Inside the built-in

One of Joey's new favorite places is inside the built-in. He likes to pull everything out, crawl in and bang his toys on it. It's a good thing it's anchored in!

Joey: 14 Months

Joey is 14 months! The scale is reading around 18 pounds 9 (for the third month in a row), but I swear he feels heavier.

This kiddo is quite content with crawling, doesn't seem to be interested in walking yet. He is a talker! He's switched up mama and says mommy (emphasis on the "ee"), he's said daddy once or twice, but switches it to de-da more often than not. It's pretty cute. He's also said thank you and please. He will mimic just about any sound we make.

Joey loves music and singing. He claps and dances and will sometimes try to sing along. His favorite nursery rhymes are Itsy Bitsy Spider and Old McDonald.

His love for Elmo still continues. He also loves his little people figures. Anything "hand" sized seems to be particularly appealing. He also continues to enjoy his books, pulling them out on his own and enjoys being read to.

The photo ops are getting particularly difficult. This month, he was very interested in picking the chalk board up and throwing it at me. So with slim pickins, enjoy.

Busy Weekend

What a weekend! Joe worked like crazy, the life of a career in retail, and Joey and I avoided anything that resembled a store. At least until late this afternoon. Instead, I spent the long weekend hanging with my favorite little guy and doing some spring cleaning.

Everything in the house was picked up, rearranged, dusted, moved...cleaned. I took this opportunity to disinfect Joey's toys and mess with the built-in. I also realized we'd talked about it, but never really given a peak at it. It's built, and except for some much needed decorating, complete. It houses Joey's toys, along with a few other items. For now, it will probably stay as it is, until he gets a little older and understands he can't pull everything out of it he sees.

The built-in, minus Joey's toys

The toys that go in the bottom shelves

Sweet Tooth

Joey has a sweet tooth (like his daddy). Anything chocolate or sweet and he's all over it! I snapped some pictures of his Thanksgiving feasting, but didn't get any video, so today I gave him a piece of brownie.

Haapy Thanksgiving!

We spent today at Joe's sister Melanie's house with the Priest fam. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time catching up with family.

Ashlee showing Joey a balloon turkey

Uncle Joe with sweet baby Adley

Joey with turkey, dressing, cranberries, potatoes, peas and carrots - couldn't get enough!

His second helping!

And he finished it off with some chocolate pie - yum!

How 'Bout them Cowboys!

Joe and I had the pleasure of going to the Cowboys/Browns game. While it wasn't pretty, it was a win and we had a blast!

Great picture, except for the photo bomb - it's a good thing we know him

Can't stop talking long enough to smile

Finally, this one will work

Dump Truck

Joey was playing with the dump truck tonight. Pushing it around, playing with the man and the rock.

Cooler weather

I love that the weather is getting a little cooler. We had a cold front come in last night, so I enjoyed dressing Joey in some warm weather gear for the day.

Touchdown!

We've been trying for what feels like weeks to capture Joey saying touchdown while doing the arm signal. Like with most things, as soon as we pull out the phone he stops.

He starts to do it, then gets mad in the first one.

 

He's having more fun playing with his footballs in the second one.

 

New kicks

How cute are Joey's new shoes! While visiting daddy at work yesterday, he lit up when he saw the Elmo shoes. How could we say no? =)

Visiting Daddy

Joey and I headed off to visit daddy at work today.

He is a much happier kiddo with the new carseat. He's still rear-facing, but can see out the window and is at a much more comfortable angle. It's a lot easier on us to load and unload him from the car too. He's been in it for about a month now, but this is the first pic. =)

30 Days of Thanks - Part 2

I enjoyed doing the 30 Days of Thanks so much last year, I decided to do it again this year. I can't guarantee there won't be duplicates because I'm not going to go back and see what I wrote last year until the end of the month - I want each thought to come from the heart.

