!! 11 Months Old !!

Julia, I can't believe you are only 11 months old. It seems like you've been part of this family forever. You are an integral member of this family and none of us would be the same with out you. I can't believe it hasn't even been a year yet since you made your entrance to this world. You've already done so much, changed so many lives, grown so much physically and and emotionally. And yet, I can blink and still remember the day you arrived and how the world seemed to come to a pause while we cradled your tiny little self and marveled at your long little toes.

No matter how I frame it in my mind, you have already left an indelible mark on this family. And I'm so excited to see how you will grow from here!

You are now 11 month old. You're tussling and playing with the biggest boy you know (and holding your own).

You don't take your newfound steps lightly.

You walk here:

You walk there:

You walk everywhere!

And you're getting very good too...and quite confident!

But walking isn't your only 'trick.'

You have  a great sense of humor: playing games with us (like the eyebrow game), imitating us chewing, pretending to put something in your mouth, playing with the dogs and tickling your brother.

 

 

You also have improved your kissing skills. Most of the times now when we ask for kisses, we get one of these beauties:

You are rapidly trying and learning new words to say too. You know "mine" (thanks Aidan) and will 'run away' with a toy saying "mine" when you're brother's in pursuit. You take a little toy car and run it over your head saying "zzzzzooooooooo."

You even have been working on your animal sounds, and surprised us out of the blue when we were reading "Dear Zoo." The lion appeared and you "roared!" You know that snakes "sssssss", dogs "woo woo woo", and monkeys go "ooh ah."

You even have picked up the words to a great song.

 

 

You remain one of the happiest little girls I've ever met. But you are so much more too! You are  get sad or lonely or upset.  You're pensive and thoughtful and smart.

You are Julia...you are OUR Julia and we love you to a million pieces. Whether I believe it or not that you're 11 months old, I am always in disbelief how awesome you are, and how beautifully you are growing up.

Birthday Party Animal- Two Years Young

Aidan, the day before you turned two, we spent a really awesome family day together celebrating, having fun and basically being major animals.

It was a gorgeous day in Dallas, so we went to the Dallas Zoo!

You had an absolute blast at the zoo.

You loved 'swimming' with the penguins:

The highlight of the day had to have been the camel. At the petting zoo, they were offering pony rides. You didn't seem the least bit interested. But when we saw the camels, I asked you if you wanted to ride them. You nodded yes excitedly. So, what the heck, we thought, it was your birthday! Your Mommy wanted to keep both feet on the ground, so you and I got to share this special moment.You and I mounted a camel named Mitchell and rode him around in a dirt circle for a few minutes. It may have only lasted a few minutes, but the moment will stick out for me as an eternally magical memory, and that's coming from a cynic! I had no idea how you'd react to riding this strange creature, but you loved every second of it.
You were pretty quiet during the ride, so I had to yell to your Mom and ask if you were having fun (I couldn't see your face!).

She yelled back "he's loving it!" ...and this photo proves it: Parting was such sweet sorrow, and you cried when we had to leave Mitchell, but there were more adventures to be had today and everyday. So, through your tears, you waved bye-bye to Mitchell. We'll always have Mitchell, Aidan. I wonder how (or if) you'll remember this magic camel ride..

Other hits at the zoo included: the water fountain!

Near the end of the day, we got to see the Giraffes. You were pretty excited by them, although you were pretty tired. But still, you decided that they were called "Talls." And, I can't blame you! We were pretty proud of you for making that connection. Plus, 'giraffe' is kind of hard to say.

You also got to play...a lot. This long bench/wall was a source of a LOT of fun after lunch. And you got to stick it to the man and his rules...and what two-year-old wouldn't love that?

After three visits to the zoo and a major 'no show' from the Bengal Tiger, we finally got to see him. I didn't get a picture, but you were pretty fascinated by the long orange and black tiger. You waved at him, you tried to climb the glass, you smushed your face into the glass and you even talked to the tiger, saying 'meow meow meow.'

You got to ride another animal, though this one wasn't as exciting as the camel:

And finally (although this was our first stop of the day), you made friends with the goats at the petting zoo.

You hugged on some goats:
You petted them:
You investiaged them:
And rejoiced at being in their presence. You chased them and tried to poke one in the eye. You 'mooed' at a black and white goat and 'baaed' and 'maaaed' at the rest. You even tried several times to ride one of the goats, but they didn't seem to thrilled about that.

The zoo wore you out so much that you napped from 12:30 until 3 pm, a near-record!

It's hard to believe you're two now, and capable of so much mischief, excitement, interest, emotion, happiness, sadness, learning, curiosity, association and triumph; especially when it seems to be just yesterday that you were nothing but a dream and a bump in your Mom's belly. But, then again, we don't remember life before you and it feels like you've been here forever. '2 years' seems like such a small number to quantify the impact you've had on our lives.

Happy Birthday, son. You're a real party animal, and we just love being in the same zoo as you.

Laughing all the Way...

You LOVE to laugh (Ha ha ha ha!)

Loud and Long and Clear!


You love to laugh (Ha ha ha ha!)


You're getting better at it this year!


I'm pretty sure that song's from Mary Poppins. Or Bed Knobs and Broomsticks. Something from Dick Van Dyke's vast repertoire.

And if the name "Dick van Dyke" doesn't make you laugh, then we know a few things that have a pretty good track record:


First, of course, hearing animal sounds, especially a seal, will make you laugh!



Secondly, obviously, some of the more serious works of Lennon/McCartney make you giggle!



And, everyone's favorite, the Piano-playing Moose is sure to let those laughs fly loose (ly)



We love your laugh, and we love to make you laugh. It's hard to imagine that just under a year ago, when you were first born, you couldn't laugh or even really smile. And now? Now you're such a big boy, laughing, and smiling, and spreading the love.

Dick van Dyke.