2010 - Here's to a New Decade

I know it's February. I also know that I completely slacked off on the posting of anything at all over the holidays. We did plenty; I promise there was no lack of activities. Summing it up in a few words...Devin's 80's Birthday was fun, Thanksgiving was wonderful in New Harmony, Christmas was perfect in Las Vegas and Cancun was absolutely fabulous over New Years (minus the flying there and back).

The kidlets are great.

Tigi is a 12 year old trapped in the body of a 3 year old. She tries to interrupt every conversation with a 1/2 mile radius by asking who/what are you talking about and why? It is genetic, apparently and I'm sorry to have passed off such a trait to her. I'm especially sorry it blossomed at such a young age. :)

When she's not trying to get the downlow on your convo, she's busy being the boss of anyone and everything (namely Alex and Fisher). But if you ask her if she's the boss, she'll dutifully tell you she's not, just mama and papa. I'm glad we've got the answer down, I just wish the understanding would sink in.:)

She's hilarious in her pre-teen answers like "even if you put that up there, I can still reach it and I'll get it when you're not looking" or the timeless "Mama, you're a crazy driver" or something about my "crazy hair." She's already asked me for her first car (not a toy car, a real car like mommy's) and when can I teach her how to drive so that she can drive herself to Grandma Zeke's or Gma Jerri & Gpa Garth's houses to see their horses.

Every now and again we get a glimpse of her 3 year old self with conversations like this:
Devin: What's that song you're singing?
Tigi: It's Backyardigans, The Knights of Right.
Devin: Oh...Are they called The Knights of Right because they always choose the right?
Tigi: Yeah. But.....sometimes they choose left too.
:)

Current Tigi Favorites: Speaking to you in her robot voice, changing into atleast 10 outfits a day, loving Alex (sometimes still a little too much), watching her shows (Backyardigans are the fav), singing songs she composes on the fly and, of course, playing with friends, going to dance and preschool.

Just a note, after three years of adoring and gobbling them up, Tigi has now decided she disdains peas. Apparently they are too closely related to green beans (which have gagged her since 6 months) for her liking.

Alex is a growing boy (albeit, slowly). I'm proud to say that he's out of the single digit percentiles and is now approx. 17% for height and weight (30" and 22lbs) at 15 months. He's still a little fella, but he can definitely keep up with his sister. They play so well together now (with the exception of when Tigi starts wrestling...22lbs versus 40lbs is never going to turn out well). She drives him in her Barbie Mustang and plays soccer with him. They dance, jump on the tramp and chase each other in circles like wild children. I love it!!

He definitely knows what he does and doesn't like and will tell you so by nodding yes or no. He's a junkfood magnet! Other favs include yogart, milk and cheese. (Let's hope he never becomes lactose intolerant). He's still not a superb napper and decided his second nap was unnecessary at the wise old age of 14 months. So, some days we run on a one hour nap. It's lovely.

He's still a momma's boy and will make it known to anyone who dares to physically come between us (including Devin or Tigi). He's creeping into the tantrum phase, but for the most part is a pretty happy dude. He doesn't really say much yet, just Mama, Dada, OwId (Outside), Ohoh (Uh oh) and oof oof for Fisher.

Current Alex Favs: Playing outside on the park or riding his harley, attempting to play fetch with Fisher, sitting on my lap, anything with buttons (the fax machine and laptop provide the most choices), picking your nose for you, and last, but definitely not least...playing in Devin's truck. Alex could spend hours just standing in the driver's seat moving all the controls and steering wheel. :) He doesn't love tv like Tigi always has, but he does enjoy an occasional "Signing Time."

The craziest part about 2010 is knowing that in 10 years, Devin will be 40, Tigi will officially be a teenager at 13, Alex will be in the 5th grade and 11 yrs old!! It makes me want to stop time for a bit and enjoy us as we are right now. :) Where will you be in 10 years?

Meet Fisher Baldwin

He's tall, loves long walks and good snuggle. :) And he's our puppy!!! I was really wanting to get a puppy this year, but really didn't want to pay for one. So about a month ago I stopped looking.

Then just yesterday a guy we know from work sent me an email wanting to know if we knew anyone who'd take him in. A family had purchased him and sent him to be trained as a service dog for their child with cerebral palsy, but he's too hyper. (They obviously need mellow dogs). So he's already had quite a bit of training, which makes him a great package to me!

