Garage Sale Extravaganza!!

Ok, so maybe our garage sale wasn't really an extravaganza, but we did have these crazy streamers hung up all over!! I kind of though at first that it made our house look like a flea-market, but they really did bring in tons of people!! And Kay and I sold tons of stuff, our garage is going to be so much more managable, maybe we can even walk through it now!

Alex spent his time during the garage sale playing with many of the items he could reach and pull off the tables! His favorite being this old green phone. He used up so much energy walking around and chasing Toby those two days--he's never slept so good! I found out how "friendly" he can be with people. My favorite example being how he used a lady's backside to catch his balance--she was a little surprised to be goosed by a one year old, but she laughed it off, thankfully!! Overall, our first garage sale experience was a great one...but I'm sure glad it all done!

Coffee, Anyone?

Frankenmuth Fun!

Wow, it's so crazy how you wait so long for vacation to get here, and then it is gone in the blink of an eye, and you are left with lots of laundry to do, some sleep to catch up on, and a child to readjust to his regular schedule--but more importantly lots of great pictures to help you remember the fabulous time you had with your family!!! We really did have a great vacation thanks to Ryan's parents. We took long walks, shopped, played games, swam, and ate schnitzel and fudge to our hearts content! Alex enjoyed lots of people watching and several new experiences like swimming in an adult pool and watching a man play the accordian. Of course we had to stop at Bronner's, also known to Ry and me as "Christmas Crazyland" and find some cool ornaments. It was great to not have to travel very far to have a fun little getaway for a few days. A big thanks to my in-laws for such a fun trip and being very flexible with a pregnant lady and a toddler in tow!! (i.e. many naps and stops to various restrooms!) And a big thanks to my great hubby for being so helpful during the course of the weekend--it really can be hard work to vacation with kids! And now...back to the pile of laundry!!

Video Problems

Ok, so we are having some technical difficulties with Dropshots, the program that I usually upload my videos to, and now with my back-up as well, YouTube. I have tried to redo that last video, so if you have a minute try it again, and hopefully it will be able to be viewed, but if it never loads for you please leave me a comment so that I can know to try something else. Man, who ever said technology was supposed to make everything easier, cuz they lied!!!

Anyway, Alex is almost exclusively walking now. He is getting really, really good at it, too! In fact we had to ban walking on the couch the other day, too dangerous for our fearless boy. Ryan's folks are here from SC, and we are spending a few days with them in Frankenmuth, so I probably won't blog again until sometime next week (sorry Grandpa and Grams, I know I've been delinquent lately and now there will be another delay in your steady stream of Alex photos!) So, have a great weekend, I know we will--shopping, swimming, relaxing, could it be much better? :-)

Walkin' Tall

Alex is finally really walking now! He hardly crawls at all any more, and even though he falls a lot (& I do mean A LOT!) he gets right back up and tries again! The news about Coonie Baby #2 is that we heard the heartbeat yesterday and it was fast and strong! We are 13 weeks along and the baby is about the size of a lime. So, both our little ones are going strong!

Trip to Iowa

Alex & I took a long weekend trip to Iowa this past weekend to help with my sister-in-law, Heather's baby shower. We had a great time with the fam that was there: my mom, grandma, sis, brother & sister-in-law. We got to see Nate & Heather's new house, visit their church, and enjoy spending time together (which we don't get that often since we all live so far apart). These guys live out in the middle of nowhere--literally, the nearest Shopping Mall is 1.5 hours away!! But they love it there in that beautiful country and they do have tons of animals!! Here's some of the animals we saw: cows, chickens, horses, donkeys, a fox, a badger, an opposum, and deer, deer, and more deer! It was a great trip, but I must admit that we are glad to be home!

See You Next Week!

These are just a few picks of my goofy kid playing in the laundry (man, I wish he could fold it!) and sucking on his toes!! Wierdo!! Alex and I are taking a trip to Iowa for a long weekend and won't be back in town until Tuesday. We fly out to Chicagoland tonight, drive the rest of the way to Iowa with my sis, mom, & grandma, and spend the weekend with my brother and his wife for their baby shower. Yep, my little brother is having a baby---that can make you feel old in a hurry! So, if you think of us say a little prayer for the boy, he's a good traveler, but naps are going to be hard to get on this particular trip and we NEED our NAPS!! See you next week!

A Few Little Steps

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Share Photos - Free Video Hostingok, so this is only a couple small steps, but it's the best video so far. We've also discovered that Toby is the best incentive to take steps that we have tried yet!!

