Are you ready for some Football?

Evidently my Aggies aren't. We lost our opening game to Arkansas State (A.S. who?) 14 - 18. Ouch! But, I had a great time practicing my 'Gig 'Em Aggies' and singing the Aggie War Hymn. The new Reveille even came by our box for an introduction!

Here I am in my 12th Man jersey that Coach Mike Sherman signed.
Gig' Em Aggies!

la la la.....'Saw Varsity's Horns Off'.....la la la...

Could this be the future Texas A&M Quarterback? Mommy says that is the only position I can play so that I don't get hurt. Hmmmm...... Mom, don't you know I'm a tough guy?

The new Reveille came to visit us!

Mommy LOVES her little Aggie!

A Real Cowboy

When I was born, Papa Krenek gave me a calf and I named her Moo-moo when I got a little older. Moo-moo had a baby on Aug. 5th and I now have a steer named Blue. We went to College Station for the first Aggie game and I got to meet Blue. I love the farm and love my cows. Aren't they good looking?














This is Moo-moo, Blue and Moo-moo's mommy. Poor Blue was casterated this morning so I don't think it would be a good idea to get too close.

Thank you for my shirts, Grammy!

Today I received a package in the mail from my Grammy. She always finds funny shirts for me and here are my 2 latest additions! Mommy's other favorite is my shirt she sent that says 'I don't have an off button'.

My baby bean is kicking!

After naptime today, mommy had her cell phone on her belly and her baby bean was kicking it all around. I thought this was so silly. Not long after, I laid next to mommy and put the tv remote control on my tummy. Guess what? I said to mommy, 'My baby bean is kicking too!'

There is video evidence but mommy hasn't figured out how to add it to my blog yet.

You can never be too prepared!

Today was a big day. We went to go buy new shoes for school and Tripp has talked about it for 2 days.

After breakfast this morning, we got dressed and headed out to Sandy's Shoe Store to get officially 'fitted' and to buy his new closed toe shoes - since sandals and crocs aren't allowed. Who knew? He looked super cute with his plaid shorts, t-shirt and navy baseball cap (because I was too lazy to address his crazy bed hair this morning) and off we went. When we got there, we sat with the gentleman that was fitting his little feet (already size 9.5w!) and Tripp decided to take off his baseball cap. When he did, a tube of chapstick and a small box of dental floss fell out of the top of his hat. Guess he wanted to be well prepared for his big trip to the shoe store. :)

I love to sing and dance!

I dance all of the time! Mommy and daddy think it's funny because I always run to the corner by the door when music comes on and I put on a little show for them. When the camera is out though, I pretend to be shy. Here is some singing and dancing from this morning to the Veggie Tales theme song. I sure love the Veggie Tales - especially 'The Pirates who don't do anything'.

Today's Tripp-ism

Tripp: 'Mommy, I went potty!'
Mommy: 'That's a very good potty! Nice job!'
Tripp: 'Yep - all of that came out of my little body.'

Radijazz

Today mommy and I went to Radijazz with Emmylou and her mommy and then to Pappasitos for lunch. We had so much fun running around and being silly! I really like jumping into the lava pit and Emmylou likes rolling down the hill. We both had a lot of fun sliding down the slides together like a choo-choo train!

The Wiggles Must Go

The Wiggles are disturbing to me for a number of reasons but especially because it's 4 grown men dancing around singing to toddlers. I now have a new complaint and for those of you that know who 'The Wiggles' are, you'll understand. For those of you that don't, let me explain. Jeff is one of the characters on the show and is always falling asleep. At any point, you'll hear everyone YELL 'Wake up Jeff' and of course Jeff jumps to his feet. Tripp has decided that this is lots of fun and now anytime he sees mommy or daddy sleeping, he gets really close and YELLS 'Wake up'! So not pleasant and therefore 'The Wiggles' must go.........

My first Circus

Today, we went to the circus! There was so much to see and I had such a good time. I was so excited to see all of the elephants and the tigers and mommy said I would fit in perfectly with the clowns. Silly mommy.

Mommy and Tripp watching the circus. I think it's fun to make silly faces.

Shhhh.......I'm stealing some of daddy's coke.

Potty Time!

