So Much to be thankful for...

This was Caleb's second Thanksgiving but his first to really enjoy its yummy goodness of all the fixins'. Well most of them but it is amazing how many of the foods we eat at Thanksgiving have dairy in them. Maybe next year, Buddy!!

Above Pictures from left to right and top to bottom: Craig's sister, Kristin, and her family Allen, Jack (7), Luke (5 1/2), and Lucy (2 1/2); Julie's Grandmother: Craig, Caleb, Sarah, and TJ on the 4 wheeler, Christalyn posing beautifully on her new playscape; Sarah looking cute as always; Caleb and Sarah are such great play buddies; the kids playing at Mimi and Papa's house; and Caleb loves the fun blinds

We spent 4 days in Austin at Julie's parent's house. We had a huge Thanksgiving at Julie's sister's house with 30 family and friends. Caleb was able to take a quick nap during the meal. It was also so fun to celebrate Julie's grandmother's 89th birthday, isn't she just stunning!! Julie's Dad, Grandmother, and Aunt Debbie Like we said we have so much to be thankful for, including Craig's parents now living in Austin. We were able to spend some time with them too! Other things we are thankful for...this time last year we had just found out our 2 month old would have his first kidney surgery. We were so scared, nervous, and uncertain about what it would be like. Thankfully a year later and we are on the up-hill slope of recovery. Caleb wanted to make a festive card for his family members, but he was not a huge fan of this arts and craft project. But they turned out so cute! Thanks Evie for the cute idea but ours did not turn out quite the same so we decided to stick a little turkey's hand on top of the leaves. Maybe next year Caleb will love the messiness of paint on his hands. We were able to spend a lot of time with family and friends and are sad it is over so soon. Time just goes by too fast. But, Christmas will be here soon and we will be back in Austin!

Month 14 - November 25

What a fun month we have had and Caleb is continuing to get such a little personality. (Or big personality, especially when he wants something). We started off Caleb's month with what we thought was an allergy to soy milk (since last month we discovered he is allergic to dairy). But after waiting almost a month to try giving soy milk again, we think it was the start of a glorious stomach bug that Craig and Julie both got a few days later. Fortunately, his was not quite the full-blown bug that ours was (no-pun intended!) So we are a week into giving soy milk and it seems to being going well. We are so grateful that Craig's parents (Mammy and MeDad) now live in Austin and we get to see them more often. They came to Dallas one weekend and brought a truck load of some of Craig's old things. Caleb loves Daddy's old toys, trucks, cars, bats, hats, and more. Thank you Mammy and MeDad for keeping these for so many years and watching Caleb so we could hang out with our 9th graders at The Draw.

We then had a few weekends of relaxation which was much needed! See below a few pictures of Caleb's month:
One of Caleb's favorite activities is coloring...Thanks Hudson and Carter for the fun markers and stamps. Caleb will crawl to the closet and reach up for this super fun activity. And here is the after -effect of the markers. Fortunately, they are washable!! Caleb also loves to walk, cruise, and scoot around on his toys... including riding the vacuum (don't worry it was unplugged). He is a magnet to the vacuum. We can't just get it out real quick and vacuum anymore because someone wants to play with it. While Daddy was raking up the 10 plus huge bags of leaves (and that is just the start). Caleb wanted to join in with some leaf-jumping. Caleb loves playing outside on the deck, pushing the chairs all around, playing with the water hose, and exploring nature. He did get his first bump/bruise this month. See the below picture taken shortly after the incident. It is hard to see but it is above his right eye! Other activities Caleb loves is climbing through the coffee table Playing with Daddy's old hat and toys Caleb loves being Mommy and Daddy's big helper as he loads and unloads the silverware over and over again. Caleb pushed this empty orange juice container around for days (until it was trash day) and he really enjoyed its awkward shape, the sounds it made on the floors and walls, and the way he felt so strong lifting it in the air. This is Caleb's "YEAH, I am proud of myself," "All Done," or "Amen" at the end of a prayer look. Caleb is such a good, hearty eater but here is a messy picture of Mommy's discovery of pasta sauce-everything goes down great when covered in pasta sauce! MMMMgood!


Other fun things that happened during this month is we visited on of Julie's 9th grade girl's, Erin, at her horse stables and Caleb sat on the horse (he was not a huge fan of Apex's vast size) and we are so sad we don't have a picture of it. But, Caleb loves horsies now and will make the cutes "plththtth" noise when he sees even a picture of a horse. Caleb also will blow kisses by clucking his tongue and will reach for anyone wearing a hat or head wrap. Both Craig and Julie are considered "Dada" to Caleb.

Finally, here is a video of Caleb's animal noise. He has made this noise for a few months and we were able to finally capture it on video. Caleb will make this precious noise when looking at a book with animals (thanks Bekah and Hamilton for the fun books), when he sees any kind of animal near or very far, or when he is playing with his stuffed animals. Enjoy!


Who knew Craig was such the photographer. Isn't this picture beautiful!

13 Months - October 25

So Caleb's 13th month birthday came and left very quickly. We went back and forth about posting an update since we have already posted so much about the happenings of his very full 13th month. From Caleb's Birthday Party, the State Fair, a trip to Austin for Julie's 10 year High School Reunion, a few trips to the Arboretum, a few TX-OU Football Parties, his first soccer game to attend, and finished the month off with a camping trip. Here are a few pictures of the little down time in between the big weekends. This is Miss Hollis, a fabulous soccer player. She is one of Caleb's (many) favorite babysitters and friend. Hollis is one of Julie's Freshman Girls. At the Soccer Game, Caleb loved watching the ball go back and forth. Maybe, just maybe, Caleb will have Daddy's fancy feet skills on the field. Caleb loves opening and closing doors and finally through a glass door at Aunt Jen and Uncle Tony's we were able to catch his excitement of this thrilling activity. Also, Caleb discovered his love of climbing stairs (Thanks Papa for your help). A play date with Miss Kelly and his precious "girl friend" Halle
"Riding" on his birthday present Crawling and Climbing Everywhere(and sometimes getting stuck)
Playing with trucks, tractors, cars, and anything with wheels (or anything awkward shaped the broom, the Swiffer, spatulas, whisks, etc...)

See you in a few weeks after his 14th Month birthday and Thanksgiving!!

Trick or Treat...I have Doggy Feet

This Halloween we pushed Caleb around in his favorite red car to see the neighbors and then went Trick or Treating with some friends from church. We had a great time and can't wait to see him walking up to the door on his own next year, but then he might actually notice that Mommy and Daddy have eaten some of his candy.

Caleb, the 102nd Dalmation

Caleb is already tired and the fun hasn't quite begun.

A nice Cruella Deville, her 102nd Dalmation, and the crazy tourist

Isn't Gracey the Cutest Kitty? After the first house she was already digging into her candy!

The walk home with one tired puppy

Trip to the Arboretum - Oct 16 & 30

We have taken a few trips to the beautiful Arboretum where they have thousands of pumpkins, a pumpkin house, warm autumn colors, cool crisp air, and a ton of mud. The first time we went to the Arboretum it was with the MOPS group and the second time was a special family day we had before Craig started his new job. Here are a few of the fun pictures we took. Pet the pumpkin! Nice Pumpkin! It is tough to get this active boy to sit still for a few pictures. The above picture was taken last year when Caleb was just 5 weeks old and we took a family trip to the Arboretum and the second picture shows a similar pose of riding the corn husk horsey. Love Daddy's silly games! Speaking of Daddy's silly games...they are playing hide-n-go seek in the pumpkin house.

Here is the one somewhat decent pictures in the actual pumpkin patch.