Weekend standouts

It's the holiday season so we are as busy as everyone getting last minute preparations done, gifts wrapped and the house cleaned for family to arrive. We had a wonderful time with our mommies group last night as we got the daddies together too! We took the same photo of the babies and my how they have grown. The other photo is something Rigel discovered today... the washing machine... it's like TV to him... he loves to watch it and is doing so while I am able to blog this... maybe it's my million dollar invention... can we make a micro hand-held version? Our are in our bathroom so there he sits in the bumbo on the floor watching it spin and spin... would it be bad if I got some knitting done while he watched it run?

Rigel's First Christmas Photos!

Of course there has to be an official baby's first Christmas photo! We went to our friend's house (we love the Wards) to use their wonderful decorations as the backdrop and put on his cute outfit. And so here it is... Target has nothing on us! Don't worry Granny, you're getting one.

I spy... Rigel

Today is a very cold Colorado day with the temps reading only 10 degrees as I am entering this at 3:30 in the afternoon. It's pretty cold to be galavanting about with a 7month old. So I have to entertain myself, and Rigel somehow. Today we introduced Rigel to the Christmas stuffed animals... and the photo opp that followed! If you have any good ideas how else we can entertain ourselves... we are all ears!

Hunting for a tree

We got invited to go Christmas tree hunting with our great friends, the Dolenc's. Brett's uncle has a nice little cabin in Loveland. We caught a cute moment of the babies checking each other out. We saw a herd of about 30 elk after we got our trees. Boyd wished he'd had a rifle handy and the dogs wished they could run after the elks to play. We love our tree and it entertains Rigel while he eats his cheerios!

Stay at home Mom's Company Christmas Party!

Yep, us SAHM's can have a Christmas party too! So we got to get dressed up and have a lovely dinner with other parents and no baby! This was only our second time out without Rigel. Boyd's brother came to be at the house while Rigel slept. We had a very nice time and the big deal is the skirt I am wearing... Boyd bought it for my birthday and this was finally an occasion to wear such a nice outfit.

White Saturday!

We didn't venture out yesterday, known as Black Friday for all those holiday shoppers. This morning we woke to a beautiful sight... snow! We had to get Rigel out into it all. He doesn't quite make snow angels yet, but he likes eating it.

Thanksgiving!!!

We are so thankful for our Rigel. We are also grateful for family and friends, health and humor. We pray blessings and faith this holiday season to each of you!

Play time with my friend

Rigel has many little friends, especially girls... here he is with Norah, they are 6 days apart! They are both practicing on sitting up by themselves and don't quite have it. When I took the photo, I said "cheese"... and here's what our precious did. He is a joy everyday!

Look Ma no hands!

Rigel is on the teething phase of life and really likes this rubber hand. He just doesn't always want to hold it himself. No teeth showing yet but the doctor says it can take a couple of weeks before we see those first pearly whites! He is now 16lb 1oz ~50% for weight and 26 1/2 inches ~ 70% for height.

I have cousins!

So this post is a bit out of order. Rigel and I were just in Cali the last week of October basically, right before Hallowen. My sister's boys have waited a long time for me to give them a cousin. They loved Rigel, and he them... will there ever be a girl in this bunch? Anyway, we hope to see Hunter (older) and Parker (younger) really soon.

Milestones

So just to catch you all up, Rigel was a hungry feller on his trip to California. He was a champ on the plane. Since he was so hungry, when he got home we started him on rice cereal. He gets some in but a lot comes back out. He has seemed to really enjoy food.

Then today the little man rolled over for the first time right in front of me then fell back. He then promptly showed off for Mom and did it again and stayed on his stomach. As I am typing he is trying again.

Blah Blah Baby

Check out this video of Rigel trying to eat my finger. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkFfd0LqlAc

Pumpkin Carving

Boyd was the master of this artful pumpkin (it's a mummy). We took Rigel to the Pearl Street Mall where zillions of kids and people parade their Halloween costumes and get candy during the daylight hours. Boyd then took Rigel around just our cul de sac to see our neighbors and wow... the cute kid raked in the candy! We as responsible parents will have to eat it for him- thanks Rigel!

Praise Be!

I am so glad that Dena and Rigel made it home safely. For those of you that do not know, Dena and Rigel went to California to visit her family. I stayed here and thought that I would have a great time camping, fishing and watching TV. Well I was here in Colorado home alone with the dogs. I missed my bride and boy the whole time. So now I can say that all is well again, they are home with me!

Our Moment with Moriah

So I (Dena) have been blessed to meet a little angel. Moriah is an amazing little person God has put on earth to teach many people many things. She is very sick and about to have a big surgery for such a little girl. Her parents are some of the nicest you will ever meet. They used to be here in Colorado and attended our church. Rigel and I took advantage of some time we just spent in California to meet her. She lives her life connected to tubes to help her breathe and eat right now, yet she could blow Rigel and I kisses. Rigel was taken by her dad Justin and of course he was smitten by her mom Victoria. They are linked to our blog if you want to know their full story. Rigel and I covet you prayers for them! We miss you Moriah... see you next time we are in Cali! XOXO!

