Santa has arrived!!

We awoke this morning to an arrangement in our living room


DJ loved the gifts lined up


God Bless Everyone including Santa!

Merry Christmas!!

Make a Smilebox greeting

Waiting for Santa

DJ and parents went to the mall on Monday night to see Santa, our careful planning and arrival found Santa just had taken a break (WHO KNEW??) therefore we had to waste an hour. Upon our return to Santa's land, we encountered a line (about 30-40 people deep!!!)and we waited for Santa. After Devon and DJ wandering while Mommy stood in line with the other families. It was a long wait and after we finally "entered" Santa's village, DJ was tired, cranky and over the concept of seeing Santa. However, we are Mau's we don't give up!! We decided that something was better than nothing and at this point we had waited over an hour. So, attached is the picture we got on our camera, not the best but, proof that Santa and DJ conversed for his Christmas list.

Fun was had by, well none but we managed none the less!

Merry Christmas 2009





We will update later this weekend with Christmas pictures and the family that can make it during the 2nd Blizzard!

Be Safe, Blessed and with Family!

Santa's Letter to DJ

Due to the recent changes in weather we were concerned that Santa may not be able to make it to Iowa, so he sent a special video to DJ.

Please see attached!!

You will need to copy and paste the below link to see the video.

http://portablenorthpole.tv/watch/5531dc26e17106c14f21b37b6866bd0e

Blizzard 2009

We have a few pics to DEMONSTRATE the snowdays!

Walking in the Snow is hard!!


Why do we like to be outside in this stuff?


Well, in case you haven't heard...the Blizzard of 2009 has hit Des Moines. We have been "snowed" in since Tuesday afternoon and just this afternoon finally got our driveway cleared. Schools are cancelled again for Thursday so, it looks to continue to be challenging.
This is our driveway...can you find it??? No--well we couldn't find it either for almost 24 hours!!


DJ and Mommy playing outside in the Snow!!



DJ and Daddy bringing in the Trash--during the snow storm.


Hope you are all safe and "digging" out or sliding everywhere you go safely!


This last picture is for Grandpa Mair--we found this hat and packed it away last year, now it's too small ( I blame Devon's big head being passed down to DJ) but at least a small step to showing some Illinois roots!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Lots of Outings and Pictures.....

DJ playing with sidewalk chalk

DJ has been a very busy boy. He and Daddy have had many playgroups, story times and park visits over the past few weeks. They have explored outside, visited North Iowa and all the family as well as just had fun.

DJ is becoming quite an expressive little boy. He has developed a personality with strong will, Independence and most importantly strength. He is very expressive in his likes (lots of hugs and kisses) and lots of passion in his dislikes!!

DJ expressing his dislike at Grandpa Mau's


We have included several pics of his exploits over the past few weeks, including a recent trip with Mommy to IL. We visited the Great Grandma's ... and made "sweet talk" and flirted all across the state!

Great Grandma Mair and DJ


Great Grandma Gray



DJ watching Grandpa Mair make breakfast(pancakes...and BACON!!!)



I used to sit on this same stool and watch Grandma Mair make breakfast, it brought back alot of memories.

Most importantly we got to spend time with Grandpa Mair as well, which we don't have a chance for very frequently.



DJ and Grandpa Mair-before bedtime.

It was a great trip and we hope to have an uneventful and peaceful Thanksgiving.

We are thankful for our family, friends and most importantly each other, safe travels and Happy Thanksgiving! (and happy shopping on FRIDAY!!)

Beautiful Day

DJ and his Shadow....

It was a great day today in Des Moines and we managed to to hit the Sculpture Garden downtown. Great Fun!!



DJ and all the great letters....

Happy Halloween! It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.

It's been an eventful week. DJ and I made it through Race for the Cure last Saturday (Go Team Linda Lou!) however shortly thereafter DJ starting coming down with a cough and cold. He has spent the rest of the week home with Daddy healing and recovering. It's been on tough on both of them however, he is finally feeling better. It is horrible all around Iowa with sickness but, keeping him home has healed him.

