Doy!

That's the new catch phrase apparently. Matthew now has full and complete conversations with inanimate objects. If you listen in, it sounds something like this:

"Doy doy doy doy. Doy doy. Doy doy doy doy doy."

He seems to know what he's talking about. We're still trying to work out the exact translation.

Some fun

For Father's Day, Matthew and I had some pictures taken and then framed 2 of them for Mike's office. Hopefully he was surprised- I loved the pictures so much it was hard keeping the secret from him! Of course, Matthew and I weren't even home to see him unwrap it, but he says he liked them.

In any case, here are a few of the pictures (courtesy of The Picture People):

I'm sad we weren't able to be there for Mike's first Father's Day, but I know there's a lot more ahead for him. And how fun it'll be when Matthew can actually be the one picking out what to get daddy and how to celebrate it with him.

For now, I'll tell you Matthew is one lucky little guy. He gets to have the most wonderful Daddy out there, and boy does he love him!

More Florida!

Yup. We're still here. It feels like we've been away from home forever! Mike had to leave Thursday to get back to work, but Matthew and I are here another week. We've been busy little worker bee's helping Mom get the house put together. She got a bunch of new furniture and we've been decorating and unpacking. It looks great and I just know my parents are going to love living the life of retirement here in Florida. If they can get used to the heat. Ick.

Matthew and I at the pool:

After taking the kids to the pool yesterday, I've discovered that retirement actually means "vacation 7 days a week". They've moved into a "55 plus, active adult living" community (which mom insists is NOT a retirement community...he he he). The pool was pretty empty during the day, but when we went after dinner there was a whole group of, ahem, "active adults" sitting around drinking beer, listening to loud music and having fun. I thought to myself "they look like people on vacation" and then I thought "wait, this is their life!" This is why my parents were so excited about moving!

Anyway, lucky are we that my brother and his family lives nearby, and we get to see them too. So fun!

My neice and nephew:

As you can see, cute runs in the family.

All the cousins:

Anja, Keely, Christian and Matthew
As you can see, boxes provide endless entertainment. I think I'm onto an easy, free 1st birthday gift for my son. If only it came with the 13-year-old who pulled him all around the house keeping him busy!

And finally, the queen on her thrown:


Mom enjoys her martini on her new furniture!

Moving on...

Tomorrow we start the second part of our vacation. We leave the grandparents house to go to the other grandparents house---have I mentioned how nice it is having everyone to visit all in one state?? Bonus is that we also get to see my brother, sister-in-law and kids, who all live in the same town Mom and Dad are moving to. Matthew's first time meeting his cousins and aunt/uncle!! How exciting!

You know what's NOT exciting? A sick baby. Yesterday he started getting a fever, which got up to 103.3. He was completely miserable last night and woke up screaming every 15-30 minutes until about 2:30 AM. Nothing seemed to help him except being held. Our best google diagnosis is hand, foot, mouth disease (not to be confused with hoof and mouth disease, since he's a baby, not cattle ). Obviously we're not positive, but today he started developing blisters all over his feet, a few on his hands and I think in his mouth (thus reaching us to said diagnosis). It's a virus, and at the moment the fever is better and he is eating and drinking (perhaps less than normal, but still it seems to be plenty as his diapers are plentiful). All we can hope is that if that IS what he has, it stays as is and doesn't get worse. If it does, I suppose we'll be finding a pediatrician at Mom's house to take him too. He has for the most part been a pretty happy baby today, so it can't be bothering him too much.

Let the vacation continue!

More florida fun

We took Matthew to the beach yesterday. It was hot and the water was completely full of this very slimy seaweed, so it wasn't the best ocean swimming, but he still enjoyed it. We only stayed a short time, long enough for Matthew to eat a few fistfulls of sand, but not long enough for him to get a sunburn (or I suppose that could have been the spf 50 sunblock that I slathered on him 2 times in the hour and a half we were there). I think it completely wore him out because he slept 11 1/2 hours last night and is currently on an hour + nap this morning. It's rough hanging in the sun and sand I tell ya.

