Greetings from Never Never Land

I know you all think I have vanished from the face of the earth but my only excuse is that my kid got mobile and my Internet connection is not that great so I get to play catch up again and I hope I remember everything.

I am going to get started with pictures from our trip to Seattle and go from their.

Here is the all time best sister who came along and helped out with the little ones. THANK YOU

Matthew and I got to go to the top of the space needle and look around. It was really cool.

Our fun cousin Morgan came with us and we had fun getting up very early in the morning to the dismay of our mothers.

This is cousin Chad smiling BIG for the camera. We sure miss him!

We got to do lots of things there, one of them was going to a park one day and feeding the ducks. It went one for the ducks, one for Matthew. We also went to see the locks and dams, which grandpa Russ loved.

Here is the newest cousin Natlie Sue Patten. She is looking so beautiful on her blessing day.

Ken here with his two wonderful kids. And he said he had a no girl policy (that didn't work out). I am so happy he family is getting bigger and happier everyday.

Time to go home. Matthew is trying to figure out how everything works and if he can drive it. He was really a good kid on the plain.

When I went to unpack I realized I had the best souvenir ever! I closed the lid took everything upstairs to unpack, kid and all. He looked so cute in there I couldn't pass up the picture op.

We had so much fun visiting our family and would love to do it again soon

We are stil Alive

Sorry I haven't posted in a long time, so much is going on. We got teeth, had a trip to Seattle, I went to Canada and am working a little more. Also I found that I can get a little more rest if I sleep when Matthew is sleeping instead of blogging , when that kid is awake I swear he is everywhere at once. I stole a few moments for this post hopefully I will find time to night to do more explaining.

Seattle!!!!!

Matthew and I had an opportunity to go to see Ken Amber Chad and Natalie in Seattle. They recently added to their family, a baby girl born March 25; 7 pounds 13 oz. and 20 inches. So we all went to go see her.

Matt did good on the plane, as well as can be expected while looking at every thing. Take off and landing was good. I brought all kinds of toys and sill wasn't enough.

Today we went to see the big space needle and rode a train to see the market place with the ripest fruit and beautiful flowers. Matt got to ride in his Jeep (front carrier) and got tired cranky a few times but we had a good time. From there we went to see the locks and dames and the fish ladder. Lots of walking and Matthew is not a feather any more so I am pooped. Sorry no pictures, when I get back to Wisconsin I will post them.

Eight Months Old

Weight: Approximately 20 pounds

Height: 2feet 3 inches

Accomplishments: He can . . . .

Army crawl, sometimes on all 4 (and getting faster)
Sit all by himself, Push himself up to a siting position

Pull himself up to his knees then up to standing

(on anything stable or not)

Take a few wobbly steps when holding onto fingers

(I think it is more an instinct thing than actual steps)

Eat a variety of food including gram crackers

And we have been working on teeth for weeks

Favorite things to do:

Johnny Jumper ( I swear he could jump right out of it)

Chew on everything including faces

Chase the cat and laugh the whole time

Climb on Dad

Flip over during a diaper change

Going for walks or car rides

Trying to figure out how every thing works

Things I don't like:

Staying still and getting my nose wiped

Looking forward to:

Walking and Seattle

Odds & Ends

Matthew is figuring out a new trick. He has been doing an army crawl of sorts for about a month or less. Sometimes he gets up on his knees and rocks back and forth and takes an attempt, then back down to the belly for faster results. He is finding that he can get a better look at his toys on his knees. However today he has started to pull himself up to a standing position using what ever is convenient to him, sturdy or not. Watch out world here he comes!! He might be walking by the time we visit his cousins, Chad & Nattalie (wink wink).

I came across some pictures and thought I would share them.
They really are just odds and ends.

Matthew has figured out how to sit up all by him self. I don't know if you can see but he curls his toes all the time. Almost 7 months old.

Here we are on St. Patty's Day in our green so no one could pinch us. I bet Matthew even had some green in his diaper.

I was folding laundry and had to put it away and didn't have enough hands so Matt went for a ride.

We had Matt's younger cousin Morgan over and this is them playing together.

TTFN!!!!

Happy Easter

We had a fantastic Easter. The night before I had a work thing in O-Town so we all just stayed in the hotel (Moss house) and had Easter morning there. Matthew got his first Easter basket. I don't know why he is naked except that is how he is most happy. He got a new church shirt and noisy toys and mom got all the candy in his basket.

