Montana: Fun and Fresh Air!

We just returned from visiting Nana and Papa in Montana for a few days. It was a short trip, but well worth it! We left our house around 10 a.m. the day we flew out, and arrived in Billings around 11 p.m., so it was a very long day for Gunnar (and Mommy & Daddy too!). Nana set up the playroom downstairs with a floor bed for Gunnar, and tons of my old toys. It was nice to have a similar bed setup, and it helped make naptime and bedtime much easier for all of us. Our first morning there, we had a fairly leasurely morning with coffee, and a visit from Aunt Sheri, Uncle Eric, and Cousin Haley. They enjoyed Gunnar's company, and we enjoyed visiting with them, since it's been quite a while since we've seen them. Little John and Sterling stopped by on their way up to work on the barn, and Gunnar had fun showing off for them.

Papa was "attacked" by a buck a couple weeks ago, and broke his ankle, so he was a little laid up while we were there, but Gunnar took good care of him, and made sure he had plenty of toys and kisses while he was on the couch. Notice the giant, size 16 boot behind Gunnar (it's almost as big as he is)! Daddy and Papa made sure they got up to coffee and to see Ray and the coffee crew that morning while Nana and I got ready for the day.

While we were there, Gunnar, Daddy and Papa went to visit a friend, Bob, who happens to have the historic Fishtail jail in his back yard. He converted the attached building to accomodate his hot tub, but Justin was excited to see the barred door, so he and Gunnar were behind bars for a few minutes.

Justin took some really great photos in Fishtail, like this of the elementary school in town. (I think Fishtail has a population of around 50?) There were actually deer playing on the fenced playground when we walked by.

Here are some photos Justin took down the hill from Nana and Papa's house. It's funny how used to all the green we see living in Oregon, and winter in Montana is pretty brown, but still beautiful with all the ice and clear skies.

Here's a photo Justin took of Gunnar and Mommy when we were at coffee one morning, visiting with Ray and Janet.

We also got up to visit Uncle John, Aunt Julie, and Cousins Sterling, Lindsey, Macey, and Jude one night, when they invited us to dinner. Papa was in the hospital recovering from the blood clots that moved to his lungs, and Nana was visiting him, so we went up on our own, and had so much fun. Gunnar LOVED playing with his cousins, and wouldn't leave Jude alone the whole time we were there. Gunnar started getting a little fussy, and we decided it was time to head home a little early, even though we would have liked to stay and play longer. Somehow, this is the only photo I took of the evening... I'll have to get Lindsey to e-mail the photos she took :o)

We all had a lot of fun in Montana, and we hope to get back there soon! Gunnar loved the open spaces, clear skies, and fresh air (and so did we)!

An exciting trip to OMSI

Gunnar, Daddy and I took an exciting trip to OMSI, after a parent at the Children's Museum told us their children actually enjoy themselves more at the play place at OMSI. It's still a germ factory, but we put sanitizer on Gunnar's hands before he went in, and again after leaving before we washed his hands. This play area allowed the parents to participate more, while still feeling more secure that they wouldn't run off, since there is an attendant at a set of big glass doors at the front. Maybe I just felt better about it because the different activities were closer together, with less chance of Gunnar running out of sight. He immediately went for the stuffed raccoons, which Daddy promptly discovered were puppets (I think these play places are just as much fun for Justin).

Gunnar then discovered the bug specimen jars, but when he found he couldn't get into the jar, he lost interest.

There was a water exhibit, which wasn't as big as the one at the Children's Museum, but had plenty of interesting things for Gunnar to play with. His favorites were the plastic fish he found floating in the water. He tried to share the toys with some of the other kids, who sort of blew him off. He always amazes me with his social abilities... although a little cautious to begin with, he always warms up and shares his wonderful little personality with everyone around him. Gunnar has even started trying very hard to communicate with words to other children, who of course still have no idea what he's saying.

Here's a shot of Justin following Gunnar on his adventures...

Gunnar really enjoyed the peg boards, and quickly got the hang of putting pegs into the peg holes (with a little help from Daddy). We had to move on, however, when an older boy started building a peg tower several feet high, and Gunnar only wanted to get ahold to knock it down (we managed to stop him just before he got ahold). It's difficult teaching a 1 year old about taking turns and letting others play uninterrupted.

Here's Gunnar trying to talk and gesture to the fish in the big tank by the infant area. The sign above the area says 0-24 months, but we decided Gunnar was too old to go play with the babies, and we thought he would be bored anyway.

Gunnar spotted a group of 5-6 year olds running up and down a step structure, while others filled buckets to be pulled up from below. He ran around to find the entrance, ran up, at which point the older kids abandoned ship. He was so bummed that they left, but when they bolted, they left behind the toys, so Gunnar recovered quickly and played a while by himself before moving on.

