Little Rock

We stopped in Little Rock to spend time with family and enjoy a few days of relaxing before heading home to Omaha. Tripp loves his cousin "Lilah" and is still walking around the house calling her name. In typical female fashion, Delilah doesn't want much to do with him. They were quite a pair. Rena has another little one on the way as well! About 4 months after Vida's born. I love to see the family grow. It is a true blessing from God!

And it didn't take Tripp long to TRY and touch the TV...

Or Delilah long to steal his passy, an ongoing game with the two of them.

Tripp would only eat off of Delilah's plate. 

And then he'd wear it as a hat.

Cousin love! Wish their eyes were open here! Tripp tended to tackle Lilah more than hug her, we had to keep telling him to " Hug and RELEASE!!!"

They both enjoyed playing with Legos

and having tea parties together.

Tripp loved crawling into bed with Meme and Pappy in the mornings. 

Memphis

We had about a 7 hour car ride to Arkansas to see Marc's brother Chris and his family so we made a stop in Memphis for a few hours to break up the monotony of driving.

There was one MUST on this stop.

We MUST eat at Rendevous BBQ for their dry-rub ribs!

And we did. 

And it was GOOD! 

We also went on our first carriage ride. 

One block...$10

But it was totally worth it! 

Tripp's face was priceless! 

Since my Alma-Mater won the College World Series this year. I had to get a pic by the Cock. 

GO COCKS!!! These are for you Dad! 

And a few random pictures from walking around in Memphis. 

He was really into this fountain!

Run, run, run and get rid of all that energy!!!

Marc was excited to find a "Boogie" sign to match his call sign.

SOS

Tripp waiting for the graduation ceremony to begin.

Marc and his flight receiving their award. We had to sit in the last row so they are barely visible! 

We've been in Alabama for the last month at SOS, Squadron Officer School. Don't know much about it except that there are a lot of papers, a lot of PT, and lots of team building activities, as well and many late nights and early mornings.

Marc survived a torn hamstring. Thanks to someone's bright idea to do sprints first thing in the morning. Ouch! But he is on the mend and feeling much better! He loved his flight and we went out and did lots of fun things with all of them. His flight won the "Chief of Staff" award and I'm not sure what that entails but I know he was happy!

I survived many late nights of typing and frustration over paper topics, while trying to get Tripp to sleep (in the same bed!) Although it was hot, and I was pregnant- THERE WAY A CHICK-FIL-A! I made numerous stops there- had to get my fix!

I also enjoyed going to see Eclipse with two girls that were in Marc's flight. And it was GOOD! Oh, so, good!!! Still Team Edward!

Tripp enjoyed the playground right outside our door.

The indoor playroom with all the kids.

And sleeping in the bed with Mommy and Daddy. Oh yes... that's right! HE would not sleep in his Pack 'n Play because he discovered how to climb out. So, we tried the pull out couch. Nope! He kept crawling in bed with us every night. Eventually, he made his way into our bed and the three of us slept in a queen size bed, all snuggled up together for over a month!

I am SOOO happy to be home and I am patiently adjusting him back to sleeping in his bed without mommy and daddy. Phew!

He also enjoyed his first baseball game! The Montgomery Buscuits. I enjoyed all the yummy stadium food and especially the boiled peanuts!

Vida was a trooper, I had a ton of energy and totally forgot I was preggo until my clothes started to shrink!  I stocked up on some cute prissy clothes while in AL. Can't wait to see her in them in a few months!

We made it home! Alabama was definitely an adventure! It was HOT, humid and very cramped but we enjoyed every minute! What a wonderful memory for our family!

Dear Tripp,

It's hard to believe that two years have passed since you came into this world kicking and screaming! You are such a little fire-ball and I love every waking minute that we get to hang out! Here are a few of your funny little traits that make me smile!

Your obsession with Thomas the Tank Engine and Toy Story

How you sing the ABC's in your own language. You can't say the letters yet so you babble them at the TOP of your lungs!

You're addicted to your passy or "paddy" as you like to call it

You think your daddy hung the moon and get very upset any time he leaves

You're favorite toy is Buzz Light Year and you hum "To infinity and beyond" because you can't quite say the words yet.