DJ and Daddy have had several play groups at the library with Story Time and Book Babies. It's great for DJ to get interaction with others and Devon to be able to get out of the house for some adult interaction. DJ really enjoys the stories, the musical interaction and other kids.

Today they carved DJ's pumpkin for Halloween! They did a great job and when I got home it fun to see their hard work.




Then we dressed DJ up for Halloween and even though it was cold/rainy and windy we had a plan! We took DJ to Merle Hay Mall for Trick or Treating. They have a great kid's play area and it's just the right size for what we wanted. He had a good time was able to show off his costume which was the Great Minnesota Viking. His jersey from Uncle Bob, Adrian Peterson, came in VERY handy. We had a great costume from the Kaduce's we were borrowing however, it was too big. So maybe next year!

Devon and DJ decided that the Viking costume would be just fine and we got lots of compliments!!

Happy Halloween!!



Trick or Treat!



Let's hope this weekend just allows us to get healthier, stay that way and maintain!

Great Grandma's Party and other fun times!

Happy Early Birthday Great Grandma!!

The past few weeks have been rather uneventful but, busy. DJ has had a good time just hanging out with us and then we had a brief visit Lake Cornelia and celebrating Great Grandma's early birthday.

We have had the chance to play at the play area at the mall, play outside at the park, play in our yard and outside riding our little "bike". We have gone for wagon rides and just enjoyed the time as much as possible.

DJ is really developing into a "toddler" has moved past babyhood. He is getting MUCH better at sleeping through the night, going to bed without any soothing and is loving all "big boys" things.

He is becoming quite independant and musical. We are trying to get him into the next round of classes of Iowa Youth Symphony music for toddlers. He will start dancing, clapping and moving anytime music of ANY type comes on. We figure we might as well develop his talents early. He also is enjoying his new "cleaning tools" that Grandma provided last weekend.

Sammy the Broom, who utters.."Sweeping, You missed a spot!!" is quite funny and DJ enjoys it.

Here are a few pictures of our adventures over the past few weeks.

DJ likes to read..he is currently looking for a job!! :D





Happy Fall everyone! Next week is Halloween and more pictures!!

During our Winter Snap got outside and played.



Playing inside on our Wagon...not really safe...Oh well.

First Fall Weekend

The Mau's at Howell Pumpkin Patch


DJ and Daddy on the Tire Swing


We have had a great weekend, busy and fun.

We started out Saturday with a book reading and book signing. It was quite fun, DJ, Devon and I attended a book reading by Ryan Sloth and his children's book, "Sammy the Sloth". The book is quite cute and given that Ryan is originally from Belmond, IA is was a re-introduction for Devon. Nice time and a great free book.

The Sunday we headed to the Pumpkin Patch and Tractor Ride. It was a great time of fun!! We picked a few pumpkins, petted the farm animals, swung on some swings...it was a blast and we have to THANK, Grandma for telling us all about it and joining us.

It was a great time! Then we picked up a new pair of shoes for DJ and came home for a rest. Great Sunday--busy but good.

Here are the pictures:
DJ and Mom in the Corn Maze


DJ and Daddy with the Bunny from the Petting Zoo


DJ on his John Deere tractor


DJ checking out the pumpkins


DJ picked his Pumpkin


We saved the best for last....

DJ driving an Allis Chalmers pedal tractor....he LOVED it!!



Happy Fall Everyone!!

DJ's Birthday-Part 2- Iowa Version

DJ was fortunate to have two parties, quite a spoiled little boy! The Iowa party was quite fun with family and friends attending. We were able to share time and get more pictures of DJ and Cake.



DJ has been moving and running all over the place. We have done a poor job of updating the blog lately because we are constantly chasing a little boy.

He is growing and changing so fast, and we will update more pics this week.

I think we might hit the Apple Orchard and Pumpkin patch, for his first REAL Halloween. It will be quite fun.

