Photos are back! Micah's hair is gone!

We have a camera again! Woohoo!!

I was getting nervous with all of these milestones coming up for MJ.

Hate to miss a photo-op and very thankful to have pictures again!

Here are a couple of before pics.

Part Donald Trump comb over/part curly mullet.

And here is our little, big man!!

He just aged another year.

Riding Hudson's jeep after the big hair cut.

Big sister got her second haircut ever too!

Again, aged a year this morning.

Micah's One Year Stats

Weight: 24.8 lbs (75%)

Length: 32" (97%)- that explains the 18mo+ PJs

Head 19" (95%)

We're Members.

Our camera is broken. Mothers Day is coming up

(hint, hint to my hubs).

I have no pictures for you, but an update is necessary.

Micah took another step tonight. He's so darn close.

We joined a *gulp* a gym. And today I.... worked out. Who is this lady?! I hate gyms. I get so insecure the second I walk in. I'm pretty sure as soon as I walk in everyone turns their head, looks at me and thinks "What is SHE doing in here? She doesn't even know how to work these machines." And I think, "It's true. I don't. I'm leaving."

(un) Fortunately, Jared and I went together so there was no backing out. We dropped the kids at the child care and I practically clung to him as we made our ascent into the cardio area. I wanted to go to the back corner, but they didn't have the elliptical with the moving arms thingies back there. I had to pick a front rower. I got on it and the place where I put my foot made a really loud clunking sound every time I took a step. I didn't think it was normal, but hey, what do I know? I don't belong in these gyms. My face was getting hot. After two or three steps, my knight in shining armor came over to bring me a towel (I guess you sweat when you work out. Ew). He agreed that the clunking probably wasn't normal, so I switched to the next one. No clunking. Less attention. Whew.

I just pushed Quick Start on the machine. Not quite sure how to start a "program" and there are a lot of buttons. After about 5 minutes I realized I was in a bit of a rhythm. It wasn't so bad. I was watching Ellen and the Know or Go game on. I was actually giggling at the old lady who was so scared to fall because she got the answer wrong.

Then, right in front of me, in front of the two rows of machines all facing in her direction, a girl appeared with my name written in big green letters on a white board! Great! Now what did I do and why is everyone looking at me?! Turned out Micah pooped and they don't change diapers. Apparently they called my name twice over the PA system. Great again. So much for flying under the radar.

I changed his diaper and returned to my machine for another five minutes. Jared thought we should go look at some other machines. Its been a year now and I'm ready for the remnants of my Micah belly to go away. So we looked at some ab machines. (Is it machines? Is that what you call them?). I pretty much rolled my eyes at the idea of having to pick a weight, do reps, wipe down the equipment... ugh. After walking around looking at all of the torture devices, I told him to go ahead and do his thing and I'll just go play with the kids. People were beginning to wonder why we were walking in circles (at least in my head they were).

Then, my Jared, my brilliant and loving husband, had an idea. We walked over to the classrooms. The ones with wood floors, a barre across the back and a large mirror in front. Home. The room was dark and no classes were scheduled for another 30 minutes. I told him "I can take it from here. Go ahead. You can leave. I know what to do in here." I put in my ipod and did my sit ups. Push ups. Donkey kicks. Stretching. All by myself. And enjoyed it.

We're going back at the same time tomorrow and I think I'm going to be quite comfortable.

Drop off the kids. Ellen for 30-40 minutes. I will only put in one ear bud, so I can hear my name being called the first time in case Micah wants to make a routine out of this. Then I'll slip into the last classroom and tone the way I know how.

Wish me luck my friends.

Micah is ONE!

Micah turned one on April 14th! I remember being so nervous about having a boy after growing up with so many girls! Having a little boy is my favorite. I adore our little man and I'm so thankful the JOY he brings to all of us.

Papa Roger was in town from Michigan so it made it a little more special. It was nice to have family here to celebrate with us!

Here's our little buddy first thing on his birthday morning!

Big sister, Sophia, loves being in the kitchen.

She helped me make cupcakes for "brudder".