The weather was so nice compared to Easters past so Matt and I went out adventuring in the yard. We started with the swing and had fun with that.

Then walked around the perimeter of the yard and Zina found a woodchuck for us and was all about getting it. Finally we ended up on the trampoline. He really seamed to enjoy it as long as the sun stayed out of his eyes. He liked being held and having the feeling of light bouncing.

After that we went over to Greg & Sarah's house for Chilly. Sarah & I had a chance to talk about our up coming trip and the boys watched TV. It must have been all Matthew could take so he fell asleep.

Wishing you all a happy Easter and a fabulous Spring

FREE ZOO DAY

The day after Rob's birth day the zoo was letting familys in for free so we went. We met up with Greg, Sarah, Morgan, Sarah's sister Pam and her Kid Kendra and Sarah's Mom & Dad. The weather was a little chilly so we bundled up the kids and had a great time. We did bring the stroller but ended up putting him in his Jeep( a front carrier made by Jeep) so he could look around more. The sun was out and we hadn't gotten Matthew a hat yet so that was the first stop and after putting it on his head this was the look we got.

Matthew had a great time, we went and saw everything. In the gorilla cage a big gorilla came right up and started pounding on the glass right in front of Matt, he never said a peep. His favorite things were the fish and he keeped trying to reach out and grab them, something about the colors. Even Rob had a good time. Matthew would out of no wehre and for no reason let out a squeel at the top of his lungs ( I guess he had a good time too).

Here is Sarah and Morgan. Morgan is so cute and loves the camera. It was a little chilly, you can tell by the rosey cheecks.

Matthew and Morgan enjoying some face time. There he is in his Jeep.

This was a cute picture of him in a giraff cut out. When we went in to look at the giraffs he was more interested in the person cleaning the cage and what they were doing than the giraffs.

With Dad and the cows, and Mom with the penguines.

After some food this is what was on the agenda. OUT COLD!! for 2 1/2 hours. Butt in the air and arms tucked under is the prefered position for this tired boy. What a fun day we had as a family!

Happy Birth Day Rob

Rob had a quiet birthday this year, I had to work (even though I had asked him if I shoukld take off he said no). Him and Matthew got to hang out all day. The week before we went to RP's house and had cake. As you can see in Matthews eyes he is all about figuring things out. It will be fun to see what he does for his birthday.

This picture I took because it is one of Matthews favorite things to have his ears tickled by lips, what a goofy kid. His shirt is soaked with drool. Brig it on!!

As you can see the years have not been nice to his hair line Ha Ha

6th Month (almost there)

6 months doesn't sound long but a half of a year does. Time sure flyies, next he will want the car keys and to stay out past curfew. He really is getting to be a fun kid. Matthew likes to squeal with delight at the top of his lungs. He is getting good at rolling all over I can see his mind figuring out how to get crawling. It seams when you go to change his bum he thinks it is time to flip to his belly after you get the diaper off, poop wiped or not. And Everything goes in the mouth, especialy paper.

He went to the doctor and everything is well with him. He is now 16 pounds 13 oz. 27 2/3 inches long. Matthew doesn't like it when he has to get shots and crys for that part and the nurse felt bad. When that part was all done we picked him up and he gave the nurse a great big smile and she said she could live with that. What a trouper.

Some of his favorite things to do is play in and exersauser, jonny jumper, and move around any way he can. He loves to eat pears, applesause, sweet potatoes, squash, and the dreded prunes. Not a big fan of green veggies but I make him any way. He does good sleeping throu the night but is an eirly riser much to my dismay.

This is one of the only good smiles he ever gives to the camera, otherwise he is still figuring out what it is.

Just a Quick Note

We resently had the fun pleasure of playing wth Aunt Sueann and Aunt Kate and some cousins. Lucky for me they came at the perfect time. My boss went away on vacation and left me to run the studio. Sueann & Kate really saved my but by watching Matthew for like two weeks when they were here and my sitter had the flu. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. It was fun to play with them and see how big the kids are getting and to meet Rachal.

This summer we plan to do everything I just don't know how it will all happen yet. I have some obligations at the studio and the dates are not nailed in yet, (something to do with moving dates so my boss can go to the Bon Jovi concert at sumer fest, what a party animal). Then at the end of Juky is a Patten family reunion in Wyoming and we have not been in 5 years, a lot has changed. Not to mention the chance to see Ken & Ambers newest member who has yet to arrive. The Moss' have been thieing to get to gether they just have such a big family it is hard to please everyone for a date.

