Today my awesome little nephew, Gus turned 1!� I just got back from spending a few days in Michigan visiting my family and celebrating his birthday, as well as my brother-in-law's birthday and the 4th of July in an all-in-one extravaganza.� Needless to say, my sister the event designer made sure it was fabulous!

[caption id="attachment_1226" align="aligncenter" width="462" caption="1 Year Old Gus!"][/caption]

Emmett had some reservations about Gus at first, but in the end, I think he warmed up to him.�� Here are a few shots of the birthday boy and the awesome weekend.

[caption id="attachment_1227" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Captain Gus and His Matey, Emmett"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1229" align="aligncenter" width="474" caption="Gus' party hat and balloons"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1230" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption=""Watcha got there, cuz?""][/caption]

Age Timers

Emmett: 17 months, 3 weeks

Gus: 1 YEAR!

We're engaged!� I couldn't be more thrilled.� To be honest,� I was feeling a little out of the loop for a while, since both James and Emmett share the same last name.� Well, it looks like I'll soon be able to join the Vaughan Club, too!

[caption id="attachment_1222" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="The Bling"][/caption]

It happened on Father's Day -- June 20.� James and I had headed back to our same camping spot from last year, on an island in Casco Bay off the coast of Freeport, Maine.� Emmett was staying right across the bay with James' parents.� The weather was fabulous, and we were enjoying all the sun, extra snoozes and s'mores that a camping trip usually offers.

After watching a short afternoon thunderstorm roll in, James thought it'd be fun to set up the camera to take a picture of us in front of the sun setting over the water. On take two, James knelt down and proposed -- and we have the picture to prove it! Clever one, that James.� Neither of us can even remember exactly what he said when he proposed, but the gist of it was that he was so happy with our family already and that he wanted to be together forever.� I said, "Of course!" and then proceeded to tell him to "put the ring on my finger already."

[caption id="attachment_1212" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="James' Proposal"][/caption]

Besides the wrong ring size (I just got it back from getting re-sized today!) and the resultant scare in the woods that involved me briefly losing my new bling (it was too small for my ring finger but apparently way too big for the pinkie I ended up wearing it -- and losing it -- on), I couldn't have dreamed up a better engagement.� What was Emmett's reaction, you ask?� I'm pretty sure he couldn't care less, and it sounded like he actually said something like "so what?" when we told him.� But let me tell ya -- he's going to make the most adorable little ring bearer.� Now let the planning begin!

[caption id="attachment_1213" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Boat Smooch"][/caption]

For more photos from our trip, check out the album, "Camping Engagement."

Visit our wedding website, http://jamesandpamgetmarried.com.

Age Timer: 17 Months

Last weekend my immediate family, minus one sister (sad face), met for a family rendezvous at my parents' house in New Jersey.� We spent some great quality time together, enjoyed watching baby Gus rock out in his doorway jumper, visited the (great) grandparents in PA and had a lot of fun witnessing the two goobers interact (especially in the bath tub).� Emmett had a bit of a cold (which translated to a couple of family members), but other than that, it was a successful trip.� Check out some of the visual highlights below, including a pretty awesome video of Gus gnawing on Emmett (with a surprise ending)...

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9LedX_xpLk&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

[caption id="attachment_1167" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Gran-D and the boys"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1168" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Rockin' Out"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1169" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Happy Gus!"][/caption]

I'm looking forward to the next time Gus and Emmett get together.� Gus will probably be Emmett's current age, and Emmett will be 19 months.

For more pictures from last weekend's visit, check out the "NJ Family Rendezvous" set on Flickr.

Age Timer: 13 months, 1 week

Well, maybe just Emmett.� He's learned to clap in the past week, and honestly, it's all the kid wants to do, whether the timing is appropriate or not.� Whatever - it's darn cute...

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qanSnwGXSM&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

Emmett was learning to clap while we were visiting my family in New Jersey and Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving last week.� It was the first time my family was all together since Emmett and Gus were born, and the first time my extended family met Gus, so it was a lot of fun.� Gus is a lot more interactive than the last time I visited with him, so it was interesting to see the two babies get along.� Although most of the interactions between them involved Emmett sitting on and poking at Gus' face, it was great to have them both in the same room.

Some highlights in pictures:

[caption id="attachment_1087" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Emmett attempts a game of Patty Cake with Gus"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1088" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Gus tells a very engaging story to Emmett, Aunt Lulu & Gran-D"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1089" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Gran-D jumpstarts Emmett's gambling problem"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1090" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Nana causes Gus to make odd facial expressions"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1091" align="aligncenter" width="539" caption="Emmett practices his clapping"][/caption]

The babies' first Thanksgiving was a big success in my opinion.� And if Emmett were still in my belly, he would've been about the size of a 20 lb. turkey :)� Hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving!

To view more pictures from Thanksgiving, check out my Thanksgiving '09 set on Flickr.

Age Timer: 10 months, 2 weeks