In, On and Under

The other day, Trevor really surprised me. I had stepped, quickly, into the other room while he was in the living room with all of his toys. When I came back, the little guy was IN his toy box!

He was having an absolute blast in there...then the new game started...help me out of the toy box, watch me get back in, then help me out again...

He is very upset these days, when all of his toys actually make it into his toy box and there is no room for him! So, then we empty it out and make room for him.

Soon after getting INTO things...he realized that other toys can be sat ON and ridden. Of course, not as well as the actually riding toys themselves...but other toys work too. He started with getting on the trailer of his train. Smart kid - he sat on it, so that the bar that a monkey hangs off of was his handlebars!!! But, as it was so low to the ground, he couldn't get much movement out of it, so he just sat on it!! HA ha ha hah haaaa.



Then, came the time to ride his cement truck. The spinning part on the back folds down (to spill out whatever you have in it) and he used that as his handle bars. He was a bit more successful getting somewhere riding this toy, but he had a couple of spills himself riding this one!



And last, but not least....Trevor realized that he can go UNDER things. He turned his walking toy upside down and crawled under it - actually, he started to crawl under it, took a little rest while there, then continued the journey through it. And this was just the beginning of being under and going through things....he now crawls under and through the coffee table (actually he likes to crawl ONTO the coffee table too), turns his backpack upside down and crawls through the support bar and all over that too, through our legs, sits on his beach ball and on Kelley's volleyball.

I swear, Trevor comes up with all these new discoveries and I seriously wonder of other kids do the same thing!! As I have said many times before...this kid is funny! And it is amazing to watch him explore and discover so many new things...or new ways to play with toys....this next year is certainly going to be as amazing and interesting to experience as was the first one!

Here are other photos of Trevor IN, ON and UNDER other things!

Homburg Kerwe

A couple of villages down from us was having their "Kerwe" - a small kind of carnival. The usual suspects were all there and we went as Heinz and his band, The Pflaz Gang, were headlining the entertainment that night.

We didn't anticipate staying too long, but Trevor really had a good time. Auntie Claudia (who is SO good with Trevor) took him on his first carnival ride. He was the only one on the ride and Claudia had a blast circling around with him. But, after a couple of goes...she got a bit dizzy, so Terry went on the ride with Trevor.

This kid is fearless! He loved it! Kicked and screamed and cried when we finally took him off and moved back toward the main area. But, he was calmed down soon enough, as behind the beer tents, there was a playground.

Up and down the slide and bouncy chair thingy and all the other kids...he was in heaven! And boy did that kid do some serious walking! We initially had him in the backpack...but soon let him loose as the crowd wasn't so bad and it was open area for him to really explore.

What really caught his attention was the stage and all the interesting stuff on it (speakers, guitars, drums, wires, etc)...Uncle Mishy - who spoils Trevor so - took him up on stage to explore all the fun stuff.

But then, Heinz and the boys started to play and Trevor was mesmerized! He stopped cold in his tracks when the band started playing and just stared at them. Then, we walked a bit closer to the stage...and then a bit more closer. He clapped his hands to the music and honestly, it was really cool to watch Trevor watch the band. It was almost like he was studying what was going on...how the instruments were making all that noise. Heinz is so super! He always waves to Trev, smiles at him and makes contact with him while he is on stage. I think Trevor is completely captivated by this guy, our friend, Heinz.

So...here, you can check out photos and a couple of videos of Trevor on his first carnival ride, playing on the playground and other shots of all of us having a good time at the Kerwe.

My Meme

Time sure did pass quickly while Meme and Opa were here...compared to last summer, we didn't get very many pics of the Beaner with his beloved Meme.

But here are a few. The boy loves his Meme and undoubtedly, Meme adores her little boy!!


check out the other photos of Meme & Trevor here

I wear CHUCKS!

Trevor's been walking, independently walking, for a few weeks now. Even before, when he would walk while pushing something around, I could never get shoes on the kid. We'd been to a couple of parties and Trevor would be walking (assisted) with just a couple of pairs of socks on his feet. TRAVESTY! All of our German friends were like, "uh, where the hell are his shoes?"

