Man of the Hour.... Surprise!

We planned a SURPRISE party for the Graduate....Getting him there was another story...Darn term papers get in the way of fun every time!

Speech, Speech, Speech!!!
Family and Friends attended our little BBQ Celebration...
Gavin and Devin...

All the BOYS playing on the Deck...

Like Father, like son...Rob and Logan..

Grandma and Angela...

Keppi...one of the planners...We love you!!

Kham and Heath...

The Schmalles... Uncle Jon, You're my idol!

"YEAHHHH Dad!" This is one of Decker's latest expressions. The SQUINT GRIN. :}

~ I AM A PHOENIX ~ 6/20/09

We are honored to announce that Michael Clark Wood has completed his Bachelor of Science in Business Management....Mom and Dad both were in attendance...Decker thinks 520 names read is a little too many when your last name is "Wood"

Once again Decker is not liking to touch a texture, this time it is Mike's gelled hair. Mom Gamble got to be in town for the event

The proud graduate!

Mike, we love you and are so Proud of you!

Pain lasts only for a moment, The reward lasts a lifetime.

Higher is Better

Decker loves to climb. He just figured out how to climb in his own chair. He can get up….but getting down is another story.

Love those LIPS!

He loves to watch the digital frame of pictures of himself growing up and Mom and Dad getting married. He likes to get as close as possible and he's devised a way to climb onto the table. Sometimes he'll even kiss the frame.

Father Son Campout, June 5 - 6, 2009

The whole set up

So it's Ladies Night!! Wow, I think I'll get to sleep through the night without listening for lil' Decker! Of course, now I'll be listening for the phone just in case…but what a nice evening. Some of us girls got together and had dinner and a movie with no little ones. FREEDOM!!

Of course I missed my BOYS while they were gone, but I was so proud that Mike wanted to experience some ONE-on-ONE time for the night with Decker. I'm looking forward to this tradition...

I found there was no need to worry. Mike had it all planned out. He had his campground set up earlier than he had to be there, so that was done. He mentioned that it is much easier camping with both of us together and I think he appreciated our partnership as parents. J Decker woke in the middle of the night, and after trying to put him back to sleep in his pack-n-play, Decker ended up snuggling right in to Mikes' warm arms for the night and slept till morning.

Adam and Cade. Cade was the youngest one there, I think. Only 9 months old!!

Andy and a couple of his boys….
Devin, Gavin--18 months, and Decker--11 months—Getting close to bedtime…

YUM…'Smores round the campfire

Morning after...Mike and an overly enthused Decker…I think he's wondering where mom is. J

11 Months Old!!

He's 11 months old....One more to go and we hit the BIG ONE!!!Again we had a hard time getting Decker to sit... In his attempt to escape, it shows how tall he is getting.It took mom and me to get him to sit with Winnie the Pooh this month ...what could he be crying for????
Ahhhh....the phone makes it all better....what a difference!
Fun NEW things from this MONTH....
So last month, Decker had the Chewbacca vocabulary down. This month he has started his Darth Vader impression. He likes to squint his eyes at me when he's smiling.
He has added "v" to his repertoire. Very cute with his teeth on his lips. He is adding a new bottom tooth to the 4 that he already has.
Decker is a little climber. He's been looking out the window a lot this month and his head just comes over the window sill. He became creative and turned my little round trashcan on it's side and stood on top of it. It was quite fun watching him do a balancing act as it would roll back and forth.
On Monday, May 18^th, we were at Fred Meyer and we had Decker in his stroller and I waved hi to him and he put down his sippy cup and waved back! I told Mike and so we waved again at him and he repeated waving at me! I knew he had that one mastered!! Now he waves all the time.
I like to peek through Decker's room door and just watch him in his crib after he's woken from his naps. He is quite entertaining. He likes to lay down sideways in his crib and kick his fish aquarium with his feet and turn the music on and off. He'll stand up in a corner and lounge against the railings with his arms stretched out just hanging out. He'll also stand with his hands holding on to the railing and throw his head back. He likes to chew on the railing and I've found him with his pants pulled off a few times.
He has started mimicking what Mike and I say to him. He'll make a noise and I'll repeat it and do it again and again.----Our first verbal conversations. ;)
Decker has noticed that Mike and I have belly buttons. He likes to poke his little fingers in it or try to taste it with his tongue—which isn't surprising because he still likes to put everything in his mouth. We're trying to teach him that he should only play with his own belly button.
New foods Decker tried and enjoyed this month are watermelon, grapes and Copper River Salmon.
One of Deckers new favorite songs is "Yakity Yak" by the Chasers and he loves it when you get to the part where it says "Don't talk Back!" I noticed that the song made him laugh when it was played in a movie. So I then searched for it on youtube.com one morning during breakfast and he clapped his hands with the music! Which is a new thing for him too. I was pretty excited about this!

Play date with Raeed

Raeed came over to play with Decker one afternoon. Raeed warmed up after a little while...

Playing side by side...

I love how Decker kneels on his knees.After so much playing with good friends...time for a nap....