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Update coming....as soon as Mommy catches Me!

Jax's First Birthday Party

Happy Birthday to ME! Happy Birthday to ME! Happy Birthday, dear Jax! Happy Birthday to ME!

Wow! On November 1st , we had my first birthday party. I heard Mom and Granny planning it for weeks, and Mom would tell me all about what to expect. Well all I can say is words do not do a birthday party justice!! First of all, how bad can anything be when you get tons of helium balloons!! Then, cake and presents and family and friends, being outside, something called a bonfire and pretty much getting away with whatever I wanted...Wooo Hoooo!!! Let's have a Birthday Party everyday! I am including some pictures so you can try to get an idea of how much fun it was!

Mom's getting my balloons ready!! I LOVE balloons!! I didn't even mind staying in my port-a-crib while Mom sat in the floor and blew them all up! She only let one get away, and she only popped one. Not bad Mom!

My first time on the John Deere with Dad! It wasn't running at the time, but I have learned to grunt and growl and make all kinds of vehicle noises, so I grunted and pretended it was on while Mom snapped away with the camera! Do you think my Daddy is proud of me?

Mom and Granny used some of my favorite things and LOTS of balloons for my centerpiece. It was such a beautiful warm fall day with a perfect breeze. Everything was just perfect and I am so grateful to everyone that got to come and celebrate with me!

Beautiful Aunt GG, Lillian and her Dad checking out the tractor and my precious friend Hayes. It is no coincidence that most of the children there were female...hey, I'm no fool!

Aunt Brenda, Uncle Gil and Uncle Bubba, My yummy cake!! and ME, checking out my cake! Not to discount everyone else that was there, but I really must rejoice at the picture of my Uncle Gil! Just three weeks earlier, he had brain surgery for an aneurysm!!! Praise the Lord he is still with us and on the mend! This was his first outing and we are all so grateful!! Check out that cake!! Mom didn't let me "play" in it because she decided it would be too hard to get me cleaned up in the pasture. But, to all you traditionalists, my actual birthday is November 24th and I am going to have my own cake to play in! Stay tuned for pictures!! Mom, Dad and ME!! Me riding in the Barrels of Fun for the first time with Aunt GG. This was so much fun! i am so glad to be big enough to ride and that Aunt GG is still small enough to ride with me. If she were "grown up", I might have missed this chance, although, Aunt Cindy could probably have been persuaded to squeeze into a barrel one more time! Checking out Caris' hair bow.

Ok, all my girlfriends wear these things on their heads, various sizes and colors, all made of ribbon. They must somehow be painful because every time I try to grab one, I get NO!! NO!! NO!! Whatever, I'll just stick to my hats...after all, I am a Hatmaker!

"Enjoying" some paper "Enjoying" my new DVD's

OK, presents? Absolutely Brilliant!! Tissue Paper? Pure Genius!! Honestly, this part was so much fun that at one point I turned around so far to see my presents that I fell out of my chair! Fortunately, Gingle was right there and got me situated for....more presents!!

I'm happy and I know it so I'm clapping my hands!

After "Happy Birthday", everyone sang "You are my Sunshine" and "If You're Happy and You Know it" what a memory! I was mesmerized-and Happy!

Checking out my "haul"! What a Party!

THANK YOU to everyone who came!! You are all part of my "village" and Mom and Dad could not do it without your prayers, love and support! Thank you for my gifts and for making my First Birthday very special! Love you lots!!

Jax

First Halloween

How come nobody tells us kids about Halloween? I would not have slept for weeks with anticipation! Mommy puts you in some silly suit, everyone, and I do mean everyone goes on and on about how cute you are plus you get candy! Really though, who thought up rubber noses?