Yesterday, mommy and I sat down and had a little discussion about my diapers. She explained that baby bean would soon be here and that he/she would need to use the diapers and that I needed to start wearing my big boy undies more often. I've been really good at wearing my big boy undies and using the big boy potty.........when I feel like it. Truth be told, I'd rather be naked all of the time. We decided that it was time to say 'bye bye diapers' and I agreed.

Today wasn't so bad but again, I was naked most of the day. Mommy put me in diapers to go to the circus because she knew I would be way too busy watching the animals and clowns to tell her I needed to go potty. Smart mommy.

Trippism for today-

After going to the potty at the restaurant and returning to the table (and daddy didn't have an extra diaper)...

Tripp: 'Mommy - I'm commano'.
Mommy: 'What is commano'?
Tripp: 'I'm naked under my shorts'.
Mommy: 'Oh, commando'.

Good one, daddy.

Last Day of Spanish Class

Today was the last day of Spanish class with Jorge. We've had so much fun learning Spanish words, reading in Spanish, singing in Spanish as well as arts and crafts. Jorge is so much fun and I'm sad that it's over. Here are some pictures from our last day............

Jorge is teaching us numbers in Spanish.

As a special treat, Jorge brought an ice cream machine and made us homemade ice cream! YUM!
Mommy tried to get us all together for a group photo but we weren't cooperating much. Here I am with Mr. Jorge and my friends, Ava, Owen, Emmylou and Ellie. Dylan was being camera-shy.

Today's Tripp-ism

'Tripp - What do you want to be for Halloween this year? You were a goat for your first Halloween and last year you were a skunk. What do you want to be this year?'

'Ummm.........Emmylou.'

I love my daddy!

My daddy is so much fun. He always does fun things with me like swimming and playing baseball. Here are some pictures from last weekend.

Letter to Tripp

To my precious little guy -

Unlike some of my friends, I haven't written you letters like I had wanted. I'm starting now so I guess it's better late than never! Today you are officially 2 1/2 and it's bittersweet for me. On one hand, I love seeing you grow up each day and develop into a little boy but on the other hand, I'm sad because my precious baby is growing up into a little boy.

This morning, daddy and I were talking about you and the amazing past 2.5 years. We were both sad because your baby bean will be here in about 6 weeks and we know that our relationship with you will be different. In a way, I feel like I'm taking something away from you but I'm also so excited to see you as a big brother. You're so incredibly loving and baby bean is so lucky to have YOU as his/her big brother. I want you to know how much we love you. When you were in mommy's tummy, I couldn't imagine how much I would love you and I'll never be able to explain it. Each day gets better and better with you and I think the only time you'll finally be able to understand it is when you do have children of your own.

I had planned to keep up with all of your 'Tripp-isms' and 'firsts' in your baby book but since you're not a baby anymore, I thought it would be fun to keep them in your blog. Every day is a new adventure and over the past few months, we've experienced a vocabulary explosion! I've been around other little boys your age and I don't think they communicate as well as you do. I honestly believe it's all of the time you spend around 'your girls' that makes the difference. I think Emmylou, Ellie and Sophia challenge you and it's wonderful to experience.

I always said I wanted a 'bad boy' - one who comes home with rocks and frogs in his pocket and loves to play in the dirt. Well, I got my wish and I'm starting to think I should have held my tongue. You love to play in the dirt and love to collect rocks and acorns in your pockets. That's all fine and dandy....but it's the frogs and whatever else is in store for me that I'm thinking I'm going to regret. You LOVE to be naked. Lately you tell me 'mommy I want to be naked for a little while'. It's hilarious! You love naked puppy which is when you are completely naked and roll around and play on your giant overstuff puppy dog. If you had your wish, you'd be naked all of the time. In the mornings, the first thing we hear on your monitor is 'Mommy come get me' or more often than that, 'Daddy need milk milk'. Daddy gets you from your bed, warms your milk (he has spoiled you because if I try to give you milk during the day from the fridge, you hand it back and say 'no mommy. warm.'. Thanks, daddy. Daddy brings you upstairs and puts you in bed with me and the 3 of us cuddle while you drink your milk. You always tell us that you had 'good dreams'. Before Disney World, when we asked what you dreamt about, you would say 'Jesus'. After Disney World, you now say 'Minnie' or 'Mickey' or 'Goofy'. Glad to see that Jesus is in the same category as the Disney characters. Sometime after that, you decide it's time to be 'naked in mommy's bed' and then the clothes and diapers are off.

