The Growing Boy

Preston had his 18 month check up last week and we had confirmed to us what we already knew ... He's healthy and strong!  He is 36 inches tall (off the charts percentage) and he is 28lbs and 2 oz (75th percentile).  We transitioned to the one nap per day, and that went really well, thank goodness!  He's a smarty pants (He's my son so I can say that).  He can say about 30 words and is starting to put words together like "Ready, Set, Go", "Hi Dad", and "Me see".  He's all around a super fun boy.  He's very active but luckily for his 7 month pregnant Mom, his energy is contagious.  He loves to run, swim, run, play, run, climb, read books, dance, eat dirt, eat and throw rocks, and hand out kisses to anyone and everyone.  He loves to watch Bob the Builder while he holds on to a screw driver and a tape measure.  His little personality is just so much fun.  He has learned that there is a baby in Mom's tummy and so, usually at the most inappropriate times, he pulls up my shirt, kisses my stomach and says "Hi Baby". 

His favorite toy is my car :)

My hazard lights are pretty much on all the time because he loves to push that button





Van Wagenen 2012 Family Reunion

Every two years all of my family gets together, which is no small feet.  There ends up being a total of 22 of us, with all my siblings and their families.  It's a lot of fun to see everyone.  We are scattered from Idaho, Utah, Colorado, down to Texas.  Each two years one of us gets to plan it.  Previously we've gone to Jackson Hole Wy, Park City Ut, San Diego CA, Durango, CO.  This year was the Erickson's turn to organize, so we chose to rent a cabin in southern Utah in between Zion's National Park and Bryce Canyon.  We stayed at a place called Zion's Ponderosa Ranch.  It was a great time with so much to do.  The ranch has lots of options for activities (i.e. ATVing, skeet shooting, Zip lining, Swimming, Mini golfing, paintballing ect).  I had planned all this last summer, not thinking that I was going to be 5 months pregnant but it was still a lot of fun.  Brock's favorite activities were ATVing, Zip Lining, and paintballing.  My favorite activity was nap time :)  Preston and I had a great time at the pool and hiking in Zion's national park.  Preston's favorite activity was playing in the sand/dirt and occasionally sneaking little tastes of the delicious red dirt. 

My handsome boys!

I love the dirt

If you look close enough you can see the dirt on his face and his lips ...

He just got done throwing dirt at me ... that's one of the most fun games ever!

He's our little giggle bug

There were mounds of wood chips all around the cabin that he loved to stand on

The Suprises Continue

We moved into our new home in December and just as we got settled in, we found out that we have another member of our family on the way.  That was a bit of suprise.  I was then certain that the new member was a boy and Brock has been dying for a little girl.  There were months of debate between the two of us.  About 2 weeks ago we got the final word that a girl is on the way.  The ultrasound showed that everything looks fantastic, she's health and big.  It was a great suprise.  When the doctor came in to visit with us, the first comment she made was "Brock, you are beaming."  It's true, he was beaming with excitement.  She is due on November 11th, I'm hoping that the suprises continue ... with an early arrival ... say October 31st. 

Prestons Growth ...

Preston is growing big and strong and here's a little update on the little guy:

• 27 lbs 3 oz (86%)
• Super tall (I lost the sheet that has his height on it, but he's off the charts for height)
• Healthy and Strong according to the doctor.
• He has 10 teeth.
• Loves Hot Dogs, Noodles, Milk, Kiwi, Peanut Butter ... but he eats pretty much everything we put in front of him.
• He walks like a pro, climbs stairs, walks backward, and he love to run.
• He's a social butterfly!  He loves to be around other people, and especially kids.
• He loves books, Bob the Builder, and his Giant Bear.
• He's learned how to dance, so now anytime he hears music he does a little dance.
• He loves all animals and he says "Moo" and points when he sees one.
• Loves rocks and dirt.  He puts both in his mouth on a regular basis.
• He's a dare devil!  He will climb up over the side of the couch, stand up on the coffee table, jump off of things. 
• He is an explorer of everything around him. 
• He can say several words including: Park, See, Truck, Stairs, Juice, Ball, Dog, Dad, Mom, Bath.
• He blows kisses, but will only give his stuffed animals actual kisses.

He's growing up so big and strong and he's so much fun, these days.  We couldn't love him more. 

He is sooo smiley!! 

At the Water Park

The weather has been beautiful, in true Colorado fashion.  Preston and I met our friends Brynn and Jen at a splash park.  It was a lot of fun.  Preston doesn't like to be splashed and so that is a little problem, because we were surrounded by splashing fountains.  He did have fun exploring and being around other kids.  It was such a beautiful day and it was so much fun out in the sun with my favorite boy.

And Then Three Becomes Four

Life has a funny way of going in unexpected directions.  Our life has taken an unexpected direction recently.  On (or around) November 11th of this year, our family of three will become a family of four.  We had a lot of doctor visits, medication, and bad news before Preston came along.  It was really hard for me and Brock as we were trying to add to our family.  This time, however, was more spontaneous.  We've been to the doctor and seen the heart beat and some days I feel terrible, but I'm still in shock.  It's hard for me to accept that this was so easy when the only comparison was difficult.  Needless to say that when it does seem real, we're excited.   Let the fun continue ...

The Petting Zoo

Preston loves animals in any form.  We have a field full of cows that everytime we drive up the road Preston says "Moo, Moo, Moo" until we actually get to the area where they are feeding and we can roll down the window and he can Moo at them.  Everytime we see a dog he points and says " Og, Og".  He also has several stuffed animals that he loves to hug and talk to.  So, now that the weather is nice I took Preston to the Littleton Historical Museum so that he could get up close and personal with some animals.  According to Preston, all the animals say "Moo", but he loved seeing them.   They have little wooden buildings that Preston loved to run circles around.  My Mom accompanied us on the trip as well, she's a good Grandma.  

Who knew that donkey''s said "Moo"

He may have circled this building 15 times, he waved at the sheep each time he passed them

He loved the sheep.  They said "Baaa" and he would reply "Moo"

He's all boy!  He loved the straw and dirt.