Lake trip

We took Shane to the lake for the second time today. The first time we took him was last summer when I visited and he enjoyed it, but was only three or four months old. He really seemed to enjoy it this trip though!

"I'll help you put the umbrella up, Mama!"

"I'll help blow the float up, Mama!"

 "I'll help put the sunscreen on, Mama!"

 "Nevermind, I'm'a gonna go 'splore the sand, Mama!"

 "Can we PLEEEEEEASE go in the water now?" (There are no pictures of us in the water because my camera isn't waterproof. But after the first few moments when he was nervous he really enjoyed it. We actually thought he might fall asleep in the water, that's how relaxed he was.

We have to go back soon!

New York Trip

This weekend we went to New York for Heather's bridal shower.  Mom and I stayed with the Coulters on Thursday and Friday night, and with the Gilmans (my aunt and uncle) on Saturday night. We headed home after the shower on Sunday afternoon.

Learning to high five from Aunt Bethie, who also gave him two, TWO of his very own cell phones. :-D

 Squealing and laughing and having a grand time chasing Grandad's dog.

 Chilling out with Grandad.

 Refusing coffee from Grandpa.

 Wanting to chase Grandma's cat.

 Riding with Dillon.

 Meeting a very dear friend for lunch...love you M!

 Riding a horse for the first time at Aunt Alesia's, which is the first place I rode a horse as well. I rode Taffy when I was wee, and Shane is riding Troy here.

 "Helping" Aunt Heather at her bridal shower the church put on for her.

Dress Fitting and Father's Day

Heather invited Mom and I to go along to her dress fitting which was very kind of her.  Shane was very interested in the floor length mirrors! As well as everything else.  

 After the dress fitting we went to a cloth diaper store. As well as a wall of cloth diapers the store sold a lot of  natural type products. I was able to get Shane a baltic amber teething necklace, and was inspired by the store to have one similar someday. It was aweseome! We also stopped at a Christian cafe and coffee house. I can't remember the name, but if you're ever in Troy Ohio you need to go. I was fabulous!

 Then for Father's Day we took Dad to lunch after church. We went to this steakhouse last year as well and what was practically a brawl erupted between the husbands of two families. Also, my steak was terrible. This year, Dad sat in maple syrup in his brand new Men's Warehouse pants, and my meal was terrible again! It's the thought that counts, right? Haha.

Shane's First Big Boy Shoes

Since Grandma and Grappa Wilkins have missed so many of Shane's firsts, I decided to wait to get him a pair of good walking shoes until we got to Ohio. So, after church we went to the Stride-Rite store to get him measured and pick out a pair!

Getting measured. He measured at a 4 wide.

Grandma checking out the selection.

                                  Trying them on. These are actually the sandals we ended up with.

Checking out the fit

All done!

And here's a little video of him walking around the store.  We didn't buy the ones he's wearing here. ;) Do you hear that snuffly thing he did in the first few seconds of the video? He does that when he's excited. It's very cute.

Xadim Gay

Shane got an African name!

This weekend we went to a street festival in "hippie-town" as we like to call it.  As we walked past a booth we saw several things that looked like they belonged in West Africa, so we stopped to talk to the woman selling. It turned out that she was from Senegal (which borders The Gambia, where I grew up) and she spoke Wolof.  We spoke with her for quite some time, and as we left she said she wanted to gift Shane. (It is very traditional in our culture to give gifts.) Well of course, I was thrilled.

As we left, my Mom asked if she would be willing to give Shane an African name. And she did. His name is Xadim Gay.  I know it's probably hard to understand for those of you who didn't grow up overseas, but this was very special to me. I'm so excited for my little boy! Here is the lovely lady. I wish I could remember her name. 

 Then we finished off our day in Hippieville by watching belly dancers in the park. I want lessons!

Going to Ohio

We made it safely to Ohio! We flew from DFW to ATL, then from ATL to DAY. Mom and Miah picked us up at the airport. Of course we had to show off Shane's new walking skills for Gramma, but I guess his inner ear was a little messed up from the flight because he was walking like he just got off a boat, staggering and zig-zagging and falling. Super cute! He also said his version of "I love you."

At the airport waiting to board.

 Yes, I know that it's best for babies to stay rear-facing until they are two. And in my car, he will. But unfortunately this car seat doesn't do rear facing and it IS legal now to have him forward facing so that's the way it is. Miah found Shane a really nice car seat with lots of neat safety features and it's also the kind of carseat that grows with the baby (up to 100 lbs!) so this should work for a long time and many grandkids.



Happy First Birthday, Shane!

There was a family wedding on Shane's birthday so we celebrated on Sunday, the day after, instead. We had his birthday party at a park on a day that turned out to be 102 degrees! Thank you, Melissa, for taking such lovely pictures.

I made cupcakes for Shane. Chocolate and vanilla, with cream cheese filling and whipped cream frosting. The chocolate were awesome, and the vanilla were dry and heavy. That's what I get for trying a new recipe!

 I asked Nathan to put the letters on Shane's banner, so he used some creative license and wrote "Happy 1st Birfday Shane!" You should be able to click on the picture to see it bigger to see the letters.

 Shane LOVES water.

 It was very hot. And Shane was very, very tired. Poor sweet boy.

 I made Shane a birthday onesie to match the party decorations.

 We skyped a little bit with Grammy Wilkins in Ohio so she could see Shane's first bite of cake and a present or two.

 "What IS this, Mama? I'm not too sure about it." Poke, poke.

 Not too bad, once you try it.

 Daddy's goatee is quite overgrown. Don't worry, he didn't help with the cupcakes! 

 He liked it. ;)

 We were really blessed--so many family and friends showed up! Despite the heat, it was great to celebrate with so many loved ones.

 Grammy Vines did the cooking (burgers and dogs) and then helped Shane open his presents. She was SO hot--what a trooper!

Happy first birthday, kiddo!