A Canyon, so Grand.

To escape the awful winter weather plaguing Minnesota we
traveled to Las Vegas to visit Susie and Chris during the University spring break. We were greeted with warm weather 70 degrees or so, and sun, making for the perfect remedy to our wintertime funk. Our first trip with Collin was quite the learning experience, schooling us in infant traveling long before we arrived in Las Vegas. As it turns out, for those of you who haven't traveled with 10 month olds, they have a whole lotta stuff. Serious amounts of stuff. Just to get Collin out the door we had the pack'n'play, the traveling high chair, a car seat, a very large piece of luggage packed with all things baby, a stroller, the breast pump, a diaper bag, the external frame hiking pack and the list continues...and then there we were, crammed into one smaller suitcase bringing along the bare minimum. Just to get to the ticket counter to check our bags we needed help,we couldn't even carry all of his stuff. Nothing looks more pathetic than the stroller, bogged down with four bags with parents praying out loud that the little guy in the stroller is enough of a counter balance to keep it all from toppling over. Meanwhile, Drew is dragging two suitcases, with the pack'n'play precariously stacked on top of both of them, while wearing the external pack without the baby in it, strapped down with the camera bag, computer bag and baby toys squeaking as he traipsed toward the check counter. Meanwhile, Aaron, Drew's friend who took us to the airport had pity on us and dragged the remaining suitcase and carried the car seat to the ticket counter. After what seemed like a day of dragging our goods, we made it to the counter and quickly deposited four of our monstrous totes with the baggage folks. We were so relieved to be rid of them, if only temporarily, I nearly did a little dance. The rest of our journey in the airport became a collection of drop offs. First we were able to lose the large ones, and at the gate we were able to gate check the stroller and external pack, allowing us to actually get on the plane with only three bags! The diaper bag, breast pump and camera bag. By the time we actually sat down we felt like we had struck gold!



On our flight Collin did well, and when we arrived in Las Vegas we were happy to put down all of our heavy and cumbersome luggage and relax. We soaked up some sun and Collin took his first swim in Aunt Susie and Uncle Chris's pool. After spending a few days filling up on sunshine, naps and eating ice cream, we headed out to the Grand Canyon. We spent Tuesday and Wednesday exploring the rim and local trails above the canyon.
The grand canyon is strange because, well, its SO RIDICULOUSLY GRAND. As we approached the rim we were overtaken with a surreal sense of phantom green screen. I wanted to reach out and rip down the screen. It was rather odd. I realize the grand canyon is real, but it is so enormous that the surreal nature of viewing the canyon seems fake. On the second day we had the same experience. My little brain just couldn't get around how big it was.
Our first day at the Grand Canyon also happened to be Susie's birthday. We were happy to spend it with her and to help her celebrate we took her to the historic El Tovar restaurant in the Grand Canyon Village, where we enjoyed a great dinner and reveled over a beautiful day on the rim.






Collin loved his pack as we trekked along the canyon. He fell asleep for his first nap soon after we started out on our hike and woke up to some spectacular views of the canyon. The skies were bright, the sun was out and we were enjoying every minute of the un-Minnesota like weather and amazing views. While we were on the Rim trails we ran into a handful of Elk peru-sing the grass after the fresh snow. During the evening as we made our way to El Tovar for dinner we encountered a handful of mule deer up close and personal. We enjoyed the wildlife and the scenery and almost forgot for 5 minutes that we were committed to jobs and Minnesota cold almost 2000 miles from where we stood. The canyon was in transition from winter to spring, with a fresh blanket of snow covering the rim and spring showers melting down the side of the canyon walls making for a collection of small waterfalls that serenaded us as we walked along the paths.
Collin did especially well during the few days we were at the canyon, we were amazed at how well he adjusted to the time schedule, lack of naps and feeding schedule. The poor kid was thrown for a loop, but nevertheless, he kept his little smile and carried on with us like a little trooper. A handful of people commented on how good of a baby he was, and we were again reminded how lucky we are to have such a pleasant little guy.
Our few days at the Grand Canyon went by quickly- we wished we could have spent more time hiking and looking at the pristine environment. In general though, we were happy to have spent the time we could there. Drew and I are particularly thankful to have jobs that allow us to take such memorable trips and create wonderful family memories for Collin. It made for a grand experience, at the grand canyon.

Toys... we don't need no stinkin' toys!

