Happy Birthday - Here's your box!

Jalen turned one on Sunday, and for his birthday he received a basketball goal from us. I have to say, he was very excited that I brought home another box, whether or not there was anything in it!

Hot Dog, Hot Dog, Hot Diggety Dog

Here is a replay of Jalen performing his interpretation of the Hot Dog Dance at Nan's on Christmas Eve. (For you, Aunt Jody)

Jalen the toy thief

Lately, Jalen thinks its funny to steal Mace's toy and run around the house with it hoping Mace will chase him. They just love each other...

First Birthday Party

We celebrated Jalen's first birthday while we were home on the 27th. You guessed it, he had a Mickey Mouse party. He did more gift openening; this time he was content to climb on all the unopened boxes while Daddy opened them for him. Jalen got more clothes and toys and Mom and Dad got a dvd player for the car!!! Yaaaayyy!!!! I watched The Sandlot the first part of our trip home, then I drove and Devan watched it. Although I vaguely remember that this was Jalen's gift, but oh well.....

We had a great party and Jalen got to enjoy his first piece of chocolate cake and ice cream. He wasn't sure why we were all staring at him, or if it really was ok to play in his food, so it took him a few minutes to get comfortable with it, but we finally got some good pictures out of him.

Merry Belated Christmas!

Ok, so it's high time I got on here and documented Jalen's wonderful first Christmas. We had a great, long visit in IL, full of many busy days. The first of Jalen's Christmas's was at our home in Knoxville on the Sunday before. We opened our gifts to each other, and as expected, Jalen was not really interested in anything other than the boxes and torn up paper, and the camera. That's why this is the only picture I have.

The first Christmas in IL was at Nan's on the 24th. Jalen got to visit with cousin Kal ("baby!") and was very interested in touching his face and hair. We were just worried that he would come barrelling through the living room and stomp on Kalden without even seeing him. Jalen found a new love in Nan's old rocking chair that was just his size. He had his own special way of getting up into it, but hey, it worked. Jalen did open a few of his gifts at Nan's and one of his favorites was a Mickey Mouse dvd. He then proceeded to show everyone how to do the Hot Dog dance.

Our next Christmas was at Mamaw and Papaw's on Christmas morning. Jalen's favorite toys there were the two steps down to the living room and a cardboard box to play in. He managed to sneak away while we were opening gifts and we heard him in the living room although none of us knows how he overcame the steps on his own.

Then we had Christmas at Papa Mike's. Jalen got a dump & fill wagon to load up and pull around, and a ball pit that we had to make sure Mace stayed far away from so he didn't pop it. (He, of course, received lots and lots of other things at these get togethers - this is the short version) Through all the excitement, Jalen was developing a nasty cough, so the afternoon of the 26th we took him to a clinic in Evansville to find out that he had pneumonia! The poor guy just didn't feel well the whole time we were home.

That evening we had our last Christmas at Grandma Wanda's. Jalen played with all the kids and opened a few gifts before we headed home early to let him rest.

He is now feeling much better, and has since the moment we walked back into our own house. He has been running around like crazy, talking, and stealing Mace's toys. We have a follow-up check up with our doctor tomorrow, so we will know for sure if he is well.