Happy Birthday Abbie!!!

Happy Birthday Abbie!!!!

Wishing a very happy 3rd birthday to Joey's cousin Abbie! Unfortunately due to a terrible cold Joey and I have we could not go to her birthday party, but this is a great picture just the same of Abbie and Joey.

Another good picture of Abbie, Joey and Abbie's brother Dominic. Abbie is letting Joey play her recorder : )

Misc Updates and Gatlinburg

Nothing big to report...Joey is cutting his molars (fun fun) and loves to go to the playground and play with other kids. At the playground we go to all the other Mothers call him the Ladies Man because he is such a HUGE FLIRT with all the girls. I even noticed he does not like to share with the boys but if a girl is using his truck he doesnt seem to mind....smart boy! He is so adept at walking and running and loves to climb up and sit on the couch or his rocker. Shape sorting and stacking are now his favorite things and he is pretty good at it!

Weekend before last, on a whim, we headed up to Gatlinburg. We went to the Aquarium and Boyds Bear Country.

We soon discovered things changed a whole lot, Joey still loved the fish, but loved the playground and other kids WAY more!!! See me there...just call me helicopter mother...hover hover hover. None the less Joey is still very indepedent minded and strong willed, wonder where on earth he would have gotten a personality like that :)


Ahoy mates!!!!

I am not sure who was more interested in whom, this crab and Joey were both checking each other out:)Maybe Joey was thinking yummy crab legs....

At Bear Country Joey tried on his own set of bear ears...very cute.

Here he is when we asked him to give the bear a hug.

Gearing up for the BIG holiday already, Joey was very excited to see Santa.

From the home front, Joey has found a new hiding spot and it is no longer home to the pots and pans but to Joey Zanoni :) This is his ABSOLUTE FAVORITE spot to hide and boo Mommy. (Its funny he hides behind a particular chair to boo Daddy)

Happy Birthday Dada!!!

Happy Birthday to Joey's Dada!!!!

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We went to Big Eds to celebrate Bill's birthday, this was Joey's first visit ever and we all had a blast - not to mention still the BEST pizza ever!

Here you can see Joey is enjoying his first piece of pizza, he ate 1 1/2 pieces...not shabby for a little guy!!!

And here he is doing his now infamous poking of his food before he will eat it : )

Back at the house we opened gifts and had cookie cake.
Here is Bill opening his gift from Joey a hat & shirt that says Super Dad.

Reading his card from Joey

"Talking" about Dada's new movie

Blowing out the candles

Another flashback picture: Joey and Dada on Dada's Birthday Last Year. Joey was 3 weeks old.

1 Year Checkup

Well we went to Joey's 1 year checkup this week. Joey weighed in at 23 lb 7oz and was 29 3/4 inches tall. The Dr said he is doing great and even said she thought his aptitude and development was that of an 18 month old - which of course makes Mommy and Daddy VERY PROUD!!!

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It is so hard to believe that a year has gone by...the changes are incredible. Anyway how about a little flashback for reference.
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Here is a picture of the little guy inside me! This is me painting clouds in the nursery. I am about 5 1/2 months here - I love this pic because we were still in the closet about the pregnancy but you can see that Joey had definitely made his presence known. Needless to say we "came out" soon after : )

And here is his hospital picture he weighed in at 6 lbs 11 oz and 19 3/4 inches long next to a current picture- can you believe the change. He has gained 17 lbs and grown 10 inches!!

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Anyway on to some pictures from the last few weeks:

I read that kids at this age have security objects and Joey is no exception - in fact he has TWO!!

Here is his soft Rusty Bear who must be in his crib for sleeping and who he likes to drag around.

Most importantly Joey with his Wubi blanket (wrapped around him here) .....life with Wubi is much better than life without...believe me. I fact he is so attached to this blanket that I ran out and bought 2 replacements JUST IN CASE!!

Here he is with his toy broom, he loves to help me sweep the floors...and he is actually very skilled at it!!

Just a funny hairdo after we got in from swimming..Joeys hair seems to be getting a little wavy on us lately and so it is going in ALL directions!!

And as promised more birthday pics!!

Birthdays Galore- Happy 4th Bday Jacob

My very good and old friend (no I am not saying she is old I am saying we have been friends since around 2nd grade...long time) Daniella (I call her Donnie but think I may be the only one anymore : ) has two wonderful sons and last Sunday we went to her oldest sons Jacob's Fourth Birthday Party and had a GREAT TIME!!! Happy 4th Birthday!!

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Here is the birthday boy ready to dive into his Little Einstein Cake- it was delicious!!

And here is Daniella with Jacob opening presents

Jacob opening Joeys present to him and as you can see Joey and Jacob's little brother Benjamin are in the pic but not paying a whole lot of attention to the present opening : )

Joey loved the pin the tail on the blow up donkey!

and he loved the tunnel, we could hardly keep him out of it for other kids to get a turn.

All kids favorite tissue paper!!!!

Choo Choo...all aboard the sippy express!!! Chugga Chugga

Happy 1st Bday

Happy First Birthday Joey!!!!!

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I wanted to upload more photos but since I have been trying for 3 days to get them to load (as you may know if you tried to call us) I am giving up and will try again later.
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Anyway, here is Joey on his birthday July 19th first thing in the morning we let him open a gift....he had a blast opening it!!!

So then we loaded up and went to the zoo.

Here is Joey and Dad with the black bears.

Joey and I looking at a bird, I didn't realize he was pointing too : )

In front of the elephants

Joey trying to grab a big goat

Looking VERY adorable in the birds nest at Kids Cove.

Joey all excited to eat his cake I made him....well not really he is laughing at his Grampy. Joey is not a big fan of having cake and icing in his hands-a neat freak like his Dad.

Ready to open his gifts.

On his fire truck Mom and Dad got him.

Joey's First Birthday Party

On Saturday we had Joey's First Birthday party and we had a great turnout of well over 25 people. Joey had a blast!!!!
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Here is the front of the house all done up with decorations and a big Happy Birthday banner.

And here is Joey's First Birthday cake ever!!! and it was delicious too!

A quick pic with Mom and Dad before the guests arrive

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Joey was not too pleased to be dressed up and put in his high chair while all the other kids run around and play. The look on his face says it all : )

Then when we gave him his cake he poked and poked it, but would not dig in. He is a picky eater and does not like mushy stuff.


So finally Dad shoved his hands in and he did NOT like that!!!

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Then came present time! You can see his cousin Dominic really wanted a turn in the Big Orange Rocker!!

Finally some pics of the FUN part - bubble and play time!!!!
Here he is trying to "catch" bubbles with his cousin Abbie and his friend Luke.

Catching bubbles again from the ball pit this time.

Chillin' in the ball pit.