1st Birthday Pictures!!

We returned to our favorite place to get photos taken today to capture Joseph at one year.



Again, we couldn't keep him from laughing and having more fun than you would think possible.

He's quick when he gets moving! I think the photographer was having a hard time keeping up!

Silly Little Monkey!!


And at the end of it all I think I got a few great pictures for the photo album!!





This last photo was of Joseph gearing up to lick the floor to see if it was real sand. Fortunately he was distracted by one of the photographers...

In the end he was great and we had a fabulous time getting pictures done, but all that fun really wore the little guy out!!

The new house feels like a home!!

Joseph and Boober were such a help when we were packing up the old house and setting up the new one. I just realized Joseph's wardrobe in the following pictures and I assure you that there was a laundry day in between and that he usually wears more than a single piece of clothing. I promise.


Having all of the family down for a visit really warmed the house up nicely! The house really feels like our home.


We've nearly unpacked and have figured out a lot of stuff that was tossed to save on packing may be sort of missed. There are also a few things on the counter in the old kitchen that should have made there way over but haven't yet...(our vanilla extract was missed this morning but I don't think anyone even tasted the difference in the French toast).




Our new house has two guest bedrooms! I had so much fun getting the bed linens and new quilts for the rooms. With our futon made into a bed we had three guest beds! Even though, not every one had a bed and a bedside table with a lamp. (sorry Grandma and Grandpa)



And the cleaning crew is just finishing up while Joe and I relax on the back porch.

A First Birthday to Remember!

Joseph had an early first birthday celebration! Mommy forgot to get him a hat to wear, and there was no candle on the cake. Bad mommy, but she'll do her best to remember next year... Thanks to the visiting family for supplying the Ukrop's cake!!



On hand were his Grandparents, Aunt, Uncle, Cousins, and his two Great-Grandmothers!



We had a wonderful weekend of cake, ice cream, and lots to eat!!



Joseph got lots of gifts!!! A sandbox, water table and tons of fun toys to play with at the beach. He also got some new jammies, and for those of you who know our little future Hugh Hefner (only in the wardrobe department!!) he'll be hanging out in those most of his weekends.
We've also learned a new silly song...(thanks Cousin Kayla and Makenzie)!!

We went to the beach....and forgot the camera!

Yep, that's right. We were at the beach, sand, surf and sun...no camera. Joseph loved everything, we'll have to remember to have a camera next time, no 'first time at the beach' photos for the scrapbook.
We did get him some bubbles which he enjoyed after our return, when we had a camera!

Happy First Fathers Day!!!

Ah, it's Joe's first Father's Day and he has earned the title in our household of #1 DAD. A few pictures I'm sure he'd rather not have his friends and family see will hopefully make it clear why he won this award...

Anticipation of Joseph's birth:



Hanging out watching T.V.



Hanging out enjoying the new walkway:



Packing up for the move to the new house:



Being a daddy has changed Joe. What better way to show this transformation than some before and after photos. Observe:

Before/After:

RedFish Grill New Orleans, LA___Wendy's Durham, NC

Before/After:



Before/After:


Remote resort in C.R. ____Our couch in the L.R.
(C.R. = Costa Rica)
Before/After:

Race Girl Top fuel dragster___See the baby on the workbench?

Before/After:



Zion National Park______________The NC Zoo

Before/After:



Before/After:

The Devil's Oven__________________Our Kitchen

Yeah, he wouldn't like his coworkers to see this one. (Hi Matt!!!)

We love you daddy!!!

Happy First Father's Day!!! XXOOXOX!

Breakfast Buffet

Who would have thought that a small pancake and a single oversized strawberry would make a little sick kid's day? Joseph has been working on getting better, a double ear infection has had him resting and recuperating for a few days now.

This morning we had him in his booster seat to have breakfast and he was as happy as can be!

First Haircut

Joseph had his first hair cut at 10 months old. I think we waited a little longer than we should have but we didn't want him to be all grown up. (And by 'we' I mean 'I'.)


Before:

The salon was a kids only place that really catered to the little ones.
Even the chairs and smocks were brightly colored and kid sized.


I was so sad to see my little boy get a big boy haircut but he was so good! He sat in the seat and let the stylist do a great job.


After:

It's OURS!!

So, we signed on the house yesterday! We are officially the proud new owners of 1306 Kintail Drive!
The yard won't be planted until the fall.
The builder still has a few odds and end to clean up around the house, but it is otherwise complete.

The backyard is taking shape!

We went to visit the house today and they have made considerable progress! The backyard is really starting to resemble what we want. It's hard to see in these photos because there isn't any contrast but trust me when I say - it's nearly there!

Lookin' good!