We also visited with one of Mike's highschool friends. Her and her family were so sweet and had lunch for us. It was fun talking and hanging out and Matthew made a few new friends.

Here he is with Mike, Ashley and Brianna:
Mike and Ashley

Ok, I wish the pictures turned out better. In the backyard is a gorgeous little lake (pond?). There are 2 ducks that live there and visit every evening for bread. Funniest thing I've ever seen is the fish (brim) who also live there compete for the bread. You throw a piece in and dozens of fish swim over. We had to distract the fish by throwing a piece one side and then quickly throwing one for the ducks. It's crazy.

Here are the ducks:

Look closesly and you can see the fish under there:

Don't worry about us....

We're just fine here in Florida!

The trip begins!

I'm writing this from the very hot, sunny sunshine state of Florida! Matthew was an absolute angel on the trip down. Considering we had to wake him up at 4AM to get to the airport, I'd say I'm a proud mama. Matthew slept the entire 2 1/2 hour plane ride to Phoenix and then was just so good on the 4 hour ride that followed. We landed in Birmingham (yes, we took a round about way here to save some money) and then drove the rental car to Florida. And here we are. Matthew had a rough time going to sleep last night, the traveling and time change messed him up I'm sure. But he slept 11 hours straight and took his usual naps today, so I'd say he's fine now. Tomorrow is beach day!

Matthew asleep on the plane:

With grandma in the backyard feeding the fish and the ducks in the lake:

Some fun before vacation

I've been getting behind on posting on here, so I thought I'd share some fun pictures before we leave for vacation. Did someone say vacation?? YES!- we drive out to Portland today and our flight leaves at 6 AM tomorrow. We will be in Florida for a few weeks- almost 2 for Mike and 3 for Matthew and me. One week at Mike's parents and then off to help my mom move into the new home. Hopefully some beach time somewhere in there :-)

Anyway, the pictures- this first one just cracked me up. Matthew sleeps with this little frog lovey. And by lovey, I mean, he LOVES this thing. We have a "back up" identical one that is stored in a drawer in his room. The other one stays in his crib, as it is a sleeptime comfort item. On this particular day, Matthew was playing in his room and I go in to find him with BOTH loveys. That's right. He yanked the one out of his crib and then he routed around in the drawer until he found the other. Too cute. Too funny.

A little naked baby time before bed. His favorite way to be!

Hanging out with his buddy Paul.

Hanging outside with daddy on carwash day.

For additional cuteness- here is another walking video. We had to buy him some new shoes for walking in public places. It took some getting used to, but I think he's finally got it down.

My little walker

Well, it's not the best video. Matthew broke my good camera, so the quality is not great, the lighting is bad, BUT....my baby is walking! Really walking. Not just a step here, a step there. To get an idea of what this looks like, click here.

Happy Birthday Erika!

I have a birthday twin.

How much more fun does it get? Someone to celebrate with, toast a happy birthday with a martini in hand (espresso to be exact), someone to get sick with eating our birthday gelato's.

How perfect to meet a friend who shares the same birthday!

Happy Birthday Erika! You are one awesome lady.

A beautiful woman, a fabulous mommy, a great friend.

May you have a wonderful year!!

(and later, it's much too early in the morning, I will raise my glass and toast to you!)

We had lots of good times celebrating in Baltimore together:

Oh how the times have changed!

Now we have very special little guys to help celebrate with us!

And I'll never, ever tell which one of us is older!

We'll keep that our little secret.

11 months old!

One month shy of being a ONE-year-old. No way!

(to mark the occasion, we moved him to his big-boy carseat today! He loved it. In case you're wondering, yes it's rear-facing still. Law says rear until 1 year AND 20 pounds. Mommy law says rear-facing WAY longer.)