Aunt Krista and Uncle Nate's Visit--Part One

So, if you know me (Deanna) at all, you know how close I am to my sister Krista. And how hard it is being an entire day's drive away from where she lives. We talk on the phone and send pictures but it's just not the same--especially when it comes to Garrett. Anyways, she's here!! Krista and her husband Nate got here on Saturday night and it's been a whirlwind of hanging out, baking cookies, shopping, sight-seeing and basic sister bonding time. :-) Here are some pics from the first couple of days of their visit. There will be more later, so stay tuned.

Krista and Me

The Easter Egg Field

Putting a piece of chocolate in his bucket for Mommy.

Family Photo Op

At the petting zoo. Garrett was tired and couldn't have cared less about the animals.

Relaxing on Aunt Krista...

...and on Uncle Nate too.

Krista and Nate at Thanks-Giving Square

Same spot, different couple

Walking with Aunt Krista

Still walking!

The boys are checking out some historical info about Thanks-Giving Square.

Inside Thanks-Giving Chapel

A very tired baby boy on the ride home.

But he was just copying his Auntie.

Springtime!

Well, after a last fling with Winter yesterday, including 4 inches of snow and some wicked winds, Dallas has decided to officially welcome back Spring. Yay! Here's a Smilebox with a few pictures and a video of our little guy walking around the backyard.

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Ready for Summertime

Today was so beautiful and sunny that we dressed Garrett in a cute little plaid shorts and tshirt outfit and let him go barefoot on the back patio. He loved being out there so much that he didn't want to come back inside! I bribed him with his beach chair and he was more than happy to push it around the living room pretending like he was back outside again. I'm going to have to invest in the sunblock companies because we're going to be using a lot of it on our little outdoorsman.

Heading to the beach...Easter eggs and all. :-)

"Don't put that in your hair!"

That's what Russ said to Garrett less than half a second before Garrett did this.

He hadn't touched his head through his entire meal of mac'n'cheese and mini ravioli...until Daddy said not to.

Coincidence? I think not.

Family Expo

Saturday we went down to Fair Park in Dallas and checked out the DFW Family Expo. There were tons of booths with different businesses and groups and drawings to enter to win all kinds of products. We had the most fun watching Garrett play with the trainset and sandbox. He's ALL boy! We let him out of the stroller for most of our time there because he's walking every chance he gets. After the Family Expo we explored Fair Park and came across a cool demonstration by the Dog & Disc Club of Dallas. Their dogs have been trained to catch frisbees in so many different ways and they do competitions. I think that Russ and I were more intrigued than Garrett was because he was only interested in running around and following another little boy who was there with his mom and brother. A good time was had by all and Garrett took a nice solid nap when we got home...beautiful!

Garrett is already a good comparison shopper...finding the best and bounciest ball.

Garrett decided to take center stage. The steps were just too inviting.

This picture is for you, Uncle Bob. In memory of Scaley, whom Garrett never got to meet. He wasn't very sure of the whole petting thing, but he watched me do it with a smile.

Sandbox fun!!

Tons of trains! We may have a Thomas fan on our hands in a few years (hmm...another shout-out to his Uncle Bob I think, one of the original Thomas the Tank Engine Fan Club members)

Kid's Kingdom Park

On Friday we had another gorgeous day here in North Texas (unlike today with its nonstop rain and yuckiness). After Russ got home from DTS and Garrett woke up from his nap, we headed over to Rowlett to check out a park I'd discovered online. It's called Kid's Kingdom because the playground equipment looks like a big wooden castle. So cool! There's a separate area for little kids with its own little castle, complete with slides, sandbox and swings. Garrett LOVED it. Okay, so mostly he loved watching the big kids running around but he also enjoyed going through the tunnel and practicing his walking on the woodchips. I can't wait to take him back again when it isn't as crowded. Here are some of the pictures from our fun afternoon at the park. These were actually taken the day before he decided to take off and become a speed-walker but I didn't have time to post about both the walking and the park yesterday. I chose to post the walking news first! Milestones trump days at the park in my book. :-)

Garrett loves sitting on the couch like a big boy and stealing the Tivo remote. Or any other remote he can get his paws on.

Climbing the steps to the slide

Sliding with his Daddy

Tunnel fun!

Russ taking a minute to himself on the tire swing toy.

Can you tell that Garrett loves hanging out with his Daddy?

Outside the castle, near the walking trails. SUCH a beautiful day!

The parting shot of the day. He was NOT happy to be up in the tree branches. He was also just plain ready to go home.

It's official...

...he's a walker. :-)

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Around the House and SMU Game

Garrett is so full of energy these days...he seriously NEVER stops moving! Okay, he stops to eat and sleep. But that's it! We took him and a friend of Russ's to the SMU basketball game the other night and Garrett was all over the place there too. He was slapping the heads of the people in front of us and flirting with the ladies in back of us. It's a good thing he's so cute! He's still mostly cruising around the house, not straight-up walking. He CAN walk across the entire room or down the entire hallway, but after about 5 or 6 steps he realizes how much faster he can go if he crawls. So he plops himself down and hightails it outta there. I don't think he's ever going to walk...he's going to RUN.

Here he is chillin on the couch like a big boy. He likes to sit and relax then sliiiiide off slowly. Or fall in the process.

Garrett moved up to the tv and changed it from Sesame Street to ESPN. Now who could have taught him that trick? Not mommy!

At the SMU game with Daddy and Flat Stanley. He's wearing the shirt that Stacy gave him--go Ponies!

Doing laundry with Flat Stanley. He's such a big helper these days!

Snack time!

No, I see YOU!

Leaning on the couch...not sure what the appeal is here but he does it all the time.

Chugging water from his sippy cup. Thanks again Corrie for recommending these cups!!

See, he doesn't really even slow down when he's snacking either.

His baby model pose.

And finally, a picture to show his future girlfriend/fiance/wife. I'm sure there will be more embarrassing pictures than this one, but it's a good start!