powell butte

We are just minutes away from Powell Butte. It is a short hike (although with a double stroller, it wasn't that easy pushing uphill...) up to the top, which is huge and quite beautiful.

We found a lot of birds, not just this Robin :)

Bennett doing what he used to do best in the stroller.

Up at the top.

They are working on a construction project up there and Logan was excited to see this excavator up there.

He insisted on carrying an umbrella even though it wasn't raining.

He also wanted to stop at all the logs to stand on them.

We saw this family of coyotes, too.

oregon zoo

The first Saturday that the sun was shining and it felt reasonably warm, we took a trip to the zoo. We knew it would be something Logan would love and we were right.

Outside the zoo, they had this train for kids to climb in and see. Logan is obsessed with trains as of late, so this was like a dream for him.

Here he is inside the train. 

Not only did he love the real animals, but he liked the fake ones too :)

Bennett enjoyed himself in another way, for at least half of the time we were there.

Daddy and Logan outside the aviary. 

Mommy and Logan after seeing the new baby lions.

Riding the giant lion. Logan has a lion beanie baby, which is his favorite, so I think the lions were his favorite at the zoo.

It was fun to get out and celebrate the end of Darrin's busy season!

11 months

Bennett has really started to show how happy he can be this month.

My parents visiting really helped I think. They babysat him a lot while they were here so he was able to get over a lot of his separation anxiety. He doesn't feel like he has to be right next to me all the time now.

Here is the little munchkin taking a bath in the sink. 

He LOVES baths!

If we leave the bathroom door open he either goes straight to the bathtub and tries to dive in or to the toilet...ew.

Can you guess what he's looking at here that is making him so happy?

If you guessed Logan, you're right! :)

Many times Bennett will be in a grumpy mood and then Logan will come in the room and Bennett will immediately cheer up.

This month he learned to drink from my water bottle. 

He's now obsessed.

This month:

-We think he started saying "dog". But only when it is a real dog.

-He officially says "hi". I swear he's mimicked that sound forever.

-He barely started walking a little along furniture, but only a few steps at a time

-He still has 6 teeth--no new ones, but he's been working on one for a while now

-He waves, but not consistently

-He started smiling a lot more at strangers

-He started dancing

-He fake laughs

-He started standing in his crib when he wants out

Gulping down that water!

I'd say he's a mama's boy, but he sure does love Daddy too.

Not a great picture, but here's our 4 generation picture:

Bennett is soooo wiggly! This was a rare moment. I had never seen him do this before. Ever. 

Church is quite the adventure, but it always is with kids.

He also really started liking books this month. Before he would just try to grab them and eat them, but now he likes looking at them and turning the pages.

Having an almost 1-year-old makes me feel a little sad that he's grown so fast, but it's so fun to see him change. Love my little Bennett man!