Clopper

Grandma & Grandpa Brannan bought Deaglan a cute wooden walker that makes a clopping sound when he walks.  The alligators' mouths move up and down to create the clicking noise.  At first, D wasn't the biggest fan of it.  He just tried putting things in the alligators' mouths or he would kneel and push it around the house on his knees.  Well, he has finally become obsessed with it.  The trouble, however, is that he can't figure out how to move it when he hits walls so then he cries every few seconds because he is stuck.  We have found that the best place to clop around is outside on the sidewalk.  It is great exercise for him and he loves that the clicking sound echoes quite loudly for all neighbors nearby to hear.

 

Did I mention we live on a hill?  His poor little calf muscles are probably burning by the time he gets to the top but he always turns the corner and heads up the next street!

He has to point to every tree, leaf, bush, flower, car, stick, butterfly....you catch my drift. 

Deaglan also has to stop and pick up leaves, crabapples, sticks, etc. to put on top of his alligators while he walks.

The best day was when he found three pinecones.  He was the happiest little dude on the block even though happiness turned to pure exhaustion when I tried snapping a photo...

So, we will keep clopping on as much as we can before it gets too cold outside!

Clean Coffee Pot

This has been on my mind to post for awhile...

The inside of our coffee pot has always been brown. My dad gave it to us used so I've never seen the "stainless steel" color it is supposed to be.  I've tried scrubbing it with so many different cleaning methods and still ended up with a brown coffee pot.

I am happy to say that Pinterest came to the rescue yet again!  It is soooo easy to clean I wish I found this out years ago.

All you do is boil water in a tea kettle then pour it into the coffee pot.  Drop in a  dishwasher tablet. I used the Finish brand with the little red dot in the middle (I tried using a blue gel one at first and it didn't work) and let it sit for 30-45 minutes.  My tablet was in there for close to an hour for good measure.  It was gross to see the gunk pour out of the pot when it was finished cleaning.

Now, we finally have a clean coffee pot!  I had just to pass on this awesome technique :-)

 Before

After

Deaglan's 1st Birthday!

All day, I kept thinking about this time last year.  I couldn't help but glance back at photos...

Happy as can be on my way to the hospital!  Mainly, just thrilled that my water didn't break at school.

Mr. Itty Bitty was born and we were glad to have my parents and friends, Ashley & Sully, there late at night to support us and welcome him into the world.

 

Over the next week at the hospital, we had grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends visit us.  It meant so much to have such an outpouring of love and support.  It helped make parenting not as scary!

I still laugh thinking back at the thought that we were going to break him if we burped him too hard.

 Newborn clothes were actually baggie.

The wubbanub pacifier was pretty much the size of him.

Some things still remain the same though...

It is noticeable when Deaglan is pooping.

He lets you know when he is upset.

Deaglan still looks adorable in preppy clothes.

He still let's daddy do ridiculous things to him.

Some things are different from the first few days and some things remain the same.  The biggest thing though that will never change is that we can't get enough of our cute little man!

Happy First Birthday Deaglan!