Grampa Stan and Grammy Jo Come to Visit Part - Beginning ;)

Well - it has been quite the week.  I think we all could say that we're officially worn out from all the fun and festivities of Grandpa and Gramy coming to visit!  I'm still amazed at how much we fit in within 5 days...and then when it was time for them to go it felt WAY too soon!  We definitely had a blast though.  I'm thinking our adventures are going to have to be documented in more than one blog post.  

Steve was just barely keeping his head above water with his studying and insanely-massive-borderline-only-a-maniac-would-test-this-much-information-in-so-little-time-it-was-learned exams, but he survived!  It took him a few days to unwind from all the stress, but I think we're reviving him gradually before he has to go back into the fiery furnace.  Ross and I planned and got everything ready for the grandparents to arrive.  And arrive they did!  We celebrated by going for a walk, visiting, and then after dinner - taking a dip in the hotel pool they were staying in.

SOOO excited Grampa's here!

Catching up on some serious reading time with Gramy

Enjoying some swinging!

Ross was laughing his head off at Grampa Stan.  It's funny what a grandkid can get their grandparents to do just for a laugh. ;)

Look!  No hands!

Swimming in the duck.  We had a competition to see who could mount the duck first - my dad won!

The next day we had an easy morning and then headed out for a fancy lunch treated by my parents -woot woot! - and the zoo.  We went to The Portland City Grill and HIGHLY recommend it.  It's on the 30th story of a pretty building with an amazing lookout.  Our food was fabulous.  Steve got the halibut which was to die for and I got some classic fish 'n chips which were quite tasty - but still didn't compare to the proper English fish 'n chips - but came in a close 2nd.  The only issue I had was when I asked for something for Ross to sit in - she said all they had was a booster seat...can you imagine a booster seat for a 1 year old?  Needless to say we juggled eating, feeding Ross, and keeping him entertained while we enjoyed our entrees.  The view there was AMAZING and the atmosphere was elegant.  The little annoyance came when we were leaving and I looked down one of their hallways to see 5 completely usable - yet unused - high chairs that Ross could definitely have sat in which would have made our experience that much more enjoyable for everyone.  I understand they don't really encourage you to bring your kids - but they could at least let you use their high chairs if they have them!  

A sunny day in Portland.

Oh the yummy food that awaits.

Juggling Ross in a booster seat...little did I know the empty highchairs that were 15 feet away were hid from my view and use.

Enjoying the view

Here's the view - the city of bridges.

Anyway - now that I have that little complaint out of the way - we still did have a great time and then headed out to the zoo.  The weather cleared and warmed up for us just in time!  Steve and I were TOTALLY impressed with the zoo.  Maybe it was because it actually felt like you were in some of the animals habitats with all the trees and ways they exhibited the animals as opposed to Hogle Zoo which really don't have any trees to work with in the first place.  Ross had a great time looking at all the animals...or maybe we had a great time trying to get Ross to look at them and not at all the other kids running around or fans that were spinning above.  I think Ross probably loved the fish the best and the bongo drums the very best.  He loves banging his hands on things to make noise and these drums definitely did the trick!  By the time we were kicked out of the zoo because it was closing we were all pretty tired from the day of walking all over.  I worked on some of Ross's birthday party stuff before going to bed which I will put in his birthday post, but we had a terrific time together and were SO excited to be with Grampa and Gramy.  We had a ton of fun!

Looking at....

A Black Bear!

Steve was hoping for some wings so he could clear his head from all the studying. ;)

Ross LOVED the fish

I couldn't believe how close we could get to some of the animals.  The polar bears are HUGE!!!

This is a sun bear - who is obviously enjoying the sun.  I've never seen a bear all sprawled out like this - he had his arm over his face and would scratch his head with those extremely long claws every so often.  We could have sworn it was a person dressed up - but it was definitely a bear!

So as I was taking this picture of the baboon - I was looking through the lens wondering why he was bouncing up and down so much...when I lifted up my head  and realized he was with a lady...the end.

The orangutans were really fun to watch - they would swing around everywhere.  They look like midgets until they stretch out and look like giants! 

Here are our orangutans.

Ross was obsessed with the bongo drums - totally captivated.

Didn't want to leave!

Just another lion cub

Or maybe some lion bait?

Nothing like some good quality time with grandparents and the zoo!

Ross's First Birthday!

My handsome man. :)

This is the perfect 1st birthday picture - note Ross holding up one finger and the concentration on his wishing candle. ;)

He loves sticking out his tongue!

