The snowstorm that shut down north Texas

This is just a quick note to show our Colorado friends and family just what it takes to shut this whole area of Texas down. There was freezing rain yesterday and the roads were pretty icy. This causes MAJOR freakout here. Everything was closed yesterday (schools, etc.) and this morning because of it. Even Jerret got to go in late this morning. Jerret took some pictures of the rather unimpressive results of the storm. These were from this morning. It has already melted except for shady areas.

Willow says "What snow?"


Leaving for work

Our New Kitty!

Kayla, the kitty (or key-dee-dee, depending on which member of the family you ask) Jerret had before we got married has come to live with us. We didn't take her with us when we got married because she was happy living with Jerret's parents and we didn't think feisty Chloe would handle another cat maturely. Since the new kitties at Jerret's mom's were picking on her, Kayla came to live with us. Chloe isn't handling it maturely, as we expected, but it's going better than we thought. Kayla is also feisty and is holding her own. Willow, on the other hand, is confused about the hissing and whines at the cats saying "why can't we all just be friends, guys?". She loves our new addition and, although she doesn't accept Willow's offers to play, Kayla will join her on the couch for naptime.

Bruce was fussy again yesterday. But, like every time that seems to happen for no reason, a new tooth showed up this morning! There is another one about to poke through on the other side as well. That will be a total of 6 new teeth when right I2 (is it the same in people as in dogs and cats?!?!) finishes cutting. At this rate, he will have a mouthful in no time!

Bruce's New Tricks

Thank you all for the creative toys and other things you gave Bruce for Christmas! He is learning how to interact with his new toys one by one. He is a pretty focused little guy and his intrigue causes him to figure things all the way out. No shortcuts. No skipping around to other toys until one has been completely examined. He has to take them apart and learn about each and every piece before moving on to the next. He got that from Daddy. :) Here are a couple videos just to share with everyone.


He just figured this one out 2 days ago!





He's had this one figured out for a while now (closing all the doors, anyway), but we haven't been able to get it on video until now. He's a bit distracted in this one though - it's almost naptime.



I am still trying to catch his "Uh-Oh" on video but, of course, he won't say it on camera. I will post it if we can catch it.

I hope all of you are having a wonderful day and doing well!

So, yeah, it's been a long time again. We haven't just been sitting around, however! Jerret is working a lot and his job is going very well. During the week, Bruce and I go to storytime at the library, MOPs, and he will be in the nursery when I start a womens' Bible study one night a week. We are settling in and finding our niches.

Bruce is now 9 months old (did I really just type that?!?!). He is eating everything (although a couple veggies take a bit of coaxing) and now has 4 teeth! He also can say uh-oh when he drops something. Sometimes it's uh-oh and other times it's uh-uh or uh-oooh or other variations. He still tries Daddy and kitty, but the timing is off. He isn't yet crawling, but can scoot all over the place and rocks on his hands and knees. It won't be long now!

Opening presents at Grammie's


Contemplating his new toy


Playing with Great-Uncle Don


First Cheerios - the start of a love affair!


Pondering the new shape blocks (I know we have him giving this same look in a million pictures - he's a thinker!)

9 month pictures coming soon! We hope you are all doing well and had a wonderful holiday season! Happy 2009!

Bruce's First Christmas

Wow. That last update was a while ago! We don't have any pictures of us in the Christmas parade with our MOPs group because we didn't go. Something (illness? teeth?) kept Bruce up all night the night before. All of us were exhausted the day of the parade and decided that we wouldn't be that much fun so we stayed home and took lots of naps instead. Below are plenty of Christmas pictures though.

We had a wonderful and relaxing Christmas season this year. It was Bruce's first and he had a good time. We thought he would be obsessed with tearing the wrapping paper, but he wasn't into it as much as we thought. He seemed to have fun otherwise, though. Next year when he knows more what's going on, his excitement will probably make up for the lack this year. He is feeding himself now and can eat a whole meal by himself if he has the right foods. He does best with cracker-type things and stick shapes of sweet potato or cheese. He isn't yet mobile, but can stand well with support and can rock on his hands and knees. It won't be long now... His verbalizing isn't quite English yet, but is becoming more direct. He says "dad-dy", but not usually to Daddy and says "kit-dy" a lot, but only once to the kitty. If he sees or hears something he's interested in, he says "dat". He dances when music is turned on and clicks his tongue at us to get us to respond. He giggles when he's tickled or held up in the air or even sometimes for no reason. Now that he's sitting, he loves to ride in shopping carts and sit in high chairs. He sees these as extra opportunities to be the center of attention in public!

