"I'm 28 years old, I'm 28 years old, I'm 28 years old...I'm 28 years old!"

Thank you everyone for all the birthday wishes! I've gotten hugs, calls, texts and e-mails. I do have to say my favorite message was my Grandma singing Happy Birthday to me on our answering machine.

It has been a fun day. Although I am feeling a bit old. We celebrated on Sunday with my family and yes Julie, they sang all the verses of Happy Birthday and I sang a solo verse.

I thought that Eddie would have been interested in all the candles, but instead, he was eying the cake.


Whoever was within arm's reach of the cake...Eddie was sitting by them and helping himself to the gooey goodness of German chocolate cake. (Oh, we have learned that he does not have a nut allergy.)


I was quite excited when I opened my gifts. Emily gave me Murder, She Wrote books. I lost all mine in the flood and am very excited to build my collection back up! I just can't get enough of them and read them over and over!

my 1st birthday party

Last night Mommy and Daddy threw me a robot birthday party! I wanted a robot party because Daddy always puts my name into the robot song. Aunt Julie liked that my party theme was from a Styx's song.

I had so much fun! My family came over and we played outside all night! It was perfect!

Everyone brought me presents and I was SO spoiled!

I really liked the card from Auntie Audrey, it barked!

Mommy made me a robot cake, I couldn't wait to get my hands in it!

It was so yummy! I really liked the frosting!

Mommy took lots and lots of photos...

I am SO loved!!!

Cake!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY! I mean...

Happy 1st Birthday Little Man!!!

I can't believe it. This past year has gone so fast! Sometimes it seems like yesterday that you popped out...but at the same time it's hard to remember you not being part of our family. You are such a joy. You are always laughing and playing. You are such a little boy. Always getting into things and looking to see what you can get into next.


You can stand and have started to walk. You only take about 5 steps before you drop to your buns and begin to crawl. Crawling is so much faster for you yet. And with you...if one method of getting around is faster than another, you are going to choose speed!


You love summer and you love to be outside. You have enjoyed going out on the boat. Once we introduced you to driving, you no longer were happy on my lap...you wanted to sit by Dad!


With all the updating and flooding going on at our home this month you have had lots of activity to watch. You have enjoyed every minute of it. If a tool is making noise, you want to know why and how it is doing it. You are so inquisitive.


You have acquired your first 'boy finger' as Grandpa calls it. Grandpa found out that you can open the lever doors at their house! You were able to open and close the pantry in a matter of seconds. Your little finger got pinched. When Grandpa put your finger under water you were much more interested in getting your feet into the water to splash. Daddy said that you are tough.


You are so giggly. Most of our evenings end with you crawling away from Daddy and I while we are saying, 'I'm gonna get you!' You burst out into laughs before we even reach you. It is SO much fun to laugh and play with you! Of course we are guilty of riling you up before bed...but most evenings it doesn't take too long for you to fall asleep. Others...you would rather be in on the action instead of in bed. We have that with nap time too. You don't want to miss out on any fun.


You have started to show your independence. While Daddy and I were weeding the other day, you were playing in your car. You started next to us, but slowly worked yourself away. I wanted to bring you right back, but Daddy told me that you were safe (really not that far away from us) and that you were exploring your world on your own.


It didn't take long before you wanted to see what we were up to. I know as you continue to grow Daddy will have to help me with letting you explore on your own.


You are getting away from baby food. You would much rather eat what Daddy and I are eating. You are also getting better with a sippy cup. Of course it depends on what you feel like. You still toss your cup when you don't want it. We also know when you are full because you clear whatever is on your tray...onto the floor.


You are such a sweet little man. You are so happy and smiley. You smile and babble all day. I love to listen to you 'talking'. You have one animal sound down...the duck. You go about your day quacking at everything. It is adorable. When you stop all Daddy and I have to say is, 'Eddie, what does a duck say?' and off you go again. We thank God for blessing us with such a wonderful little boy! Daddy and I love you so much and we are so proud of you!!

The BIG 3-0

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!!!

I was planning on writing about how much I love you, what an amazing dad you are, how you are my best friend and will always be my Mr. Wonderful...but frankly...I'm too tired!

