FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!

Okay, so it's not his real birthday yet, but this was the best time to have his party.
Curious George was the theme. How's the cake? It took forever to make. If you look at it long enough, it kind of looks like Curious George. Kind of.

Derek really enjoyed eating the cake too; he made such a mess that he went straight to the bathtub afterwards.

He really didn't know what to think when we all started singing Happy Birthday to him; I think he kinda freaked out a little bit. He loved his balloons, though.

Trip to Michigan

Derek and I got to visit my family in Michigan last week. We both had a grand time, and at the end of the week, Jeremy came and picked us up.
Derek got into stuff, and got spoiled by his grandpa and grandma and aunts and uncles all week long and loved every minute of it. Playing with his cousins was a highlight too.
He sure did miss his daddy though. The look on his face when he heard his daddy's voice over the telephone after not seeing him for a couple of days was sooooo precious! He truly loves his daddy.
This picture requires a slight explanation.
One evening while we were at my parents, Derek disappeared for a short time. Just as I felt one of those mommy-knows-something-is-wrong-because-it-is-far-too-quiet feelings, someone discovered him in the kitchen. He had somehow managed to get the lid off of the bulk Heinz ketchup gallon jug which was empty and sitting on the floor next to the trash can, and picked it up and tried to drink from it like a cup.
This is the result.

When's dinner? I'm hungry!

Three Generations of Marshalls

Updates

I know I haven't posted any pictures in a while. Hopefully I will soon.
Derek needs a haircut pretty badly, and I have a hard time taking pictures of him when he looks so shaggy.

He has had a few new accomplishments recently!
A couple of weeks ago, he said "Papa"; just recently he started saying "Mimi" (Grammie).
He can sneak away and get halfway up the stairs before I can say Rumpelstiltskin.
A few days ago, he discovered the art of clapping, which he now does quite frequently, and even did it in his sleep one night and woke himself up.
He LOVES Sesame Street.
Hates being confined to his walker.
Has so many tiny little bruises on his knees from crawling everywhere that it looks like his knees are filthy.
Has a fascination with anything and everything electronic.
Tries to charm his way out of and into EVERYTHING.

There is more, but it'll have to wait for another post.
He's going to wake up from his nap very soon.

It happens to all of us when we are young, no matter how hard our parents try to prevent it.
Sometimes it happens by accident to those who are not so young. Like those who ride motorcycles.

At least once in our lifetime, we must all eat a bug.

Yesterday, while I was in the middle of doing something ( I couldn't stop for a rabbit trail for fear of not remembering to complete my task ), I spied a dead fly on the floor.
The dead fly was set upon the nightstand for future disposal.

This morning, as we were about to leave the house, Derek was playing by our bed while I readied ourselves to go, I experienced a "mother knows when something is wrong" moment.

Some of you may be familiar with such a creature. It happens most often when a child is quiet. When my son is quiet, it usually means he is getting into trouble and is either too focused on what he is doing, or doesn't want me to hear him doing something he isn't supposed to be doing.
Another such moment occurs to mothers of small children when they have something in their mouth which doesn't belong.
I had just such a moment.

I nearly ran across the room to rescue my son from mortal danger, and I see that he is fine... he just has a funny look on his face.

And he is chewing.

At this moment, I belatedly recall my intent to dispose of the dead fly from yesterday.
My stomach turns.

I fall to my knees and begin the finger swipe which all mothers of toddlers must learn.
But
it
was
too
late!

When he saw the familiar finger swipe coming, he quickly swallowed.

An old nursery rhyme comes to mind.
"I don't know why he swallowed the fly,
Perhaps he'll die!"


I'm sure he'll be alright.
I may be emotionally damaged from the experience, however.

smooshface

This is how I play in my playpen.

A little off the wall here...

How many of you is this true about? I remember my mom saying something similar when us kids were younger.

Papa and me!

More beach fun!

Parade!

Last night, the Fourth of July parade went through town.
We had prime seats - We got to sit on our fire escape and watch it; everyone else had to fight for a spot along the street.
We even got a peice of candy thrown up to us!
Derek LOVED the marching bands.
And...
He finally understood the whole waving thing.
It was lots of fun.
While he probably still won't wave bye-bye to you, he at least understands the concept.
We waved at lots of people...
Little boys driving tractors, kids on floats, little old men driving tiny cars, baton-twirling little girls...
Derek didn't have the patience to sit and watch the entire thing, but he saw most of it.
He got pretty tired and cranky toward the end.
Next year I already have plans to teach him how to say things as they go by...
Tractor, Van, Horse, Bike, Etc.
Lots and Lots of fun!

More beach fun!

I had to get a picture of this before he grew out of it... In case you can't read it, it says "When God created me, He was just showing off!"

Little Gentleman

Thank you Aunt Heather for the snazzy duds!

My first day at the beach

Me and my daddy just chillin'.

My hands are sinking in this stuff...

Me and my aunt Winnie

That's the biggest bathtub I've EVER seen!

First day at the beach!

stolen

I know, I stole this from someone else's blog... they'll just have to sue me. It's such a great picture of Derek!

Yet another post...

Jeremy wanted me to post these videos cause he liked them better than the peekaboo one, so here it is!
Oh, and for the record, there is nothing wrong with the sound. There just isn't any. Our camera doesn't record sound, just video.

Peekaboo & Playtime

Another one...

Out of the blue this evening, Derek woke up screaming from his nap. Once reaching him and picking him up, I discovered that he had a bloody nose.
Now, I know there are some of you that are thinking, "Oh no! He has leukemia!", and some of you are thinking, "They need to run a humidifier in his room." Neither are the case. I have had a humidifier in his room going for days now as he has been suffering from a nasty cold.
It was not a random bloody nose. He somehow managed to hit his face hard enough in his sleep to give himself a bloody nose.
Now THAT takes talent.
He is his mother's child. The poor little boy has inherited his mother's klutz curse, apparently.

Pray fervently for him. He's going to need it.

I am REALLY getting into this photo editing thing. It makes up for my mistakes when taking the initial picture. I can crop, resize, change lighting, fix redeye... and the picture that was previously mediocre is now top notch!