7 months, Baptism, Thanksgiving......

and it's almost Christmas! I can't believe that a year ago today, we found out we were having a little boy. Trent and I talked about how "next Thanksgiving" he'll be here! We'll....it happened! Holidays take on a new meaning now, and we couldn't be more blessed.

Brooks is still doing his fast-paced army crawl, but is beginning to try to pull-up now. Is he going to do a normal crawl??? Finally, he got his two bottom teeth, and I can see the top two making headway. He continues to be a very tempermental little toot. He can be very happy one second and mad as everything the next. We have started to attend Gymboree, and he loves it! All the music, bubbles, colorful mats. babies, songs, etc. keep him very occupied and then tired for a nap (highlight of our day!).

We look forward to our first Christmas and count our blessings daily.....

Talking football with the guys

Thank you for my turkey bib, Aunt Rhonda!

Meeting my friend Jake for the first time

Thanksgiving at Jake and Pat's

I love Jake

Lunch at our house following Baptism

Baptized 11-14-10

Mom's attempts at photography!

Check out these new kicks from Linsey and Mandy

Crawling

Playdate with Boek and Eli

Look who started...............

CRAWLING!!!!!!!!!!!!

1/2 a year old!

In just 6 more months, we'll have a one year old on our hands! Wow..........I can't believe it's been 6 months. Crazy how many things these kiddos can accomplish in just weeks.....days, actually. Brooks is now sitting unsupported like a pro. He is inches away from crawling, but who knows......it could be another month. We can make it about 2-3 advances forward and then lose the coordination! Oh well, less work for mommy and daddy. Our little cowboy is much more verbal this month. His favorite "word" is bah, bah, bah, bah. Oh, and his new trick is his "fake cough." When we aren't paying attention to him, he coughs so that we'll turn to look at him.....so cute! He still prefers to be outside and grabs any and everything in sight. No teeth yet! I keep wondering when they'll ever come in, but I am thinking we are making headway. I can see his swollen gums and of course, he is drooling all over. Love, love, love him:)

Helping mom with laundry

"Is my butt big or is this diaper too small?"
"I love my daddy."

Layton came over to play......she is crawling all over the place!

First time to meet Aunt Karen. Lots and lots of kisses this weekend!

Aunt Rhonda.....we love when she's around!

Learning to drink from a sippy cup

My new swing!

Trick or treating. Brooks was Super Mario.....yes, his costume is homemade and you can tell!

The hat could use some help!

My poster isn't working as well anymore! He wants to eat it!

"Mom, I am about to jump out of this chair if you don't hurry!"

Our little guy at 5 months.........

Well, 5 1/2 months actually! Of course, I have had the blog on my "to do" list for 2 weeks. Brooks is growing by the day. This month has been super busy with one trip to Boerne to see the Risers, Aunt Kasey coming to down, pumpkin patch and spending time outside with this great weather. Brooks started baby food, and there isn't a thing he doesn't eat! I take that back.....I tried to be that mom that makes my babies own food (all organic, etc), but he hated it! I worked hard to make pea baby food for him, and all he did was spit it out immediately. I guess he doesn't like Mom's cookin'! He sits up momentarily (maybe 1-2 minutes unassisted), rolls all over the place and is working on army crawling. Everything goes straight to the mouth! We spend much of our time outside in his jumperoo as this is the only activity he could do for hours! Now we even have a mat under the jumperoo outside because he actually got a small blister on his toe from jumping (no comment Megan Gearing!).

I know I am being "Captain Obvious" here, but Trent and I couldn't love this little guy any more. Used to, I was so tired when he would wake up (3 times a night) and would drag myself upstairs. But now, I run up the stairs to get him. His cute button nose, precious smile and giggles make my day every day! I LOVE HIM, and he is worth every minute that it took to get him here.............

He thinks Sam is so funny!

Getting ready for the pumpking patch and Aunt Kasey and Aunt Hayley

"Look, I am almost as tall as my Aunt Kasey!" (te he he)

Still not a fan of long rides in the car. He literally cried for 70 minutes STRAIGHT

Dad had to wear ear plugs!

But, so excited to see the Risers!

And, Brooks got to celebrate Natalie's birthday with her

Loves bath time

Sitting up and playing

Best birthday gift EVER for momma!

The smell of Fall.....

is in the air! Labor Day weekend was so nice in Houston (actually less than 100*) and was Brooks' first GAME DAY! He also started baby food this weekend and ate those terrible peas and liked them.....if he only knew!!

On a bad note, we've got ourselves a screamer. Brooks screams ALL the time. No, not just when he is upset but ALL the time. We are taking suggestions??????? He will scream when eating, in his exersaucer, in the bath, on the changing table......you name it. What is that? HELP!

This is Berta....Brooks' Spanish teacher and nanny!

Go Raiders!

Just strollin' in the neighborhood

Another Special Birthday..............

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Four months have passed.....

and we are loving are little guy more and more each day. Trent and I argue over who gets to get him up in the morning and from naps. He is just too cute when he wakes up and is all smiles:) Did I just say, "when we get HIM up?" I meant when HE gets US up! During the last month the little stinker has been waking up 1-2 times in the middle of the night. Well, that's when "tough love" had to start. I, of course, was getting up and giving him a little "snack" then rocking him back to sleep. That was a definite "no-no!" Last Sunday I had to begin letting him "cry it out" in the night. The first night was terrible as I just watched the monitor as he would scream for what seemed like hours (20 minutes really). Then, he would eventually fall asleep. After 4 nights of this, he has quickly caught on that I am not feeding him or coming to get him. We now have a consistent 8 pm-6 am schedule with NO night time snacks!

Brooks also has new tricks! First and foremost, he rolls over! This is good and bad, I guess! He can only roll from belly to back, and this causes problems with sleeping. If he rolls over, he wants me to come roll him back over.....he's a tummy sleeper! He uses both hands to grab any and everything and goes straight for the mouth. His abs are getting stronger each week, and he is trying to sit unsupported. Being a therapist and all, we talk about co-contracting all the time.....not sure he understands yet! Our little guy is also very vocal......he babbles, coos and laughs all the time. Whether he is mad, happy, hungry, etc., he will definitely let us know! He is eating cereal each morning and beginning to catch on to the spoon/swallow thing.

Our 4 month appt went well, except for those darn shots! This time wasn't as easy as the last. He was fussy ALL day after the shots and got a little fever:( We found out that Brooks is definitely well fed! He weighs 17 lbs 5 oz (90th percentile), is in the 65th percentile for height and is head is in the 90th percentile (got this one from his dad!).

That's about it for the past month! Next month we get to start baby food!!!!!!!!!!!

What a ham!

I can multi-task with the best of them. By the way, Bella NEVER leaves our sight!


"What's up?"

Very animated.....fish face!

Sitting in the big boy chair.

This is how dad gets Brooks to sleep!

Aunt Hayley

Nana came to visit!