Megan & Drew take Keegan to the Zoo

While visiting Drew's family over the Labor Day weekend, we decided to take Keegan to the Idaho Falls Zoo. I know, I know, nobody knew there was a ZOO in Idaho Falls, but there is. And it's actually pretty cute. It was just the right size for someone Keegan's age (meaning someone who didn't need to be entertained for too long).

We saw lots of animals. We saw penguins, ducks, swans, leopards, a tiger, two lions, a camel (with really wobbily humps) a red panda, a sloth bear, and some monkeys. Like I said, WE saw all those animals; Keegan just watched us amusingly trying to get his attention for HIM to see the animals. We enjoyed seeing this otter, Keegan enjoyed watching Gma Marla doing the "look at the otter" dance.

We saw a bunch of ducks and a couple pelicans. I had never seen a pelican (other than in Finding Nemo) so watching them open their mouths was really cool. Keegan and his dad even fed the ducks. There were a couple of white, and black, swans- they were beautiful!!

It was easiest for Keegan to see the animals when there wasn't a fence in his way. Below, we were watching the anteaters roam around and Keegan loved them. Mostly because he could see them move and they made some pretty funny noises. It was so wonderful to see him take it all in for the first time!!

We had a great time taking our little man to see the animals for the first time. I can't wait for him to be a bit bigger to really see how he enjoys himself.

Go Broncos

We got to introduce Keegan to the Broncos this last weekend when we watched them play the Georiga Bulldogs. We were at Drew's aunt and uncle's house for the big game and had a great time. It certainly helped that the Broncos crushed the competition. We love our Broncos and know that Keegan will too!!!

Good Morning Mama

Keegan has been an absolute super star these last two nights. He's been going to bed about 8pm and hasn't been waking up until about 6AM!!!! I don't know what we're doing, but I'll be doing whatever it is everynight as long as I need to in order to keep this up. The only problem is I've been waking up around 3am and wondering when he'll wake up. Rather than just go and check on him, I lay awake without getting much more sleep. Hopefully he'll keep it up and give me a chance to get adjusted to his new routine.

He's also been enjoying new food as part of his new routine. His favorite food so far is Sweet Potatoes. He also like applesauce, carrots and peaches. Mostly, he just likes food. Somedays we can't get it in his little bird mouth fast enough. And he'scertainly been eating enough. He weighs about 16 1/2 pounds and is just a week shy of being 6 months old. He's still in 3-6months clothes, so we'll see how much longer he takes to get into solid 6 month outfits.

He can juuuuust about sit up on his own and is really enjoying the new view he has. His favorite toy is a little stuffed cow that my friend Brittany got for him- we've named him Mason :) We're certainly having lots of fun with our little man!!

A Change in Diet

This last week we started introducing Keegan to formula in an effort to start making the diet transition. Drew and I had decided that we would nurse Keegan for six months, and then try switching to formula. So at daycare we started mixing half formula with the other half breast milk and he didn't have any issue gulping it all down.

So today, while we were out enjoying two different BBQs, we were running late on time to nurse him. So we measured out some formula, grabbed a bottle and hit the road. Keegan had three formula bottles today and did great. I'm just now hoping that the rumor is true that formula fed bebies sleep longer at night-how nice that would be.

While I'm not ready to be completely done nursing Keegan, I feel better knowing that the transistion will be easier for us all.

The Ending of an Era

After job after job after job of not being able to wear my nose ring, and usually forgetting to put it back in on the weekends, I have decided to say goodbye to my old friend. The nose ring is gone.

I got my nose pierced in my first, true, rebellious moment after moving out my parents house when I was 19. My folks were going to the Oregon coast for vacation so off to Red's Trading Post I went, thinking an extra hole in my body was a good idea. I was a brave little girl and didn't even cry. I even got a cherry flavored sucker afterwards for being so brave (not really, but that's what I'm saying here since I was only 19 at the time).

In the following weeks and months and years, people asked me if I paid money for my shiney buger, if I had a bug on my nose, if I had a cattle ring to switch it out with... I heard it all. But through all the teasing and jokes, I really enjoyed having my nose pierced. The rest of the hols I decided to put in my body in the yearrs since, not so much, but the nose I liked.

Recently, however, I've not been wearing it as much. I can't wear it to work (reasonable) and I rarely remember to put it back in once I get home and on the weekends. When I do remember to wear it, it makes me nose swell up form the lack of wearing and it just became a big hassle. After a few weeks in personal debate, I decided that I would lose the nose ring. I've had it for nine years, so being without it is somewhat weird. I use to wonder if I would wear it for my wedding, and when I became a mom, or this or that, but it just became a part of me and I never even considered how long I would actually keep it.

I feel like I'm saying goodbye to perhaps the last part of the rebellious, teenage child-like demeanor and moving onto the grown-up, professional part of my life. Drew even feels weird about me not having it- as he's only known me with it in. I think I'm pretty much done with adding extra jewels to my body, but a tatoo still might make an appearance someday... Only time will tell.

Keegan's First Love

This beautiful little girl is Carson, and she is Keegan's first girlfriend.

We met Carson and her mom and sisters at swim lessons and got to know bits and pieces about them over the last two weeks. Carson caught a glimpse of Keegan early on and never left his side, even in the pool, as long as we were all there. As soon as we would arrive, Carson would be calling out for her "baby" and she would plant herself on the towel next to Keegan as we changed him into his swim gear. Keegan got use to her and began to return the affection by reaching for her as we changed him and "tickling" her cute little knees. They would coo and caa at each other, speaaking their own little language oflove.

It was so precious to see them interact, and to truly see the affection they had for each other.We can only hope that Keegan has another chance to see his fishy sweetheart again next summer.

A Baby's Life

I love watching Keegan explore the things around him. He has so many toys and animals that he plays with on a daily basis, that watching him is always entertaining. He looks on with such wonder and amazement, such innocence. His current favorite toy is his exersaucer with all the farm animals on it. The horse sways back and forth and the sheep and cow move back and forth, and the chickens dance- my personal favorite. He is so simply entertained; I love it.

He makes the most wonderful noises. Everyone says he seems so chill and easy- he really is. He hardly ever cries or fusses, and he just sits and studies people most of the time. Weh he wakes up from sleeping he never cries, but I can hear him over the monitor talking to himself. He cracks himsself up! When he gets really interested in something he doesn't shut up- my kind of boy :)

I love taking him with me when I run errands. I put him in a little backpack and he gets to look around and see what'sgoing on- he loves it. And mostly I think he loves that so many people (mostly women) come up to him and make goo-goo eyes at him. I won't be able to keep the girls off of him!

Mostly, I love looking at him and wondering what's in store for him; what kind of adventures he'll go on. I love watching him as he sees things for the first time- to see his perception of what I already know. I get to see so many things all over again through him. He teaches me so much, and yet, I know I still have so much to learn.