Then of course as a new family we would love to do all the family things like the zoo and state fair. Trips to the park and pic nicks and swimming. They wern't kidding when they said your life changes when you have kids. Now it's all about giving him all the new experiences and chances to learn and grow.

On a last note here is a picture of the cousins and Matt. We went to the Jelly Belly factory too.

Month Five

Here I am at Five Months old! This is the only cute picture my mom has of me smiling. I am such a little stinker. By now I do ok rolling from back to belly but after that I get upset because I can't get back.

Matthew has tried food and thinks he can do it himself already. He did such a good job with the whole spoon concept I think we waited too long, but I wanted both Rob and I to be there. We can get him to take a sippy cup but he can't hold it yet.

This is his most favorite thing to do. Be mostly nacked and stick his toes in his mouth. He wont suck on tis thumb or take a pasifier but he will jam his toes so far in and suck away. I have to admit it is rather funny.

I took this at new years I couldn't resist. Besides it's black mail for latter. Happy New Year!

Month Three

Theese are the pumpkins we all went and picked. They were too small to carve so I just drew faces on them. Matthews has big round eyes, Mine has the traditional pumpkin face and Rob has the grumpy one, go figure.

Rob and I had on opportunity to stay at a hotel one night and we brought Matt along for a swim. He didn't really know what to do.

I was messing around with our camera and ended up with this really cool picture of Matthew. I was trying to teach him how to keep his head off the floor. He had been doing a really good job.

Our little peanut at three months old. Looking back it is hard to remember him this little and not as mobile yet.

Blog What Blog??

Things have gotten out of hand!! I am so sorry I haven't keeped up to date with this, tomarrow I have more time to tell you all what I have been up to but for now I will see what I can do. I would like to give an update on Matthew (months 3-6), tell everyone what our family is up to and up comming summer atractions. This is more to remind me of things to blog about. Untill latter keep your nose out of the dog crap.

Month Two

Here is Matthew hanging out in his bouncer he loves so much. Looking at these photos and looking at him now he has grown a lot!!!

(Mom wanted an up close of his noes for some reason) This was before he learned to roll all over and he was content to just lay on a blanket and look at things.

Matthew is hanging on to Dad after his blessing at his party. He was not feeling well from the first round of shots a few days before and was throwing up everywhere. He is still cute though.

Just A Few Moments

As I lay Matthew down for a nap I realize I have a few stolen moments to myself. I log on to check out my e-mail situation, that I haven't had time to check in the last few days, and see what other blogs are up to. What I have found out is that I am not as good as others are about updating their blogs. I is so much fun to see and read up on what others are doing and how the kids are growing. However then there is me. It seams that as soon as Matthew takes a nap my mind goes to all the things that need to get done that require two hands, dishes, folding laundry, cleaning a bathroom, ect. . . and then see if I can get him ready to go to the sitter and get myself ready for work(hair, makeup, cloths). There are days when I jokingly refer to myself as wonder woman! I don't know how you all juggle it and make it look easy. With Practice I will get better. My father in-law is already on me about giving him more grandbabies, I can hardly handle the one he is such a handful always on the move and he isn't crawling yet. I know he will keep me on my toes.

Got To Run

Still Catching Up

Here are a few things we did during the first month. It is amazing to look back and see how much Matt has really grown! Here he is one month old, the little lady killer.

This is an updated picture of our growing family. Taken at the hospital when visiting Morgan.

See how well I can hold my head up already? Look out world here I come!

I got to go to my first Brewer game. It was the playoffs and mom & I got really good seats. I sleped through the whold game, all 4 hours and never woke up to eat.

See me? No car seat. It was better this way and Mom had a lot of fun getting out a little. Other than that I had a lot of visiters. I sleped, pooped and ate a lot. I also had my mom going crazy trieing to figure out how her new way of life was going to work. But I was a good baby from the start.

This is my first good blow out. I poop anywhere but my diaper. I had it down my leg, up my back and all over my cloths. We were out so I had to waite for my bath untill Later.

Dad is tring to hold Matt still for his first "bath" and having little luck. He never really cried too much.

Here is our stud after the bath lounging in his robe. Moms little peanut.