Devon: September

Happy Birthday Devon!

Little man turned the big 3 this month. I love how he does 3 fingers. Very unique.

The cake. Complete with spider rings and a real Spiderman toy that spins webs.

My first attempt at a layer, rainbow cake. I think it turned out pretty good for my first try. Truthfully, it wasn't difficult so much as it was time consuming. It took a little finesse, but easily done if you have the time. I LOVED making this cake. I really want my babies to grow up knowing that their birthday is a special day to celebrate how amazing they are.

I want to be able to make them a cake and decorate the house just for them with balloons in their room when they wake up and streamers everywhere. (FYI, Devon is clearly not ready for silly string. Oops.) He's been talking about having cake all day. He is mesmerized.

Make a wish!

We asked Devon where he wanted to go to dinner for his special birthday meal and he said,"Uncle Donald's" aka McDonald's. I NEVER take him to eat there. I think he's been there 3 times in his whole life and I hate the place, but if he wants to eat there on his 3rd birthday, fine by me. Look at how happy he is :)

Grandma and Grandpa took us out to dinner at Friday's for Devon's early birthday since they would be out of town on his actual birthday. He LOVED the knife, flashlight, Bernstein Bears game and shield my parents have him. He loved them all! It was fun to watch him while they sang Happy Birthday after which he delicately ate his free sundae.

We took a quick trip to Vegas with Joe's parents this month and the kids had a great time. Kiss on the lips for Mama!

Hangin' with Daddy in the hotel lobby.

At the Bellagio with Pops.

Watching the talking tree with Abuela.

Lovin' on this sweet boy of mine.

Checking out the pool from the 17th floor. The kids LOVED swimming. Joe and I had a great time as well watching them both have so much fun.

Devon loved having so much time to spend with Daddy literally running through casinos. I think he liked Caesar's palace the most.

Since we drove, we took several pit stops to get the kids out and let them run around.

Devon was a DREAM for the 7 hour drive. He played with toys and colored. I brought every DVD we own and he didn't watch any.

Scorpion sucker!

Devon got these glasses from my Mom. They turn light into rainbows. He is so tripped out by them. He points to me and says,"I'm turning you into a person."

A possible Halloween costume. Salute! Is there anything cuter than a 3 year old in a full on astronaut outfit?

This outfit inspired by Uncle Ben. Pony tail and all.

Making cookies. This is not a mixer attachment .... it's a sword obviously.

Hanging out in his "nice safe cage" made from pillows and blankets on Mama and Daddy's bed.

Equal parts frosting and cake make for one seriously happy kid.

Out for our weekly trip to Costco. Couldn't properly shop without this rainbow glasses. Samples just wouldn't taste the same.

Devon is very smart. No seriously .... he's really smart. The things he says continue to blow my mind. His vocabulary is increasing more and more each day.

Devon is very affectionate and gives out tons of hugs, kisses, says,"You're my brand NEW treasure!" and I love you's in sign language. He is very specific that Daddy is his pal and I am his best friend. Awesome.

Devon loves to eat hot dogs, popsicles, Eegees, toast, pizza, carrots and apples. He loves condiments like ketchup, ranch and steak sauce. He loves to read, color, ride his "motorcycle" (aka big wheel), watch Sponge Bob and Super Why and torment his sister ;)

The End.

Audrey: September (14 months)

Most days this is my vantage point of Audrey.

Clinging to my leg, dress or shirt. She has gotten very steady pulling herself up to standing and easing her way back down to the floor. She has officially given up the Army crawl (sad face) and crawls on her knees. She is like one of those battery operated puppy toys .... she will be crawling like a maniac towards the stairs and I'll pick her up, turn her around and as soon as she touches down again she is of at top speed again. She is very independent and is content to be away from me as long as SHE is the one to move away. If I leave her to go to the bathroom she has a meltdown. Figures ;)

This kid hates hats. Hates them. Hence this face. It could also be the above 90 temps, but whatever. She pulls her hats off almost instantly unless I distract her and get her to forget she has one on her head.

I can finally do two ponies. REAL ponies and They. Are. Adorable. I am trying to slowly get her off bottles and onto sippy cups, but she looks so old in this picture I may have to let her keep the bottle a bit longer.

