Surprise!!!

Alex and I enjoyed a quick trip to TX this weekend, where we joined over 100 family members and friends in surprising my dad for his 20-year cancer survivor anniversary! Susan had planned everything to the last detail and my dad was COMPLETELY surprised. It was awesome! There were some (good) tears shed and we really celebrated life and what an inspiration my dad is to us all. Congratulations, dad, here's to (at least) another 20 years!!! Love, Carrie

Above Picture: A big grin as he sees that over 100 people are at his house, and that he's underdressed, ha ha!

Susan (mastermind) and Joanne Storey

Tyler, Darla, Alex, Dave and Toni Berry, Tom...socializing as we wait for my dad!

Charlie and Kelsey (a small baby bump is apparent and we're very excited!!)

Mallory and Darla enjoying the piano playing

Charlie and Randy Woodum

Robert, Tom, Tyler

More of my dad's friends, awaiting his arrival!

Robert, Stella, Martha, Christina enjoying the celebration

The Office crew...Henry, Bridgette, Vanetta & Mike

Neighbors and friends...

Ron's daughter, son, and wife...Ron was playing the key role...getting my dad there right on time.

Darla and Alex, playing in the back yard, having fun!
Mommy and Alex (Mr. Wiggle worm.)

The family...enjoying the Daniel's piano "overtime"...

Cutest little Froggie

Alex loved his froggie towel even though he's giving us the "are you seriously taking a picture of me like this" face...
Still giving us the look....but he's just so darn hugable!
Alex is a very serious mower...look at his concentration, and don't miss the froggie socks.
He's starting to enjoy riding his Stride 'n Ride...we're trying to teach him to move his feet to go forward, but he loves when we push him.
So cute!

Rough Week

Despite the innocent look in the picture at the park (taken Tuesday, 23 Sept) Alex has been under the weather all week. He is on antibiotics for his 3rd ear infection and has been conjested.
I needed to get him (and me) out of the house to raise our spirits so we went to the park on Tuesday afternoon and Alex had a really fun time!

He loves crawling around on the playground equipment...
up the stairs...
over the bridge...
down the slide (w/ help from mommy)...
and he finally stopped trying to eat the bark off of the ground.
Just a routine one-month check-up for his new ride.

Everything's looking pretty good.

Today after school (chilly outfit today, Alex)...then the tantrum started due to no afternoon nap at daycare and an empty belly. Yikes! I'm actually used to it...this is what I've had the pleasure of every night this week, beginning Saturday...yea me.

Back by popular demand...Acorn TV.

Recent videos of our main man...he really is at a fun age right now!

This is a video of Alex eating from his big boy plate, like a grown up (well, sort-of...we're working on it). Thank you Amelie and CJ!!

Here is Alex looking so snuggly in his Racoon PJs from Wendy Neptun. The bottoms of the feet have really good tread and the top snaps onto the pants so that he stays covered up at night.

Here is Alex clowning around with his car on Sunday when he was under the weather. We're home again today but I think he'll be ready to go back to daycare tomorrow.

Alex almost enjoyed this paper bag on his birthday more than he did his toys and books! Yes, that is a Hooters shirt he's wearing, from Shenandoah, TX...thank you Grandpa Mike (aka Big Daddy).

On Sunday while Marc was working in the yard, Alex was watching every single thing he was doing and saying "da-da" while pointing. He was fully entertained and it was so cute!

It's been a while...