Dragon or Dinosaur?

We love this costume passed on to Rigel by his cousins (my sister's kids)! But is it a dragon or a dinosaur? Regardless he loved it! So cute with his friends too. No candy this year, but just wait until next Halloween...

Bronco Fever!

On many Sundays there is this thing called Bronco Fever. It's when the home team plays and we cheer them on. Gramps was at the game today. Rigel wore his tribute to the home team while we stayed cozy in the house... it's only 40 degrees outside... brrrr. Go Broncos!

The Pumpkin Patch

We had our first visit to a pumpkin patch. We saw orange, red, white and even green pumpkins. Rigel was fascinated by them. As ususal there are adorable pictures. Next week we go to a different patch with our halloween costume on... don't miss it!

Another level of cute...

I think I'll just let the photos speak for themselves, but yes the jammies came with a matching hat... the people that make these things are brilliant... and probably rich!

Colors are a changin'

I got to take my parents on a drive today to Caribou which is a ghost town a couple miles west of Nederland. It was a little chilly but my dad held me tight so I was good. The funny thing is my dad got really excited when we walked to a fallen down wood cabin. Inside and all areound it he found some wild rasberries and he went wild picking them and eating them. He even picked some for my mom. We then went down the canyon and had a snack near the creek. My crazy dad found some wild strawberries growing on the bank... What are the odds of that.

It was so nice to see all the colors changing, which means that I will get to se snow for the first time soon. Mom is not looking forward to that. Thats it for now, I'll keep growing and getting cuter every day. Peace -Rigel

Check out my ride!

Rigel has been doing so well sitting up in his bumbo seat that we thought we'd give the stroller a try today. The 5 point harness is what made this happen! He wasn't going anywhere... the straps were as tight as they go to fit our little man into his new ride! He did enjoy this new view of the world... mommy missed getting to stare at him constantly... as long as he's happy!

101 uses for a chip clip

Boyd is always trying to think of that next baby "it" thing that everyone will have to have... well they may not "have" to have this one but it served its purpose. Rigel grabs things and just drops them constantly. So the solution... was the chip clip. We have used them to hold blankets down on the stroller and his car seat too. Hmmmm maybe we are on to something!

Too cute to be legal

I realized that I hadn't taken Rigel's official 4month photo. Documentation of his growth and that he is holding is head up very well. They are so adorable that it seems it should be illegal to be this cute! I love my baby! He is growing so well, really happy, loves hearing people talk and brings constant joy to our lives!

LA Dodgers Baby!

I (Dena) grew up in the LA area and went to a few Dodger games in my day. So it was great when in one of our sweet hand-me-down loads we got these great pants and from Rigel's Auntie Shel (my sister) this adorable hat. It's been a bit chilly in Colorado for a couple of days so we get to dawn the great duds! Besides he's just so dang cute!

Jeds visit!

We were so happy to see our very good friends Andrew and Suzy in Colorado over the labor day weekend! They live in Cali now in a sweet location very close to the beach... ahh the beach. Anyway we got some 1:1 time over breakfast and so of course... photo opp!

This is what we think of diaper rash!

Yeah our first diaper rash this week. So that meant some "naky" time was in order.

First swim!

Rigel got invited to a swim date with our friend Chloe who is 10. She also got another invitation to a back 2 school party... so we swam without her. Rigel thought the water was a bit chilly but had a good time anyway. Our little fish!

At the Gov's crib

We got to feel important today as we were at the governer's mansion for a Trooper recognition event. We decided took take our little man along to keep things real. There was good food and many things to look at. Nothing like nursing your baby on fancy velvet couches in the living room of a mansion! Rigel decided to take a chair for a spin... at this age it looks more like a throne for him than a chair.

Baby Announcement

Many of you are getting Rigel's birth anouncment in the mail soon. We are late in getting this out because the photo I really wanted to use would not print correctly. So here it is for the world to see. It reminds me daily what a gift he is... even when he gets up at 5am!

Sitting up

Rigel mastered spitting up along time ago, but just the other day he made big efforts to hold his head up! This meant Bumbo time... this is a great little thing to have to strengthen babies core and continue to develop his neck muscles. Besides he just looks so cute!

The Big Visit

My parents came from CA to visit Rigel. It was great. He got held almost constantly and was a real charmer with his "granny and poppy". We got up to Estes Park, visited Coors Brewery and hit the typical Pearl Street Mall, Flatirons Mall and had tea at the Thompson Inn and Tea house. It was very special that they could be at Rigel's dedication. Here are some pics of the visit.