The Little Moments: July 2011

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Vantage 2011

We had a great time camping in Vantage with the Olson family.

This is an awesome state park.

Beautiful views of the river, great park/ beach area, big campsites, and gorgeous sunny weather.

Next year we will bring the boat- the waterskiing is great here.

No skiing this year though, this belly is full of baby!

33 weeks

A happy road trip over the pass.

James and Aubrey are pals!

What a cutie.

The sprinkler was a must-have in the warm weather.

Nothing like a little ice cream on a hot summer day!

Bath time is always a smile fest.

Cuddling in bed with Dad.

Enjoying some snacks and sharing with Kona.

The kids loved pushing the lawn mower!
This thing got a lot of mileage over the weekend!

Hard to believe on our first camping trip in March,
he was just learning to walk.

Now he is speedy!

James got to help Dad drive on the (very) short ride within the campground to the beach.

He went straight for the sand!

Such a little fish...

Aubrey taking his Dad for a walk... but not too far into the bushes- snakes?!

Complete happiness!

More walks for Kona... I love this.
Not sure who is walking who, though!

Bambi

Lots of these guys hanging around our place lately...

Fun!

Just Workin'

This is the third time I've caught James "working" on the computer... he looks like such a big boy!

My little businessman!

We've been pulling some things out of storage for the baby's arrival. We thought it'd be a good idea for James to get used to all the "gear" around the house, and we've been able to talk with him about the baby and where he/she will sleep, play, etc etc.

James couldn't be happier with all this "new" stuff! I've caught him in the baby chair quite a few times... wonder if the new baby will ever get a turn in this one!

Goodbye Gabo!

It has been nearly four weeks and I think it's safe to say that James has fully given up the pacifier.

In the Backman household, the pacifier has been referred to as "gabo" for the past 20 months. Don't ask me how we came up with that term, to be honest I think Matt just made it up. It did become a joke, though, that James would "gabo gabo gabo" (gobble gobble gobble) on his pacifier, he loved it so much. Sometimes he would carry two with him and switch them back and forth, just for fun.

We knew we wanted to give up the gabo before the new baby came- there's no way we could take it away from James while introducing it to the new little one. So if we didn't do it now, he probably wouldn't give it up til the new baby did (he'd be nearly four years old!!)

I said we would do it when we got back from Hawaii (there's no way I would attempt two plane rides, six hours each, without the gabo at this age). But then I stalled, and stalled, and stalled... it made me sad to take away a symbol of James' infanthood- I'm not ready for my baby boy to grow up!

The night Matt and I went to dinner for our anniversary, my mom came over and put James to bed, forgetting to give him the pacifier. He was so tired from all of their playing that he went down without it! I saw this as our opportunity, and we never went back. I'm thankful because my mom really did the hardest part for me on this first night!

For a few days, James would wake up and look for it, tearing apart his bed until he realized it wasn't there. He really only needed it when he woke up in the morning or from nap time. I have to admit, I've needed it a few times when he's having tough moments, but we've gotten through it.

For the past week, James hasn't looked for his gabo and I haven't thought about it either. I can't believe it!

Goodbye little treasures!

These things have been everywhere with us... I'm sure the collection was double this size at some point, and that we will continue to find them over the years under furniture, in the car...