Fort Gelter

Erected: Monday June 28th, 2010 around 6:45 p.m.
Construction Length: about 10 minutes
Dedicatory Song: The Wise Man Built His House Upon a Rock

While this sturdy structure stood it was filled with lots of family fun and echoed with Porter's squeals of excitement. It also housed a small white pup who was very amused with the project. The fort was enjoyed for every minute while its frame held up, and even when it started to sag a little. The engineering marvel met its demise around 7:25 when it collapsed. The 3 residents did survive, although the youngest did receive a bath after the cave-in and was promptly put to bed. The rubble still lies in that spot. Clean-up is anticipated before dessert.

{Just look at that face no need to explain his enjoyment.}

We included these 2 videos; the one is crowded but cute. We had fun to say the least. It's amazing what great memories we can create by setting aside an hour to be together.

Fields of Yellow

While on a morning walk I was wishing I had a camera and remembered that some of the best moments we experience aren't accompanied by photographs. So, I thought I'd describe as best I can what made my heart so happy.

The morning sun was shining on Porter's now strawberry blonde hair as we started down the sidewalk overgrown with wild yellow snapdragons. Porter was dangling out of his stroller with his arms out-stretched reaching for the flowers. Looking a little farther to my left I could see his small, pale, chubby hand and fingers grasping at the flowers as the sun's rays danced around Porter who was causing shadows to wiggle on the dirt from his hand moving through the yellow blossoms. Porter was smiling all the while.

Simple things bring me the greatest happiness. The Lord blesses me every day with moments that fill my soul with true delight.

Daddy Dad

Even back then I knew you'd be a wonderful Dad and I was right!

It shows in every thing you do! Thanks for all that you give to us, we love you!

Museum Monday

This is a long over due post, sorry, we had Internet problems last week. We're trying to be on the look out for family fun free/cheap activities in our community so we can expose Porter to new things. That and it's fun!

The Utah Museum of Natural History has one day a month that is free admission all day long. We were able to take advantage this month. I remembered the camera but forgot the memory card so these were taking with Aaron's phone, but these will give you an idea of what they have. {The Tower of Power}

{Why we thought we could get him to pose for a photo in front of the Teepee I don't know!}

{Blurry but cute!}

Aaron was just like a little kid when we got to the dinosaur exhibit, he was running around with Porter showing him things, reading everything, and then telling me about it in true Aaron fashion. I love that he's such a fan of information. He gets so excited about things and I think that will make him a prime candidate for motivating the kids on homework nights.

FYI: we didn't do it but they have this exhibit where you can put your kid in a pit of gravel and they can dig up molds of dinosaur bones it was very popular.

This is a little exhibit that demonstrates a principal of geology. It also spins around very easily...Porter loved it. He got it going pretty good and the next thing I know there was a line of kids behind us ready to take their turn, too funny.

{Precious Gems}

{Playing at Presidents Circle afterwards, the museum was a bit dusty for a crawler on the floor, so we had to get the wiggles out!}

This is just a little of what they had there.

This has been one of our favorite family activities, it only cost the gas it took us to drive to the Museum. I was worried about the cost of parking, but they even give you a free pass to park. It's a sweet deal. If you're interested in taking your own family here is a link for Free Mondays, it's only the first Monday of each month. If you go be prepared for a little bit of rowdy, there were lots of kids running around exploring. Also the building is super old (they're building a new one soon) so it smells like a museum, and it lacks air conditioning. However, we thought it was totally worth the cost of the drive!

GOAL!!!

We're Celebrating the World Cup at our house!


GO USA!!! We're hoping they win their next 2 games! And of course, we're cheering for Germany!!! We recorded the game while we were in church so don't spoil it for us, we're watching it right now! Soccer we love!

All About Porter At 1 Year Old

{This pic is from P's 1 year old shoot with Aunt Rach, more of these beauties in a future post}

This is a documentation of our favorite little subject Porter! It's for our memory and future bedtime stories. So with Love I give you Porter at and around 1 year old --

PORTER:

• Loves bath time still; for awhile he was a 2 tub-a-day kid. He asks for baths throughout the day. He understands the sign for tub, but doesn't sign it yet.

  
  

• When we drain the tub he'll crawl over and stop the plug.

• Will cruise furniture to the right, not the left.

  
  
• I always wanted a mischievous child. I enjoyed my sneaky fun loving students so much. Not that I didn't enjoy the well behaved children they just weren't much of a challenge and thus a little boring. Well I got what I hoped for in P and it makes me happy inside... isn't that twisted? I promise we're still disciplining him, I just like a little trouble!

• Squeals when he's happy or excited. SO CUTE!!!

• Will also take a few steps from one piece of furniture to another...going right only.

• Stands independently very briefly.

