Happy Birthday, Murphy!

Murphy had a great first birthday! I have never seen him so excited! Here is a picture of his monkey cake made by my friend DeeDee's sister-in-law Ann Wells! His smash cake, pre-smash!

Here he is ready for church this morning in his Birthday outfit! I can't believe a year has already gone by! It has been the best year of our lives, by far! Classic Murph- very busy! Sunday shoes-check, Mickey hat- check, present from Auntie BrenBren-check! (Full poopy diaper- priceless!)
Enjoying my learning home from Mommy and Daddy
Opening presents! All of our wonderful friends spoiled Murphy!
Tasting my yummy Giraffe named "TayTay" from Taylor and Simonne. I love that they got him a giraffe since his godfather Taylor is so tall!
He loved this ball popper from Dee Dee and Dibs!

Maracas from LinLin- now daddy and I can start a real band!
The highlight of the evening- CAKE!!! I have never seen such a display. He embraced the smash cake with all of his might!
Where is Murphy under all that cake?
We immediately went to the tub- notice the cake bits floating in the water!

All clean! Watching my first year slideshow from Alex and Kellie (I will post this as soon as I figure out how!:)

Taylor and Tee discussing how toys are a lot cooler now than they used to be!
The aftermath...
What a fun day! Walker and I are so blessed to have such a precious "little monkey"! We are also so lucky to have such wonderful family and friends. Thanks to all of you! We love you!

Is it a wild animal? No... it's Murphy!!!

Murphy has always loved to chew, but has recently taken it to a whole new level. He has been gnawing on his crib for several weeks now, and we have tried EVERYTHING! It looks like a wild animal has attacked his crib! He was able to pull off the Gummi rail covers, the plastic ones didn't fit, and we knew he would be able to get the Velcro cloth ones undone! We finally found a solution... (An up close view)

Thank heavens Walker was able to find the New England Quilter!! She makes quilted rail covers that button on the outside and are covered by more cloth! If he can get in to these, I give up!!!! Her website is www.newenglandquilter.etsy.com if you have a wild animal at your house, too!:) Murphy's newest addition- hair! We now have a tiny bit of hair, at least enough to make a little duck tail in the back. I'm sure this will develop into a mullet eventually!
Having fun riding on Daddy's back!

Lazy Weekend

We have had a nice, relaxing weekend! We went to hear Brendon James Wright and the Wrongs play at the Bijou last night. They were awesome!!! Today we went to the pool then played outside in the front yard. Enjoy the pics! Here is Murphy chowing down on some yummy Ravioli Thursday night! It was messy, but fun! It is so nice that we can now all eat the same thing for supper most nights. He ate about 12 Ravioli and some mango!!!!
Reading in his pool filled with books, not water!:)
Pushing his mail cart in the front yard
Eating the garden hose- I guess its good for something, since I haven't been remembering to use it to water the beautiful flowers DeeDee planted for us!:(
Showing mommy the grass he picked

Getting into Miller's bowls...
Banging them on the kitchen floor-they were so loud!!!

This is a short video of Murph playing-he just keeps picking grass and giving it to me! (Sorry for the shaky camera work-I kept thinking he was about to fall down!)

Visiting LinLin, Meeting Baby Chloe!

This weekend we went to Nashville for a family reunion on my Gram's side of the family. It was really fun, but unfortunately, I forgot to take any pictures! Here are a few of the other things we did in Nashville- we played at LinLin's most o the time! Here is Murphy chowing down on a yummy fish stick! Looking at Gram's pretty flowers with LinLin!
LinLin has these little men that go on a school bus. They have hard plastic bodies and soft plastic heads that are great for chewing on! This is what Murphy looks like most of the time while at her house! Sometimes he has a guy in each hand and one in the mouth!
Trying on a goofy golfing hat that went with one of Big Will's toddler outfits!
Playing in Sunday School with his buddies, Emma and Will!
On the move!

After dinner stroll
On our way to Nashville, my friend Kristen who lives near Cookeville went in to labor and we were actually at McDonald's in Cookeville when she texted me! We went on to Nashville, but stopped on the way back to Knoxville yesterday to meet baby Chloe and play with her big sister, Ella! Murphy and Ella are attempting to share here. He's obviously not old enough to know how, and she's two and a half with a new baby at home, so it was quite funny! Ella was a gracious host, but didn't get too dressed up for us!hahaha:)
Murphy watching baby Chloe swing- this was just before he tried to pounce!:)
Chloe Sue VanVranken- 8lbs. 10oz., 21 inches

August 15, 2008

Proud parents- Zach and Kristen Van Vranken and big sister, Ella Grace!

Congratulations!! She is so precious!

Here is a video from tonight. Murphy found one of his walker's that he never showed much interest in earlier on and decided to give it another whirl! Here he goes...

He kept practicing after this and eventually learned ow to turn and steer!

We are still climbing...

Please excuse my goofy voice here!

Climbing Monkey!

Here is a quick video of our little monkey! He is a climber!

Corn on the Cob...Mmmm!

Fun at Auntie Rhonda's Pool!

Yesterday we hung out at The Pennington's awesome new pool! Murphy had so much fun playing! He is a water bug!:) He shoots, he scores!!! He somehow was able to hold the basketball long enough for Big Will to lift him up and let him shoot! He actually made it in 3 times! He better bask in the glory now, they probably won't allow Big Will to hold him while he shoots in High School Basketball games...
Hanging on the rim!
Jumping in with mommy!
He would love for us to let him swim on his own! He gets the concept, except for the keeping your mouth closed part...
Loving this float, because he didn't have to sit in it!

Playing with Hannah after his nap...
...and Claire!
Reading a bedtime story with LinLin!
Playing with Gram!
Thanks, Rhonda for having us over and for taking pictures! I can't believe I forgot my camera!:(

Highlands,NC

We had a great weekend in Highlands, NC with some of our friends! Taylor and Simonne invited us up with another couple to Simonne's parent's mountain house. We have been a few times and always have so much fun!
Here is a picture I took on our hike of the highest point in Highlands- elevation 4,930 ft. The group- Taylor and Jennifer Adams, me, Simonne and Taylor Wortham (Walker had done the hike before, so he stayed back at the house with Murphy so I could go! The last time we were in Highlands I was 7 months pregnant, so I had to skip it!)
The beautiful view of the mountains and me posing with Murphy and Walker!(hehehe)
The girls!
The trail
Taylor and Simonne- a little too close to the edge according to Tadams!

Murphy playing with his new ball and truck in the side yard!
Murphy and "SiSi" He loves it when she tickles his belly!:)
Inspecting the flower...
Luckily, he did not try to eat the flowers or the grass!

Family pic

Walker and I before dinner at Lakeside-It was yummy!
Murphy trying to get in the puppy's cage!
Murphy playing in his cage! Haha