Uncle Chris taught you a long time ago to pick flowers and it's now turned into an issue. In fact, you've spent a lot of time in time out for picking flowers. You love to pick flowers wherever we go and I'm afraid at some point we're going to be kicked out of our townhouse because all of our neighbors are in their 70's and retired and love their flower beds. At some point they're going to realize that it's our precious tornado that keeps plucking the petals. You've gotten smarter about this lately. When you pick flowers now, it's always your intention to give them to someone. Like 'for mommy' or 'for Toria'. When we were in Disney, you kept picking the flowers and said they were 'for Darby' (Pooh's friend). You actually did give the flowers to Darby when it was your turn in line. Ahhhh. That's my boy!

Other fun facts this year: When asked how old you are, you hold up 1 finger and say two! You hate wearing socks and shoes and must get this from mommy. You've perfected the 'evil eye' and it now has no affect on you what so ever because you thinks it's so funny. You love swimming lessons and 'swimming in the swimming pool'. Bedtime routine includes going potty, needing milk milk, reading 3 stories and then giving mommy and daddy 3 way 'huggies and kisses'. After that, we have to do 'watch this' before you'll go to sleep with goat, mickey, roo roo and blue bear. You also love your blue blanket that the Westmorelands gave you when you were brand new.

Connie is Toria's nanny that we get to use from time to time. You LOVE 'nonnie' - especially because she has introduced you to 'cheeseburger with pickle pickle' and chicken nuggets. When I ask you what you and Connie are going to do that day, you'll say 'go play and chicken nuggets'. You also love candy (nannie) - which we sometimes get confused with Connie (nonnie) and laundry. Go figure. Speaking of laundry, you love to help mommy change loads and you also love to help me in the kitchen. Anytime I'm cooking, you have to sit on the counter next to me with your own bowl and spoon. You're such a big help!

You love Thomas choo-choo, Jack, Rollie and baby Scoop. Favorite shows include Backyardigans, Bob the Builder, Veggie Tales, Boz and Sesame Street. Anytime we see tractors or construction you yell 'Bob Bidder' and will repeat it until we acknowledge what you're saying. With all of the construction in Austin right now, we hear this a lot from you. In fact, I find myself saying it when you're NOT in the car with me.

We tried to go to all of Reid's baseball games and you had a ball. You always ask about Reid Reid baseball game and whenever we see a ballpark, you say 'mommy - reid reid baseball game'. You count to 10 really well and can count to 20 when you want to. Everytime we walk down the stairs together, we count the 16 stairs. I'm so proud of you! Recently, you've also been able to recognize your name. You have a puzzle that says 'Tripp' and when we ask what letters they are (even in random order) you tell us and then tell us it spells Tripp. We think you're brillant! You love to sing your ABC's as well. You have a box on the fridge you press and then you run into the corner and sing along with it. Lately, you've been singing ABC's and Twinkle Twinkle to baby bean. You then kiss mommy's belly and say 'I love you baby bean'. It doesn't get much sweeter than that.

Anytime you see a familiar car, you call out who owns it. For example, 'mommy car', 'daddy car', connie car'. You're always right on and usually see them before we do. You're doing very well on the potty and wear big boy undies when you're not trying to be nak0ed. I was hoping to have you completely potty trained before baby bean arrives but I'm starting to think that's not going to happen. I've very proud of your progress, though and laugh when lately you say 'Mommy go away - I'm pottying'.

There is so much to list and I know this is a long post but I don't want to forget anything! Any cut or scratch is from a meow meow, puppy or horse (horse sound). You love to wear your beach hat in the house - when you're naked. You love taking blue baths with bubbles. YOU ARE A COMPLETE HAM and you know it. At the dinner table, you sit across from a full length mirror and watch yourself. We hope that this doesn't cause issues down the road. You are no stranger to time out. You love mommy's body pillow. You LOVE YOUR DADDY and love to wrestle with daddy. You also think it's quite fun when daddy throws you in the air although you're getting a little too big and heavy for that. You don't like to have stuff on your hands - which you totally get from me. Maybe that is why you love washing your hands all of the time. Now that you're 2.5 you don't do it as much but when you were closer to 2, you loved 'head shoulders knees and toes' and 'patty cake'. Your favorite books are the tractor book and the mouse book. You love to sing and dance and love 'Elmo's Sing Along' cd - which we listen to oh too much. You love your music class cds and especially the bees song and hello everybody.

