Redo on the video clip

So I think there were some issues with the video I imbedded from YouTube a few posts back. I've tried a new site that seems to work better. You should be able to hit play here and see it!!

I wanna hold your haaaaand

Can you have a first date at 10 months? Her dad may say otherwise, but Miles was making the most of our lunch at Calypso with Karley and her mom. We hadn't seen Karley in a while and from the minute she walked through the door he was bouncing and laughing. His table manners were lacking - he threw his cup at her a couple of times and had black beans and sweet potatoes up to his elbows - but she was entertained. Here's a little montage of their "date" (click on the picture to see it larger).

So the problem with a new camera? We've taken a zillion photos!! Rather than fill this page with all the shots, I've updated Miles's collection in Shutterfly. The link is here and also permanently on this page to the top right (More Pictures of Miles) so you can see everything.

Oh and thanks for the book recommendations!! Keep them coming. I found Ashley's recommended "The Kite Runner" at the library first and have already finished it. Wow, such a moving story. A great recommendation, thanks Ash! And Happy Birthday too!!!

Happy 1st Father's Day!

My two boys... Miles & daddy enjoyed their first father's day together. Daddy got to sleep in a little bit and we played out in the yard some too. Miles gave him a new camera!! We thought about some fancy digital SLR but decided we're just point and shooters anyway. So for a fraction of the price we got a digital camera that is WAY better than ours from 4 years ago. I guess it's amazing how far technology can go in a few years (sing it with me.. "I still love technology"), or maybe it's sad that what you buy now will be practically obsolete in a year or so.



Miles enjoys trying to copy what mommy does. It's his new game. I've been working on getting him to crow like the rooster using his barn and see n' say. He kind of does that. And he's starting to "oooo" after the cow. But the cutest are his expressions. We have a Baby Einstein book with animals making faces (smiling, peek-a-boo, sticking out tongue) and one face is cow puffing his cheeks full of air. That is Miles's favorite!!! Here he is puffing his cheeks, getting ready to blow, ppffffftttt......

SCANDAL!!!!

MAN DRIVES WITH BABY IN LAP

Okay okay, please don't call CFS on us. It's just up the driveway to the garage when daddy gets home from work. But after watching poor Britney last night, I guess we need to be careful. I hope that I'd make better wardrobe decisions, but we all know how klutzy I can be. The "almost dropped the baby" scenario flashes through my mind every time I step off a curb. And I don't have an entourage who might carry my drink for me. But I digress.... Miles LOVES driving the car. He practically leaps from my arms when he sees daddy anyway, but when he knows he's going to get to lap-drive - I really do almost drop the baby. Today he even saw me in the rear-view mirror. Maybe he'll do better than his mom on his driving test one day.

And he enjoys his toy cars too! These are out of a Wendy's kids meal from my pregnant meat craving days. He just sat on the floor scuffing them around. Busy busy. He kept going for about 15 minutes!! Check out the look of "I'm busy here" towards the end...



Yesterday Miles & I met YaYa at the library for the Birds on Wheels! presentation. The guy from the TN Valley Exotic Birds Club had several birds and lots of information about them. We made it through 2 birds. Miles really liked looking at the other kids and the second bird, a Congo African grey parrot, caught his attention with his fluttering feathers.

Miles is now signed up for the Hiss, Rumble & Roar summer reading program. He has to listen to 20 books to get the prizes. I think we hit 20 books a day if we can count 9 readings of Hand, Hand Fingers, Thumb and 12 of Go, Dog. Go! But we won't do that. I'm going to attempt the adult summer reading program, which requires 4 books. It does specify "age appropriate" material, so ix-nay on the Goodnight Gorilla and Hola! Jalapeno. Does anyone have suggestions?

the injured list

While giving Miles his afternoon bottle in the corner chair he was completely enthralled by the vase of branches behind us. So much that he barely finished half of the bottle and began to climb me to get up the chair. I gave him a boost so he could lean up the chair back. He wanted to keep going so I decided it was time to move to the floor.

 On to his little activity table... he loves pulling up on this thing and playing "Stir stir stir the soup..." (it's a table place setting, complete with napkin and S&P!). But today he slipped and banged his mouth on the edge. Oh my god, it was awful. He was screaming and I saw blood so I just dialed the pediatrician's immediately. He wouldn't let me look in his mouth or touch his lips so I got some ice in a towel and tried to wipe. They connected me with a nurse and Miles was finally calming down so I could tell the teeth were fine and the blood was gone. There was just a small red bump inside his lip, but the bleeding stopped. So huge drama averted, we went back to play.

BUT THEN.... he did it again BAM! right on the kisser. This time he was wailing from the surprise more than hurt. There was no blood but I decided I'd take the nurse up on her suggestion to let him suck on a popsicle. Yum!! So a few minutes later he was loving his first tastes of sugar and we were both covered in sticky orange syrup. But the camper was happy again. Oh, and I took the legs of that table. 

When did this happen?

 Maybe Kate & Evan inspired him, or maybe this is just what happens after you turn 9 months old. But all of a sudden we don't have a baby anymore!! I can't bring myself to call him a toddler yet, but I know that's what he's starting to be. He can pull himself up on just about anything, beds, dressers, lamps, toys; he can chase me around the house on all fours; he knows what he wants to play with and he's going to get it. As Wayne told me last night, I'm going to have my hands full!!
Like today... he's napping (well, maybe not, I just heard him) and I'm cleaning everything in preparation for our playdate. Miles and 3 older ladies!! It's our church playgroup and this is the first time they're coming to our house. The other three in our group have all turned one. Since we've been so busy the last month we've not seen them since he really started crawling. Wow, will he impress them today!! 

Another first

Miles enjoyed his first visit to the zoo with cousins Kate & Evan this weekend. I was really impressed with the Kids Cove area - lots of farm animals and a cool climbing area, although I highly recommend bringing your own lunch. Miles got face to beak with a big rooster, and checked out some pigs and baby goats. Evan & Kate soaked themselves milking the big plastic cow. But the best education they don't realize they got was from a couple of Aldabran Tortoises. Maybe on our next visit there will be a few more tortoises to see! :)


Earlier in the week, Wayne & Elizabeth's Aunt Simone & Uncle Jim stopped by on their way to a family reunion. Of course we all should have been attending the reunion as well, but decided it would be much more fun in a few years when they aren't so dependent on those naps to be happy!
Anyway, this was Simone & Jim's first time to meet their great neice and nephews. It was getting close to that naptime so there wasn't much playtime, but they got some quick squeezes in.

The cousins had a great time playing together. Miles loves to see them and can't wait to get into everything with them. I know how much fun I had with my cousin growing up and I can't wait to see what antics these three get into!!