Aunt Beryl's Sweater

When Bridger was born, my Great Aunt Beryl sent him a beautiful hat and sweater that she knitted for him. He has worn the hat a lot but the sweater was too big until this year. Bridger wore it to church this morning and we wanted to take a picture of him looking very dapper in his sweater. Unfortunately Bridger has not been very cooperative with pictures as of late so we didn't get the angelic Christmas image we were hoping for. Above is the best we could do. He does like the sweater though, and he received a lot of compliments about how handsome he looked. Thanks Aunt Beryl!

Bridger is actually saying "Aunta Nooooodle" here as he got a bit mixed up about which Auntie was the gift giver.

Here is another outtake in which some sort of calamity was about to befall Thomas. This is a good look at his haircut. We should have gotten in cut long ago...it looks so much better.

Getting ready for "Chrissy"

I have been a busy "B" around here. Did you know that "Chrissy" is just around the corner. For "Chrissy" Santa might bring me skis so I can look for freshies and get the pow in Jackson Hole. (Daddy is going to Jackson Hole in February, and I think he should take me. Mommy isn't so sure about that.) I love my "Chrissy" tree and was a big help picking it out and putting it up. Here I am putting on an ornament. I only got in trouble a few times for trying to climb the tree like a monkey. Let me show you some pictures of what I have been doing to get ready for "Jesus Birday" at my house!

I showed Mommy that this is the perfect tree and I stood right next to it so no one else could take it.

Santa came to Baltimore on a tugboat and got to wave to him as he came to the docks!

This is me in front of the fire department boat. I love fire trucks and boats so this is the perfect thing!

After we saw Santa I got to go do a project in the square and make a snowman. Mommy helped a little.

In addition to getting ready for Christmas I went to get my haircut at a salon for the very first time. In Michigan LaLa used to cut my hair at Kiddie Kingdom, but since I can't go play there anymore I had to go to this place. The lady was very nice and let me touch the clippers before she used them. Mommy gave me animal crackers so I would sit still. I liked the animal crackers a lot and think she should bring them every time I get my hair cut. I look like such a big boy with my new haircut. I will make Mommy take a picture of my snazzy new 'do soon. Also I also had my first dentist appointment the same day. I have perfect teeth and I was very well behaved at the dentist office. I am sometimes not so well-behaved at home. :)

We Survived Octember!!

Sorry to be MIA on the blog. It has been a VERY busy October and November. Matt and I have been traveling here there and everywhere. Matt had conferences in San Diego, DC, and Manchester, England. I had conferences in DC and Atlanta and made two trips to Ann Arbor. We have both seen too much of BWI. Bridger did get to come with me for one last free trip before he turned two. We went to Ann Arbor and he, Claudia, and Ezra celebrated being two and rekindled their friendship. He still talks about those two first friends and loves to see their pictures. Speaking of talking; he is talking up a storm now. He says tons and tons of words and lots of short sentences. He also remembers things very well which keeps Mommy and Daddy on their toes. It has been so fun to see his little personality develop. He is also very into pretend. We apparently have a tiger living in our basement and the tiger likes to drink coffee and sometimes takes the Number 10 bus to school. Speaking of the little guy in the midst of all the chaos, Bridger turned two on October 9th. We celebrated with a birthday party that same day. Both sets of grandparents were around to spoil him as well as some Mommy and Daddy friends that enjoyed the grilling and beer as much as Bridger enjoyed his cake and presents. Next year we will probably do the traditional kids party, but he is still a little young for that so we took the opportunity to see our friends who love Bridger too! Bridger has had some other quality time with the grandparents. We went to a local farm for apple picking with the Ross side and the Sr. DeCamps visited for a few days while Matt and I were both out of town. Bridger has definitely figured out that grandparents = fun and treats. He also figured out Halloween treats when he went as a monkey trick or treating in Annapolis. He learned the drill of "trick treat" by the 5th house and certainly loves candy (though most of his was given away). We took tons of pictures of all of this and hopefully most of you got the slideshow link. In a rare quiet moment in the last two months we spent the morning hiking at Patapsco State Park. Bridger is getting into hiking and loves to play in the fallen leaves. We enjoyed the fresh air and a little city respite.