The story was always the same...can't get them on, he balls up his feet, pulls them off as soon as I get them on (while he is kicking and screaming) etc, etc etc.

So, on this particular day...I explained to Trevor why it was important that he practice wearing his shoes in the house. I explained to him that if he wears them, we can walk pretty much anywhere. And...I swear to the heaven's above...he HAD to have understood me.

On this day - he not only quietly sat in my lap and allowed me to put his socks on...but was very agreeable with letting me put his Chucks on. And then, he actually got up and walked around and started playing like he had always been wearing them. No adjustment period, no checking them out or squirming around with them...everything just went extraordinarily normal.

So here you have it...the first day Trevor officially wore his shoes and carried on. Be sure to check out the videos of him walking and climbing around! Click HERE.

Chocolate Ice Cream...Yummy!

Okay...I feel really REALLY guilty for no cake smashing pictures. But this makes up for a small bit of that guilt.

While in Trier...Meme gave Trevor his first taste of chocolate ice cream. He was addicted! Cried the instant she took it away!!

Just like Daddy - a choco-holic in our midst!!



And Opa trying to make things all better by trading the ice cream for some juice. Obviously (you can tell from the photo) the trade didn't go over so well!!!

Trevor's 1st Birthday - Part II

Wow...now that I am putting this entry together, I realized just how bad of a Mom I am......no pics of Trevor at the party....no pics of all his little friends....just all of us adults having a really good time. Hey! At least I got a photo of his pirate cake I was so stressed about making!

So...we had his 'official' party planned when everyone who needed to be there could attend. It was also the night before Meme & Opa left to go back to the States.

The party was a huge success...we had a set of twins over, a 6 month old, a 21 month old...lots of goodies came Trevor's way....and the poor kiddo missed out on it ALL!

He was superb at keeping pace with all of us for the 3 weeks that Meme & Opa were here. We really put him through some paces, but he held fast and was a really terrific kid through it all. But it did catch up with him.

Just as all the guests were arriving for the party...Trevor was swooped up and taken into the kitchen for dinner. Then the evening bath and off to bed. He missed it all! He didn't even see his pirate cake - and believe when I say...there wasn't but a small sliver left at the end.

So! No cake...both times. No party...both times. Not much special for the little guy on such a momentous occasion. Geesh...I think I need to make this up to him. I think I will make him a cake this weekend and let him have at it. Poor kid.

highlights of everything trevor missed ----> here.

Kelley

Kelley was in love the minute she first saw Trevor...and the feeling is mutual. He loves her enormously and laughs with her all the time. She was super with making faces at him and getting him to giggle with delight.

There even got to be a time when he would imitate what she was doing. These two are really fantastic together!!

Heidelberg Castle

We were almost desperate to get Fritz to Heidelberg...we knew it was a must go destination...but with weather and nighttime activities, it was a hard outting to arrange. But...we finally did...and it couldn't have been a more perfect day.

After cruising the main drag...eating lunch at a fine micro-brewery...we headed to the castle. I didn't think Fritz would be interested in taking the guided tour, but Terry got ticket for Bev, Fritz & Cheyenne. Terry and Kelley did some of their own walking and exploring around while I took Trevor to a quiet spot under a tree so that he could be free of his backpack for a while.

And that boy really brings in the attention. An older lady with her granddaughter stopped by so that the kids could play together. Trevor made a bee-line for the walkway and passerbyers couldn't help but say something to me about how sweet he is (of course!)...

So, the snacks and juice were broken out and Trevor and I had a really super time playing and exploring together while everyone else did their own thing. Later on, we were joined by Terry and Kelley and the four of us had a really nice time hanging out on the lawn together. You can tell in the pics. Check them out here!

Cheyenne

Trevor had SO MUCH FUN with his sister, Cheyenne. She crawled around on the floor with him and played tag...hide and go seek...she made him laugh so hard, it brought tears to everyone who could hear him.

She's a great big sister and you can feel the love these two have between them.

OPA!

