Dax's 2nd Birthday!

(sorry for posting this random post!!  I'm busy trying to move some of my old posts onto a new blog for more public viewing, and wanted to remove this one from it's original link- but didn't want to delete it completely, obviously!!  I'll post the new blog soon!)

I cannot believe that Dax is TWO YEARS OLD!!!!  He is so precious, spunky, smart, funny, busy, creative, and cute that it makes my heart almost pop.  Although he has feisty streaks, this kid has the biggest heart and sweetest soul I've ever seen!  I am so lucky to be his mommy.

How has it been two years since he was this little!?

Dax- 5 weeks old

And one year since his First Birthday Monster Bash!?!?!

Here are some pictures of Dax's birthday and Construction Party yesterday.  He had a blast, and really realized that it was HIS day when we all sang "Happy Birthday" around him and his TRUCK cake!  :) We have the world's greatest family, friends, and neighbors- who all showed up, had a blast, and brought amazing gifts for Dax AND Tate!  We are so blessed and lucky and spoiled.  :)

The bouncehouse people dropped the Monster Truck MoonWalk off nice and early- so the kids could be tortured all day waiting to go outside and play in it!! 

(The backyard got REALLY muddy somehow the night before so they had to stay inside or in the front yard all morning- I was devastated and hormonal, but Casey, MiMi and Steve saved the day by thinking of getting mulch to cover up the mud.  Not the most beautiful backyard, but it got the job done!  And kind of went with the party theme, ha!)

Dax getting his birthday presents when he woke up!  He was so excited, and totally didn't understand why he was being showered with gifts!

Getting ready for the party!

The party favors!

Dax is ALWAYS happy in Uncle Lu's arms!

The amazing cake made by MorMor!!!

 Tate even got in on the construction spirit!  :)

The cake demo!  Later Dax grabbed himself a fork and dug in.  I couldn't get a picture fast enough- but hey, it's his party!

The food table was really cute, but I didn't get a picture of it.  Oh well!

So happy in the bouncehouse!

Love this picture- Dax is body slamming himself!

His construction sign "2" shirt made by mommy :)

Tate and MiMi hanging out after the party!  

Tate Giggling At Breakfast

Nothing special- just adorable Tate giggles :)

What does the puppy say?

Here's Tate attempting to woof like a puppy!  This was the very first day he did it- probably about 2 weeks ago.  Now he "oof oofs" pretty much everytime he sees a dog, and he will sometime attempt a monkey sound if you remind him what they say. :)  Love him!

Tate 9 months

Oh this kid is beyond precious. Love love love love love love him!!!!!! Here is our 9 month photoshoot. He's getting pretty impossible to catch still and sitting, but I got a couple decent pictures! This month he became interested in animals and noises the make (particularly puppies and monkeys- he tries to mimic them, and sometimes he'll do the puppy unsolicited if he sees one!), will finally sit still for a book (sometimes 2!), claps and dances (dances=bounces), waves hi and bye (with a big straight arm), and gives amazing slobbery wet lustful kisses. You know when he's coming in with a kiss. His eye lids get all heavy and he stares you in the eyes, then he stares at your lips, all while slowly and dramatically drawing closer and closer in. It's so cute! He's such a lover!

He's bouncing and clapping here. The three of us (Ada, Dax, and me) are all behind the camera singing loudly to try to get him to smile. It was counterproductive.

Video- hanging out

Another random yet cute video of us just chillin' in the living room :)

Cutest Video EVER.

I can't believe I haven't posted this yet.  This is my favorite video.  Ever. I'm obsessed with them and days like this-

Video: Mommy and Dax

This is what Dax and I do while Ada's at school- ha!

Mommy joins in the fun-

Tate- 8 months

OK I'm wwwaaaayyy late in posting this monthly photoshoot update!!  I did however take the pictures on time- just haven't uploaded them and blogged about it!  So-- here's Tate at 8 months, 2+ weeks after his photoshoot.  I absolutely adore this little boy.  More everyday.  

He's getting to be quite the silly jokester.  He seems to think more subtle things are funny.  Not so slapstick like his big brother and sister, maybe?  Right around his 8 month birthday he began waving and "clapping"- you'll see the progression of his clap in the 2 videos at the bottom of this post.  Super cute.  (Now 2 weeks later he's working on blowing kisses- I can't WAIT for him to get that one down!) 

He's got 8 teeth and they are pretty much the cutest thing I've ever seen. 

He's showing interest in letting go of whatever he's holding on to- I'm not sure how long I have until he's walking, but I hope a few months still at least.  I am NOT READY to give up my crawling baby!  Speaking of crawling, the kid can make it halfway up the stairs in about 2 seconds flat. So that's a workout. 

He's coming around on the whole eating solids thing.  He wasn't sure about it at first, but LOVES them now, and gets cranky quick when his cheerios are all gone at mealtime!

Speaking of mealtime, we're working on baby signs.  And he seems to understand "more" and "all done" with some attempts at making the sign.  I vaguely remember Dax doing the same thing for "more" at first- banging on his tray! :)  He is pretty good at "all done"- especially if I do it first, he will return the gesture if he is in fact, all done.

Here is this sweet boy at 8 months- it gets more and more difficult with each passing month to get a good photoshoot in!

And videos of "If You're Happy and You Know It" with Tay-Tay-

This first one he is doing a spectacular with a "one-handed clap"- also known as pounding ;)

And this one he finally has his midline clap down, but he's not in such a happy-and-you-know-it kinda mood so I don't get much out of him! 

Halloween 2013

What a wonderful Halloween!!!! We had adorable Halloween decorations in our yard, had a block Halloween carnival in the culdesac, and trick or treated with a million kids in adorable costumes to the best neighbors ever! 

Ada was Elphaba from her favorite show Wicked. Dax was a precious robot (we searched high and low for a "wed wobot" costume- but he finally gave in and accepted silver was all there was), and Tate was a box of Tater Tots!!! And of course I had to be a Sonic carhop carrying around that large order of tots! Daddy just went as himself!  

I didn't get any good pics of the kids trick or treating- it was dark and a huge cluster, but you get the point!!!

Every neighbor was in charge of bringing a game for our culdesac carnival- here's the Dowell's!

Ada in her last minute special shirt headed to school on Halloween day!

Tater Tots!

Elphaba!

Robot!

Eating his apple from bobbing for apples (which he just stuck his hand in and grabbed) and trying to pop a balloon for some prizes-

Sonic carhop and her order of tater tots-

Waiting in line for the bucket toss-

Trick or treat!!

Photo Dump

Pictures of the last week or so :)

Dentist appointment for Dax and Ada. That was a lot of fun-

Tate eating apple slices at Jason's Deli-

Tate being adorable-

Dax getting a bell for his trike- and repeatedly ringing it in the checkout line!

Swinging-

Dax photo bombing selfies I was taking to post this maroon monogrammed scarf at the shop-

Every time we visit the dr (Ada had pink eye last week) Dax steals pair of latex gloves - 

Tate trying beans from tortilla soup. Jury is still out-

My boys helping unload the dishwasher-

Dax's chose is to unload the silverware into its drawer. I can't bring myself to straighten the drawer when he's finished bc it makes me so happy whenever I open it up and see the mess!

Tate the happy jailbird-

And how do I have no cute pictures of Ada!? So here's one I already posted from the Howlaween fest - love this pretty girl!