Just wanted to give a shout out to an inspiring and aspiring local photographer Kathryn Krueger. She took beautiful pictures for us in November and has posted them on her blog. She is fun, unique,creative and in my opinion, one of the best around! Click on the link below and you can check out a few of the photos-enjoy!
www.kathrynkrueger.blogspot.com
So today I saw an old friend who I have known since I was 10 and she said she was blog stalking me and she would not have even admitted it if she didn't have some encouragement to give me from something she read on my blog. HA! I loved it, "blog stalking". But I am thankful to that type of stalker because she had a great piece of advice for me. This is perhaps the only type of stalking I will appreciate.
Officially walking. Maybe I will even put him in the "walkers" class at church on Sunday. I actually think I like walking better than crawling. I don't know why necessarily but I do. Today he is 13 months and more beautiful than ever. He has had a cold this week but I think its getting better. Yesterday I had a breakdown. It just all came to head after being couped up in the house all week with a sick dude. I realize how much of my life is about everybody else. I would not want to have another job in the world, I love being home but it is consuming and easy to just push my own needs aside but then after going so long that way, I crash. So that was yesterday and my amazing husband stayed the afternoon with Keller and let me get out of the house. I felt like a different mommy when I came home. I was refreshed, inspired, freshly manicured:) I realize how much I need time away and alone. So I am going to try and find a permanent Mother's Day Out Program for the bear in the Spring because right now we are just on a drop in list at one place. Until then I drink in the sporadic moments and hours I have to myself.
Even if I do not know you and you have a piece of wisdom I need it. Keller has been waking up pretty consistently around 430 or 5 every morning usually not going back to sleep until his mid morning nap. What do I do? We have tried it all. Coddle him, give him a bottle, let him cry it out, go in intermittingly, put him down earlier, put him down later, other than fasting through the night we have done it. Is there any thing I am not doing? I will take any advice PLEASE!
I can! phew, this little mama is pooped but happy:) Starting on the 10th we had Keller's first birthday party-such a hit. He had his first cupcakes, hit the pinata, got more toys than he knows what to do with and of course played with the balloons. On his actual birthday we went to the zoo for the first time with Daddy, Luci and Ana- the kids loved it. It is so fun to see him experience things for the first time. He especially loved the giraffes and the bear-fitting since he is our bear cub. The very next day, he took his first step! It was so exciting. He now just sort of shuffles, usually no more than five steps, but we will take it. Then the 17th was James' birthday, he said with his own mouth, the best birthday he has ever had:) We went to breakfast as a family, sat around and talked about all God has done in his life, he got a new chair that he loves, played poker with friends and then was surprised the next day with a paintball tournament! He deserves it. He is the coolest, most beautiful, funny, smart, humble, loving, and talented guy I know! So then we did Thanksgiving at my house on Thursday, so fun but I am DONE with partying- oh wait, between our two families we still have five more birthdays between now and the new Year, oh yeah, and Christmas. So I am taking a nap every chance I get, slacking on chores,no working out, eating lots of Taco Bell and dealing with the consequences later? eh, probably not the best idea. But I will nap alot:) Even though it is exhausting, I love it and I want my kids and my husband to always feel celebrated on their birthdays even if that means a few less winks for this ol' girl.....
Today is my first child's first birthday. I feel so many emotions. The one that seems to overwhelm all the others is wonder. I stand in awe of what I have had the privilege of experiencing- a beautiful year, the best one of my life with an amazing person,Keller Cade Walker. James and I sat in his room this morning watching him play with all his new toys and talking to his stuffed animals and we talked about what we loved the most about him. James said he is inquisitive, engaging, joyful, tender, and loves to laugh... I said he is persistent, beautiful, fun,and passionate. Still there so many more things that make up this precious gift God gave to us one year ago today- so many of those yet to be discovered. I wonder at the marvel of how much he has grown and changed in a year. How I have gotten to witness just about every moment of his first year as a mother and a friend. I am amazed that one year ago today I was laying in a hospital bed tired, a little scared and drugged so excited about what was in store and in a moment my life would never be the same. After trying to get my body in gear for over 12 hours (like we really have control over that),they finally did a C section and I had the honor of seeing this child that grew inside of me for nine months. Even though it is something that happens every day, it truly is miraculous. So I bask in the wonder of it all today. I told James I am not doing any housework today, nothing boring, only fun, restful endeavors that allow me to revel in the magic of this day...So here's to you my magnificent son, there truly has never been another. "Heaven blew every trumpet and played every horn, on the wonderful, marvelous night you were born."
