Touch a Truck

Touch a Truck Day in Champaign, Illinois

Today was a blast! The Champaign park district sponsored a Touch a Truck day where anyone could come touch, sit in, take picture, and talk to professionals of all sorts of kinds of vehicles! There was a firetruck, ambulance, police car, swat van, limo, race car, radio station truck, tow trucks and much much more! They were giving out free marble slab creamery ice cream, pepsi samples, candy, watermelon and other stuff to everyone. Mostly it was for kids but even the adults had a great time. I went with my friend Megan and had  an amazing time with her and Jacob, her 2 1/2 month son. Zayden had a little bit of a rough afternoon and I'm not sure why. We got a few shots with him not looking irritable! :) 

Me & Zayden, Megan & Jacob, Emiley and Josie

This contraption flies! There is a parachute that attaches to the back and it flies. I don't know if I would ever be brave enough to try it though. Not enough walls...but Zayden liked the straps of course.

The youngest driver in the state of Illinois. I wish I could look that good in my driver's license picture!

Keeping Zayden's hat on his head has never been a problem...until now. He's discovered that it is not attached to his head and it can become the best chew toy. So it was a struggle either keeping a hat on his head or keeping him in the stroller with the shade over him from getting sunburned. It was very sunny today and I didn't put sunscreen on his head because I thought he would always be covered. This will teach me for next time!

As pointed out in the last picture, hats were not a good idea today. But how can a mom resist putting her baby in a junior fireman's hat?

Zayden needs to take lessons from Jacob about keeping hats on the head. 

After the fiasco with the hats, Zayden found a puppy! This is the firemen's dalmation. Zayden loved her! And she was so sweet with all the kids. 

Look mom, I found another strap! Zayden's love for straps and dog leashes is quite powerful. He can have  a room full of toys but he will get instantly sidetracked when there is a strap in sight. 

He was so sad when the puppy decided to stretch out some place else. 

This was the first time I have seen a firetruck up close. Pretty cool because the other night when Justin and Zayden were both camping, Megan and I watched the movie Fireproof about a fireman. It was neat to see things up close!

Zayden's new trick is pulling himself up to standing and holding himself up. The truck's foot stool seemed the perfect height for this. 

Megan and Jacob! He was fantastic today! 

Zayden's first school bus! Mommy looks too happy for this to be a first day of school! ;) 

Mr. Tough Guy thinks he's ready to go solo. 

Firetrucks, school buses, tow trucks, and dogs he can handle. The police are scary! 

SWAT Morgan, Megan, Zayden, and Jacob!

Watch out Momma, here comes the SWAT Captain!

Helmet - check, Gun-check, Baby in Charge - check

If becoming a fireman, policeman, or trucker doesn't work, I can always become a race car driver!  As if Momma would need another reason to worry!

Daddy was particularly proud of this picture. Hoping Zayden would get into the farming or large equipment like him. Zayden was very interested in this backhoe.

Look Mom, I'm standing again! One day I will be able to climb these steps! 

Overall, we had a blast! After exploring everything we went out for frozen custard. Pina Coloda frozen custard is AMAZING! I'm now hooked. Look for future adventures! We'll be going camping in Wisconsin for Memorial Day Weekend! Primitive camping...meaning we get to hike to our campsite. :) I'm sure there will be plenty of stories! 

9 Months and Camping

Zayden hit 9 months on April 30!  He is a crawling machine now. We have our baby play yard that we use to quarantine certain areas. For example, keeping him out of the dog food or in a particular room that we are in. The gate has been a life saver! He has a fondness for cords and shoes now. Whenever there is a cord in site he army crawls to it and sticks it in his mouth and crawls around like a puppy carrying a toy. It's pretty funny.  Plastic balls are another love of his life. If a little tantrum is coming, usually the ball can pacify it for a while. He's an extremely easy baby and such a joy to us!  As for some stats:

Weight: 17 lbs 14.5 oz

Height: 27 1/4  inches

*Goes to bed at 7 and sleeps until about 8 am.  When he wakes up he is so happy and loves to play! This is his favorite place to go first thing in the morning. Justin will go grab Zayden out of his bed and bring him to me to say good morning. Zayden will smile so big then crawl over to the window and see what's going on outside. This is our view :)

* Takes between 2-3 naps a day. 

* Drinks 3 - 6 oz bottles and eats about 4 jars of baby food per day

*Has begun giving hugs when he is passed to either mommy or daddy

* He is always smiling. He charms every woman in stores when I go shopping. 

Daddy was having fun making Zayden look like a clown. We found a  piece of foam from packaging and thought it would be a fun toy. Well Daddy thought Zayden would love a hat made from that foam...oh boy. 

 Mommy and Daddy like to play Settlers of Catan, and Zayden has decided that he is old enough to learn. Zayden is getting into EVERYTHING!

 Zayden has begun sleep crawling. We put him on his back to sleep but he rolls over onto his tummy and up on his knees and starts rocking back and forth making little noises. Then he crashes on his tummy. He loves the blue blanket that Aunt Melissa made for him. That blanket will usually calm him at night. I have such a good sleeper!

Daddy put Zayden on a saddle at a Western Shop and Zayden thought it was amazing! In another year he will be roping and riding like a pro on Nanny and Papa's new ranch.

Zayden can now pull himself up to standing and loves to dig through his toy box. You can tell he's digging because he's on  his tip toes. He gets so frustrated when he can't get the exact toy he wants. :)

Father Son Camp Out!

Justin took Zayden camping for the Stake Father Son Camp out. Zayden was by far, the YOUNGEST camper! Justin is a natural outdoorsman so I wasn't concerned at all. Justin is a great daddy and knows all the ins and outs of being outside.  Zayden did fantastic! He cried a bit at night before falling asleep, Justin thinks he missed me and was wondering why Mommy wasn't putting him to sleep. I will accept that answer. It's nice to feel missed and appreciated.  

I had a girl's night with one of my girl friends and her 2 1/2 month old son. We watched The Vow, Fireproof, and My Best Friend's Wedding and made truffle filled red velvet cupcakes from scratch! It was so yummy and we stayed up until after 2 am! I felt young again. I had a fantastic night and it was much needed.  But I have to admit, at first I felt free but I missed my boys. I missed sleeping with my husband and holding my baby.  It was an achy feeling.  We'll see what happens the next time Justin takes Zayden on an overnight! 

 

Justin and Zayden had a great evening! They shared an air mattress and had a blast with the other guys. But I am glad to have my boys back home! My home feels so much better with them here. I didn't realize how much of a difference they made in the home. These are those eye opening times that make you realize how lucky and blessed you are. I am very thankful to have my family.  Families are Forever!