In an attempt to resurrect the blog, going to try and at least write up the times when the whole Walls clan gets together... and we did all get together for Super Bowl XLVI this past Sunday at Richard and Shelly's house in Woodbridge.
Showing posts with label Richard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Richard. Show all posts
Friday, February 10, 2012
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Walls Christmas 2011 in Woodbridge
Delayed, but in keeping with my idea to blog the gatherings that include all the family, going to go back and mention our Christmas 2011...
Thursday, June 16, 2011
The Big Day
9:59 p.m.
Well, time to wrap up the day. We guys had a great meal at Don Pablos. Shortly after we got back Cara-Lea was able to stop by and meet Ethan. Also, dad and I got to hold him for the first time. Just arrived back home. Now to download the 500 or so pictures I took today. Then, time to sleep after getting up at 4:30 a.m.
Long story summarized... It was a great day. Everyone's happy and healthy so how could we ask for more?
Well, time to wrap up the day. We guys had a great meal at Don Pablos. Shortly after we got back Cara-Lea was able to stop by and meet Ethan. Also, dad and I got to hold him for the first time. Just arrived back home. Now to download the 500 or so pictures I took today. Then, time to sleep after getting up at 4:30 a.m.
Long story summarized... It was a great day. Everyone's happy and healthy so how could we ask for more?
Sunday, May 2, 2010
National Arboretum with Family and Friends
Trying to revive the blog... I was considering going back in history and adding posts about past events as lots has happened (Christmas, two big snow storms, new job for Cara-Lea, new office location for me, Richard has a new office location, Richard and Shelly have a new van, we have a new puppy, etc.), but instead I figured the first step should be just trying to stay caught up with whatever events happen now. Otherwise everyone will always be reading about events that happened a year ago...
So yesterday, I met up with Richard, Shelly, Kaley, and Connor at the National Arboretum downtown for a quick picnic and walk around the park. Friends from their church came too including Scott, Kirsten, and Charles Henry Faulk. Also some friends I hadn't met before, AB, Michelle, and Spencer I believe?
Warm day in 80s, but with a nice breeze.
Shelly had just tried baking a pineapple upside down cake for the first time, which is what is tempting Connor in the picture. Connor has good taste, as the cake was incredibly good!
After lunch we went for a walk through the azalea gardens. Perfect time to come as they were really blooming. Kids enjoyed running around through the various paths, smelling flowers, and chasing squirrels.
We then walked down to the visitor center where they have a koi pond. Amazingly no kids fell in despite Connor's repeated efforts to touch the fish and Kaley's repeated efforts to stop him. She wasn't being bossy, just concerned. I think she believed that those fish were going to get him.
Shortly after, we walked back to the vehicles to leave, put the kids in air conditioning, and the adults said their goodbye's. Connor happened to find a pen within arms reach during this time and the rest is self-explanatory.
Fun day. Hopefully by writing this stuff down, I'll actually remember some of the details 5 or 15 years from now...
Full gallery of pictures
Convenient slideshow
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| Connor reaches for some cake. |
Warm day in 80s, but with a nice breeze.
Shelly had just tried baking a pineapple upside down cake for the first time, which is what is tempting Connor in the picture. Connor has good taste, as the cake was incredibly good!
 |
| Kaley looks for a squirrel that had gotten away. |
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| Azalea |
 |
| Connor, Richard, and Kaley |
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| "I don't want him to do that." |
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| Pen + boy - paper = boy + ink |
Full gallery of pictures
Convenient slideshow
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Our Weekend
On Friday Connor had his 2 week doctor visit. He weighed in at 9 lb 9 oz. He has gained over a pound since his first pediatrician visit less than 2 weeks ago. The doc said everything looks great.
Connor loves to be held and will frequently wake up if you try to put him in the bed or swing. Richard is really good at putting him to sleep and Connor seems to stay asleep better when Richard puts him down. He has already spent many hours of his young life being held by his Daddy. I am so thankful that Richard could take 3 weeks off work to help care for Connor and Kaley.
