Sizzlin' Summer Fun!

So I'm sure you all have heard about our Seattle heatwave this past week. Boy was it hot around here! Mom said it reminded her of childhood summers in the deep South. We've all appreciated the fact that our house is one of the few houses in the area with air conditioning; even had a few unexpected but much enjoyed visitors because of it.

Mommy and I have been having a somewhat lazy summer together. We've met up with our friends around town, played on my new outdoor playscape in the backyard and even broke out the little pool one day during the heatwave.

Stroller Safari

Today Mommy and I joined my friends Tom and Quincy at the Woodlawn Park Zoo in Seattle. This was my first trip to the zoo and I enjoyed looking at the animals. My favorite animals were the monkeys and gorillas because I could get close to the glass to look at them. We stopped by the petting zoo on the way out and I liked looking at the goats and sheep but wasn't really interested in touching them.

We had such a fun time, I can't wait till Mommy and Daddy take me back to the zoo.

I Can Walk!

The Friday before my surgery I took a few steps for Mommy but tonight while Mommy was teaching I walked our entire upstairs hallway for Daddy. He was smart and caught it on video so Mommy could see it when she got home. I think it's good he got to really see a major milestone present itself for the first time.

Now if I can just figure out how to run I might be able to catch Cisco!

Recovery

This week I am recovering from a little procedure I had to have done on Monday at Children's Hospital in Seattle.

The Pediatric Urologist had to correct my hypospadias. I know you're probably thinking what is a hypospadias? Well hypospadias is one of the most common conditions in the United States. It occurs in 1 in 250 newborns and has increased over the last 10 years. Hypospadias occurs when the opening of the penis is not at the very tip. Surgery is done to move the hole to the correct location.

I was in surgery for 3 hours yesterday and then a 2 hour recovery time. Mommy, Daddy, Grammy, Grandpa and G were all there to support me and keep me company. Mommy helped take me back into the OR, she had to wear a funny suit and was really nervous. She sang "The wheels on the bus" while I sniffed some strawberry gas and went to sleep.

When I woke up I was back with Mommy and Daddy and some nice nurses who fed me apple juice and graham crackers. Mommy said I was going to be spoiled with all the sugar they gave me since she doesn't let me drink too much juice at home.

After we got home I was able to play a little with my toys while Daddy ran all over town to pick up my prescriptions. I had a normal dinner and slept so good last night except for Mommy and Daddy waking me up every 4 hours for medicine and a diaper change. I go back to the Urologist on Tuesday, July 7th and should be good as new in a few weeks.

Wow, I Feel Old!

Yesterday was my first birthday party! Mommy and Daddy were congratulating themselves for surviving a year, they've done pretty good, even survived my sleep torture system. I was so excited for my party that I didn't take an afternoon nap; and hindsight being 20/20 that probably wasn't the best idea.

We had a big turn out and I really made out with the gifts. All of my grandparents were present, also there were Nanny, Uncle Josh and Aunt Loren, my friend Tom and his parents Randy and Jean, my new friend Kaylin and her dad Pat, our friends Paul, Ana and Brian, and Daddy's Aunt and Uncle Goldy and Sam. (I think that's everybody.)

Daddy grilled burgers and Mommy made pasta salad and we had fruit salad supplied by Grammy and potato salad supplied by G. After we all had a late lunch we had birthday cake; I think this was my favorite part. Daddy tried to encourage me to eat my cake with my hands but I decided that was going to take too long and so I dug in face first. That icing was yummy! After I had eaten enough that people said I was going to be sick Mommy took it away; she didn't want to clean up colored vomit, and G fed me some of the cake part. I REALLY LIKE CAKE!

After the cake and festivities I finally got to open my presents with Daddy's help. I got a few cool clothing items; and lots of fun looking toys. I even managed to score some LSU gear, diapers and gift cards to my favorite stores.

Mommy and Daddy say that I am a pretty lucky boy and evidently much loved because everyone is so generous to me. I can't wait until the next party, but mostly just looking forward to the next cake.

Don't forget to click on my new video, showing off my cake-eating skills.

Mommy's Birthday

Today is Mommy's birthday and Aunt Loren's graduation party. I'm excited because a lot of our family is in town. Mommy said this year she is only 29 years old; I'm not sure she's telling the truth but she's the Mommy. Tomorrow is my first birthday party, I get to have a few of my friends over for a BBQ and cake. I'm excited because I have a big pile of presents already to open.

I took some first birthday pictures the other day but I wasn't too happy about the big flash. It's a good thing that Mommy and Daddy had a pictures taken of me a few months ago.

Grooving and Moving

I have recently discovered my love for music. I like to dance to classic rock and 80's music and I enjoy playing the piano. Daddy caught some video of my love of music the other day and posted them here under the video section of the blog.

I've posted two new videos for your enjoyment, "Seated Dancing" and "Learning Piano". Both star your's truly, and Grandpa costars in "Learning Piano".

Mommy's First Mother's Day

Today we celebrated Mother's Day for Mommy, G and Grammy. Daddy and I cooked a roast, Aunt Loren made Pete's potatoes and Papa Boogs made dessert. Mommy got some really special gifts; Daddy and I bought her some massages and flowers and Nanny sent her a "World's Greatest Mom" mug and a gift certificate to Gene Juarez, and G and Papa Boogs had some sodas made with a special label that included my picture and a message for Mommy even Uncle Josh got Mommy some flowers to celebrate her first real Mother's Day.

I think all the gifts are pretty neat but I have a feeling that "World's Greatest Mom" mug is going to come back to haunt me when I'm older. I hope all the other Mommies out there had a special day.

My First Easter

Yesterday I got to dye easter eggs for the first time; I think I'm really good at it; maybe I'll be an egg artist when I grow up.

Here is my basic strategy: first you have to crack the egg a bit on the side of the cup, this helps it absorb the dye; next you plop the egg in the cup and slosh the dye around with your hands, don't be afraid to get your hands full of dye; finally when you've got enough dye on your hands, stomach, pants, and table top you can pull the egg out, make sure to taste it! Let it sit until dry.

Last night I set out the easter basket that Nanny sent me, it's a cool dump truck, and waited patiently for the Easter Bunny to bring me goodies. I got some snacks, some baby food in jars, some dinosaur pajamas and a really neat boat for the bathtub.

This Easter thing is pretty cool; I got some toys from Nanny and some books from Grammy and Grandpa too! Mommy even let me get messy with egg dye which you all know is quite a leap for her. I hear next year I might be able to hunt eggs...I wonder how that works?

Viva Las Vegas

We spent the week of Spring Break in sunny Las Vegas. Our first few days were great; we stayed at the Mandalay Bay hotel because they had the best pools. I got to go swimming for the first time. I didn't really like it at first but once I understood it was like my bathtub I enjoyed myself. We toured the city a bit and rode the monorail to the other casinos.

It was a good thing that our hotel was nice because I got a stomach virus and then Daddy caught it the next day, so we spent the last 2 days of our 4 day trip mostly in our hotel room. Mommy was a bit disappointed because she had to take care of everyone and didn't get to spend time in the sun or see a show like she wanted. Fortunately Mommy didn't catch the virus until we got home.

Everyone is mostly feeling better now; I'm still not back to eating what I normally do which is a bummer with Easter this weekend. I hope the Easter Bunny still brings me goodies that I can eat later.