Cross Country Trip - Part 2

Stop #5 - Frederick, MN and Harper's Ferry, WV
Joe's Grandma Sweeney lives in Frederick and we were able to spend a few days visiting her.  We stayed at a KOA campground in Harper's Ferry and drove Grandma's car back and forth to visit each day, sometimes twice a day to visit with her.  It was so great, because this was the first time I got to meet her too!  We also saw Joe's Uncle Jim and his family there too.

Isaac with Great Grandma Sweeney

Wearing one of G-G's hats!

Grandma Sweeney and Joe

Great Aunt Ines with Isaac (he went very naturally to her)

Great Uncle Jim with Isaac

Isaac's 2nd cousin, Jimmy

Isaac's 2nd cousin, Elise

Riding the "Cadillac" a.k.a Grandma's walker

Stop #6 - Huntingtown, MD
Joe's childhood friend and Colorado roommate for many years moved back with his wife, Michelle.  Nick and Michelle have a 5 1/2 month old girl, McKenna, who Isaac loved to play with and take all of her toys.  Nick's parents were great and we all had a wonderful visit.  Joe said this was an expensive stop, because I was already making plans to buy a jumpy thing that McKenna had that Isaac loved and a Keurig coffee maker that Nick and Michelle had.  :-)

McKenna and Joe

Nick, McKenna, Joe and Isaac



The jumpy thing I had to get! :-)  I think he loved it more there.

 Stop #7 - Cullowhee, NC
The final stop of the trip was to Joe's family.  Isaac meet the rest of his aunts and uncles, Great Grandma Parrish, and Great aunt and uncle Blair and Steve, and great cousin, Andrew.  By this time in the trip, Isaac was doing great with new people and would pretty much play with anyone who would walk with him or feed him! :-) He recognized MeMaw and Pop Pop right way and enjoy his special time with them too!

Great Grandma Parrish

Isaac and MeMaw

Aunt Olivia and Uncle Josh

Great Aunt Blair and Uncle Josh reading to Isaac

Uncle Josh and Isaac's new Sit and Stand toy he loves!

Funny Faces with Isaac and Aunt "O"

Devin, Josh, Isaac and Olivia

Out on the lake with Pop Pop

Isaac with Uncle Chris

A bunch of the gang out swimming in the lake

All of Isaac's aunts and uncles on Daddy's side

Isaac with Godfather Will

Riding on the tractor with Uncle Josh

Enjoying the new pool Uncle Will and Tammy bought him!

Loving time with Great Uncle Steve

Mommy, Daddy, Isaac, Uncle Josh and Aunt Michelle

This pictures makes me giggle.  Trying to get a family picture next to the camper (mommy's idea). 

The best family pic we are gonna get. :-)

Ready for the drive straight through to get home.  We left EARLY on Monday morning. We take a little pitstop somewhere in Kansas, I think, for Joe to rest, and back on the road to get home Tuesday afternoon. Wee get 10 miles from home when the RV decides to break down.  Good thing we got AAA with RV protection before we left.  There we were getting the RV towed back to the house. All in all, it was a great time, lots of memories, and as always, we LOVE being able to see out families! I know Isaac will be too young too remember this trip, but I hope he'll have these pictures to know all the places he was and people he was able to meet before he was a year old!

Cross Country Trip - Part 1

We bought a 27.5 ft RV to trek across the country this summer to have Isaac meet all of his family and some of our friends.  The trip was 3 weeks long, and we were able to bring Kodah and Balin along too!  Kodah enjoyed sitting in the front seat, and I enjoyed sleeping in the back with Isaac! :-)

Stop #1 - Silver Creek, NE
Our friend, Nick, happened to be there this same week for his cousins wedding, and we really enjoyed being able to see his grandparents again, Memaw and Pa Pa.  It was a nice evening visit, and then we were up early to head to MN.

Stop #2 - Mankato, MN and Owatonna, MN
We made it back here in time for my oldest nephew, Cody and Myranda's wedding.  It was very special for me to be a part of it, as my whole family was together again for the event.  I thank Joe for making this happen for me.  Isaac also got to meet his Great Grandma Shaw, the rest of his cousins, aunts, uncles, great aunts and uncles, and even great-great aunts and uncles. ;-)  Lol! 

Alone time with Gamma Shaw

Isaac with his Great Grandma shaw

Are we done with pictures yet?

Isaac with his Great Uncle Jack

Joe, Isaac, and Uncle Randy (Yes, I'm gonna say it...his Great, Great, Uncle!  Ha, ha!)

