He's growing up ...

I hope you can indulge a nostalgic mom for a moment. I can't help but think how much Colt has grown this past year so I started posting pictures of Colton and can't seem to stop. :) Here's another picture from tonight's festivities.


Colton took his first steps over Thanksgiving and he's been practicing his technique ever since. He definitely has better traction with his cool new "hiking" boots (like he's going to be hiking any time soon) courtesy of his Nana.




This is where he began exerting some of his new found independence. He decided he didn't like dinner and started throwing it every which way. Obviously, most of it landed back on him. He seems pretty upset about it doesn't he? :)

One year older...

...and I'm having a hard time not feeling nostalgic about it. Our little boy turned one today and it was hard for me to not think about how different December 28th was last year. Not that I would want to be reliving the 17 hours of labor but I just have a hard time believing that it's been a year since that amazing moment when Colton entered this world. In celebration I decided to introduce him to chocolate of course! Here's Colt manhandling his double chocolate cupcake. Gotta love him licking his fingers ... mmmm good!

Happy Halloween...

For Halloween, as Evan put it, Colt was a ... well, colt. I think Evan would have preferred to have him dress up as a ninja but with time running out, I bought the Wal-mart special. He was our little horse for the night. We just taught him to clap (and high 5) in time for last week's football game and that's just what his little 'hooves' are doing in this picture. And in the next picture. He was clapping all night (maybe he knew how excited his mom was for the candy.)





Colton was loving it while we were trick or treating. He loved all the people and especially the dogs that greeted us at the doorsteps as well. Here's the back of the costume (mane and all) as he races away from the camera.

Fabulous Fall Football

We went to the Air Force/BYU game in Colorado Springs on Saturday. A guy in our ward who works for Air Force was nice enough to give us free tickets to the game. It was Colt's first BYU football game and obviously he was pretty excited about it ... and obviously he got his mom's larger sized mouth. :) It was so fun to deck him all out in his BYU gear. Like father, like son. We had a huge blizzard last week that left our house with 16 inches. Luckily (especially for the Texan in me) it cleared up and was a gorgeous game day. I have decided that fall is my favorite season. The cool weather, clear blue skies and changing colors. The snow comes too quickly for my taste. Oh and BYU soundly spanked Air Force ... go cougs!

Colton's Latest Hobby

Evan caught Colton in action ... spitting (or blowing rasperries as some call it) has become his favorite past time. Notice his sweet smile seconds before he decides to stick out his tongue in preparation. If only I could figure out a way to show him that it's really not as great as it seems. He's always deciding to have an "attack" at the most appropriate times (sarcasm here.) Last week it was in Wal-mart about every 2 minutes and I could tell that the clerk and the people standing directly behind the shopping cart were starting to shield themselves. And I'm trying not to be a neglient mom - I'm covering his mouth with my hand, telling him 'no' in my sternest voice (which usually elicits a smile as opposed to any sort of remorse) and as soon as I uncover his mouth so I can unload the basket, he unleashes. Ahhh ... the joy of motherhood. I hoping it's just a phase ... right??

Logan & Ashley's Wedding - July 28, 2006

So this isn't the actual wedding ... it's a week before in front of the Denver temple where Ashley had just gotten her endowments out. Really just an awesome prelude to the big day a week later. And even more fun to have everyone in town visiting.

Here is the blushing bride and another star of the show. Colton just might have gotten as much attention as did the newly wedded couple. This is at the reception at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building after Ashley and Logan got married in the Salt Lake temple. Doesn't Ashley look great?

Last but not least, the three of us at the end of the party. Colton is in his signature picture pose - sucking his thumb. For the most part he did pretty well on the hectic wedding day and though some moms are anti the whole sucking thumb thing, Colton having his own built-in calming mechanism comes in handy. Overall, it was a great day and so fun to see the newlyweds so darn happy. I always get so nostalgic at weddings, wanting to relive our wedding day. Poor Evan - I'm always dragging him on the dance floor at receptions telling him that I wish we could do the wedding day over again (just the day, NOT the planning.) The funniest part is Evan's response to this which is always an emphatic "Heck no!" I think it's safe to say that the reception and everything that goes with it is definitely the bride's production.

Sleeping Colton - 7 months old

There's always something so sweet about a sleeping baby. That's why we have a ton of pictures of Colton napping. Here's the latest...

Durango, CO - July, 2006

This was Colton's first train ride. We were on a family vacation with Rebecca's family (there's Nana and Aunt Heather in the background). We spent the week camping, white water rafting, hanging out at the pool, rock wall climbing, alpine sliding, and seeing the sites of Durango.

A Day in Dowtown Denver

Here's Evan and Rebecca downtown. You can see Colton's stoller where he was sleeping. We had worn him totally out. We thought after a year of living in Denver it was time to see downtown. The best was the 16th street mall where there is a ton of eating and shopping. No complaints about Denver here - we're loving it!

Colton's First Day of Real Food

I finally broke down and fed Colton rice cereal about a week before he was six months old. He was SO ready for it. I guess the liquid diet just wasn't doing it for him anymore. I always have a hard time letting him move onto the next stage because he is growing up too fast! Our kid is a bottomless pit. 10 ounces of formula and 2 jars of baby food is standard!

Jones Camping Trip - Rocky Mountain National Park, June 2006

Here is Evan and Colton about to take Colton's first hike (see the resemblance?)

Evan carrying the precious cargo on the hike.

Colton in his backpack ready to go! Colton did a great job on the hike. He spent half of the time sleeping and the other half checking out the nature all around him. Granted it was a short hike. Had we gone longer, I'm sure he would have been sick of the backpack and let us hear about it. Overall, it was a successful trip - good preparation for the family reunion in Durango.

Our Little Family - Colorado Springs, CO - March, 2006

This is at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs - a gorgeous park that's free and open to the public. We took the trip down when Rebecca's sister Ashley and her future husband Logan were in town visiting.

Colton's First Smile