A few Fisher facts:

- He's a 10 month old Silver Lab.

- He NEVER barks inside and rarely outside.

- He loves to lick Alex and Tigi's faces, which they definitely don't like!

- He loves for you to through the ball or stick for him, but has a hard time remembering to bring it back. :)

- He's kennel trained and sleeps without a peep all night until you let him out in the morning. Awesome!

- He's already over 70lbs and is two inches taller than Alex.

- Alex was totally afraid of him at first, but is slowly getting used to him. I wouldn't go as fas as saying that he likes him yet.

- Tigi LOVES him!

Alex's Big Day

Alex's 1st birthday was on 10/24 and we had all the fam and friends over to celebrate. It was a bit of crazy day for me with Super Saturday and all, but never fear, Cafe Rio catering came to the rescue! And it was oh so delicious!

Alex didn't want to touch his cake (even though it was a scrumptious "orange crush" flavor). He gave the frosting a couple licks and that was that. No smashing of the smash cake at this Cookie Monster bash.

More news on "Everything Alex"...

1. He's a HUGE yogart lover!! You have to be careful with letting him see the jar, because if he sees it out, he wants it NOW. No negotiations.

2. He's the cutest little walker. I just love that little diaper bum.

3. He's growing, but still in the 5th percentile (29in and 19lbs). He'd have to grow 2 inches and gain 4 pounds just to hit the 50th percentile.

4. He's a great communicator. Signing, he can tell me eat, more, drink, paci, milk, night night, diaper and bath. He's also a pro at shaking his head yes and no. He's definitely a big tease too.

5. He's FINALLY a normal sleeper!!! For about the last couple months, his schedule has become very regular. He sleeps 8p-7a and takes two 1 1/2 hr naps. Of course then we go and have to deal with time change, it always messes everything up.

6. He's super helpful, just ask him. He'll be the first one to help you clear out the cabinets, the drawers, the recycle bin, the dishwasher or my work files. You don't even have to ask him to do it, he's that helpful.

7. He's such a MAMA's boy! He always has been, but as he gets older, he can express what he wants so much better, and most of the time what he wants is "Mamamamama."

I love it because he so lovable and snuggily!! He loves to give AND receive lots of hugs and kisses. :)
8. He's smart. (Isn't that what every mom says?) But he's smart in a way very different than Tigi was. He's very motivated by cause and effect. He likes the remote, because it changes the tv (much to our displeasure), he likes toys and electronics with buttons and lights and music. In comparison, Tigi likes to tinker with tools and things, but Alex wants to know how things work (just like his papa). It really amazes me how different girls and boys are, innately.

9. A couple more things he loves: pacies, animals (specifically puppies, kitties and cows), music (he's got the beat, just like Tigi), his big sister (he follows her everywhere and loves it if she'll play with him), Goldfish crackers, bananas and his little lullaby sea horse in his crib.

Happy birthday little man!!

Baby Gap Casting Call

WE WANT TO WIN!!! Who wouldn't want to win a trip to the Bahamas?! Or atleast a Gap gift card. :)

Here is Tigi's voting link:

http://family.go.com/gapcastingcall/entries/dmbaldwin1/245021291/

Here is Alex's voting link:

http://family.go.com/gapcastingcall/entries/dmbaldwin1/745021017/

Here are the rules: You will have to do a quick registration, then you can vote once a day, EVERDAY until the deadline on November 17th.

Thanks for your support!!

Photo Session!!

I had some photos taken of the kids on Thursday and here are a couple sneek peeks. Advance warning...they are absolutely adorable!
http://brittanyrulisphoto.com/?p=75

Oh How The Time Does Fly...

when you're having fun. So much has happened since I last posted about San Diego. Life is busy, but always good. Here are a couple highlights:

-We went to Aspen Grove with Dev's fam in the end of August to round out our whirlwind summer of nonstop vacationing. It was fun and the all day babysitting/kids camp was AWESOME! The food was good too.

-Tigi started dance at Bunker Dance and loves her little friends Lauren and Macie! I just love going to watch her!