(Continued)
Yesterday morning we watched some home videos. Kaley was mesmerized by the scuba diving video from Cozumel. She was amazed to see Mommy, Daddy, Gramma and Grandpa jumping off a boat and swimming with the fish. She especially liked the sea turtle swimming with us and the big splashes that we made jumping in the water. She had never seen this video before. I have a feeling that someday she will want to don her own BCD, mask, regulator and weight belt to see the underwater world for herself. "Do it self Mommy! Do it self!"
We also watched a home video from Richard's childhood...the one of Richard and Ryan swimming in the "pond" in March and the one of camping with the Chambers and Bennett's over the boys birthdays. Kaley exclaimed "boy eat happy birthday cake" when she saw Ryan blowing out his 7 candles. Then she said "Kaley eat happy birthday cake". This reminded me that I need to plan a little party for her birthday. It doesn't seem fair that her second birthday be totally eclipsed by Connor's arrival. I'm sure this will be a reoccuring issue; to have one party or two.
Sabbath evening we went to Leesylvania Park again. We took a hike through the woods on a new path and Kaley did a great job of keeping up. She ran down the trail yelling "hurry Daddy, hurry Daddy". It was probably about a mile total. Richard carried Connor in the snuggly front carrier. Kaley would occasionally stop to say "listen, whats that!" when a train or boat could be heard in the distance. We went to the visitor's center and saw the fish, turtles and snakes they had in aquariums. Kaley enjoyed the playground equipment and even agreed to go down the slide but only if Richard held her hand. It was such a pleasant evening with low humidity and we enjoyed walking by the Potomac and watching people swimming, boating and jet skiing. There are signs all over the area saying "no swimming allowed" but people don't take it seriously. I am always amazed at the number of individuals willing to gamble with the pollution. There are little kids swimming in the same waters where they have been finding increased numbers of bass fish genetically effected by pollutants in the Potomac. No child of mine will be swimming there but it is still pretty to look at.
Being near the water makes me miss the river's lakes and streams in Tennessee and all the fun times I had growing up. My family spent every Sunday in the summer on Ocoee lake skiing. We would usually buy a watermelon at a fruit stand on the way and and spend all day on the boat or docked at a rugged picnic site on the shore. This is usually where we celebrated my birthday and I always had a blast with my cousins and friends. I sure hope that someday we can live near a non toxic body of water and my kids can enjoy these activities too, especially with all the August birthdays.
Connor loves to be held and will frequently wake up if you try to put him in the bed or swing. Richard is really good at putting him to sleep and Connor seems to stay asleep better when Richard puts him down. He has already spent many hours of his young life being held by his Daddy. I am so thankful that Richard could take 3 weeks off work to help care for Connor and Kaley.
(Continued)
Yesterday morning we watched some home videos. Kaley was mesmerized by the scuba diving video from Cozumel. She was amazed to see Mommy, Daddy, Gramma and Grandpa jumping off a boat and swimming with the fish. She especially liked the sea turtle swimming with us and the big splashes that we made jumping in the water. She had never seen this video before. I have a feeling that someday she will want to don her own BCD, mask, regulator and weight belt to see the underwater world for herself. "Do it self Mommy! Do it self!"
We also watched a home video from Richard's childhood...the one of Richard and Ryan swimming in the "pond" in March and the one of camping with the Chambers and Bennett's over the boys birthdays. Kaley exclaimed "boy eat happy birthday cake" when she saw Ryan blowing out his 7 candles. Then she said "Kaley eat happy birthday cake". This reminded me that I need to plan a little party for her birthday. It doesn't seem fair that her second birthday be totally eclipsed by Connor's arrival. I'm sure this will be a reoccuring issue; to have one party or two.