After OMSI, Gunnar was pretty tired and cranky in the car, so we decided on a quick dinner before heading home. Gunnar got crayons and paper, and Daddy showed him a new use for his crayons. We've decided on a new routine for restaurant-eating with Gunnar... we look at the menu before sitting down so we can order as soon as we get there, and by the time the food comes, Gunnar isn't restless and cranky. It seems to be working fairly well, and we're still working on streamlining outings.

It's so amazing to watch Gunnar turning into a little boy instead of a baby. He's often mistaken for an older toddler, and while I definitely don't want him to grow up too quickly, it's nice to know he's physically developing so well. He's so coordinated, and I'm anxious to see what he'll be interested in as he gets older.

Gunnar's Happy Winter Wonderland...

Our Holiday season started out with the decorations this year... I didn't get a chance to take photos of the first tree we had before we had to dispose of it b/c of the dead needles all over the living room. It was a major fire hazard, so we tossed it 1.5 week before Christmas. (Actually, I got tired of sweeping the needles 4 times a day, so I disassembled and took it out before Justin even got up that day). So while I was at work the next week, Daddy and Gunnar went to the U-cut tree farm and picked out the biggest tree they could get for $20. It turned out to be a 12' tree, which would have been great, except we have 10' ceilings. So Daddy cut a couple feet off the top, and I trimmed the bottom branches, and it only took 6 strands of lights to cover it. The bottom of course looked a little bare, since Gunnar couldn't help but try to re-arrange the ornaments, so I had to leave everything above the 4' level. But we had a beautiful, giant tree, and we'll always be able to tell Gunnar the great story about how Daddy was so excited for Gunnar to have a great Christmas, that he went out and bought the biggest tree he could find! Gunnar enjoyed having lights in the evenings, and even though I thought the neighbor's house looked like a tacky version of the Griswolds, Gunnar loved looking at all the lights and blow-up lawn ornaments they had.

A couple days before Christmas, Gunnar and I were hanging out watching some Little Einsteins, and I caught him laying on his stomach, kicking his legs while he watched. It was too cute, and I had to have a photo. He's becoming more and more of a little boy instead of a baby every day. He also assumes this position in the bathtub now, but the kicking is more vigorous (enough so he can splash some water on me).


After cartoons, Ali and Jeromy stopped by to share the news of their new puppy, who Gunnar absolutely loved! The two of them ran around and wrestled on the floor for a long time. Gunnar is starting to show his sensitivity though, because as the puppy did something he wasn't supposed to, Jeromy told him very sternly "no" - Gunnar thought he was talking to him, and he stuck out his lower lip, bent down, and put his face into the floor as he started to cry. Jeromy felt bad, and picked him up to let him know he wasn't mad at him, and Gunnar got over it. I think it was pretty much way past nap time for Gunnar though, because Gunnar kept crying for no reason, and Ali and Jeromy had to keep comforting him. I think he took a 3 hour nap after the puppy left... all the excitement left him spent.



I couldn't resist this photo of Gunnar. It shows how happy he usually is, and how without looking at the rest of his face, you can tell by his eyes that he is laughing.


Christmas Eve we headed to Grandma and Grandpa's in L.O. Gunnar had a lot of fun climbing the stairs and rearranging Grandma's Christmas Tree! Uncle Michael let him open a couple gifts early - a football and a OSU Beaver toy. Gunnar has always been a fan of playing ball, but I could see the delight in his eyes when he discovered the unpredictable bounce of a football. He laughed and laughed when he dropped it. Even now at home, he throws the football, and I can see in his eyes the excitement to see where it will bounce. Grandma and Grandpa got a tricycle for Gunnar, which he loves climbing on, and will be able to ride by spring-time. He also got a Baby Tad doll, who sings songs and will help teach Gunnar body parts and counting. Gunnar was exhausted by the end of the night, so we decided to save all of our gifts at home for Gunnar to open Christmas Day. He was long gone (asleep) by the time we got home Christmas Eve, and went to bed a very content, sleepy boy.

Christmas morning was fairly easy this year, since Gunnar still didn't realize there was going to be more excitement the day after Christmas Eve. Since Daddy works nights, and usually sleeps later than Gunnar and I, we waited for him to get up before we opened our gifts from each other and from Nana and Papa. So Gunnar got a big breakfast, played with some of the toys from the night before, and then took a long nap before lunch. When he got up again, Daddy was awake, and we started opening the rest of our gifts. Gunnar really got into the ripping of the paper, and mostly wanted to walk around with an arm-full of paper to rip. Once we showed him how cool the stuff inside was though, he wanted nothing to do with the paper. He got all kinds of great stuff from Nana and Papa, his favorite being the kitty keyboard. By now, he actually knows where the On switch is, and can turn the volume up and down. What a smarty-pants! He also got a fire truck that talks to him, which he loves, and a police car that revs and talks. Overall, I think Gunnar is a very lucky little boy, and the best part of our holiday was spending it with him. His excitement and joy makes the world so much better, and I have high hopes that 2008 will be another wonderful year for Gunnar. Keep growing and learning Buppy...