1. I am thankful to be a mom. Joey has changed me in ways I never thought imaginable. I love that little boy more than I knew my heart was capable of loving.
2. I am thankful for my husband. Joe is truly a great person and partner in life and I am grateful God brought him into my life.
3. I am thankful for our home. Not only is it shelter, but the blood, sweat and tears we have put into this place makes me proud of it. I couldn't think of a better place to begin raising our family.
4. I am thankful for Joe's new job. He is a much happier person and is able to spend more time at home with his family.
5. I am thankful we found Miss Toni. Joey loves going to daycare and playing with the kids everyday and I feel comfortable and confident when we drop him off. We found a great fit for our family and I am grateful to have someone so great watch my baby boy when we can't.
6. I am thankful to live in a nation where we have the right to vote and choose the leader of our country. No matter who wins, we all have the ability to have our voice heard.
7. I am thankful for our family near and far. We may not get to spend as much time with them as we'd like. But I love each of you and miss you all dearly. 
8. I am thankful for technology and can't imagine life without television, computer, phone...sounds terrible, but it's amazing how much we rely on these things. 
9. I am thankful for weekends! Although I've always loved them, I cherish them more now than I ever did. Spending time with Joe and Joey is my favorite thing ever! 
10. I am thankful for football season. While our teams aren't doing the best this year, it's one of my favorite parts of fall - which is my favorite season, by far.
11. I am thankful that Joey's last tooth cut! He has five teeth now and after six weeks of teething, we may finally have some relief and a happy little man. 
12. I am thankful for cooler weather. Although it's a little harder to get out of bed, it's great snuggling weather.
13. I am thankful for our fur babies. Though they don't get as much attention as they did a couple of years ago, they were my first babies and I will always hold a special place in my heart for each of them. I love the moments when Joey's in bed for the night and they come in for a snuggle.  
14. I am thankful for amazing friends. It seems the closest are the furthest away, but I love and miss each of you dearly. 
15. I am thankful for my DVR. I love television and love that I don't have to choose, I can have it all - and without commercials. 
16. I love the time Joey and I have together in the mornings. We have our routine, but he is the sweetest thing in the morning. I love that while getting ready for work, we laugh and play and spend time together. I couldn't think of a happier, better way to start the day.
17. I am thankful for fun filled days running errands and spending time with my sweet baby boy. 
18. I am thankful for being able to go to the Cowboys/Browns game today - we had a blast!
19. I am thankful for short work weeks and being able to wear jeans all week.
20. I am thankful for bath time fun with Joey. He loves his bath - loves to sing, dance and play with his toys. I cherish moments like these each and every day.
21. I am thankful to have a 4 1/2 day weekend! I love holiday weekends, especially the really long ones.
22. I am thankful to have my husband home for Thanksgiving (first one in six years) and to be able to spend the day with family. I am also thankful for Skype. Without it, I wouldn't have been able to "see" my family today.
23. I am thankful for Black Friday sales - especially the Internet kind. I have never been one to be out in the crowds fighting for a deal, now I can do it from the comfort of my couch.
24. I am thankful for lazy Saturdays.
25. I am thankful that not only can my husband cook, but he enjoys to. It's nice to share that duty and enjoy his cooking.
26. I am thankful for my washer and dryer. Less than a year old and I am still in love with them. No one should enjoy laundry this much. I'm sure the novelty will eventually wear off, but for now I'm still smitten.
27. I am thankful for patience. Sometimes it wears a little thin, especially when it comes to work. This week I've had to have a lot of it.
28. I am thankful Joey loves to sleep. He loves his naps and going to bed at night. He will sometimes even ask for it by saying ni-night.
29. I am thankful I've gotten a jump-start on my holiday shopping. Hopefully this year Christmas won't sneak up on me.
30. I missed posting this on Veteran's Day, but I'm thankful for our troops. The sacrifices they make (and that of their families) to fight for the freedom of our nation is amazing.
31. I am thankful tomorrow is December - let the Christmas season begin!