Opa finally made it across the pond to meet and enjoy his grandson. I have to give my Dad a huge amount of credit for doing so...he (typically) is terrified of flying and does NOT do water. Putting the two together made for a great obstacle for the guy to get over. But I suppose the desire to spend time with his grandson really got the better of him...he faced his fears and did it. We are SO proud of him, having done so! And definitely well worth the wait. I was thrilled to have my Dad over to spend some time and get to see how life goes over here in Germany.

So...Opa, who has always maintained the fact that Trevor takes after him, was smitten at once! It took Trevor a day or so to get familiar with Opa, but when the moment came that Trevor went to Opa...it was really thrilling. Opa, you could tell, was over the moon!

Trevor, if you know him, has a charm about him that is undeniable. And, it just doesn't work on the ladies at the grocery store....Trevor has a way of making everyone swoon...and Opa was no different.

I was absolutely delighted watching these two together and I am really lucky to have gotten some great shots of them together!

Let the swooning continue...here are 2 (out of 3) of my favorite guys in the whole wide world!

Meme & Opa are HERE!!!

Meme & Opa arrived the day after Trevor's birthday -- the BEST present he could have had!!

We drove up to Frankfurt to pick them up and they were so happy to see him - just as happy as we were to see them!!! We had Trevor in his backpack and took him out so Meme could hold him. At first, she asked, "will he come to me?" and I said, "of course he will! he is going to remember you!"

Mom was here for two and a half months last year to help with the delivery and the initial weeks at home, while Terry and I worked out the transition of having a wee one at home. Of course Trevor will remember her...he'd remember her touch, scent and energy...Mom wasn't so sure.

Just as I had suspected, he went directly to her and let her carry him all the way from their gate to the car...that is some distance! Trevor wasn't so sure about Fritz, but that was just a matter of time. Mom, of course, sat next to Trevor for the car ride home and catered to his every whim.

As did Opa...it only took Trevor a day and a half to get used to him and soon enough, he became Opa's boy! Trevor sure does make my Dad laugh. They had a terrific time playing with each other.

Here, we have some really nice photos of Trevor with Meme & Opa!

Our Bathing Beauty

More pics of our super delicious little boy!

Bathing Beauty

Trevor's 1st Birthday

Well...I know a few of you out there have been anxiously awaiting the photos of Trevor tearing up his birthday cake....well....I have just one thing to explain...I am a bad Mom.

Trevor's birthday was a whirlwind of a day. It started with him waking up at exactly 9.30am - the time he was delivered a year ago - how bizarre is that??? He opened up his first present in bed with us -- a WONDERFUL sesame street dictionary sent to him from his girl Shannon.

Then it was off for a special birthday breakfast - pancakes - for the very first time. He loved them, although, there isn't much he doesn't like!

Then, Mommy and Daddy set on a fast-paced course to finish getting the house ready for the arrival of Meme & Opa.

Uncle Mishy arrived with his present for Trevor - a rocking tricycle! He later came back in the early evening to take Trev for a spin on it. Trevor wasn't so sure what to make of it, but in time, he will really get the hang of it and will be off on his own in no time.

We opened up some other presents - a couple from Meme and then it was off to the grocery store.

Terry had ordered a Diego cake for Trevor and by the time we got home, things situated and organized...it was time for Trevor's dinner - pizza for the first time - and then off to bed. No cake for the little guy on his birthday.

So, we decided it would be nice to wait for everyone to be at the house and have a little party for Trevor - Meme & Opa arrived the next day...but that didn't happen as everyone was fairly tired - so, we hoped to make it on Friday. We had friends over for dinner...had a good time...and FORGOT all about the cake...until Trevor was fast asleep.

We HAD to get this cake eaten, so Terry and I blew out the candle for Trevor and we all enjoyed his Diego cake. We were a bit bummed that we didn't manage to make this happen, but we had his official 1st birthday party planned for 20 July, so we thought that we would make it up to hiim then.

What a super boy! He is so great...with such a sparkling personality and lots of charisma...he's gonna be a lot of trouble for us when it comes time for the girls to start coming around. But for now, we are happy that we have Shannon for him....she's a jewel and they are a perfect match!

So -- Trevor! Happy Birthday sweet boy! Click HERE for pics from his day!