{Trying to stand on his own, he lacks confidence in his balance}

• Hates broccoli just like most Gelter boys. A weird but legitimate gene they have.

• Says (on his own terms never when asked) Dada, Dad, Mama, Mom, Hi, De-ag (dog), Melk (milk), lub (tub).

• Babbles with inflection and expression.

• Will hold a conversation with you and enjoys taking turns talking back and forth. He's a great listener.

• Signs- Milk, all done, more, eat, hurt, dog, banana and has put signs together occasionally.

• Is beginning to use a pincher grasp, so it's 3 fingers instead of just 2.

• First Sentence: “Hi Dadda!”

• Loves Books, being read to, and turning pages. We often sound like tape recorders with the fast forward button pushed down because we're trying to keep up with his page turning.

• Enjoys Family Home Evening. I think mostly because we're all together. He enjoys the opening song when we all sit on the piano bench, daddy plays, mommy sings and P alternates back and forth between helping with either of those things. I write my lessons for all of us, but I always have a focus for Porter. We've enjoyed special spiritual moments with our son and are so aware of the light and understanding he has. Our hope is to kindle that light instead of hinder it. We'll do our best for you P!

• Talks into my cell phone. He holds it up to his shoulder or holds it right in front of his mouth. He only does it with Mom's phone. He also texts. :) Wonder how he learned that?

• Likes Imagination Movers on the Disney Channel and ALWAYS dances to the Theme Song. I must confess I'm really starting to enjoy the show as well. The cheesy humor, the overdramatic expressions, and the music. I think it's great for kids. P won't sit and watch a whole episode. He has to have his body moving so he crawls around and plays, then when a new song comes on he comes back to the T.V.

• Will mimic simple speech sounds.

• At this point in his life Porter and I have never spent a night apart.

• Still cuddles, but he's in charge of cuddles! Our new favorite is when he wraps his arms tight around our necks and pulls us in close. Nothing is as warm as baby love!

• Hates to talk when you get him out of the crib. He wants to cuddle while he slowly wakes up and you better not rush him. :)

• Pulls to stand on the side of the tub and then plops to make a big splash.

• Enjoys the feeling of flying and falling... I'm predicting a roller coaster kid. The enjoyment of dangerous situations makes this momma feel forlorn when thinking of the future.

• Has this little ritual during tub time where he pushes all the bottles off the sides of the tub.

• Dances to his own music. His music consist of piano playing, drum banging, canister tapping, and now, thanks to his Aunt and Uncle, he has these cute playtime instruments.

• Climbs up on the dishwasher when I'm loading or unloading and is a real helper with the silverware... if you want it on the floor.

• Has a fascination with the vacuum. He chases it everywhere while the dog runs away. It makes me laugh every time!

• Thinks it's great to be corralled between Mom and Dad in the bed on lazy mornings.

• Spends most of church away from us, with many loving ward members. It's so fun to pick him up from Relief Society, they just adore him.

• Loves to play with other children.

• Is all boy!

• Is growing up much, much too quickly!

Porter, this first year with you has taught us so much. We cherish you and all the moments we've enjoyed so far. We know you were meant to be our child and we feel a deep privilege to have you in our home. We love you, and while the words just don't express the feeling well enough we know you can sense how abundant our love is for you when we hold you in our arms.

All Our Love Forever and Always,

Mommy and Daddy

1st Birthday-- Explanation

First a Special Thanks To RACHAEL TYLER PHOTOGRAPHY. These birthday memories would have gone undocumented without their support!

I went to post pictures from Porter's birthday and ended up with 40 pictures. For me that's just too long, so I broke it up like I've seen others do. I'm sorry for the overload, but I LOVE these photos and want to share! There are 5 birthday posts so keep scrolling down to see them all.

I've started typing up the All About Porter @ 1 post (I've had it hand-written for weeks) but I'm too tired to finish tonight. It's haunting me, the fear of the post unwritten is nagging at me. Thus, I'm making it a goal to have that posted by tomorrow evening.

I know it's only been a week, but it's been too long. Hopefully I have time to make the blogging rounds tomorrow so I can get updates on all of you!

Lots of Love,
Megs

1st Birthday-- Cake

These photos pretty much explain themselves.

{I'm not sure how he got this ribbon but it was more interesting than the cake}

{All Done}

1st Birthday-- Presents

I love Porter's many expressions in these photos! Such an animated little dude!

{Anticipating}

{Thrilled}

{Pensive}

{Fulfilled}

{rhythmic}

{Inquisitive-- short story. I started to read this card from his Aunt Kaleena and he took it from me and pretended to read until I finished. That's my BOY!}

{Delighted}

{Curious}

{Possessive}

{Joyous}

{Sydney and Porter are exactly one year apart...crazy!}