So last night James and I watched Ratatouille- cute movie. And if you know me, you know that after I see a movie, I want whatever was in the movie i.e.- After Stuart Little I wanted a little mouse brother that drove his little red sport car around. After seeing Cheaper by the Dozen I told James I thought we should think of having 12 offspring. After seeing Titantic, I wanted to marry Leonardo Decaprio- you get my point. So of course after watching this movie about an adorable little, yes RAT but was an inspiring one who could create masterpieces cuisine and just knew that he was destined for more than living off of human scraps, I told James I wanted a cute little rat who would sit on my head and help me cook and of course made sure to wash his hand often. Hmm... so I am laying in bed reading just moments after telling James this and I hear a scratching in the wall. My first thought was, its my imagination after seeing all the rats living in the roof in the movie but the scratching got worse and I knew it was real. I yelled at James that there was a rat in our room and I could hear him laughing- he also knows me really well and knows that I sometimes tend to imagine thing...anyways, so he came into the room and he heard the scratching too. My wish cam true. A rat or some rodent is living in our walls- probably thousands of them just like the movie named Earl and Roger, eating my leftover sandwich from lunch playing Texas Hold Em'. So my days of wishing for what I see on the movies is OVER after God's funny little joke on me last night. SO now I pray, forgive me for always wanting what I cannot have, especially little mice, rats and please please forgive me for wanting a dozen kids!
These pictures capture our son so well. We went to Houston for a family visit this weekend and Keller had his firt experiences on the trampoline- loved it! The static from the tramp had it's way with Keller's locks though, but how cute? He also got to play with his cousins, eat sloppy joes and get lots of grandparent lovin!
I am so glad that I do not have to wear a diaper anymore. I realize that I may have to wear one again one day in my old age but not today. My poor baby has a little rash from his pamper and it made me so thankful that we evolve, grow and learn and that one day he will know how to hold the urges until he reaches the proper place of disposal. Even though sometimes it seems I will always be changing diapers, I do not know many 17 year old boys stil in them. So today I do not have to wear a diaper and one day my son will not have to either. That makes me thankful.
I'm a Cowboy, on a steel horse I ride..Ehh, maybe not, but how cute are the boots? I tried them on him yesterday because I panicked that his new cowboy boots might not fit over his sausage feet or his cankles(calves and ankles all smashed into one). He is playing at his house that his Jojo bought him which he LOVES! Also to report, we finished our kitchen! Praise the Lord. The tile went in last week and all we have left are just minor details- I will add pics soon of all the house fixing we have done over the last three months. I am ready for a normal weekend. James had to put up a new fence with my dad last Saturday and then went to the Cowboys game. So he is going to do major bonding with Son for the next month on the weekends. Really though, James worked so hard to make the kitchen what I wanted- he blows me away. Who knew he could install new counter tops, appliances, sinks, fences, vanity tops etc. I got me a good one!
Well getting a red balloon at HEB is Keller's new vice. He is always a dream at the grocery store,really, I have been so blessed. He loves to point at everything(thats his new thing), loves making eyes at the sweet old ladies.Loves it. He has not ever thrown a fit or fussed ever...until now. We had a typical grocery trip of about 45 minutes and he was his normal happy self until we pulled into the check out line. My son became another person. First he saw one of the big shiny balloons and started pointing and squealing. I told him that was a balloon for someone who is turning forty and when he was "Over the Hill" I would buy him that balloon but not today. He did not like my answer and began forming giant crocodile tears in his eyes and bawled. Not for long though, because thankfully just a few more steps up in the line were a slew of FREE red balloons. My problem was solved. I scooted up and picked out the best of the bunch and gave it to him. He did like it but he realized that I gave him only one of 10 or so red balloons, what about the rest Mom? He began pointing at the others that he did not have in his hands and I knew my problem was serious. Soon he began crying again and did not stop until the bunch of balloons were out of sight but my problems were just beginning.The rest of the day he would not part with this balloon. As you can tell by the photos he did everything with it on Monday except sleep because Mommy would not let him because of health hazards and I didn't hear the end of that one for the first 15 minutes of nap time either. SO all day long he had his death grip on his red balloon. So after we sent our precious son to the land of nod, I killed that red balloon. I felt no remorse because it became the bane of my existence that day. So until our next trip to HEB I am balloon free. Maybe they will bemiraculously "out" of them next week...
When I was little my parents used to take me to Whitehall park and I would swing my little heart out. My favorite thing was to sing the song Swingin- " we were swinging- girls in the background "swingin" HA! So we took Keller boy to the same park and he "swung"! He had an awesome time! Daddy even let him ride on the purple horse that has probably been there since I was a pup!