Thinking about taking a dip in the waterfall..hmmm!

Checking out the leaves.

All that hiking wears our favorite two year old out!

A little more hiking!

Whew...another busy week has flown by. We still haven't quite gotten into a routine here, but are getting close. Bridger and I had a day off together on Tuesday. It was very low key, but we did get to go to one of his favorite activities...storytime at the library. Miss Gloria does a fabulous job and keeps the kids entertained with songs and stories. The theme was alligators which was just perfect since Bridger just loves his gators. His Nana bought him some squeeze toy gators when we were in California and he has been taking them all around the house and sleeping with them every night. He even does a great gator chomp. Last Saturday he had his first dinner in front of college football and watched the Florida Gators play. He seemed to like the football, but didn't quite know what we meant when we said the gators were playing because it is true there were no alligators playing football. After all our fun Tuesday, Bridger decided to have a one hour tantrum before school on Wednesday. It is hard to know now exactly what the issue was, because really everything was an issue that morning. He is saying so much more now, but sometimes he still gets frustrated about not being able to communicate...as if he would get away with whatever he was scheming to do even if he could articulate it well. :) We have no big plans for this weekend since we have some busy weeks ahead. Next weekend we head to Charlottesville to watch the 'Hoos play some football and then Bridger and I are off to Michigan for a last hurrah with friends there before we have to pay for a plane ticket for him. After that it is the big birthday weekend. We can't wait to have family and friends around to celebrate. Last weekend we took a little break from the city to do some hiking at a park not too far away. We didn't cover much mileage as Bridger insisted on walking most of it himself and had quite a case of the dawdles. Still nice to see some green trees and shade nonetheless.

Biking and Hiking and Football Oh My!

Hi Everybody!
I hope you had lots of time to PLAY on Labor Day weekend. I had a very busy weekend. First on Saturday we went to my friend TOMMY'S HOUSE. We had a really fun time. TOMMY has a BABY sister. I didn't play with her really, but TOMMY and I had fun playing CATCH, BUBBLES, & GOLF. The DADDIES watched FOOTBALL, and TOMMY and I did too. On Sunday I went on a HIKE with BROOKE and KENZIE (WOOF). Ian came too. We had fun in the TREES and we saw a RIVER where people were catching FISH. I love to be outside and walked a long way. Afterwards we had a SNACK at a place near the hiking PARK. It was YUMMY food and I got a TREAT there. I got JUICE and MOMMY's treat was a milkshake. Daddy is trying to get in shape so he didn't get any treats. I think that is SILLY. On Monday we went on a BIKE. Last time I went on a BIKE it was in Michigan on Mackinac Island. I rode in a trailer then, but now I have my own SEAT. The SEAT is pretty close to DADDY so I can lift up his SHIRT and TICKLE him while we are riding bikes We rode bikes again yesterday at Patapsco State Park. They have lots of TREES and a RIVER there too. Best of all though they had a PARK, and when I say PARK I mean they have SLIDES and fun things to CLIMB on. We can ride our bikes far away because we have a RACK on the CAR which I think makes the car look GOOD!! Don't worry we are still going to WORK and SCHOOL during the week. I like going to SCHOOL and am making some new friends there. Last thing I almost forgot I met a new FRIEND yesterday. Her name is HEIDI. We went to the PARK and watched FOOTBALL with our parents. MOMMY and Heidi's Daddy were in the band together in high school. What geeks!! Talk to you again SOON!

Daddy and I riding bikes in Fells Point.
More fun hiking with Brooke and MacKenzie.
My first river crossing!
I'm not too little to climb over trees.

