Monday, June 22, 2009
Cousins
Brooks was so lucky that his cousin Brodie came to hang out for a bit. I met my sister-in-law, Jill, and her son, Brodie, at Chick-f-la last week for some dinner, and then we came back to my mom's house for some fun. Brodie was very sweet to Brooks, always wanting to give him kisses or pick him up. We did have to explain to him that picking Brooks up was not a good idea. Brodie showed Brooks how to work some of his toys, and they even "wrestled" around a bit. It was so cute. One of the biggest reason to move back to Texas, was so that we could get together more with our family. This was just one time in many to get the cousins together...
Thursday, June 18, 2009
4 states down...46 to go!
Brooks visited a new state this past week. Since we are hanging out in Arlington right now, we thought we should take advantage of the close driving proximity to Grandpa's house...and drive out to Shreveport, Louisiana. On the way we stopped in Tyler to visit with my good friend from high school, Jennifer, and her family. Thanks Carlile Crew for putting us up for the night. Brooks and Mollie are about 5 weeks apart, so they played pretty nice together. And Jenn's older daughter, Maddie (4 years old), was a wonderful friend to Brooks as well.
Brooks showed Mollie how to hang out in the garden and take all the mulch out and pile it up on the sidewalk...sorry Jenn:
It is not easy to get 3 kids to sit still and smile before nap time...this is as good as it gets:
After our wonderful visit there in Tyler, Brooks and I loaded up and headed to Louisiana to visit Grandpa. We had such a nice time. We got to swim in Grandpa's neighborhood pool, play by the lake, and Grandpa and Brooks played tag all throughout his house. It was so cute to watch my dad get on his hands and knees and chase Brooks under the kitchen table and around the furniture.
Grandpa and Brooks swimming in the saltwater pool:
Just hanging out in the grass together:
I don't know if you can tell from this picture, but looking at my dad's baby pictures, I think Brooks looks a lot like his Grandpa:
"I'm gonna get you!" I think this is Brooks' favorite game:
Pounding on the table with Grandpa is a pretty fun game, too:
Brooks showed Mollie how to hang out in the garden and take all the mulch out and pile it up on the sidewalk...sorry Jenn:
It is not easy to get 3 kids to sit still and smile before nap time...this is as good as it gets:
After our wonderful visit there in Tyler, Brooks and I loaded up and headed to Louisiana to visit Grandpa. We had such a nice time. We got to swim in Grandpa's neighborhood pool, play by the lake, and Grandpa and Brooks played tag all throughout his house. It was so cute to watch my dad get on his hands and knees and chase Brooks under the kitchen table and around the furniture.
Grandpa and Brooks swimming in the saltwater pool:
Just hanging out in the grass together:
I don't know if you can tell from this picture, but looking at my dad's baby pictures, I think Brooks looks a lot like his Grandpa:
"I'm gonna get you!" I think this is Brooks' favorite game:
Pounding on the table with Grandpa is a pretty fun game, too:
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
"Well, I've got friends in low places..."
This month we said good-bye to our friends in Colorado...
...and hello to our friends and family in Texas.
It already feels like home.
...and hello to our friends and family in Texas.
It already feels like home.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
11 Months Old
No, no, no...this can't be happening. My little boy is not almost a year old, is he? Please tell me that everyone else out there gets a little crazy when their first child is about to be one. I feel like that at one, there is this magical transformation - and Brooks will no longer be my "little boy" but that everything he'll do will be "big boy" things. Wow! And it is a little crazy to think that he was born in Colorado, and he will be living in Texas on his first birthday. A lot can happen in one year, I guess.
I was going to bore you with the usually accomplishments that I give each month, but my friend inspired me to try something different. My friend (that's you Jenn) talked on her blog about the responsibility of being a mother. That everything we do is something that our kids will learn from. But we can turn that around, and learn some things from our kids as well. I haven't stopped thinking about that since I read her blog. And all day, I kept looking at Brooks and thinking about all the things he has taught me this last 11 months:
* Brooks has taught me that miracles do happen in this day in age, everyday I look at him is proof.
* I have always been told that I'm a patient person, but it is only now that I've been really tested. Nothing tests your patience better than a crying baby.
* Brooks has taught me to be happy with what I have. He never complains about his toys and talks about all the bigger and better toys that his friends have. He is content.
* On that same note, Brooks has taught me to make the best of what I have. You don't have to have fancy things to be happy, all you need is a remote control, or some newspaper, or even an old shoe. He is constantly playing with whatever happens to be around at that moment.
* Sometimes you just need to scream.
* Life is meant to be fun. Brooks has fun in life and smiles at everything and everyone...that makes me smile (even when I'm having a rough day).
* He has helped me learn that what's in the past is in the past. I can tell him "No" one second. He'll cry because he totally knows what that means. And then a second later he is reaching for me to give me a hug. Forgiveness can be easy.
* Brooks has reminded me that there is never a bad time to pick up a book and read. He LOVES reading and turning the pages in his books. Maybe I should try that more instead of watching TV or getting on the computer.
* Brooks has taught me to love my husband more. A healthy family starts with a healthy marriage. And I want Brooks to have the healthiest, happiest family he can.
* Sometimes the best conversation has no words at all. As adults we gush over words and try to make ourselves sound smart by extending our vocabulary so we say things like "myriad" instead of just saying "a lot". Brooks can give me a hug and lay his head on my shoulder and that speaks to me more than words. Sometimes we don't need to say anything at all.
