Zane's 1st Birthday Party

We celebrated Zane's birthday with family and friends on June 28th. We had a little party for him at the clubhouse in Charlotte's neighborhood (Thank you so much Charlotte!!). I'm not a decorator by any means so I asked our niece Stefanie to help me setup for the party. Thank goodness she accepted. I walked into the clubhouse and realized I had to put out all the tables and chairs! There was no way I would have been able to do it alone. Stefanie and Avaya were life savers! Not only did they help me get all the tables and chairs set up but they are the best decorators EVER! I can buy stuff, but then have no idea where to put it. They even ran to the store to pick up last minute items I needed. Thank you so much Stefanie! I could not have done it without you!

Since Zane had been having some stranger danger issues I was concerned he would be shy at his party but he did great. By the end of the day he was running all over with Chloe and Karlee chasing balloons and having a blast.

We were so lucky that Eddie was able to come to the party because he took these wonderful pictures. If not for him, we wouldn't have had any because as always, I forget about the camera when I'm 'entertaining' and watching Zane. Thank you so much Eddie!!





He does not like anything on his head-his crown was no exception


Wouldn't use his hands at first

Rob and Karlee visit

Rob and Karlee came down this weekend to visit. Karlee will be staying with Becki this week while Karrie takes a week-long test for her PhD program.
Saturday Zane and Karlee had fun in the sandbox, pool, playhouse and swing (Grandma has the whole set-up!).
This was Zane's first time in the pool. I know it, we're such looser parents. Charlie was on the swim team in high school and surfs and yet our kid hasn't been to a pool OR the beach. Zane has always loved baths so the baby pool was the best of both worlds - being outside and a 'bath'. And BONUS - no hard tub to bang your head into. After we decided to fill the pool up I went inside to get Zane some of his swim trunks. When I got back Charlie had already put him in the water in the shorts he had on. The baby pool had other uses that day; a sink for Karlee to rinse her sandbox hands and feet off in and a giant water bowl for Sadie.

Karlee in the playhouse


Rob and Charlie checking out Rob's new netbook.


Zane having a blast in the pool.


He loves trying to catch water.


Karlee coloring at the sandbox table.


Zane climbed into the chair on his own.
First time ever and it's a pretty high chair.

Karlee's first time in a sandbox. She really enjoyed it.
Think her parents may have to get her one.


Zane is a big fan of swinging.


Forgot Grandma also has a PowerWheels, but
without battery power - Dad power.





Back in the sandbox after she got cleaned up.

Sunday my dad and Trudy came over to visit and made us a delicious lunch - salad, shrimp scampi with linguini, green beans from their garden, homemade bread and chocolate cake. We all stuffed ourselves.

Charlie the Ball Popper

Charlie entertaining Zane and Karlee.

Stranger Danger

Zane has entered the stranger danger phase. It started about 2 weeks ago when Charlie's nephew Rowdy came over to the house. Zane had seen Rowdy a month before and let Rowdy carry him around. But this day he was clinging to me for dear life, even crawling up me like he was trying to get on my shoulder - as far up as he could - as far away from Rowdy as he could. And he wouldn't let Charlie hold him while Rowdy was in the house. I was hoping it was a one time event but the next week Rowdy came over again and it was exactly the same. I took Zane to the office one day and he acted the same way towards Eddie, who had taken his pictures 2 weeks before and carried Zane all over the offices. I'm hoping this phase passes soon. Even though I really enjoy having a snugly baby, I wish it wasn't out of fear. He gets so upset and seems terrified. I know it's normal, but it breaks my heart knowing that he is so scared.
I was concerned that the stranger danger would happen outside the house, but it hasn't yet. He still enjoys shopping, actually LOVES shopping. Today we had lunch with Sasha, Chloe and the 'big kids' (as they're lovingly referred to since Chloe's birth) Corben and Kamryn. The only time he had any problems was when Chloe got too close. She's such a loving little girl and always wants to give Zane a hug and stand right next to him. Unfortunately Zane is the exact opposite, but hopefully he'll grow out of it. We went to the play area at the mall after lunch and after a few minutes Zane was running around like he owned the place. Unfortunately he loves going in and out of doors and realized that he can easily escape from the play area. Unfortunately for me that is. I finally decided we had to go when I didn't have the energy to chase him any longer.


Zane and Chloe on the big couch at the mall.


He loves sitting in this spot and watching people.

ALMOST ONE!

Only 11 days until our baby turns one. We've been going through pictures from the past year so I thought I'd share them with everyone.

We're also anxiously awaiting GG's arrival in 10 days! Can't believe it's been 6 months since we've seen her

The job search has finally ended

I'm pretty late posting this, but for those of you who don't know - Charlie got a job!! On June 1st, when he had the second interview in Ft. Worth, the guy from Kelly Services was in a panic to get hold of Charlie, he even called my cell phone looking for Charlie. The guy said they wanted him to start the next week. So Charlie's working for Kelly Services at Dow in the Houston Dow Center. It's a 6 story building - NOT in the plant. It's a very new experience for Charlie. He's always been an office guy, but in the plant. The new job's dress code is a little less casual so I got to go shopping for him. He's working 4 days a week, 10 hours a day so he'll have 3 day weekends which will be nice since we won't be seeing him much during the week. It's an hour drive there and an hour and a half (with traffic) home.
We want to thank everyone who kept us in your prayers. It's amazing how God works everything out.
After his first week of work, what did Charlie do? Took a job to cut down trees on his weekend off!

Another Fort Worth trip

Charlie was called back for a second interview with Tarrant on June 1st. We drove up Saturday night to stay with Rob, Karrie and Karlee. Charlie brought his giant chainsaw and on Sunday the guys trimmed some of the trees in Rob's yard - they have no grass because their trees are so dense. (I'll try to upload some video of Charlie using his climbing gear to get up the trees - with a chainsaw)



After saying how bad the mosquitoes are at home, Zane got eaten up in Fort Worth. After watching Charlie and Rob work he had 16 NEW mosquito bites! His old ones are starting to heal and have turned into bruises so he looks like he's been beat up.

Zane had fun playing with Karlee's toys - he loves the mop - mostly because it has a long stick he can swing around. The duct tape on top is some foam stuff Rob taped it the end so it wouldn't be such a blunt end.



Playing with Karlee's big girl kitchen.

While Charlie was at his interview Karrie and I took the kids for a walk. Zane LOVED riding in the wagon. After Charlie got home, he took Zane back out in the wagon for about an hour. Zane had been having a horrible day. He nose was stuffy & runny and his tooth was hurting so bad, he cried almost the entire day. Except when he was outside in the wagon. He never got tired of riding.

Zane, Aunt Karrie, cousin Karlee and cousin/dog Brady


Riding later in the day with Daddy. Chewing on his thumb. Poor guy.

Tuesday we took Zane to the zoo for the first time. He wasn't too impressed with it, he's more interested in the trees and water than the animals.

Not sure about the train ride.


Did not want to be on the carousel before it started.


Enjoyed sharing Daddy's popsicle.


First smile we got - after a popsicle and some lemonade.


Woke him up to take a picture with the kangaroo.


The most fun we had all day - catching birds on a stick.




Zane tried his best to touch one but they were pretty fast.


He was awake when we got to the car. This is literally 1 minute after putting him in the car. (with his new pal Lemur)

Zane did great at the zoo. He was exhausted but never fussed. When we got him home he was so excited to finally lay down.