Lots of Updates : )

Hi Everybody! I hope everyone had a safe and fun Fourth!!! We had fun as you will see below!! Joey absolutely loved the fireworks.
sp
As most of you know it isn't long until Joeys First birthday!!!!!! and already he has started getting presents.

This morning there was a gigantic box on the front porch from Fedex addressed to the birthday boy himself, as tall as Joey...so we put him in and let him check it out for himself. You can see he liked it!!

It was Big Orange Vols Rocker from Uncle Rick and Aunt Martha, just the right size forJoey. As Bill unwrapped it he would not let go and wanted to help.

And right away he climbed up and started going to town. You can see it is a big hit!!!

Then he discovered he could stand and rock too!!!! My little fearless boy!!!

All day he has been either sitting or standing in his rocker. He can climb up all by himself and can get down by rocking it forward all by himself!!!! It is a great gift and one that I am sure will be passed down to Joey's own Lil' Vol one day!!!!.
sp
However, this was not Joey's first gift...that came last week from Laura, Joe, Benjamin and Nicholas Roberts. Benjamin and Nicholas picked out this tool kit for him and he has been carrying it around ever since and can even put the shapes in the right places...well the star and circle : ) He loves to walk around and "drill" things with the play drill. Just like Dad!



sp
For Joey's first July 4th we spent a quiet day at home.... I had bought some props to try and get Joey to pose as an Uncle Sam. He was not too keen on my idea and here are some of the shots I tried to get...funny : )


We went outside to see the fireworks and use some of our own....and Joey even found his own way to light up with our red,white and blue yard lights.

He loved it when him and Dad lit some sparklers together

Last weekend we went to Huntsville to my cousin Molly's wedding reception. It was a BLAST!!!!!! Here is a great picture of Joey and his Great Aunt Martha (really she is kind of like a Grandma to him -she and Rick spoil him so much! But she sure doesn't look like a Grandma :)

Me, Joey and Bobby - My 3rd cousin and Joey's 4th cousin!!!! I am so glad Joey got to meet him and I hope we get to see him again SOON!!!

Finally a Public Service announcement from Joey....CRACK KILLS!!!!!

Nuts! Tempers, Pool fun and Remembering

Hey everybody! We have had a crazy week! Yesterday, I had run out of cream cheese that Joey likes on his rice cakes, so I pulled out the peanut butter (he has had peanut butter before)and spread some on....15 minutes later Bill and I were freaking out when we saw Joey breaking out in little red spots and blisters and scratching his eyes hysterically-15 minutes later he was fine-no redness or blisters. See pictures below (click to enlarge, right click to save):

So today we headed to East Tn Childrens for a RAST allergy test. We are PRAYING that he is not allergic to nuts, even though the Dr said it was a very mild reaction in comparison to what it can be... but I am still walking around with an Epi-pen Jr in my purse just in case : (

sp

Lately we have been having trouble with Joey in his high chair....he wants to sit at the table like us. The faces he makes to show his protest are GREAT!!!!
Here is his tough guy look that he does when we say "tough guy"

Here are the puppy dog eyes (note the cream cheese on his nose : )
Here is the mad, get me down NOW face
Now the screamer shows up with cream cheese still on his nose

Finally a happy boy sitting at the big table!

sp

This weekend we were setting up our big pool when Joey crawled in wanting to "help" Daddy and dragged the hose around squirting everything and loving it....himself, mommy and Daddy included.

Uh-oh, right in the face

On a more solemn note, today is the two year anniversary of the loss of Joey's brother. Below is the last picture we have of him alive and well. I will post our story as a comment to this blog (since this is Joeys blog and I dont want to ramble unless its about him) and if you would like to read it feel free. I will also post with it some resources that helped us get through our grief...if you are suffering a loss, please visit some of these sites and know you are not alone.

11 Months Old, Happy Fathers Day and Wedding Fun

Joey is 11 months old and doing GREAT! He is a bundle of energy and NEVER seems to sit down and stop! He has been going on some regular play dates now and LOVES playing with other kids. This past weekend we went to Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain Georgia for my Cousin Molly's wedding. It was a great time and a beautiful wedding!!! Congrats Molly and Parker!!! Below are pics from the weekend..it was so hard to decide what to include since I only took about 150 pictures : )

sp

Happy Fathers Day to all the great fathers out there...but especially to Bill on his first fathers day. Another great picture of Bill and Joey.

At the Callaway Gardens Chapel.

sp

Before the wedding we visited the Butterfly Conservatory. Joey loved the butterflies and tried to chase and catch them.

Here is Joey trying to grab the newly "born" butterflies through the glass where the cocoons are stored.

Here is Joey pointing at and trying to catch one of the butterflies - those darn things sure are fast.

And here is a beautiful, large butterfly eating some orange.

Joey found some great playmates in Benjamin and Nicholas all weekend. Here they are at the rehearsal dinner having a great time!

sp

Now for the Wedding Pics....
Here is our cutie in his Tux...all ready to go!!

On the move as always...catch me if you can : )

Joey and the BEAUTIFUL bride, his second cousin Molly.

Molly and her dad, my Uncle Rick.
Grandmother and Grandaddy Fox tearing up the dance floor!

Me and my boy```

Joey, Bill and Jeff (Molly's brother, my cousin and Joey's second cousin)
Aunt Martha and Uncle Rick....doesn't Aunt Martha look absolutely stunning!!!!
sp
When we got home we celebrated Fathers Day!

Here is Joey kissing the baby (his picture) on Dad's present.

The photos from Bills present...can you tell who is who...one is Bill and one is Joey. Don't they look alike.

sp
Finally a picture of the GREAT time Joey had with the clappers we got at Molly's reception he must have walked around clapping it for a full hour and laughing his head off...he thought the sound was the greatest thing!!!

Happy 1st Bday Dominic, Family Reunion and other misc stuff

Well I had lots more pics to download but for some reason Blogger is not letting me include them...so I will try again later. Here is what have so far.....

space

We had a crazy weekend going here and there...our first stop was the Deyton family reunion in Unicoi, TN. We have a great time seeing extended family here every year and this time Joey got to meet lots of his relatives on his Great-Great Grandmothers side.

sp

Here is Joey with his Great Grandmother, Nana aka Leona Frost : )

And here he is with his Great-Great Aunt Hazel Wilson

We had a tough time getting pics of Joey with people since he does not like to sit anymore....at all...ever...for anything!!!

sp

Then we headed to Oak Ridge for a wonderful 1st Birthday Party for Dominic- Joey's Cousin. Happy Birthday Dominic!!

Here is Dominic digging into his cake

Don't worry Joey your turn is soon enough!!!
Another one of Joey's Cousins Johnny Clark. (actually he is a 2nd cousin....like it matters)

sp

And finally here are some cute pics from the week...

sp

Joey and Daisy having fun

Joey LOVES to pick up the flowers from Mommas garden and then try to EAT THEM!!

sp

Here he is "driving" Daddy's truck

and waving bye-bye to Mom

Finally, just a great smile....look at all those teeth!!!

Last but not least...just wanted to say...

Molly- less than one week to the BIG DAY!!!! We can't wait!