Christmas Video

In a month he'll be one
Where did the time go?
We've had lots of fun,
Even once in the snow!

But where once was an infant
now there's a boy
with a bright toothy smile
and a side grin that's coy

Our love's more intense
and our hearts more a glow
And where bitterness lived
now grace does it flow.

There's too much to post
and too much to say
so we'll just keep it short
cause we like it that way!

Enjoy the videos!!!

13 More Days 'Til Christmas!!

To commemorate our son's first Christmas ever, we did what thousands of eager parents and unwilling children do each year at this time...

we stood in line...
at the mall...
and waited...
to take a picture...
with...
SANTA!

Yes, folks, we embarked on yet another parental milestone today. Our little analyst had no idea what to take of this jolly old soul and studied him intently only taking a break to look at the camera while a middle aged woman flapped plastic clapping hands in the air and shouted "stinky, look, stinky!!!" She later confided that all children are either "stinky" or "peanut." Wonder how she chooses??? Wonder if she'd like to know what I would call her?

Anyway, here is the fruit of our efforts :) It's official for sure, we're parents!!

Mr. Nosy Returns...

Checking out the contents of the fridge...oh, with a hat on...Oh, what's this...better get a closer look. Yeah, not diggin' any of these movies, mom...

Oh, is this a high chair...i was just checking, you know to make sure.

Visits from the Jr.'s!

We had lots of fun with our visitors this past month. We got to spend time with my brother and his family for 10 days!! It was so much fun...here is a recap of our time :)


Above: Three kids, three carseats...two monkeys.

Above: Uncle Joe on a jog in the double BOB...plush ride!

Above: This was just cute...at the park

Above: off they go at the zoo!

Above: Here they come...at the zoo.

Above: the best part of vacation is donut day is every day!!!

A Lot of Firsts!!

The first time on an airplane!! Loved looking outside at the clouds :)

First time tasting the "sause"...okay, no sause, but he did a great job eating out!

First time we realized that we were happy we didn't have twins (kristin and bill are our hero's)

First Halloween and first time meeting Auntie Heather!!

First time Daddy looked ridiculous in his halloween costume...actually no, scratch that...First time meeting Uncle Joe!!First time meeting cousin Haley and sharing her fun toys!!

Wow...there is so much more and we are having a blast with our little guy!

Thanks Cousin Geoff!!

How fun was this!! It was a fun day, but trying to coordinate three babies to look at the camera at the same time was quite a challenge :) In any event, we got some great shots and had a fun day to boot. Thank you for your time, Geoff!!

All the grandkids...a special photo, definitely going in a frame for our home!

PJ's...

The Bee Suit

Mr. Nosy

Bed Head

No Picture, Just Words

Last night when putting him to bed...he hugged me with both arms tightly around my neck and then put his head on my shoulder. sigh...

What's the haps?

Tippy toes gets me a better grab.You are now free to move about the furniture...

Lots of standing, means lots of falling...learning to fall on my booty!!!

My crazy spaghetti class...yeah, not so much.

Hey ladies.

All done!

Getting ready to go down the slide with Daddy!

The swing...yeah, whatever...I still like my books best.
Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!

folks, it doesn't look good...your going to need a new transmission

Magic carpet ride with Daddy. A whole new world!

Rollin' in my 5.0 with the ragtop down so my hair can blow...

The Little Trio (plus a Cat) That Could!

We survived our very first, all consuming, family illness!!! I know it's not a developmental milestone, nor is it a feat in and of itself (as I am sure many a family has dealt with this), but it was our first nonetheless. AND, we made it! It was just a little confirmation that we can (and did) do it! I guess that is what comes with the territory of having children.

I would love to be able to protect everyone from illness all the time (myself included), but once you open the door to a world of bugs, viruses, runny noses, hands that go in the mouth all the time and social events...I guess you open the door to reality :)

In any event, we are all better and a stronger family unit for it. Happy Fall!!!

I love this Mug!!

SHE SAID...

She wanted to climb the mountain...and that's exactly what she did! Here's the little 'ol granny from Texas showin' the mountain who's boss!! Rich and my dad went too ;)

They are off!!Here they are at the base of "Scar" mountain (it's just behind them and believe me it's much nastier than it looks!!)Can you blame a girl for needing to rest!

Mom and Dad at the top! How beautiful is that view behind them!!?

I guess the rattlesnake thought he would be safe all the way up there, he was wrong!

Catching their second wind on the way down! My mom was HURTING the next couple of days. You could say Rich was a little SORE too ;)

Mule Train! Hya! Hya!

"Clippity cloppin' o'er the mountain chain...soon they're gonna reach the top, clippity clop, clippity clop, clippity, clippity, clippity, clippity, clippity cloppin' along!!!"

If you haven't figured it out by now, I live my life in song and t.v. show/movie titles (I swear I was born for Broadway...or maybe just a lounge singer as some have said). These words are from a song called "Mule Train" from my childhood. My mom and dad loved Country and Western (capital "C" and capital "W")music...not the Tim McGraw's or Brad Paisley's of today's "Country" music, but the good stuff. Willie, Dolly, Johnny, Hank and Frankie Laine. Watching this video of my dad "Grandpa" and my son reminded me of this song. A favorite!! My dad used to play this on the loud speakers in the back yard (or in the house) and sing just as loud! I hope Joaquin will have just as many fun memories of his childhood as I have of mine ;)

Jabber Jaw!

Last Monday, he decided that he had much more to say than "mama" and "huh-mum" (which loosely translates to "hi mom"). Since then he's been blabbering away and it is the most wonderful sound in the world!!

Perspective

It's all in how you look at it right? For instance, mom and dad buy the exersaucer for him to stand in and play with the toys up top. However, when you can crawl underneath it, it creates a whole new toy entirely. And when you pull the toys from the side, yet another toy. Perspective.

Below: Eight months ago I would have seen a mess. Today, I see that my little boy has been hard at play and learning every single minute he's awake! Perspective.

We could all use a change in perspective every once in a while and sometimes it takes a child to see that it's okay to leave a mess or inspect something from another angle!

Double Baby

Oh, the thought of TWO of these guys!! Maybe just a picture for now :)

He loved this mirror/door and would slide the door open with his feet...