2009

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2011

2012

2013 (Lola is a skilled photobomber, one of the best ever. Well played, Lola.)

Joe’s been working on saying words like “pop” and “ball.” He seems to know what they mean, and that they’re fun, because he gets excited when he hears them.

But his little mouth doesn’t seem to want to cooperate. (For example, he struggles very hard to say “papa” to his grandfather, but it always comes out “op-op,” if it comes out at all.)

Then yesterday, in speech therapy, he did a great job of signing “more” (putting fingers of two hands together) and saying “pop pop pop” to keep the bubbles coming.

Love that little voice!

Joe is not impressed by Iron Mike or a threatening North Carolina sky.

While in Fayetteville for the holiday, Joe and I stopped by the Airborne & Special Operations Museum. I was working here when I met Lia’s mom and first saw Lia, and where Lia and I later had our wedding reception.

Joe walked the whole thing, no easy task. Here he is with a load of 173rd guys hitting the ground in Vietnam. Go Herd!

Joe’s grandpa (right) also hit the ground with the 173rd in Vietnam. He didn’t do it as cute.

The next day we all went to the Fascinate U children’s museum, where Joe knocked over some other kid’s block tower (mine).

Say goodbye Joe…

Joe and his momma enjoying the colors last weekend at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s GardenFest of Lights.

Joe says “Happy New Year!”

Joe spent Christmas with his momma’s side of the family this year, in Fayetteville, N.C.

Here he is keeping an eye on things from his new chair.

Spending some quality time with his Nana.

Swapping stories with Papa.

Joe’s great-grandfather, Grandy, was the special guest for the holiday. We all celebrated his 99th birthday a few days after Christmas.

Joe hasn’t figured out the stocking thing yet.

Joe became a character in one of his cousin Abigail’s capers.

Like any good Christmas, food and presents led to a pile of spent bodies on the floor. Notice that Aunt Amy is smelling Lia’s foot.

Thanks for the hospitality Nana and Papa!

This is Joe’s blog, but I’m hijacking it for a date night post. While Joe was hanging out with our friend Amanda, Lia and I wandered around Petersburg, Va., during the monthly Friday for the Arts.

Lia in front of Petersburg’s historic courthouse.

My new favorite photo of Lia, resting in an old chair. This was upstairs in the town’s biggest antique/junk shop. The upstairs has only recently been opened, and had only a few items of furniture, but the stairwell, hallway and rooms looked like it was once a beautiful office space, maybe for the store below.

The Petersburg Area Art League had Christmas trees put together by local artists and organizations. This one was from a tattoo shop.

An original Rock-Ola jukebox found in an antique shop.

Joe owns the school.