Turner Turns 1!

Happy Birthday Turner! Turner's first birthday was December 4th and we had a BIG party on December 5th. It was great. Turner got a big ball-pit from us and that was a big hit at the party... soon after he got his present he learned (and says at least 80 times a day!) the word 'ball'.

When Turner got his cake he immediately put his hands in it and put his hands in his eyes. Then we had to evacuate a screaming Turner from his high-chair, wash him off and try again! The second time around was much much better and he really liked it. Because I didnt want him to get any more frosting in his eyes I gave him a spoon and he ate his cake like such a little gentleman.

Turner had quite the audience!

On the day of his birthday we went shopping and Turner found the 'ball' pit at the store! He just cant get enough!

As of today he is standing a lot - but still not quite walking. He says a bunch of words including his favorites of the week 'ball' , 'shoe' and 'tree' (learned shortly after our Christmas tree was put up :). We are gearing up for a great family Christmas and hope to be a little more on top of the postings! Funny how you have less time with a 1 year old than with a newborn (and with a newborn you swear you dont have time for anything!)

Its been a truly amazing year, we are so blessed and grateful that our amazing son is happy and healthy. He makes us laugh every day and on his first birthday we just cant believe how fast the year went by - everyone tells you it goes to fast and you dont believe them until you blink and the first year is gone!

11 Months!

Wow time flies! We cannot believe that we are just weeks away from Turner's first birthday. It has been such a fun ride. Turner started his life as a bit of a fuss-monster but has grown into one of the happiest little boys I have ever met. Just looking at him the right way elicits a laugh and I wonder if his cheeks ever get sore from smiling so much! He is such a joy.

He is almost walking, standing for a few seconds at a time, but still hesitant to actually take a step. He has learned a few words (Not Mommy yet!!) but loves to say 'uh-oh' whenever anyone drops anything (including himself and of course he has realized this is such a fun game!). He also says 'hot' for the fire place (the big no-no at our house). He says 'nigh-nigh' when he is sleepy and his favorite word is 'hiiiiii' whenever anyone comes into a room.

Brian has taught him how to 'throw' and 'catch' a ball and they sit around bouncing the ball to each other. This makes Turner put on his concentrating face - see left, two bottom teeth out, and then laugh. He also says 'ball' which really comes out as 'booouy!'. We get a kick out of that.

Turner has become a champion sleeper (thank you baby-whisperer!) but still doesn’t love to nap (already down to one 1 1/2 hour nap a day!).

We are having so much fun and enjoying every second. We hope to get him on skis this year (even in the back yard) and are looking forward to his first Christmas.

Turner 10 Months in the backyard.

Turner & the lemon! Hilarious.

Turner & the puppies!

9 Months!

Turner is just a few days away from his 9 month birthday! This makes me realize that he has had about 9 months inside the belly and now 9 months outside. Everyone says and we have to echo that it just goes by way too fast.

As of today Turner is pulling himself up and ‘cruising’ around holding on to what he can. His favorite position is standing. He makes lots of ‘words’ although he doesn’t yet use them in context. He says ‘Da Da’ ‘Night – Night’ (Ni- Ni) ‘Na-Na’ and many more of his own invention. No mama yet (although I keep working on it).

He has learned to clap his daddy’s hands but not his own. This means that he will take Brian’s hands and clap them together – and thinks this is so much fun. Clapping his own hands has not yet captured his interest.

Turner also has his own definition of crawling, it is still on his belly. While we have seen him crawl on all fours – he is able – he has learned that he really would rather crawl on his belly; in his world it is much faster!

Turner is one of the most smiley (and laughing!) babies I have ever met! He is such a joy. He already poses for the camera, just stick it in his face and you get a big grin! (Probably because of the thousands of photos that have been taken of him!) but it is such a laugh. One of his favorite games is peek-a-boo and he is now the master of this game (hiding himself behind whatever he can find from a blanket or a toy and popping out to 'scare' us) and loves it so much.

At the Hot Springs in Glenwood Springs with Grandma Deb.

"SPLASH" with Krista, Scott & August.

Hot Springs in Glenwood with Mom &Dad. I LOVE THE WATER!

We have his 9 month well-baby Dr. Appt on Friday so we can update on height and weight. Turner has 3 teeth so far (two on the bottom and one on the top) and is working on the second top tooth. So cute!!

See you soon!

Summer!

At the neighborhood pool with Daddy.

Stroller ride to/from the pool. So fun. In Glenwood Springs with Grandpa Jordan and Cousin Jayla. Super Grandpa!

