200 Post - Happy Thanksgiving

We started this blog on Sunday April 8, 2007 and now 200 posts later it is still going strong. We traveled to NJ to visit with Nana and Pop Pop during this holiday. Paul has learned a few new words on the trip so far including the words to the song "To grandmothers house we go" as well as "Pancake house" We enjoyed a great thanksgiving dinner with Aunt Mary Ellen and Uncle Bill and our cousins Will and Katherine.

Uncle Chris came over this morning and gave Paul III his birthday gift since he couldn't make the birthday party. As you can see Paul III loved it and has already started moving blocks with the battery operated "bucket".

Yes that is a blob of ice cream in Paul III's left hand eating dessert on thanksgiving night.

A family photo after dinner last night.

Paul was playing with a back massager and got a real kick out of everyone watching him.

Playing with legos with Aunt Katherine and Nana.

Pop Pop eating a "thumper" with Uncle Bill looking on.

Loving Uncle Chris.

Thanksgiving at the Bennetts

Tonight we had dinner at Gram and BB's house for an early thanksgiving. Earlier in the day we had a good time working in the yard digging up dirt and planting some mums out back. In the last picture you can see Paul III trying to "smile".

LYLA and chrissy

Aunt LYLA and Aunt chrissy came to visit this weekend from NYC. LYLA is in all caps because Paul clearly loved to say her name over and over again. While he, struggled with Aunt chrissy. We had a great weekend with Paul and the girls as we did puzzles, did some drawings and played outside.

How do you give milk to a pumpkin?

Paul wanted to use a cup tonight for his milk without his sippy cup top, and it went quite well. After a little spill, the pumpkins on his placemat even got to have a little milk!

Building BIG Towers

Paul continued his tower-buidling over the weekend and made more "biiihhgg" towers (as he describes them). Uncle Ryan and Nana were great construction helpers.

Big Boy Bed Time

On Sunday morning we moved Paul's new big boy furniture into his 'new' room. Paul is very lucky to have his daddy's (and uncles') old furniture from Nana and PopPop's house in NJ. Paul was so excited about this new adventure and runs down the hall to show off his "new" room the minute you mention the word "big boy bed", "room" or "nap/sleep". He wanted to nap there on Sunday and immediately ran to his big boy bed for bedtime last night (and tonight).
Mommy also snuck into Paul's room for this picture last night. We were all quite tired after a busy weekend.

Birthday #2 Wrap Up

This Sunday was Paul's 2nd birthday. We can't believe how quickly time has passed. We celebrated on Saturday evening with our family and some friends with a gathering at our house. Nana, Pop Pop and Uncle Ryan also stayed with us for the weekend. Here are some of our memories from the weekend.

Paul trying out his new bike- his feet are within a hair's length of the pedals, so I'm sure we'll see him cruising on his own soon!

Testing out his new comforter with BB - they both cuddled up and decided to suck their thumbs to get ready for "bed."Playing the piano with Brian Sowers- they were quite a duo! There were a few duets with the working (yes!) microphone... .thanks, Uncle Ryan, for making our house a bit louder (including at 7:15 on Sunday morning!).
Opening up a gift with Uncle Ryan and Gram's help. Paul was intrigued with his gifts but didn't tear them open as quickly as we may have expected. Although he did say "more" a few times when we were opening gifts!Aunt Char was reading Paul's new "I am a Dump Truck" book when he proceeded to pretend to drive the dump truck.

On Sunday (wearing his cool new tractor turtleneck) he was showing off his teeth to PopPop.

Reading his new "Things That Go" book with Nana and Pop Pop.

One more piece of cake and a candle to blow out with daddy on Sunday night. More pictures to come throughout the week as we re-cap Paul's big weekend.

Hanging out in daddy's chair

Paul has been climbing up into daddy's comfy chair in the living room for quite a while. Tonight he had quite a grin on his face while doing so but mommy didn't catch the picture in time.

He's also trying to get into reading Sports Illustrated as well...

Blocks are the Best

Uncle Ryan brought Paul some new Mega Blocks to add to his collection, including some "puhple" ones (they seem to be the favorite so far- as you can tell in this picture).

Paul created quite the construction this evening and was very proud of his work. Mommy was maybe more proud that he helped to put them all away at bedtime!

Cooking (and eating) with daddy

Here are some pictures mommy had from a few days ago- Paul helped daddy grill some hamburgers (wearing his favorite "mi mi's"- mommy's flip flop oven mitts, which he wears whenever we're using the grill or oven so that he can "help").

And then Paul helped Daddy eat some halloween-colored cupcakes (most of which went back to college with Uncle Ryan).

Uncle Ryan comes to visit

Uncle Ryan came to visit us this weekend. We had a good time playing golf outside, grilling hamburgers, and as you can see here playing with the Curious George jack-in-the-box.

Happy Halloween!

What a halloween it's been for the Redferns. All three of us have spent the week quite sick- we must have eaten a nasty cold/throat/congestion/cough candy rather than Reese's... and clearly ate more than one.

So although Paul didn't get to do any trick-or-treating on Friday night, he got to wear his costume to the dr's office Friday afternoon. And his "treat" was a 10-day doseage of ammoxicillin for an ear infection.

Paul has rebounded quite quickly (can we all please have some of the energy which two-year olds have?). Since it took mommy more than four hours to sew Paul's costume (which says more about my lack of sewing skills!), she forced Paul to take a picture with her in his costume before heading to a halloween party in Gram and BB's neighborhood.

What Bumblebees can do

Paul had the opportunity to wear his halloween costume many times over the past two weeks.

Did you know that Bumblebees can...

Eat Cookies.....

Cook meals on the grill.....

Make funny faces while wearing oven mittens (which happen to look like flip flops)....

Carry pumpkins really fast...

And, one of Paul's favorite things to do, read.