Bring it on, Summer!!

We went to Larned over Memorial Day Weekend and had some fun in the sun....and then fun in the mildly stormy and cool temperatures.  It was 63 degrees yesterday and today.....what the what?!?!  We're loving this unseasonably cooler weather!

We flipped Cal's carseat so that he faces forward now and it eliminated nearly all of his crying!!  He watched Finding Nemo for most of the trip (Mama couldn't listen to any more Yo Gabba Gabba so we made the switch) going both ways.  He finally gave in and took a nap, which is atypical of his car riding behavior!  All in all, the trip went MUCH smoother than usual.  Cal was much more comfy and stretched his long legs out during his snooze.

Grandma Annie spoiled him and gave him lots of treats.  He really likes ice cream cones so she found him these TINY little cones that are the perfect size!

Larned has a new Splash Pad so we took Cal.  Since he loves to splash in his baby pool, aka the Dog Water Fountain and the Dirty Paw Cleaner, we figured he'd love the Splash Pad.  WRONG.  He didn't hate it all together, but he wasn't so sure about the brutally cold water squirting out at him.  Looking back, it's probably best not to take him on a mildly warm day...please see aforementioned "unseasonably cool weather" paragraph. 

"Mom, I'm scared of the water!"  (Side note: Is Cal's tummy that big or are his swim trunks really high, causing an illusion?!)

He would only touch the water if I'd touch it with him.  That cold water was pretty painful.  He's already mastered the "misery loves company" mentality.

We came home and I figured he'd crash.  Instead he was invigorated and wanted to get into his baby/dog pool and splash around.  It had warmed up some and the water actually felt like bath water because it's in full sun all day.

New game: throw the ball over my head and watch Mom retrieve it as she hops across the hot pavement.  Repeat.

Up and over!

This was probably taken when he decided to poop in the pool.  We had to clean it out due to a Code Brown.

Just take a moment and soak up this sweet moment.  Cal and his Dada love to lay in the grass and talk.....and eat grass.....and pull the dogs' tails....and pick up sticks.  Cal and I wonder when Mitch is going to grow up, but his infantile tendencies are endearing. :)

Cal loves to feed others and his Great Grandma was caught during his dinner time.  "Here....you look hungry.  Let me feed you!"

In the morning, Cal enjoyed reading the paper with Grandma.  His love of reading isn't limited to board books. 

Before we drove back to Topeka, we stopped by Grandpa Gator's office.  It would appear that Cal is sitting in a throne, but nope....that's just a giant chair for a giant man.  

I love that impish grin!

new videos

Cal walks much further than this now, but this is a good video of when he started venturing out on his own.  He can walk independently but still seeks out a hand to hold just so that he can motor around quicker!

Isn't this the funniest trait??!  He does this after most drinks, but especially after he drinks out of our water cups.  He just started doing it one day and we thought it was hilarious, so of course we've encouraged him to continue. 

School is almost out.....I can make it, I can make it, I can make it.

Summer is inching closer and the final school bell of the year is aching to ring.  As a group, we teachers try to contain our excitement for the end of the year, but I think the students can sense our true feelings.  How can they not?!?!  The entire district's anthem is, "I think I can. I think I can. I think I can."

Here is a HUGE reason why I am so excited for my summer vacation.....

Hi, Mom!

Cal is starting to look like a toddler and is no longer a baby.  In fact, he took his first true steps on Mother's Day!  That's the tell-tale sign that he's becoming a big boy!!!  We've been trying to catch it on film....stay tuned.   He also says, "Mama, Dada, and Ball" and has learned to shake his head "no".  I caught this video on my phone and just have to share.  In case you can't hear what I'm asking him, it's "Do you like the Jayhawks?"   He is pretty adament about his opinion.

Belle came to visit and Cal had fun playing in his swing with his Baba.  Interesting fact, "Baba" is Czech for "Grandma".  This is her special name to share with Cal.....what a great and unique way to celebrate her relationship with her grandson! 

Some of Mitch's good friends graduated from Washburn Law School on May 12th.  It is sad to think about them being gone, but it is also a reason to celebrate because it means Mitch only has one more semester!!  As an outsider, law school went very quickly......as an insider, Mitch may disagree.  Vehemently.   

After the graduation party, we stopped for some quick photos. 

Baba Belle and Cal

"Cheese!!!"

Cal was sporting his Caligator shorts.

Familia de Walter

Raise your hand if you have any ideas on how to get Cal to quit biting or pulling hair.  Nope?  No one?  He had just pulled my hair here, which if I had to choose....I'd prefer a Cal hair pull over a Cal bite.  His little shark teeth HURT when he grabs the tiniest superficial layer of skin and pulls like he's trying to clean meat off of a chicken bone.

Speaking of biting....guess who is about to endure the brunt of Cal's teething pain?  Sorry, Sock Monkey....it's just not your day.

"Come here, Sock Monkey.  I just want to whisper something into your ear....and then bite it off."

Happy 11 months to our big Bubba!