8 months old!

Although Jerret has to stay home because of work, Bruce and I will be spending some time in Colorado to visit family and friends. We will miss our valuable Daddy time, but will get a chance to celebrate belated Christmas and New Year's Eve with family and see some friends as well. We leave Wednesday this week and are praying that Bruce's first airplane flight will be a positive experience for all involved!

Riding on Daddy's shoulders


A few days before Christmas


Bruce and Chloe taking a (cat)nap


Playing on his new jungle mat


Playing with his Little People Nativity


Bruce loves his new toothbrush! He cries when we take it away.


Hey, wait - there are a bunch of toys hanging from this tree...


His new jumper


Mommy's new toy


Dad opening his presents


Don't worry - it's not in our yard



Daddy demonstrating the new toys


"Wow - I love these!"


Bruce and Grandma


Bruce's Christmas Eve dinner (avocados, brown rice, and yogurt)


The first Christmas I have worn a tank top!


Dessert on Christmas Eve (rice cracker)


Playing with Grandma


Playing with cousin John

Bruce playing with (mostly biting) tissue paper

Bruce eating a rice cracker

Getting Ready for Christmas

Bruce showing off his 2 new teeth

Bruce is 7 months now and does a lot of talking. He says mama and dada, but indiscriminately so far. He is as happy as ever and has learned that clicking his tounge or razzing makes mom and dad do it back. He has numerous solid foods in his diet now and has even grown out of gagging on chunky food (although I have to admit, that was amusing sometimes). He grows in and out of clothes in no time, just like he should. He still loves being outside, kitties, being read to, his glow worm, and many other things throughout his day.

Another shot of the new teeth

I made a sandwich for myself for lunch the other day and I couldn't help but add a side of pickled peppers to my plate. Joyce got them for me at a craft fair and they are pickled and spicy and addictive. I try to practice moderation with them, but this day I meant to have one and 3 appeared on my plate somehow. I brought my lunch over to the coffee table so I could eat next to Bruce, who was playing on the floor, and see what genius he was up to now. As soon as I sat down, he was eyeing the peppers. He tried to grab them and I pulled my plate away from him. He expressed instant disapproval. I explained that he didn't actually want them. If he even touched them, he would put his fingers in his mouth or eyes and scream and cry. If he put one in his mouth, the pain wouldn't go away for a long time. He wouldn't understand and he would regret it. I further explained that when he was older he could have some and he may like them then, but that I knew this was best for him now. Then God turned it into a learning moment. I realized that this is why I need to be close to God. There are so many things in my life that go this way. I try to grab for them and He pulls the plate away and says "You don't actually want that, Holly. It will make you scream and cry. The pain won't go away for a long time. You don't understand, but you would regret it. You may be better equipped to handle this when you are more mature, but I know what's best for you now." Even stranger than how much my son has learned from me in the past 7 months is how much I have learned from him. Parenthood continues to humble me as I stop for moments like this.





I put Bruce in the backpack carrier for the first time (he loved it, by the way) and we walked downtown to the Christmas parade. It only cost 2 baby socks for admission. Almost everywhere costs us 2 baby socks. Some quick trips only cost us 1, though. Anyway, apparently the only requirements to be in the parade are having a big truck (which everyone does) and having a trailer (which everyone does). Then they just dress up the truck and put a bunch of kids in santa hats and drive down main street. Here are some pictures just in case you missed it. Bruce and I plan to make an appearance in the Weatherford Christmas Parade next week with our MOPS group. Hopefully we will have pictures to prove it!

Growing up!

Since Bruce has made some developmental leaps recently, I wanted to put out a little update. He is now 7 months old and can now (sometimes) hold the sippy cup for himself. He babbles on and off throughout the day and he has a tooth poking through as of this morning! Here are some pictures for you all (notice I left out the "y'all") to enjoy!

Drinking from his cup all by himself!



I found Grandma's kitty, Chester, sleeping with Bruce during a nap



Here are his 6 (and a half) month pictures