Great Grandma Shaw feeding Isaac dinner

Isaac enjoying the wedding reception

Gamma Shaw teaching Isaac to point to his nose
(Have some more family pics I'm hoping to get of extended Family)

Stop #3 - Germantown, WI
My best friend, Mandi, and her family welcomed us all into there home for dinner and an evening visit.  It was so great to see her two boys.   Isaac loved to play with her kids and they knew exactly which toys to pull out for a little boy.  I'm so happy we made the stop to see them.

* more pics to come*

Stop #4 - Cardington, OH
Way out in the middle of nowhere, was wonderful plot of land and was cute house. The dogs were in heaven to play with a black lab named Bear.  Joe's Uncle, Barry, had a great place for us to stop and visit.  They seemed to have a nice time catching up and working on the RV a little bit.  Then off we went for part 2 of the trip....the east coast!

Isaac - 11 months

I am continually amazed at watching a little human being learn and grow each day.  Motherhood is amazing and I have enjoyed 11 months of it already.  Next month, this little guy will be ONE.  This last month was full of lots of new things.

First Family Vacation
in our new/used RV, we stayed in or went through CO, NE, MN, WI, OH, WV, VA, MD, NC, TN, KY, MO, KS and back to CO! 

New Faces
Got to meet of great grandmas, cousins, aunts and uncles, and some great-aunts and uncles too!

First words
Da Da
Yes - "yeth"
All Done - "ah dah"
Light - "digh"
Pop Pop - "pa pa" as a whisper

Pointing and Object recognition
When asked where something is, he can point to a light, ceiling fan, his nose, Da Da, Ma Ma, Kodah, Balin, airplane, flowers, ball, and tractor

Making sounds
Starting to make sounds for "Meow" and "Choo Choo"

First Steps
Pulling himself up, walking by pushing things (walker, laundry basket, box, etc.), and even taking a few of his first steps on his own.

New Tooth
Now have 8 teeth, 4 on top and 4 on bottom.

First Kiss
He will give kisses on demand, pretty much to anyone now (including the dogs).  Good, open mouth, kisses with lots of love!

Pop Pop and MeMaw's Visit

It took Isaac 2 weeks before reaching out his arms and jumping to Pop Pop. He slowly worked his way from playing with Pop Pop when Mama was in the room, to Mama sneaking awayout of the room, to eventually leaping to Pop Pop, then ultimately crying when Pop Pop leaves the room.  With Isaac getting used to new people in the house (Pop Pop and my brother's family) he didn't take but a couple of hours to go to MeMaw on his own!  So, Isaac has a blast playing on the tractor, playing with tools, swimming in the baby pool, singing songs, playing with rocks, and so much more!!!  It also took Mama a little bit to stop checking around the corner every 5 minutes.  In the end, Mama got to get lots of things done, and Isaac truly enjoyed every minute with Pop Pop and Memaw!  We even all tried taking an adventure to a restaurant, which was a success too.    We all miss them tons already and look forward to the next time we are all together!!!!

Mmmm....pickles!

Oh boy....so much fun in the pool!

Two Cool Dudes!

Twins.

Pop Pop...I'm coming with you!!!

Isaac - 10 months

Claps hands together to say "yeah" or to music
Does "So Big" with his arms
Gives precious, gentle open mouth kisses
Still isn't interested in carwling but walks all over (while holding his hands)
Loves swimming in his pool
Pulls himself up on lower objects like laundry basket and bath tub.
Just started sleeping through the night! (Yeah for Mama!)
Eats anything, preferably something from Daddy's plate with a real spoon or fork. :-)
Still in 12 month clothes, but the pants are still way long for his short legs.
Same 7 teeth (four on top and three on bottom), but another bottom one is just starting.

Clapping hands

Silly face

"Cheese!"

Simple (free) toys...gotta love them!

Eating out

Loves rocks!

His mind was made up

Isaac was just sitting with me in the living room reading a book (also paying attention to the background conversations with Daddy, Pop Pop and MeMaw). Then he silently slid his way off my lap, walked his way to the stairs (while I held his hands), lifted his feet one by one to step up the stairs, turned directly into his room...all as if to say..."Mama, I'm tired and am ready to go to bed already."  And that's exactly what he did. Without a peep, he is now sound asleep.  What a precious moment!

Our first zoo trip

I met up with a group of my girlfriends that all attended Regis University together while getting our masters.  When we all started our schooling there were no children. Then there were 3, then 2 more,and now a total of 6.  Crazy how quickly all of our lives change.  It was great to get together with these friends and watch Isaac interact with the children, adults and the animals!

First trip - 2007

2011 (the children outnumber the adults!)

Isaac and Mommy

Chilling in the shade

Brenda and Isaac
(Who doesn't love Brenda?!?! Isaac doesn't go to new people very well, but no problems with Fun Brenda!)

All the kids together!

Getting them all to look at the camera...unlikely.