Agua

Grandma & Grandpa Holt/Rossmann got TR a water table for his birthday.  To say he is obsessed is a complete understatement.  At all hours of the day, he is pointing and whining to go outside and play with the hose, and God help you if you take it away from him.  We need to videotape one of his waterhouse meltdowns some day soon.

This is a catch up post from a few weeks ago in Conroe.  It's been so fun having sweet Becca in town, with her hilarious Aussie bf Adsy.  We will be so sad to see her go back, but hopefully a move for both of them back to the States is in the works. :-)

Unfortunately, Thad Rossmann was not so much into family time and this was the face we saw a lot that weekend. :-(

TR was in full toddler effect that weekend....happy one minute, break down the next.  We've officially entered the "hitting, pinching, biting, throw ourselves on the grown" portion of toddlerhood.  Good times.

Lake Diversion

What a great Saturday we had at Diversion lake with The Labatts & Kanes.  I waterskiied for the first time in years, TR played in the baby pool, and we just soaked up the untouched beauty of this remote lake.  Only 26 families have houses there, with no public outlet.  It's like skiing on glass...perfection.

What's that I hear?

...Nothing! Ahhhh...silence.  Last week was NOISY! Lots going on at work, LOTS going on at home. Who knew planning & hosting a first birthday party would be so exhausting. It was fun, but glad it's over and done with. Cake pops, mustaches, "Mo" Mosas, crying, holding, picture taking, playing, more crying, summer heat, and more crying....here's the evidence:

4 Thads, 3 Mo's

3 Week old Owen Labatt made an appearance!

Not so sure about his cake...

Okay, maybe this is cool...

Nope, I hate it!

Godmother Jennifer & Eric made the loooooong day trip from Houston:

As you can see throughout the picutres, TR was none too happy with pretty much every aspect of the party...the crowd, the cake, the mo's.  And didn't want anyone to hold him but Mommy, which I happily obliged.  Happy Birthday sweet bird!

11 Months!

Yeah, 10 months just kind of slipped past us.  Sorry about that faithful readers.  Our little Bird is just growing, smiling, cruising, teething, EATING, crawling, loving, and LIVING!  Honestly, I still look at him and think "wow, I've kept you alive all this time.  And you're not only alive, but growing right before our eyes."  Obviously, the alternative isn't an option, but for all you parents out there, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.  But then again, I think my dad & sister are the only ones who actually ever glance @ this blog, so Dad -  maybe you can understand what I'm talking about. :-)

Not sure on weight or height for him, but probably around 22lbs, 29 inches.  Currently, he's:

Eating - just about anything - Fish & Bread are his favorites - he & Jesus would be best pals over the dinner table.  Not so much into too many finger foods, but we're working on it

Sleeping 7pm to 6-7am.  Sleeping anywhere from 2-4 hrs a day.  When he's home w/ me naptime is @ 8:30 & 1:30...pretty nice.  I'm enjoying it while I can!

Loves reading books, playing with anything that makes noise, or that he can bang together

Waves bye bye!!

Only 2 bottom teeth, but I think the top two will be coming in soon!  Poor guy has been in some teething pain recently.

LOVES his Dada, and especially loves his grandmother Ada - Thad's mom.  He just lights up when he sees or hears her, and is pretty much a stage 5 clinger the rest of the time. ;-)

All around, he's just a happy little guy.  Always looking for the next laugh, always wants to be surprised, loves to be outside, loves any animal or airplane.

CAN. NOT. BELIEVE he will be a year in less than a month.  Time is flying too quickly!!

Speaking of...someone just woke up to play!

Fun times w/ G&G

We had a great time in Conroe recently with Grandma & Grandpa.  Can't wait to go back in less than 2 weeks!

Contagious Crying

Just having a great time with my friend Luke Bright...

Such a cutie pie...

Hi friend...I know you're older, but I'm taller.  We can still be friends, right?

Eh....maybe not...

"Baby Empathy" got us all laughing Tuesday night as these two little ones oscillated between laughing with each other and then subsequently crying.  So fascinating to watch TR interact with other babies - what are they saying to each other?!!?  

Lent & NY Resolution update

Alright, so I have to confess....I've cheated on the "no sweets" plan for Lent.  Only 2 days, and whatever, they were worth it. :-)

New Year's resolutions: Read a book a month, check.  Go to Church once a month, check.  Spend more time outdoors, double check. 

Pray often....man, always the hardest for me.  It should be the easiest, but always gets put on the back burner.  My friend Mary recently wrote in her blog, The Sugar Mountain, that prayer begins when she lays here head down @ night and typically goes something like this

"Hey God - I just wanted to pray for umm, you know...uhh, you know...well, you know...um... (Oh smack, did I leave the stove on? who do I need to email back in the morning? what should I make for dinner tomorrow? hmmm...) ZZzzzzzZzzzzzz (conked)"

Yep, Mary, I could have written that myself.  More and more I'm feeling led to observe a quiet time each day.  Just a few minutes without the tv, without the radio, without my phone, etc, etc.  Just to clear the noise.  Hopefully that will lead to a more prayerful time, but for now I want to commit just a few minutes a day to reflect & contemplate.

9 Months!

The bird is 9 months!  Things have really gotten fun lately!  Current stats:

Head circumference: 75th Percentile
Weight: 20lbs 11oz - 55th %
Height: 29.5 in 85th %
Pulling up on EVERYTHING
Crawling EVERYWHERE
Loves to laugh and gets cracked up all the time
Starting to babble a bunch
Looked @ TC and said "dada"...Heart.Melted.
Starting to wave hello...haven't quite mastered goodbye yet ;-)
Taking 2 solid naps a day - 9am & 1pm - usually for 1.5hrs each time
Sleeping 7pm-6:30/7am
Major stranger anxiety and wants Mommy to hold him all the time (which I secretly love) :-)
Eating everything, but will let you know if he doesn't like it or want anymore
Current fave foods: Cheerios, Star puffs, bananas, any type of fish, chicken, fruit, mixed veggies, carrots, yogurt w/ flax seed, corn, bbq - any type, anything sweet (gee, I wonder who he gets that from)

Above all, we are just enchanted and in love with him.  He has captured our hearts with such a force that we never knew possible, and it's such a pleasure being his parents.  What an honor to watch this little guy grow and soothe him when he cries and laugh when he laughs!  I could go on and on and on...

Sweets

Are a total vice for me.  Actually I'm surprised I never ended up with gestational diabetes for all the sweets I ate when I was pregnant.  Therefore, I'm giving them up for Lent.  Yesterday through Easter.  There might be a cheat day or 2 here and there, but for the most part, it's time to give my body a break from sugar.

And although there is a vain, dietary component to this sacrifice, it is largely due to the Lenten season.  The 40 days and nights that Jesus fasted in the desert, which culminated into his death and ressurection, i.e. Easter.  What a sacrifice HE made for us and our sins.  If giving up my daily chocolate habit can help remind me of HIS sacrifice, then i've got it way too easy.