Woefully neglected...

This little blog has been neglected! I have finally recovered from the blowout that was Jaybird's 1st birthday. We had our picture made. We had a froggie cake. Out-of-town company. Enough presents to truly ruin the kid. A "This Is Your Life" Slideshow. It was a great day. I took a few snapshots, but the best were taken by the guests. Hint, hint. If you read this and you were a fellow birthday reveller, please send me an electronic copy of your best shots!

We are going on our first family of three vacation next week and I can't wait. We get to attend a wedding of a special friend (one of my favorite things) and go to the beach. We also get to visit Aunt Nat and Uncle James. I am also excited at the prospect of no dishes or laundry for a few days.

Jay is really getting big. He can crawls up a few stairs and pulls up wonderfully. He is not walking yet, but I'm not too concerned. He likes to stick his legs out of the crib and kick the wall. This morning, he seemed like he was saying "tickle, tickle" when I first picked him up. He says "mama" and "daddy" but not when you look at him. So I haven't counted it yet. The kid looks like he is a candidate for a mullet, so I'd better get him trimmed soon.

I'll try to to better with more updates... beach pictures soon!

Correction

Smokey Robinson works the crowd with "Bein' With You", not Lionel Richie. This occurred to me as I drove to tutor this morning. Glad we got that straightened out!

Par-tay!

Since I get a little thrill every time a friend updates their blog, I thought I might do the same for "my" readers. What's the par-tay, you ask? Jay is turning 1 at the end of this month! We gonna celebrate and get down with our bad selves. Which means we'll eat cake and ice cream and watch Jay go nuts over presents and icing.

Did you ever watch the Sinbad comedy specials of the mid-90s? Sinbad does this one special on growing up in the 70s and the time he stays out all night to par-tay. He is riffing on "earning your beating". His mama is waitin' at the door which is cracked for him. She proclaims, "Come on in, the door is open. Mr. Party-All-the-Time, Party-All-the-Time. We all gonna party tonight."

It is one of my favorite quotable lines from my early teen years. I also like when the talks about deuce and a quarter (an old car) and Lionel Richie workin' the crowd with only one move as he sings "bein' wit you, bein' wit you..." Oh, and he lipsyncs to the Chilites "Have You Seen Her?" as he does his own choreography.

I guess you had to be there. Funny.

So, back to my own par-tay. First of all, there is a niche market for 1st birthdays. Birthday Express sent me a catalog. I got some great coupons from Publix, and a coupon from Babies R Us, too. So, anyway. I was torn over the theme. Women live for theme. I'm an English teacher, so I really live for theme. (Wanna know how to write a theme summary? Start this way: People often...")

Back to theme. I was looking for frogs, but there were none to be found. Should I do a "one" themed party, which was fully merchandised? Or break out and mix it up? I found some tropical "froggie" invitations, and bought lime green plates, cups, and napkins.

Here's the invite:

Jay's now a very demanding eater. If you are eating, so is he.

Whaddya lookin' at?

At our Sunday School Picnic

Spring Recap

Jay & Aunt Natie

Jay finds some eggs!

Jay conquers a DD Munchkin
(our version of Easter brunch)

The best Easter morning picture we could get...


Jay & Ma Maw


Jay & Daddy (Gators-for-a-Day!)

Gainesville, Florida!

I am sitting on the bed at a Day's Inn, waiting for Jay to wake up so that we can go to UF's spring game, The Orange and Blue. We've got new Gator gear to wear, and I can't wait to see old friends after almost 7 years have passed! I had wanted to get my nails done (vanity, vanity), but ran out of time. I was on the road visiting my grandma the first part of the week, so I was proud just to get our clothes clean and us out the door.

Here is a link to Jay's spring pictures. He is one beautiful boy! We receive a lot of compliments on his sweet face and happy disposition.
http://www.lauratrent.net/proofs/young040909/