How you love your shoes but always want them off as soon as you get in the house.

You totally live up to the meaning of your name (Traveller) you are such a trooper and don't ever fuss on planes (okay well you did once, but I forgive you for it) or long car rides.

I love to hear the sweet word "Mommy" every time it comes out of your mouth.

Listening to you "sing" to Usher's "OMG" song.

Watching you play so content with all your toys and never need to be entertained.

How I love arts and crafts so much and can barely get you to sit 5 seconds to draw a line!

You never meet a stranger and think everyone is your friend.

You love to be the center of attention, just like your daddy.

You still like your milk when you go night-night.

Your sweet hugs and how you nuzzle your head.

The fact that you are ALL boy and I don't know how that happened b/c I know nothing about raising a son!

How you love to watch your movies on your tiny travel TV.

Happy birthday little man!

Tripp's 2!

All these for ME?!?!?!

That's one happy 2 year old!

Papa Knox helping Tripp open his gifts.

Carol opening Thomas for Tripp.

Tripp and I flew to South Carolina one day before Tripp's 2nd birthday so that I could squeeze ONE last free flight in before he's booted out of my lap. Let's just say that being 4 months preggo with a squirming almost 2 year old for three connecting flights is NOT comfortable! That's what I get for "working-the-system." But we made it, even if our bags didn't. That's another story!

For Tripp's birthday, I was planning on taking him to brunch, the zoo and dinner with Carol. Instead,  I was stuck at home waiting for our bags to arrive so the next night we headed over to Carol's house for a birthday celebration with Papa Knox. Carol and Papa Knox had a spread of presents for Tripp and he was so excited! He LOVED playing with Leo, Carol's grand-puppy. It was a fun celebration and Tripp was spoiled!

Poop?!!!

Why is it that when a child is teething they constantly poop??? Oh my goodness, I am so tired of changing pooey diapers on the hour- I think I could scream! Last night, I  got Tripp out of the bath and let him "air out" of a minute since he has a bad case of diaper rash from all the pooing. I go into the kitchen to make him a sippy cup with milk, turn around to walk back out, and within the 20 second window return to see me bare naked child with a lovely small, yet sufficient pile of poo resting on my carpet! WHAT????

Soap, water, scrubbing, abra-ca-dabra- all gone. Poo free.

So I thought... I put Tripp to bed, kiss him goodnight and turn out the light. 30 minutes later, I hear him babbling and fussing. Thinking- hmmm maybe he pooed AGAIN. I get him out of bed and check him- looks good. Maybe we'll just snuggle on the couch for a minute. As I am snuggling with Tripp in his big boy Thomas the Train jammies, I keep getting wafts of poo. Did I not get it all out of the carpet. Is there a trail somewhere? Where is that coming from? A few sniffs later and I trail down to Tripp's heel. How the heck did I miss that when I cleaned poo accident #1? A brief sniff to the left and I find poo accident number two.

Okay- the child has a diaper ON this time. How in the heck did he manage to expel it from his diaper, down his pant let and onto the floor where he proceeded to happily bound around my living room and couch? I am baffled...and now I am paranoid that I missed a pile and will find in tomorrow or when I have a guest over wondering why my house smells like poo. Can you imagine, "I'm so sorry you just sat in a poo plop! Tripp pooped all over the house yesterday. I thought I got it all up. Oops." Oh the plight of the poo!!!

Mark, Kate, Grady & Oscar

Here's a few photos from the Kobussen's holiday shoot. Kate is the most organized person I know! She planned early for her holiday cards and already has a table covered with wrapped Christmas gifts! Wow! You go girl! Also, just plug for my friend, if you need a good personal trainer, Kate's your girl!

I love photographing my friends and their families! Though I will admit I was a bit nervous because Kate's house is filled with beautiful photos from super talented photographers! Can you believe how precious Grady is?? I could snap photos of him all day! Oscar just has back surgery and was very excited to get outside and feel the sun. Poor little guy, he had a bit of trouble walking! We got some great photos at a park right behind Blackhawk that I didn't even know existed until I was on my way to their house. Their Christmas card design is soon to come! Keep your eyes peeled!
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