My toddler doing his thing toddling!

Halloween 2009

Happy Halloween Everyone!

A few pictures

Just a quick pic post. Hope everyone is well!

Joey's First Birthday

A big moment.

Joey has of course had several big moments this spring/summer. He got teeth, two bottom teeth first (one at a time,) then one top tooth and then it seemed like three more top teeth all at once. He learned how to crawl. It was only a matter of days later that he was cruising (walking holding onto furniture) around the living room.

The big questions after these moments are is he walking? and is he talking?

To answer the talking one I say yes, a little, but not really either. He will say "dada" and "mama." I think he connects some meaning to those sounds more and more but he does use them it seems for more than just us his parents.

The other big moment I have not mentioned really before now but I thought was note worthy to share, when we made our second trip to Idaho this summer to visit my parents Joey hit one of those other big moments!

I completely missed it but I am proud to say that my mom and Jamie saw Joey take his first steps without holding onto anything. We were visiting my mom while she was recuperating at Q.M. We had a pack-n-play set up next to her bed, Joey was playing in it. He was standing in the center as I understand when he let go of the sides and took a couple steps toward his Grandma (my mom.) I was out in the hallway on the phone for a moment, when I returned to the room Jamie and my mom both told me what Joey had done. I know these firsts are a big deal and witnessing them is special. I'm glad my mom got to witness this one.

Below are some photos from our second visit to Idaho with Joey.

Joey was fascinated by my dad's bolo tie.

Where those steps took place.

Oops!!!

Click the pic to see full size.

Jenifer and I have finally missed a day. We were both trying to make it to his first birthday without missing a day, but it wasn't meant to be. We really have had fun getting so many pictures of Joey and we have caught some great moments. Joey has had his picture taken so much that he is always aware of the camera. We have recently noticed an unintended consequence of all this picture taking that we aren't happy with. What we originally took to be his attempt to smile is really him squinting in anticipation of the flash. We intend to continue to take plenty of pictures to post for our friends and family,but we have decided that after his first birthday we will be taking a much more casual approach. We will no longer be worrying about taking daily pics. We are just gonna capture the good shots as we see them and share those via the photobucket account. I hope you all are doing well and I hope you get the inspiration to post some pictures of your own soon. We really do enjoy them.
Until next time,
Take care of you.

August Daily Pics

First Sip From Daddy's Cup (it's apple juice)

Click the thumbnail to see the slideshow!

I picked a flower for you mommy.

Jamie took Joey out in the front yard with him to get the mail one day, on their way back to the house Joey picked a flower. The flower came from the wreath on the front door. It was a silk flower but he picked it and brought it back with him all the same.

Joey Swimmng

Joey Crawling

Funny Joey

Click on the thumbnail to see a funny slide show!

Just a Swangin...

Hey Mommy... I think he likes it!!!

I'd do just about anything to make you giggle.

Being able to make Joey giggle has motivated me to do many silly things, I'm sure it will continue like that. I've been blowing raspberries on Joey's belly since he was a little baby. It didn't take too long for him to learn that this was funny and I'd get grins and eventually he learned to laugh and giggle.

Today when I was getting him dressed to go out I blew raspberries and waited for him to giggle we had our usual fun getting ready.

This evening Jamie was holding Joey I was sitting next to them on the love seat and Joey wiggled over to be between us. He got to where he could lick my arm I pulled away a bit because he uses his two sharp bottom teeth to bite a little bit. He continued trying and eventually I just let him be. Joey gave me a raspberry on my arm!

Jamie remarked about it, I laughed and we both wondered did he really just do this on purpose. Joey leaned in and blew another raspberry on my arm. He is so cute and boy is he picking up on things.

Bath Time Fun

Joey has been overdue for a new way to take a bath. His sink top bath tub is way too small for him now and it is very hard to maintain the water temperature since he likes to play with everything in sight now... including the faucet. So now he has an inflatable duck that sits in the tub and he can sit up and play with all his water toys. You can see by the expression on his face how much fun he is having. Daddy was taking pictures... and Mommy was getting very wet trying to keep up with the little splash monster.
Good Times.

Millions of Peaches... Peaches for Me.

Before Peaches...


===================================================

After Peaches...

He really seemed to like the flavor. We think that maybe they were too much for his little tummy. He was eating them good then all of a sudden he started crying. We will wait a few months maybe and try again. He had a hard time digesting prunes too. Both fruits have pits so maybe there is a connection. I post so many pictures of him smiling because he is a happy baby, so I thought I'd share this sad little face for a change.

Joey's First Words... well kinda.

Joey is trying very hard to talk. You can see from the video how hard he is trying to copy me. Just don't have your volume up too loud... You'll see why.

Grandma & Grandpa Tolman

Joey finally got to meet his Grandma and Grandpa Tolman today. I love how these pictures came out. Joey looks so happy to be with them. I hope to get lots more pictures like these as the week goes on. I already have tons of pictures to upload to the photobucket when I get home. Good thing I'll have a few days before I go back to work to get caught up!

