I'm one year old!

103_2843,
Originally uploaded by chmcelwee.

Our little baby boy is now one year and 1 week old. Just ask him, he'll tell you. Wow, does time fly! It's been a fantastic year to say the least. As we look back on it, it's amazing how far he's come and how much he's grown.

• He's grown from 8 lbs, 1 oz. to 20 lbs 12 ozs..
• He's grown from 21 inches to 29 1/2 inches.
• He's gone from not being able to lift his head to running and climbling.
• He's gone from his only sounds being a high pictched cry to saying words like "Popa", "Mama", "Cat", "bubbles" and "truck".
• He's gone from not realizing that his hands were part of his own body to being able to point out his ears, nose, tummy and eyes.
• He's gone from not being able to sit still long enough to read one board book to being able to take his favorite books off the shelf and then bring them to use and sit down in our laps when he wants to read
• He's gone from eating nothing but breast milk to eating french fries, cake, ice cream, pizza and grilled cheese. (He might as well be a teenager!)
• He's learned to communicate with us through baby sign language for "more", "all done" and "eat."

We've got a lot to look forward to in the next year and the years after. Let's hope they are all even better than this year!

Roach family photo

Roach Family,
Originally uploaded by jcroach.

This was taken as part of the McElwee Family photo shoot a couple of weekends ago. Aren't we cute?

Don't eat me, Tiger

Depauw vs. Hope,
Originally uploaded by jcroach.

Parker wasn't too sure about the giant orange tiger at the Depauw Football game last weekend. He did however want to run out onto the big grss field where all the big kids were playing. He would have been crushed. He was much more of a fan of the Marvin's Garlic Chicken Cheese Burger. Final score of game, DPU: 23 Hope: 14

Wack-a Wack-a

Children's Museum Pac-man,
Originally uploaded by jcroach.

Parker playing his first game of Pac-Man on his birthday trip to the Indianapolis Children's Museum.

Jimmy Roach, the prankster

Dad with shaven head,
Originally uploaded by jcroach.

I found this picture of my Dad in a box of family photos I borrowed from my Uncle. The text reads "WHICH ONE HAS THE TONI? - Wendell Bitzer, left, and Jimmy Roach, Greencastle high school students, display bald pates and express little concern over the loss of their tresses. The boys were clipped, and good, when they tried to break through the Sigma Chi forces and ring the bell in East College on DePauw campus. They lost but are able to smile in defeat."

The Roach Approach

Anyone ever heard of these? It's a series of Christian children's DVDs called T"he Roach Approach". Much in the vein of "Veggie Tales." I discovered them while doing an eBay search, of all things. Parker is probably way too young for these, but they look cute. They originally struck my eye because one of my fraternity brother sused to call me "The Roach Approach."

The stories follow a family of roaches; 3,000 year old Grandpa Lou, Grandma Nana and their grandson, Squiggz. The grandparents entertain their grandson with inspirational stories from the Bible. What's even funnier is that my Mom wants Parker to call her Nana Roach.

The Office: Webisodes

Check out the web page for NBC's Emmy award winning "The Office". They have posted the first 9 of a 10 part webisode series highlighting the office accountants; Kevin, Oscar and Angela. In my opinion, "The Office" and "Scrubs" are the two most original and funny shows on television. The new season starts September 21st.