Straight from the carton....

Miles is coming victoriously from the kitchen holding the empty milk jug that was set aside for recycling. It was his favorite thing for an hour or so.

He kept showing it off to me like he had found the coolest thing ever created.

And then he gave me a preview for when he is a teenager, and is too lazy to get a glass.....things to look forward to I suppose.

Shapes

Miles has begun to enjoy sorting his toys. We have an old animal craker jug that he will put his toys in and out of. He gets really frustrated when something is too big to fit into it. Here he is with his shape sorter. He can't do the shapes by himself because he won't find the right side, but with help he is a pro.

It is so fun to see him learning these things, and his tendencies to want to put things away. (hooray for me!)

Friday Flashback!

Well, My sister Jen was good enough to give kudos to my sister and her husband on the day of their anniversary, but I am sure it is no surprise to anyone that I didn't remember. Instead they are getting their very own flashback Friday!!!
Here are some of my favorite pictures from their beautiful wedding.

Amanda and John's first dance.

Father-Daughter dance.

My niece Taylor was an excellent flower girl, looking adorable in her peach and green dress.

My nephew Tate, looking a little confused by the giant flower pinned to his shirt.

Congratulations on another great year in love! May the next be overflowing with joy, adventure, laughter, and love!

His Favorite Hat

Its hardly a summer hat, but Miles found it in my hat drawer and fell in love. He doesn't wear it long, but he wants so badly for me to put it on his head, or for me to wear it myself. He looks pretty ridiculous, especially when it is over 90 degrees out :)

The Stats are In

Since Miles had an ear infection on his birthday the doctor couldn't give him his shots, and he was so ornery that he wouldn't let them weigh him or take any measurements. We went to his follow-up appointment this morning and got to get all of that done.
Drum roll please.....

weight: 23 pounds, 12 ounces.....50-75th percentile
head circumference: 18.5 inches......50-75th percentile
height: 33.5 inches.......above the 97th percentile

No huge surprises there. He is sitting in the same percentiles that he usually does. I was recently put to shame with my bragging about how big Miles is, when my friend Carrie posted that her 4 month old was over 17 pounds....over 17 pounds!!! The doctor recommended that we take him to an eye doctor because she thinks one may be lazy. I have no idea what that means or entails, but I am sure the eye doctor will answer all my questions.
The rest of the doctors appointment was horrendous. First they drew blood from his right arm, then gave him shots in the back of both legs, then poked him with a TB test in his left arm. He screamed bloody murder the entire time, and we needed to ask another nurse to come in and help us hold him down....three of us on top of him. He had his blanket the whole time, but nothing would calm him. When they finished I picked him up and he was just whimpering in my arms....it was heartbreaking. Thank goodness that is over. He is napping now, and I hope he sleeps for 4 hours.

Friday Flashback!!!!

Since Mile hit the big year mark this week, I figured it was only appropriate to take us back.

1 month....he pretty much slept the whole time (thank goodness)

2 months, loving his bouncy chair.

3 months, still pretty mellow.

4 months....smiles smiles smiles.

5 months and drooling like a champ

6 months....our little model.


7 months and getting even more teeth.

8 months, looking very sweet.

9 months and all smiles

10 months looking very ferocious.

at 11 months looking charming.

My Big One year old boy!

Haircut.

Before....

After....

My Dad will be so happy to see the Miles got a much needed haircut. Our first attempt turned out pretty awful, but I think we spruced it up pretty well by the end of things.

A Rainy Day.

As most of you know by know, the park is a big event for Miles everyday. We get his shoes and socks on, some snacks and water together, and set up the stroller. Well on Sunday we did all of this only to open the door and see it pouring down rain. What!!? I swear it was just sunny outside.

Miles was so disappointed, he just kept going back to the door over and over again. Finally James let him look outside and Miles just stood there watching the rain come down. He still didn't really understand why we couldn't go out.

There was a break in the rain, and the sun came out so we decided to head out. Unfortunately for us, the clouds moved rather quickly and we got stuck in a summer downpour....not too far from home, but we were all soaked by the end of it.

The Cake

OK OK. I get it, you want to see the cake. Do you really think I wasn't going to show you?:)

As some of you know Miles has a little obsession with shoes. (who knows where he gets that from...hee hee)
So that is what I made him, a shoe.

I was going to model it after some super cute red sneakers he got from Grandma Checchio, but the idea of trying to clean red icing off of him kind of turned me off, so I went with white shoes with colorful details. (the colors I know that come off my hands easier)

Unfortunately for Miles he spiked a pretty high fever out of the blue yesterday, so no cake for him. Which also means, no pictures of him slathering his entire face in cake and icing. Maybe we will have to have a belated event when he is feeling better. At least he has his one year appointment today so there won't be an extra trip to the doctor's office.

Happy Birthday Miles!!!!

Well, today is the day! Miles turned one today. I think I have sung him Happy Birthday like 15 times, and he has no idea what it going on. He probably just thinks I am having one of my crazy singing days.



This past year has been so fun watching him explore and grow. He is so determined, if he wants something, or to be able to do something, he will try and try until he accomplishes it. (even if it means getting a little help)


James and I love this little guy to pieces and we can't wait to see what another year will bring!

Park

Miles was with James this morning while I was working. James reported that Miles picked up his shoes from inside his diaper bag, walked over to his stroller and started chatting. Then he walked over to James, shoes in hand, and took him over to the stroller. We guess he wanted to go to the park.....so cute to see him connecting these things. He spent the time at the park holding the head of a flower and showing it to all the other kids around. He would hold it out just long enough for them to want it, and then pull away. Such a little tease. :)

Friday Flashback!!!

So this flashback doesn't take us back too far, but a lot has changed. Here I am just one year ago. About to pop...looking a little nervous, maybe even slightly terrified about what was coming up, and completely exhausted from going to school at night, while working 60 hours a week. People may think I am exaggerating, but unfortunately I am not. What was I thinking!!! What a blessing it was that our best friends talked us into getting pregnant. I loved my work, and always loved being busy and thought that it defined who I was. My life is so much more full now....not of things to do, but of love, joy and family. I can only assume that things will only get better.

Bridal Shower!

Elizabeth....our glowing bride looking darling in her hat.

Leah (the maid of honor) and Jenelle looking beautiful. At this point we were all hot from wearing our hats, and they had to come of.

Miles spent the afternoon with Dad. But when he got home from the park he thoroughly enjoyed eating the delicious food. :)

What a good sport!

Elizabeth is striking a pose and her friends wrap her in mounds of toilet paper to make her a heinous wedding dress. It was so hot, and she was such a good sport letting us make her look ridiculous.

Priscilla looking adorable while she watches Elizabeth open all of her presents.

I think this one was the fan favorite. Owen is a huge Yankees fan, and Elizabeth is a huge Red Sox fan. So they are arch nemesis when it comes to baseball. The tank reads....."I love the Yankees even more than I love Owen" It was also paired with some Red Sox Sucks undies. We joked that out of all the lingerie she got, Owen would find this the sexiest.

Beautiful Christina! She looked super chic in her hat, something that not all of us pulled off in the same way.