Our trip to Manhappiness!

This past week (Tuesday through Thursday) Brian was scheduled to represent 3M at the career fair at K-State. Since Gentry had never been to Manhattan he and I decided to tag along. While Brian was at the career fair we had planned on visiting Dian and Eddie at the shoe shop that I worked at during college, seeing my cousin Jeff who is currently attending K-State, meeting my good friend Rebecca (one of my bridesmaids) for lunch, getting a head start on Christmas shopping since Manhattan has so many places to shop and visiting the zoo. While we were able to do all of these things, Gentry's recent show of independence made most of these event less than enjoyable to say the least. He is definitely starting to show us that he has his own agenda and that he likes to do things his way. He is also learning that this isn't how life works and has had to hear "no" quite often and have a lot of re-direction to positive behavior. I realize that this is just a stage he is going through but man is it exhausting. Here are some pictures of life recently and our time in Manhattan. (Most of the pictures are from the zoo and are only of the back of Gentry's head as he's looking at the animals. Sorry! If only I could have hopped into the cages to get pictures his expressions. He loved it!) Enjoy!

Reading one of his pop-up books.

He insisted on wearing his rattle slippers which are many, many sizes too small. He thought they were hilarious!

Wearing mommy's shoes.

At City Park in Manhattan, playing before the zoo opened.

Peek-a-boo!

Learning about the water cycle.

First stop at the zoo, the chimpanzees! Gentry says "look, it's grandpa!" :)

Peeking in at the prairie dogs.

Watching the leopards sunbathe.

It's a spotted hyena.

Looking for a wallaby. 

There he is!

Pointing out a duck.

Mr. Pelican.

Stopping for a photo.

Taking a break. He didn't want to ride in his stroller so he walked through almost the entire zoo

Flamingos! He called them "mingos."

Watching the otters.

The caterpillar hedge...it was pretty cute.

The past couple of days

Mr. Cool reading "Pat the Bunny"

Just a day at the races.

He can be so silly.

And so serious.

Cutie patootie.

Good morning!

Getting ready to make coffee with daddy.

Pointing out a gug (bug) to daddy. He has developed quite an aversion to bugs.

Cheesin' on gameday!

Playing in mommy's birdbath.

He splashed until every last drop was gone.

After a quick outfit change (since he was soaked from the birdbath) it was time for cheese, crackers and K-State football!

Winding down before bed.

September 7th-13th

Eating some grapes in his "easy chair."

This was moments after mommy told him he was going to get stuck.
 Note to children everywhere...listen to your mommy. :)

Coloring.

I love how he holds his crayons...so cute.

"Did I do good, mom?"
"You did great, buddy."

Even Batman gets cranky when it's bedtime.

Beep beep.

Sandbox fun!

He loves those cowboy boots!

My little cowboy!

His ornery face.

Reading with daddy before bed.

Too cute in daddy's hat.

Mess free finger painting...my favorite kind.

He loves squishing the paint around.

Working on another tooth!

Happy Grandparents Day!!!

Gentry wanted to wish his wonderful grandparents a "Happy Grandparents Day!" The pictures aren't fabulous because the sun was in his eyes and we had just arrived back home from a wedding we attended this weekend. He was tired and wanted to play rather than pose for photo so these are the best we got! (Sorry, there are no photos from this weekend of us all dressed up or ANY photos for that matter because "Mr.-I-am-an-independent-19 month old-and-am-going-to-be-a-cranky-pants-all-weekend-Gentry" didn't want to cooperate long enough to get a photo.)


"Happy Grandparents Day!"

"This heart means I love you!"

"You guys are so awesome that you deserve a whole day!"

"I'd like to give a round of applause for my grandmas and grandpas."

"Ooooooohhhh yes, they are that great!"

"Awww shucks, I really am pretty lucky!"

"And peace...I'm out!"