4th of July at Ft. Vancouver

We spent the 3rd of July on Sauvie Island (Portland) picking berries. Unfortunately, I never got any photos... but, we spent the whole day / evening at Ft. Vancouver for the 4th of July celebration and fireworks. I did get some photos and here they are! Note the 8 feet wide, "sport-brella" that Mormor and Morfar got for Phoenix. It was a "lifesaver" in this sort of situation. Phoenix thinks it's his "tent" and had a blast in his own personal "outside room"! There were reportedly over 60,000 people attending this event, so the bit of privacy it offered was great. It lessened the stimulation overload for Phoenix. We had toys to play with and books to read. He was even able to take a nap!

Phoenix was great all day, but when the fireworks started it was a bit too much for him. But, we stayed (he was being held tightly by his Mommies) and he survived!

Random shots from Mormor's visit!

Here are some random photos from Lisa's mom's (Phoenix's Mormor's) camera... from her visit in Redmond, last week. They range from bath time photos, outside photos, playing inside photos, and even playing in an antique pedal plane at the Redmond airport when we took Mormor there for her flight back to Seattle.

Fixing the Lawn Mower

After we got another new part for the lawn mower, we took it all apart to figure out what was really wrong with it... and Phoenix decided he needed to be part of the repair crew!!

Phoenix found a radio-step stool!

Phoenix took a break, mid-diaper change, to step onto the radio / boom box to get a better view through the window, of the dogs running around in the back yard!

Mormor reading stories

Phoenix's Mormor (Lisa's mom) stayed for almost a week to help out with Phoenix while Lisa and Steph could work on a few projects around the house. YAY! Here is Phoenix sitting with his Mormor, reading some of his favorite books!

Family visit!

Phoenix's Aunt Anna Maria didn't get to make it to his first birthday party, but was able to take a break from her medical school studies to come visit for a couple of days this past weekend! Here are some pictures of Lisa's sister, Anna Maria, holding her silly nephew, Phoenix!

Cold Again!

After being unseasonably warm, it got unseasonably cold this past week! So, these new photos show Phoenix dressed for cooler weather! He got some new pants (blue jeans and these Old Navy Khaki's) at the consignment store. He seems to be between sizes (12 months - 18 months, in pants and between 18 months and 24 months in tops). So, it all depends on the brand as well as size (if they'll fit)! The weather warming back up, now, which is nice... even if it means that there's a lot of rain included!

Phoenix is still not walking yet, but loves to "cruise" around ("walking" while holding onto furniture). He'll PUSH you out of the way with his body, if you're sitting on a chair or couch and your knees are in his pathway! And, he's really a pro at crawling, even if he's carrying a toy or pushing a truck or car across the floor!

Cruising in my SHORTS!

I've been "cruising" (walking while holding something, like furniture, or the TV, or the vacuum cleaner!) since Mother's Day! I'm getting really good at standing up and sitting down. And, I've got crawling down pat! I like to "race" around on my hands and knees. Sometimes, I think I can walk without holding onto anything and I let go of everything, but I guess I just don't quite have that balance yet. It's been getting warm here (70 - 80 F) in the past few days, so I get to wear my new cargo shorts, just like my Mor (Lisa).

In the Garden

Last summer, my moms added 2 new raised garden beds, to make a total of 4 raised beds to plant herbs and vegetables. They said that I could "help" in the garden this year... last year I was too small and couldn't even sit up, unassisted! I wasn't too sure, at first. But, I kind of liked the dirt... it tasted a little dry, though! Here I am, helping to prepare the beds. We had to weed and get the other things out (like sticks and rocks). My moms said that I can help water the plants and watch them grow. And later in the summer, I can even help pick things when they're ready!

More photos from birthday