Sabbath evening we went to Leesylvania Park again. We took a hike through the woods on a new path and Kaley did a great job of keeping up. She ran down the trail yelling "hurry Daddy, hurry Daddy". It was probably about a mile total. Richard carried Connor in the snuggly front carrier. Kaley would occasionally stop to say "listen, whats that!" when a train or boat could be heard in the distance. We went to the visitor's center and saw the fish, turtles and snakes they had in aquariums. Kaley enjoyed the playground equipment and even agreed to go down the slide but only if Richard held her hand. It was such a pleasant evening with low humidity and we enjoyed walking by the Potomac and watching people swimming, boating and jet skiing. There are signs all over the area saying "no swimming allowed" but people don't take it seriously. I am always amazed at the number of individuals willing to gamble with the pollution. There are little kids swimming in the same waters where they have been finding increased numbers of bass fish genetically effected by pollutants in the Potomac. No child of mine will be swimming there but it is still pretty to look at.
Being near the water makes me miss the river's lakes and streams in Tennessee and all the fun times I had growing up. My family spent every Sunday in the summer on Ocoee lake skiing. We would usually buy a watermelon at a fruit stand on the way and and spend all day on the boat or docked at a rugged picnic site on the shore. This is usually where we celebrated my birthday and I always had a blast with my cousins and friends. I sure hope that someday we can live near a non toxic body of water and my kids can enjoy these activities too, especially with all the August birthdays.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Morning with Kaley
"Bless you, Connor"...Kaley says this when Connor sneezes.
"Mumps"...Kaley's nickname for Shelly.
"Mumps, hug baby"...Kaley tells Shelly to pick Connor up and hold him by saying "hug baby".
Kaley is very verbal in the morning when she first gets up. She seems to have a lot on her mind that she can't wait to express when you come to get her up.
(Continued)
"Daddy back, Daddy back." Kaley's greeting when I came in this morning to get her out of bed and she wanted mommy instead. This was followed up by a "I'm mad" and some pouting with lower lip emphasis. Later in the day, she said, "Daddy go study, please" when I came into the Master Bedroom and she didn't want me there for some reason.
She gasped, "What's that noise?" and held her hand to her ear this morning when I was changing her just-out-of-bed, first diaper of the day. I asked her what she heard, and she responded "trash truck". Today isn't trash day, but I did hear what sounded like a large truck outside.
She asked for "juice" and said she was "hungry" and said "Kaley eat" while I was changing her.
Once downstairs, however, it was "push button, push button please." Asking me to turn the TV on this morning. Later she said, "Push mote, please" when she wanted me to change the channel after another cartoon started that she was not interested in watching. She wanted to "Watch Einstein" instead.
"Mumps"...Kaley's nickname for Shelly.
"Mumps, hug baby"...Kaley tells Shelly to pick Connor up and hold him by saying "hug baby".
Kaley is very verbal in the morning when she first gets up. She seems to have a lot on her mind that she can't wait to express when you come to get her up.
(Continued)
"Daddy back, Daddy back." Kaley's greeting when I came in this morning to get her out of bed and she wanted mommy instead. This was followed up by a "I'm mad" and some pouting with lower lip emphasis. Later in the day, she said, "Daddy go study, please" when I came into the Master Bedroom and she didn't want me there for some reason.
She gasped, "What's that noise?" and held her hand to her ear this morning when I was changing her just-out-of-bed, first diaper of the day. I asked her what she heard, and she responded "trash truck". Today isn't trash day, but I did hear what sounded like a large truck outside.
She asked for "juice" and said she was "hungry" and said "Kaley eat" while I was changing her.
Once downstairs, however, it was "push button, push button please." Asking me to turn the TV on this morning. Later she said, "Push mote, please" when she wanted me to change the channel after another cartoon started that she was not interested in watching. She wanted to "Watch Einstein" instead.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Kaley Expressions & "Dideos"
"Funny" and "Silly".