You're very much like your daddy in that you love nature. Daddy shows you all types of bugs and even has woken you up at night to show you an owl outside. You love 'buggies' - especially ants. You'll learn at some point that ants aren't really your friend. You love to body slam mommy and 'smoosh' her head and then holler 'help help'. You also love airplanes and everyone you see you say 'Papa's airplane. Maybe one day you'll be a pilot like your Papa and Uncle Jason?

Some of my favorite Tripp-isms:

• ‘Mommy, whas dis?’ – for everything
• 'Bob Bidder'
• ‘Tripp, do you know what?’ ‘Yeah’
• Tripp, do you need to go potty? No mommy. I’m just feeling’.
• Go away mommy. I’m pottying.
• 'Tripp, who loves you?' 'I don't know' - as he says with a smile
• 'Mommy - you found Thomas choo-choo for your little guy!'
• 'Be careful, daddy. Focus, daddy'
• 'Don't wreck mommy's car, daddy'
  

Yes, this is a long post and I could keep going. I can't wait to see what else is in store for us in the coming days, weeks, months and years. I love this stage and hope you'll continue to love your mommy like you do even after baby bean does show up. We've had a lot of fun this summer together and I'm going to do everything I can to continue to show you how very special you are to me. You are my firstborn, my lovebug and my little guy. No one will ever take that place. I love you so much and will continue to love you more and more each day.

Love,

Mommy

Introducing Baby Bean

We had our 3D/4D Ultrasound today and 'met' baby bean for the first time. Here are a couple of photos! Peace! See you soon...

I can brush my own teeth!

Tonight, I decided I was going to brush my own teeth and found the fun blue toothpaste! Mommy and daddy were in the living room and asked what I was doing. I told them 'making a big mess'. At least I was honest!

Last Day of Music Class

Yesterday was my last day in music class. Mommy says it's because I run around too much and don't listen to the teacher but I try to tell her I'm just exercising my creative musical side and it's my form of 'dance'. I don't think she buys it. I'm in music class with Emmylou and Ellie and here are some pictures of our last music class together. Aren't you impressed with my groovy moves?


Here I am trying to 'steal' all of the eggs.
Now that all of the instruments are put away, we have to work as a team to push the bucket back where it belongs.
Group hug with my girls! Ellie, Tripp and Emmylou.

I love Playdates

No more monkey's jumping on the bed!
Hi mom!

I have lots of playdates and activities with my girls - Sophia, Emmylou and Ellie. We have Monday playdates, Music Class, Spanish Class, fun at the Farmer's Market among others. Here are some pictures of me with Emmylou. Our mommies say we're just the same - just in male and female version - and they call us 'Frick and Frack'. I wonder which one is which?

Great Grandpa's 90th Birthday Party

Mommy hasn't been so great with 'blogging' lately so I had to have a talk with her. I told her that people want to know what I've been up to and how can they know if she doesn't tell them? She promised to be better.

This past weekend was so much fun. We went to South Houston for my great grandpa's 90th birthday party! I had so much fun seeing family from all over and loved playing with all of my cousins. We sang happy birthday, had bagpipers and we even went on a boat ride to Kemah Island. My Aunt Judy even brought us all fun glow sticks to play with on the ride back to the hotel.

This is the 2nd time I met my great grandfather - the first time was when I was about 6 months old and he went to a Texas A&M game with us. Of course, I was much too young to remember that event but mommy has pictures that I like to look at.

Here are some pictures from the weekend. One is me with my cousins (actually 2nd cousins, but who is keeping track) and the other is a '4 Generations' picture with my great grandfather, my grammy, my mommy and of course me. Enjoy!!

First Post

This is our very first post! Check back often for the latest and greatest adventures of Tripp Riley.