Our First Smilebox Scrapbook

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

Smilebox is something fun my friend Carissa told me about. Let me know if you have trouble viewing or if it takes a million years to download or whatever. I don't want to be posting something that seems like too much trouble to view. It is a fun way to send e-cards and messages though! Smilebox.com if you're interested!

A Little Bit of Alex Fun!

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Share Photos - Free Video HostingThis is a little bit of Alex's favorite activities lately: playing, climbing, and dancing! In case you can't hear it, there is a Barney Favorites CD playing, that's what he's jivin' to at the end! (At what point in my life did I think I would actually listen to a Barney CD and even be able to sing along?!?)

Choices, Choices

I was actually blogging the other day when I took this picture! I turned around to check on Alex, because he was being very quiet, and found him in the toybox. I guess he just couldn't choose which toy to play with until he could be surrounded by his toys and be able to really see them all (except the ones he's sitting on!).

Oh, by the way, the boy is taking steps!!! The most he's taken at once was 6, but he continuously takes a few here and there. I am trying to get a video, but that has proved impossible so far. We'll keep you posted!!

Another Fun Trip to the Zoo!

Today we had another GREAT day at the zoo! We saw tons of animals this time, though because of the heat a good number of them were sleeping or swimming in pools of water. I was a little tempted to jump in myself at one point! Rain kept threatening, but it held off. I think Alex really saw more of the animals this time and was much more interested in them than he was a month ago. It's fun to watch little ones progress that way. Anyway, if you are interested, you can hold your mouse over the picture in the slideshow and the caption will come up. Thanks to Jenny P. for the pics--I got my camera out, took a picture and was rudely informed that my batteries were exhausted, great timing!! Thankfully Jenny had her camera and got some great shots!

Alex's Grandpa's Art Blog

We wanted to tell you about Alex's Grandpa's blog! My dad is a watercolor artist and has stared his own blog where he posts small paintings that he paints several times a week. He focuses mainly on rural landscapes and farms scenes. We may be a little biased around here, but we think he does a GREAT job and we hope you will visit his blog at www.gibsonfineart.blogspot.com. Hopefully Alex inherits some of his Grandpa's artistic talents!!

Go Tigers!

We're having one of those teething days today and haven't managed to get a chance for any pics, so I thought I would post pictures of a happier day--the 4th of July! Ryan's Father's Day present from me was tickets to a Tigers game, and since I know my folks love ballgames we decided to go together on July 4th. We had a GREAT time! This was my 3rd game at Comerica Park, but my 1st to see them win!! Alex made it through the entire game and behaved like a gem, even despite the fact that I made the hugest mom "uh-oh" of all time and forgot the pacifier at home. He got a little concerned a few times when the crowd got kind of crazy, but seemed to enjoy watching all the people and the bright lights--had a good time "talking" to the folks in the row behind us, too!! If you have a chance to go, I heartily recommend a night with the Tigers!

A Big Birthday Surprise!

Ryan and I had fun surprising family and friends at Alex's bday party with the exciting news that he is going to be a big brother!! Yep, Coonie #2 is on the way, due February 7, 2008! We wrapped up this t-shirt and gave it to Alex as his last present of the day. When we pulled it out and held it up to him it was fun to get to see all the different reactions: some tears (happy ones), some semi-screams, some clapping, mostly shock!! So, in light of this new development we had to make some minor changes to the blog--give the baby a ticker (see above) and rename the whole blog (see left). After all, we're not just two coons and 1 baby any more...

Need a Wish?

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Share Photos - Free Video HostingWell, as you can see my son missed his birthday wish this year. Mainly because he had absolutely no idea what was going on! Here he was, really just wanting to play with his new truck, when we stick this big cake in front of him and start singing like a bunch of crazy people. :-) So daddy blew out his candle--well someone had to--but there is still a birthday wish out there floating around...so, if you need a wish, and you can find this one, it's yours for the taking!!

Lexington, MI

As part of the "Michigan Experience" we had to take Ryan's folks up to see the lake. One of our favorite places to go is Lexington. They have a great break-wall and marina, a nice little "downtown" area to shop and walk around, and a GREAT pizza shop called Smackwater Jack's. Lexington is only a few miles from where I grew up, so it's a little trip down memory lane for me, but for the Mitts it was a whole new experience since they had never seen a lake so BIG before!! Alex really enjoyed the sand and especially trying to eat the rocks and really took the whole trip well (since it was a 2 hour drive there)! We all went to bed early that night!!

Oh, What to Play With Next?

My livingroom may be teeming over with toys, and I know it sounds crazy to say this, but I am very thankful!! Alex had been getting pretty bored with his infant toys and needed some "big boy" things to play with, so I am so glad he received MANY such things at his party. Now the problem is what to play with next!

