Yesterday at 11:59 pm Matthew turned 1 - wow!! I can't believe how fast the time has flown by. He will go to the doctor for official measurements (and a needle) next week, but he is about 23 lbs and 32 inches long - that is pretty long!
He is a very busy boy and is always pointing at everything making the eeeeh sound - which we gather to mean "what is this?" He crawls up and down stairs very fast and can crawl up on the couch, as well as dismount from the couch and bed. He loves turning on and off the light switches and generally eats everything we put in front of him, though he has been rejecting vegetables for the last week or so :-) He loves his sippy cup, but after a meal, it must contain milk, not water. Water between meals is acceptable to the king.
Matthew cruises around the furniture and can stand for a few seconds without help if you trick him so that he doesn't realize he isn't holidng onto anything. He can walk holding one finger, but still prefers to crawl. He makes lots of different noises and everyday you hear something that sounds quite clearly to be a real word, but we don't think he has any intentional words just yet...but he is still able to communicate his wants quite well :-)
Life has sure changed this past year since the arrival of our little blessing - he is so much fun! We are going to have his portrait taken at the Superstore today - hopefully we'll get a nice family shot too. Happy Birthday little man - we love you!!
My first taste of pizza - I like it!
Eating birthday cupcakes made by aunt Lauren...mmm...
Reading a new story from uncle Paul and aunt Lauren. Matthew loves books - he drags them over and passes them to you to read.
Riding a big boy truck - together with a new car seat, "hand print" display, and more sippy cups - this was all a combo gift from Grammie and Grampy Smith, Great Grammie Cole and Ed, and Great Nanny Smith. He is also wearing one of many birthday outfits from Nan and Grampy Barker. Thanks everyone!!
This new fishing game from Mary is delicious!
Matthew had spaghetti for the first time on Monday night - he just loved it! He madly gobbled everything up and got really messy!! Dad was conveniently out to Canada's Wonderland with Adam for tub time Monday night :-)
My first taste of pizza - I like it!
Eating birthday cupcakes made by aunt Lauren...mmm...
Reading a new story from uncle Paul and aunt Lauren. Matthew loves books - he drags them over and passes them to you to read.
Riding a big boy truck - together with a new car seat, "hand print" display, and more sippy cups - this was all a combo gift from Grammie and Grampy Smith, Great Grammie Cole and Ed, and Great Nanny Smith. He is also wearing one of many birthday outfits from Nan and Grampy Barker. Thanks everyone!!
This new fishing game from Mary is delicious!
Awww...we're snuggling :-)
Hmmm, I should climb over Riley...
Here I go!
Fewwf! Made it! 
Yesterday Lauren and I took a girls only road trip to the Sandbanks area. We had a great day - we also stopped at a Christmas store, made a quick stop at North Beach, and explored the town of Picton. This is us at North Beach Provincial Park - it is a day use beach. It looks like a great beach and it wasn't near as busy as Sandbanks. There were lots of places for a family BBQ or picnic.
Here we are at the Dunes Beach at Sandbanks Provincial Park - and yes, we are wearing long sleeves! Although it was nice and sunny and the water was warm, the wind was cool. It is a very nice park - there are hiking trails (we did one), very large dunes, three beaches, and you can even rent watercraft for the river and lake. There are several campgrounds and one has electrical hook-ups so I'd love to find a way to get our trailer here for next year!!
We saw a garter snake on our nature hike...I heard it slithering away...
Earlier this week Chad and I went over to Jenn's place for a BBQ. It was so great to see everyone - we hadn't seen some friends in close to 10 years! With so many of us now transplanted to the GTA we will have to get together more often :-) Here is a pic of the Middleton girls - thanks Jenn!
Matthew had his 2nd first birthday party on August 11 at Nan and Grampy's. Great Grammie Barker, Great Grampy Barker, Great Grammie Cole, Ed, Uncle Paul, and Aunt Lauren were also there. 
MMMM....ice cream cake is delicious!
GRRRRR
Cute lion...
Matthew loved the animals at the zoo in Aylesford! Everytime Nan went to feed the goats or the deer he giggled and giggled. He had a great time :-) 
After we got back from NB, we headed out to the Ovens for some camping fun! Chad and I had never been to the Ovens so it was neat to see the sea caves. Here is Matty with Grammie after tub time.
Matthew and Grampy enjoyed spending time down at the shore.
Grampy, Matty, and Riley...whenever Grampy goes out with the boys he can't believe how much attention Riley gets! Well...he is very handsome! Riley and Grampy are walking buddies :-)
Me, Chad and Riley walking along the trail to see the sea caves.
Let the parties begin! We had Matthew's first - 1st birthday party at Aunt cathy and Uncle Sean's new house in Kentville. Grampy and Grammie S were also there :-) Here is Matty taking a piece of cake - yum!
As we made our way back to the Valley, we stopped at Mastadon Ridge to have some lunch and play. 
There was a small playground at Hopewell Rocks and Matthew had a blast on the slide and the swing!
We made it down to the rocks just before the tide came in
Matty and Dad :-) 
We went on our first whale watching tour in St. Andrew's and had a blast! We saw Minke whales, lots of seals, porpoises, and a bald eagle.
Matty is a budding oceanographer...here he is inspecting a starfish.
Matty and Grampy :-)
Matty crawling around the deck
The Smith family at sea :-)
No matter where we are Matty always has fun with his two best buds - Riley and Teddy! Here are a few shots of them at the Algonquin in St. Andrew's 
