off topic but ...

This blog is really for the kid. but the husband deserves a post himself and i meant to do it a month ago ! the husband has been working on his bachelors degree for years and years ... while we've been married and some before. he really forged ahead once abram was born, wanting to finish it up to have it done and get more family time. plus he was oh so close! As of June 30, Aaron now holds a bachelors degree in Fine Arts from West Chester University. I am so so proud of him and can't begin to tell him how much it means to me, and our family, that he worked so hard ... and achieved his goal. I'm thankful to have such a dedicated husband and a great dad for abram:)

naked baby on the loose!

Once the kid took his first steps, he's on the move, and quickly. he's learned how to go fast, not quite running, but like a really brisk, fast walk. especially when he's trying to get away from us! He'll grab something he knows he's not supposed to have, and take OFF! OR - in the midst of a diaper change on the floor, he will squirm away and go running ... the evidence as follows;)

long time, no type ...

Ahh, my last post was June 8th !? yikes. i knew it had been a long time. but thats too long! we've been busy with travel, summer stuff, work, the kid, the list goes on, as i'm sure everyone's does this time of year. but its all been fun stuff:)

i'm just going to post a few random pics here that we actually have uploaded onto the cpu from husbands camera. i took many photos of my/the kids trip to TN for july 4th with my point/shoot camera and other shots that i'll need to post but - don't have those uploaded onto here yet so - SOON!

He still enjoys his bath a great deal ... and needs a bath MUCH more often than before! he comes home from daycare with who knows what in his hair - his Lunch, mulch, dirt, sunscreen, other unknown particals...



The kid has become increasingly obsessed with being outside. the moment he gets up - he points out the door, says out, and freaks when he can't go. so needless to say, we are spending a lot more time outdoors and he loves it.



He fights the hat - and will only keep it on when its really sunny outside ... otherwise, he throws it. always.



He loves our deck. we put some of his push toys out there and he can push things around, look to the trees, other yards, our yard, and we can lounge at the table reading and keeping him close by. its right off our dining room so an easy 'outdoor time' spot for him, where we can keep him close.



and lastly, some 'new' jammies, compliments of hand me downs from kimberly and cody. Thanks Guys! he loves them:) this pic was made the night i left to head down to TN and we were saying Bye Bye to Daddy who stayed behind to work.



More to come - soon - i promise;)

FIRST STEPS

It worked out well that since i was in the posting Mode today, I can update that this evening the kid took his very first steps! Yep! At 5:05pm exactly, he took three steps to me in the dining room... Husband missed this first by about 1 1/2 minutes, as he pulled into the drive around 5:07pm... bummer!! But the kid did do a repeat of the steps for dad - but only two this time. we're super excited, doing lots of clapping, cheering, and laughing.... but also now imagining that the speedy gonzalez we're going to be chasing will now be ON FOOT!!! YIKES!!!

Birthday update - finally!

Not a lot of time for a long post but wanted to get up some pictures of the kids birthday trip to the zoo and him in his new CAR:) He liked the zoo but only really got excited over ONE animal - a horse. We're like @#($ ?? we could have just driven him to a horse farm! Okay, Next Year!









Take Two on the birthday cupcake/candle situation was much more successful - but he still didn't love any of it. the cake, the icing, nothing really but the mess. he seemed to love smearing the icing on his tray and his hands. otherwise, he really didn't eat it. And take note of how far away the candle is from him on take two. didn't want a repeat of finger into flame!





This is when he first spotted and headed towards his car, which we had parked in the front yard after husband put it all together. abram immediately flew to it, crawled on, and was ready for a ride!



he loves loves his car... crawls in and out of his all the time at home. loves going for rides thru the neigborhood and often won't get out, even once we're home and parked in the living room!



He would NOT get out. one night he wasn't feeling well so to make him happy we drove it around and around our downstairs till he was literally falling asleep in it and practically falling out! that is NOT a habit we plan to keep ha.

birthday cupcake take 1

I made cupcakes for the kids birthday... and gave him one all his own with his #1 candle on top....


and yes, i was dumb and set a burning candle right in front of my childs face so i could take a picture...


and yes, he stuck his finger straight into the flame...


and we yelled, not at him like he was in trouble but not wanting him to burn himself! which was now occuring to us. yes, open flame from a candle with 1 yr, not that smart probably?

so we yelled, and he got all sad and scared... and maybe he burnt his finger a little? not sure... but it looks fine now.


and then he would NOT touch his cupcake. but just there staring at it and crying pitifully... would not even try it.


so, i say birthday cupcake take 1, because we must do a redo at some point! and now the kids a bit under the weather (hopefully well do his zoo trip tomorrow!) but birthday cupcake take 2 will be soon we hope!! and hopefully no tears!

Happy First Birthday

His first birthday picture, made this morning... just after he woke up...



Today was the kid's first birthday and we've both been in awe all day, saying to one another, "I can't believe he's one today, can you? ... I mean, it was a year ago ... " and we recount the events of the day he was born, and what we were doing at that exact time, this exact day, last year. "Well, at 8am, you were still feeling pretty good. we were walking the halls, timing contractions..." husband reminded me. "well, at 1pm, i was in some serious pain!" i easily recalled.

He went onto daycare today, since we will do an official celebration this weekend, with cake, a trip to the zoo, and a few gifts as well.

For daycare, i sent him with a special treat to share with his friends and caretakers. Fresh Cut Strawberries:) and he also went with a birthday hat for himself and a couple for his buddies (yes, i was planning at least one pic of the boys in their hats!). Husband dropped him off, and said the staff remembered it was his birthday, and were open arms when he arrived, with many hugs, kisses, and happy birthday wishes! so nice! his buddies daniel and ryan were there as well. husband went by at lunch to have some extra time with him. and then he was able to snap a pic of the boys in the birthday hats.



after daycare, we had a brief time at home for a snack, and then off to the doctor for his well baby one year checkup. He checked out just fine. we saw his other doctor tonight (he has two that work there, and he sees either one) and she wasn't concerned about the lump in his neck, just as the other doctor wasn't. It felt good to hear that from both of them.

no shots tonight so abram was a happy camper the whole visit. we got the okay to try out regular ole cow or soy milk now, as we wish, though i will continue to do some breastmilk for a few more months. slowly converting him to all regular milk.

The doctor listening to his heartbeat...


He measured 30 inches long, 19 1/2 pounds, and head circumference of 18 1/2 - all good. we were excited to turn the car seat around tomorrow but will need to wait for that half a pound she said. bummer! but whats a few more weeks i guess.

We got home and he played in the front yard for a bit...



then he had a friend stop by to say HI and Happy Birthday... and let me just say, he loves Jaylani!



And by this time, the kids hair was well - can we say seriously out of control or what!!



Lastly, by the time we got to dinner, he was getting crabby.... so he opened one gift tonight but was getting so tired and sleepy, we decided to hold off on the others until we do the official celebration. But he opened a gift from pap and mamaw - several new outfits that are too cute! And he got to open one other even earlier in the week from his aunt vicki and family (well mom did!) and mom put it together. A walker/car for him. He's really getting the hang of it and lovin cruising around the house behind it!

A final shot - of abram and me, doing his favorite thing - Pointing!



Many thanks to all for your emails, phone calls, and messages sending happy birthday wishes to him!! We've had a GREAT first year with him, and look forward to many more years of even greater things!!!