Only Once

We did a few things this year that we will only do once with Drew because it's his first Christmas.  I found a cute ornament off of Pinterest and ordered it from Etsy.  The link to the actual company is here.  She did a great job with working with me and when she sent me the ornament it wasn't what I had in mind.  She recreated one and sent me another one free of charge.  Now that's great customer service.

We also created our own ornaments that I also got off of Pinterest.  We made one for our tree and for Drew's. 

The last thing we did is too cute.  I have heard that a local pottery place Sunshine Glaze creates cute plates from your child's hand or footprint.  We decided on footprint because that's just easier at this age with Drew.  We went in and pick our design and all we had to do was get a good footprint on the piece we picked.  I'm not going to lie, I was a little nervous how the footprint was going to come out because all Drew wanted to do that night was bounce.  He did great and the footprint looked good.  We left everything else up to an artist.  I picked up the plate yesterday and I love it.  It turned out really cute.  This is not something we will do yearly, only once.  The price wasn't the cheapest to say the least.  Like Jason told me, this can be his plate to eat on every Christmas.  That made me feel a little better.

6 Months

I cannot believe Drew is six months old.  I can't believe six months ago our lives changed for the best.  I can't believe six months from now we will having a birthday party (which is already in the works).  I can't believe how much he has changed.  I wouldn't change any of this for the world, but I still can't believe it.

Such a big boy sitting by himself

What's New: Sitting by himself.  He sits and plays with his play mat toys that are hanging.  We were also given some toys from my sweet co-worker that he loves to play with.  Last night I sat him on the pool table and folded a whole load of laundry and he just sat there.  As much as I enjoy this, I hate that he has grown so fast.  He is also acting interested in crawling.  He gets up on his knees and rocks.  He has moved one knee forward (which kind of freaked me out) but then he stopped and eventually fell.  He's a rolling machine.  He has been rolling over but now he moves all over the living room.  We caught him one night playing with the one present under the tree for him and that was no where near where he had started.   

 Interests:  His feet, Sadie and Sutton (dogs), the fringe on the pillows, Christmas trees (not so much the ornaments), anything that crinkles.  He still loves to jump no matter if he's in a toy or being held.  His legs move like he's jumping.  He also loves anything that he can pick up and put in his mouth.  I mean anything.  Yes, he has tried to put the tree in his mouth.  He grabbed a fork I was holding which cake left on it and that almost made it to his mouth. 

This is what he tried to do the whole time.  Loves his feet!

 Food: He has tried bananas, carrots, sweet potatoes, prunes, avocado, and apples.  He loves bananas, sweet potatoes and apples.  When eating sweet potatoes, he makes a yum sound after I give it to him.

Sleep:  Even better then before!  He has been sleeping a little longer.  He went through a point where he woke up once or twice in the middle of the night just scratching his head.  Over Thanksgiving break, I realized it was because of his eczema.  I made an appointment for the doctor to look at him and tell me what else I could do to relieve him.  We made a few changes and he was better almost instantly.  He takes 3 naps during the day and usually wakes up happy from them.  I love walking in and seeing his big smile after a nap or in the morning.  I think he's about to skip a nap because his middle one is getting shorter.  He usually naps for 2 hours a time but the 2nd nap has become an hour to only 30 minutes. 

Sizes:  He is still in 3-6 months clothes and size two diapers.  Some of his clothes are getting a little tight so, we might be moving into 6-9 months soon.  When we went to the doctor 2 weeks ago he was 17 lbs.  We go again on Monday for his shots.  :(

What I love:  How stinkin happy he is.   I love how he gets bashful when somebody comes up to talk to him sometimes.  He buries his head in our shoulder, smiling.  Too cute!  I love how he's becoming interested in things and reaching out to touch them.  I love how he makes funny noises when he's happy or trying to get to something.  I love how he gives kisses with his mouth wide open.  I love how he carries on a whole conversation with you, using noises.  I love how he's ours and I wouldn't change anything about him for the world.  I love how we get to do all these fun "firsts" with him. 

Happy six months to our sweet, playful boy!

Christmas Card Pictures

This Sunday we finally had time to take Christmas card pictures.  Jason's work schedule has been busy, busy, busy and although they are still playing football (State is this weekend, Go Dragons!) he was off this Sunday.  I have always wanted to take a picture of a bridge and found one earlier this year.  I am surprised I remembered where it was by the time Christmas came along.  We came home from church, ate, and then went back out to take some pictures.  Drew did awesome!  He's so handsome all dressed up.  Here are some pictures from our little photo shoot!



I can't wait to see our Christmas card.  It's being designed now! 

Bedtime

Every night, well we try to make it every night, I read to Drew before I lay him down. A few weeks ago he started trying to turn the pages. Sometimes a little to soon! Today I sat him down to read out of his new Bible from church and he held it. He had both his hands on each side of the Bible. Too cute! I asked Jason to come in and take a picture.

Looking at the words

Ok mom, stories over let's close it

Got it!

Like everything else, it goes in the mouth

Just had to share these precious moments!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

I love Christmas, especially this year! I put a tree up in almost every room. I didn't put up one this year because I am wanting a different tree. :) Every year we go and get a real tree for the living room (main tree) and this is where we put all the presents to ourselves and my sister and parents.

This is our tree in the game room.  I decorate this one with all of the things Jason enjoys.  I call this the "Jason" tree.  We put all the presents to his aunt, uncle, cousins, and all of our grandparents under this tree.

This is my favorite tree.  It is my "fun" tree.  I love the colors - lime green, red, and white.  So fun!  We put all the gifts to his brother and sisters family under this tree.

The last and newest tree to our house is Drew's tree.  No gifts go under this tree but it is mainly decorated in the colors of his room (blue and brown), baseball stuff, one hunting ornament, and his hand print.  (Later post) I couldn't find a tree topper I liked so I just put a Santa hat on that I found in our decoration boxes. I'm not sure if this will be able to go up next year with him being able to move around on his own.  We wills see.

Merry Christmas everybody!

Cate's Chistmas Breakfast

Every year we have a Christmas party.  This year with Jason's crazy football schedule we could only do a breakfast. We also only invited our closest friends because we didn't want to extend out to a lot of people and then cancel on them at the last minute.  We were going to do a party tonight and Jason would have been gone.  So are sweet, flexible friends were able to come this morning.  We made it a "Pajama Encouraged" breakfast and THANK YOU for the ones that participated in the relaxed fun!  We had donuts, pancakes, fruit, and a few small snacks. Here are few pictures of the fun.  Mostly of the little boys that attended because let's face it, all the attention was mostly on them!

Drew and Caleb talking

Drew and Amanda

Not sure why Drew wanted to put Brady's shirt in his mouth
He is at the point where everything goes in his mouth though

A little better
Poor Brady was tired

Brady and Shelby

I wish we would have taken more pictures.  I'm sorry for all the friends we left out.  Thank you all for coming and we can't wait until next year.  Hmm, who's going to steal what gifts....Lindsey!

Drew's Dedication

Today we dedicated Drew to our church.  We were so blessed to have many of our family members join us.  We tried to plan it where Jason's grandma from San Antonio could be there and thankfully she was in town to join us.  Drew did great and even said a little something while the preacher was talking about him.  Of course he has to get a word in.  We went to lunch afterwards.  It was great to be with a lot of our family at one time.  Drew is a very blessed little boy with so many people who love him.  Here are some pictures from Drew's special day.

Drew listening

Praying for Drew



Happy boy!