Getting straight to the point. Della loves the camera. She demands I take her picture multiple times a day. Jaxxon is growing weary of it, but occasionally tolerates it still. Just keep that in mind as you scroll. I'm not ignoring him!
There are a LOT of pictures in here. If you are just reading this in an email or an app it may cut off a lot. Remember you can always click on the title of the post in your email/app and go to the blog site to see the whole post.
I'm so behind! Here are family pics from last September... Della looks so little there! That was 1/3 of her life ago!
Nothing sweeter than a clean baby wrapped in a warm towel. 💗
As Della got more comfortable walking she would insist we take a walk each day.
In October Jaxxon had a bad bounce on a trampoline and ended up with a broken leg. He was such a trooper through the whole thing. Once we got the x-rays and knew we had to head to the ER to get a cast they gave him some good pain meds. Man, that boy is funny when he's doped up!
Each of these faces was followed by giggles and another mad face.
This is more the mood he was in the whole time.
Jaxxon got to go downtown to the theater to see the Octonauts live. Since he was in a full cast Brian dropped us off at the door and then went to park. We burned that time making funny faces for selfies.
It was too long a walk to make it back on a cast. Daddy to the rescue!
My wonderful sister-cousin Julie was in town and managed to get all 5 kids in the same area and facing the same direction - somewhat. She kind of gets lost in there with all of them!
Jax loves to take this blanket out and snuggle with it. It's 2 layers of very heavy wool. It is very thick and very warm. He had it out again today - it's 81* outside. The boy loves to snuggle!
Jaxxon got good enough on his cast that we made a trip to the zoo. Della thought it was great that she got to be a big kid with everyone else! This was her first ride on the carousel without being held.
Della loves being outside.
After bath these two love to jump in Jaxxon's bed and read books. Della has started bringing a practical library of books!
Visiting Brian at his office is one of their favorite special outings.
Sweetly, Austin just took her hand as they walked and chatted with her about the fun of trick-or-treating. 💗
Trick-or-treating in a cast is hard work.
💗
Scott and Della have always had a good bond. They were dancing around the yard while I snapped pics of the others.
taking after Daddy.
She loves hats! That said, this hat is her favorite. You'll see it quite a bit.
As I said before: Della loves the camera. Since this day (last November) she climbs on this slide and demands I take her picture.
...and here she is hijacking Dillon's birthday photos! I kid you not, she knows she looks good!
Strange but true: Dillon hates cake. ...hates it. Della, she's my girl. She likes her cake. So, when Dillon refused to touch his smash cake - well, she stepped in willingly.
...even when he didn't want her ruining his cake. (he's really upset about the balloons - he could not care less about cake)
And then she stole his hat. ...of course she did.
December: go grab some water. Take a bathroom break if you need to. December... I used my camera a lot in December.
💗
This ended about as well as you can imagine.
Jaxxon and Austin chose another joint birthday party this year. I just love the casual 5 year old conversation going on back there behind Jax. I can just see these three 20 years from now somewhere with something stronger than juice boxes being served.
Birthday boys with Papa
He was so excited when I told him he could dive right in. He was sure I'd tell him no.
Dustin and Kylie got a puppy in the fall and Jaxxon has fallen head over heels for her! He loves how she plays in the snow with him. (He's giggling non-stop here, promise)
Jaxxon, Della & Layla
I gotta work on my remote game.
She was so good about looking and not touching.
Dillon was napping.
They are still smiling. Those kids had been taking pictures for hours and they were still smiling (I mean, it felt like hours to the photographer;).
Della was really excited about the kids being really excited about Santa, but she wasn't sure about him coming in.
Last year it was the perfect baby/Santa picture. Absolutely angelic I tell you. So we were due for this. We'll see what next year brings (I don't think a year is enough time for her to forget).
Christmas morning
Santa left the presents in pre-sorted piles this year. These two weren't that bad last year!
Jaxxon was kind enough to show Della how to play with her presents before opening his own. He's got a big heart, that boy!
Della hasn't found much use for dolls yet. She let Taylor (you know, Cabbage Patch Kids come named) sit on her name stool for a minute before she scootched over and pushed Taylor off.
We left for Colorado the next morning and I took my camera... and let it set uninterrupted for the rest of the month. And then I didn't pick it up in January. And then, in February I felt guilty, so I picked it up again, refreshed after a month long break! I should also note that I lost my phone early in the year and I hadn't backed up my pictures in a while, so I lost those months entirely, sorry. So, lets fast forward to February!
She'd just noticed the shutter in the lens. I think that has increased her love of the camera: she likes looking for the shutter to blink.
💗
In case you are wondering what she's so excited about, Aunt Tara had just opened her garage door and waved at Della on her way out. Della loves Tara. ...if you can't tell.
That hat!
When I'm on the treadmill I don't let the kids or Blue Belle in the room, but I do keep the doors open enough to see them and put a toy in front so they can't get in. This is Della & Blue Belle's daily MO: snuggle and watch while I workout and then they get to come in as I do my floor work.
To add to the challenge of my workout I get to have a helper. She likes to converse and sit on me most of the time. Just another 25# to move!
For his birthday Brian got Jaxxon Monster Jam tickets.
They had a blast but Jaxxon lost interest at intermission, so they came home early.
Lady Godiva
Long story short: she choked & threw up her breakfast all over herself at Tara's and then spent the rest of the morning performing in the nude. Maybe its just me, but this cracks me up:
This hat lights up and sparkles. But it's big on her so she won't wear it often - this day was an exception.
we are in so much trouble!
Every time Jaxxon gets a haircut Della insists on getting up in the chair. She doesn't just want to sit, though, Emily has to at least comb her hair. She loves it.
Park date with Elliott
Occasionally Della goes down for a nap and never sleeps. Just plays and sings happily in her crib. I generally leave her until she is no longer happy. This is not what I expected to find this day!
I mean, a princess does need her crown!
There are a lot of pics of her on the horse and with this wall as the backgroud. That is mostly because she wants to ride her horse a lot, and she wants her picture taken every single time she does!
Jaxxon is such a great big brother. They love each other so much! Della will really struggle with him being in school all day next year. She starts asking for him as soon as we get in the car after drop off.
We've entered the phase of funny faces when he sees the camera.
Don't tell him I told you, but he still wants me to take his picture every now and then. I just generally only have one chance before the funny faces come out or he tells me "no more".
Speaking of funny faces!!!
I happened to have my camera when she woke up grumpy from nap one day and as soon as she saw it she smiled & posed. My framing was off.
Jaxxon was at school when we went to Ash Wednesday mass. When we picked him up he told us we both needed baths, but he didn't because he didn't have dirt on his head.
That hat!
Her 18 month birthday.
Couple of peas in a pod!
Ever tried a selfie with a back-button focus DSLR? It's a two man job. But I'm telling you: she see's the camera and she insists on a picture!
trouble
making pizza
We took Jax out for his first round of the year last weekend.
We took advantage of our Friends Of The Zoo membership perks and went out before opening hours on Sunday to meet Thor & Iron Man. Jaxxon was completely intimidated by them, but we got a great calm visit at the zoo and were ready to leave when the gates opened to the public. It was great! We usually avoid weekends because of the crowds
The next guy in line said he'd take the pic so Della could be in it. ...he missed.
Jaxxon wanted to use his allowance to buy a toy (or 2) and insisted on buying one for Della too. I don't know why they are on their heads. They are silly!
Seriously: we are in so much trouble! LOVE HER!💗💗💗
