Family Weekend Part II

I'd like to say that last weekend was all about me since it was my 34th birthday, but that would be a lie.  While we did raise a toast to me at dinner, the real stars of the weekend were Rhys and an unexpected guest, cousin Hailey.  We knew Grandpa Tom and Grandma Donna were coming, but we didn't know until they were on their way that Donna's 11-year-old granddaughter was with them.  We were a little nervous about finding activities that would suit two kids with such a big age gap, but we needn't have worried a bit.  Hailey was totally game for whatever and, as she quickly became the apple of Rhys' eye, he was game for whatever as long as "Hay-hay" was there.

I think raising a daughter would be tough.  If I ever have to face that task, I'll get some advice from Hailey's parents - clearly they're doing something right.  She is a great kid.

Auntie Audrey wasn't around to take a million pictures, but since I wasn't the star of the day I went ahead and snapped a few shots.

The recurring theme in these pictures is "how cute are these kids?!"  I'll try to think of something more creative to say...but, seriously, how cute are these kids?!

Every time Hailey tried to get out of this play firetruck, Rhys commanded her to "sit! sit"!  She sweetly obliged every time.

You can't see Hailey in the picture, but she is the subject of Rhys' intense stare.

 

Dada's presence gave Hailey an opening to escape, so she could check out the big kid toys.

She scaled this thing about 5 seconds flat - wearing flip flops nonetheless.

Just hangin' out...

Coffee break with grandpa.

Grandpa looks happy because most of the time Rhys was up there, he was giving Grandpa a nice head rub.  The man is a real sucker for head rubs (not to mention cute grandsons).

This picture sums up the weekend perfectly.  And, by the way, how cute are these kids?!

Family Weekend Part 1

Last weekend Rhys had six adults doting on him - Mama, Dada, Auntie Audrey, Auntie Sara, Grandma Ann and Uncle Carl.  He was in hog heaven.  We didn't do anything extraordinary, but it was a lovely time.

I'm pretty tired tonight (I'm now 34), but luckily I don't have to write a long post as our resident documentarian (Auntie Audrey) took lots of great photos.

The man of the hour (and day and weekend).

UncCa!  The man of the hour from Rhys' perspective.  Uncle Carl was the clear favorite of the weekend.

Auntie Audrey was mostly behind the camera so this is only one of two pics with her in it.  Too bad Rhys wasn't more cooperative, but of course he wanted to be behind the lens...

...which Auntie Audrey let him be quite often.  The kid needs to learn that putting his finger in the shot doesn't help frame his subject.

This photo opp brought to you by Rhys' commands to "sit, sit!"  Note Brian's attire.  That's the result of his lost bet with Uncle Carl.  He had to wear it all weekend.

Of course we asked Rhys to show off his hanging skills, which he was more than happy to do with such an engaged audience at the ready.

It didn't seem like we were going to have great weather, but Seattle summer came through for us, so we took ourselves to the beach!  (Beach is one of Rhys' favorite words.  When he first started saying it, it sounded an awful lot like b*tch.  We're grateful it now sounds like beach.)

Grandma Ann with four of her babies.

I'm not sure how we convinced him to leave his adoring fans and take a walk with us, but we did and it was nice.

Check me out!

Happy is one of Rhys' latest words.  He can say it and sign it.  I think he was feeling pretty happy at the beach.

At some point, UncCa had some important business to attend to.

Buy!  Sell! Fire that guy!  Get me a flight today!

A rare, rare snuggle moment captured on film!

Still wearing the jersey...

Who needs a license when you're this cute?

A lovely, final, family photo.

 

Wee! (Oh, Crap)

The slide was faster than I thought.  At least I caught him, right?
 

(He wasn't scarred.  At the end of the video he's asking for "more, more.")

Three Shifts

For the past month or so, I've been working three shifts.  Shift one - work at office.  Shift two - make dinner, feed dinner, put kid to bed.  Shift three - work at home until bed.  Brian has been working three shifts for a lot longer than a month.  It doesn't seem to bother him too much.  It bothers me a whole lot.  I do not like turning over my life to work.  So, while I have work to do right now, I'm ignoring it because it's been far too long since I've given a Rhys update.

The last few weeks he's definitely been experiencing the "word explosion" that our pediatrician promised at his 18-month check-up.  Hearing new words come out of his mouth every day is so fun.  Admittedly, I'm also excited because I am hopeful that more words will mean less screaming.  (I don't know what I did in a previous life to deserve a car-screamer in this life).

As it has been for awhile now, Rhys' receptive language is amazing.  He absolutely knows what we're talking about 99% of the time.  It is so cool.

Rhys loves imitating everything we do.  From flossing his teeth, to putting away clean laundry to cooking dinner - he wants to do it all.

Not only does he want to do what we do, he wants to do it all by himself.  This kid is Mr. Independent.  He recently started climbing up into his high chair on his own and he is one ticked-off dude if you try and lift him up there instead of just asking him to do it.

He's also getting a little bossy in his old age.  His favorite "command" now is to pat the chair (or ground or whatever) and say "sit, sit."

We often forget how young Rhys really is because he's such a big boy.  At the park this past weekend there was another boy there who was just a couple months younger, but quite a bit smaller.  The two boys hugged each other (which was so freakin' cute) and because he doesn't realize his strength, Rhys' side of the hug turned into a tackle.  Picture two little boys embraced and then they topple over like a tree falling, Rhys on top.  So, so funny.       

Last Friday, Rhys went on his first rides!  My company "picnic" was at the Family Fun Center in Tukwila and boy did we have fun.  Rhys rode the carousel and airplane ride.  He loved them both.

I'd wave, Mama, but somebodys gotta fly this thing.

The weather has been so gorgeous. We've enjoyed lots of walks.  Rhys is usually just go-go-go, but one recent morning he needed a lift from Dada and a little rest time.

Ah, just what I needed.

Speaking of rest time, it's time for me to hit the hay.

 

Haircut #2

Rhys had his second haircut today.  He looks SO CUTE!   He's all ready for lots of visitors the next couple of weekends.

Can you believe I'm not even 2-years old?  I look like such a big boy!

Go O's!

Brian is a big Baltimore Orioles fan and has been since he was a kid.  Uncle Carl is a big Boston Red Sox fan and has been since...2004. 

Recently the O's and Sox faced off and though the O's lost the series we did our best to support them!

 
There was some sort of bet between Uncle Carl and Brian and I believe Brian has to pay up this weekend.  I shall post pics.

Tree Hugger Stud

Rhys climbed a tree today.  Nah, not really.  But Dada lifted him up into a tree and he sat down and made himself comfortable.  Basically the same thing, right?

He could have perched here all day.  He was none too happy when we decided it was time to move on (20 minutes later).

Once we pried Rhys out of the tree we went to play at Bailey Gatzert elementary.  The school is one of the lowest ranked in the city, but it's got a very cool play structure.  Rhys worked out on the rings.  I especially love his dismount.