Dad took the day off and we spent it doing some things at church, visiting Nanny at Siskin and then back to church for the Fall Carnival. Holy Cow! There were lots of people there in all sorts of suits! I saw Hannah Montana every time I turned my head! My firend Hayes came and brought her mom and dad. They are real troopers because they had to wait a long time on Granddaddy to get the barrells of fun unloaded before we could have dinner. Luckily Hayes and I can get away with not waiting. She was the cutest little pumpkin and she loves cheerios. Hey Hayes, just wait until you get some more teeth, you can eat all sorts of new things...goldfish, animal crackers, broccoli, chicken fingers and my personal favorite, french fries!!

Thank You McEwen's for my Cool New Playhouse!

Granddaddy works with a man named Warren McEwen. His kiddos are growing up and outgrowing some of their toys, specifically this really neat playhouse. They offered to pass it down and Granddaddy jumped at the offer. It is now on my screen porch and is a great way to burn some energy! Mom snapped these pictures a couple of months ago, and forgot to post them. I found them and must share! It has been so long ago that I can't even wear those jammies anymore!

I have so much fun climbing and poking my head through all the holes. Mom and Dad have to really watch me though because I don't know that I could fall right through one of those holes. I am not at all sure about the slide. It scares me going down, but it makes all the grown ups act silly saying things like "Wheeee" and "Whoo Hooo". Whatever makes 'em happy! One thing we have learned is that jammies and socks are not the best thing to wear when climbing. They are slippery and make it hard for a guy to stand up and make tracks! That's why I'm the nude dude in the last picture. (Don't worry, I do have a diaper on under those rolls!) Much better in my skin, except on the slide! My belly made a funny squeaky noise on the slide when I went down with no clothes on! Thank You Thank You Thank You McEwen Family!!! You made a little Hatmaker boy very happy!

Halfway to November Already!??

Whew! October is flying by, and you know that really means something coming from the kid who can sit and play with Granny's empty Diet Coke can for half an hour! I have learned so many new things, and cut one more tooth. I am in the process of learning the song "If you're happy and you know it". So far, I can do the clapping part. Mom and Dad keep trying to catch it on video, but so far I outsmart them each time. They have video of them singing and me crawling away, them singing and me reaching for the camera and them singing and me staring at them like they are new here. I am sure there are more video's to come. The one I am posting today is pure comic relief. Dad and I are playing with some of my old socks and pulling the elastic out. I thought it was the funniest thing ever! It starts out a little slow, but turn up your volume and see it all the way through the giggles. Aunt Cindy, this one's for you! Mom says she owes this one to you! Hope this lightens whatever you are going through and gives you a giggle!

Love you all. Ta Ta For Now!

Jax

Investigation in Progress

Hhmmm...It appears mom has hijacked my blog again. Were did all these pumpkins come from? Too cutsie for a boy....I'm going to have to get to the bottom of this or change my password! Will keep you posted with the clues I find.

Car Guy and Disco Dancer

Hey Everybody! I hope you are enjoying Jax's blog. He sure has fun documenting all of his adventures to share with you. I just had to sneak on here and upload another video for you to see. Not only is Jax big enough to stand up and hold onto the steering wheel, but he can dance and drive too. The song in the background is "Staying Alive" by the BeeGees. Many of you may know Jax has loved the Bee Gee's since before he was born. He's a boogie woogie fool! No lullabies for him, disco all the way! Thank you all for praying for my child and being part of his village. Love, Carie

Little Car Guy

Mike Goodman, owner of Honest Charley's, says you're never too young to be a car guy. Turns out he was right! I am finally big enough to reach the steering wheel and I think I am going to like this driving thing!

Driving Daddy's Truck!

Last week, Granny and Granddaddy went to the beach and Granddaddy picked out this really cool car for me! It is long and skinny so my little short chunky legs fit around it. It is bright yellow with red flames on the sides. COOL huh? I am the luckiest 10 month old on the planet!

My new car!

Dad is a car guy too. Now that the weather is cooler, we sit on the front porch and talk about all the different cars going by while Mom cooks dinner. I'm trying to understand the difference in cars and trucks and SUV's. Then there are dump trucks, buses, delivery trucks, things with trailers and motorcycles. I get so confused, but Dad is so patient and just tells me every time what each vehicle is. Really, between you and me, I don't care what they are, I just think they are cool going by and I LOVE hanging out with Dad!