Kaley will laugh at something or someone and call them funny or silly. We've heard "Silly daddy", "Funny baby", and just a few minutes ago she ran through the upstairs hall by my study, laughing and saying, "Funny, Kaley".
Shelly and Kaley have taken to singing the theme to Little Einsteins. It's a catchy tune.
(Continued)
Little Einsteins Lyrics:
"We're going on a trip in our favorite rocket ship,
Zooming through the sky... Little Einsteins
Climb aboard, get ready to explore
There's so much to find, Little Einsteins.
We're going on a mission, start the countdown 5, 4, 3,2,1
Everyone to rocket, rev it up now RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
We're going on a trip in our favorite rocket ship
Zooming through the sky, Little Einsteins
climb aboard, get ready to explore
There's so much to find, Little Einsteins
come On - Let's Go - Little Einsteins
We need you, Little Einsteins"
Of course, several times a day, Kaley will list off and ask for her favorite videos:
* Little Einsteins (Kaley calls this "Einsteins")
* Mickey Mouse Clubhouse ("Mickey Mouse")
* My Friends, Tigger & Pooh ("Tigger Poo")
* Barney & Friends ("Barney")
* Elmo's World - Potty Training Video ("Elmo Potty")
Her favorite part of each show seems to be the opening songs and, in the case of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, the closing song. When she sees and hears these, she starts smiling and running circles in our living room.
Intro to the Little Einsteins Show:
Intro to the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Show:
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse "Oh Toodles"
"Hot Dog!" Closing Song for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse:
Kaley will laugh at something or someone and call them funny or silly. We've heard "Silly daddy", "Funny baby", and just a few minutes ago she ran through the upstairs hall by my study, laughing and saying, "Funny, Kaley".
Shelly and Kaley have taken to singing the theme to Little Einsteins. It's a catchy tune.
(Continued)
Little Einsteins Lyrics:
"We're going on a trip in our favorite rocket ship,
Zooming through the sky... Little Einsteins
Climb aboard, get ready to explore
There's so much to find, Little Einsteins.
We're going on a mission, start the countdown 5, 4, 3,2,1
Everyone to rocket, rev it up now RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
We're going on a trip in our favorite rocket ship
Zooming through the sky, Little Einsteins
climb aboard, get ready to explore
There's so much to find, Little Einsteins
come On - Let's Go - Little Einsteins
We need you, Little Einsteins"
Of course, several times a day, Kaley will list off and ask for her favorite videos:
* Little Einsteins (Kaley calls this "Einsteins")
* Mickey Mouse Clubhouse ("Mickey Mouse")
* My Friends, Tigger & Pooh ("Tigger Poo")
* Barney & Friends ("Barney")
* Elmo's World - Potty Training Video ("Elmo Potty")
Her favorite part of each show seems to be the opening songs and, in the case of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, the closing song. When she sees and hears these, she starts smiling and running circles in our living room.
Intro to the Little Einsteins Show:
Intro to the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Show:
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse "Oh Toodles"
"Hot Dog!" Closing Song for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse:
Friday, August 15, 2008
Kaley's Growing List of Words & Expressions
Kaley's vocabulary continues to grow each day. I don't always make note of it, so here's an attempt to record a few of the ones that we've noticed. Some of these are endearing, others embarrassing.
"Pretty cool"...it's very cute that she uses this expression so appropriately. When she saw the gymnasts tumbling on TV during the Olympics, she said, "Wow, pretty cool." Then she started doing forward rolls repeatedly in front of the TV.
"Pretty"...what she said when she pulled a new dress out of a gift bag for her birthday.
(Continued)
"Sorry, buddy"...she started using this expression after she heard Shelly saying it to Connor while changing his diaper. Shelly was feeling bad about accidentally touching his healing umbilical cord. I was changing Kaley's diaper this afternoon and she was telling me it hurt and saying, "sorry, buddy".
"Poo-poo diaper"...she says this whether she has a wet or dirty diaper.
