Busy May, Part II

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Two postings in a week!?!? I didn't quite finish my last blog entry (below) on Sunday because Mommy had to leave for Holly's baby shower in the cities. Holly is having a little stud, like me, in just a few months. I wanted to show you the slideshow above of me playing with one of my favorite, new toys. This HUGE soccer ball came from Mommy's classroom and she brought it home because she knew I would love it! I just laughed and laughed when we went outside to play with it one night. I thought the ball was funny when it kept bonking into me.

Saying "Goodbye" to my buddies at Sara's. I look forward to some playdates this summer with them.

My other news is that my last day at Sara's was on Friday. She is also having a "little man" and she will be going to the hospital this week to have him. I am now a stay-at-home kid with a great, college student who will watch me the last few weeks before summer break. My new sitter, Katie, has been taking me on lots of bike rides, stroller rides and keeping me busy (or maybe me keeping her busy!) She has mentioned that I have "quite the personality!" Mommy and Daddy can't figure out if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I will make sure to get some pictures together with Katie this week. She sure is a cutie pie! As far as next year goes, I will be going to a new daycare, also an in-home daycare and her name is Jenny. Jenny will take care of me 2 1/2 days a week because (drum roll) MOMMY'S JOB-SHARE WAS FINALLY APPROVED!!!!! I am super excited to be home more with her and still have my social time with new buddies, starting this fall.

Finally, I was planning on showing a few pictures of my Saturday night with Grandma. Mommy and Daddy went to the St. Joe's Hospital Charity Ball, so Grandma Carla came to watch me. My parents looked so nice dressing up for a rare date night, and don't you think I look handsome for the ball too?!?!? Gotta love those Grandmas!

Don't you think Mommy should have taken me, her prince, to the ball?

Mommy left right after this picture. She told Grandma to have "fun with that one!"

I will be posting again soon. We hope to have a nice weekend for some fun, outdoor activities on Memorial Day weekend. I am also turning ONE in exactly one week (May 27th). It's hard to believe, but I can't wait to eat some cake and celebrate my big day. See you soon!

Busy, Busy May!

I'm back! It's been way too long since I posted an updated thanks to busy days in May. I have had a lot of fun outside when it has been nice out. Daddy has officially mowed our lawn twice now and he is already teaching me how to drive his favorite toy (no, the blades are not down Grandma!) I also have new wheels of my own, thanks to Mommy's scrapbook buddy, Vicky, who didn't need the coupe anymore. My feet don't touch the ground yet, so I just get pushed in my car for now. I really like riding in it and I like to go fast!

Mommy ran a 5k Race last weekend for a program called "Girls on the Run!" She ran with a 3rd grader from the school she teaches at. They did a great job running the race (they didn't keep track of the time, but estimated they finished in the middle of the pack). Daddy and I went to cheer on the ladies.

She even had time to wave and smile at me

After the race, it was time for another (3rd) haircut for me. This time, Mom and Dad went (remember the disaster the last time?!?!) and we went to Sports Clips, which is where Daddy gets his haircut. I look very handsome in my short "do" and I was a very good little guy for Rita, my hairdresser.

Before my haircut ( I have that deer in headlights look pretty much in all of the pictures here)

Almost done...

Whew, made it through that one. I have pretty cool hair now!

This was Mommy's favorite gift... me in a frame!

Mommy had her first "official" Mother's Day this year. She said she was a Mommy last year too, but since I was in her tummy, it wasn't quite the same. We started our day with some presents for Mom (a massage, two outfits, and frame with me in it, and a flower corsage that she wore all day). We took Mommy to church where they had a slideshow of Moms and we were the FIRST slide of the show. It was a picture of Mommy kissing my face when I was just two weeks old. She had tears in her eyes because of the joy I have brought to her life this year... awwwww!

To celebrate the Grandma's, Daddy made brunch for his Mommy and then we headed to the cities for dinner with my other Grandma, Grandpa Jamie, Auntie Stef, Uncles Bruce and Jimmy, and cousins.

Reading with my auntie and Godmother Stefanie

Lexi was trying to get me to pose for this picture... not happening here

Sam was giving me some heart to heart advice

The Moms on their special day... and me in my jammies ready for the trip back home

Happy 11 months!

It's hard to believe, but I am 11 months old today! In just one more month, I will no longer be considered a baby and I will get to sit facing forward in the car... yeah! I am excited about that. We had beautiful weather last week so we spent a lot of time outside. I love my Radio Flyer wagon and rock back and forth to tell Mommy and Daddy to get moving. They just laugh at me when I do this.

Daddy was very excited to shoot his first turkey during the spring turkey hunt. He is new to hunting turkeys (this was his third season) and he must have finally found the right place to be. Mommy had to take some pictures of the thing. It was 21 1/2 lb. and it had a "trophy" beard according to Daddy (fish-tales!) Daddy wanted to wake me up to show me, but Mommy said I would be traumatized for life if I had to look at that thing. This is the picture of Tom the Turkey. He is now in our freezer and is awaiting a grand cookout.