-On Alex's 10 month bday, we finally saw his first tooth. He's an excellent crawler and had been walking along the couch for a couple months, but still no walking yet. He also learned how to walk UP the slide on the park during this month, courtesy of Tigi Rose. He's definitely a climber!

His 10th month also brought with it a taste of Alex's attitude when it comes to food. As a complete 180 to his sister who would eat nothing BUT the food I made for her, Alex decided he no longer liked my homemade baby food and would only ingest the store-bought Gerber variety. After he got that across, he's also informed us that it's not so much that he's a picky-eater (per se), but that he wants to eat what he wants, when he wants it and it's up to you to figure out what that might be. Good times.

-On Alex's 11 month bday, he first climbed out of his crib and fell on the floor (note to self...we need a crib tent), then took his first 5 steps, and then we saw his second tooth. It was a very eventful day. We also took his measurements this month and he came in at 18lbs. and 27". As it turns out, he's kind of shrimpy, he's in the less than 3rd percentile, if I'm reading the chart right. That must be a grandpa Jeff trait. It's hard to believe that after Tigi (who from birth was always greater than 95%), I would have such a shorty. Hmmmm, that must be why all of his 12-18month clothes look humongous on him. Mystery solved.

Of course, he most certainly did have a chunky phase but after a bout with the stomach flu/virus thing right before Aspen Grove (otherwise known as 5 fun filled days of vomiting and diaherrea), he did unfortunately dropped a couple pounds. But no worries, he's very healthy and we certainly NEVER miss a meal at our house. :) The sheer love of food and screaming just wouldn't allow it.

-Tigi's also started preschool! Such a big girl! And I am incredibly ashamed to say that I did not get a picture of her on her first day, but she loves it nonetheless. Her teacher is fabulous and I've been amazed at her ability to learn her letters these last couple of months. Her wit, at times, is to die for (I think, of course). She is certainly a mini-Morgan running around calling people "dude" and saying how Aunt Jan "freaked out" and rationalizing every little detail of her day in all of her "for that I can do" this/that and the other thing.

Her lastest thing it to ask me to turn down the radio while we're in the car. She said it again today, so I told her "Tigi, did you know that when I drive all by myself in the car, I LOVE to listen to the radio really loud?!" Her answer, stated very matter-of-factly, "Well, I don't." There you have it, straight from the mouth of an independent, strong willed 3 year old chica. I love her to pieces. She also makes me crazy like never before, but such is life.

The Big S.D.!

Don't you love this picture?! Looks just about right.

San Diegoooooooooo! We just spent the weekend there and it was wonderful! Driving home Tigi told me (in a dazed half awake state) "Mommy, I want to go back to California. It was so fun!" I couldn't agree more. :)

We went with our friends Trisha and Josh Waldron and we couldn't have asked for better traveling buddies! Tigi and Macie got along great (with very, very minimal fighting) and Alex and Ty just liked to follow each other around.

Here's Alex "attacking" Ty. You see the wet spot on Ty's shorts, yeah...that's from Alex's mouth. I don't really know why, but he just loved to wrestle him. Boys will be boys I guess.

Friday was spent at Sea World. Tigi, being the animal lover that she is, thought all the sea animals were fun. Macie did too.

Here we are waiting in the windless hot, HOT sun for the Shamu show to start. Thankfully the wind did pickup later, as in after we were done at the show and not in the direct sun constantly. Of course.

Those "trainers" were more like stunt men!

I had this great idea for Devin to hold up the fish before he fed it to the sea lion so I could take a quick pic....

And BAM!! In flew the little bird who swiped the fish right out of his hand! Apparently they are familiar in the ways of the unsuspecting tourists. Poor sea lion.

So even with how great all the animals were, this was Tigi's favorite attraction...Elmo's Flying Fish.

Here's Alex wondering why little brothers seem to always get the "short end of the stick."

Totally spent after a long, hard day of play. :)

Saturday was beach day and La Jolla was our beach of choice!

Showin off the floaties!

Alex didn't super love the sand his first beach trip, but he was a pretty good sport about it.

And he definitely LOVED the water! (Even if it did chill him to the bone). :) Such a little fish he is.

Macie and Tigi were just the cutest to watch them play on the beach! They ran and ran and ran! Running up to the waves and back to the beach, throwing mud into the ocean, chasing each other around, it was adorable!

Thanks again to the Waldrons for letting us come with you!