Happy Birthday, Dear Myles!!!

Well, the big birthday bash is planned for Sunday, but we celebrated today also, which is the actual date. It's been a wonderful year and it passed by in a flash.

Myles had a wonderful birthday. The highlights are numerous. When he woke up, Mommy and Daddy sang Happy Birthday! to him. Then, at his daycare home, he received some really cool presents from Angie and her family, who threw a little party for him. On the way home from daycare, he received a call from Grandma and Grandpa T., who sang Happy Birthday! to him again. Around dinner time, he received a very mushy birthday e-mail from his Gramma A and loved it. When we returned home from dinner, we found a couple of packages on the front porch from Aunt Jenny and Uncle Mike, which were "extra" gifts so he'd have something to open on his birthday. We opened them and found some great birthday books which he paged through and enjoyed right away. After his bath, Uncle Dan and Aunt Tiff called and wished him a happy birthday, too. What a wonderful family he has!

The big action for the day was Myles's birthday dinner on the town. We were delightfully surprised when Myles selected our favorite local Mexican restaurant for his special meal - a very sophisticated choice for a 1-year old. There Myles did not enjoy the chicken strips and fries we ordered for him, but he did eat the squash and crackers Mommy brought. Still, it was not a total bust. Myles fell head over heels in love with our lovely young server, Xio. He flirted shamelessly, exploited the birthday boy angle and, at one point, even grasped her hand and refused to let go. She returned his affections with a piece of birthday cake topped with one candle and a group of friends to sing to him one more time, which he absolutely loved.

All in all, a wonderful celebration of a fantastic first year and the first day of Myles's second year...

...and many more...

Mommy took this picture at 9:00 AM this morning, marking the exact moment that Myles turned the ripe age of one:



Myles and Xio:

Feliz cumpleanos a ti:

Living it up with birthday cake:



One more time for good measure:



Opening a present from Aunt Jenny and Uncle Mike!

A haircut? No, I want 'em all cut.

Big weekend. First, Myles had a really fun visit from Gramma and Grampa A. on Friday, who visited for the afternoon and stayed overnight to babysit so Mommy and Daddy could go out on the town. Although Myles gave them some fairly standard trouble at bedtime, it was pretty clear that all three of them had a good time.

This morning, after Gramma and Grampa hit the road, we were able to get a quick appointment for Myles's first haircut. A few quiet tears on the ride over, but Mommy did just fine once we got inside. This was something that Mommy had been putting off for some time, not wanting that milestone to pass until absolutely necessary. Myles will be a year old in a few days, and it was time.

From a parent's perspective, a first cut is a big deal anyway, but it also somehow made him look so much more "grown up." Where he has been a baby his whole life, he's really starting to look (and behave) like a little boy. All in all, it was a good experience with a very nice, patient lady at the McHaircut stand.

"Before" shot of "that '70s baby" while waiting for our appt.:



Myles was a little nervous with a case of ants-in-pants, but pretty good overall for a one-year old in a new and strange situation:






Who is this big boy?



Back home, Mommy and Daddy still can't get over it. From Daddy's perspective, he looks as grown up as I did in my kindergarten class photo:

Myles On Deck...

Well, another good weekend in the books. Grandma T. came and spent Saturday afternoon and evening with Myles so Mommy and Daddy could sneak out and enjoy the Coldplay show at Alpine Valley, which was a really nice time. We understand that Myles and Grandma had a pretty good time together at home, as well.

Sunday, we were all able to hang out and have a good time. A beautiful day got us out on the deck, where Myles had plenty of props with which to practice his now favorite activities: pulling himself up to a standing position and moving around with choppy little steps. We don't know how long it will be before he starts walking. He clearly has enough strength to be on his feet for minutes at a time, it's just a matter of balance and coordination. Practice, practice, practice.

Some photos from Sunday:

It's Party Time

Myles took Mommy and Daddy to Rockford this weekend to celebrate his cousin Cole's 4th birthday. Wow, are 4-year-old birthday parties fun! Myles enjoyed swimming with Daddy and dipping his toes in the hot tub while hanging out with his family.





Myles was happy to meet his Aunt Jennifer who was in town for the weekend. We tried spending the night, but Myles woke up at 4:00 a.m. and didn't want to go back to sleep, so Mommy and Daddy packed it up and headed home bright and early Sunday morning. Luckily, Myles took a good nap on Sunday afternoon. It was a fun party and a wonderful weekend!

Another Fabulous Friday

Aunt Jenny and Gramma A. came to play today and a wonderful time was had by all! Myles took a good nap shortly after they arrived, but that gave us some time to work on the amazing scrapbook pages that Aunt Jenny has been creating for Myles. Myles enjoyed an afternoon of serious playtime and some major showing off of his "SO BIG" and clapping skills. He kept his guests laughing all afternoon. After an evening walk and a bath, Myles fell fast asleep without even finishing his bottle. What a great start to the weekend!

Send in the clowns...

This evening, Myles took Mommy and Daddy to the Great Circus Parade compound at Veterans Park on Milwaukee's lakefront.

Myles enjoyed watching the camel rides and elephant rides.

The circus parade is this weekend, but all of the wagons, horses (which pull the wagons) and circus animals are set up in the park for the week for all to see. Mommy took Myles through the crowded animal display tent where they saw a kangaroo, llamas, ostriches, tortoises, goats and a bunch of other things they weren't sure they could identify. Myles giggled hard at some of the baby animals.

It was a beautiful evening by the lake.

Ol' Blue Eyes

Myles had his first visit to the eye doctor today and, as usual, he was full of smiles! The doctor specifically commented how nice it was to have a happy baby for a change because he typically sees screaming babies. Myles's eyes are not only beautiful, but healthy as well. He doesn't need to go back for another visit until he is ready to start school.