Another Camping Attempt

Well, I guess it is not our luck with camping this year.Every year we go camping at Ludington State Park with the Roedema family. We took Levi when he was 3 months old last year.So as tradition we went camping to Ludington State Park this past Thursday to Friday. We had intended to go all weekend. But how much fun is rain, mud, clouds and 50-60 weather..in a tent. We did enjoy Thursday night. It was a great night for a camp fire. Again, Levi was very intent on fighting us to go to sleep. Finally, after many walks...in which every male was dada, and every campfire was "hot" and pointing at all the doggies and bikes..he collapsed..only 2 1/2 hours later than usual.This sleeping thing also could be related to him getting his molars! He was all dressed for the low night time temps and slept realitivly well in his pack n play in our tent. He loved just playing around the camp in the "dirt". Ryan and I did have time to walk on Lost Lake Trail...by ourselves! While Grandpa and Grandma Roedema spent time with Levi. Next year has got to be the year for camping and good weather..don't you think?

A Trip to the Zoo

We were able to head out yesterday for another family outing. On Wednesday we went to Grand Haven for the afternoon and it was actually...relaxing. So we planned to go to John Ball Zoo yesterday. We used the tickets that Allison and Steve gave for Levi's birthday..so thank you! We wandered around the zoo and saw most of the animals. Levi was not as scared as last time and I think that he was actually able to see more of the animals than before. He loves riding on Daddy's shoulders and pointing...he did alot of that.

Calling his friends on the way to the zoo to let them know the fun to be had. He loves his candy necklace from Grandma Roedema...did not want to take it off..enjoyed munching on it and kept him content:)



Petting Area




Looking at the bears and some other animal pictures





Ryan trying to jump as high as a snow leopard...he had to do it!



A great afternoon spent as a family!

Latest Happenings

Lets just say it has been an interesting couple of weeks. Last week Ryan, Levi and I ventured on our first "family" camping trip. We went camping last summer but this was the first time with our own little family. We borrowed Grandpa and Grandma Roedemas pop up and headed to Warren Dunes State Park. We got set up and took a bike ride to the beach...and then things got a little crazy. First, Levi was teething, second he was not used to sleeping in the camper and third it was kinda warm out. We had to take him on car rides with the AC on to make him fall asleep...Ryan even tells the story that he drove to Indiana one time to make him pass out...which is true. He was not eating right and just did not seem to be acting himself...all which we attributed to teething and his new surroundings. Well, during the night(the first night)Levi was sleeping by Ryan and I in the sleeping bags and was burning hot. I took his temp 103...gave Motrin and Tylenol. The next day, he was still tired acting, and not himself...again had to drive him to take any sort of nap...that really cuts in on relaxation time for mom and dad. However, we did end up going to the beach for a few hours, and having one campfire! Anyways, the next night he was burning up again and the max temp I got was 104.6!..middle of the night, dark, and camping. We stripped his clothes off, put cold washclothes on him and medicine again. I called Dr. in the morning...one of the doctors I work with and trust and he wanted Levi to be seen right away in the ER. Casey and Laura live near Warren Dunes and are familiar with the area so Laura and I went off the the ER...and the diagnosis we got there was an ear infection with an upper respiratory infection. Needless to say, this trip was neither relaxing or fun...not kidding. So we packed up and headed home. This past week I was filling in the Dr. I work with about Levi's latest...a rash on his face...and later in the day it spread to his trunk, legs and back. Dr. then explained that Levi might not have had an ear infection at all but maybe it was Roseloa. Anyways, we will follow up sometime this weekend with Levi's DR and see what he thinks about his ears vs. rash. Sorry to say no pictures to post either.
However, I do have some pictures of Levi's love...FOOD. He does have most of his appetite back...except when his teeth are bothering him. He loves to try to eat on his own and try different things...today a tuna fish sandwich...he said num num while eating that! Here are some pictures of the spagetti dinner he had the other night. He got really frustrated when he could not do it himself..and it was all down hill from there. It is fun to watch..not to clean up. Also, cookies...I think the pictures show his reaction to cookies.

Helping Out

Today, Ryan was working on a few projects in the backyard. Levi loves being right next to his "dada". He wanted to try to do whatever Ryan was doing whether it was raking, moving dirt, or shoveling. Levi gets very frustrated when he can not do it himself. He really enjoyed just being "all boy"...picking up rocks, eating dirt and laughing. It was pure enjoyment to him to experience a project with dada. When I brought him inside to have lunch and clean up he screamed dadda dada till we where inside. It is such a blessing to watch Levi and see him enjoy life!

Millenium Park

Yesterday, Ryan,Levi and I went to Millenium Park. We spent time at the Splash Pad, playing in the sand and spending time in the water. Levi also enjoyed his treat..a snowcone he said num num to that. It was a beautiful day to spend in the sun with our family.

Levi spent time with Daddy at the Splash Pad. He liked "driving" this car the best. When he plays with cars or trucks now..he makes the vroom vroom noise. How do little boys know how to do that?




Here are some pictures of us at the beach area...Levi loves his shovel. One night a few weeks ago when coming home from Grandma Roedema's house he would not let go of it. He ended up sleeping with it in his hand till I put him in his crib.

NO! NO!

Levi has started to say "no" to us when we tell him not to touch or do something. Lately, he is trying to be independant in that he wants to do things himself like with eating..he wants to use the fork and spoon and food goes everywhere. He also is doing this temper thing where if he does not like what we tell him he slams his head into the floor...or table or your head or knee or whatever. I will have to google what that is all about. He is a shot of a typical reaction to no.

Pups, Popsciles and Pigs

The past couple of weeks have been fun. We are keeping busy this summer and enjoying the time we have together. Ryan has finshed his masters class for the summer and is currently not working any extra jobs so when I am off from work we have been trying to have some sort of activity planned. We headed out to Grand Haven last week and walked the boardwalk and played in the sand. We had a pinic out on the lawn to watch the boats and the many people. Levi saw alot of uoff uoffs (dogs) and babies..(in strollers)...he talked alot when he saw them. Levi also had his first pronto pup and his first baby icecream cone. Levi also has been enjoying spending time in his pool...most of the time he is out of it but loves splashing and playing on the deck with his toys. This week we went to the library together. Levi loves playing with the toy train set that is at the library and interacting with all the kids there. He is not afraid to go up to kids and say "hi". We also went to the Berlin Fair. We have been reading alot to Levi and many of his books are about farm animals. He loves the books...but was a little scared of the real things. At the fair, we touched and saw goats, cows, chickens, horses, and bunnies and pigs. Levi started bawling when a goat let out a huge sneeze in front of him. You could tell that he was trying to take in all the sights and sounds of the farm.