"Daddy go poo-poo in potty too", "Mommy go poo-poo in potty too", "Kaley go poo-poo", "Elmo potty"...the joys of teaching the potty training vernacular to a young child.
"Mommy, are you?"...she hasn't added the "where" yet
"Come on", "miss you, mommy", "all done", "choc-ub milk", "there it is", "good job", "baby brother", "baby crying", "afraid", "tiny baby/baby brother/feet", "Ice Cream Truck", "Daddy take playground", "Money", "DVD", "Watch Dideo", "Careful, Daddy"
"Connor", "Grandpa", "Gramma", "Gramsie", "Papaw", "Noni", "Uncle Ryan", "Ashlee", "Oso"
Kaley can now sing most of the words to "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star". She also will ask us to "Sing more" when we're rocking and singing her to sleep.
"I see"...she says this when she wants to see, not only when she actually sees.
"Do it self"...an expression that she suddenly started saying within the last week.
"I'm mad"...Shelly taught Kaley to say this in the hopes that it would provide a way to communicate her feelings without the need to throw a tantrum. Hasn't actually worked too often yet. Now Kaley likes to throw and hit things first, and then say "I'm mad" just in case we didn't get the message. Someone said we should teach her to say "I'm angry" because mad could mean "crazy". Hey, if we have to deal with an independent, tantrum-throwing 2 year old, why not teach her to say "I'm crazy" to begin with! Might as well say it like it is, and let everyone around her get a little laugh out of the experience.
"Pretty cool"...it's very cute that she uses this expression so appropriately. When she saw the gymnasts tumbling on TV during the Olympics, she said, "Wow, pretty cool." Then she started doing forward rolls repeatedly in front of the TV.
"Pretty"...what she said when she pulled a new dress out of a gift bag for her birthday.
(Continued)
"Sorry, buddy"...she started using this expression after she heard Shelly saying it to Connor while changing his diaper. Shelly was feeling bad about accidentally touching his healing umbilical cord. I was changing Kaley's diaper this afternoon and she was telling me it hurt and saying, "sorry, buddy".
"Poo-poo diaper"...she says this whether she has a wet or dirty diaper.
"Daddy go poo-poo in potty too", "Mommy go poo-poo in potty too", "Kaley go poo-poo", "Elmo potty"...the joys of teaching the potty training vernacular to a young child.
"Mommy, are you?"...she hasn't added the "where" yet
"Come on", "miss you, mommy", "all done", "choc-ub milk", "there it is", "good job", "baby brother", "baby crying", "afraid", "tiny baby/baby brother/feet", "Ice Cream Truck", "Daddy take playground", "Money", "DVD", "Watch Dideo", "Careful, Daddy"
"Connor", "Grandpa", "Gramma", "Gramsie", "Papaw", "Noni", "Uncle Ryan", "Ashlee", "Oso"
Kaley can now sing most of the words to "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star". She also will ask us to "Sing more" when we're rocking and singing her to sleep.
"I see"...she says this when she wants to see, not only when she actually sees.
"Do it self"...an expression that she suddenly started saying within the last week.
"I'm mad"...Shelly taught Kaley to say this in the hopes that it would provide a way to communicate her feelings without the need to throw a tantrum. Hasn't actually worked too often yet. Now Kaley likes to throw and hit things first, and then say "I'm mad" just in case we didn't get the message. Someone said we should teach her to say "I'm angry" because mad could mean "crazy". Hey, if we have to deal with an independent, tantrum-throwing 2 year old, why not teach her to say "I'm crazy" to begin with! Might as well say it like it is, and let everyone around her get a little laugh out of the experience.
Monday, August 11, 2008
First Day Home
We came home from the hospital yesterday. Kaley was rather grumpy, probably for a number of reasons, but most likely missing her mommy for two days and the change in routine and sleep times. Connor did a lot of sleeping, and continued to do well through the night. Shelly fed him twice last night, but other than that he slept fine. This morning we enjoyed a half hour of lying in bed, all four of us. (Continued)
Kaley is suddenly - within the past few weeks, but more and more pronounced everyday - Miss Independent. I was getting her up this morning and she demanded to put her pants on herself by saying, "Kaley do self," insistently every time my hand came close to her pants leg.
