Our trip Day 2: Rays Game!

Sunday was baseball day! Kim had planned the ballgame a couple of months ago as one of my Father's Day gifts. She did such a great job!

Michael decided to sleep in a bit so our day began a little later than normal. First on our agenda was a visit to Molly and Andy's, who live a few minutes from downtown St Pete. Molly and Kim were sorority sisters at Winthrop. Also, visiting this weekend was another sister of Kim's, Kelli, and her boyfriend Mike.

As we were getting ready, Michael felt that he was not quite clean enough so tried to join Mama in the shower :) He loves the tub and this has become somewhat of a new habit, throwing the curtain to the side and working his way to the water!

So, finally baseball time!!! Michael caught a quick 15 minute nap on the way to Tropicana Field and we arrived.




What was so great is that Kim had really planned this event well! My first pro game, in 1982, was the Twins and Royals in Kansas City...Michael's first game was also the Royals! It was Family Fun Day at "The Trop!" Not only great seats by the picnic area and Royals bullpen, but free hot dog, drink, and cracker jack, too! If the Lil Dude was walking, he could've run the bases afterwards.
















Michael absolutely LOVED being at the Park! He enjoyed watching all of the people, even playing peek-a-boo with the ladies in front of us...He liked clapping along to the music and all of the rally chants, etc. The Lil Dude did sooooo great!!! We, as usual, recieved a lot of compliments from the people around us on how well-behaved he was(especially for only having a 15 minute nap.) Of course, all of this action going on and he really couldn't have cared less that he was witnessing a no-hitter into the 8th inning!!! Shields lost it as well as the game in the 8th, however. Michael finallay did fall asleep, shortly there after, sometime during the 8th...Didn't even flinch when the diesel horn went off in the 9th for a home run...He was OUT!!!
What a terrific day!!! Enjoy some more pics...

Not digging the cotton candy

Our trip Day 1: St. Pete Pier

Our little family traveled down to St. Petersburg on Saturday for an extended weekend which included a Rays game and celebrating our 2nd anniversary. We got into town and before checking into our hotel, we made a trip over to the Pier. We decided to grab something to eat before we strolled around. We found a place called Capt Al's which had some great food and mashed potatoes for the little guy! Here are some photos :)

Michael laughing...

at me eating a sandwich! He thinks everything is funny!

After lunch, Michael got a surprise treat! We met this nice man at the Pier who made animal balloons! Michael watched intently while he worked...

Michael may not be displaying enthusiasm when he got his monkey, but we assure you, he LOVED it! He played with the darn thing all day until it came apart :)


We walked around the Pier, went to the Aquarium but only hung out in the gift shop. We were ready to leave and head to the hotel to check in and swim! However, before we left the Pier, we had to get some family pictures!

My wonderful boys!

Me and Michael blowing kisses!

Our family!

After a fantastic afternoon, we finally went to the hotel!

We checked in, unpacked and headed straight for the pool! After a nice swim, we went to dinner at Baywalk and had some sushi followed by desert at Ben and Jerry's! Couldn't have asked for a better first day of vacation! Daddy is going to complete Day 2! Enjoy and we love and miss everyone!

Almost.....

So, each day brings something new and amazing from the Lil Dude. Michael has been shuffling around the furniture for quite a little while now, but he's been tentative to move forward...Until now!




We cannot believe that we are about to have a walker on our hands :)

I love how, when he's done...He is done! "I'm NOT your trained monkey!!!"

Ellie's 1st Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Ms. Ellie Skye!! She turned 1 on the 24th of July and Amy and Gary gave her the most precious 1st birthday party! Michael had a blast too, enjoying her company and toys, but not the cupcakes so much :)

Ellie got so many wonderful presents! From a walker/rider thingy to a learning purse, she was captivated by it all!

Michael apparently loved Ellie's bday gifts too...

Ellie's Aunt Tara made some magnificent cupcakes... little pink piggies! They were adorable and so tasty! Ellie kinda got into the cupcake but seemed to enjoy mamma and dadda licking the icing off her fingers more :)



So Michael was not all about the cupcake. We had an incident in daycare a few months back where he was given a cupcake that had blue icing. He had broke out in hives but we figured since Tara's little cakes were homemade, including the icing, lil man would be ok! Good thing we brought the Benadryl! Here are the results...


Overall, the party was a success! The little ones played together, both laughed at each other as well as cried :) They were super cute and you could tell they just had a blast!


Michael gave everyone kisses goodbye... even the sliding door :) That is our little man! He is one of a kind :)

We love and miss you all!

The countdown is on...

Little man is really 11 months old? Seriously? Michael has grown like crazy over the past month. As we continue to prep for his 1 year birthday party and deal with our crazy busy lives, we still just sit back and watch him as much as we can. It is truly amazing how quickly they grow. Here is an update on the little guy...

*We aren't sure of his exact stats right now. We took him to his PCP 2 weeks ago and he weighted in at 24 lbs 2 oz and was 28 1/4 in.

*Michael is pulling up on anything and everything. Us, his high chair, couch, ottoman, baby gate... whatever he can find.

*He is constantly walking too but is having to hold onto to something, ie furniture, toys, etc. It won't be long before he's walking without assistance. Oh boy...

*Little man has learned how to crawl... up the stairs!! Gates are now in place after a little accident :)

*Michael gives us kisses! On the forehead, nose, cheeks and lips :) He has learned to close his mouth and pucker but most of the time he gives us his nice, open-mouthed wet kisses!

*Food... where do we start! This little man decided a few weeks back that he would REFUSE all baby foods. Great... an entire cabinet of baby food... anyone in need of stage 2 and 3 foods? Anyways, we have had to alter his diet. He is all about egg yolks for bfast. He will have vienna sausages, salmon, mashed potatoes, saltine crackers and spaghetti for his other meals. We also give him the Gerber Graduate foods like puffs, biter biscuits, lil crunchies and the lil sides. As you can see, he still loves food :) Sippy... still in progress...

*Michael is able to carry on a conversation with us or the TV at length, with us having no idea what he is saying. Convo consists of entire paragraphs full of different consonant and vowel sounds as well as inflexion and emotion. When Michael decides he wants something, he says our name "mama" or "dada." When he does not get what wants, he will redirect his conversation to the other parent, saying their name over and over again... :)

*It's time for bed and... he no longer cries! We put him in the crib. We give him his puppy to snuggle with as well as his blankie and off to sleep he goes! YES! Bed time around 8:30... and up anywhere between 6:30 and 7:30 am. It's wonderful...

*Most important... he is healthy! We had do deal with that MRSA thing earlier this month but he is doing amazing.

We are currently in the process of birthday planning :) Hard to believe we have 1 month to go before he is 1!!!

Michael sends kisses to you all :)