Picture Post!

is for Dog. We've had our dog Buck for almost 6 months now (gosh has it only been that long?) and couldn't image our life without him. He is the perfect dog for us (even though we built a fence in the back yard he can jump over!). Tyler is SO great with him too! He feeds him everyday and as soon as we get home in the afternoon he takes Buck outside to play until the sun goes down. Buck really loves going to the park to play fetch with the Frisbee and run around in the creek. We usually take him to the park on the weekends when it's nice outside. He's also getting better about running next to me on the leash. About 2 weekends ago we dog-sat the Syke's dog Cooper and Buck LOVED that. He's very playful and it's always nice to see him and Cooper together. His other friend Taz is an older so doesn't like to play too too much, but they still enjoy each other too! We love you Buck

mmmmmm....

Watch Caiden's tongue in this video.. it's like a lizard ..LOL

C is for Concrete Blocks

Eric was talking to a co-worker the other day about how we wanted to build a concrete-stone wall in front of our house and she just so happened to have some that she was about to get rid of!! So, Friday after work Eric drove the truck to her house and picked up over 150 stones! Saturday was such a gorgeous day, so we spent most of it building (well, Eric and Tyler mostly.. I was hanging out with the baby). I did wash the cars though! Once the wall's built we can go pick out some beautiful flowers to plant. Neither of us really have a "green thumb" so Eric's mom said she'd help us out on what flowers would go best there since it's in FULL sun most of the day! I'm so excited.. it's going to look much better!

This is what the front looked like- BEFORE

Tyler ready to help.. he even has his own shovel!

Here comes the wall... AFTER
Stay tuned for the FINAL touches once we add the flowers, etc.

is for BIKE! Not to long ago I was talking on the phone to my dad and he was asking about the boys and how Eric and I were, and so on, just like a wonderful daddy does (I love you). Well, I had briefly mentioned, in a laughing kind of way, how Buck LOVES to chew things... well, he decided Tyler's seat to his bike tasted good.. well when I told my dad that he said he couldn't have his Big T riding a bike with a chewed up seat so he told Tyler to go pick out a new bike! Tyler is really into learning how to spell and write so he sent Papa (my dad) and e-mail and this is what it said:

From Tyler:
papa, i found a cool bike. i love mimi. i miss you. you are a cool dude.
love,
tyler james mick

This is what Mimi and Papa said back (Tyler had us read it over and OVER again he was so excited):

Big T.....mimi and papa loved that transformer bike so much that we decided that since you've been such a great helper to your mom and dad and a really cool big brother that wanted to get it for you. It will be there soon. Your mom and dad said they'd pick it up as soon as it's ready. They have to build it first, so it will be there in About 10 days!!! Take a picture when you get it and call me before you ride it. We love you the mostest!!!!!! Mimi and Papa

Teeth and Table Food!

Caiden is a growing machine! He turned 8 months on the 19th and weighs almost 19 pounds! He just got over a little sinus infection and is feeling like his normal, happy self again. It's amazing how much babies change in their first year of life. Just over the past month in a half he's gotten his 2 bottom teeth, says Mama and Dada (and other sounds too), waves his hands in the air like he's riding a motorcycle(varoom varoom), and CLAPS!! It's such the cutest thing! He's trying to get on his knees to crawl which I'm sure will happen soon! Right now he's about to cut his top tooth on the right side.... you wouldn't even know he's cutting teeth he does so well! We're also transitioning him to table food since he gets SO excited (does his motorcycle movement) when he sees us eat. So far he loves sweet potatoes, bananas, cheerios, bread and green beans! Tonight I'm going to cook some fresh squash. What a big boy you are Caiden!





Can you see those 2 little teeth?!

I feel like getting into the blogging groove and what better way to start then the good'ol ABC's about me and my family! A friend of mine did this last year and I always thought it was such a great idea (thanks Jen, so the next 26 posts will be about a topic that starts with the given letter give or take some extras...so wish me luck!

is for Aunt Erin! Aunt Erin... that's sounds so cool! I've never been an Aunt before and it sounds kinda cool to be called something else besides just Erin or Mom.. I like it! As many of you may already know, Eric's sister Tish and her husband Chris adopted a beautiful little girl from China last summer. Her name is Isabella and she'll be 2 years old this June! We are hoping to see them all Memorial weekend but we'll definitely see them again when we go to Disney World in July! This Aunt role is new to me so I'm trying to get better at it. Tish has been so good with Birthday cards and holidays and I thank you for that and hopefully I can be just as good!

I also want to dedicate this post to all you other Aunts out there... I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Isabella- our niece

we're all Aunts! This picture was taken after my graduation. I was about 7 mos. pregnant!

Eric and his Aunt Rita in Hawaii when we were on our honeymoon!

Kids say the darndest things...

We were in the store today and Tyler came running up to us with this big green ball in his hands (looked kinda like the picture) and said "Can I have this please?....I don't have any big hairy balls!" OMG I can't stop giggling.... LOL
Then I found this funny clip on youtube for some enjoyment..

