Swim Lessons- Day Two

I really wanted to get Rome into swim lessons. He loves water and splashing around, so I thought it would be great. Well, I finally just showed up the day they started a new session and signed up. It didn't go as well as I would have hoped.
First, the teacher tried to touch him and he screamed. I mean SCREAMED. If you have heard him you know, this boy can scream. After that he held on to me for dear life and screamed any time the teacher came next to us. Today was not much better. I kind of forgot and so I let him play after lunch instead of getting ready and then we were late. It is a good 25 minute drive to the pool. I was rushing to get in the car and then into the pool. He didn't want to play or let go of me for anything. He barely wanted to look at the other kids. And he screamed. The worst part is that I can't get him to calm down because I am already holding him. I finally got him to sit on the edge of the pool and then he didn't want to get back in. After 20 minutes in class I got him to kick a little and then lay back on me and RELAX! It was great, for the last 5 minutes. The other kids (older and younger) are all splashing around and doing the activities. Rome is screaming. The entire pool can hear him scream and turn to look at me trying to get him to stop. Fun. By the time he is ready to play, it is time to go. Ugh, I am a little frustrated. Oh, and TIRED! I didn't realize that it would be half an hour of weight lifting an unhappy baby and squatting in shallow water. I didn't need a new workout. We get home and HE is ready to go while I am beat. I make him take a nap because I am tired and need to lay down. I also think I am beginning to burn my lips and my part and I feel bad because I am the only mom with sunglasses on, but the sun hurts my eyes. For the next week and a half I am going to get a great sunglasses tan and perma-pony tail bump. It might be a long week and a half. I hope it gets better.

Good Books

Sorry this is SUPER old. I finally got the video working.
When I was with Autumn she asked if I had any lift-the-flap books for Rome. Well, no. I am way too worried that they will get ruined and he is too little. Well, when I was at the thrift store I found one. I figured he could try it out and learn to be nice and if it gets torn then it was only a quarter. Perfect. Rome loves it too!

This is Rome reading one of his favorites. It is about colors and only has a few pages. He loves it.

Can you believe this was only 4 months ago?

Mommy's Helper

Rome is just so helpful sometimes. Maybe a little too helpful. But he is so cute while he does it!

 

Helping to take all of the tissues out of the box, You didn't want me to test them out?

 

Helping to make dinner while eating a snack.

 

Helping to empty the dishwasher and testing out the silverware and cups, they taste good.

 

Helping to make cupcakes, oh I need a snack now.

 

Helping to get dressed by taking out all of the clothes. I need to see all of my options.

Seriously, how can you be mad at a face like that?

Happy Birthday!

Baby Rome is One Year Old Today! It is really difficult to think of that much time passing. Oh, I love my little guy. He really was a booger today too. He must have known it was his birthday because he took wacky naps and wouldn't play and was a real stinker. Oh well. We are having a big party for him in Salt Lake next weekend.

He is not walking yet, but he could if he felt like it. His new thing is to pull faces. Josh thinks it is creepy, but I think it is hillarious! He does it all of the time just to make me laugh. What a silly kid! I took some good pics of it, but the computer is broken and I am scared to put any new pics on it. Anyway, I have so many favorite pics. It really is hard to pick just a couple. Oh, how my baby has grown!

Newborn...

2 Weeks...

2 Months...

6 Months...

8 Months...

I have tons more, but the computer keeps crashing. Pooh.

Left Alone

Well, not really. He just got away from me. He crawls fast. We have a gate for a reason and when it is open he bolts! This is where I found him...

Playing with his diaper bag. At least he isn' t in the dog water.

Checking out the pantry and probably the dog bowls.

Playing with magnets. He likes the pug face.
What?

Bye Bye Bib or Bandana Baby

Rome has outgrown his bibs. Well, actually he learned how to pull them off. I would put it on and as soon as he noticed it he would pull it off. I kept trying, but eventually gave up. He still drools everywhere. I just have to wipe it off now and his shirt is always wet. It drives me nuts. This one day I had the brilliant idea to tie one of the dogs bandannas (they get a new one every time they get groomed, why I don't know, they hate them) around his neck. He can't pull it off and he looks super cute too. Bonus!
On the down side, I had to untie it at the end of the day when it was super tight because he had been pulling on it all day long. I guess it wasn't so brilliant after all.

