Auditioning to be the Coppertone Baby

He's got my vote!

Pass the Mic

If you've been reading for awhile you know that I was the master of ceremonies last year for the queen pageant.  I was asked to do it again this year and I agreed.  It was awesome!

I didn't get any pictures or videos this year because everyone was busy taking care of the little guy while I was on stage.  I did however get some pictures before the pageant.

I was excited about my MC outfit.  I suited up and added some sequins.  So pageanty! :)

It went much smoother this year.  I didn't have to stall as much.  I knew what I was doing.  I only stumbled a few times.  Plus I felt much more comfortable on the stage and didn't ask for so many rounds of applause.  There was applause however which really scared the crap out of Tommy each time because he was trying to fall asleep.  But he was a very good boy and didn't cry.  What a champ! Attended a pageant and didn't cry! He did better than his father! Ok, I'm kidding. Andrew didn't cry. :)

So it was a great success! Here are the winners.  From left to right, Miss Congeniality AND 2nd Runner Up, The Queen, and 1st Runner up.

The girls did great and I had so much fun.  Congrats to the winners!

Cruise Night 2011: Squall 'em!

Every year, people in Rensselaer grab their lawn chairs and line the street to watch old cars drive by.  It's a grand tradition called Cruise Night.  Andrew likes to call it "Squall 'em" because that's what people yell at the drivers.  They also yell, "Let it eat!" and "Get the bleach!" because for some reason if you pour bleach on the street, you can squeal your tires even better and longer I guess.  #ThingsILearnedFromGrowingUpInRensselaer

If you would like to learn more about Cruise Night, check here for pictures of the car show and a nice trophy.  This is what Cruise Night is supposed to be all about (classic cars) but it ends with people squealing tires and "drifting" like in those faster and furiouser movies (until the cops crack down).

So anywho, this was Tommy's first cruise night.  We can't take Tommy in my dad's 1966 Ford Fairlane because it doesn't have seat belts in the back seat. I don't think police officers or, well anyone in the general public would think it's a good idea to hold a baby in your lap while driving around (even though that's how most of us grew up, fitting yourself in the back window of the car or flying out of your seat in the van when your dad hits the brakes hard).  So Tommy watched from the street.

Andrew and I were riding around with my dad.  We waved and waved.  I'm pretty sure he didn't see us.

This is the view from the car on cruise night.

This is tired Tommy.  But he still had a great time.

Let's Dance!

Tommy loves to dance.



He's a dancing machine!

Real Men Shriek

Tommy loves to shriek.  Still.



Funny boy.  Love his sleeveless tough guy shirt.

More than meets the eye

Robots in disguise!


He's at the age now where he never stops moving. I know, I know, it's only going to get worse...



Eventually he'll get his license!!


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Happy 4th of July Weekend!

For Independence Day we always spend it in Syracuse on the lake. But this time was special because it was Tommy's first lake weekend.  We were on our own schedule so Tommy's nap schedule went out the window but he napped when he could.

It was mostly in the car.  

 With a toy on his arm!

Tommy finally met Addison, who was born 3 weeks before him.  They hit it off.

 Check out Tommy in his holiday weekend gear.  His shirt says Brand New in Red White and Blue.  Awww. He needs an American flag bandana.

Instead we put him in another hipster hat.

 Check out that rash-free face! This kid is unstoppable with those baby blues!

 We ate outside on the lake until the storm rolled through.

 Then we sat inside and waited to see if there was going to be a fireworks show.

There was!

 We couldn't take the boat out but it was cool to see from the lake house.

 It's always so neat to see the reflection on the water.

Big finale! 

How did Tommy do with the fireworks, you ask? He actually slept through most of them.  It was a little too late for him.  But they probably would have scared him anyway. 

The next day we came back to Syracuse to see some friends on Lake Tippecanoe.  

 We loaded Tommy up in his swim gear and took him out in the water.

 He looks pretty bundled up but with skin like his, would you take a chance?

He still enjoyed himself.  He had on a shark hat, a shark rash guard (fitting name, no?), and shark shorts.  Plus his mega cool shades.

 Look at that cutie keeping safe from the sun!

 We thought his cheeks might be getting pink so we brought him inside for a bit.

 Tommy decided he was done swimming so we changed him into his Purdue gear.  He played with Auntie Maria for awhile. He loved it!

 But he loves life in general.

We had to take him out one more time to say goodbye to our friends.  We had to take a quick picture by the lake.

Then we headed over to Gram and Pop's to visit.

Hung out with the doggies for a bit.

Plus Tommy got some quality Gram and Pop time.  Did I mention he also drooled all over himself? Yeah, I can't believe that either!! 

Happy Birthday, America! 

Let's Take a Look Back...

I found an old video from Tommy's first month of life that I had to post.  This is Andrew teaching Tommy how to play Xbox.

It's amazing how much he has changed in the first 6 months.  

Baby Bjorn

Tommy has graduated to the big boy way of riding in the bjorn.

 Happy as can be facing forward!

 Taking his bro Brian for a walk.

 Aww, father and son.

Ok, no more pictures.

Just for the Taste of it Part Deux

(The blogging has been on hold for a bit due to many factors so here's a catch up post or two.)

Can't get enough of those "Tastes." Last weekend Tommy and I went to the Taste of Rensselaer with my parents.  People laugh when we say that, asking if there are enough restaurants in Rensselaer to put on a "Taste".  Well SURE! There were probably about 10-15 tents set up.  It was cozy.  There was a beer garden and tent for the bands.  (There was even a barbershop quartet walking around.  Heehee!)

But Suckerpunch (Like them on Facebook!) was playing and we don't like to miss a Suckerpunch show! (My parents actually went to see them the night before at the Taste of Crown Point.  It was their biggest show yet. Also, this is the band my dad plays with occasionally.)

Anywho, Tommy really enjoyed himself.

He liked listening to Suckerpunch.

Suckerpunch enjoyed playing for the crowds and crowds of adoring fans.  (Each girl in the picture counts as a crowd.)

Grandma enjoyed showing Little Man off.

Which is why the diaper bag rode in the stroller, instead of Tommy.

But Tommy did get some stroller time...

I'm pretty sure he pointed his toes the entire time.  He's just telling people where to push him.  That-a-way, please!

The Taste of Rensselaer was lovely.  We had good food and a good time.

And then there was THIS guy...

Some guy that looked like Grizzly Adams brought his baby raccoons to the Taste.  He was not holding them.  They really were cuddled up in his BEARD!  I think this guy was cooking food!!! YUM, right?

Well, anyway, a good time was had by all.  Even the baby raccoons.