HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO GREG!!!

Greg celebrated his first birthday as a Dad! He woke on his birthday to this:

Still in his crib, Myles is ready for Daddy's birthday!

As usual, Greg's wish was to "get outta town." We rented a cabin in Big Bear where it is the off-season. Though there was still a tiny bit of snow to be found, the days were around 55 & nights in the low 30s! Perfect!

View from our cabin. Hey, there's some snow!

Myles settled right in at the cabin & seemed to know we were on vacation.
Like Tupleo , walking into frame, Myles loves adventures!

Hiking, a SmithAldridge vacation staple

Got sunny, needed sun hat instead of skull cap...

Even sunnier...needed Mama's sunglasses!

End of Hike - lovely view of snow capped mtns & lake below

Out for Daddy's birthday dinner, sitting in a restaurant high chair!

Silly baby

Silly Daddy

Relaxing at the cabin

Went to the Big Bear Zoo before leaving town

Snoozing in the car. Vacation takes a lot outta Myles!

Myles Goes to a Birthday Party...

...for 2 year old FIFI FINDLEY!

Little Fiona Lee "Fifi" Findley was so excited running around her "Wreck It Ralph" party that this is the only pic I got of her! She is pleased to show me her napkin. We love you, Fifi!

The party was held at "The Playroom" & Myles definitely had fun playing!

Drive the car like this...

...eat the car like this.

Lovely Lilly 

Marvelous Maddie

Magnificent Max

Aarin did an AMAZING job on Fifi's cakes. She said, "This is the first time I worked with fondant."
You certainly can't tell. 

Excellent Elizabeth

Elegant Ellie, big sister to Fifi

Jess shows Myles the balloons

While big kids ate pizza, Myles tore into some homemade butternut squash!

Myles's first taste of delicious watermelon!

The Fabulous Findleys!

Myles tries out the slide. As you can see, he's completely blown away & cannot hide his utter amazement.

This crazy parachute game happened. I'm holding Myles while shooting video, so you can periodically hear him verbalize his distaste for said game. 

Myles at the Park

We recently visited the "little kids" playground at Lake Balboa Park. Our visit was short as it was getting chilly & we had Tupelo with us (who isn't allowed on the playground.) But, Myles sat on an elephant & slid down the slide (with help from Mama.) 

Mama & Daddy are much more entertained by this slide than Myles.

(Sorry about the grainy video - I don't know why it turned out that way.)

Myles Enjoys Spring

It's officially Spring & our weather definitely shows it.  We go on multiple walks a day & have been enjoying the backyard more & more. We have to soak up all the outdoor fun we can before horrible Summer heat arrives...which could be any day, really.

Happy Spring, Everyone! 

The morning began like this...

...and by afternoon, was like this.

Enjoying the adirondack bench

Our happy boy!

Ready for sunny days with shades...

...or a floppy sun hat!

...or this silver bowl. Ok, maybe I was just being silly. 

The SmithAldridges Go to MyGym

Greg had off from the ranch on Monday, so he was able to go to MyGym with  Myles & me!

Warm Up Time

Greg didn't believe me when I said that I can use this swing too.

ABIDE

Myles made a friend, Ian, who shared this swing with him. 

Greg took this video - I don't know what happens at the end. 

Myles's First Instrument from Daddy

 Given Greg's history, you'd think it would have been a guitar or drum set or perhaps a microphone; however, you'd be wrong. Myles's first instrument is this xylophone. And it is without mallet, so we are currently using a whisk. It's quite effective. You might not think a xylophone is all that cool, but did I mention it is a hand-me-down from Nellie the elephant? And I mean that literally. 

Myles & Tupelo, Tupelo & Myles

 Myles has been recognizing various words, but the obvious one? The word that always gets a  big response? His favorite word? "TUPELO", of course. As if it would've ended up any other way. 

I can say, "Myles, where's Tupelo?" and he'll look around the room for her. When he spots her, he squeals & flaps his arms & "talks" to her from across the room. He does this throughout the day whenever he sees her. He has a different tone he uses for her & it prompts her to leave the couch & play with him on the floor. And by "play" I mean that she's constantly trying to lick my baby! 

Myles & Tupelo enjoy the backyard together.

Sometimes Tupelo's able to sneak a kiss or two. Sneaky wiener. 

BB loves GG!

Today is my mom's birthday, aka "GG" as she'll be referred to by Myles. 

My mom likes to call Myles her  little "butter bean", 

hence the "BB loves GG" signage. :-) 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM/GG! WE LOVE YOU! XO

Myles goes to MyGym

Myles tried his first class at "MyGym" this week. 

He enjoyed being the only baby able to sit up on his own, 

but hated the "tummy time" portion. No surprise there.