Christmas in July and other excitement...

Sup?

Today I went to the doctor for my one year appointment (a few weeks late - hey, mama's been busy around here). I am 19 lbs, 15 ozs (8%), 31 inches (77%), and my noggin is 18.50 inches around (62%). The doctor is not concerned that I'm too skinny because I've got all the right curves on my growth chart. I did have to get three shots though - I pulled off my bright orange band aids so you can see two of my wounds.
When I woke up from my nap, it was Christmas all over again. Grandma and Grandpa from Chicago sent me all the toys they got for my birthday that they kept up there so I'd have SOMETHING to play with while mama was at Melanie's wedding. Can you believe all this loot?

I'm still a big fan of putting everything in the jar, taking it out, everything in, taking it out...

On Saturday night, mama and dada joined three other couples to host a wedding shower for mama's friend from work, Becca and her fiance, Robert.
The happy couple...the theme was "Stock the Bar," so they got lots of wine glasses and other bar ware.

Surprise! Our good friend Christin and her husband Rob came into town to host. It was so good to see Christin, who is mom to Olivia and seven months pregnant with Avery. Mama wished she looked this good when she was seven months pregnant with me!

Who do you think Mac looks like, mama or dada?

First dip in the sea - Crystal Beach, Texas

Last week Ga, dada and I went to the beach to visit La Rue and her crew. After getting my gratis heart check-up by Saudi (La Rue's son in law), pediatrician cardiologist extraordinaire, who brought his stethoscope all the way from St. Louis to make sure my ticker works right, dada and I went for a dip in the ocean.
The sea was angry that day, my friends, like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli.

I got about fifty feet out and suddenly a great beast appeared before me. I tell you he was ten stories high if he was a foot. As if sensing my presence, he let out a great bellow. I said, "Easy, big fella!" And then, as I watched him struggling, I realized that something was obstructing its breathing. From where I was standing, I could see directly into the eye of the great fish...you know the rest...I even found time for a ride in the boat. Aye, aye captain!

Off to Grandma and Grandpa's house!

This weekend mama and I flew all the way to Chicago to visit Grandma and Grandpa. Dada's students were testing, so he couldn't come. It was Melanie's wedding, so we had to go this weekend. Mama was VERY nervous I wouldn't behave myself on the plane, but the 100 new toys, three bottles, seven pacifiers, six bags of cheerios, puffs, cookies and other treats helped me to stay quite good. Mama was stressed, but I was fine. I didn't even cry, either way.
I got in some cuddle time with Grandma after I took a spill down one stair in their house because mama forgot to close the gate. It was a close call, but I survived. I did cut up my nose, but it's already all healed up.

And just like that, it was time to go home. Time flies when you're having fun!

The whole family...(except for all those people ma didn't get pictures of...) Three generations. I got to meet my Great Uncle Alan. He's grandma's brother. He's got four grandkids of his own, so he was very good at keeping me entertained. He quickly learned that my favorite game is chase.
In fact, he was so cool that I let him hold me for about 10 seconds, which is 10 seconds longer than I let anyone else hold me these days. I am so on the move.
I also got to meet my baby second cousin, once removed, uh, whatever. His name is Noah. His mama Julie and my mama are cousins. Julie looked great. We missed seeing Sam, Noah's daddy.

I'm going to show Noah the ways of the world someday. It won't be long before we're running around together! Mama officially apologizes for not getting pictures of Kathie, Ed, and their son Ethan (and a shout out to Lauren and Samantha), and Aunt Linda, and the rest of the town that was at the Hochmuth house on Friday. It was so great to see everyone! Hope to see you soon!

I also got to meet my Great Great Aunt Ruth. Ruth is my Great Grandma Grace's sister.

Great Great Aunt Ruth is very cool. She was impressed by how much I run around. I made her laugh a lot. She brought me a cool book, and...

my very first box of animal crackers! I love these things.

On Saturday, I played with my toys ALL day. There was so much new stuff to play with. Grandma and Grandpa went all out under the guise of my birthday. Yeah, like it would be any different any other time! When I wasn't playing with my toys, I got to meet mama's bestest friends Jen and Dawn. Mama has been friends with Dawn since she was five, and with Jen since she was 13. Yeah, that's a long time. They ate me up too. I was very popular in Illinois.

Then, mama put me down for a nap and the ladies took off for Melanie's wedding.

