First family road trip

We're on our way down to Florida because we're going to... Disney World!!! Your Uncle Blake just got back from Iraq and so we're having a fun family reunion to celebrate. And what better place to celebrate than Disney World?

We're driving down to save some money, but also because your dad and I love road trips and are excited to take you on your first. It's been really fun going through the different states and seeing the different scenery. You have been amazing on the trip down... amazing. I love that you're such a happy little traveler. It's cute seeing you look out the windows in the backseat and study your new toys and books that we got you for the trip. You're such a cooperative and fun little guy. Here's some pictures:

 Exploring under the sinks in our room while we got ready for the day. 

Your middle name should be curious :)

 A packet of gum you found (we're still not sure how or when you got it out of my bag) 

and chewed on. We didn't realize that you even had it til I heard some "blech" sounds 

coming from the backseat. We couldn't stop laughing...

 

One of our many stops along the way for you to get out and stretch your legs. 

That ball was a lifesaver... and you were so cute chasing it (and carrying it) around.

 You and Daddy cruising around a tennis court at a random park we found. Thank goodness for navigation and being able to search for parks!

 Our family portrait... shaddow style. I thought it was pretty awesome how awkward 

we looked in the shaddows, so we had to take a picture. 

 My sweet sleeping little dude *sigh*

 After some time in the pool with Daddy. I thought this was a cute picture and 

evidence of both my boys having just had a lot of fun together.

This was at dinner one night and not at your first poker tournament. 

We're waiting until your at least 3 to take you to Vegas so that you can play poker. 

And by that age, we are also are expecting you to be our retirement plan since you will 

have had plenty of time to become a pro.

Pictures from your 1st Birthday

As promised, here are the pics of your 1st birthday party. There are A LOT because I couldn't just pick a couple. I'm so thankful for our friend Emily who took these becasue there is no way your dad or I would have had time to talk to people and capture all these sweet and fun moments.

 Your cupcakes...

 Being a little shy watching all your friends outside

 Giving in and having so much fun

I love this picture and how excited you were to be surrounded by people your size

I think this may be your "Mom, go away... we're playing here" face. uh-oh.

 Hooray straw!

This is your "wow that's so cool" face. Its the one you ALWAYS have when you're 

watching older kids play together. You can't wait to be big like them. 

 A little unsure about having an audience and what that thing on your tray was...

 You decided to taste it anyways...

 Clearly, you loved it and tried to shove the whole thing in...

 You took some pretty huge bites...

 And then wanted to share what you didn't want anymore...

LOVE this face.

This is not a sad face... no no. This is a "GIVE ME MORE NOW!" face. 

Such a fun day... thanks for being our sunshine.

Daddy's football games

Daddy is on a church league football team and every once in while their game falls within a time that we can go watch. I love going to the games and I know that you do, too. We went all last year... when you were in my belly and it was a blast-but you wouldn't remember it-it's much more fun now though that you can see what's going on.

On this day it was really cold, so we made a play area in the back of our 4runner. We had some breakfast and played around while keeping tabs on the game and making sure that we cheered for Daddy. We are his biggest fans, ya know.

 On our way to the game... I just love you in this beanie *sigh*

Checking out your toys. You are very particular when choosing a toy to play with, so it's always very intentional when you pull one out. I love watching you think.

Cheering for Daddy :)

The car got a little old after a while, so we got a little closer to the game. I'm sure you were whispering plays to them from the sideline and giving them tips on how to tackle better.

I love mornings like this with you and your dad... I just love that you're a boy!

Happy First Birthday!!

I can't believe you're one. CAN. NOT. BELIEVE IT.

It's just so wild that a year ago today we were just bringing you home from the hospital. You were so tiny that you didn't even fit in your outfit that we dressed you in and you barely took up any room in your car seat. It was raining the day, and I couldn't wait to be HOME to be cozy all snuggled up with you. Both your Grandmas were here waiting for you and we couldn't wait to have some uninterrupted family time (and sleep)!