I think once our home is all straightened out we will have to have a 'do-over' for Father's Day & your birthday! :)

Partying, playing and painting...

We celebrated Emily's birthday at lunch today. Eddie helped open her present. It is pretty remarkable...at Audrey's birthday like a week ago, he wasn't all that interested, but at Emily's...

...he was totally into it! He loved ripping the paper and then kept trying to put it back on. Once the box flaps were opened...he was flipping them open and closed.


He also enjoyed sampling the cake & ice cream. Actually, he started on my lap and tried my ice cream...then moved on to Audrey's...then Emily's...and ended up by Grandpa.


Some more party photos...





Eddie has overcome his dislike for grass.


Mark pointed out that he just might like Grandpa & Grammum's grass. It's softer than ours. We have a few more weeds in our lawn. :P



Not too much new going on at the home front. Saturday I basically took a painting break. I just got the trim around the windows in the dining room done so we could put our blinds back up. I'm sure our neighbors are grateful. :P

Auntie Em! Auntie Em!!

Calling to wish you a...


Happy Birthday!!!


Actually, I can't call...


Mommy took the batteries out of the phone.


She was worried I would call China.

I love you!

"It's a new caarrr!"

That is what Mark called out in his best announcer voice as Audrey opened a tiny box from our parents at her birthday dinner Tuesday night. My mom's eyes popped open, big as saucers. It was a new car...but not one you can drive. It was a tiny little car to go on Audrey's charm bracelet.

It was pretty funny.


The birthday girl and her cake...


Grandpa shared his cake with Eddie. Eddie really liked the ice cream.


A few other photos from the party...





It was a fun night, I can't believe my baby sister is 16!!!

I feel old. :)

Sweet 16

Happy Birthday Audrey!



We love you!!

Where did that come from?

That's what Mommy said this morning after I got up. Last night I went to bed squeaky clean after my bath and this morning, I smiled up at Mommy & Daddy with a runny nose and crusties that I had smeared all over my cheeks.

Mommy was quite surprised. I've been off my yummy bubble gum medicine for 3 days for my ear infection and she thought we would be cold free. Oh well. Hopefully next week I can make it back to the church nursery. For a brief moment Mommy thought I'd be able to sit with them in church...but she quickly came back to her senses. Mommy joked with Daddy that she hopes people will still recognize her when we return. :P

Even though I didn't make it to church, I did get to go to my Grammie's birthday party! (I can't get anyone sick there...no one else chews on the toys) I had lots of fun and Grammie said that I could throw all the puffs I wanted to on the floor! Not really, but she didn't mind that I tossed a few. :)

When Mommy thought to take some pictures after lunch...she could tell I was sleepy and wasn't in the mood. Here is one of me and Grammie from a few weeks ago. Happy Birthday Grammie!!

Happy Birthday Aunt Julie!

Really Aunt Julie's birthday was on Wednesday...but her party was tonight. I really enjoyed the Rice Krispies at dinner.


Mommy brought candles for the cake. Aunt Julie's cake has been lacking candles the last few years. She didn't want us to sing 'Happy Birthday'...but we did anyway.


After dinner we went out to play. We snuck over to the neighbors' house to play on their tramp. We didn't really sneak...Grandpa & Grammie knew they wouldn't mind. I did a little bouncing. It was a lot of fun even if I didn't get very high.


Daddy did though!!


I had a great time watching him!


Aunt Julie & I played hide & seek. She didn't stay hidden too long before she would pop out at me. That's good because I'm not a good seeker yet, I don't know how to count!


I wouldn't have been able to get very far anyway...I am still not so sure about grass.


I was able to pull some up, but Grammie wouldn't let me eat it.


Aunt Julie and I hid together and popped out at Mommy.


I know it isn't nice to point, but I showed Jon where Aunt Julie got into a bit of a fender bender...it is a pretty dent. I think I know someone who can show me how to get dents out! Think I'm big enough to help Grandpa out at the shop?


Happy Birthday Aunt Julie! I had a great time at your party!! And I won't tell anyone how old you were...although their were 6 candles on your cake and Daddy said something about how your age was divisable by 6....oh man, more math.