Jake's New Thing....

Jake's "new thing" this week while mommy is getting ready is to stand by my tub & turn the water on & off...

On...off....on...off...on...off......

Week End Review

 Whew! Jake & I have had a busy week & a pretty big milestone I wanted to blog on!

Monday when the mailman came Jake & I walked out to greet him & noticed Jake's first birthday invitations had came in! We were excited to begin the process of addressing, stamping & hand delivering to a few of his friends there invitation. It was the cutest thing when we went to a few doors to ask "Will you come to my party?" I hope he's looking forward to his birthday party as much as me!

Tuesday we spent pretty much the entire day getting ready for his 1 year pictures that took place here in our neighborhood around sundown. It's crazy how it takes that long to be on time for something. We really have to plan ahead!

Jake & I normally stroll to the park to swing & back at least three times a week. We loaded up with lots of water on Wednesday & made a playdate out of it because Bridget & William joined us! I think they had fun...

Later that afternoon after a nap we headed to the pool to see more friends! I really enjoy our playgroup!

Thursday morning after breakfast, I was drinking my usual 1 cup of coffee & watching Jake play out of the corner of my eye while checking email when I noticed him walk right by me with his cart toy. I looked up & saw this...(sorry for the blurriness it came from cell phone!) 

It was so sporadic for him! He just stood up & held on...

He might just walk for all of us come his party!

That night I was invited to a girls birthday dinner @ Chuy's. My sweet husband stayed home with Jake so I could unwind, relax and celebrate birthdays with girlfriends & well have one of these....

Friday came another exciting playdate at the pool with our friends Andrea & Knox. We've been trying our best to coordinate calendars & get these two boys together. We finally did except as we drove up to jump out & run to the water poor Knox got sick in the car so Andrea & Knox had to turn right back around & go home - darn it!

I had to snap a shot of that sweet naked sick baby....isn't mom & Knox not just the cutest thing!

Saturday morning came the first of 5 birthday parties we have in the next 5 weeks! 

To kick them off came Miss Mia Talbot. Mia is one of my best friends from school's daughter. Mia & Jake are exactly 1 month apart! Jake rode around with the other kids in a wagon, had a few bites of ice cream & laughed at me while I blew the party favors!

      

Cheers to mom for making it through this fun busy week!

Meet 1/2 Way?

Anytime my mom calls & says "Let's meet for dinner!" its always Jim 'N Nick's in Trussville! 

This time my mom called, Jake & I had came from a Bridal Tea & stopped by to visit a friend - which meant Jake hadn't had his afternoon nap = VERY cranky!

I first spit out a "we can't make it this time" but once I spoke with my sister I quickly began to think it would all work out. I'm so glad I did because it was a treat to see my mom & an extra treat to see my step dad's mom, Granny. For me, it really was the first time she had been around both Jake & Sam with Keri & I together! So, I knew it would be fun! I swear there is just something magical about grandmothers & great grandmothers that they do with kids....I'm sure its all the years they mothered! 

My mom (Nonna) really just has that touch! She can make any child comfortable! 

Nonna & Sam

And she's super fun too!

Nonna relaxing Jake after not having his afternoon nap!

I always try & sneak in a picture of me & the Jake man!

Is it just me or is Jake turning a little summer blonde?

I don't think there's anything cuter than that smile!!!!

Is this not sweet or what?

Thank you gift (Miami Style)

I had a plan. A plan to care for my son and nephew while my sister went back to work from maternity leave. One point of my plan was to keep my sister from paying that dreadful monthly check to daycare. That happened but she insisted on some sort of "thank you" once my time had come to an end. 

My "thank you" was a girls weekend trip to Miami Beach! 

Can Sam come back & stay with me:-)?!?! 

It's always nice knowing people in the right places. Cindy Hill Costa is not just "people", she is a friend that I grew up with in middle & high school & now lives in Coral Gables. 

One of my favorite things about a friendship is no matter the distance or time apart once your together it's like you never missed a beat.

My book of fun with girlfriends is sitting around watching old videos of one another and laughing so hard about silly things we did back in the day. We did that & MUCH MORE!

I must admit that once we landed all I could think about is what celebrity I might see....since LeBron James just announced he's playing for Miami Heat! 

Once we landed, Cindy had a weekend of fun planned out perfectly for us.

We started off Friday morning with brunch on the green of the historic Biltmore Hotel

After we finished up brunch, we quickly changed into our swimsuits, loaded up the cooler & hit the beach! 

Cindy has been in Miami now for 2 years so she knows the hot spots to hit. One of them being the hot spot for Lemonade! AC can make the perfect consistency of a lemonade. It was a refreshing drink after a hot afternoon on the beach.

We lucked up & ran into him! 

After beach time & lemonades we quickly changed into our night attire for salsa dancing lessons!

The next morning Cindy surprised us all with a private boat ride around South Beach!

Madonna's Miami Home...

J Lo & Mark Anthony's Miami pad....

P Diddy's land.....

A quick island stop to cool off....

A nice dinner...

Blue Bar

                                                    Sunset Lounge at Mondrian Miami Beach 

Regions Park

The family loaded up on Saturday night to celebrate Mom's promotion @ work & to kick off Independence Day with a 9 inning game win played by The Birmingham Barons. After popcorn, coke, waving to the camera man & cheering the boys on, we ended the night with fireworks!  

I'll be honest & say I didn't think our little Jake could make it that long since he's a regular 7:30 bed timer. 

We made the best of it.

That's what life's about, right?