The other thing that seems suddenly apparent is how big Kaley is. Someone at a birthday party in July told us that her oldest child seemed to grow up overnight when her second was born. I can attest to this fact. Kaley is no longer a little girl as of last Friday!
Well, Kaley just climbed up the stairs and walked into my study to ask me to take her to the playground.
Signing off.
Kaley is suddenly - within the past few weeks, but more and more pronounced everyday - Miss Independent. I was getting her up this morning and she demanded to put her pants on herself by saying, "Kaley do self," insistently every time my hand came close to her pants leg.
The other thing that seems suddenly apparent is how big Kaley is. Someone at a birthday party in July told us that her oldest child seemed to grow up overnight when her second was born. I can attest to this fact. Kaley is no longer a little girl as of last Friday!
Well, Kaley just climbed up the stairs and walked into my study to ask me to take her to the playground.
Signing off.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Going to Bed
Shelly's giving Connor his late supper before we try to sleep for awhile...we'll send him to the Nursery until the next feeding around 2am.
We had a busy day today. Had family visitor's from 11am to 9pm. Kaley got to spend more time with her brother between episodes of "Little Einsteins" and "My Friends, Tigger & Pooh".
Ryan got a lot of good pictures this afternoon. Looking forward to sharing them with everyone. I'm going to send out an email announcement with a couple of pictures hopefully tomorrow.
We'd like to head home late Sunday morning, but we're going to wait to see how Connor reacts to the Big Snip first.
We had a busy day today. Had family visitor's from 11am to 9pm. Kaley got to spend more time with her brother between episodes of "Little Einsteins" and "My Friends, Tigger & Pooh".
Ryan got a lot of good pictures this afternoon. Looking forward to sharing them with everyone. I'm going to send out an email announcement with a couple of pictures hopefully tomorrow.
We'd like to head home late Sunday morning, but we're going to wait to see how Connor reacts to the Big Snip first.
Late Saturday Morning (8am)
Connor just left for his pediatrician assessment, and Shelly ordered her breakfast. She is going to have French Toast, hash browns, scrambled eggs, a cinnamon raisin bagel with butter, cherry yogurt, a banana, an apple, and OJ. I'm probably going to go to the cafeteria and see if anything looks good after a shower.
We got a decent amount of sleep last night. Shelly slept a couple more hours after she fed Connor at 5am. I was holding him this morning when the nurse came in to take him to see the doctor. Connor had been spitting up a little in his sleep, and I didn't want him to gag on it. I think he still has amniotic fluid in his system.
We got a decent amount of sleep last night. Shelly slept a couple more hours after she fed Connor at 5am. I was holding him this morning when the nurse came in to take him to see the doctor. Connor had been spitting up a little in his sleep, and I didn't want him to gag on it. I think he still has amniotic fluid in his system.
Night Time Feedings
Twitter wasn't letting me post, so I'm going to try a blog entry...
We're up feeding Connor. He spit up the first meal of this feeding, so we're doing it again. He is doing very well at breastfeeding...unlike his sister when she was born.
We let hime go to the Nursery around 1am because he was having a hard time staying contented. This allowed us to get about 3 hours of sleep in one stretch.
Shelly's already hungry this morning. When she wakes up again, we're going to order breakfast for her from the hospital kitchen.
We're up feeding Connor. He spit up the first meal of this feeding, so we're doing it again. He is doing very well at breastfeeding...unlike his sister when she was born.
We let hime go to the Nursery around 1am because he was having a hard time staying contented. This allowed us to get about 3 hours of sleep in one stretch.
Shelly's already hungry this morning. When she wakes up again, we're going to order breakfast for her from the hospital kitchen.
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