Hanging on the Porch with Dad

Peek-A-Boo!

Well, I am learning more and more every day! I have been so busy trying to learn to walk that I haven't slowed down to post on my blog lately. I am not mobile yet, but I spend almost all day every day working towards that milestone. I have cut two more teeth since last I wrote. One on the top and one on the bottom, and I am working on another one on the top. Mom is hoping it comes in soon so I don't have a goofy looking grin for very long. Today, Mom and I went to lunch with Granny and when we were through eating, Granny played Peek-A-Boo with her napkin. Well, I have got her number on that one. I don't Peek! I keep my head covered and wait for her to tickle me. She and Mom both get such joy from hearing me laugh! Today, mom had her little camera with us and caught this game on video. Check It Out! I'm so cute you will hardly be able to stand it! XO, Jax~

Fun At the Fair

Whew! What a weekend! I am so sleepy, but I just had to post a few pictures from the Lincoln County Fair. It was a long drive over, but Aunt Audi rode in the back seat with me and it was lots of fun! She had on her beautiful Cowgirl hat from Wyoming and her hair was down so I could pull on it all day!

Boy was it hot at the fair...and dusty too! We spent most of the day in the show arena to keep me in the shade. There was lots going on, and Daddy got Elvis and Elliott all cleaned up, hitched to the cart and ready to drive in the parade. Mom took some pictures of the set up, but because it was so crowded, I didn't get to ride this time. Granny thinks I need to be a little more stable on my own before I ride in the cart with Dad. Plus, at a parade, you never know when a horse can spook!

I climbed all over Aunt Audi, drank water out of a bottle (mostly I wore it), tried to play in the dust, and entertained the crowd with laughter in between show classes.

One of the best parts of the day was when Daddy brought me a funnel cake! It was for everyone to share, but guess who got the first bite. Yummy doesn't begin to describe it this time!!! That may be the best thing they have stuck in my mouth yet!

YAWN!!! Going to bed for now...will post more later this week. There are some fun pictures from learning to drive the cart and just some general pictures to add...getting sleepy...ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz

Happy Little Hatmaker

Hey Everybody!

Mom and Dad and I took a little road trip today and I wanted to share some of our adventure. We headed north to Norris Dam State Park to the annual Hatmaker Family Reunion. My granddaddy and Delores from Oklahoma were here. His nickname is Big Daddy. My Aunt Carolyn was there with her family from Enterprise, AL, and my Uncle Bob and Aunt Jackie were here from Texas. I had never met anybody but Big Daddy before, so there were lots of new people to learn and love on.

I got to nibble some home cooked goodies off Mommy's plate and all I can say is Yummy!! Dressing...check, Chicken Casserole...check, Green Beans....check, Macaroni and Cheese....check, Banana Pudding....Check!Check!Check!! I am so tuckered out! What a day.

I did have to crash for about 30 minutes in one of the cabin's bedrooms, but other than that, I didn't miss a beat. We drove Big Daddy down to the overlook and took some pictures of the three generations of Hatmaker Men.

Big Daddy has a picture of him and my Daddy in the same spot when he was a baby.

I was totally full of myself and got very excited about the cars driving by on the dam below. Then I got to swing on the big boy swing on the playground with my cousins! I squealed and giggled all day. I am posting some of the great pictures Mom took, and will post some more when I get them from Big Daddy. Right now I have to get some ZZZzzz's. Tomorrow we are going to the Lincoln County Fair and I can't wait to see all the animals! I'll try to post again, but it may be next week before I get to it. Until then, enjoy my pics!

Hugs,

Jax

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Sunday, August 17th was Daddy's birthday. It was kind of low key. Just the family and some pizza. I, of course, stole the show, especially since I was wearing my Superman Suit!

I was able to leap tall toys in a single bound, faster than a crawling baby, it's a bird, it's a plane, it's SUPERBABY!! Happy Birthday Daddy! I love you!