Today I was really feeling like I was failing Justin. I took him to Dana Point with Bethany and Mackenzie to see this pirate show and ships they had on display. He was tired before we left and I pushed him to his max limit. He cried the whole walk back to the shuttle bus because he just wanted to walk and there were too many people for me to let him. He was also hungry and about two hours past his nap time. Then we got on the bus and he was so excited to be riding free of his car seat...he leaned over and gave me the biggest, wetest, gummiest kiss you've ever seen. My heart melted and I felt the most pure love from my little boy filling my soul. Even after all I put him through he just wanted his mommy. Those are the moments that I really want to remember.

Happy 1st Birthday Justin!!

We were so lucky to go to the Outer Banks of North Carolina for our summer vacation this year. We stayed in this huge house with eight master bedrooms that was set on a beach with wild horses running around. The best part of our trip was that most of our family was able to be there and help us to celebrate Justin's first birthday!!

It was so much fun to set up Justin's beach party themed decorations and make his surf board cake with my family. They were all a huge help and we realized how much we really miss them.

Justin was the center of attention with all of them too and he ate it right up. He would do something cute and everyone would cheer and clap. Next thing you know Justin was exaggerating his every move just to get bigger, louder reactions. Such a little ham...I wonder where he gets that from?

Most excitingly though was when Justin took his first steps!!!! Two days before his birthday he started taking three and four little steps on his own. By the time we left he was almost running with assistance...that being an adult holding his LEFT hand. He knows what he wants!

Now he is really working on talking. There isn't anything coming from his baby lips that is really recognizable, but some of his babble is sounding more like plain English to my Mommy ears. He definitely has a word for dog that sound something like "bab" and then he will try to bark. So stinking cute I can't stand it!!

Surf board cake

The decorations

Mommy and the Birthday Boy!

Let the celebration begin!

This is delicious! My first chocolate!

He got Daddy!!

Kristin, Mimi Mary and Me

Most of the Rueppell Clan

Us, Grandama T, Donna and Chris, Sophia, Tyler and Brent

Way Overdue!

This post is so far overdue, it is crazy. I thought I would be able to keep this up once a week or so, but that is a total joke. Time management is apparently not my strongest skill :(

Justin is growing and changing by the minute. He got his second ear infection about a month after the first one and it hung on for a while. Finally, after two rounds of antibiotics, it cleared up...I'm pretty sure he is on the verge of getting another one though. Too bad for my little baby.

The best news of all is that Justin got his first tooth on Father's Day followed by the next one two weeks later. Now he has the bottom two and likes to use them to bite our fingers when we get them anywhere near his mouth. I am really surprised that he hasn't broken our skin yet, but I'm sure that day is coming. Maybe with the next two teeth.

He is also on the verge of walking. Justin will walk when we hold his hands and on Sunday he started to stand without holding on. He is definitely testing the waters to see how long he can go and how far he can reach. I feel like the first steps are just around the corner. No more baby, he is becoming a toddler.

Along with becoming a toddler comes the temper tantrums, curiosity of his surroundings and learning to say "uh oh" when he drops/throws food from his highchair. This has been a hard transition for me because I wasn't expecting it to come so soon. Now that I am starting to realize he is just growing up, I am learning to manage him differently (or shall I say, respond to the screaming and body launching in a new manner).

Here is the best part, all the pics...

Justin's first bite of watermelon

Our first day at the beach as a family

Yummy sand!

First spaghetti

Justin loves to help with the dishes

Silly pics with Mommy

Here is a good pic of Justin's eyes...greenish hazel like Collin

Two bottom teeth

Little Stories

I'm nine months old now and I like to pull up on my jumper and try to crawl. I went to the doctor to get my check up and I weighed in at 22lbs 13ozs and I was 30in tall. That means I have to get my big boy car seat now.

I also got my first ear infection and it was on both sides. Ouch!! Once we got the antibiotics figured out my tummy started to feel better and now I even like the taste of my medicine. Plus, my ears feel better too!!

We took our first trip the the zoo and we had a great time!! It was a hot day, so it was a little short lived, but I had a blast. I love to watch birds and the zoo is the place to be for that. They have birds walking and flying around everywhere and making all kinds of noise.

