It's been hot and muggy here this week, so we were excited to hit a nearby wading pool with Soren's friends Cole, Millie, and Johanna. Soren loves splashing and watching all the big kids run around! We had a blast!

Although Soren still isn't crawling, he is getting more mobile by rolling around. He isn't able to get anywhere on purpose, but is moving around nonetheless. The other day I put him down in the sunroom while I was making a bottle. Beth peeked in to check on him and was alarmed that he wasn't there! She yelled and I came running, only to hear a little giggle coming from under the futon. Silly boy was hiding, and pretty darn amused with himself!

We had some family pictures taken on Soren's birthday, and the photographer has posted a few pictures on her blog! Check them out at http://www.mollydurkin.typepad.com/

Yesterday we went to the Como Zoo with Soren's friend Johanna. We started out by riding the carousel, which seemed like a good idea at the time, but once it started moving Soren freaked out and leapt off the horse and into my arms! Soren and Johanna have matching strollers!
Afterwards Soren was so exhausted from the excitement and heat that he collapsed. I'm not sure why, but he loves to sleep with his feet stuck through the bars of his crib! And even though he was sweating like crazy he had to have his blankey over his face!

ONE YEAR OLD!!! Wow, it's hard to believe Soren is one! Saturday we had a big bash, and it was a total blast! Soren didn't nap very well that afternoon, so at the start of the party he was a little grouchy. But after some hugs and kisses from his girlfriend Millie he cheered right up!
Soren got so many fun presents! He really liked opening them!
Soren got his very own chocolate cake! At first he wasn't quite sure what to do with it.Once he discovered how yummy it was he got a little more enthusiastic!And when he figured out that no one was going to stop him from digging in he really went wild! He was laughing and hyperventilating, it was hysterical!Unfortunately eating gobs of chocolate cake doesn't agree with Soren's tummy, and he was up a lot of the night writhing around with a sore tummy, and then erupted a chocolate geyser all over dad!

We had a nice fathers day brunch the next day with the Albrights. Soren and gramps played with his balloon.And Soren revisited all his great new toys! He got a fun new ride on toy, but he only can go backwards on it. We're working on helping him figure out going forward too!It was such a fantastic day, it's a good thing he probably won't remember it, because there's no way we'll be able to top it!

Mr. Mischief! tons of first birthday pics to come!!!

We've had a few requests for suggestions for gifts for Soren's birthday. While we certainly don't expect any gifts for him, if you would enjoy getting something for him here are a few ideas for the sorts of things he would have fun with:

-books
-music (cds)
-clothes (usually size 18-24months, he's 27lbs and 32inches tall)

or you can click on this button for a few toy ideas

Yesterday we got blindsided by the craziest hail storm I've ever witnessed. It came out of no where and BAM! There was so much of it, and it came down so fast! Thankfully the only damage was to our poor plants.

The front yard Our poor sad planter on the deck. I'm not sure they'll survive.
I have hope for these ones
Lake Harriet, with the storm moving off in the distance. You can see one boat tipped on its side and one completely capsized!
Looking across Lake Calhoun to downtown. Blue skies behind the storm!

For the past two months I've been taking a fabulous photography class, and I thought I would share some pics I took for our "final project". These are all at the Lake Harriet Rose Gardens.

Memorial Day weekend! We headed up north for the long weekend, first to Fox Lake. Soren wasn't such a fan of sleeping in the cabin, and put up a stink for naps, and throughout the night. Poor Savanna, David, and Simon had to endure all the fussing since it's essentially a one room cabin! We all enjoyed getting out and about with Soren in the new backpack carrier! We saw lots of classic northwoods wildlife, including a bunch of closeup encounters with two bald eagles that are nesting near the lake!

We then swung through Duluth for a visit with the Albright wing of the fam. Soren had fun hanging out with grams....
And comparing Tilley hats with gramps... And going for walks along Lake Superior with dad!