Moving right along

Cal is aching to walk.  He uses his walking push toy every chance he gets and motors around the house....until he hits a corner or some furniture.  At that point, he takes to screaming so that one of us can come over to steer him in towards a clear path.  He is changing so rapidly that it's hard to keep up.  Literally.  A typical movement pattern of young Cal looks something like this:

Crawl towards the sliding door, stand up, bang on the door while making noises, get bored and crawl towards one of the dogs to antagonize them.  Pull their hair or bap their face, find Mommy in the kitchen, crawl to the dogs' water bowl, splash in it before Mommy stops me.  Make a parent help me walk over to the couch where I cruise over to my toys.  Play.  Crawl back into the kitchen and use toy walker to maneuver around the house.  Repeat.

(Note to reader: I hope your back hurts from reading that.)

We've been pretty busy in the last few weeks.  Here's a quick run-down:

Alexandra Hachenberg celebrated her 1st birthday....and this is seriously the only picture I took of her.  Wonder why?  Please read the "movement paragraph" and that explains it all. It was so fun seeing all of my KC girlfriends.

Happy Birthday, sweet girl!!

Oh wait, here's the other pic.  You're welcome, Nat.  :)  Cal was intrigued by Natalie.  She said, "I think you'll be taller than me by the time you're five."  hahaha

Why is this the universal baby/toddler sleeping position?  I remember sleeping like this as a child.  I just love when he does this....look at that little rump!

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

We've got an ice cream lover!  Granted, ice cream is delicious, but I think his love runs in his genes.  Don't buy a gallon of ice cream and expect it to be in the freezer a week later with Mitch in the house!! 

 On a somber note, the world lost a wonderful woman this week.  My Great Aunt Mary Helen Cross lost her battle to cancer on Sunday the 22nd.  She was an impossibly energetic woman who loved coffee and candy.  This picture was taken in 2005, but I think it best depicts what a wonderfully enthusiastic person she was.

Cal and I drove back to Larned for her funeral.  Mitch is in the thick of finals and was unable to make the trip.  We were able to see a lot of family and celebrate Aunt Mary's life through stories and pictures.  She would have been thrilled to see so many generations reunited.  Since this was the first time that we had all of the Cross/Gatterman babies together, we tried to have a quick photo shoot.  It was a comical affair, as you can tell!

Left to Right, Back to Front: Carrie Newbern with Caton and William, Cal and I, Aimee Rottinghaus and Paul, Charlotte, and Charlie, Andrew and Thoran Cross

I've heard many stories about how ornery Dad and his cousins were as kids, although the stories didn't necessarily end with their adolescent years.  :) 

It makes me wonder if their wonder years offer an insight to the fun that the new generation will have???  :)

Why yes, Andrew is making Charlie smell his shoe. 

Good looking group of guys



Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.
  ----Irish Proverb----

We love and miss you, Aunt Mary.

Hippity Hoppity

The Easter Bunny dashed in and out during our very busy weekend.  We went back to Larned last weekend for Cal's baptism and Easter.  During our visit, we got to spend a lot of time with family and fit in a few (few too many, in fact) great meals.  Since Cal is eating more table food (I have to stop myself from saying "People Food" like I do with the dogs), he got a taste of Grandma Gatt's culinary creations.  I'm doomed.  I'll never live up to my mother's kitchen creations.  We're currently surviving on leftovers still, but once they're gone my son will look at me for the fraudulent cook that I am.  I'm dreading that moment, but until then Cal and I can continue our carefree mealtimes of feeding each other baby food.  By the way, baby food bananas are amazing.   I wish they came in containers like cottage cheese.  I'd eat the whole thing.

He loves fruit and tried some strawberries for the first time......LOVE AT FIRST BITE!

Cal and his best bud like looking outside together.  In fact, Cal pulls himself up and stands all the time now.  He even pulls his hands back to test his balance.  After a few seconds of independence, he gets a huge grin and starts giggling uncontrollably. 

Cal was baptized on April 7, 2012 in the United Methodist Church in Larned.  Great Grandma and Phyllis Foster, a dear and longtime family friend, came to witness the ceremony.

Aunt Susie and Tessa spent the rest of the day with us all and we had so much fun visiting, laughing, and playing with Cal.  He loved Tessa and her long pretty hair. 

We woke up on Sunday and the Easter Bunny had come and gone, leaving Cal some toys and an adorable pair of ears in his wake.  Mitch just shook his head at me when I put these on his head.  He was mortified for his son, but also couldn't stop saying how adorable he looked. Talk about speaking out of both sides of your mouth!! :)

This was my rocking horse when I was a little girl.  Cal loved it! 

Someone wasn't enjoying his ears by this point.


It is a family tradition that everybody must hunt eggs, no matter your age.  For some reason, Mom and Gma are usually exempt, but I must say that I get a kick out of my giant father hunting tiny, colorful plastic eggs so I let their absence slide.  

We definitely missed Tony this year, but he lives so far away that traveling for a weekend visit is tough.  Perhaps the next Easter he visits, he will be subjected to a make-up hunt and have to search for all of the eggs that he's missed in the past years.  :)