Washing machines spin...fancy that!

So yesterday while I was doing laundry, Kallen decided to help. Okay, so nothing new...he helps every time I do laundry. Well, I left the door to the washing machine open while I went to get the next load, and this is how I found him when I got back. The picture doesn't actually show the kicking legs that were helping propel him up and inside, but the diving headfirst shot might give you an idea of where this is all heading (no pun intended).

I sat there quietly watching with my camera in hand for the next great move my son would make. Sure enough he got all the way inside the drum of the washer and managed to turn himself around. No sooner had he turned around and faced out when that silly drum moved. Now he was scared, it wasn't all fun and games anymore. He looked at me like "why did you make it move mom?", and did everything he could to try and crawl out. I helped him to safety, and all was well! I don't think he'll be heading into the washer again anytime soon. Just in case however...Now I'll be checking the machine for rugrats every time I do a load of laundry!

Sleding at the cabin!!!

Kevin, Kallen and I headed over the mountain this weekend to celebrate our nephew Austin's 10th birthday! We stayed at Rod & Sheri's cabin, and had quite a bit of snow to enjoy during our stay! We thought you all might like to see Kallen and daddy enjoying their time in the snow.

Takin' the plunge...or plunger, if you will!

Well, we've done it...Kevin and I are officially business owners!!! Rod and Sheri (Kevin's mom and dad) had the sales papers drawn up, and we signed this afternoon. Albin's Plumbing is OURS!!!

Rod is still planning on working 3 days a week and helping us out in every way he can! He and Sheri have built a very successful and reputable company which we hope to keep that way, so we definitely appreciate all the help and advice they are willing to give!

We've got a long and exciting road ahead of us, and can't wait for this next chapter in our lives to begin!!! Keep us in your prayers as we embark on this new journey!

One nap at a time!

So yesterday I got a wild hair, and decided to try Kallen in his big boy bed for his morning nap. I pretty much have to peel him up off the floor a couple of hours after he wakes in the morning, because he's resorted to falling asleep wherever he stands! I laid him down, told him he needed to stay in his big boy bed and take a nap, and I'd see him when he woke up. What do you know...not a peep out of the little guy. I took my shower, got ready and came back to poke my head in and see how things ended up. Well...he hadn't moved. He was in the exact spot I laid him in, and was "sawing logs." Wow...that was easier than I expected! He woke up 1 1/2 later a little confused, but for the most part, happy as a clam.

We had such a great experience with nap #1, that when his afternoon nap rolled around (yes, he still takes two naps a day, and definitely couldn't function properly without both of them) I got a little cocky. I thought...sure...what's the big deal? He did so well this morning that we'll surely have no problems now.

Well...initially I didn't hear as much as a sigh coming from his room, and I thought...Great...He's doing it again. Then I heard some banging on the wall and figured he was moving his position and had hit his arms or legs against the wall accidentally. Then I heard laughing, and talking...huh...Then a crash, followed by another, followed by silence. Okay...I know he's up, and I know he's made a mess of his whole room, but hopefully he's now tuckered out and we'll pick up the mess when he wakes up. Yeah, wishful thinking. About 5 minutes later I hear more strange noises and decide I better check it out. I walk in, and Kallen is in the closet flipping his diaper genie back and forth (who knows what he's put in there...), his whole bookshelf has been emptied onto the floor, and somehow he reached the basket that's on his dresser and pulled it, and all it's contents onto the floor. Diapers, lotions, wipes and cotton swabs were scattered all over the room. Sheepishly Kallen emerges from the closet like a puppy with his tail between his legs. I said "Kallen...no, no...it's nappy time". Well my sweet darling boy, walks over to his crib, points inside and rests his head on his arm. Okay fine...so maybe the big boy bed was a little much right now. I put him in his crib, and he was out like a light the minute his head hit the mattress. Live and learn right. We'll just take it one nap at a time, and I might even consider padding the walls and emptying the room of everything!

Oh, and maybe the desk needs to move a little further away from the bed. I had it there as extra protection so he wouldn't fall out of bed...not as a climbing apparatus!!! How many kleenex's does one kid need?

3 wheel fun!

While recently visiting our friends Brandy and Chris, Kallen noticed the cute little tricycles sitting in the garage. He immediately knew they were some kind of device for riding and wasn't satisfied the rest of the visit unless he was sitting on or pushing that little tryc around. We left that day in tears because he wasn't done playing with his new found toy! Next time buddy, next time!


Well, we were in Bi-Mart yesterday getting some things to help organize my craft room when Kallen once again noticed the little tricycles along the back wall. We went to take a look, and his eyes immediately lit up! I thought "why not"...after all it's Valentines Day (any excuse for a Holiday to buy things for the little guy, right)! So we bought it and put it in the back of the car (out of sight out of mind), so daddy could be a part of the new bike when he got home. It worked swell. Kallen didn't remember we had it, and was excited all over again when daddy got it out and put it in the living room!

Now, he wont get off that silly little bike. He wants to sit on it while watching his Baby Einstein movie, while reading a book, or just to watch the train go by out the window. Every time I turn around he's trying to climb on or off his new bike, and when he's not doing that...He's filling the little bucket on the back and pushing it around. Who knew tricycles could be so much fun? I can't wait for the weather to get a little nicer so he can take it outside and ride all over the neighborhood!!!

Go Team!!!

