Our worker bee

Shawn is trying to do a mock layout of the rocks we are going to put on the wall. He is laying out the rocks on a big piece of plywood on the floor to try and make the puzzle fit. It is pretty tricky to get all the rocks to fit together when you have lots of different shapes. Shawn had the rocks in a pile on one side of the room and he was laying them out on the plywood on the other side of the room. Cruz picked up and walked over every rock that was in Shawn's pile. I couldn't believe it, some of the rocks were kind of heavy. By the end Cruz was breathing pretty hard. Some of the trips to dad he had just a finger grip on the rock, but luckily he made it to dad with the rock.





pretty tired after moving all of the rocks!

Ready to hit the slopes!

Bug bite, Thanksgiving, and Hand Foot Mouth

Cruz got a bug bite earlier this week on his face and it got so big and red. I tried to get a picture to capture it.

We had a very nice Thanksgiving. Shawn and Cruz worked on the fireplace area for most of the morning. About 2 o'clock we headed over to Grandma Raddon's house. Rich, Katie, Clara, and Nicholas came into town to celebrate Thanksgiving with us. Rebecca also joined the group in the early afternoon. The food was delicious, my mom really outdid herself. Everything was wonderful. We all miss my dad so much, it is still so hard to believe he is not with us. We tried to make the best of the day though!
I did attempt a Pumpkin Cheesecake and if I must say so myself, I thought it was pretty darn good!


Cruz was acting a little funny yesterday and today I noticed some bumps and blisters on his feet and bum area. I figured it was hand foot mouth virus because Clara was taken to the instacare the day before and was diagnosed with that virus. Cruz had taken a bath with Clara earlier in the week (when she had no signs of being sick) and stole her sippy cup a couple of times so I wasn't too surprised when Cruz broke out in this rash. I hope he doesn't get the virus too bad because it can be a nasty one. Yesterday we thought Cruz had a really bad diaper rash so we tried to let that area dry out a little before we put his diaper back on......it was probably the start of hand, foot, and mouth!

Roar!

Funny Story: Cruz has been learning the sounds animals make, and he especially likes to "roar" when he sees a picture of a lion in one of his books. We were at church yesterday and he kept "roaring", I looked up to see what he was looking at and it was a picture of Jesus. The beard must have thrown him! :)

Good Little Helper

Cruz has taken it upon himself to help both Shawn and me whenever we are working on something. He likes to help me load the dishwasher, vacuum, wipe the table off, bring me utensils, etc. Since Shawn is working on our fireplace and mantel, Cruz has been very informative about telling him what to paint, where the drywall needs to go, picking out the right nails, etc. What would we do without our helper?

Growing up and the Jazz Game

Yesterday Cruz and I went to the gym. They have a pretty good day care at my gym and Cruz is so social that he usually has a pretty good time. In fact, when I have been dropping him off lately he doesn't even cry or whine. He is excited to go run around and play with the other kids. That actually makes working out much easier for me because I am not worried he is crying and having a bad time. When I went to pick him up, I saw him from a distance in the play area. I couldn't believe that was my son. He looked so big and so old....how could that be my little boy! We spend 24 hours a day together but sometimes I think I forget to really stop and look at him. It is so amazing to me how fast these little people grow up. He is like a sponge too, anything we say or do he tries to repeat. Shawn and I are both having a blast with him.

Last night Shawn was offered tickets to the Jazz game from a friend. It was really nice of his friend to think of Shawn, the Jazz were playing the Milwaukee Bucks. Because it was a last minute thing we took Cruz and only went for the first half. Cruz kept repeating bbbbbball (He was trying to say basketball, but that is what it sounded like). He liked looking at all the people, watching the game, and eating licorice.

Cruz helping daddy with some house projects!

The boys goofing around!

Zoo last Saturday

We went to the zoo last Saturday and I forgot to post the pictures.

Cruz enjoying Utah's beautiful surroundings

18 month appointment!

11/7/08
18 months and 2 days
Height: 34 Inches - 90%
Weight: 28 lb. 5 ounces - 79%
Head: 48.5 cm - 70%

Cruz did great at his appointment! He only cried while he was getting the shots and then a few seconds after. Luckily daddy was there to help calm him down. I really like our pediatrician, he spent almost 45 minutes with us just talking to us about parenting and answering some of our questions.


Cruz and I were waiting outside for Shawn to come pick us up to go to the appointment. Cruz thought it was so funny to try and hit me with his bike. He was giggling so hard!!

A Day of Firsts

Cruz and I have been going to music class on Thursdays for about 2 months. Last week Cruz kept trying to give the kids in the class hugs. Today he singled a particular girl out. Her name is Tenille and she is about Cruz's age. He found her and started giving hugs, first it was one, then two hugs, and then you could see he wanted to go in for the kiss. He kept getting closer and closer and she didn't really know what to do with herself. She turned her head a little right before he planted a kiss, so the kiss landed more on her check. He likes to give Shawn and I kisses and he usually gives us open mouth kisses, but this was his first boy girl kiss, and luckily he kept his mouth shut, I think it would have scared the poor girl!! All the moms in the class were laughing!

When we got home from music class I was trying to shovel some of the ice patches off the driveway. Cruz was busy playing with some of his toys in the garage. Before I knew it he was in a slight run to come out and join me and slipped on the ice. He wasn't sure what happened. He landed on his belly and he just arched his back so his hands wouldn't touch the cold ice. He stayed that way until I got over to him to pick him up..... he didn't move an inch! This is probably the first of many falls on the ice!



This afternoon Cruz decided to help me with the snow with the dustpan, a perfect size shovel for Cruz. He picked up a chunk of snow and I tried to capture his face...it was like, "what in the heck is this stuff!" One day I think he will like it!

Winter Wonderland

We woke up to lots of snow this morning and it just keeps coming down. We probably have over a foot of snow. Cruz decided to come outside with me this morning and help me shovel. Instead of shoveling though, he wanted to ride his bike....it is tough letting summer go! Thanks to my cousins wife Wendy, we have a cute snow suit and winter boats, which are hand me downs from her boys. Cruz wasn't too sure about the snow, maybe because his hands were cold and he refused to put his gloves on.

Cruz is 18 months today, I can't believe he is a year and a half old. That is so crazy!! Lately he has been holding his hands out when I ask him a question like, "where is your truck?" and if he doesn't know he holds his hands out and says no as in "I don't know!" He says no alot but I am not sure if he is trying to say something else. He kept saying no, no, no this morning and I realized he was saying Snow! I have been working with him on his S sound. He is getting much more opinionated on things. He only likes to wear his crock shoes and he gets very angry if he has to wear anything else. He definitely is coming into his toddler years!! Our 18 month appointment is on Friday and I can't wait to get his measurements!!

Cruz was riding down the one stretch I shoveled

sweater vest

I had to post these photos...I know they don't really show Cruz's face, but I love this little sweater vest. My moms friend made it for Cruz when he was born and I have been so excited for him to be big enough and for it to be cool enough outside for him to wear it!

Just chillin'

Cruz loves to sit like this. It can be when he is watching one of his signing videos on our bed or when he is in the car seat. I think it is so funny!


Last night we met some friends at a new burger joint in town. Cruz had a good time and he even got to sit on Tim's motorcycle!!