Florida...Happy Birthday Paul!!!

So many things made this trip to Florida so perfect! One of them being, we were finally home to celebrate so many birthdays with everyone!

My Uncle Paul turned 27, so we went out to the CheeseCake Factory to celebrate! We were sure to embarrass him by secretly telling the waitress it was his birthday. And boy did they do a good job embarrassing him...as did the rest of the room! He turned so red as we all sang him Happy Birthday!!!

Everyone had such a great time! Especially my Grandpa...his food order was made perfectly! *wink* *wink* OK, so his meal might not have been perfect, the first, second, or third time...but the sunset home sure was!!!

The next day we headed over to Auntie Lisa's house to sing him Happy Birthday again! This time, with a homemade cake that Auntie Lisa made!!! The night before my cousin Tyler had a belly ache so they couldn't make dinner, so it was nice to have everyone together this time!!!

Happy Birthday Uncle Paul!!!

Florida...Happy 5 Year Anniversary!!!

Mommy and Daddy were SO excited to introduce me to Sarasota! They tell me it's one of the most special places to them. Not only is it where they met, but it's also where they married!!! Each and every time Mommy and Daddy come home to Florida, they are sure to visit! And what better time for me to finally go, than on their 5 year wedding anniversary!!!

When Mommy and Daddy first married, the following day they took a picture of themselves as Newlyweds! Five years later, they stood out on the same balcony (sort of, same hotel, different room) and took another picture. This time they had me, their everything, with them!!! (Yes, Daddy did change his cloths over the past five years! hehehehe)

2004


2009

After we got to the hotel, we went out for a special anniversary dinner!!!

During dinner, I was such a good boy, that the restaurant gave me a "Best Tommy Bahama Baby of the Century" award! I was pretty proud of myself!!!

Once the sun set a little (it was way to strong for me in the daytime) we headed out to the beach! This was my first time ever seeing the ocean! And boy did I love it!

Later that night, once I went to bed, Mommy and Daddy had fun taking some night shots.

The next night we headed back out to the beach to watch the sun set. It sure was beautiful! So was all that dry sand! It was my favorite thing ever! I had so much fun playing with it, and never once did I try to put it in my mouth! I did however go to itch my eye, so Mommy and Daddy quickly washed off my hands so I didn't get any in my eyes! Phew, that was a close one!

The next morning, as we were heading back to Tampa, we were sure to go out on the balcony to get some pictures together. Like I always do when I have built up love, I went into attack mode!

We sure did have an amazing time as a family in Sarasota! I can now say it's a special place for me as well!

Florida...Sundays, gotta love them!!!

Sundays are just the best. They are filled with...

time to bond...




Time to argue and time to mediate...



time to make music with loved ones...





time to play...





and time for my very first boat ride on the lake!







Like I said... Sundays, gotta love them!

Florida...Happy Birthday Tyler!!!

We were so excited to be able to celebrate Cousin Tyler's 1st birthday with him!!! Everything about the day was a ton of fun!!!

We got to sing him Happy Birthday! And Cousin Lauren got to help him blow out the candle! But not before he got his very 1st birthday wish in there!

After that, he dug straight into his very own birthday cake!!! He thought it was so much fun rubbing it all of his face, that he decided to be a great brother and share with his sister!!!

It was such a great time having everyone together to celebrate with him!!!







And I have to say, playing with all his new toys wasn't all that bad either!!!!





To thank us all for coming, Tyler decided to walk (by himself) for the every first time on his birthday!!! It was a great thank you gift for everyone to see!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TYLER!!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Flordia...Our Arrival!!!

Last month (June 26th-July12) we packed up our bags and headed to Florida! The last time I was here I was just under 3 months, so I was very excited to visit everyone again...as was Mommy and Daddy!





As Mommy was walking by Cousin Laurens room, she saw her trying so hard to put her hair in pig tails so she could look her very best for us!



It wasn't long before Mommy was busted!!!



My relationship with my cousin Tyler was a very interested one! From a distance, we would make each other laugh so much! Because of this, everyone thought it would be a great idea to sit us next to one another so we could play!



They were wrong! For the first few days, it pretty much went like this each and every time... Cousin Tyler would be playing with a toy, I would take that toy, Cousin Tyler would get upset and scream/cry, this would then scare me and I would start to cry!



Cousin Lauren on the other hand, she has had so much practice being such a great big sister, she knew exactly how to make me laugh! And it wasn't from a distance!







It sure did feel great to be back!!!

9 Months Old!!!

I'm 9 months old!!! When Mommy and Daddy woke to wish me a happy 9 months, they sure were surprised to see me standing with a big smile on my face! (No, Mommy does not sleep with her camera by her bedside...Daddy was nice enough to grab it for her! haha!)

I pretty much try and pull up on everything I can get my hands on. I've been doing a great job at pulling to my knees, so they were very surprised to see I had made it all the way to my feet!!!

I've pretty much mastered crawling. I'm fast...very fast! When Mommy and Daddy are in another room, they are sure to keep an ear out for me. When they hear me start to breath really hard with excitement, and my hands patting quickly on the floor, they know they need to move quick. This is a sure sign I am heading for something that I should NOT be crawling to...and I usually have a big smile on my face as I am doing it!!! (I love the remote control, computer scanner, computer chair, Daddy's work bag, Daddy's belt, phone, touch lamp, and DVD's. Basically, anything that's not a toy of mine!)

There is not one thing about being changed that I enjoy! I cry through the entire process. And if that's not enough to get Mommy and Daddy to stop...I add a squirm to the cry!!! Mommy and Daddy were some what OK with this since they only have to do it two times a day, however, I've now decided I hate my diaper being changed as well. And we all know that happens WAY MORE than two times a day!!!

My two teeth are really starting to show! Mommy and Daddy think it adds a nice touch to my already precious smile! However, I've yet to want to use my teeth. Puffs/Cheerios are the only solid foods I eat right now. Mommy will try to slip some banana in a bite of my baby food, but I reach right in my mouth, take out the banana, and continue enjoying the rest of the food. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it soon!!! Especially since I have a new high chair to hang out in while I practice. (Now that I'm on the move, my Bumbo just didn't cut it anymore!)

I'm constantly practicing my waving! Just this morning I was waving, but then I caught a glimpse of my hand moving, stared at it for a second, and then put it in my mouth!!! So I'm easily distracted :)

Mommy and Daddy are SO proud of my accomplishment this past month! They love that I am so curious! They love that I love to explore! They love that I'm starting to express that there are things I like, and things I don't like! They love that I love to roll on the floor and wrestle with them! And that I love music! I'm no longer the little baby that couldn't lift his own head. As sad as they are that it seems I'm growing so quickly, they are enjoying each second that they get to watch me become my own!

We love you Eric!
(I'll update your weight once you have your 9 month Dr. appointment)

Love Hurts!

Sometimes I love my toys soooo much...that I just don't know how to contain myself!!!

P.S. Last week I learned how to wave. I do a lot of practicing during the day (as you can see at the end of the video) and it's paid off!...I've successfully waved goodbye 2 times now!