Since having our little munchkin 15 months ago, I haven't had many opportunities to get away for a day without the little guy. It's not because I haven't wanted to, or haven't trusted someone else to watch him...it's been more of an issue of not having anything to do. Now that might surprise you because you think I have Kallen with me day in and day out, so how can I possibly get things done...but I manage. The thought of going somewhere, just to go somewhere, doesn't appeal me. I've never enjoyed shopping by myself, nor taking a stroll along the river. Having someone to talk to, even if I don't understand what he's saying is always better!!!

Well Saturday, I had an opportunity to hang with the girls (and Dawson) all day and leave Kallen home with Daddy!!! It was a very refreshing, and much needed outing. Brandy, Ellie and I (with their babies Dawson and Syndey in tow), drove to Portland for the State Cheer leading competition! For those of you who don't know...I cheered in high school, and attended one of these very competitions as a competitor, so to come back as a spectator, was great fun! As you can see from the picture...Dawson didn't want everyone to know he was hangin' out with the girls, so he tried to tried to lay low and keep his face from being seen!!!

Going to "State" with our old coach Crissy, has been a tradition since we all got out of high school...though I've only been able to attend a few different times. Brandy & Ellie have gone religiously and know the ropes inside and out, this time was different though! They both had babies under 6 months and our coach was unable to fly up from California for the event. I will definitely say that sitting for 5 hours when it's not just yourself you're worried about can be quite exhausting (although I wouldn't know...since I was baby free). No...in all seriousness...the babes did GREAT! The only fit that was thrown was when the moms behind us (who turned out to be quite the "poor sports") kept hootin' and hollerin' at the top of their lungs right during nap time. All the load music and announcing didn't make the babies flinch, but the high pitched whistles and incessant screaming did them in. Finally when the school they were really cheering for competed...the noise behind us lulled to a bare minimum and we were all able to enjoy the rest of the meet!

I came home to a sleeping baby, a spotless house, and a hug and kiss from my darling other half! All in all it was a great day out, and and great day in for daddy and Kallen!

Teeth...

What's the deal with teeth? We obviously need them right (or at least they tend to make life a whole lot easier), so why are we battling our whole lives to either get them in the first place, or to keep them once they're here?

When a baby is born their little teeth have yet to "come in", so they spend the first couple of years of their life painfully "growing" them. Then, once they're in, it's only a few short years before they painfully start falling out. The next step is for these precious babes to walk around with gaping holes and toothless smiles before their "permanent" teeth begin to appear. Permanent? That's not always the case now is it. Those nice "permanent" teeth that we spend the majority of our lives taking care of, may or may not fall out when we reach a certain age of uh.......wisdom! Then it's up to our darling dentist to mold a set of teeth that we can remove when we don't need them and put back in at the desired times. Huh...some system! Thanks God for that one!!!

I'm on this rant and rave because our little man is having quite the fight with his molars, and I just wish I could do something to speed up the process. Why does it have to take so long? Just a few weeks ago he had 3...yes 3 molars coming in at the same time. His gums were swollen and red, nose running from here to Texas, and was constantly swatting at and rubbing the side of his cheek. Poor little guy. Two of those teeth FINALLY broke through and I thought life would get easier. Nope...no sooner were those teeth fully in position, when 2 more blasted molars started creeping to the surface. Well...this battle can't go on forever...can it???

Making the change...gradually!

When we moved in 5 months ago, we put Kallen in the bedroom that was closest to ours. We knew that eventually we would be having another little one, and when that time came we could switch rooms.

Well the time has come. I know we still have 5 months before this new little one makes his/her presence known, but I'm starting the feel the time crunch. I want everything situated and in it's place before summer hits, so I can relax (if possible) and enjoy the final months of this pregnancy.

That being said...over the the last week or so (hence the lack of posts this last week) we've gradually been moving things from Kallen's old room, to his new and improved "big boy room." We've got the decorations on the walls (most of them), clothes in the closet and dresser, and as many toys and books that would realistically fit! It is starting to take shape and I am quite proud of the work we did (Kallen was such a good helper!) We're not completely there, but definitely making progress. You see...Kallen had grown quite fond of his old room and was very comfortable in there. Naps and bedtime were no problem, and cuddling up in the rocker for story time was a favorite part of the day. I wanted him to feel the same connection with the new room before I threw in another monkey wrench...the big boy bed...so for now, he's got his trusty and familiar crib to sleep in. The plan is to have him sleep in his crib for a week or so to get familiar with the rest of the room, before we pull the plug and throw him into a bed! He already climbs up on, lays in, and plays on his new bed, so I'm hoping when the time comes to make the switch, it will be a much easier transition than I'm envisioning!

I know this isn't a very exciting post for all of you, but it's really exciting for us! I thought I'd add a few pictures so you could see where the little man will be spending his time now!!! Pictures always make a boring post more enjoyable...even though they're kind of boring pictures! Oh well...you can't win 'em all!

Still no chair rail between the paint colors, but we're thinking about using rope! I know it sounds funny, but I think it will look really cool when it's done!

We've got some pictures for that wall, I just don't have them up yet, and the toy box will go where the crib is.

The window valance...no hanging rod yet so it's being held up by pins, but soon...right Kevin!!! (He's making one out of copper pipe, and it should be really neat when, and if he ever gets around to it!)

The throw pillows (little boys can have throw pillows, right)? Thanks mom for teaching me to sew all those years ago...I never knew how handy it would come in until I had kids!!! You're the best.