Easter and 11 Months

Easter
For Easter I invited my parents to come down to see us, but they couldn't come because there were too many things happening and concerts to go to. Oh well. I ended up inviting my friend Cathy and her two boys to come over on Saturday and then come back for Easter dinner on Sunday. We had such a great time! We all colored about 4 dozen eggs and even Josh helped. Then, the boys played video games while Cathy and I decorated cupcakes to be super cute bunnies. I love cute cupcakes! Although, I have to say, I made these ones out of french vanilla cake and they were not very satisfying. Next time I am making chocolate because I like it. So there. Anyway, on Sunday we went to church and Rome was pretty good. He only screamed a little and Josh took him so I could listen to the Relief Society lesson. That is the best! Then, we went home and got everything ready for dinner. We ate early and I made BBQ ribs, mashed potatoes, salad and deviled eggs(of course) and bunny cupcakes for dessert. It was pretty tasty. I know ribs are kind of strange for Easter, but I didn't want to go buy a ham and Josh doesn't like ham and ribs are super easy in the crock pot, so that is what we ate. It was good and so nice to have Cathy and her boys come over. Maybe next year we can take Rome to all of the fun egg hunts and Easter activities. I love these holidays!

Notice the cross-eyed boy and Thor at the table. Stinkers.


11 Months
Only one month to go before my baby is One! Crazy! He has gotten so big and is so close to walking. He could if he felt like it. We have convinced him to walk while holding only one hand and he does fine. You just have to convince him to do it. He does so many funny things. He claps, waves, does the indian wawa, opens his mouth like a fish, bangs things together, fake laughs, chases the dogs around, puts things in cups and takes them out again, lays down on pillows and blankets, plays peekaboo, reads books to himself, screams just because, walks with his walker toy, plays with dog toys, crawls UNDER the coffee table(it is pretty short, I don't know how he does it), goes in and out of the baby gate, breaks the dog gate(I didn't know he was that strong), and he drools everywhere! He loves playing with Josh and will pull out all his tricks when he sees Daddy. Usually he is such a happy kid, especially if he gets 2 naps during the day. Otherwise he is kinda fussy, but my friend tells me it is only me that can tell. So, I guess I should not feel bad to leave him with a sitter when he is tired because they can't tell. Hmm, good thing.

Pictures were not happening

He would rather play with this or his walker

Going in the baby gate and back out again

Springy

Last week was soo warm and nice! Okay it is closer to 2 weeks ago. Anyway, I came home from my trip to these flowers. My favorite!
















We played outside and tested out the backyard. Well, the rocks.

Hi Doggies!

I took Rome to the park to try out the swings. He loved them!
He kept trying to lay down. Silly boy!

I tried to take some better 10 month pics, but it didn't really work.
That is what you get with a mobile baby.

He ended up swimming in the masses of toys. What fun!

It was so warm I even got out some of Rome's summer outfits.
Stinky March snowing on us again. That is not nice.

The Difference Between Dogs and Babies

Babies figure out that the dog gate is not attached at the bottom (because you lost 2 of the hooks) and get into the kitchen. Dogs sit happily in the kitchen with the unattached gate.

Dogs scatter wet grass all over your clean* kitchen floor because you let them go outside. Babies laugh and try to eat the grass. Gross!

Dogs smell stinky and musty when they are wet. Babies smell sweet when they are wet, well, after a bath anyway.

Babies smell like wet dogs when they are attacked, I mean loved by the dogs that went outside. Dogs are confused when you yell at them for loving the baby. What? You mean you don't want me to lick his entire face? You sure? I could try it again in 30 seconds...

Dogs eat all of the baby's snack when they are let into the living room by the escaping baby. Babies don't care, they like to share snacks with the dogs anyway. It is funny. Wait, isn't that why the dogs went outside?

Dogs think when I say "snack" that it includes them. Babies think that if you are eating then they should be too. Hey, didn't I get you your own snack? Oh yea, the dogs ate it. I didn't need all of my snack anyway.

Babies think that the gate to their room is the best toy. They go in and out and in and out and in.... Dogs think it looks like fun... Stinking dogs. Tell Baby, the gate was to keep the dogs out.

Mom thinks isn't it nap time yet?

Shakers

Rome found these shakers in his toys and really likes them. He crawls around with one in each hand and stops to shake one and then the other and then both. It is pretty funny!

Look Mom!, Want some?

Oh, and it got hot so Rome got naked. He didn't seem to mind.

Chompers

I wanted to put this up when he got his second tooth, but he got two more before I even had a chance! So, now he has 4! Crazy kid!

I know this is only a pic of his top one, but it is right above his first so he grinds them together all day long. Such a nice sound. The other two he got were on the bottom. The ones they usually get first. Weird, I know.