Happy Memorial Day! (from the beach)

(his shirt says: Red, White, and VROOM)

We made it to the beach yesterday with very little difficulty. David was such a good boy for the 8 hour trip! We did have to make some "play stops" so David (and Bogie) could run around and get some energy out.

It seemed to work...

Then, today David got to play at the beach! He was a little unstable as he took his first steps in the sand.

But, it wasn't long before he was ready to play in it.

He had the best time playing with is cousins, Ricky and Cate.

He was so intense when he was working on something.

Tonight, we enjoyed a beautiful sunset as we celebrated Memorial Day.

HAPPY 30th Birthday, Mama!

Today was my birthday. 30th, actually. I got to spend it with my boys. Tonight, we went out for dinner to one of our favorite local Italian restaurants. David was such a good boy at the restaurant. He flirted with the waitress the whole time we were there which got him some free food and a sucker (a blue one, if you can't tell) at the end of the dinner.

David was too busy working on his sucker to smile for the picture.

I just had to share these absolutely precious 1 year portraits of David taken by our dear friends at Speed Bump Love [lifestyle photography]. I am in love with each and every picture. They all capture David's all boy personality and sweet spirit.

http://speedbumplove.zenfolio.com/p688318646

David's Aunt Nicole got married yesterday!! He served as the ring bearer for his, now, Uncle Michael and Aunt Nicole's ceremony. He absolutely LOVED it because he got to ride in a wagon to make his way down the aisle. He looked so incredibly handsome in his little tux.

Going for a walk with Daddy before the ceremony.

Coming down the aisle in the wagon.

Hanging out with Daddy and Boscoe after the wedding.

Dancing with Twinkle at the reception.

David had a great time at the reception dancing with all the young ladies, even when they didn't want to dance with him.

Saying goodnight to Mama and Daddy and heading back to the lake house with Ma and Big Daddy. They were such a big help all weekend! It was my first (two) nights away from my baby. I didn't cry, so I think I dealt with it very well.

David is gradually feeling better. He still sleeps with the humidifier, which helps during the night. He still has a cough and runny nose during the day, but it's getting better slowly.

Today, he got his first haircut! To keep him entertained, Ma and I set him up with some running water in the sink- he couldn't have been happier. Ma did the cutting because I was too afraid. She trimmed it around his ears, back of his neck, and bangs. I saved it all for his baby book, of course. David had a great time getting soaking wet in the water!

Then this evening, we attended his cousin's big end of the school year event. It also happens to be Cate's 6th birthday. Here he is with the beautiful birthday girl still in her costume from the program.

Once the program is over the kids run all over the campus and play together. David thought he was one of the big boys as he tried to keep up with Ricky (also still in his costume).

And here's a rare picture of David and his Mama!

David absolutely loved watching all the kids play and "talking" to anyone who looked his way. He stayed on the move the whole time.

Here's a closer look at his new haircut:

David is sick again. He has a runny nose and a cough so bad he chokes. He feels so bad that he doesn't even want to play!! For the first time ever, I turned on PBS cartoons and David sat in my lap for nearly 30 minutes watching them. He only wanted to be in my arms, wiping his snot on me as he tried to make the congestion go away. Not laugh. Just sitting. It breaks my heart to see him like this. I only got very short glimpses of my usually happy, fun-loving little boy today. He would get up the energy to play and shortly after have to stop to cough and rub his itchy, runny nose. That would make him mad, so he would come back to me crying. I'd hold him for at least 15 minutes before he even thought about getting up again. To make matters worse the weather was cold and rainy, so we couldn't even go outside!

We ventured to the store today only to get him a vaporizer and vapor bath (as his Aunt Laureen suggested) to help him breath through the night. The lady at Target who always loves to see David, knew something was wrong with him immediately. With her very thick Northern accent she said, "Oh, David, I've never seen you this unhappy before. What is wrong sweetheart?" When I explained to her that he was sick, she rushed us over to her checkout, quickly rang up what we had, and sent us on our way. She was so concerned about him.

I'm sure it's just a cold. David is so pitiful when he's sick- another characteristic he may have inherited from his Daddy- that it upsets me. I hate that he doesn't understand why he can't breath out of his nose, why I have to wipe it every minute, or why he coughs so hard he throws up (twice).

Hopefully, tomorrow he will be on the upswing.

HAPPY 6th BIRTHDAY, Cate!

Today we celebrated Cate's 6th birthday with a pool party and LOTS of kids. Right after his morning nap, David jumped in the pool with Ryan. But, he didn't stay in long. With all the kids around and the fact that he is still getting used to the water (and life jacket), he was ready to get out just after he got in. But, he had a great time playing with the lounge chairs once he got out.

He then enjoyed some pizza with the big kids. After cake and ice cream, he pulled a string on the piñata in hopes it was the one to make the candy fall- it wasn't.

After the party and another nap, David gave Cate a few presents and helped her open them too.

We also celebrated Mother's Day with Ma this evening. David enjoyed helping her open presents too.

It was a very fun-filled day and led to one exhausted little boy this evening.

This evening we attended Ricky's piano recital. David watched Ricky play the organ and piano. He then quickly exited to the back of the room with Ryan. He wasn't being bad. In fact, he greatly enjoyed clapping for each kid after they finished playing (and sometimes in the middle of the song). He just wanted to get down and run around a little more than he could do from the seats, so Ryan took him outside while we watched the rest of the program. After the recital, we took a few pictures. David looks so proud to be sitting with his big cousins!

This morning we celebrated Mother's Day! David helped me open my presents and wanted to take a closer look at the card he gave me. One of the gifts I received was a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

Then we finally got to give Ryan his birthday presents, so David helped him next.

I am blessed to be this little boy's Mama everyday!

We had so much fun today! The weather could not have been more beautiful and the setting is always a favorite of mine. David broke in the new bubble lawn mower he got from his great-grandparents Abercrombie for his birthday. First, he tried it out on the deck so he could get a feel for how it worked.

Then we took it into the grass.

David soon needed to work on it (a lot).

He had a great time walking out to the boat dock with his Daddy. And of course, just playing in the grass is always a big hit.