My name is Paxton and Im a milk-aholic!

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to announce that Paxton has officially begun eating "solids"!
We started, oh say, about 3 months ago with rice cereal. He ate some, and wasnt too impressed. So little by little we gave him small amounts to get him used to different tastes. At around 6 months, we let him try actual baby food (I think it was sweet potatoes). He ate a few bites, then pinched his lips together and refused any more of it. Again, with that we kept giving him small amounts, trying all different fruits and vegetables. The main problem we were having was that Pax would like a food and eat a good amount of it, but would absolutely HATE it the next time we tried feeding it to him. But.......
The other day Paxton found true love with bananas. He ate the whole container (a first for him by far) and was literally shaking with excitement every time I lifted the spoon with another bite on it. I tried not to get too excited but then the next day, guess what? He ate an entire container of bananas AGAIN!
We have continues to introduce new foods to him and, for the most part, he is liking it pretty well! Although I will wait quite a while before giving him green beans again- he HATED them!
I cant wait until we are done with this summer so I can be home again with my beautiful food processor and feed him fresh fruits and veggies. He still isnt too excited sometimes about the baby food, but honestly, I dont blame him because that stuff is nasty!

Anyway, here is my adorable little baby, eating on the floor because mommy and daddy were lazy one Sunday afternoon! Can you believe that red hair?! I still think it will turn more blonde as he gets out in the sun more, but for now, Im loving it!

there are no words.

Crystal Shrine Grotto

WARNING! You are about to experience picture overload. Continue at will!!!!!!!

A few Sundays back, Jon and I visited the Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis. Why are Earth would we visit a cemetery you wonder? We had discovered online the Crystal Shrine Grotto, located in the cemetery, as a place worthy of a visit. Back in the 1930's, Dionicio Rodriguez built this amazing place. He used various materials, both for the actual art as well as the grotto itself, including rock quartz crystal, semiprecious stones, marble, beautiful wood and cement. Inside are various artistic displays illustrating "Christ's Journey on the Earth from Birth to Resurrection".

At the grotto's entrance was a sign in book and a beautiful painting.
As you can see, the craftsmanship is very intricate and beautiful, from the ground up!

Pax is VERY impressed!
Some of the art was made from stone, others fine wood, and some of it was even painted onto the walls with paint mixed in with beautiful crushed stones. It was really cool!




Outside was just as beautiful. This is what the top of the Crystal Shrine Grotto looks like from the outside.
We kept coming across such interesting and amazing things. As you can tell from the guy's expressions, some were more on the, uh, weird, side.

This is what they found when they looked inside the locked gate!


We came across "God's Garden" and it was beautiful! Very green and lush with a few ponds.


Pax is getting sleepy. I love when he yawns and I especially love when I happen to catch one on camera!

Surrounding the Grotto, and all throughout the cemetery, are cool structures like this one: a giant stone bench. Pax was happy to take a little rest :)
The pond had TONS of cool fish that kept Paxton entertained for quite some time.
This is an old tree stump turned on its side and made into a cool bridge piece.


Most of the places to sit in the cemetery were carved from old trees or constructed from stone.
It was such a cool experience and place to visit. We were a bit leery and not sure what to expect going to a cemetery to hang out, but we are very glad we went. The art was amazing and the whole experience was well worth our Sunday afternoon!

I'll give it a go

So one of my favorite blogs to follow is "Fun to Craft" and on that blog I found a link to "Cute as a Fox" and now I love that too! My list of amazing blogs to follow just keeps growing... Anyway!
Cute as a Fox is having a giveaway so I thought I give it a shot, even though I NEVER win these things. We will see!
cuteasafox.blogspot.com

At the 'Ole Ball Game!

Jon's office went to a baseball game the other night and the wives/families got to tag along. It was kind of fun to do something out of the ordinary and the weather had just started to cool down so it was actually pretty pleasant to be outside.
Pax was pretty amused, not with the game, but with all the people. He's a people watcher and definitely a star-er but he gets away with it because he's a baby. So jealous.

Paxton absolutely adores Jon. Jon can get him to smile WAY more than I can and he even got Pax to laugh yesterday! He still only wants me when he's tired or fussy, but when this baby is happy, his daddy is his favorite thing in the world!

Pax is 7 months now, weighs 18.5 pounds and continues the grow some, lose some hair cycle. His eyes are a gorgeous deep slate blue and his two little teeth are sticking out like sore thumbs now.

Dear family: we miss you! Hope to see you soon! Love, the Halls :)

Happy Birthday America & My 100th Post!

Wow, 100 posts! I feel like I should bake my blog a birthday cake! Alas, I must not though because Southern comfort food is starting to show up on my mid-section so its time to cut back.

Moving right along.....


We had an amazing birthday celebration with America! As sad as it may seem, this was my VERY first year celebrating the 4th of July and watching fireworks. I am usually with my family in Pinecrest, CA which is in a "no fireworks" lush forest. As sad as I am that Im not there with them now, I was SO excited to finally experience July 4th celebrations.

Let me tell you this; Memphis knows how to celebrate this amazing country. The event we went to was so much fun, full of nasty delicious "American" foods, parades, live bands and tons of rides for kids. And of course, the fireworks were amazing! I have never seen anything like it. We thought for sure that Pax would be scared and crying the whole time but he just laid in my arms and loved it!

The band played music in sync with the fireworks display and I have to say I got emotional and even teared up a few times. Being in Memphis, they couldnt leave out The King and Elvis's rendition of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" really got the water works going. As I watched the sky light up, I realized that this beautiful country that we all live in truly is a country founded and created for God's purposes. I have so many freedoms thanks to the men our Father in Heaven blessed and inspired. I love this country and I am so thankful for the privileges I enjoy on a daily basis. Happy Birthday America!