Swimming with Crocs

Today Oakley and I went swimming with our favorite aunt Katy and cousin Kayla. We went to the South Jordan fitness center where they have a really big indoor water area. Oakley didn't like it at first which surprised me cause he loves his baths and he's always liked swimming before, but we haven't been for a while. I think it was a bit cold for him, but once we got to the kiddy pool and just sat and splashed for a while he warmed up to the thought of so much water. After all the splashing, he really enjoyed walking around in the 1 foot water and going down this fun crocodile slide that they had. It was perfect for him. I think we'll have to go more often though, cause we have to break him of the "Hating water" McKnight genes. I grew up in the water, so I can't even imagine not liking it. I'm pretty sure I have a bigger influence then his dad on this matter though, so I'm not too worried.

I did get a few pictures with my phone's camera and a video of Oakley going down the slide, so enjoy.

Under construction, again

When we bought our house two and a half years ago we bought it knowing that we'd have to do some major renovations. The kitchen was attrocious and closed in, the shingles on the roof were cracking, there was popcorn ceiling everywhere, and the wierdest thing was that there was only one bedroom on the main level. Whoever lived here before turned three bedrooms and two bathrooms into one huge master suite with a big closet and laundry area and two bathrooms. For us, this isn't very logical, especially since we've had Oakley. We do have 3 bedrooms downstairs, but having a sleeping child that far away isn't feasable for me, so we're starting our next big project, dividing Oakley's room into two bedrooms. Last year I got sick of sleeping in the same room with Oakley, so I made Wes tear out the closet and laundry area and we moved our bed in there, so we've had our own room for a year, but we've had to walk through Oakley's to get to it, or to go to the bathroom. We got pretty good at sneaking in and out, most of the time.

(Left) This is what the bedroom looked like before. You can't see the other side, but this is only half of the room, and then the bathroom is on the right, along with our bedroom.

(Right) This is the same view after we framed in the walls for the new bedrooms and hall. Where I was standing to take the picture is at the door to the old bedroom, which we will be taking out.

Here is my drawing of our project. The dark lines are all the walls that currently exist, and the other walls are ones that we just framed in, so they're the new ones. I took a few drafting classes in school, so it was fun to use that creative side again.

Here's another picture looking at the bathroom door and the master bedroom door.

This picture is looking back to the original door of the old bedroom.

Here you can see the new closets, back to back, in each room.

And of course Oakley always wants to help dad, so here he is "helping" with the screws and tools that Wes was using to do the electrical. He loves climbing up that little ladder that we have. He's only fallen off once or twice. And le likes wearing the headlamp. It fits him just right.

Right now Wes is almost done with the electrical stuff, rewiring lights, and putting in new lights and plugs, and then we'll be on to sheet rocking. Hopefully it won't take too much longer, but these things always take longer then you think, especially when the only time to work on it is after work each night. Wes has done a great job, and our friend Rich Parry helped us with the framing, so all the angles are nice and neat. I'm sure I'll post more when we get more done, so standby for the next phase of the project.

Zoorific

Yesterday we got to go to the zoo. It was so beautiful outside we had to take advantage of it. I've been debating whether to buy a year pass or not, and I finally broke down and got one. Now Oakley and I can go whenever we want, and we can take one guest, so let me know if you want to go. We went with my sister Katy and her sister-in-law. It was the second time Oakley and I had been there together, and this time I think he enjoyed it much more. He actually looked at the animals.
I think his favorite was the reptile house, probably because he got to get out of the stroller and run around. He would run up to the glass and pound on it, or point to the animals. I know they say don't pound on the glass, but how do you teach that to an 18 month old.
He also loved the monkeys and the elephants. They were both putting on a show for us. The orangutan baby came right over by the window and put his arms up in the air. It was cool. Then he went back to his sleeping dad and tried to get him to play with him. It was like he was saying " Come on dad, play with me" but the dad just wanted to lay there and rest. It reminded me of Oakley and Wes after he gets home from work sometimes. Wes lays on the floor, and Oakley just climbs all over him. The baby elephant was cute too. At first we got to see him eating, and then later she was playing with a little plastic swimming pool and dragging it around.

So maybe I lied. Oakley's favorite part was the playground. He liked climbing through the turtle shell, even though his way was a little more difficult then it needed to be. He also loved climbing up and going down the 20 foot tall snake slide. That kid has no fear. It's kind of nice, sometimes.

