We got a shot! Sort of.

We have been trying since Spencer was born to get a decent picture of Rocco and Spencer together. It seems like the harder we try, the worse it turns out. Luckily, our friend Lindy swooped in to (attempt) to save the day and make our dreams come true. Haven't seen everything she got yet, but I am pretty pleased with this one.
I mean, at least they are both kind of looking in the direction of the camera and neither one of them has tears in their eyes. This is progress!

4th of July Camping

How happy was I that we were able to get back to a family tradition this year with a camping trip on the Fourth of July?!?!?! Was I nervous to take a toddler in the woods? Yes! Did it work out great? Yes! I have quite the nature boy on my hands and he was just thrilled to be outside and play in the dirt.

Two years ago I was obsessed with getting Fergie's picture in the daisy's in New Meadows (picture on the right). This year I wanted to get Spencer in the same spot...and he was just about as cooperative as she was then, although I did manage to get a few good ones.

June

Boy, have I been bad about blogging lately. Life is just busy, busy, busy when you are chasing a 13/14 month old around everywhere. Nana Stonehocker came and stayed with us for a whole week, but somehow, we managed to not take a single picture! This is becoming a fun summer tradition for both Spencer and Nana. She came up for a week last year when I went back to work and she couldn't wait to get some of that one on one bonding time again.

Spencer cracks us up each and every day. He loves to make people laugh. Example: here he is with Fergie's toy bucket on his head while he plays...just for fun!

He also thought sitting in his race track would be a good idea. Not sure if he was expecting/hoping that it would spin around with him in it too.

Cousin Gage had a birthday this month.

And we got to play with Grampa Scott and the Coke Balloon...although he wasn't that thrilled. Last summer he was fine with balloons, this year, he is a bit more tentative.

Other Stuff in May

I am really behind on blogging and I can't even really remember what happened and when with all of these pictures I have staring before me. But in the big scheme of things, it doesn't really matter. Just that we had fun! We were lucky enough to have my step-sister Lisa and Uncle Kurt visit us in May (although unfortunately not at the same time). Neither had met Spencer in person yet, so it was very exciting for me. I wish I had a picture of when Spencer met Kurtie, because it was pretty much the sweetest thing ever. Went right into his arms and nestled in on his shoulder like, ahhhhh, here's my uncle.

It was pretty much the same with Auntie Lisa, who he has skyped with, but never met "for real." I think the adoration was mutual, as he didn't leave her lap most of the time.
Cousin Jonah is hanging out too. We are so lucky this branch of the Marshall Family moved back to town so the boys can spend so much time together. Jonah let me know that: spencer is a good baby. We agree!

And then there was the great oatmeal incident. As we've entered the 13th month, a certain toddler is starting to get an independent streak. Mommy feeding him oatmeal was UNACCEPTABLE, so rather than pick a fight about it, I just let him go at it. So dainty at first.
But it didn't last long.

We also had Memorial Day in May...but we did a big, fat NOTHING because the weather sucked so bad. I was pretty upset about it too...seriously, this rainy, gloomy weather has got to stop! The first few days of June have actually been pretty nice, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed we might actually get to go camping, or swimming, or many other fun warm weather activities.

Mother's Day continued...

Since we were in Utah for Mother's Day, we didn't get to celebrate with my mom until later this month. Her only wish was to take her boys on the merry go round at the zoo. That's an easy fix! Although next time, she rides it solo with them...that thing made me sick to my stomach...how do kids like that thing?!?!?

Mother's Day Weekend

We made the trek down to Utah over Mother's Day weekend, as Chris's cousin, Nick was getting married. It was also an easy way to give Nana her biggest Mother's Day wish...to have her two grandbabies with her at the same time! Spencer and Claire are only four months apart and don't get to see each other very often, so the trip meant a lot.
One happy Nana!
It wasn't the easiest of trips though. Spencer HATES any great length of time in his carseat, which resulted in lots of screaming on the way down, when he should have been sleeping. He doesn't sleep well away from home either, so I thought for sure that he would pass out on the way home. WRONG! Our plan was to stop at Shoshone Falls for a breather on the way home, but I didn't think I would last the 9 miles off the freeway to get there, so we settled on a scenic overlook photo op and walk.

First Birthday

Really? It's already been a year? Slow down, Father Time, I can't get enough of this little baby and guess what? He's not even a baby anymore. Birthdays are usually week long celebrations in my family and Spencer's was no exception. It started off on his actual birthday last week with a cookie party at daycare. Wasn't sure what to think of the cookie at first...
...but by the end he was making sure he got every last crumb crammed in there.

On Wednesday the Segadelli Family came over for dinner, since Uncle Jesse wasn't going to be able to be at the big birthday bash later in the week. These two truly adore each other and they had lots of fun playing with the new dump truck
Not pictured: Rocco looking on from the high chair eating his dinner as fast as he could so he could join the fun!

And then it was time for the big bash. Mommy had been planning this for over a month now, so it goes without saying that I was more excited than he was.

Presents were fun...

...but cake was better.
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We just knew that the way this kid digs into food would make for an interesting cake smash - and he did not disappoint. I'm not sure how much he actually ingested since we never seemed to have a "sugar high" or crash. But it sure was fun to watch.

Happy Birthday, Spencer! And thank you for making this the best year of my life!