Happy Birthday to You, You Live in a Zoo

Isn't that how the second line of the birthday song goes? For Keagan's first birthday, Jeff and I took off work for a few days to hang out with the birthday boy. We started his big day by putting together his gift from us, a toy chest (aka a necessity to make sure our living room isn't a complete disaster) and headed to the zoo. I was a little bummed that by the time we got there we only had a couple of hours before it closed but as it turns out, a couple of hours at the zoo was all Keagan had in him so it worked out perfectly! He was actually a bit more into the zoo now, watching the gorillas and some lion cubs wrestling around. His teachers even decorated the classroom window for him and let him add a little to the artwork.

Trying out the toy chest

Finally got out to walk a bit

First carousel ride! A big hit...

He's so stinkin' handsome

Keagan's window - his artwork is in the bottom left corner

The Winter Thaw Begins

When it started even getting remotely nice outside, I took Keags down to the park for the first time. It's a little difficult since he does have fun but likes to spend a lot of time just climbing on the sets and then sitting there to watch the other kids play, which is fine but obviously gets in the way of the other kids. But he does ok, loves the climbing, likes the slide and is still a little unsure about the swings. We've been a few times since and when we headed there with my parents, discovered he's not a big fan of grass. Nothing like a challenge for summertime but as Daddy always tells him, "You ARE your mommy's son." Not quite sure what that's supposed to mean...I mean, I always loved getting dirty. LOL

I imagine this is what Urkel looks like when he goes for a swing

I feel like all parents have cute pics of their kids peeking through the little holes in the jungle gym...clearly, this one doesn't quite fit the bill. While he looks plenty cute, he also looks as if he might be swearing at me under his breath.

Maxin' & Relaxin'

Watching the big kids

The Locks Get Shorn

As you all know, Keagan has had a head full of hair since Day 1 (perhaps he's getting his due for what is coming his way in a few decades when it goes the other way). As he got closer to a year old, it started getting really long. It was adorable and quite stylish given the trends these days. HOWEVER, when it started literally hanging in his eyes and required a comb-over, we thought it was probably time to get a little trim. Unfortunately for us (and my poor stylist and the other customers), Keagan was not on the same wavelength. I'm sure his stranger-danger didn't help at all but he was not having this haircut. He screamed and cried nearly the entire time but we got through it. It was a little shorter than we had hoped (at one point, I looked at it and it was crooked so I think she just had to even it out - damn that wiggling!) but still looked cute...and it's already quickly growing out over his ears again.

A fairly decent "before" picture (meaning before the cut, clearly not before the crying started)

No help from the paci

This is about the point where the trimmed hairs were getting stuck in his continuous snot from crying so his face was really, really lovely

It's over!

Out to dinner to celebrate the new bowl cut

On Your Mark, Get Set...

Go! This is old news now to those of you that have seen us (or are on Facebook) but our little, baby boy started walking about 3 weeks before his 1st birthday. We knew it was going to be soon (or at least people told us that) and Jeff thought he saw him let go of the coffee table and take a couple of steps the weekend before he started. Then on Monday, March 1, I picked him up from daycare and Miss Katie asked if he had "started anything new this weekend." I had a feeling what she was getting at and she said he walked a few times that day. We didn't get to see it that first day because he went directly to bed when we got home from daycare but he was proud to show off his skills the next day! I was able to catch some video of him chasing the cat. I don't remember when Dylan started walking or any other little ones but was surprised that once he started, there was no teetering and very little stumbling. Another milestone in the baby book!