Audrey is not quick to smile and seems to be quite a serious baby. When she does smile she smiles with her whole body squealing, giggling, clapping her hands and that little dimple makes an appearance.

Audrey loves music. It can be a song you sing to her or pounding on the floor in rhythm like a drum she will start to sway. She has done this from the very beginning.

She is so in love with our cat, Sampson. He tried to hide himself in the towel bin (and Devon blocked him in with towels to hide him from her), but she quickly removed the towels and went in after him. If she is having a crying fit, all I have to do is get her little face close to his fur and she giggles and returns to a happy baby.

Downdog Audrey.

At her last appointment Audrey was 60% for weight (down from 90%), 70% for head size and 80% for height so she has started to lean out a bit over these past few months.

Viva Las Vegas!

Baby bum.

Road trippin' to Vegas.

Devon and Audrey are going through a bit of a rough patch right now. I feel like I say that every month! What gives me hope that they will get along is he has given her a nickname that he has come up with all on his own .... Aud.

Devon: August

Since the Castle had to be torn down due to structural damages beyond repair, we periodically make Devon forts out of pillows or chairs and sheets. One of his favorite books is Custard the Dragon and he wants to be in a "nice safe cage", so Devon likes to have us make him a "cage" out of blankets and pillows on our bed. I wish he would call it a nest. I can just see us at the grocery store,"Mom, when we get home can you put me in my cage?" Oye. Devon hardly leaves the house with out a gun in hand. When I told him we were going to a play date at Roman's house the first thing he asked with if he could play with his gun.

Although he has let go of his 3.5 hour naps (ahhhhh, it was good while it lasted) Devon has "resting time" everyday for at least two hours. That may seem like a long time, but he does often fall asleep for an hour after playing toys for an hour so I think is a good balance. He doesn't have to sleep (which is why I don't call it nap time), but he has to stay in his bed and play quietly. I moved the bulk of his toys out into the living room and left his puppets, Mr. Potato Head, books, balls, tractors and blocks in the trundle storage. His loophole for not getting out of bed is pulling out the trundle and playing with his toys while sitting in it. Sigh.

Mr. Devon Head

Super Stretchy Devon

This t-shirt used to be mine. I never wore it, but it's super soft and the perfect night shirt length so I gave it to Devon. It has sushi on it and says "This is how we roll."

Devon loves going to Grandma and Grandpa's house every week. He loves to wear this feathery crown and was happy to sit with Grandma and stack dominoes. What outfit is complete without some sunglasses and at least two swords? He has been going through a strange phase lately, but I think it only happens when Joe and I are around. No matter what the question/statement is, if it comes from someone other than Joe and I Devon will give the opposite response.
Grandma: "Devon, you are such a smart boy!"
Devon: "No I'm not a smart boy!"
I don't know where this is coming from, but he stopped doing it when I left and my Mom babysat and he also stopped when Pops and Abuela took him out to dinner. He is such a sweet boy for Joe and I that I hope he snaps out of this soon so people don't think he's always this ornery.

Devon is potty training again and it has been SO much easier this time around that I wish I would have waited. He still has accidents, but when he does he says,"Mom, I need a towel." Me: "What for?" Devon: "I peed on the floor and I need to clean it up. There, that's better." He still won't #2, but at least he only does that in a pull up. I got him a really nice "light saver" and I set it out on the counter so he can see it as incentive to "go" ;)

Joe is always on the lookout for desert creatures to show the kids and this bat ended up on the porch. Which means that Joe caught it and showed it to the kids. This is one creepy little animal. It hissed and bared its' tiny teeth.

Devon loves to go to "jumping class" and is easily the sweatiest kid there! He jumps and runs and climbs like his little life depends on it. It's probably the only the day of the week that he actually falls asleep right away for nap.

Devon was so happy to help blow up balloons for his little sisters birthday.

Devon LOVES doing art projects. We color with markers, cut paper, paint or glue every day at least once. He is very specific about me making him a pallet on a paper plate and says,"It's poopin'." when I squeeze the reluctant paint from the tube.

The End.