Happy People

Vacation = Happy People!!!
Welcome to Idaho Joey!

The Wisdom of a Mother

Hi everyone,
This blog post is going to be a little out of character for Joey's Jungle. I have something that I wanted to share with the people in my life who are getting married soon. I want them to read the best advice letter I ever got. Yes this means you Emily & Brad and John & Lauren and anyone else who can benefit from these words. The following is a letter that my mother wrote to me just before Jenifer and I got married. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I still do. If you click on the images you can see them full size and they will be easier to read:
Thank you Mom. I love you too!
Jamie

7 Months Old

Seven months ago today Jenifer called me at work upset because the baby was coming 5 weeks early. She said in a scared and sad voice "He isn't ready yet!". After breaking several traffic laws getting home, I spent that entire day showing strength and confidence to her that everything would be ok. I told her that it would soon just be a story about the day we got to meet Joey. Inside my heart felt like the wings of a spooked covey of quail. I was both scared and excited. I had so much left to do in preparation for his arrival. What an exciting day that was.
Today we are excited again. We are on vacation, and Tuesday we will be taking Joey on his first airplane trip to meet lots of people he has only heard about so far. I have to admit that I am apprehensive about the travel. So much can happen when you are away from the home base. What if he screams his head off for the entire airplane ride? What if the swine flu is a bigger deal than they are letting on? What if we run out of diapers on the plane? What if the rental company sticks us with a sub compact and his car seat won't fit? Ok so I am not really that worried. I have always been able to handle whatever comes my way. It does, however, take getting used to having someone so dependent on us. I imagine it will be just as tough accepting when he doesn't need us so much anymore. Thank goodness that is a long time away.

Joey's First Easter Weekend

What fun we've had this past weekend. We had company for Joey's first Easter, my friend Adriana and her daughter Hayden came from Georgia for a long weekend visit.

Together over the weekend Adriana, Hayden, Joey and I went to two parks, one on Friday one on Saturday, a kids Easter party at our friends Laura, Brian and Makayla's home, and to top it off we went to Downtown Disney so Hayden could stock up on princess gear (Joey didn't do so bad there either, he got some new onesies, very boyish though not princess gear at all!)

Easter morning held fun surprises. The Easter Bunny didn't have any trouble finding Hayden even though she wasn't at home. Hayden had an Easter basket here filled with all her favorite things, some bunny candy, lip gloss and assorted princess like things.

Joey got his first Easter basket too. He got several books, a See and Say, some little wobbly toys, two bouncy balls he can hold and carrot baby food. That must be one smart Easter Bunny knowing Joey can't have candy and deciding to share his favorite bunny food with our baby Joey. How sweet.


Below is a pictorial illustration of our weekend. Enjoy!

Hayden and Adriana

Hayden at Common Ground Park

Joey in his sun gear at Common Ground Park

Jenifer and Joey looking at bubbles being blown at Barnett Park

Hayden having fun with bubbles at Barnett Park

Washing off the sun screen

Joey and Hayden at the Easter Party

Joey is looking at all the Easter eggs on the ground

Easter morning

Joey likes the balls made of O's he can hold them well

Princess Hayden posing with Cinderella's statue

A car seat for a head rest and a head for a foot rest, too funny

Tongue Twisters!

Ok so he's not really talking yet... But he desperately wants to!
(click on the picture to see it bigger)

Food Discovery

Joey is an enthusiastic eater. Wonder where he gets that from...

My Happy Place

I love my time off with my family. I love seeing Jenifer in action as a mommy. I love seeing Joey's face light up when he hears my voice. He loves it when I rub his head. My hand covers the whole top of his bald little head, and I rub it back and forth wagging his head from side to side. I guess this must feel really good to him because he giggles when I do it. Sometimes he even asks me to do it by giving me a look and trying to rub his head with his little hand. He also gets excited to be put into his car seat. He seems to have a hunger for adventure. I am looking forward to all the milestones we have yet to reach with him, but I am in no hurry. I am enjoying every moment I get to spend with my family.
I have a mental exercise I like to do. I have this favorite place in the whole world to be. It's My happy place. When I am there I focus on every little detail that I can discern. Then later, when I need to control my mind, I recall these details. When I do this I can tune out pain, I can calm anxiety, I can even resist being tickled (as long as Christie is in a different state). This is a handy trick to learn. I would encourage everyone to try it. It really does work. If you had asked me this time last year what I was thinking of in those moments, I would have told you of a waterfall in Caches Valley GA. that very few people ever get to see.
If you ask me that same question today. I'd tell you that I am thinking about time spent at home with Jenifer and Joey. That's right, my new happy place is home! At least until we get to spend some time at the waterfall as a family.

Chrome Dome

Hi there. Just a quick blog entry to show off our matching haircuts!