Copper River Bridge 10k Run

Well I decided to start the year of racing off with a big one! The Cooper River Bridge Run/Walk is one of the most popular races in the southeast with well over 35,000 people participating. I was SO excited to run it. We got to Charleston Friday morning and stayed with our dear friends of the family, The Wieblers. My Mom, Kate, and Jay came up from Florida too for the weekend so that just added on to the excitement! Friday we went downtown to pick up our packets, t-shirts, etc. to get ready for Saturday. I was a gorgeous day and Tyler had fun hanging out with his Uncle Jay! We went to bed early Friday night so we would be well rested for Saturday's race since we had to get up about 4:45 AM to catch the shuttle to get to the starting line before the race at 8 AM. Here's a couple pictures..... (results at bottom of post!)

This is a head-band we found at the Expo the day before the race. I was SO excited to wear it... Kate and Mom got one too... so cute!

Here I am after the race once Mom and Kate found me in massive crowd! I'm not sure what my exact time was for the 10k but according to my watch is was around 52 minutes :) I plan to run it every year and hopefully better my time!

When I finished the race Tyler said "wow Mommy did you win?" "were you dancing?" I couldn't help but say, "Yep, I won!" and we all cheered :)

RESULTS ARE IN!- I looked at the website (http://www.bridgerun.com/) today and my results were posted! I ran the 6.2 miles in 52:338. It was about 6 minutes slower than the last 10k I ran over Thanksgiving before I got pregnant... and I was running 6-8 miles about 4 times a week then... and there were no hills.. either way, I have room to improve and am excited about it!

Opening Ceremonies!

Opening ceremonies for baseball were on Saturday and it definitely was an all day event! We had to be at the fields by 8:15 AM to get the team ready. After listening to the long speeches in the freezing cold we wandered over to the carnival. Jenn and I got our "Baseball Mom" t-shirts and the kids got wrist bands for all the rides. Our game wasn't until 12:30 so we went back to the house to warm up in the heat until game time! (the kids didn't mind the cold, they stayed outside and jumped on the Musso's trampoline!)

Tyler did so well for his first time ever playing. He was so excited to get his very own uniform, hat, and cleats. Eric stayed on the field with him to help out and take pictures while Caiden and I sat and cheered in the bleachers. In t-ball they don't keep score, but our team won by a mile! :)

Here's a video of Tyler's first time at bat! GOOOO TYLER!!!

On Saturday, March 22 we got tickets to see the Harlem Globetrotters at the Bobcats Arena. None of us have ever been before and we had a BLAST! Our seats where about 8 rows up and we also got to go by the locker rooms at half time to meet some of the players, get our picture taken, and get autographs too! We bought Tyler a basketball there for the players to sign... he had to have one :) The players were not only good basketball players, but good entertainers as well. Tyler especially liked "Globee" the mascot when he did the "Soldier boy" dance!

Look who's got a tooth!!

That's right everyone, Caiden is cutting not 1, but 2 teeth. They are both coming through on the bottom, with one more noticeable than the other. It was about 2 weeks ago when we first started to see the white in the gums and now you can not only see, but feel the teeth as well! He's been a real trooper about it too. We bought him some "biter biscuits"... or should I say "super messy biscuits" and he absolutely loves them. I can hear him saying "mmmmmmm" right now!

if you zoom in you can see a little white tooth on the right side

Batter Up!

Tyler had his first scrimmage lastTuesday night and I must say.. he's a natural athlete! Take a look at our star athlete!!!

Let's Play Ball!

"Take me out to the ball game, take me out to the crowd..." Baseball season has finally arrived! Tyler has been looking forward to play ever since he could say the word "ball." Last Saturday was his first practice and he had a blast. His good friend Tyler Musso is on the team with him which makes it even better! We got there early so we can get him warmed up, meet the coach, run the bases.. you know it, we did it! Our last 2 practices have gotten rained out so he's defiantly ready for Tuesday's practice. Opening ceremony's are on the 29th of this month and after that he'll have his first game! GOOOO REDS!

Tyler and his teammates warming up before practice

Stretching..

Nice catch!

Future pitcher!

"That's all folks!"

Half a year old!!

Weight: 17 lbs 4 oz. - 50%
Height: 26 1/4" - 50%
Head Circumference- 45.5 cm - 90%

I know I say this every month, but it's SO true- Caiden sure is growing up fast! He can not only roll over now, but sit up too (for a short bit)! He's laughing, smiling, blabbling, and cooing all the time! We are so lucky to have another happy baby! I'm still nursing him, but we have started him on cereal and some vegetables like squash and carrots. He's not 100% into them, but he's trying. If one of us is holding Caiden while we're eating he'll try and grab the food off the plate. Maybe he just doesn't want baby food at all... who would...yuk? LOL! He's mostly sleeeping through the night now.. about an 8 hour stretch then wakes up to eat then falls back asleep until I have to wake him up to go to work. Caiden is such a joy and we are so blessed he's in our lives!

Check out Caiden sitting up!!

Funny Commercial....

I thought this commercial was hilarious!

MoRe BiRtHdAy FuN

We threw a dinosaur themed party for Tyler yesterday and it was a huge success! Eric made a dinosaur puzzle out of wood and we hid the pieces in the back yard for the kids to find.. they LOVED it, each wanted to hide the pieces over and over! We also set up an art table for everyone to make/color dinosaurs and played the good 'ol pin the horn on the Stegasaurus! After the games we enjoyed some yummy ice cream cake from Baskin Robins and opened presents. Tyler says "thank you friends for coming to my party and for the presents!" After all that was done the boys played outside in the beautiful weather! It sure was a lot warmer than last years party




Tyler found the first piece!

Tyler and Liam searching for more puzzle pieces..


Happy Birthday Tyler!