a special message to Toby's big sister Mary

Many of you are scratching your heads and saying, "I thought Toby was Kelli's first child." If that is you, than you have never met my "daughter" Mary. She is the oldest child in our family and paved the way for all the other children to follow--i.e. she taught me LOADS about parenting!

Mary is such a special young lady and I am ever so proud of the woman God has grown her into. She is a great big sister...even though she is not in St. Louis much (she goes to school in Knoxville, TN)

Anyway, Mary...Toby wanted me to tell you that he misses you so much and wants to know when you will be home to see him and also...he loves you so much! He wants to give you a big, wet, slobbery, toothless kiss!

this was the first picture of Mary and Toby...look how he has grown!

We all love you Mary!

My little model

As I try to learn some things about photography, Toby has been a great model!

We needed to try on his christening gown

to make sure it will fit in June...

and isn't he beautiful!

After Toby did his best to wrinckle the gown

we went straight for the birthday suit.

my, how time is flying!

Toby is growing so fast and this week brings all sorts of new things! Every day he becomes so much more interactive...talking with me, singing with me (or so I think), he is giggling and all in all is a happy baby--

In honor if the Red Sox/Yankees weekend series, Toby dressed in style. Go Sox!

This week also brought RICE CEREAL! We are a couple weeks early in introducing food, but this kid is growing so fast and his mom is desperately in need of a full night of sleep. The concept of being spoon fed is new to Tobes, but he is doing a great job with it. You can't tell in the picture, but there is food all over his face.

Nothing really to say about this picture other than he is a darn cute kid! I am having so much fun with Toby right now and I know it will just continue to get better, but honestly I can't imagine things better or more fun than they are now. I praise the Lord for the blessings in my life...my husband, my son and the gift of being a mom!

a plug for the Bumbo!

for all of you with infants, or soon to be infants, or even related to an infant, I would like to take a minute to give a plug for the bumbo seat. It is amazing, Toby loves to sit in it and look around, talk and feel apart of the group. let me show you...

Easter Weekend

We had another great weekend with family. This time it was with my family. Lisa, Mark and the girls were in town from Arkansas. Saturday we went up to the local park for an easter egg hunt. Toby stayed home with his dad...it was WAY too cold for him...and he didn't want to show up the competition.

Cami and Meg were off to the races!

Phoebe had an excellent first round of hunting!

Nick and Phoebe...all smiles after hunting.

a family portrait

Megan loved the time she had with little Toby.

Cami, our great oldest cousin, loves her little younger cousins so much. Sunday, she rode home with us from church and held Toby's hand so he wouldn't cry...he was really hungry and also really glad to have her there.

We are so lucky to have such family ALL around us.

We love you all, Happy Easter!

Toby's first vacation

We just got back from New Hampshire where we were able to show off our sweet little guy to all of Joe's family. We had a great time and here is what we did...

Leavin' on a jet plane...

The arrival...

We spent a few days with Betsy (Joe's sister) and her family and it was so much fun...we love the time we get with them!
Ela and I did some Bible study while Betsy and Eric ran into town and Joe and Toby slept.
Toby and Ela hit it off big time!

Baci and Grampy came up to have lunch with us...they couldn't be away from the grandkids any longer.
The guys got in the hot tub with the kids...
Back at Joe's parents house...(we were there the rest of the weekend)

Joe's Auntie Joan came to the house to meet Toby!
My cousin Anna is going to school in Boston, so she was able to spend some time with us, and I witnessed Toby's first crush. Just look at him looking at Anna!And now for the big event...the MEET THE BABY PARTY! Joe's mom did a great job with all the detailsm and everyone had a wonderful time.

so much for our diet!

We ended the vacation with attending church on Palm Sunday. It was a great week and Toby loved the time he had with his NH relatives.