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!

First Tooth!

Joey got his first tooth today. Jamie had just left for work and I decided to check Joey's gums. It had been a couple days since I had checked them. I ran my finger over the top of his bottom gums and felt something sharp. I sort of screamed used my thumb to push his lower lip out of the way and looked at a brand new tooth poking through the gums. Joey was just giggling and laughing through my poking and prodding. When I ran my finger over his gums he did not holler or show any sign that he was uncomfortable at all. Other than the occasional faucet of drool running from Joey's mouth he has shown no indication that this was so close to happening. It was so fun discovering this change.

I called Jamie right away and told him. He was at work by then. After talking to Jamie I grabbed the camera and spent the next 5 minutes or so trying to coerce Joey into holding his mouth open while I kept his lower lip out of the way while I tried to get a picture of his brand new tooth. Joey was so very cute the whole time I was trying to do this he was just smiling and laughing and giggling.