This was an egg in a nest for people to take pictures. I kept trying to lean off the edge.

Me and Daddy in front of the flamingos.

Play time with my friend Brandon




Pool time!! I love the pool!

Playing Peek a boo with Mommy and Daddy in my crib.

Out to lunch with my buddy Darrin and making a HUGE mess!

Love me some cheerios.

My first Mother's Day

I have to admit that my first Mother's Day was so much more special than I ever thought it would be. I don't think I could understand the significance of having a day devoted to you just for being a mom and taking care of the ones you love, but it made me feel appreciated.

I was brave enough to take a trip to Florida to visit Mimi, Big Guy, Kristin, Zack and Drew. I get to say "brave" since I decided to go all on my own with Justin and no help from anyone else. Collin couldn't get away from work and I didn't want to miss an opportunity to see my family, so in a moment of weakness I told my Dad to go ahead and book me and Justin a flight. Later, after the ticket was already booked, was when I started to panic.

Luckily, I have traveled with Justin and Collin two other times, so I knew a few tricks to getting through airport security without any major holdups. For the most part I did alright on my own. There were a few moments of screaming (not just the baby) and I learned how to use the restroom on an airplane while holding your infant in your arms. A talent I never thought I would need, but it turns out it is helpful advice for others. :) Also, there were many nice strangers who helped with my stroller and bags and one who even took pity on me enough to hold Justin in her lap while I fed him.

Overall I had the most wonderful time with my family. I was able to relax and Justin was able to get to know everyone better.

Justin in the walker that a parents friends picked up for him. It was a life saver.

Justin and Mimi


My first Mother's Day flowers that Collin sent to me.


Justin and Big Guy playing with the wind chime

Justin loved Deja and she really didn't notice him

Arizona

Recently we took a trip to Arizona to visit with some old friends and we had a great time. We stayed with Brett and Michelle and their little one, Rylee (four days younger than Justin and about 10lbs. lighter. Remember, we like to call him "Healthy."). Michelle and I got to compare notes on the kids and do a little shopping while the guys got to go golfing.

It's so much fun for Collin and me to spend time with people who have a baby the same age as Justin. It helps give you new ideas on how to play with your baby and gives perspective to the range of stages the babies are going through. The best part is that parents of babies want to go to bed early and have to wake up early, so we are all on the same schedule. :)

While were we there, Brett and Michelle were gracious enough to host a dinner for some family friends of mine Jeff and Channing Dallstream. They were neighbors of mine in Fountain Hills, and more importantly, they were our family. We spent many weekends and holidays together and I did some babysitting for them too:) It was sooo great to see them again and catch up.

I also got to visit with another friend who goes all the way back to grade school with me, Melissa Garcia. We go way, way back, if ya know what I mean. We met up at the Fountain Park (totally changed and beautiful, fun place to take the kids) with Melissa, her husband Danny and two kids, Daniel and Mia. So stinking cute! Daniel was running all over the place and Danny was keeping track of him so Melissa could sit with me, Michelle and the babies and talk about our little monkeys.

We also had a nice dinner with a close friend of Collin (and me now too), Mike McBride and his new bride Leonor and her son Kaleb. Leonor was so, so generous and gave me a bunch of Kaleb's old clothes for Justin (It was so sweet since my little Justin is wearing 18mo clothing now and it's not slowing down). We had just seen Mike and Leonor the weekend before when they were in Cali for their wedding, so we had some time to catch up with them and give them some wedding pictures we took.

It was so wonderful to see everyone and see my friends as mother's. We all have our own approach to parenting, but we are all in the same place. Trying to be the best mommies we can be for our children.

Here are the pics...

Justin's first time in the pool

He was in heaven!

I can make a chew toy out of anything

Holding hands with Rylee

Cute little Rylee was showing Justin how it's done

by crawling and scooting around everywhere.

Learning to share

We went to the railroad park and Collin was tossing Justin up and catching him. Of course, Justin loved it, but Mommy did not!! Here is Daddy teasing Mommy.

The girls with our babies