Opinions...

Everyone has them. And I  usually feel the need to have strong opinions about most things. However, I did not expect J to have such strong opinions this early in life. I should have listened to his Mimi, because she has been saying that since about day 7 of his life :)! Here is his new opinion that made me laugh today. I am so blessed to spend my days with him!

This is J playing with one of his very favorite toys...the dump truck! You should hear him try to say "dump truck". It is absolutely precious. He was given the dump truck for his birthday by his great grand-parents and spends lots of quality time with his dump truck friend.

Recently, he has decided that he likes the back of the dump truck to be in an upright position at all times. (See picture above.) He brings it to me, I raise it for him and he plays happily. Occasionally he lowers it while playing and...

He is no longer happy. I usually just raise it for him, but I had to capture his strong emotions today.

"Come on mom, quit taking pictures and HELP!"

I have no idea why he doesn't like it this way, but it will be something I forever remember and treasure!

Last one...he is now doing his "tired" routine (eyerubbing, pouting). He does this when trying to gain sympathy. It worked...

All better!

Hopefully he won't remember that I snapped a few photos while he was concerned about the positioning of his favorite toy.

Little Red Wagon

Scott has been telling me for months now that every little boy needs and loves little red wagons. Due to a great sale and some birthday money, J is now the PROUD owner of one. I had no idea he would love this "toy" so much, but it is his new favorite!

He was "Daddy's Little Helper" while assembling it. He would even look at the directions and hand Daddy pieces. Most of all, he checked all the wheels to make sure they worked properly. :)

Then we had to take J and his wagon for a spin!

The dog had to come along!

J even saw a real dog...his favorite.

And cars...

Not sure who enjoyed the walk more :)

J pushes his wagon around the house too...even in the kitchen. (If you have been to our home, you know there is barely enough room for a wagon!)

So happy with his new "car"!

4th of July!

Now that J has turned one, I often think about what we were doing together last year during this time. And let me tell you, things have changed in major ways! On J's first 4th of July, he was one week old. I bought him a celebratory outfit that he barely fit into and none of us were getting any semblance of sleep. However, we were blissfully happy with God's most amazing blessing of our new little boy. Here he was last year...

I love how he looks like he knows exactly what's going on! This year, he is almost walking...time flies!

J had a very eventful and super fun 4th of July weekend this year. It all began with Kaboom-town fireworks on July 3rd. To avoid a 3-hour wait to get out of the Addison area after the show, we parked in a garage that Scott knew about through work. We thought this was a brilliant idea and so did the other 200 cars that were there as well! It was a very successful first fireworks show for J...

He LOVED it!

J made sure we were seeing the fireworks too! :)

We let him stay up way past his bedtime and he was out as soon as we got in the car...

On Sunday, we had lunch with the Pattillos and J tried out his spray park pool!

J is intrigued with hats but would rather not be the one wearing them.

Aunt Taylor is a natural!

Checking it out

This is FUN!

One of J's favorite things...dogs!

Mimi was so kind to keep little J while we got to go to the Rangers game with the rest of Scott's fam. As baseball is "America's past-time", the Rangers do an amazing job of celebrating America on the 4th...complete with Airforce induction, a great game, and fireworks after! Thankfully, Taylor was there to chat with during the game (I can't sit through a whole game without a girlfriend!). Then, I got to snuggle with my man during the fireworks. We had a great time!

Now to the highlight of J's entire weekend. We journeyed to Ham Orchards on Monday. We were going to buy some fresh peaches and try the yummy peach icecream, but we left with something even better...J's new obsession of bulldozers!!! (Or, "do"s as he affectionately calls them.) Yes, there was a bulldozer clearing a field in the orchard, and J's true boy mind was sold....bulldozers are the coolest thing ever! So, we stood on the side of an East Texas dirt road for at least half an hour, in the 100 degree heat, and watched the "do" clear a field. And you know what, I could have stood in that heat and watched J be amazed by that "do" all day long...I just love watching him learn!

J woke up the next morning asking for a "do" and stood at our backyard window looking for one often throughout the day. Thankfully, both sets of grandparents acquired a "do" for him within the week!

We are blessed with this little boy and blessed to live in America! Let freedom ring!