Whirlwind August

It is hard to believe that it is September already. It has been a busy August. Bridger and I had nearly two straight weeks of travel. First we went to Ann Arbor for work for me. Bridger got to go back to his old daycare and had a blast. We also got to see not so old friends from Michigan including Bridger's BFFs Ezra and Claudia. After one day at home we were on our way to California for a visit with family. Matt and I did manage to sneak in one day away in Napa for some wine tasting and a long overdue date. Thanks Jody, Trevor, Amy, and Erik for taking such great care of Bridger while we were gone. Bridger loved being a teenager for a day. We had some quality time with the Great-Grandparents and Bridger loved all the attention and all of the new toys (and treats!) The week went by in a flash. When we came back there was no rest for the weary. Bridger started his new school on August 23rd. He goes to a local Montessori school. We are so thankful that things seem to be going well. He isn't sleeping as long as he should there yet so that has made the evenings a little challenging and when he doesn't sleep enough he gets up early. NOBODY was excited about our 5:15am wake up call this morning. It is fun to see Bridger take on a new challenge. It is hard to believe but he puts away his toy and rolls up his mat (well attempts the roll) when we arrive in the evening. Somehow when Matt and I say you need to pick up your toy before you go on to the next thing Bridger says "no" but when his sweet teachers say it he does it so nicely. Hmm... Last weekend we celebrated my birthday with my parents in town. Matt made a delicious ice cream cake that was quite a treat. Bridger's birthday present for me was starting to call me Mommy. On Thursday the 26th he said Mommy for the first time and has been using it ever since. I kind of liked being Mama, but I guess he is growing up and big boys say Mommy. Sniff...We are excited for a long weekend, before Matt starts on service next week. Hope you have fun Labor day plans that don't include Earl!

Bridger's First Day of School!

My birthday cake made by Chef Matt.

Some pics of CA. Blogger is not liking a lot of them so perhaps more to follow. Bridger and Grandy feeding the birds.

A little reading time with MorMor. New books are always a treat.

A very special treat, riding on a boat at Lake Chabot.

Fun times at Kennedy Park with Nana and Poppi.

Greetings From the King...

King Bridger that is. While the parental units have been busy working and getting our house in shape I have been spending some quality time with my 4 NICE grandparents. We have been out and about all over Baltimore and it has been so much fun. I wanted to show you some pictures of our adventures. Rumor has it I will be a busy B the next two weeks with trips to Ann Arbor and California. After that it will be back to old school Bridger and I will be spending my days with some cool kids. After my travels I will be going to a Montessori School in Fells Point while MAMA and DADDY WORK. I think I am going to learn a lot there. I will learn Spanish, Mandarin, and even have a yoga class sometimes. That seems like a lot of things to learn, but I'm game. I've got to be ready for anything with the parents I've got. Back to business though...here are the pictures.

First off did you know it is about one million degrees a lot of days here in Baltimore.
It has been miserable!
To cool off and to celebrate Grandma DeCamp's birthday we went to the aquarium. It was also NICE. I liked it a lot. I love TURTLES, SHARKS, and most of all I love the DOLPHINS when they SPLASH and touch the BALL with their NOSE.

In case you were wondering these are blue blubber jellies...but don't think they are cute. I learned jellyfish are making a MESS of the environment. (Well people are making a MESS and they are taking over and hurting all the FISH!)

I am really into sNACK and you must eat when I tell you...and sometimes you must eat what I tell you. I am the king you know.

A little fun with Grandma Ross on that Pirate Ship (well BOAT) and a little BOOK time with GrandDad. I love to READ. I love it so much we READ BOOKS aGAIN & aGAIN.

On Tuesdays Mommy & one Grandma take me to the Canton Library and we sing songs and READ with Miss Gloria. That is very fun. At the end of library time Miss Gloria gives out a craft. I really had fun making this FISH. Look at what I STUCK to the FISH with GLUE!

The GranDeCamps made the grocery store a whole lot more fun when they introduced me to the TRUCK on the shopping carts. I am a GOOD driver.

I also really liked going to the CHOO-CHOO train museum.

One time I rode on the CHOO-CHOO at the museum. Wait a minute they forgot my HAT!

Don't worry if you need a RIDE because I drive both CHOO-CHOOS and TRUCKS.