Micah waited until 11 months to get his first tooth. His second quickly followed. Now we're workin on the third and it's a doosy. He had a slight fever on his birthday and was uncharacteristically grumpers. He liked the cupcake but just couldn't get past the owie in his mouth. :(

Kinda sad isn't it?

We decided to wrap up cupcake eating quickly and he took a

nice warm bath.

All better and ready to open some presents!

He will always sit on top of a box if there's one around. He's always climbing onto Sophia's bathroom stool. He usually topples off of it. But for those two glorious seconds he gets to smile at himself in the mirror... I guess it's worth it.

He got presents and cards from family and friends all over the US! I've been overwhelmed by the love coming from everywhere! Washington, California, Colorado, Arizona, Michigan.

He is a loved and lucky little boy!

Micah is cruising along the couches, walls, chairs, etc. He'll walk holding onto one of mom's fingers. He's just still a little to nervous to stand on his own yet. We thought maybe the freedom from a little walker might motivate him. As soon as my dad got it put together and set it in front of him, Micah took off behind it! He loves it.

There's that smile we all know and love!

At ONE year

(We have yet to get him in for a one year check up. I gotta get a doctor. Workin on it.)

Says "da-da" and "na-na" (mama) occasionally.

Always says "a-dah!" (again) every time I throw him in the air or tickle him.

I'll get that one on camera as soon as we get a new one. Ours officially bit the dust right after I uploaded his birthday pics.

Likes to throw balls and chase them around the house.

Has 2 teeth on the bottom and the 3rd on the top should be cutting any minute now!

He's really fast going up the stairs.

When he's at the top of the stairs I tell him "turn around" and spin my index finger in a circle. Now when he's ready to go down stairs he sits at the gate and spins his little finger around. He turns right around a goes down one knee at a time.

He gives sloppy kisses, dances, claps, high fives, blows kisses, waves and signs "more" and "all done"

He loves to cuddle and if there's a pillow around he likes to just stop and lay on it.

He got some cool cars for his birthday and knows exactly what to do with them. He chases them all around the house too.

We're working with the sippy cup and milk.

He's still not too sure about some food. I've resorted back to baby food in addition to yogurt and oatmeal in the past few days because he won't eat anything other than cheerios, puffs and mac n cheese. We had one week when he ate some meat and cheese, but we're backsliding. Veggie bits are a no-go still.

So there's your Micah update!

I love him so very much!

Happy Birthday Micah James!!

Missing our Friends

We have our good days and our not so good days. Our busy days full of activity and business and our lonely days when we miss the people we love so much.

I was having a pretty good day today. Quiet and a little lonely, but busy... and pretty good. Until I went in to tuck in Sophia. I found her peeking out her window, looking at the stars (I'm pretty sure she learned it from Dora). She was making a wish, and I'll let you listen in...

Ya know, we knew she'd miss her cousins and her Ollie Mo. We knew that. But in our head, she's 3 1/2. How much do you remember from when you were 3? She told me last night that she wanted to go to Emma's house. I told her that it's too far away to go tonight. Her response, "It's okay. I can go on an airplane. I'm ready now."

It's these moments when I'm not okay. I feel her longing to be with her friends and her family again. I so understand those feelings.

I share, not to make you AZ people sad, but to let you know what you mean to us.

That you are all missed dearly.

And we're really looking forward to June.

xoxoxoxoxo

:)

Attack of the Zhu Zhu Pet

OK, it's a little mean, I know. But it was so funny!

Just so you know he's totally over this little guy

and not scared in the slightest.

He likes him now.

Dallas Zoo

Sophia, Micah and I met my friend Katy from college and her little boy at the Dallas Zoo a couple of weeks ago. It was a beautiful day and we had so much fun. They have a few places where you can get up close to the animals and Sophia thought it was fantastic. :)

(It's not a real elephant... not THAT "up close" people.)

She was a little bummed that the giraffe passed her by, but she didn't have lettuce like the others around. :) Next time. "When Emma comes" is Sophia's response to that.