It was also his first time ever on a carousel. He couldn't wait to get on, but once he sat on one of the animals he wasn't quite sure. He wanted to get off right then. But once it started and he was moving up and down and around, he loved it.

The train ride is always fun too. Short, but sweet.

And of course, you always have to play with the little water globe thing. We had a great time, and will be going back soon for sure.

Oakey talk

Everyone keeps telling me that I need to record Oakley talking, so I did. He doesn't say that many words, but boy does he talk a bunch. It's funny, he'll just sit there and blab and use hand movements like he's really talking to you. He'll go on like this for 15-20 minutes if you let him. He does it a lot in the car and while he's in his crib. Boy I wish I knew what he was saying, but it's funny to listen to him anyway.

I wanted to record him talking with his hands and having a conversation with me, but he just wanted to talk to the video recorder and himself in the little screen on the side, so sorry if it's a little jiggly. He also thinks that I always have an owee on my hand, and he won't do anything else until I acknowledge that I have an owee. Enjoy Oakey talk.

Let there be eggs

I was really excited this year for Easter cause I knew Oakley would have so much fun finding eggs and especially eating all the candy. I was a little disappointed cause we were going to go to Cottonwood Heights Rec center just up the street for their annual Easter Egg hunt, but because of the snow, they made it a drive through instead of a hunt. We thought that was silly, so we didn't go. We were however able to go to the "Annual McKnight Easter Egg hunt" which we've never been to before. They usually do it out at the property, which is by Tooele, but because of the snow they did it in Grandpa's huge garage in West Jordan. We liked that it was close. They have a huge loft above the garage for parties, so we ate lunch up there and let the kids run around. These first pictures are of Grandpa and the three grandkids, Oakley, Scoot, and Lily. They had this fun game of gathering with grandpa, and him holding them in, and then he'd count to 3 and say "GO" and they'd all take off running around the room in a circle around the tables. It was so funny to watch. As you can see, Oakley was pretty serious as grandpa was holding him back, but once he let go, he'd run and laugh and fall, and sometimes all at the same time.

I love Oakley's shirt. "I come in peace". The back should say " I leave a mess". :)

Here's me and Oakley enjoying the yummy food everyone brought.

After eating and playing upstairs it was finally time for the Easter egg hunt. Aunt Margo helped the Easter bunny hide the eggs downstairs in the garage before anyone got there so all the kids gathered around the stairs, and they let the little ones go first. Oakley had no clue what was going on, so I took him down and showed him an egg and showed him how to put it in the basket. He got the idea, but he wasn't very good at finding the eggs. I had to show him where all of them were, then he would pick them up and put them in his bucket. At one point one of the eggs broke open and the candy fell out. I think he got more excited about the eggs after that cause he knew there was candy in them.

I got 2 eggs, I got 2 eggs, I got 2 eggs hey hey hey hey. (Sung to the tune from the Little Rascals movie)

I think Oakley enjoyed his first Easter egg hunt. Thanks Margo for putting it on, and thanks too for taking the pictures and letting me steal them cause I forgot my camera. Oh ya, and thanks Oakley for giving all your candy, except a few pieces of course, to mom and dad. It was yummy. Hehehe.

He's legal for nursery

Exactly 18 months ago from today, our little Oakley was born. He's now legal to go into nursery on sundays. I've felt a little bad the past 4 or 5 months cause I've been leaving him in there anyway, but now I don't have to feel bad, cause that's where he's suppose to be. With Wes in the bishopric and me as the primary president, I just couldn't take care of him during church. Good thing we only have 3 other kids in the nursery.
Anyway, I can't believe how big he is now, and how grown up he seems. Even though he doesn't talk much, he still understands what we're saying and signs to us all the time. I think he makes up signs sometimes when he doesn't know what they are. I'll have to post a video of all the signs he does. They're pretty fun. He also has so much energy all the time. At least once a day he just runs back and forth between the bedroom door and the garage door screaming. I can't wait till it's nice outside and we can run outside and scream.
I already posted about the day he was born, so I thought that I'd just reminisce about his first month here on the earth. So the following pictures are from October 2008.

First day home, with Dad, and Mom
LJ (left, 3mo.) Taija (middle) Oakley (right) Taija and Oakley were born the same day. And here they are with their buddy LJ hanging out at the gym while their parents play volleyball. As you can see, they loved it.

Oak showing off his strong neck.

Sleeping peacefully before, then something happened to his face, and then after.

Fun outfits

First smile captured on camera. 1 week old. .

Oakley's great grandma, Mor Mor, on his first day home