New developments

Family updates:

We had a busy week. We got our tax refund so we've been catching up alot of old bills and have nearly everything paid off!! Yay! No more debt!

We bought a new computer. Very exciting! We haven't had a BRAND NEW computer EVER. We've always been years behind technologically. It's so neat to be in 2009, this computer does so much! I haven't even begun to explore it!

We got a replacement stroller for Peter. Bum luck though was that the rear axle was broken so I had to request a new part from the manufacturer...means a few more days of waiting.

Bum luck continued with John's car. We need to fix his window, but the replacement part we had was broken. Annoying. So waiting on that too.

Jen went to the dentist. No cavities!!! Yay!

The big news is that we had an appointment with a housing counselor. We got prequalified for up to $120,000 for a new home!! I think we will have to spend some time improving our credit over the next couple months so we can get a competitive lending rate. It's exciting though. We can be paying the mortgage of a new home for less than our current rent. I think we've signed our last lease for a long time!!! We've started dreaming of homes by searching the real estate listings online. It will be hard to hold off to improve our credit!


Peter's updates:

Well you all know Peter is walking. He can now stop mid-walk, bend over to pick something up, then stand back up and continue walking.

He's also pointing alot. It started with his Valentine's day balloons and now its onto everything. He likes pointing up. I'm trying to teach him how to hold one finger up so he can say he's "one year old". He hasn't gotten it yet, but we have a few more weeks.

I think Peter is trying to say DOG. It comes out as "Dahhhhh"

Peter started clapping his hands a few days ago!! I've been wanting him to do this for months!! He won't do it on cue though. I tried to get him to clap for me and as soon as I turned my back to him John said that he started clapping. Such a tease!

Playing the Easter Bunny while shopping at Target

Renaissance Festival

This weekend we decided to head to the Arizona Renaissance Festival up near Phoenix. It's something we do every year and have lots of fun being in a different environment. Weather was on our side, it was sunny and upper 70's. (Yes, I broke out the sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses though Peter didn't always keep them on.)

It is definitely different to attend with baby and stroller in tow. More things to juggle, less attention span, more at baby's whims than having the freedom of previous years.


This year they had a petting zoo. I don't know if they had that before...maybe I just didn't care to notice in the past. They had sheep, chickens, pigs and cows. We were able to get really close to the sheep. I took about 15 shots of Peter by the sheep and didn't notice until I got home that every picture he had his foot up. I'm not sure if he was trying to keep the sheep away or trying to show them his shoes.


This was the first full day that Peter wore shoes. It took some getting used to walking in them but we've been increasing the time all week long so he could practice. Today he seemed right at home in them. I was glad he had them on because he was able to walk all around in the grassy areas.


When he got tired he'd crawl for a little bit. He also got a work out pointing at things. He'd point at people, animals, trees, feathers, everything was exciting!


This year we took more breaks. Previously we spent a lot of time watching shows and going into stores. This year we sat off to the sides in the grass and shade and stopped for snacks and to listen to music. There was one grassy area that was all set up with toys for little kids to play with. Peter made a new friend with one of the guys there.


Peter was fascinated with a little stuffed castle they had. You could open it to see the inside and there was a little stuffed king, queen, and medieval characters.


Peter wanted to share with daddy and offered him the dragon to play with.


By the time we were leaving Peter was exhausted. He was ready to fall asleep in his stroller and was snoring before we got out of the parking lot. Luckily, he had a good hour and a half long drive before we got home. Phew! Now we are all exhausted but thankful that we had such a great day!

New computer!!!! (video)

It's been a crazy busy week around here. Lots of things on the schedule. Add in the fact that we got our tax refund and were able to pay off some bills and I get a little distracted from blog posting.

The bonus though is that with our tax refund we bought a brand new Dell computer from their outlet store. For $300 we got a kick butt machine and are now in 2009!!! Yahoo!!!