What a fun year we have had with you. You have grown up and learned so much! You can walk, feed yourself, clap, drink out of a sippy cup, and you're learning how to tell us what you want-even though you don't have words quite yet. It has had a few challenges along the way, but over all you are the sweetest, smartest, and most fun little guy that we have ever met. You amaze us with your focus and commitment. And it's incredible how adaptable you are to any situation. You love life and enjoy every part of it... and you daily remind me that I need to stop and be thankful for even the small things like you are.

You have been the perfect gift for us, and I know I say it a lot, but we LOVE that you're ours and feel so blessed to be your parents.

Here is a video of you eating your very first cupcake. I think you would have shoved the whole thing in your mouth if everyone hadn't startled you by cheering. You're so sweet though to be sensitive enough to notice how people respond to you.

Phew... what a big night for you. You had so much fun, and I'll post more stories and pictures once I get them (we had our friend take all the pictures) but I will just say that you went to sleep right away. But, 30 minutes after you laid down and conked out... you woke up and talked to yourself for about 15 minutes in your crib. I think you just needed to recap all the fun to your blanket :)

I love you buds. My heart explodes just thinking about you. Happy Birthday!!!

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa!

For your birthday next week, Grandma and Grandpa Summers sent you a big red wagon. We were so excited to open the door and see it sitting there waiting for us to put it together this afternoon! We put it in the library and waited for Daddy to come home so that he could get out all his tools to put it together and then take you for a ride.

You were so excited and such a good helper for Daddy, here are some pictures of you two working and playing together:

Reading the instructions

 Organizing the pieces

Helping hold things in place

 Testing the strength of your wagon

 Checking the wheels

Hooray it's finished!

 Someone really loves their wagon :)

Love this picture!

Of course you had to give Pearl a ride

I'm so looking to all the fun memories and places that this wagon will go! Thank you Grandma and Grandpa!! We love you!

You're walking...

... when it's worth it to you. You have been furniture surfing for quite some time now, and just the last couple weeks you have been getting brave enough to try to walk back and forth between things. It's been so fun seeing you grow more confident every day. You're so big and brave.

We finally got a video of you walking today, and it was amazing because it's the most steps that you have taken yet (as far as we know... but I'm just sure that you practice in your crib when we're not watching). And, we actually weren't even trying to get a video of you walking... it just happened. Daddy was chasing you down the hallway and you were laughing. I came running with the camera, but by the time I got there you had totally lost interest and were off exploring other things... and then you spotted Beans. You followed her into your room... walking!

Pumpkin patch adventure

We had planned to go up to Hubers today with the Stewart's and get some fun pictures of you, Collin and Tristan hanging out in the pumpkin patch. But it was POURING rain and super cold. So we still went up to Hubers, but we didn't get to visit the pumpkin patch. Fortunately we made the best out of it and got to do some fun things anyways... here is our trip in pictures. Oh, and can I just say that this was your first day in actual big boy shoes and that I almost cried? Ok... here are the pictures:

You had fallen asleep in the car and we're pretty groggy, so daddy 

carried you while you woke up. You were happy and ready to go as soon as you 

saw friends and new people to watch!

You ate a whole hot dog all by yourself... I couldn't believe it. 

I had to cut you off from finishing the bun, too. 

I didn't want lunch to come back up while looking for a pumpkin.

 You and Collin playing in an apple bin... I tried to get a good picture, 

but the lighting was so weird, this was the best picture of the bunch.

Our tourist picture posing by the apple sorter and bins...

 Showing off your fancy marshmallows that you're going to bring down to 

Disney World to share with everyone. They will be so yummy in hot chocolate!

Seeing pumpkins for the first time. I love that I captured this face of yours! 

I think it's so funny that you just stood and smiled for the longest time. 

You just couldn't believe how awesome all the pumpkins were... 

and that you were in the middle of them!

Laughing at all the big pumpkins-- you have the best personality!

Taking your job of finding the perfect pumpkin to bring home very seriously!

Found it!

And, I had to put this picture in because your Aunt Anna, Stephanie and I are 

always trying to pose awkwardly in pictures. But you just nailed it, 

and weren't even trying. Well done dude, I'm impressed.