8 Month Random Photos

First CSU Jersey. 'Because I'm proud to be a CSU Ram..."

Crazy faces in the mirror. So much fun!

Crazy faces at the pool. Making us laugh!

Kickin back and loving life in the pool floaty.

Turner 7 Months

Play Date

We had Jena, James and their son David over for a play-date this past weekend. It is so fun to see Turner interacting with other babies. David was born within days of Turner and it looks like they are great pals. After the BBQ we went to the pool where David impressed us all by jumping off the edge and Turner impressed Brian and I by putting is face under a few times (probably not on purpose) but being a really good sport about it all!

Maggie and Malina are coming to visit for a week long play-date. Turner sure is a social boy!

Happy 4th!

Hurley South Dakota - 4th of July!

We just returned from Hurley. It was a 10 hour road trip (each way) and Turner did great! He was able to meet lots of family including his Great-Grandma Beverly (we celebrated her 80th birthday!) and Great Grandparents Richard & Phyllis Jensen. He was able to meet so many Great Aunts & Uncles and tons of cousins! The photos below will give you an idea of just how much family there was!

Uncle Brad & Aunt Joy - flew in from DC.

Turner & Brian on July 4th.

Happy 7 month Birthday to Turner! Happy Birthday to the USA!

Turner, Great Grandma Phyllis and Great Grandpa Richard Jensen.

Turner & Great Grandma Beverly!
Turner & Mommy in the Hurley Park (Hurley population 426!)
Turner and some first double cousins (once removed...we think!). The only boy of 10 cousins! Crazy. So far the only boy on Annie's side as well but of only 3 cousins. Sheesh! All these women!
The Jensen clan (missing just a few)
Grandma Beverly's clan (grands & great-grands).

First visit to the Pool!

Today we took Turner to the pool for the first time. It was a beautiful day and he really loved the water. He sat on the edge and "jumped" to mommy and floated around with daddy and his little duck. He kept splashing and then wondering why all this water was hitting him in the face. Quite funny.

Brian suggested we bring a miniature chocolate candy bar to leave behind in the pool after Turner's visit... give everyone a little scare! I vetoed it and it didnt happen but we got laughs about the idea.


Sagging my suit! I am too cool for my shorts!

Chillin' under the umbrella!
Swimmin with Daddy! Whoo hoo!

Going into the pool for the first time with Mommy! Big pool... not sure if I am afraid or excited.

Family pool portrait. So fun!

First Fathers Day

We had a Father's Day BBQ at our house yesterday. Turner had his Grandpa Al and Grandma Phillis, Grandpa Jordan, Uncle Moe & Aunt Heather and most fun of all his cousins LanaBella (3) and Jayla (4 months!). We played in the pool, grilled steaks (on the whole ate way too much food) and Turner surprised us all by doing an army crawl for the first time (basically an elbow and knee scoot with his belly on the ground!). It was an amazing and exciting day.

I LOVE MY DADDY! He makes me so happy!

My Daddy is the best things ever!
Grandpa Jordan & Cousin Jayla2 Cousins!Mommy & Jayla & Turner on the swing. 3 Cousins!

Uncle Moses & Cousin Jayla

Lana Bella

Grandpa Al & Turner

6 Months Old!

Wow - time really does seem to gather speed when you have a child! Its incredible. Turner was 6 months old a few days ago (6/4) and we had his 6 month well baby checkup. He is doing great - 50th percentile for weight and 65th for height and of course still 95th for head size! He is rolling all around, scooting, putting everything in his mouth and LOVES FOOD!

From the minute we introduced him to 'solid' food he can't get enough! Its incredible - where he would have only taken 3 oz in a bottle he will take 6-8 in a bowl! Here are some photos of the last few weeks.
Watching our friend Nader graduate from Fire Academy and become a Fire Fighter!

At the cabin.

This is us at a BBQ in Aspen. All friends (same graduating class) that are either pregnant or having babies! Crazy!

Baby Butt!

I have to do everything myself!

Mommy has been so busy these days that I went ahead, picked up her Blackberry and decided to write my own blog. So here I am blogging, I can't wait to teach Mommy & Daddy all about computers - I plan to be way more advanced then they are by the time I enter elementary school. They are looking forward to the tech support. I am now 5 months and 1 week and weigh 17 pounds. I LOVE solid foods and am sure you can see some of my new rolls in the photo. Mommy is very proud of them! Well here she comes, gotta go -can't let her see me blogging yet!