Thankful

We spent the first half of Thanksgiving week with my family and then met R in OKC to spend the weekend with his. We truly enjoyed the less-than-usual slow pace of our week, and had time to reflect on the amazing blessings in our lives. Our God is good, and we can't help but show our gratitude in the way we love those around us.

Austin

When we heard that Tink's favorite band was coming to Austin, we had to be there! We decided to make a weekend of it and had a great time. We visited the Children's Muesum, hit the outlet malls with "Uncle Gail", and had dinner with my cousins - it was a great weekend away! My favorite part of the weekend (parents of littles will truly appreciate), we had a one-bedroom suite reserved, but R managed to score a two-bedroom suite, which meant that Bug didn't have to sleep in our room! By the time R had the suitcases brought upstairs, I had the furniture re-arranged, and everyone enjoyed a great weekend of un-interrupted sleep :)

What's a trip to Austin without a stop in West?

Forming a family band at the Children's Museum

Making tamales

Pretending is one of Tink's favorites - she LOVED the museum!

Waiting to see Laurie


A great show! (as you can see, Bug especially enjoyed it)

A Train Ride

The weekend after Halloween, R and Tink took the train to Oklahoma City so that she could spend the weekend with my parents while we helped his parents with some remodeling. We didn't tell her until the morning of, and she was beside herself excited. Leaving for the Fort Worth station, we discovered a parking lot on 35 due to a wreck - there was no way to make it, so we headed for Gainesville. It wasn't exactly the plan, but life with two kids under 3 rarely is. The look on her face as she boarded the train was completely worth the drive.

At the station

Waiting by the track

Watching the train arrive

Bye Mommy!

Oklahoma bound

Family Photo Session

We had our yearly photo session in October, and I must admit, I was completely dreading it. Choosing outfits just about sends me over the edge, and once again, I was still making decisions late the night before. Tink isn't always the most agreeable for pics (especially with people who aren't familiar), so I was sure that getting both kids to cooperate was going to be tough. Oddly enough, we had the first session of the morning, and things went fantastically smooth. R and I kept glancing at each other and asking under our breath, "Is it really going this well? Can you believe they're actually going along with this?" Melissa was outstanding, once again, and we couldn't be happier with our photos. I'm not even ashamed to admit that I cried the first time I saw them :) Here are just a few of my favorites:

Baby Dedication

Baby Dedication is a very special day at our church, and on October 31, we dedicated Bug! Several of our friends' children were dedicated, as well as my nephew!
Bob explained that we're not dedicating our child as much as we're dedicating ourselves - to raise him in a Christian home and to lead him to Christ through the example that we set in our own lives. We signed The Hannah Promise, which tells the story of Hannah and promises that we will:
Pray for our children every day
Bring our children into God's presence by teaching them to pray and taking them into God's house
Live in such a way as to provide the proper emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual nurture for our own children as well as other children who are in need
We also chose a verse for Bug, which is Philippians 1:9-11
"And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."
We are truly blessed to be parents and to have Bug in our lives. It's more than we could have asked for or imagined!

Happy Halloween

We had such a fun Halloween! We got to do lots of fun things with friends (three parties, two trips to the pumpkin patch, and one trip to Chuck E. Cheese's). Tink was really excited about her costume and Trick-or-Treating, and her Daddy was almost as excited to take her :)

baking pumpkin for Bug

painting pumpkins

Wearing costumes at Chuck E. Cheese's

Girls' pumpkin play date

playing at a family party

Pooh Corner Cousins

Trick or Treat!!!

Her favortie "treat" - a glow stick

Waiting to hand out candy

Nine and Ten

Month nine was a lot of fun! The weather was great and R had some extra days off work, so we spent a lot of time outside. We went to the pumpkin patch twice, the zoo, and took lots of walks. Bug wore his Tigger costume to Chuck E Cheese's and rode his first ride! He really started moving around "army style" and is interested in wheels. We tried a sippy cup this month, but he's still working on getting the hang of it. His list of foods continues to grow, and now includes Cheerios, zucchini and yellow squash. He's eating more finger foods than puree, which is much easier for Mommy! He is nearing 20 lbs, so Dr. Z told us to start looking for a bigger car seat. I was able to find a convertible, and I think he really enjoys looking around. It's funny to see him sitting up in the car like his sister. This boy still has such a happy and easy going personality - he charms anyone he meets!

spinning wheels (this is one of his favorite things to do, and has gotten him into trouble a few times!)

Yeah, Mom, those toys you put out are great, but look at this wipes box!!!!

Chillin' at the zoo

First ride at Chuck E.

Nine months (Why yes, my Mom DID make my shirt) :)


Bug's tenth month brought a LOT of firsts! It started off with Halloween and baby dedication at church, continued with his first mini vacation to Austin, and ended with Thanksgiving. We were still struggling with the sippy cup when he managed to get ahold of Tink's cup and drink the entire thing - of course. After a trip to the store for straw cups, he's doing much better with drinking from a cup. Bug also tried quite a few new foods this month! Both pancakes and waffles were a big hit (of course), as well as yogurt, beans, and mashed potatoes (you can't have Thanksgiving without those!) He got another haircut, courtesy of Nana (now totaling three) - this boy has my Grandad's thick hair! He also spent the weekend as an "only child", got lots of attention from Grandma and PaPa, and had his first guitar lesson. He's still rocking the army crawl, which suits him just fine. He's also going through a "Mommy's boy" phase - he's happy with just about anybody as long as he can't see or hear me. If he can, none other will do! I must admit that I like it just a little, but what Mom doesn't? :)

See Mom, I need a straw!

Captain Destructo

first guitar lesson

Austin Children's Museum

Ten Months