Alex - 2 Years!!!!!

This past month was a busy one.  We kicked it off with the annual Cooley vacation.  This year we headed to Hilton Head.  This was the first time Alex really enjoyed the beach.  We followed it up with Alex's 2nd Birthday.  It was really a great month!!

Alex's first trip down to the beach.  He didn't want to go anywhere near the beach at this point but that would soon change...

When we got down to the beach later that morning he was a little timid at first.  He just wanted to sit in my lap and watch.  GG picked him up at one point to chase after the birds - they ended up down near the water.  My mom put him down in the water and he never protested.  From there he love both the water and the sand.  Surprised us all that it wasn't more of a fight to get him comfortable with the beach.

Alex enjoying a snack at the beach.  Loved this picture because it really showed off his beautiful eyes.

Christina, Naomi, GG, Trent, and Lisa

Pete, Alex, and Grandpa

Alex getting use to the sand

Alex and Lea

Alex having fun with the sand and water

Videos - Building sand castle with GG

More sand castle building with GG

Alex building his own castle

Alex walking to the beach

Me with all the cousins.  Trent, Naomi, Alex, and Lea.

Lea, Alex, and Trent watching cartoons before bed.

Alex back on the beach.

Trent, GG, and Alex

Trent and Alex

Davies' family - Lea, Tim, Trent, Lisa (and baby to arrive in the next couple weeks - due end of August)

Matt, Naomi, me, and Alex enjoying the day

Davies' family

Mikos family - me, Alex, and Pete

Cooley Clan - me, Alex, Pete, GG, Grandpa, Christina, Matt, Naomi, Trent, Lisa, Tim and Lea

Alex tuckered out on the way home from vacation.

Alex just out playing - no he is not doing what you think he is doing - he likes to stand up to take care of that business!  :)

Alex bringing me weeds like it was a flower.

Alex loves driving the car...

...or just playing in it.

Alex loves to put his hair up like mommy - this time I was able to get it in there good.

We were trying to get Alex to sit on his new potty.  He just wanted to put the bear on the potty and play in the box it came in.

Alex's first hair cut at Sports Clip (4th haircut and he still is a really good customer)

Alex also likes to put bows in his hair like his girlfriend at daycare.

Alex hanging with his friends at his new table from GG.

Alex trying to un-lock our locker.

We went to Babies 'R Us to check out beds and Alex had a really good time.

Video - Alex moving into Babies 'R Us

Alex doing his hair...

...and mine.  As much as he likes playing with hair I'm wondering if this could be a future occupation.

Alex on the way to the park on the 4th!

Daddy having fun at Callaway Gardens.  I hadn't been here since a kid but it was amazing what I remembered about the place.  Really cool to go back.  Pete and I enjoyed a night away that was really nice.  Next time I want to bring the whole family and maybe some friends back - great family vacation destination.

Alex having fun with his cousins while mom and dad are away for the night.

Video:  Eating with Daddy

A few days Alex started getting his Birthday gifts in the mail from Illinois.  First one up... the new Kitchen from Grandma Mikos.  Alex LOVES cooking things in the kitchen.

Video:  Thank you Grandma

Cooking in his new kitchen

Next up was the Pizza and some clothes from Auntie Lauren.

The huge hit at the Birthday party was the water table from Grandpa Mikos and Ne-ne.  As you will see from all the pictures Alex enjoyed the table a little to much and mom kept thinking he'd dry off.  :)

The adults watching the kids have fun.

Video:  Where's Lea - Alex really enjoyed Lea at the party - everything was all about Lea.

Elle and Lea having a deep conversation.

Trent looking cool in his new hat.

Cheeeeeeze Lea

Cheeeeeze Elle

What you want me to smile!

Luke

Mom and Alex

Alex looking up to his cousin

Enjoying some dinner - Phinn, Alex, Lea, and Trent

Micah and Elle

Videos:  Fun with Lea

Running man

The kids were having fun outside with Blaze.

and other neighbor dogs.

Cake time...

Video:  Alex's 2nd Birthday Cake

Alex didn't quite know what to do with the burning candles on top.  He just wanted to play with Thomas.

Alex really enjoyed the cake this time.

The end of a great day.  Saying good bye to Lea.

Alex taking his ticket for the mall train ride.

Cool dude driving the car.

Enjoying his new paint book from Auntie May.

Alex - 23 months

I'm really late this month on getting these out... lots going on here.  Hopefully most of you heard that I'm expecting with baby #2, due 12/12/12!!  Definitely a lot harder the second time around but we are really looking forward to giving Alex a sibling.  We find out 7/25 the sex.  In the meantime here are some pictures from Alex's 23rd month on earth.

The first one though is Naomi Sky - around 2 months old (Christina and Matt's new baby)

Alex enjoying Memorial Day!  He looks like an old man with the goggles around his neck and the big belly!

Helping mommy water her plants! 

Seeing what is going on next door!

Alex is becoming such a big boy.  I use to have to help him get up each level at the park but now he is doing it on his own.  See the link.

More Sky!

For Mother's Day Pete got me a night away - this is one of the shots he sent me while I was relaxing at the hotel - Alex feeding Elmo some milk...

...and Alex with some crazy post-bath hair.

Not the best picture but I thought it was cute anyways.  Alex is really into doing what others are doing. Since he has seen us put deodorant on he always wants to do the same.

Another fun video of Alex helping out with the household chores - see link.

My Grandmother, Naomi (namesake to Naomi Sky) and her beautiful flowers.

Alex and I one day before school/work.  Alex is now into saying 'Cheese' and when I pull out my phone or camera and he doesn't want his picture taken he says 'No Cheese, no cheese'!

Alex 22 months

On April 18th Alex had ear tubes put in both ears.  It took us longer pre-op then it did to have the surgery and recover.  I think he was in surgery for less than 10 min and we were in post-op for no more than 15 minutes - Alex just wanted out of there.  It has been amazing the difference the tubes have made.  He is talking so much not it is crazy.  He repeats everything (you'll have to ask Pete about what Alex repeated during a Sox game Pete and Alex were watching).

This is Alex before surgery!

For Easter I actually came up with something crafty and if you know me that is pretty amazing.  I'm particularly amazed at what a big hit it was with the Davies' kids.  This is several weeks after Easter and they are still wearing them.

Ms Sky Nunez and the cute outfit I got her!

Alex being obsessed with his goggles and wanting to wear them everywhere but the pool.

Alex being Alex!

Peek-a-boo

At a Touch a Truck event.  Alex wasn't that into it at first but by the time we were ready to go he finally got more into it! 

Just wish we could combine Alex in this top one and me in this bottom one!  I need to get Photo shop or something!!

Checking out the back of an ambulance type vehicle.

Got these cute golf clubs - right off the bat Alex carried them around like he was at the golf course.

Fore!!

Check out Alex's first bouncy house experience!

On May 14th Pete graduated from Emory!  I can't believe it has been 3 years - I both feel like it was forever and it went by fast.  I'm so proud of what Pete accomplished and what he learned.  I really do feel he grew in so many ways from the experience!!  I love you Peter!!!

Alex didn't make it to graduation day (due to timing and how long it was going to be) so we went down a few days before hand to get a few pictures.