AZ Thanksgiving
Our first Thanksgiving in AZ started off with Turkey Trot in downtown Phoenix. It was more like a run/walk race since I was 25 weeks pregnant. Derek loved all the police motorcycles along the course and the animal crackers at the finish line.

My roommate from college, Abby, invited us to spend Thanksgiving with her parents who live in Surprise. Abby, Andy, and Jones were visiting AZ for the holiday. It was so fun to see them and let Jones and Derek play together.

 

Big smiles!

 Family photos!!

After dinner we took a golf cart ride to see the Christmas trains and fountains in the community where Abby's parents live. Derek had a blast riding on the golf cart, saying the word golf cart, seeing the trains, and running after Jones.

 

Preggo roommates (due in March and Feb.)

 

Derek showing off his muscles!

After dessert, Derek and Jones spent the rest of the evening pushing trucks around the house. They had so much fun. Derek LOVED playing with Jones.

 

 It was great to be with friends for Thanksgiving!! We hope to see Abby and Jones more often now that we live in AZ!

17 Month Update
Derek has learned several new words this month - pine cone, golf cart, coffee, pee pee, key-keys (keys), tah-tee (train or at the television to watch Thomas the train), boboba (banana). My favorite new word is "Mama!" Although "Dadda or Daddy" is still his favorite word (which I LOVE), it just melts my heart to hear him call my name. Derek has also started to make some animal noises. His favorite animals noises are elephant, monkey, dog, cow. Derek walks down the stairs holding onto the railing all by himself. He folds his hands and bows his head when we say its time to pray. After going down the slide himself, Derek holds his hands out at the bottom to catch whoever is coming down after him (which is sometimes me!!). When Derek notices letters he will sings the alphabet song, which sounds like he is saying all the vowels "A, E, AH, OH." He LOVES reading books. When we go to get him him out of the crib first thing in the morning or after his nap, he will stay in his room for about 45 minutes and read books. He just can't seem to get enough of them! Right now his favorite books are Otis, The Little Engine that Could, RedSox ABC's, Polar Express, & the Marvelous Toy.
Derek mimics the things we do. He LOVES to make cappuccinos like we do. He knows all the steps!

Derek reviews pictures on my camera just like I do.

 Derek LOVES spending time with Daddy.

  Derek enjoys stacking these pegs with Daddy and making really tall towers to knock down.

Derek had his hair cut this month for the 5th time, but this was the first time I did it using the clippers. I buzzed it short. It took me a little while to like the haircut (I was mourning the loss of his hair), but now I LOVE it. We think it makes him look so much older.

post hair cut

prior to hair cut

Derek LOVES to play games on the iPad as well as watch videos of himself and see pictures I've taken.

A few other pictures from the month...

Derek will kiss my belly when we ask him where his baby sister is. It is so sweet!

 Derek has learned where his pockets are and sometimes will put blocks in them.

Derek LOVES the park!

Derek loves to push his car up and down the driveway. He had a blast this one afternoon when Matt washed our cars. I think he pushed his car for about an hour!

  Derek, you are ONE of A KIND!! We love you buddy!

New Words

Happy Thanksgiving!!

 

We are thankful for our son!! He is the happiest boy.

A recent family picture!! I love Derek's face. He was just saying "Mama," one of his new words!!

Derek's Thoughts on AZ Dust Storm (Haboob)

Kevin and Valeri Visit AZ
Kevin and Val came to visit us. One of the things we did was hike Camelback. It was an intense hike, being pregnant and not in the best shape, but I was proud to complete the hike. Here are few pics from the hike. The views of the Phoenix valley were amazing.

Halloween
This year I had class on Halloween night, so Matt and I took Derek Trick-or-Treating a few nights before at an outdoor mall. (I had to get some pictures! :)) Derek caught on real fast of how to get the candy. He was so cute in his Superman outfit. On Halloween night, while I was in class, Derek and Matt went to pizza dinner at our neighbor's house before Trick-or-Treating with them. Matt said Derek had a BLAST. They went to about 10 houses before Derek was ready for bed.

 We also carved a pumpkin the night before Halloween. 

(Pumpkins don't last long out here with the heat!)

 Kissing the pumpkin

 Pretending to be a pumpkin

Derek did not like to touch the insides of the pumpkin with his fingers, but give him a spoon and he was all about playing with the insides.

 Checking out the pumpkin all lit up.

20 Week Pregnancy Update
We are halfway there!! I am grateful to be feeling great. It is fun to look back at pictures and compare the pregnancies. I am definitely showing SO MUCH MORE with Baby #2!! For a few weeks I had some really bad pain in my left hip, but for now it has gone away. I have been feeling the Baby move a lot and it is so fun. One of my favorite things is talking to Derek about his Baby Sister. He is so sweet...he comes over to me, kisses my belly, and gives me a hug. It is precious. I am excited for Derek to be a big brother!! I am still wondering how in the world I am going to be a mom to 2 kids under 2, but for now I am trying to focus on the present and enjoy my time with Derek. 

                  20 weeks pregnant with Baby #2                  

 22 weeks pregnant with Derek