Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh My!

This past week and a half has been full of fun and surprises! Josh's mom came out to visit for a few days and we made some fresh homemade lemonade for her arrival (which is so delicious by the way)! Josh is the master at making it and I am just his lovely assistant so he gets most of the credit for it's yummy taste. The hardest part is picking the lemons from the trees and not getting pricked. Who knew lemon trees had thorns?!? While Gayle was visiting we went to "Oldtown" Scottsdale and the Phoenix Zoo. Caleb loved his first trip to the zoo and laughed at some of his new found furry friends! He even got to sit next to a monkey (separated with glass of course). We rode a Carousel at the zoo and a Ferris Wheel at the Sainta Monica Pier(CA) where we saw the most beautiful sunset. My surprise came when Caleb decided to start saying "Ma ma" (his first word) on January 26th. He is now babbling a whole lot more and trying to communicate more with the world around him. It must be his new teeth that have come in :) He is now up to 4!

Jumping Cactus

So, apparently Arizona has what is known as a "jumping cactus"! Unfortunately, I am not sure of what these jumping cactus look like yet and Arizona has a lot of cactus so I am hoping I don't learn the hard way. The trick is not to stand too close to these particular cactus because if you do then you might just find yourself being shot with pricks! We have so many different cactus in our yard and even more exciting lemon and orange trees! I am hoping there are not any jumping cactus in our yard especially near the trees where I will be picking my lemons for lemonade. I am so excited about making my first batch of fresh squeezed lemonade...which you will have to wait to see how it turns out :) This 3 months we will be living in Phoenix (actually we are in a great area called Scottsdale just outside of Phoenix) is going to be great! I am going to have more time to read, blog, take walks/jogs with Caleb, make lemonade and just explore this new area with my two favorite people! I am so excited to be on this adventure! On a side note, Caleb's hair is getting so long and it stands straight up on the top and sides even after I wet it down flat. We have had several people comment on his hair. I have heard "he must have static electricity" and I have to say "no that is just his natural hair". I couldn't help but notice his hair stands straight up and out like one of the cactus you see in our yard! I guess I am going to have to get this little guy some hair gel :) Well, off to squeeze some lemons!

2 months later....

So, it has apparently been more than two months since my last post. Where does time go? I really enjoy reading others post and want to blog so that my family memories will be somewhere to be read in the future, but I must admit I am not that great at this blogging thing. In fact, I find that most of my blogs are somewhat boring compared to my friends. Josh says I cannot compare mine to theirs, but I do. I never really have been a great writer and just tend to write the facts and that is it. And sometimes I don't even get all the facts written down that I would like. Anyways, that is my disclaimer for the two to three people that read my blog :) A lot has happened in the past two months...Caleb is pulling up on EVERYTHING and is beginning to show signs of his desire to walk. He is now 8 months and we are having more and more fun! As you can see in the pictures, he went on his first trip to Disney and loved looking at the lights and even rode a few rides. He ate his first sand at the beach over New Year's and did not seem to mind the taste! He went on his first hay ride and caroling with my family over Christmas. Although, my family is not known for our musical abilities it was so much fun caroling and the children really had a blast doing it. And lastly, Caleb made a flight to Phoenix, AZ where we will be living January through March. 2009 was such a great year for our family and by far one of my favorites! I am looking forward to seeing what 2010 brings. Hopefully, my next blog will not be in two months from now and I can share more about the beautiful state of Arizona.

Six Months old!

Yesterday I turned 6 months old! I am growing too quickly mommy tells me :) I am now sitting up on my own and manipulating myself all over the room. I tried my first pureed vegetable (squash). I gobbled it up the first time I tried it, but haven't loved it the last two times. I was really hungry that first time! I am beginning to interact more with Aspen and I love petting him, watching him run and laughing at him. Mommy thinks it is so funny when we are out and about because she is always having people make comments about me like "he looks like he has not missed a meal" or "he must be a good eater". Mommy loves chubby cats and chubby babies so I guess those comments are ok! You are probably wondering what the picture of mommy and daddy dressed up is....our friends had a Halloween party and mommy and daddy decided to dress up as dice that hung from a rear view mirror and I was the rear view mirror!

Pumpkins, Fairs and Farm Animals

Last weekend I went to my first fair in Perry, GA with my Gigi, Papa, Aunt Andrea, Uncle Wade and cousins Grayson, Ila & Maya. I had such a great time looking at all the lights, farm animals and people watching. I watched a lamb being sheered and pigs in a pig race. It was all very exciting! I can't wait to go back next year so I can ride some of the rides (mommy wouldn't let me ride this time). I also visited a pumpkin patch while I was visiting my Gigi and Papa. I picked a pumpkin about the size of mommy's fist. I also was able to "ride" on a giant pumpkin as you can see in the picture! I had such a fun weekend and am enjoying FALL so much!

Happy Fall Y'all!

Happy Fall Y'all! I am so excited to experience my first Fall! I just touched my first pumpkin and tailgated for my first football game. Mommy took me to Knoxville to visit my Uncle Shannon, Aunt Karen, and cousins Parker & Collin. We tailgated for the Auburn/Tennessee game and had a great time! Mommy even said "War Eagle" in daddy's honor during the pre-game festivities. I am now 5 months old and rolling everywhere. Mommy is constantly putting me back on the blanket so I don't bump my head on the hardwood floors. I love being mobile and will be crawling very soon! On a side note....I am so excited tonight because my future wife "Ally Grace" is currently on her way. She should be in her mother's arms by tomorrow. I cannot wait to meet her! Hopefully, I will be able to contain my excitement and get a good night's sleep.

Frontera Tuesdays

Tuesday nights are now one of our favorite nights of the week! We have made it a tradition to go with "Grammie" and "Pappy" to Frontera for my favorite food--mexican. We started this tradition shortly after our move to Marietta and I am certain this is one of the reasons I gained a few more pounds during my pregnancy than I was suppose to. And I must say it is not helping me take off the weight either, but it is worth every bite! We now have become regulars there and they expect to see us weekly. Each week we have a server come by and say "he sure is growing". They are getting to see Caleb grow week by week. He is beginning to reach for everything on the table. He will be eating chips & dip with us before we know it, but for now it is just milk and a little rice cereal.