I love those moments where the feeling in your heart is what you know is just a glimpse of what you will feel with every breath in heaven. I was driving home from the grocery store like every other Monday and I looked in my rear view mirror and saw Keller holding a red balloon and smiling and giggling like he was at Disney World. His beautiful blond hair was standing straight up on his head from the static of the balloon and I could have just smiled and looked away or thought about all that I needed to do when I got home but instead I let myself be in that moment... I kept my eyes on him as long as I could without being dangerous while driving. And I thought- this is a perfect moment. This is the most beautiful moment my eyes have beheld up until this point in my life. I felt more love and emotion towards Keller than I ever had before. Heaven. Beholding a beauty and experiencing a love that grows with every moment that passes. Being so grateful for the gift of what is before you knowing that you do not deserve it. I am so thankful that God allows us those windows into what eternity will be...
Thank you thank you to everyone who prayed for our baby dude to get well! I would say he is about 85% better. He still has a bit of a cough but other than that, he is back to his normal precious self.
Please pray for my baby boy and for James and I because my baby dude has croup. It is not serious but uncomfortable and scary. Last night Keller woke up crying and coughing and James went it to check on him and he was having trouble breathing. We tried calming him down, gave him some cough medicine but he just couldn't seem to catch his breath. I decided to sleep in his room with him but on the floor next to his crib did not seem close enough. SO i made a palate on the floor and Keller and I had a croup camp out:) He slept some and I barely got a wink. It is a scary thing to watch your child have to work to breathe. We debated whether we should take him to the emergency room but because he didn't have a fever and because he was better after calming down we decided staying home was best- something else that is scary as a parent, you are solely responsible for these big decisions. As I laid there with my wheezing baby boy sleeping beside me, the Lord reminded me that HE is trustworthy and to once again give my son over to his care and rest. I realize how hard that is in the moment and that is what authentic faith is- giving my unbelieving and fearful heart to and unseen God to take care of me and the ones I love the most. He is gracious in my journey to trust Him. So today has been recoup from croup:) day at home and Keller is back to his usual jolly and curious self.
The Rules:
1. I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.
2. Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged need to write their own blog (about their 8 things) and post these rules.
4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose people to get tagged and list their names.
5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.
Eight things about me...
1. I have to workout in the morning or it will not get done.
2. I am borderline addicted to the Gilmore Girls. I have watched the first 6 seasons but not the last and I watch reruns almost everyday on ABC family while I fold laundry and scrapbook.
3. I am a creature of habit ie- I like to eat at the same 3-4 restaraunts for date night, I like my days to look basically the same, I get a little bent out of shape when plans get rearranged, and I am very punctual, SO
4. I am learning to enjoy new things :)-more flexible, new dates, mixing it up during the day.. thank you all for your patience.
5. I do NOT like birds.
6. I love small dogs and my friends who have big ones (Robyn and Sara)
7. I really don't like to talk on the phone but have learned to LIKE it because most of my closest friends do not live in Waco.
8. I got free XM radio with our new car and my favorite station besides the 90's is Oprah and friends:)
I am tagging, Luci, Sara, Sarah, Vikki, Christina, Nicki, Sarah and Christina
We had an eventful labor day weekend. We began the first phases of updates/remodels to the house. We moved out of our master into the guestroom so we could make the master into an office/guestroom. James is going to start doing some video on the side so he needed the space that our master provided but I actually like the change! So we decided to finally update our guest bathroom which was in major need of TLC- pics of this will come soon along with promised downstairs bathroom re-do pictures as well. Also this month we are beginning the renovation of our kitchen. Needless to say we are becoming best buds with the fellas at Lowe's. In the midst of all the work we took a little day trip to Glenrose with my parents our very precious family Margaret and Eric and picnicked and swam at The Dinosaur park. If you live in Waco this is a really great place to visit for the day. It is a beautiful and quick drive and has great swimming and camping. So here are the pics from this excursion. One pic I will explain. Keller's is loving playing tug of war with Harely(our two year old Maltese) and he is also beginning to "share" his food. SO he offered me a bite of his pickle and then decided to try the tug of war game out on Mommy...a fantastic time was had by all.