Other than turkey hunting and wagon rides, it has been a fairly low-key few weeks. Daddy surprises me with new toys every so often. Supposedly, the "Go Zebra, Go" was a X-mas gift from Grandma Carla and Grandpa Jamie. Little did I know that my parents hoard my gifts and surprise me when they think I am getting bored with my other toys. I am still a little small for this, but I like the snorting and galloping sounds it makes. I am working on my balance and I think I need longer legs!

Mommy tried to take a picture of my four front teeth. They are officially through the gums (Amen), but as you can see, I don't like her fingers in my mouth. Just not going to allow it!

OK, if you tickle me, I might show you my one lonely one on the bottom, but I still am keeping the top ones covered!

Brushing my sharp teeth

Now that I am 11 months old, here are my latest new tricks. I am facinated by balls (no dirty thoughts) I love to put the ball in the ball popper, ball in the basketball hoop, ball in the dragon... you get the picture. Mommy and Daddy are starting to wonder if I am a lefty since I almost always use that hand for these things. Mommy is very proud of my hand/eye coordination!

Here I am shooting hoops. Of course my Mom has to find a toy that not only shotos baskets but teaches me the alphabet (those Kindergarten teachers!!!) To see me in action, click on the video clip below.

I finally figured out why this toy was fun. The lights blink and it makes music and I can do this over and over and over and over and I still think it's great!

My favorite game is peek a boo. We have played this game plenty of times, but lately I think it is hysterical. I play peek a boo with just about anyone and everything. Here I am playing with the monkey on my shower curtain. I started to get a little "crabby" (see my towel for clarification) because I have been stuck inside with rainy weather. It's time to bring back the nice, warm days again.

Grass Fire and Easter Grass

Great-Grandma made me this little sweater outfit that was too big until now. Mommy decided this was probably one of the last times I could wear it, before the warm weather hits. I am such a "ham" when the camera comes out now. Here are some photos of me in my little Swedish outfit.

The Grass Fire

I didn't think I would post another blog, but I decided to throw this in last minute. In the past week, we had an eventful one, starting with a grass fire across the road. We were on a "family walk" and the next thing you know, we see some idiots (Mommy gave me permission to use this word) attempting to burn raked up prairie grass. These people (they are not our neighbors but must be hired workers or possibly distant relatives, go figure!!!) started running back and forth grabbing shovels and buckets of water trying to put the fire out. Well, Daddy jumped into action and hooked up our garden hose and attempted to become a firefighter. Our neighbors also tried to help out, but the wind caused the fire to get quite big and a little scary. So the township fire dept. came and I was able to see lots of firefighters and fire-engines. It was exciting but also very STINKY! Luckily, the fire was contained and now we look out to a massive, black field, it kind of looks like a huge, blacktop parking lot!
Good job, Firefighters! The fire is finally out and it was time for me to go to bed.

On a brigher note (no pun intended), Mommy's college friend Rita, flew back to MN from Santa Monica, CA to visit family and friends. We decided to do a quick trip to the cities to see her and also to say "bye-bye" to Mommy's side of the family as they headed to Captiva, FL for vacation (sniff, sniff). Grandma gave me this silly duck for Easter that quacked and made me giggle and laugh. I can laugh on the spot anytime I hear this silly animal!

Grandma is so good at getting me hyped up before bed!

Here I am giving my duck a big kiss!

At Champs restaurant in Woodbury. I smiled and flirted with Rita the whole time we were there. I wish she lived closer to us!

When Mommy and I got home for the cities, we dyed eggs with Daddy that night. They gave me a little "tool kit" to create my own egg, but I decided I wanted to shove the entire hard boiled egg in my mouth instead. Surprisingly, I didn't choke on an egg and none of the eggs fell on the floor. We ended up painting a dozen of them. I still wonder what they taste like on the inside.

Easter Morning

On Easter morning, I woke up to a wonderful basket full of fun things! Mommy and Daddy gave me (oops, I mean the Easter Bunny) gave me a monkey towel for swim lessons this summer, sand/water toys, a Leap Frog wheel, and a flip-phone. I was more interested in the green, crunchy grass in my basket. I thought it was a little strange to touch, but even more interesting to taste! What I liked most about Easter was the ham and carrots that I ate, along with the banana cream pie (thanks Grammy Lois!) Mommy didn't love the diapers the food created, but I thought it was worth it. We are really disappointed that we didn't take a family picture on Easter (Mommy's scrapbook page just won't be the same now!)

Discovering the weird green stuff. I would rather play with the grass then my new toys, go figure! Wow! Look at my wild hair!

I am not really loving the taste of this. I would rather eat peas and green beans!

Happy Easter!