Collin's tendencies ring true of infant stereotypes. Never the toys, always the boxes and bags they come in. Such a happy baby, playing in a Target bag and the box from Samson's new dog bed.

The Little Guy at the Little Gym

Another adventure, in pictures...

9 months

Oh Collin, how time continues to fly.
Here we are at 9 months. 3/4 of a year.
Please slow down. Please?!?

At nine months we've enjoyed being your parents, I think more than ever so far. You have been so absolutely easy as we continue to learn how to be parents. Its almost as if you realize we're a bit green, and are playing this game by the seat of our pants. Everyday is a new adventure brimming with excitement.
As we continue to navigate your daily adventures I find myself more excited and exhausted each and every day. Every morning I wake up to you, rolling around on our bed trying desperately to steam-roll me into alertness. You start your morning by reciting your efforts: ma, ma, Mammmm, mama, mama, MAMA. As you try to roll your way over me you catch a glimpse of the lineup of cars heading toward Parkview for morning drop-offs and are momentarily mesmerized as you stare out the window. I realize it will be all too soon before we too are part of the drop off line and you'll be finding your way to kindergarten. I smile, imagining who you will be at the ripe age of 5, and shed a little tear that it will arrive in our life all too soon.
As the cars slowly creep toward the stop sign you transfer your energy back to me, and quickly get your hands on my face, grabbing for my nose like a little horn. If for every time you tried to grab my nose I had a nickle, we'd already be rich. As you roll over and land on my neck, or cheek, you try desperately hard to land a kiss on my face, open mouthed with a line of spit trailing across your smile. So absolutely perfect that when we get out of bed, I can hardly stand not smothering you with more kisses.
After getting dressed and an almost painful washing of your face, apparently it hurts to be clean when you are 9 months old, you are ready for breakfast. We settle you in to your highchair and quickly snap on the tray, as if only a moment you are without it you try desperately hard to get out of the chair and onto the floor. We fill your tray with fruit, mangos, apples, grapes... you spend your time trying to pick up the slippery fruits as they pass through your fingers. Your efforts are joined with yogurt and oatmeal, two of your favorites.
During breakfast its a miracle if you aren't in need of bath by the time we finish. You enjoy squishing the fruits in your palm to making noises and plastering your hair to your head with a yogurt and fruit pomade. After breakfast we play, and you are becoming so imaginative and excited about your toys. You love cars and trucks, your blocks and your small soft puppies that live in a small soft house. You turn the pages of your books, as you love for them to be read to you in an endless circle of your favorites- the very hungry caterpillar, The going to Bed Book, Listen Listen and How Do I love you we all now know by heart.
Play now includes crawling, but the stubborn genes in you prevent you from approaching anything traditionally- you won't actually crawl, instead you drag your body like an soldier on the floor. Army crawling where ever you go, your little legs have rug burn on them from being dragged across the floor. You've learned to pick up speed and chase down your toys as we continually put them just out of your reach to encourage you to move.
Your personality is filled with smiles and hilarity, alternating like a revolving door. You crack up at your daddy, more than anyone else, as you two have a particularly special bond. Its amazing to see your little face light up when he greets you.

Before I know it, the day has passed and I wonder again where the time has gone. You're getting so big, so fast, and I can barely stand it. This month your milestones all point to the same direction- toddlerhood, and its so very bittersweet. You've transitioned to a "big boy" carseat, you've reduced your nursing schedule, and you want to spend more time exploring and less time cuddling. Everyday I hope to get a little bit of it back, but I know all too well that you are heading forward, persevering in your development, not looking back, even for an instant.

So here we are, accomplishing one more month, showing the world one more view of your unique little personality. This month has been about getting to know you more, playing with you, rather than playing for you, helping you to stand, take steps and crawl, encouraging you to go out and meet the world, while we sit behind you with a teeny tiny tear in our eyes.

As I think about the past 30 days its difficult to pinpoint what is different and when changes occurred in your life, and even though I can't pin down any one instance of change in your personality, I see, as a whole, its new and evolving. As you drive your little toy cars across the floor and run one into another I see your wondering smile as you realize just how the world works, well, when it comes to these little cars, at least.

9 months brought so much fun and love, new hugs and kisses, active interactions and stubbornness. You've sang to us while dancing along your happiest thoughts, and scolded us during your most frustrating moments all with the tone of your voice and expression on your face. We know you well, but only can dream of who you will be in only a few more weeks when we arrive, all too soon, at 10 months.

All our love,
Mommy and Daddy.