Every year for the last three years, "Aunt" Shannon has come to Texas - when mama was prego with me, when I was almost one, and now, when I just turned two. We are long-time buds. We hung out before I was even born!

Sha, as we call her, is a pilates instructor and chiropractor in Atlanta. She is one of the only people mama knows that has a more rockin' body now than when she was in college! Sha and mama met in college - there are so many memories.

On Sunday morning, mama and Sha's college buddy Ruthie came over to visit. Ruthie and mama were in a play together in college when Ruthie was a Senior and mama was a Freshman. They kept in contact a little after graduation, but eventually lost touch. After mama got married to dada (after dating almost ten years since mama was 18 in college, dada was a junior), she began thinking about old friends from college, and Ruthie, her dear buddy, came to mind. Mama found an old email address and gave it a shot. Ruthie emailed back to say "I LIVE IN HOUSTON!!!" The rest is history. How cool is that?

While the ladies chatted it up, seriously, I kept cool with Mickey.
Eat your heart out ladies -- check out my lashes. Oh, how mama wishes she had them. I got them from dada.

And all good things have to come to an end. I hated to see these ladies go!

Mama and I visited the Seven Lakes community pool. I ran, literally, between the beach entrance pool, to the sprinklers, to the baby pool for an hour. Mama, who had quite a workout actually, must have said "walk" a thousand times if she said it once. But, mama felt validated that night when she heard me talking myself to sleep over the baby monitor.
I said "mama WALK hold hand."
We're making progress.

I have my sights on that slide. Maybe in a couple years.

Very GQ.

Welcome Jackson Troy Allen

Mama is excited to announce the birth of Jackson, first son of Troy (that mama works with) and Jordan (that mama has become buddies with). Jackson was born on July 15 and weighed in at 8lbs 4oz, and was 21 inches long. Mama is still trying to convince Jordan and Troy to make a blog - we'll keep you posted!

STOP THE PRESSES - Jackson has his very own blog now - the link is to The Allen Family on the right.

OK, who's been spying on us? Seriously people - my two faves: gummies & John Deere.
It doesn't get any better than this.

Happy second birthday Luke!On Saturday, we went to Luke's house to celebrate his birthday (which was on Friday). I am three days older than Luke. When Luke's mama came to visit me at the hospital when I was just born, the nurses tried to admit her because she was seriously prego. That is one of mama's favorite stories, and she will tell it every year.

It was a kiddie water circuit training wonderland - several pools with toys, sand and a slip and slide. I of course made the regular slide into a slip and slide too. No one was very surprised.
The family finally got to meet baby Hudson, Jackson's little brother. Can't wait for him to join us boys in creating craziness.
And baby Davis was there too - but I think he slept the entire time, right Al? Oh yeah, me and Jackson on the slip and slide. Good times to celebrate my good buddy Luke.

Sara has done it again!

http://www.saramoonphotography.com/slideshows/hochmuth/

Please check out the slide show of me at (almost) 2 that Sara Moon, photographer extraordinaire, put together for our family. There is music, so crank it up.

Sara was recommended to mama and dada last year by mama's law-school-lady friend Stacy McCarty (click above right to see her blog). We loved Sara's pictures last year, as well as Sara's visit, so mama and dada decided to have pictures taken every year. Over this last year, mama and Sara have become email buddies and mama reads Sara's blog (again, link above right). Sara has become a true friend, and it's fun to see pictures of her little girls. It was great to see Sara again this year for my #2 pictures. Hope you enjoy them.

The link to Sara's blog also links you to her webpage. Mama and dada highly recommend using Sara to photograph a little slice in your family's life. As Sara said to me the other day: "Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose." From The Wonder Years.

Happy, happy second birthday Keegan Alexander!

Since I already had a John Deere cake in Canada, mama ordered Green and Yellow "John Deere" cupcakes from Ooh, la la bakery in Katy (note from mama, she highly recommends the business - please visit them so they keep making cupcakes!). The tractor adds a nice touch, no? Do you sense a theme in my life right now?

Mmmm, delicious!

Anxiously waiting for my B-I-G birthday surprise from Ga and Pawpaw...

A B-eeeee-G tractor, a John Deere tractor!

(the pull-up adds a nice effect - it's time, kid)
Ga took me for a stroll. Then dada... Then I opened a new book from mama's friend at work Mandy. Ta ta Mandy - I really enjoyed the book at bedtime tonight!
What a great year it's been - so many roads traveled - so many more to come.

Trip to Prince Edward Island, Canada
On Friday, June 27 mama and Ga packed me and a whole lot of stuff and flew me all the way to Canada. My first international trip. We didn't get into the beach house until 11 on Friday night, so it was very exciting to wake up on Saturday morning. It was a little rainy, but Ga took me for a walk nevertheless.

Driftwood on the way to the beach. Tide's out, look at the cool ripples in the sand.
Splash!
Just a reminder that I AM (almost) a two year old, and the tantrums have already started. Oooh, I was mad that I couldn't stay on the beach in the rain. Even a bath didn't help. A nap did though, equally so for mama who took a glorious nap too.

After my nap, we washed bear. He was dirty from all the travels.

Meemaw and peepaw flew in on Saturday. We were too busy horsing around that we forgot to take any pictures!

Sunday morning at the Noonans'. On Sunday morning after church, we took Ga to her brother and sister in law Phillip and Lorraine's house for breakfast - they have 11 children, and 25 grandchildren. They are amazing. You can see some of the family above - lots of goings on over there. And, Lorraine makes the best raspberry jam - mama and dada were savoring it all week before having to leave it behind fearing customs!
I was the happiest little boy when my dada arrive on Sunday eveing. We took him right out to New Glasgow for a lobster dinner. I got to walk around and inspect the lobster traps before dinner. I was very well behaved at dinner between all the toys meemaw brought me from Chicago (including an entire packed Superman roller suitcase) and the superstar waitress Sandy whose mission was to get me to say lobster, which I would every time she turned her back. I named the plastic lobster meemaw gave me Sandy too!

Dada and I had a good laugh over that one!

Monday morning trip to the beachDada and I had to stop to check out the driftwood - that is neat stuff. Dada and I went for a walk. The adults' feet got chilly, but I didn't let on that mine were too. The scene to the east of the beach house - you can see Confederation Bridge in the distance. PEI is very proud of their 9 mile long bridge. You don't pay a toll to come on, only to leave. Peepaw and mama.

Bozer in the sand.

The adults taking a break.

And enjoying a pint at Ruthie's Pub and Grill in New London.

Borden July 1st Canada Day ParadeI picked a flower for Meemaw's hair. Sometimes I call her Grandma now. What can I say, I'm growing up. The parade started and before long, we saw Uncle Phillip in the Noonan's fueltruck. Uncle Phillip was sure glad to see us, and we were so excited to see him. What a great day! There were boats too, another of my favorites. And of course, an Anne of Green Gables green convertible! After some snoozing all around, we went to the North Shore to Fisherman's Wharf Lobster Dinners for you know what. Peepaw, Meemaw and mama got lobster and had to wear bibs.
Dada too for his PEI King Crab legs.
I stuck to the watermelon, lots of it! Lots. And the salad bar was pretty good too - pasta, peas, melon, cheese - and ice cream of course. What more can a kid want? But a red Hummer car AND a white PT Cruiser that mama and meemaw bought me at separate times in the gift store. Who's got who wrapped around their finger? Ah, vacation.