Practice,

Practice,

Practice,

And more Practice

Music Man

Well, you're looking at it. This is what we do all day long now a days. We walk walk and walk with anything and everything that will slide on the floor! It is really cute and dangerous! Cruz tries to walk with everything and some things just don't move that way! He now regularly tips over his play tables because he tries so hard to slide them on the carpet, only they are made not to slide on the carpet so he just tips it over, haha. When he does find something that will move with him he walks until he hits a wall or something in his way turns to either Mario or myself and puts his hands out like uh-oh! It is so cute! He is starting to build his confidence and will walk holding on to just one of my hands instead of two and even yesterday tried to walk on his own. By that I mean he took a couple steps and then fell hands down on the tile. Good catch! He later tried it again walking to Mario and he caught him before he could spill. Too cute!

When Cruz is not walking around with gliding objects he's starting to play with balls and still playing a lot of music. He still likes to drum on everything and also play the guitar, well when he's not climbing on it anyway! He started playing basketball with a little hoop that we have and then he claps his hands in self approval, makes mama proud. He has also started dancing which I hope to catch on video soon because it's funny! Still just loving life and being the cutest boy ever!

Imagination Station

Cruz, myself and some friends (Courtney, Brady, Corina, Sophia, Megan, Carson and Jameson) went to a place called Imagination Avenue today. It was a pretty cool place that had different little buildings and houses inside a warehouse. Cruz liked to drive the cop car on the road and play in the Home Dept room. He got to dress up in his construction gear and hammer away at some nails (he loves to use a hammer). After an hour or so of play we went to listen to their music/story hour. It was such a fun day!!

blasts from the past ... month that is

Cruz started playing his own version of peek-a-boo while we were on vacation in Florida. He hides on the side of the coffee table, odoment and then pops up and says "ugh". It's really cute! When he first started playing it we could not stop cracking up and it's been a favorite ever since. As for most things it's hard to catch on video as you'll see he just wants the video camera once he sees that red light!

Cruz has a toy that is both a walker and sit on car. He loves it as a walker, he walk everywhere with it until he hits the wall, crash! But as a sit toy it's still pretty new. He will sit on it and I'll push him back and forth, he seems to enjoy it. Although once he's ready to be done he just jumps off! Good thing it's on the carpet!

Children's Museum

Family day at the Children's Museum!! We spent a fun Sunday afternoon at the children's museum this week. It was really cute and although Cruz is still young he was able to play with some fun things. He rode a pickle car, and a toothpaste car, played in a sand filled light table, was carried through a noodle maze, got to go shopping in the market and cashier himself out, play music with a xylophone made out of wrenches and some drums made of barrels. Also he was able to do wooden car races. It is so special to see Cruz growing up. He now walks while holding on to anything that will move, and if it doesn't move he tips it over like godzilla! ha! He also is getting good at mimicing our sounds and voices. Even though he doesn't say much it is amazing how much his sounds actually sound like the real words. He's a magical little man and I'm so happy that we get to spend so much time learning and growing with him!

Uncle Eric!!

Uncle Eric is home from Spain!! We were so lucky to get a visit from Eric fresh off the plane form Spain!! He flew into Phoenix last Thursday and we all went to pick him up. Cruz finally got to see uncle Eric in person not just on skype and got to hear his awesome guitar skills in person. Cruz loved jamming out with daddy and uncle Eric, they prefer the guitar but Cruz is definitely going to be a drummer! They also taught Cruz a little sing a long, he was getting pretty good at imitating their songs and animal sounds! Too fun!

We all got to escape the sweltering heat and went up to Flagstaff for a couple days. Mario had a softball tournament Saturday and then Mario and Eric got to bike a little Saturday and Sunday. It was fun and we got to explore the city a little with some friends.

Eric's visit was short but sweet! We miss you kid! It's nice to have you back in the States!

Vacation Videos

This video is Cruz and Auntie Kim dancing at Snook Inn!! Cruz loves to dance and he loves his Auntie too! It's a good mix!

Uncle Tibyron and Cruz having some fun in Florida. Is this a pull out bed or a roller coaster ... Woah!!

Happy 4th of July

Hanging with Auntie Kim!

Water Break!

Uncle Tibyron knows how I like to roll


Mem and Pep, you're supposed to be watching the fireworks, not me!

Family swim time in the gulf

Snook Inn

Mem, Pep, Cruz and Dey

Dey and Cruz playing in the sand

I love my auntie and uncle!

We are back from our vacation and trying to get back into the swing of things!! We had a great 10 days in Florida (only 6 for Mario :o( ). Mario and I got to celebrate our anniversary when we got there with an awesome day filled with jet skis, lunch and swimming in the gulf. It was great to have an afternoon just the two of us and to have some great babysitters that we all love!

It was the first vacation where all six, actually seven of us "Houde's" were all together, my parents, Kim, Tibyron, Mario, myself and Cruz. It was so nice to all be together and have a relaxing week. We all went biking on Sanibel Island which is such a beautiful island and great for bikers. We finished our bike ride with swimming in the gulf and some homemade lemonade from a couple local kids. We enjoyed some time on the beach for the fourth (after Mario and I got a quick 9 holes of golf in) and Cruz got to watch his first fireworks on the beach that night! We had a couple other trips to the beach but mostly just the pool as the weather was not the greatest.

Cruz got to meet some more family members too! We had a fun day with my aunts and uncles, Claire, Mike, Louise and Norm. They came over for dinner one night and got to watch him splash in the pool. Later in the week Cruz got to meet his cousins for the first time. Mike, Ruth, Jill, Don, Omer and Dey were all in Florida and came to meet us at the beach one afternoon. We had so much fun! Omer and Dey have gotten so big, it hasn't even been a year since I've seen them and they've changed so much! They are both so sweet and cute and loved to hold and play with Cruz. Dey mostly just wanted to hold him and Omer dug him a pool in the sand since the water was really rough that day. I think they both liked playing with Uncle Tibyron most of all though!

The flight home it was just Cruz and I. I was very nervous but we made it through. He napped, ate and played peek a boo with the lady behind me, he did great! He may have tried to eat some paper and threw up on the lady next to me which was horrifying but other than that it was great. sigh