Surprise...

Well recently we have turned into a party house. This past weekend we hosted a surprise blowout that sported 80 years of life to be celebrated. Now this may sound like a bad idea to surprise an 80 year old, but this wasn't one person, but 2 people's surprise birthdays (30 and 50).

Lisa or Hank (Lisa's dad) had the idea to do a duel surprise birthday party for Stephanie (30) and Jackie (50). The premise was that it was supposed to be my birthday party, but then Jackie would think it was a surprise party for Stephanie and Stephanie would think it was a surprise party for Jackie. Now I have no idea how Hank and Lisa kept their stories straight. I for one took the stance that I don't plan anything and never know anything. What actually frightens me is that Hank and Lisa were able to pull it off. When Jackie rolled in she had no idea until she saw a sign that said "50" and was even upset that a friend of hers was coming to Houston "to visit friends" and wasn't coming to see her. She never suspected that her friend was coming to see her.

I think the party was a great success and has solidified our house as the resident party house for Lisa's side of the family.

Although everything went smoothly, I find the whole thing quite troubling. Lisa and Hank have honed their skills at trickery and I am fearful that this will not be the last surprise party in the next few years. My 30th is coming up in 2011 and I better keep my head on a swivel. . .

Baby Steps . . .

"Baby step onto the elevator... baby step into the elevator... I'm *in* the elevator. . . AHHHHH" - Bob Wiley from What about Bob.

Little Colin must be thinking something similar these days but more like "baby step to the toy . . ." I always knew what it meant to take baby steps, but for the last few days the Caughran family has been experiencing it literally and the term has taken on a whole new meaning. A few days ago, little Colin took 2 steps on his own from Lisa to his walker. Prior to this he had been couch surfing and walking with a walker, but when we tried to get him to walk on his own, he would just drop to his knees. He just didn't have the confidence to go it alone until recently.



The next day he took 3-4 steps. Then he took 7-10 to get to his fire truck. Each day he makes it farther and is steadier and more confident. We have taken some videos of him learning to walk. As you can see in the videos, we are coaxing him to walk to his toys on the soft carpet, unlike my parents who taught me to walk to goldfish outside on the concrete!?!?

He isn't officially walking by any means, but he is taking baby steps. . .