The computer arrived tonight and I have been having fun playing. I found a program on it to make videos so here is my first music video of my baby boy. I've been wanting to make one for a long time and I'm sure I'll learn more tricks as time goes on, this one was slapped together in just an hour exploring the program. I've never made one of these before and I had so much fun doing it!

Anyways, I'll post more about our week tomorrow. In the meantime, grab your kleenex and let me know what you think of my very first video!

MMoT Annual Picnic

Today we went to a picnic celebration for the Meetup Moms of Tucson. It's a group that Peter and I have been involved in since he was about 6 months old. They host various play-dates, outings, and activities. We gathered at a park today for their big annual celebration. Over 100 people came. Can you find us in the photo?


Here we are! We are in the bottom right corner.


They had a bouncy house and even a little train running around the soccer field. Unfortunately Peter's still a little too young for those. By next year though it will be great!


Peter got thirsty and didn't want the water from his sippy cup. Daddy had a funny looking thing called a juice pouch. John gave Peter a taste and he loved it!


We brought Peter's walker and set him loose down the sidewalk. John spent a good 20 minutes chasing him back and forth. Peter kept wanting to go off roading into the rocks.


Peter had so much fun! We brought a hat for him but he only kept it on about 50% of the time. Thankfully I think he's got daddy's gift of not burning in the sun.


Hanging with dad. We brought a couple of toys and balls to play with on our blanket. Peter had fun throwing the ball across the sidewalk...inevitably it was whenever someone was passing by so they could kick the ball back to him. We even had a couple other babies Peter's age come over and play on our blanket a couple times. Peter had to learn to share his toys.


Mid-sidewalk collisions gave us a chance to make new friends.


Mom cuddling Peter. Yes, mom is finally starting to feel better from her stitches. I'm looking forward to getting them removed Monday. I still have a bit of a black eye so I'm glad I got to wear sunglasses all day!


We had a fun day! Sunshine, good potluck food, walking, playing, and making friends. We had lots of fun and came home EXHAUSTED!!!

First Swim of 2009

(These pics were taken about a week ago.) After John got home from work one day it was just such a beautiful day and nearing 90 degrees and I REALLY wanted to go out to the pool. So we found our swimsuits and after a good 5 minutes of trying to fit Peter's 6mo swim trunks on over his big thighs we finally hit the water!!


He had the greatest time splashing! He even kinda kicks as we move him along in the water.


And splashing is LOTS of fun!


He didn't quite understand trying to walk on the steps. It wasn't like walking on land! It was harder to stay balanced for some reason!


Dad kept Peter's head safely above the water.


Peter seemed like he found a new home. Supposedly both mom and dad were "fish" when we were younger...seems like Peter will be one too! I'm hoping to get him into an Intro to Swimming course at the Y this summer.

We'll have to do it again! Though I am definitely getting Peter swim trunks that fit next time! It took another 5 minutes of tugging to try to get them off afterwards!!!

Tucson Botanical Gardens

Today John was off and Jen was feeling a little better so we decided to get out of the house and go see the Tucson Botanical Gardens. It was a pretty neat place. Right now they have an exhibit called "Butterfly Magic". Every winter they are designated to grow and house a butterfly garden/sanctuary for all kinds of butterflies from around the world.


They have a greenhouse where they keep tropical plants and the butterflies. You walk through a double entrance and have to be careful where you step. The butterflies are fluttering all over the place. Some camouflage really well then as you get close they'll take off.


A few of the little butterflies landed on us but the bigger butterflies with a 8 inch wingspan just dive-bombed us a couple times.


One scared me and made my heart jump and I wanted to swat it down! Attack of the butterflies!! When I shrieked and held my breath out of shock the attendants laughed at me.


We also explored the rest of the gardens which was pretty neat. They had all kinds of interesting plants, an exhibit on composting, and pretty flowers. There was a kids area that will be fun for Peter in a few years. It had a big sandbox, lots of plants you could touch, even a place to dig for worms. It'll be a little while before I let him dig through that though!!