I am amazed at how time has flown (looking back of course always makes things seem like they have flown) and Ross is now a one year old!  We have loved getting to know him better this whole year and having him enrich every part of our lives.  He is just about the funniest baby I've ever come across.  He has also taught us a thing or two about life and giving more of ourselves.  It really just seems like yesterday we were trying to get him to look at us or smile or lift up his head, and now we're chasing him around, getting lots of "help" with taking things out of their places and strewing them across the floor. :)  We really couldn't ask for a more lovable son.  Happy Birthday Ross!
 We woke him up singing Happy Birthday and showed him the decorations we put up around his highchair.  He loved them.  We gave him his birthday blueberry coconut muffin for breakfast which he also fancied.  After that it was scrambling to get ready for church and have our lessons prepared for our classes.  Ross and Steve wore their matching ties which I was quite proud of and we shared our green chocolate chip cookies for treats after our lessons.  
When we got home, Ross had his favorite meal - a quesadilla and peas - for lunch.  He chowed that down, and then let me chase him around with my camera for a little while before his nap.  
After his nap we all sat together and watched our home movie of when Ross was born and a few months after.  Ross was watching the video of when Steve was changing his diaper for the first time and he was crying.  Well - it seemed Ross was remembering how cold and miserable that was so he started crying with the TV.  Silly kid.  We skyped both Grandma and Grandpa White and Staheli who wished him a very happy birthday.  
Ross is having his little birthday party this Saturday when Grandma and Grandpa Staheli come to visit - so we'll do the cake and presents then.  But, Ross had a very happy birthday and got lots of hugs and kisses from his mom and dad.  

Happy Birthday boy!

He loved his decorations :)

Very pleased

Scrunchy nose face!

Enjoying his birthday muffin

Yum!

Throwing it off the side maybe??

Maybe not...

Well maybe...

Yep - it's all over the floor.

Cute birthday boy and daddy ready for church!

I tried to get him to sit still - I heard you can put a piece of clear tape on their finger and it distracts them...it worked for like 2 seconds. :)

So happy for birthdays!

Haha - I thought this picture belonged in a catalog for ties or something - Ross is posed perfectly. ;)

He loves sticking out his tongue!

I made him a 1 year old onesie.

He wouldn't hold still.  Love that belly though. :)

Ross was helping me put away groceries. :)

What a helpful boy!

 Some fun things Ross is doing at the age of 1:
Army crawling with his right arm everywhere he goes with spurts of actual crawling here and there.
Scaling walls, furniture, people, and walking along to get where he wants to go.
Overcoming fears of blenders and boingy door stops.
Comes scooching along as fast as his arms can pull him whenever he notices the dishwasher is opened - so he can "help" unload or load it...mostly unload.
Plays with magnets on the refrigerator...until the dishwasher is opened.
Pulls down all my dish towels hanging on the oven.
Loves to be chased and caught.
Gives nice warm slobbery kisses if he's in the mood - sometime with teeth marks for you to keep as a souvenir.
LOVES to turn the pages of books.
Wrecks any tower built as quickly as possible.
Adores going on walks and watching cars go by - especially the huge garbage truck that visits our dumpsters every day.
Likes to pull things out of boxes, baskets, tubs until everything is out of it and on the floor...then put it all back in.
Has a special thinking place by the coffee table and window where he can look outside.
He loves to make this scrunchy nose face now at you.
He thinks pretty much anything is funny if you think it is.
Ross has two bottom teeth with a top one on the verge of breaking through.
He's had four haircuts since he was born.
He weighs about 24 pounds and is almost 30 inches long.
Refuses to wear shoes for very long - will kick or pull them off ASAP.
Sometimes tolerates wearing socks...unless he's bored in his car seat where he promptly pulls them off.
Loves seeing his name that's in a picture frame above his bed - he always reaches for it.
Enjoys banging his highchair tray to watch the cheerios bounce around.
LOVES to hold food out over his tray, look at you like he's holding it hostage and wants to see your reaction, then, with a smile, drops it right on the floor.
Will throw his binky out of his crib onto the floor when it's naptime and cries until you come back and give it to him - THEN he will go to sleep.
Cannot be made to do anything he doesn't want to do - from eating, sitting, playing with something - the works.
Not interested in copy catting you - but is quite pleased when you copy cat him.
He's waved a few times - to our friends the Listers.
Can turn off the light switch and open cupboards.
Likes to look at all the pictures on the walls.
Loves to read stories before bed in between his mommy and daddy and laughs at how you tell the story.
Always loves to be sung to.

Ross is pretty much the most adorable little boy alive.  I love hearing people everywhere I go tell me how cute he is...because it's true! :)  He makes me laugh everyday and miss him when he's sleeping.  He is the perfect fit and addition to our family.  We love him SO much!  Happy Birthday little Ross!