Memorial Day Weekend

I wanted to take Harrison to the beach for memorial day weekend, but things are just so much more expensive when you are dealing with three people rather than one (gone are the days when $135 paid for a week at duck beach....)!!! So instead we decided to go to the Wildlife World Zoo which is kind of the red-headed stepchild of the Phoenix Zoo out here. I used to go a lot as a kid and they've built an aquarium since then so I wanted to check it out. We had a great time. Despite near 100 degree temperatures a breeze allowed us to walk around a bit, visit the goats and deer (and one llama) at the petting zoo, and ride an awesome ghetto-fied train that actually goes through the exhibits (those swanky zoos never do that!)--and Harrison LOVED all of the fish at the aquarium. He also got his first taste of icee...YUM (and I made him say "icee" for the second bite....)

I left my phone at home (kind of freeing really) and just took a couple of shots with my phone so sorry there isn't much to memorialize the occasion.

snuggling with his "monkey leash" on the way over. He LOVES that thing...the other day he said "monkey" and took me over to it. He associates it with walks and exploring and FREEDOM (a bit restricted, but nonetheless)


Sorry about the vulgarity on the blog but these turtles (doing what turtles do...I guess...) werejust too funny

MMMMMM....FLUFFY WHITE CHERRY ICEE HEAVEN!!!!

Ten Random Thoughts From Me

Just to avoid jumping over the edge of "this blog is about our child and only about our child" ness:

1. This is my new favorite go-to recipe. It's cheap and easy. You can use any kind of crust and any kind of cheese. Just make sure you marinate the tomatoes. YUMMALISH.
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Four-Cheese-Margherita-Pizza/Detail.aspx?prop31=2

2. If you didn't already see it on my google chat status earlier in the week, I think this is awesome and am about done with people screaming and yelling about the AZ immigration bill (even though I'm not actually a supporter). http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/05/19/arizona-official-threatens-cut-los-angeles-power-payback-boycott/

3. This is pretty funny too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6qEQ-KnitQ&feature=player_embedded

4. Have I told you I HATE Bank of America? We've tried to sever all ties with them but have been forced to keep one account open because we're waiting on our tax refund...every other day I check my accounts and they found a new way to screw us over my charging us some ridiculous fee. Die BOA Die.

5. AT&T too. Anyone whose tried to call me EVER can guess why.

6. We went to the broadcast of the Gila Valley Temple dedication today and it was great. President Monson called on the wives of the apostles there up to speak and I was so impressed that these amazing women can speak so eloquently off the cuff.

7. I interviewed with an attorney I'd really really like to work for (in Chandler) a couple of weeks ago. I thought long and hard about working for her for the meager pittance she could pay me and after consulting with Cory we decided it had too much potential to pass up. So I told her I would do everything I could to make it work. And haven't heard anything since. LAME.

8. We decided we're going to go to Cory's family reunion in Utah/Idaho at the end of June. It involves camping. I've been DYING to take Harrison camping. YAY.

9. We finally saw the Blind Side this weekend. It was good and I didn't cry nearly as much as I thought I would (totally weeped through every trailer). At the end of the movie we saw the credits and I was like---"Tim McGraw was in this...who was he?" WOW the hat makes a big difference.

10. And one about Harrison (sorry, couldn't resist). He seems to have a heat rash that I haven't been able to get rid of. It's a red bumpy rash on his legs and tummy. It makes me sad although it doesn't seem to bother him too much. Any suggestions on what to do? Everything I read says to get him out of the heat, make him cooler, which I try but it's impossible all the time given that we live in ARIZONA ...

Harrison + Yogurt

Lately the little man has decided that he must feed himself anytime a spoon is involved. This is the typical result.

time for piano lessons?

WATER FUN!!!

Yesterday we took Harrison down to the park that has a little water area we thought he would enjoy. I only got a couple of pics (with my phone..no camera with me..oops...) and of course he was in his clothes since I don't think his 6 month swimsuit fits anymore :)

The first time he got sprayed was a bit of a shock but it was fun after that.

As a sidenote, a few weeks ago we went up to Flagstaff so I could attend an interview and let Harrison romp around the forest for a few minutes. He loves dirt and rocks and stick and bugs so it was HEAVEN.
Daddy--LET ME DOWN SO I CAN PLAY!!!

sippy cups

About the most pointless 2 minutes of video ever....but I think it's funny....

H man at almost SIXTEEN MONTHS!!!!

Just so you know:

Harrison is SO funny-he makes us laugh constantly with his funny faces, laughs, giggles, and how he seems to find trouble EVERYWHERE (he climbs on shelves, on the kitchen table, on the toilet, it's not fun if it's not dangerous, right??)

His favorite word is for sure Hi with Daddy followed closely behind. He says Hi CONSTANTLY to everyone. I love it when it's everyone we pass by at the grocery store (whether or not they notice..and when we get to the checkout he just keeps telling the cashier over and over)

I'm pretty sure he thinks both of us are daddy but it still bugs that I can't get him to say mommy very often. He's started screaming daddy and running after him when he knows Cory is going to work...I love how much he loves his daddy!!!

He also says random words on occasion like bye, baby, pickle, cracker, doggie, binky, bath, kitty, etc. And then the rest of the time he just blabs on and on and I know I should have some magical ability to understand what he means but ...not quite yet.

He loves to dance and listen to music--he sings along when I sing the ABC song. He loves watching sesame street (elmo) and listening to our winnie the pooh cd in the car. I would have to say that his favorite song though is from the baskin robbins ice cream cake commercial--nothing better than dancing ice cream and cake!!!

He pays more and more attention to books these days--really looking at the pictures as he turns the pages. Not that I can get him to sit still when I read him a story before bed but I keep trying!

He thinks the weirdest things are funny--who knew that putting an empty water bottle under the water in the bathtub to make bubbles could provide endless enjoyment???

Favorite foods: crackers, cookies, bananas (oh yeah and he says "manana"), apple juice, leftover easter jellybeans, macaroni and cheese, and WHATEVER ANYONE ELSE IS EATING...AT ANY TIME!!!

His favorite thing EVER is definitely to be outside. It doesn't matter if it's the park our outside our house..If you open the door you better watch out! He wants out and NOW!!!!

He doesn't do kisses but he gives the BEST hugs EVER!!!

He still takes two naps (lucky me!!) and is a pretty good sleeper at night when his paranoid mama isn't checking on him constantly.....

We just love Harrison to death and he brings so much joy to our lives everyday. There is nothing better than getting up in the morning to get up this happy boy playing in his crib (after listening to him say hi to the baby monitor for 20 minutes or so) and attacking him when I get home from work.

Trip to the Zoo

A couple of weeks ago we had the chance to go to the Phoenix Zoo with Aaron and Stephanie. Despite having to pay (tried three times for a culture pass from the library but no go) and only getting about 2 hours there (since they closed at five--LAME-O) we had an awesome time. Actually I recommend keeping zoo trips with heat and a small child to two hours or less :)
Harrison loved walkin around like a big boy with his monkey "backpack"

They had a sting ray exhibit that was AWESOME. Harrison loved splashing the water.
What's that mommy??
Gettin a ride from uncle Aaron

Harrison LOVED the petting zoo.
And the petting zoo loved Harrison too!