family hunt (cont.)

Only J's sisters could make shorts and hunting boots fashionable! I did not try and pull this look off, but it sure would have been more comfortable in the heat!

J and Clara, waiting for birds.

We set the camera up to get a group shot, and this was one of the mistake pictures. I thought is was kind of a neat accidental shot.

Our attempt at a group photo ... Sorry we cut you off Clara!

Labor Day Parade

J and Trip were part of the Labor Day Parade this year! Trip was hilarious. He took the "task" of throwing candy out of the truck window and waving to his fans very seriously - not cracking a smile once! He wore his cowboy hat from his Cappy, his cowboy boots, blue jeans and a polo (J dressed him that morning and they looked remarkably similar, minus the hat). Trip even got to "ride" a horse before the parade started. I'm sure this was the highlight for him, because now every time we see a horse - real or not - he yells "Baaaaaayyyyy" (which is supposed to be the sound that a horse makes)!

My Big Boy

Lately I have heard from a lot of people how much more like a "big boy" Trip looks. Seeing him every day, I'm not sure that I noticed the change. But when I was looking at these pictures that I took a few days ago, I thought to myself that I could see a glimpse of my little baby turning into a big boy. He is losing those chubby cheeks and only has one roll left on each leg. My mom bought him these Converse All Star shoes, which I think are so cute, but also fall into the big boy category. He looks like such a cool kid when he wears them.

I know the time between now and the new baby's arrival will fly by, so I am trying to really cherish this time with Trip as my only baby. He is growing more independent every day, which I know will be a blessing once we have two, but makes me sad in this moment.

Family of ... 4!

That's right, baby number 2 is on the way! Lord willing, we will be adding to our little family of three in 6 months.

The due date is March 12, 2011 to be exact. My 28th birthday and just three days after Trip's second birthday. March is going to be a popular month around here.

The first trimester has flown by! Although I didn't feel that way during some of my more nauseous moments, it is hard to believe there are only 6 months left. I think it is going to be a boy, J thinks it is going to be a girl, and Trip is still very confused about what all of this means.

We are so excited for another baby, and for Trip to have a sibling!

[The plan was to post a sonogram picture, but our scanner is not working ... some sticky fingers got a hold of it! A friend brought these newborn diapers by to say congratulations, and I couldn't believe how small they were or that Trip was ever small enough to wear them! A picture of the newborn diapers next to Trip's sippy cup seemed to be an appropriate one.]

A is for Apple

Trip's new favorite snack is apples ... or should I say one BIG apple. He loves to carry the entire apple around and eats it to the core. It is hilarious to see him eat something that is almost as big as his head!

[By the way - the scrape on his nose was his first really big boo boo and has turned into a lovely little scar. I am told the bumps and bruises for a little boy will only continue to get worse, which makes my heart break a little.]

Play Time with Dad

I just love this picture. When J gets home from work, he and Trip have special play time while I cook dinner. This usually includes Trip getting thrown in the air or on the bed, playing with blocks, and playing the "Dee Tar".

Catching up with the Kupers

Well, it has been a busy month and there is a lot to catch up on. I'll start with the first week in August and work my way forward.

We escaped the Texas heat and joined my family in Colorado for our annual family vacation. This is one of the few times I get to see all of my siblings and parents together, so I cherished every moment. We filled our days with lots of outdoor activities including hiking and kayaking, we enjoyed lots of home-cooked meals (each sibling was responsible for cooking dinner one night), and most importantly we spent some good ole fashion quality time together. Below are some pictures from the trip.

Kuper Family Photo

Trip LOVED drinking from the Camelback!

Enjoying the view from the top of the Gondola.

Gross/Johnson/Kuper Bunch at the top of one of our hikes.

We take a family photo at this same spot every year. It's fun to see how our family has grown and changed over the years.

A little over a week after returning from Colorado, Trip and I were invited to go with my best friend and her family home to Columbia for a week. We were able to catch up with some long time friends, spend a lot of time with Gigi, Cappy and my brothers, and I was blessed by my parents with time to relax while they played with Trip. Cappy even took Trip to a friend's house in the country to see his new baby zebra! We were both spoiled!

Trip and Cappy playing and petting the Zebra

A few days after returning from Missouri, we hit the road again to visit J's mom and brother in Houston. As usual, Cupcake cooked a fabulous meal and sent us home with lots of goodies. So far, Trip can't say "Cupcake" but he does manage "Tat Tat" which I think is pretty darn cute! Our time there was too short, so we will have to plan another Houston trip soon.

All in all, it was a great month ... but let's just say we are happy to be home!