DJ's First Birthday Party! Illinois Version

DJ and his first cake

We traveled to Illinois last weekend for the Princeton, Homestead Festival. I haven't been back in a few years and it was fun to see lots of friends and get to visit.

We also had a great gathering at Grandpa Mair's home, for DJ's birthday.

We also ate at Rips with Grandpa and Uncle Bob, see the pics below.

DJ and Grandpa



DJ and Uncle Bob (Uncle Bob thought a chicken wing was food for baby!!)


He won't be babysitting alone anytime soon!

We also had DJ's one year checkup on Tuesday and DJ is quite a big and healthy boy.

He is about 25lbs and 31.5 inches tall. Amazing to think how big he has gotten in the past year!

We have one more pic--DJ and his friends, Aiden and Konner.
These boys are 1 week older and a few weeks younger. Aiden (in the middle) is the youngest and the biggest I think!

Happy Birthday DJ!

My goodness, DJ is 1 year old. I cannot believe how fast this past year has gone by, amazing! He is growing and changing so much. He is quite adept at walking, perfecting it in the last week. He still crawls when he wants to get somewhere quickly and without patience. He is eating anything and everything, literally he has no fears of food or sippy cups. He is developing a personality and its quite fun to see him change. He loves music, and enjoys to watch and listen to all types including VH1 and videos. He will dance and shake to music that has a great beat and tries to play it out on his piano.

He is talking and communicating well with us, he is clear on "Mama, Dadda, Dog and Sadie" He can communicate "done-as in I want out of the high chair now!!" and he is perfecting "Good Girl" which is generally used for Sadie. He does have the vocabulary of "More" and can sign that along with "Done" when eating. He is a climbing fool. He climbs up and down the stairs perfectly and knock on wood has not fallen yet. He can also climb onto furniture, toy chests and anything that is his level. He can climb down as well and generally lands stable. Including climbing in and out of the tub.

DJ and his bike


He loves his new bike we got a few weeks ago and strolling about the drive way as well as his AWESOME new Wagon. This is quite enjoyable for him, he looks like a little man who is in a recliner!

DJ and his Wagon


We will update shortly with our 1st party highlights with our Illinois friends and family. Should be a busy fun weekend!

Happy Birthday DJ Love!

Quick Post....

We are nearing the big day of DJ turning 1 year old! This past weekend we celebrated Devon's birthday and Labor day by being uneventful. We stayed close to home to rest for the next few weeks events. DJ is getting more teeth and loudly and proudly drooling all over. We did venture to the park on Monday and got some cute pics for his 1 year celebration, we will share those this week on Friday.

We are looking forward to our trip this weekend to IL to visit with the Mair family and all our friends. Then back to home for our Iowa Party the following weekend.

DJ is daily improving his walking and tonight walked the width of the kitchen completely unassisted. I do believe by his parties he will be showing off his skills.

We will post some pics later this week!!

Our Weekend of Firsts....

DJ decided this was going to be his weekend of firsts. It started on Thursday night he slept through the night! WOO HOO-- however it was only for one night. I am thanking the Kaduce's (Jay,Rebecca,Evan and Owen) for it as they were over for dinner and play time that made our baby very tired!

The rest of the weekend DJ decided he was going to walk, get his first hair cut and try and take over church. It was eventful!

We got DJ's haircut Saturday afternoon and he did a GREAT job! He was very content to look at the cute baby in the mirror and eat Goldfish crackers.

This is the look Dad and I wanted....


However, Grandma and DJ decided for the more "calm" look-


Then he decided at Church that evening that he was going to lead the service, he tried several times to head to the front during the service by walking and crawling. Good thing Devon was fast on his tail!

We then headed home for dinner and relaxing, or so I thought! DJ decided Saturday night he was going to demonstrate his walking skills. He took about 4-5 steps completely unassisted and has been improving every day since then. I have no doubt by his 1st birthday he will a walking/running fool!

Watch out world here he comes!!!