Melanie & Yaniv Arazy, July 21, 2007

(narrated by mama, since Keegan stayed home with grandma and grandpa)

A beautiful ceremony, a fabulous day.
The bride was stunning.

A high school reunion with only the people you really want to see.
Like Destiny and James. It was so great to see those guys!
We danced the night away. And before I forget, the chocalate cake with peanut butter filling and caramel sauce was delish!
A quick pic to end the night. Can't wait to see everyone in Spring, 2008 in Florida!

Mac wants to go to Chicago with me and mama to visit Grandma and Grandpa (and to chase Stewey and Charm, Grandma's cats). Dada is going to keep him here to keep him company. See you Chi-town!

How much does mama love dada? Let me count the seeds...

Ever since dada came down with diverticulitus after I was born, he can't eat seeds. Mama got busy during my nap on Sunday and peeled and seeded 7 cups of tomatoes to freeze for winter soups. Yum.

Hey there Uncle Billy, Aunt Kristen, Jamie and Katie! Go Gophers!

Happy 1st birthday Luke!Luke's mama did a great job on his Elmo cake. He was very cool, and mama said he was tasty.

Luke even got to blow out his candle. Mama and dada didn't light mine.

A little something for your senior yearbook, boys. They'll say they were wrestling...

And the winner of the prize for the biggest cucumber is...GA!
Me? I'm still grooving on tomatoes.

And the gifts keep coming...

I'm getting the hang of opening gifts.

My friend Anna Rose gave me this super cool Funtime Tractor.

Thank you Anna Rose. I love to play with the cow, pig, sheep and chicken, and I really love to chew on them! Thank you also to Ruthie for my super cool onesie - it has a farm theme too. Just call me Farmer Keegan.

The pictures are up!!!

We had pictures taken by a local photographer, Sara Moon. We wanted to capture Keegan at one year. Sara was amazing ~ she came to our home and photographed us here and around the neighborhood. She's a really neat person, and she took some fabulous pictures to boot.

I highly recommend her.

Her website is located at SaraMoonPhotography.com. Click on "Clients" at the top of the screen and type in Keegan as the password. Make sure to turn on the volume so you can hear the music, and enjoy! We did! We are! Now how to possibly choose...I'd love to hear which ones you like...

Happy First Birthday Keegan!!!!Today I woke up at the Hilton on I-10 in Orange. We stayed there after Chris and Staci's wedding (below). I was so surprised that mama and dada were sleeping in the same room as me (especially because Grandma was in there when I went to sleep) that when they said "Happy Birthday Keegan" this morning, I fell over in the crib.

We ate a nice family breakfast at the local Waffle House. Can't beat it. Then, a nap in the truck back to Katy. Mama decorated the dining room. Very festive. More party stuff. Mama was a sucker when that catalog came in the mail.
When I woke up from my nap, I got my big birthday present from mama and dada. My very own playhouse! It has a "magic" doorbell, a mail slot, a portable telephone (yes, it' s already lost), and a table and bench inside.
Well hello there! Want to come in and play?

Speaking of playing, my friend Luke came over to celebrate my birthday with me. Luke turns one on Wednesday. I'm going to Luke's birthday party next Saturday. There's a rumor that he's having an Elmo cake. Notice my "I am 1" shirt. Luke and I are sippy cup fools.
Mama got me a "1" sippy cup. I also got to eat all the blueberries I wanted for dinner, my favorite food. Luke ate corn right off the cob. He meant business with that corn!
After dinner, mama brought out the cupcakes. She was very perplexed about my first birthday "cake". She wasn't sure she wanted to give me a sugary cake...she looked at recipes for low sugar cakes...she looked for an organic cake...but in the end, decided to go with confetti cupcakes.
Happy 1st birthday to me!
Hmmmmmm...........

YUCK!!!! This stuff is gross. Give me fresh tomatoes from the garden any day. And mama was worried I would like this stuff.
After making a supreme mess of myself, mama took off my shirt and Luke and I played in my new playhouse. Luke has one of his own, so he showed me around.

Next, came presents. I was not very interested in opening them. But...

I love my new crocs! Thank you so much Luke, Al and Matt. Thank you also to Sandy for the super cool sushi book and toys. Also, thanks to Liz and Erich for my new duds, very cool. And last, but not least, to Uncle Billy, Aunt Kristen, Jamie and Katie for my cool books and t shirts - I like the beaver too. What a great birthday. Now, I need to crash out. Grandma is watching me this week (hi to Ga in Canada!), so I'm going to have to be on my best behavior!