Really, I love fall. It brings back so many memories from childhood and even just last year. I love the trees turning. Football. Dead grass. First fires. Amazing Race beginning. Trick or Treaterss. Jeans. Sweaters. Snuggling. Fall colors and decor( I have already been putting my stuff out-he he). The anticipation of Christmas. The first cool day. Sitting on the porch. Gingerbread lattes from the Star. Both of my boys birthdays(KW 11/14, JW 11/17). Wearing my hair down after months of pony tails. Baylor bonfire and parade. Remembering the beginning of school- new outfits, trapper keepers and pencils that somehow made the thought of doing schoolwork again exciting- at least for the first week. So even though it is 1 million degrees out as I lament, I am preparing myself for this glorious time of year and looking down the street for it- like the parade:)
I am so blessed to be able to stay home with Keller, I mean really. Daily I am so thankful that this is the season I am in. Some of my favorite things about our day is our trips to the grocery store and Target- its great catching up time for the two of us since we do not get that much:) But really I do love those times because he loves it- he smiles at everyone and just talks and wants to touch everything. Also I love playing and watching him crawl now-very entertaining. I also enjoy moments like these where I have put Keller down for a nap and I get to reflect on what a joy he is. Something else fun we get to do is every few weeks, some of my other mommy friends and I get together at someones home and do lunch with all of our little ones.(pic included) So all that to say, it is wonderful but it has its challenges too. I basically do about the same thing every day and at about the same time and while I am actually a creature of habit and love routine it can get a bit monotonous i.e.- Mondays, clean the kitchen, Tuesdays, do the laundry,Thursdays, sweep and mop .etc... and while I am glad that I am healthy to be able to do this and have a home that I love, it can get old. So to my other stay at home mommy friends, I think its good to encourage each other with what we love about this season and to the ones who want to be stay at mom's, there are advantages to it too. I think I am learning to love my season, no matter what and not wish it away because it will pass for all of us so I want to experience all that God has for me in it!
It is official. Keller is mobile. Last Tuesday James and I were hanging out with KW in his room and James said, " I think he is crawling." Sure enough. Once he figured out that this scooting on his knees could get him from the ball to the dog, he is unstoppable! It is so cute to watch. Last night we watched some of the video we have taken over the last 9 months and we were amazed at how much a baby can change in that time. I remember being so proud when he started batting at his zebra on his play mat and today he is crawling. He also got his first tooth last week and started pulling himself up...it's no wonder I have already taken a nap today. Saturday during his morning nap James and I crawled around the house on hands and knees to see what the little guy could get into and we officially baby proofed the house. This is such a fun journey of watching someone discover the world around them. Pictures of the crawling and tooth will be coming shortly.
Just wanted to give my honey some love cause he hasn't gotten much screen time on the blog. James, my love, is the bestest of the best. Beyond my wildest dreams ever! He is the most awesome husband and daddy!My favorite person to be with in the world. We have a ball together and fall more and more in love every day. So this ones for you baby, love you...
Keller has had a busy busy week. In the last week, literally, he started crawling, pulling himself up to an almost stand and has gotten his first tooth! Phew. Needless to say it has been busy and at some moments pretty exhausting. He is such a delight though. I will take every challenging moment because the magnificent ones far outweigh the hard. So I am including a Top Ten things we love the most about Keller today as well as some photos from our time with Robyn, Laura and little Miss Annie.
10.The way he looks when he wakes up in the morning- happy, sweet and ready to face another day of all that life has to offer.
9. His personality- so adorable. He is very loving and friendly and rarely does he meet a stranger.
8.His laugh-brightens up any gloomy day.
7. His determination- he got Mommy and Daddy's strong will which is a good thing and then sometimes poses its challenges.
6. The way he interacts with animals- I told a friend today, I wouldn't be surprised if he becomes a Vet one day.
5. His chubby wubby thighs- no need to expond.
4. How much he looks like His daddy- lucky because his dad is a looker!
3. How he gives kisses- he has just started this too with his mouth wide open:)
2. The way he looks when he sleeps- melts me like butta every time.
1. The anticipation of who he will be. His name means Pure Companion and we pray that for him everyday- that he would be an amazing friend to many and more than anything that he would know the friendship of GOD!
It is true. I think Keller is entering into the toddler world and saying "ta ta" to baby days. The last 4 or 5 times I have gone to get him up from his nap, he has been sitting up in his crib just chillin'. A few times he has probably done it without realizing he did, perhaps in his sleep so he has a look on his face like, how did I get into this predicament? Then there are the times he knows exactly what he is doing- see photos. So yesterday, I was downstairs folding laundry and I turned on his monitor to see if he was stirring because nap time was about over and I heard a strange muffled sound on the monitor. So I came upstairs to find my son trying to SOS me through the monitor. He was on his knees in his crib trying to remove the device from the wall. He is proving to be quite precocious....
Keller and I completed our first week of swim lessons. He can successfully kick..well sometimes. He likes to reach for his toy, go underwater and bat eyes at the baby girls in their bikini's!
