instead of a long plane ride to NODAK. Even though Craig had already flown home, Isaac and I got to visit them in Sun Lakes before we jumped on our own plane.

Isaac, Jeane and Dennis

Playing with Aunt Diane

Dennis has a way with the baby

Group photo - me, baby, Jerry, Dennis, Jeane

It was good to see you all. It's been too long!

My Bonnie Lives Over the Ocean

Isaac got to meet his Great Grandma Peterson when we were in Arizona. Grandma - it was great to see you! Thanks for having us over.

Afterward, we swung by Pete's Fish and Chips, which is just around the corner from Grandma's. Pete's is one of my favorite places to eat in Phoenix. I took "baby's first Pete's" pictures...

Gotta love the shrimp and chips with an extra side of special sauce.

And Pete's wouldn't be Pete's without the pidgeons! They still have the don't feed the birds signs up.

P.V.

Well, it's decided! We're moving to Prescott Valley, AZ after Craig graduates in May.

If you're not familiar with it, P.V. is about an hour and a half north of Phoenix, right next to Prescott, AZ (yes, Prescott Valley and Prescott are two different places). For all our easterner friends (who only know of Scottsdale, Sedona and Flagstaff) it's between Scottdale and Flagstaff and near Sedona... kind of, but not really. We'll be living about 1.5 hours from where we grew up.

Philadelphia has been very good to us, but we're looking forward to being back in the land of the sun, closer to family and somewhere where there are more vehicles like these...

(Craig took a picture of this when we were driving around town - I think it's his truck's long lost cousin from Japan)

Moreover, Craig is going to open a dental practice of his own. He's thrilled and has put a lot of time and energy into making plans, working on office designs, etc. for the past few months. We're setting up shop in a building that is in the middle of construction as I write. He'll occupy the two end spaces. Check it out:

It's fun to know where we'll raise our family!

Meeting Grandpa & Grandma Peterson

My family came down from Pinedale to see us. We got to eat a yummy breakfast (thanks for cooking dad!) and spend time with them Saturday morning.

Getting love from Grandpa Peterson

More love from Grandma Peterson and Susan

Susan and Brent playing with the cool race track thingie

Susan has grown up so much. What a cutie!Fast asleep in Grandma's arms. Life is goooood.

Bea and Ted's

We had so much fun hanging out with family in Arizona -- something we don't get much of living on the east coast. We spent our Friday night there with some of Craig's family.

Grandma Bea and Grandpa Ted getting a first glimpse at Isaac

Rachel was so good with Little Man. She held him and kept him content for a lot of the night. I often hear about how Craig and Ross would hold Rachel and take care of her when she was a baby. I couldn't help but think that things had come full circle with her holding Craig's baby.

The troublemakers - Craig and Uncle Brian

Is this who taught Isaac to sleep with his arms above his head? Could it be genetic?

Craig, Aunt Rose, Isaac and a little dog too. We were surprised to see Josie in Arizona. Bea and Ted were taking care of her while Connie and Dick were in China.

Grandma Bea -- what a lovely lady

And somehow Zac eluded our camera. You're not getting away that easy next time Zac!!!

Hanging out at Grandma & Grandpa Nelson's

Craig, Isaac and I are visiting Arizona this week. Isaac got to meet his cousins Cayden, Jaxon and Alec for the first time.

Little Man, Grandma Nelson and Alec

.

Grandpa Nelson, Aunt Kristi, Jaxon and Isaac.

The boys are only 2 months apart. So sweet.

Cayden doesn't hold still for very long, but we finally got him in a picture.

Grandma making Cayden laugh.

Aunt Milissa loves me a lot. I like to fall asleep on her shoulder.

Is it Mom? Is it Aunt Milissa with short hair? Or did Aunt Amanda get to Mom today?

A: Mom
Hair - compliments of Amanda
Clothes - belong to Amanda

Accessories - from Amanda too
Isaac - genetics from Dad