Spring Break Camping

We went camping spring break

It was cold

I made chili and homemade buttermilk cornbread in a dutch oven (Curt's new obsession)

It was a hit

(they forgot bowls and spoons)

The next morning, Kempton began throwing rocks

then it warmed up

so we played in the water.

We shot guns

worked on our tans

some not as well as others.

and Brooke played in the sand.

And when the sun was setting and it was time to leave, Kempton was still (literally for 6+ hours) throwing rocks!

It was fun, the end!

{6} Months

Brooke had her 6 month appointment a few weeks back.

She's growing...fast!

This time around

she weighed 17 lbs 10 oz (two lbs in two months)

length 26 1/4 inches

She eats great, has gotten through all the yellow and orange veggies and has moved onto greens. She'll eat anything as long as it's mixed with rice cereal, she loves that stuff. Still has a 6 0z bottle 4 times a day.

This girl also, is still loving nap time. She takes a morning, afternoon, and evening nap, and still sleeps through the night, she's the best!

Brooke likes to carry her weight in her thighs, therefore she is wearing size 9-12 month bottoms, and has finally gotten to long for the 6 month onesies. She's blowing through the clothes I bought before she was born (which I sized according to how Kempton grew which was slow) so it's a good thing spring is nice and warm in AZ.

She rolls like a mad woman, and has been going in both directions since about 5 months. She now turns herself in circles to get where she wants. She's started trying to get up on her knees, but for the most part still just inches around. She can sit up pretty well on an uneven surface. If it's flat she falls over after a bit.

Some of her favorite things:

*Kempton! Seriously we didn't think she could laugh for the longest time, it was just a "heh" noise. Then one day K was goofing around and she was cracking up so hard. So pretty much anything he does makes her laugh.

*Her daddy, she's always smiling at him.

*Being outside (as long as she's covered in SPF 50, has a hat on and in the shade) she would play out there all day.

*Toys, she likes playing (chewing) on Kempton's stuff.

*Anything she can chew on, her favorite is paper and wood spoons. She's the child we're going to have to keep an eye on about putting random crap in her mouth.

*Pulling my hair

*Likes to play on the ground and in her bouncy things, doesn't like to be rocked when tired, and loves to have the attention of anyone that's in the room.

We love our little girl and the sweet little personality she's developing, and this age is the best to see that little individual emerge!

Ropes, Rides, Rain and Carrots

Kempton has become quite the run away lately. Since we don't have much of a back yard I often let him play in the front. We have a large kitchen window that looks out over the yard so I can keep an I on him, but it has become apparent that that is not enough. He was playing where I could see him, but went back to lay Brooke down. In the two minutes I was gone he took off. I wandered around the house, walked by the neighbor's house (who has a little dog he loves to antagonize), looked in the large expanse of emptiness behind our house, walked down the street a bit, and over to the park...the usual places he takes off to. But I couldn't find him anywhere. I tried not to panic but after 30 minutes, and half the neighborhood looking for him, I called the campus police. They came out, got his particulars, and called for backup. In that moment I had the thought to go over to the neighbor's house (the one with the dog, she was gone). Sure enough the front door was cracked. I called his name and heard this faint, yeah, from somewhere in the back of the house. He was in the second drawer of her little girl's dresser with his hand in the hamster cage. I was so frustrated that he was here all along but relieved too, he was safe, the hamster however, I'm not sure how much trauma he suffered before I got there. Thankfully, I had a lot of help which I'm grateful for, and when my neighbor got home, she thought it was hilarious (she's a great person to have living across the street, she puts up with Kempton and his wandering antics) because people, she has 4 kids and UNDERSTANDS!

Anyhow, after a few more incidents of him taking off including when he took off into the field (ignoring me telling him no and other things (people were watching) (hey people thanks for the help)) he took off running full speed with me after him, BAREFOOT through rocks, glass, tumbleweeds, and stickers. It was not fun and he spent the next hour in time out, but to save my feet and my sanity, this is now how he plays in the front yard.

It was the 20 ft leash anchored to the house, or a shock collar, you make the call!
On a happier note, he has been a great big brother to Brooke. He loves to take her on rides on his quads, and she loves it even more. He's very caring and always lets me know when "Brooke's crying" or "Brooke's awake". It's been nice to have a little helper and she can't get enough of his attention. I love (but not always) when I find him sitting in her crib telling her "she's so cute", and then telling me "look mom, she's awake" (well of course she is, you jumped in her crib).

And I'm convinced the only features they share at this point are the ears and nose.

Last Sunday we got a little rain. Ok really, we had a torrential storm that lasted all of ten minutes, but Kempton has a new found love for umbrellas, and couldn't resist.



Brooke had her first taste of carrots the other day. Remembering what it was like with K, I grabbed the camera in hopes of getting another face like this...

Instead, she ate it. No funny face, no grimace, she just took it like a champ and wanted some more. She's too easy.

And after that she was apparently still hungry... the girl loves her feet.