First, my apologies to our family for not blogging in a while. It has been a busy few weeks. Here are some new pics and a video of Alex. I'll also do another post after this of all videos (I have a lot of funny ones). It's been a fun couple of weeks until last night when another ear infection kicked in. I took him to the doctor first thing this morning and we're on the road to recovery but it could be another long night tonight. On Sept 6th, Marc and I went up to Pittsburg to watch the Steelers' home opener against the Texans. We had a lot of fun and Alex got to have a sleepover with Aunt Megan and Uncle Michael (his Godparents). He also got to go see Grandpa Bob and Grandma Katie. He had a lot of fun and I think he wore everyone out! I hope everyone is enjoying the arrival of Fall. We're enjoying the cool weather here in Virginia. Love, Carrie

Here is Alex exploring at Bob and Katie's house, giving a good chase to Uncle Michael.
Lap time with Aunt Megan!
Chillin' on the couch with Uncle Michael...
Who IS that handsome young lad?
Alex now takes big boy baths in the tub and he likes it. I got the froggie toy holder that I wanted for only $15 at one of the extravagant consignment sales here in VA.

Bring on the snacks mom....
All tuckered out in his new car seat after a busy day at daycare. Look at those chipmunk cheeks!
Playing with his new toy boat from Grammy.
I bought this awesome LT table from Craig's List and Alex likes to climb over the top and back down again, repeatedly. We have pretty much taught him to get down by going feet first, although it's not perfected yet (see video). "Reading" a new book he got from the Neptuns for his birthday.

Alex loves sitting at his table! He definitely knows it's his table b/c it's just his size!

More reading...

This is Alex enjoying a ride in his new car the day of his party, 31 August. He LOVES to be pushed around the house in it, lap after lap....we're pooped.

Birthday Weekend!!

Well, it happened. Our little, tiny, baby boy isn't a baby anymore! We celebrated his first birthday in style, all weekend long! Big Daddy and Grandma Susie flew in Thursday night and stayed until Monday. On Friday we enjoyed a rainy morning at home, then took Alex to get a haircut and went birthday shopping at Toys 'R Us! On Saturday we worked hard all day and put up some the lattice around the underside of our deck (that we bought the materials to do in May!!) with the help of my dad while Grandma Susie took care of Alex (they even went to the playground for swing time!). We were pooped but it was worth it! On Sunday we went to church and then began frantic party-prepping. Alex's party was a huge success on Sunday and he had fun playing with his friends, eating cake, and gnawing on curly ribbon! Needless to say, he took three naps on Monday to catch up on his rest. We are so thankful for his healthy first year of life and we love him so much! We are also thankful for our wonderful families and friends who love Alex dearly and are so supportive of Marc and I when we need their assistance. Happy First Birthday to our little Acorn!


The "cake scene" of the show was fabulous...the sugar high kicked in after 2-3 minutes.

The scene started off nice and innocent, despite the messy/cute ending...

Mom's attempt at his "car" cake...it was a little moist but I'm not used to cooking with silicon bakeware.

Here is Alex playing with his friends Amelie Loomis and Ella & Sam Newsome.

Alex enjoyed tearing off the wrapping paper once we helped him get started.

Alex loves his giant, soft Tonka trucks from Aunt Megan and Uncle Michael. He is one lucky godchild to have such loving Godparents!

Mom and Dad helped Alex read his cards and open presents.

Grandma Susie helped Alex get his second haircut on Friday.

Alex loves his forward-facing car seats. He was VERY cranky in his old one because his legs were squished up against the seat.

While Grandma Susie shopped (for him), my dad and I took Alex to the indoor playland at the mall, after his haircut. He didn't know what to do at first and was just watching the older kids run around like maniacs. He caught on quickly and had so much fun running around and climbing on the toys.

Alex also enjoyed the wall puzzles at the mall playland.

Alex crawled through the log quite a few times and would laugh when he saw us waiting for him on the other end!

Tom, this picture is for you...the pimps in the crib. Hopefully that money came from Big Daddy's wallet, not Marc's. It was difficult for me to stomach the uncleanliness aspect of this.

Alex enjoyed breakfast with Big Daddy this weekend.

Here is Alex enjoying swinging at the playground. Grandma Susie helped him practice sitting back and holding on tight!

Here is Alex's new G-ride. He loves his little car and if we stop pushing him he rocks back and forth, as if to tell us, "Keep going, keep going!"

Alex is a HUGE help with laundry...NOT. He can't quite unfold as fast as we fold but we're getting close.