No No!

Feeding Moose...one of his favorite things to do!
Helping rake leaves. Fall finally hit Carlsbad and a week or so later winter hit with a snow storm!




Learning to use a spoon is so much fun, but so messy!

We just got back from out Thanksgiving vacation in Kansas with my family. Dathan had a great time playing with Mady and getting spoiled by Grandparents. He can VERY clearly say "no" and uses it frequently while waving his finger back and forth at you. He throws tantrums and particularly hates getting his diaper or clothing changed. He is "on the go" as usual and talking more everyday. A few of the words he says that we understand: mama, daddy, ball, no, "mo" for more, tickle (the way he says this word is just adorable and at the same time he says it he will tickle you), "ba" for bananas (his favorite food), "bow" for book, and he is also trying to make some animal sounds. We get so tickled at him when acts out the finger motions to children songs, tries to jump (his feet don't leave the ground, but he thinks he has done something magnificent), dances, or the way he giggles when being chased or tickled. He is working on learning to climb, so I just wait for the day I find him on top of the counter or out of the crib.

October Family Fun

Chad finished his 1st marathon this month! Dathan and I were there to cheer him across the finish line. We are so proud of him!




All of this fun with family must have worn a bit of energy out of Dathan. He fell asleep in his highchair for the first time.

Happy Halloween (a day late!)

At the pumpkin patch with Mady
Getting ready for the kids to come Trick or Treating
At the Fall Festival and wanting the costume off!

Dathan tolerated his costume and had fun greeting kids at the door that came Trick or Treating. He would pull so hard on the ears of his costume that he would almost pull himself over. We thought he made a really cute puppy!

One Year Old!

Get this hat off of me and give me some cake!

Cousin Mady decorated my cake for me.

Look at all my teeth and my adorable blue eyes!

We celebrated Dathan's 1st birthday today with family and friends. We had fun watching Dathan eat his cake and play with friends. Dathan is walking and running and not much seems to slow him down. We have 2 steps in our house that lead into a bedroom that he loves to practice crawling up and down on. He is eating almost everything these day and just had his first PB&J today that he seemed to really like. Dathan is all boy when it comes to his choice in toys. He enjoys balls and cars the most. It is so hard to believe that a full year has already passed and that we are full on into the toddler stage with mini tantrums beginning and repeating "no" to us. Fun times ahead!!!

Walking

First Rodeo


We've had a fun couple of weeks. Dathan is now officially walking (we can no longer say he is taking 3 steps, 12 steps, etc.). He is able to walk from one room to the other and is so proud of himself when he does. We took him to his first rodeo a couple of weekends ago and he was mesmerized watching the horse and entertainment for the 2 hour show. Last night we took him to his first high school football game and had lots of fun. He babbles nonstop, signs "more" when he wants more to eat, and seems to understand more and more of what we say each day. We are just a week and a half away from his birthday. So hard to believe!

On the move!

Peek a boo
11 month photo with football
This is heaven!
This thing frustrates me sometimes!

Ahh...another month! It's amazing how time goes so fast! Dathan is doing great at daycare and has only come home with one bite mark so far. We took a short trip to MN to visit some friends and for Chad to participate in his Fantasy Football Draft Day. We had a great time seeing friends and going to a Renaissance Festival while we were there. We still think that Dathan is going to skip walking and head straight for running! He takes about three steps so far, but continues to prefer crawling as his fastest mode of transportation. Overall, this month was about getting things up out of reach and watching Dathan pick up speed.

10 months

I like to sit to drink my bottle.
Or stand and lean against the couch!
Going to pick peaches next door.
Still only 3 teeth

Dathan started daycare last week in preparation for me to return to work part time this week. After just two days at daycare he came down with a stomach bug that he graciously passed on to Chad and I. Thankfully Chad and I had it a day apart from each other so the other one could still take care of Dathan. Not fun!!! Dathan cries every time I leave him at daycare and when I come to pick him up he is usually playing with a toy until the instant he sees me he begins to cry. He already knows how to "work" his mom! Lately he loves to be chased and gets so excited when we say "I'm going to get you". He is getting quicker and quicker everyday between crawling and cruising the furniture. His balance is improving all the time, but no first steps yet. I couldn't wait for him to crawl, but I'm not rushing the walking because I'm pretty sure it's going to be running!

Fun times in July

Mady and Dathan had fun playing in the bus and at times even had Moose in there with them.
Swinging at the park
Dathan loves to kiss little girls! Here he is kissing his friend Ellis. He also loves to pull the pretty bows in girls hair which usually ends up with him making them cry =(
Crashed in his crib.

9 months

Cooling off in the backyard.

Arm bandage from having blood drawn. I cried and mom wanted to cry too!!!

My cousin Mady is so much fun!

My 9 month photo with the football. Look how much I have grown!

Summer Fun

Look at me crawl!

I know there is something fun in here!


I love to swim and splash in the water.


Bath time is always fun!


Playing the piano with Dad.


What a fun month we have had! We spent time in Colorado, Montana and Kansas with Grandparents, Great Grandmas, cousins, Aunts and friends! Dathan has begun crawling and pulling up to stand. He enjoys his new found freedom and exploring new things. It amazes me that each day he is more fun than the day before! What a blessing we have!!!

First Motorcycle

I have fun when Dad feeds me!

We are going to be packing and getting ready this week for our trip to Colorado, Montana and Kansas. Dathan and I will be spending lots of quality time in the van and airport! Dathan is working so hard on crawling and is becoming more and more frustrated when he can't get to where he wants to go. He is a very busy boy! We are excited to see all of our family and friends this summer.

7 months and 7 days

I'm all smiles in the morning!
Swinging in the backyard

This past month has been so much fun with Dathan. He continues to be a happy little guy with lots to say! He babbles quite a bit and will make noises to get your attention. The other day I took him to the grocery store and he preceded to smile and grunt/roar (I don't know how else to describe the noise that he makes) at almost everyone we went by to say "Hi". He also makes this noise at Moose, but much to Dathan's dismay Moose does not respond. Dathan definitely lets me know when he is not happy with me for taking something away from him (ex. the remote control to the T.V.). We are looking forward to June and all of the travels we have planned to visit family and friends.