The Story of a Birthday Party

Wow, what a fun birthday party we had for the little man! It's kind of sad that he won't actually remember any of it, but thankfully we have lot of great pics of the day to show him. We really had kind of an entire weekend of fun, since the family that came trickled out from Sunday through today, so I will post different sets of pics from the weekend during the next few days. A big thanks to all our family and friends who came or called and helped us celebrate Alex's 1st birthday!!!

Happy 1st Birthday!!

This morning I congratulated Alex on making it through his whole 1st year with rookie parents!! When I see how big he is I feel like the year flew by....when I think of all the sleep I've lost I feel like the year went by slowly!!! Well, the big party is tomorrow and we're looking forward to a fun time with family and friends. I am now the parent of a one year old---aren't I too young for that??? (no need to actually answer that question!!) Anyway, Happy Birthday to my little man!

Yet Another Sound Effect!

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Share Photos - Free Video HostingLast week Alex started clicking his tongue--totally out of the blue!! Not something we were teaching him, nor a noise we make at him ever that I can think of! He probably heard or saw it somewhere, but we get a kick out of it!!!

I Think I Can, I Think I Can

So ever since the boy figured out that he can reach this door handle, he has been trying and trying to get it open! No luck so far--to my relief and his frustration.

The World's Next Musical Marvel

Mozart...
Beethoven...
Schroeder...

Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share PhotosPresenting...Alexander Steven Coon!!

If You Give a Kid a Pancake...

then he'll definitely want some syrup on it...
he may even share a piece with his daddy...
and he'll make a huge sticky mess...
but he'll thank you with the biggest smile ever!

First Trip to the Zoo

Standing on His Own Two Feet

Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share PhotosThe boy gets braver every day! He has been standing up for a long time, but mostly while holding on to something. About a week ago he started letting go and trying his precarious balancing act! He's doing really well, no real bumps or bruises to show for all the times he falls down--thank goodness for squishy diapers!!! We'll see how long it takes for him to try walking...watch out world, Alex is on the move!

A Superior Breed??

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When we first got Toby they told us that Terriers are incredibly smart dogs...I guess it's the Poodle in Toby that knocks his IQ down a few notches!!! We love our dog, he's a crazy mess, but we have to laugh at him sometimes. This video is of Toby chasing the sprinkler. Great entertainment. Alex will watch this and just laugh and laugh. He laughs at Toby a lot, actually! He especially likes it when Toby sneezes!! Well, our dog isn't exactly a Lassie, but at least he's good fun!!

Showing Off Those Pearly Whites!

In just 2 weeks this boy cut 6 teeth, yes, 6!!! He went from 2 teeth to 8 in a matter of days!! And let me tell you, it was a bumpy ride! They are still bothering him somewhat; in fact we bought some more teething tablets today to help get us through. Things are on the mend though, sleeping better, eating better, less clingy!! Or at least I thought so until the other day when things got rough again...and do you know what someone told me?? "Maybe he's staring on his molars!" You've got to be kidding me!! Alex looked at me and started to cry, literally!!! I told him I felt like doing the same thing!! Good thing teething doesn't last forever--this too shall pass, right??!!

Reading or Snacking?

From the looks of things we would assume there is some

intense reading going on here...

When actually, the boy is just looking for the

tastiest book in the box!

Why read when you can snack?!?

Our Newest Game

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Snacks, Anyone?

The way to a man's heart is through his stomache, right? Well, that statement seems to prove true from birth on up! His current faves are Cheerios, Grahams, and Kettle Corn. He also loves watermelon & bananas! He usually has a small snack in the morning and the afternoon. And I never, ever, ever leave home without snacks for the boy. Bored in line at the bank...here comes the sippy cup. Fussing in the grocery store...pull out the cheerios. We actually made quite the mess in Meijer yesterday with Cheerios. He got the baggie open and they went flying all over the dairy aisle!! Thankfully there was a guy sweeping the floor at the end of the row who said he would take care of it. Boys will be boys!

Alex and the Girls

We had a fun visit with Mom and Jen this past week and a half. We did some shopping, watched chick flicks, and enjoyed a few Starbucks! Jen left on Saturday and Mom flies back today, but we will all be back together again in less than 4 weeks for Alex's 1st birthday party--and the fun just keeps on going!!!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yep, today is my 27th Birthday! I've already had phone calls from my siblings letting me know how close to 30 I am, like I'm so old I forgot how to count! :-) So far my hubby and family have completely spoiled me for my bday. My favorite present so far is from Ryan, a new phone! A PINK phone! I love it!! I am 27 years old and completely happy with life! I have a great God, a wonderful family, and so very much to be thankful for!