First Birthday Fun(ish) Part 2

Considering it was Spring Break and we hadn't really been on "vacation" in well over a year, we decided to take a few days and go to San Antonio to have a little fun and continue Joe's birthday celebration.

We got a room at an historic hotel near the Riverwalk. Operative word being historic. Alex kept saying that she thinks Santa Anna must have stayed there before he battled at the Alamo. She was joking....but the joke continued on for the whole weekend. Everything we saw, Santa Anna must have been there or done that. Drank from the water fountain on the Riverwalk, shopped at the mall, eaten a corndog at the zoo, etc. So we HAD to take a picture when we came upon a wax figure of who else....Santa Anna!!!

The first day we went to the Riverwalk. I really, really wanted to take a family picture on one of the bridges but the girls wouldn't take a picture with me. I'm not sure if I should be offended or not. Here is at least one picture from that day. Do with Joe doing what he loves best. Pointing at where he wants you to take him. It's his new favorite thing to do. He is quite bossy.

The second day, Paul, the girls and my Dad (Do) went to Six Flags. I think Do thought he could hang a little bit more than he really could. He hung in all the way up to the point when they got off a ride and he thought he was going to lose his lunch. Then he had to sit it out for a while. He must have recovered because I hear there were funnel cakes and ice cream after that. All in all, a great day.

We were saving Saturday to take Joe to the zoo. I love the San Antonio Zoo and couldn't wait to show him all the animals. We wake up on Saturday morning and it was windy and FREEZING. But the rain cleared and I was determined to go to the zoo. So we semi-bundled up and headed out. Not a good idea. As you can see from this picture, Joe was so bundled and cozy he couldn't see anything and just went to sleep. I had him in the Baby Bjorn and Paul's jacket around both of us. Needless to say, the zoo was a bust. Maybe next year.

But, we did get to go to my Grandad's house and see lots of my Mom's family. This was the first time most of them had met Joe. Some of our family was visiting from Colorado so it was a special treat for him to get to meet them! I was able to capture Joe's introduction to Grandad. Priceless.

As an added treat, Joe chose this setting to take his first steps! He's been standing up by himself for short periods and we were practicing that and then he just went ahead and took two steps to me! I couldn't believe it! Then I made him do it over again for the camera. I didn't know if he'd be able to do it again, but sure enough!

The reason I say fun(ish) in the title of this post is because later that day (Saturday) Joe got sick and had a fever. He was pretty much miserable after that. (I'm really trying to convince myself this had nothing to do with the trip to the zoo so please don't mention it if any of you were already thinking that). Sunday was his birthday and it was pretty well shot with him being sick. So we were able to get one shot of him in his birthday shirt (that's birthday shirt, not birthday suit) and then we were headed back to Houston. No big fun on his actual birthday.

(In this picture, it appears Joe has taught Do his new pointing trick)

Alex and Maddie also had big weeks this week.

Maddie is dancing this weekend at Nationals in Galvestion. Paul went to see her dance and said she did amazing! Results are out tomorrow so I'll be sure to let you all know about that next time. I was really worried about her ankle but it held up. With this being the last competition of the season, you'd think she'd get to rest up. No such luck. She has her recital and try-outs for her junior high dance team coming up in the next few weeks. No rest for the weary.

Alex's choir had their UIL competition on Friday and did really well. They got 1's which is the best score you can get and the judges said they were the best choir they'd heard during the whole competition! This was a tough one for Alex because her track team pictures were scheduled for the exact same time as the choir concert and she was really torn. It's tough being so good at so many things.....

Not many pictures of the girls on this one (go figure), but here are some good ones of Joe from his birthday week.

This was at dinner Saturday night.

This is a rocking horse my friend Aggie got Joe the Christmas before he was born. He's just now getting interested in it.

Here he is using his new swing. This was one of his birthday presents.

First Birthday Fun - Part 1

We had lots of birthday fun this weekend with Paul's side of the family. Joe isn't officially 1 until next Sunday, but we are going to be out of town next weekend so we had to have the birthday party a little early. Joe's birthday is also very close to Uncle Jimmy's birthday so this was a combined 1 yr and 41 yr birthday celebration. As you can see in this picture, we got them matching crowns....



We got Joe his own little birthday cake to dig into. He went right in smooshing it up in his hands. Then he immediately decided he was NOT too happy about getting his hands dirty. He ate almost none of it (which really disappointed his sisters who were already playing "guess what color his poop will be") but we gave him a few little bites so he could say he did. Here are the before and after pictures.






Some other random party pics.






Joe had a great time with everyone and by the end, was out like a light and got to snuggle up with Grandma Sherri. No amount of noise was going to wake him up. Somehow I don't think she minded much.



Joe also has another new trick we learned about this weekend. He has a little hungry hungry hippo riding toy that can also be flipped up and used as a walking toy. We've always just used it to ride on but I decided to try to flip it up and see what he'd do. He immediately started pushing it along and walking right behind it as if he'd been doing it forever! He go as far as he could until he hit a wall or a door and then cry out in frustration until we turned him around. I was amazed! It makes me wonder what kind of good stuff he does as school and they graciously don't tell me about and let me think I'm seeing it for the first time at home.



Speaking of school. Joe had an "incident" last week. He was bitten on the arm by another baby and it left a nasty big bite mark and subsequent bruise. He was a trooper and never even let on that it hurt. Ms. Sandy said that he screamed when it happened and then she felt so bad that he got to be held and hugged on all day long. You can kinda see the bite mark in this picture



Joe graduated today to the one year old class. His infant teacher, Ms. Sandy, has just been so good to him and has been so attached, I was actually worried about her. Joe brought her some flowers today to cheer her up but we learned this afternoon that she did cry at one point. That makes me so sad! But Joe did great in his new class,even being the youngest. When Paul came to pick him up he was sitting on the floor with the rest of the kids while the teacher was reading them a story. He was just looking up at her and paying attention. He looked like such a little boy! I can't believe he's growing up!

Maddie had her last dance competition before Nationals this past weekend...even with her busted ankle. She was able to dance and Paul said she did fantastic....one of the best times he's seen! Her duet one first place and her solo made the finals! Nationals is in two weeks so hopefully she gets a chance to rest it some.


One last picture. My FAVORITE of the week.