Brooks is 11 months old today and he has already taught me so much. I can't imagine what I'll learn from him in the next 10 or 20 years.
The traditional chair picture:
I think Brooks might get his Daddy's curly hair. See his "wings" on the side:
My little reader:
I was going to bore you with the usually accomplishments that I give each month, but my friend inspired me to try something different. My friend (that's you Jenn) talked on her blog about the responsibility of being a mother. That everything we do is something that our kids will learn from. But we can turn that around, and learn some things from our kids as well. I haven't stopped thinking about that since I read her blog. And all day, I kept looking at Brooks and thinking about all the things he has taught me this last 11 months:
* Brooks has taught me that miracles do happen in this day in age, everyday I look at him is proof.
* I have always been told that I'm a patient person, but it is only now that I've been really tested. Nothing tests your patience better than a crying baby.
* Brooks has taught me to be happy with what I have. He never complains about his toys and talks about all the bigger and better toys that his friends have. He is content.
* On that same note, Brooks has taught me to make the best of what I have. You don't have to have fancy things to be happy, all you need is a remote control, or some newspaper, or even an old shoe. He is constantly playing with whatever happens to be around at that moment.
* Sometimes you just need to scream.
* Life is meant to be fun. Brooks has fun in life and smiles at everything and everyone...that makes me smile (even when I'm having a rough day).
* He has helped me learn that what's in the past is in the past. I can tell him "No" one second. He'll cry because he totally knows what that means. And then a second later he is reaching for me to give me a hug. Forgiveness can be easy.
* Brooks has reminded me that there is never a bad time to pick up a book and read. He LOVES reading and turning the pages in his books. Maybe I should try that more instead of watching TV or getting on the computer.
* Brooks has taught me to love my husband more. A healthy family starts with a healthy marriage. And I want Brooks to have the healthiest, happiest family he can.
* Sometimes the best conversation has no words at all. As adults we gush over words and try to make ourselves sound smart by extending our vocabulary so we say things like "myriad" instead of just saying "a lot". Brooks can give me a hug and lay his head on my shoulder and that speaks to me more than words. Sometimes we don't need to say anything at all.
Brooks is 11 months old today and he has already taught me so much. I can't imagine what I'll learn from him in the next 10 or 20 years.
The traditional chair picture:
I think Brooks might get his Daddy's curly hair. See his "wings" on the side:
My little reader:
Saturday, May 23, 2009
A New Miracle
How can anyone see a new baby and not believe in God? It's such a miracle that any of us even get pregnant when you look at the science behind that. And then that women can grow an actual human being for 9 months is unbelievable! And after that long agonizing 9 months, out comes that wrinkly little person. It's a miracle every time!
My best friend, Cari, experienced that miracle yesterday. Cari gave birth to a healthy baby boy:
Parker Ferrell was born at 12:54pm on 5.22.09. 7lbs 8oz and 21 inches.
There is something really special about my best friend having a little boy. I am sure there will be many times when we call each other for advice on what to do with a boy and how crazy they can get. And there's something wonderful about being able to say, "Let's take the boys to the zoo today!" or "Want to take the boys swimming?". The boys are 11 months apart, so as they grow up, I think they could be best buds! Here are some adorable pictures of Parker (I 'borrowed' the pictures from a friend's facebook).
My best friend, Cari, experienced that miracle yesterday. Cari gave birth to a healthy baby boy:
Parker Ferrell was born at 12:54pm on 5.22.09. 7lbs 8oz and 21 inches.
There is something really special about my best friend having a little boy. I am sure there will be many times when we call each other for advice on what to do with a boy and how crazy they can get. And there's something wonderful about being able to say, "Let's take the boys to the zoo today!" or "Want to take the boys swimming?". The boys are 11 months apart, so as they grow up, I think they could be best buds! Here are some adorable pictures of Parker (I 'borrowed' the pictures from a friend's facebook).
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Gammy in Town
Gammy, my mom, came in town while Chad is relaxing on the beach in Cancun. It has been great having her around. She has been wonderful company, and has helped a ton with Brooks. They spend every morning together while I go to work. Brooks really loves his Gammy. My mom came in on Saturday and we headed straight down to Colorado Springs. We stopped into the Air Force Academy on our way in and toured the chapel and just walked around a bit. We spent the night in a fabulous little hotel and then headed out to Pikes Peak the following day. We didn't make the 19 mile drive to the top, but we did go 6 miles up. Now, I know 19 miles doesn't sound like it would take a long time, but when you are climbing to 14,000+ feet up a mountain it's a lot of switch backs that end up taking about 2 hours. So, like I said, we only went up 6 miles - it was a fabulous view! This week we've just been hanging out, going to the park, and eating out a lot. Tonight my cousin came over with his girlfriend and we had a fun night of Mexican food, margaritas, and Nuggets basketball. Brooks has been a wonderful little boy through all this excitement and is totally showing off for his Gammy. His new thing is that he has learned how to scream. He's totally happy - but just screams to see how loud he can get. He screams when he eats, he screams while in his stroller, he screams in the bath, he scream a lot. Here are some pics of our week with Gammy:
Friday, May 15, 2009
New Trouble
Brooks is pretty tall, at 9 months he was 29.5 inches tall, so he's probably more than 30 inches now. Sometimes I forget that that means he can reach lots of things...like the toilet paper roll. It's his new favorite toy.
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