I LOVE NY!

When we returned from the airport Nani and Michael were wearing matching t-shirts. Guess my Mom picked them up last month in NYC. My Dad and Mom are leaving on Wednesday, Michael is really going to miss them. They have been playing all sorts of wild games with him.

Our first weekend alone!!
This weekend we went to Chicago for Jeff and Jen
Buettner's wedding. We had a great time and Michael
loved being home with Nani and Papa (my parents).
The wedding was beautiful and the reception was
fabulous. A good time was had by all. Here is James with
his high school buddies Mark, Jeff, and Brian. And I'm
chillin' with the wives - Katie and Becky.

Shooting hoops!

Michael loves to shoot baskets. When I first got this toy he had
to sit and watch James playing, now he scores on his own.

Today at Gymboree class!





We have been attending Gymboree since Michael was only a few months old. It's hard to believe that at that point I was encouraging him to push up with his arms, now I'm chasing him around the gym. He loves the climbing, riding, cruising, sliding etc. that he can do there. Just in the last month he has gotten much more adventurous and daring.
He and George are pushing a big log together, they get along really well. In another picture Michael is climbing down to steal Gabrielle's ring (he gets it by the way - when do they learn how to share?). There are some bigger babies that bully Michael around, so it all evens out.

Hello friends and family. Thanks to everyone who has checked out our blog. I don't know how frequently I will be able to post, so if you would like me to email when the page has been updated let me know.

Michael has a house full of toys but his absolute favorite are the wiffle balls. He can spend all day throwing the ball and clamoring after it. He will throw it and watch it roll. When it stops he will crawl to get it. If it rolls on the wood floor he will crawl on his hands and feet. It looks too funny, James calls it the elephant crawl.
When he's had enough, he still wants to hold the wiffle ball. He'd probably eat, bathe, and sleep with it if we let him.

Checking out his new
play gym. (It's almost
Michael's birthday!)

We had to assemble Michael's
big toy once it arrived, okay James
did. It is a big climber activity center, called the Mountain Climber. It looks really big, but he will grow into it, and hopefully enjoy it for a few years. Today he cautiously checked out the rock-climbing part, the look-out area, and the telescope. He loves the slide the most. Michael will eventually tackle the cargo net and hideout. We'll keep it inside until next spring then it will go in the yard where it belongs. As you can see he was worn out after the new adventure.

Visits to the Zoo

You may not believe it, but we actually have a very nice zoo here in Omaha (http://henrydoorlyzoo.com/). We have taken Michael a couple of times and he's starting to like it. Last weekend we went on an overcast day and he was much happier without the blazing hot summer sun. He really likes the animals that move around. He was particularly tickled with the warthogs of all creatures. He also had a great time watching the polar bears frolicking in the water and the cheetah's running around. When James wore him he was the happiest of all. Not sure if he had a better vantage point for people watching or what, but he was kicking and bouncing. It is a treat since I rarely strap the 24 pound babe to my chest.

Hopefully we will have more cool days this season so that we can take advantage of the city's main attraction.

Michael's First Haircut
Michael had his haircut on June 20th. It was his first, and my first time cutting a squirmy little one's hair. All I can say is that I'm sure I'll get better. Seriously, it wasn't too bad. Considering half of Michael's playmates are still baldies no one will be remarking if his is a little uneven.

Happy (Almost) Birthday to You!!!








July 1st we had a little pre-birthday party for Michael, so that Jim and Sandi could celebrate with us. Michael wasn't too interested in opening his presents but we love the hospital scrubs from Aunt Kelly, Uncle Ed, Aunt Cristi, Uncle Kevin, and Cousin Jackson. Grandmom Sandi gave him a book about West Virginia. His grandparents also got him a big playhouse that he LOVES. Michael had his own carrot cake with cream cheese frosting that he devoured. I made a sugar free cake, but he didn't seem to notice.

Happy Independence Day!!
Jim and Sandi, Michael's paternal grandparents were visiting over the holiday. Michael was not a big fan of all the fireworks, they kept waking him up. Maybe next year he can use sparklers.