Videos

Here are some recent videos just for your viewing enjoyment. And because Grammie's webcam is currently out of order. :)

I only caught the end of the fiasco (of course), but B was taking a bath and suddenly found something (don't know what) incredibly amusing! Then he started doing this forced laugh thing he made up. It's interesting that he already has a little sense of humor!

Bruce has been quite the groovin white boy dancer ever since he was very small. Not sure where he got his rhythm but we're pretty sure it wasn't from Dad! :) Anyway, not only does he dance to music when he hears it, but he dances to the beat of the washing machine as well. Yes, you read that right. When the washing machine is agitating, he dances to the beat. When he hears it start after the water's done filling, he runs into the room and the moves begin! He also gets going when the cycle changes (a different beat, you know). We often wonder where this sliver of talent will take him in life...




Bruce is talking a bit, but most words and phrases are in his own "language" and you probably have to be around him a lot to understand what he's saying. The most amusing of all is that he says "It's dead". Yep. This came from a scene in the backyard when he came across a huge dead junebug thing. He was very excited and wanted to try to catch it, but I told him "Don't touch. It's dead". Well, he remained enthralled, so I naturally kept repeating myself. "Don't touch. It's dead". Never thought it would STICK or I wouldn't have said it a billion times! Later, Jerret or I must have stepped on a bug and said "It's dead" because now (as if that phrase coming out of the mouth of a 16-month old wasn't enough) he stomps on the ground and says "It's dead". Lovely. Among his first words are also "mosquito" (skee or skeeto) and "It's dirty". Luckily "Daddy", "Bye-bye", and "Diaper" are also on the list, so he may have a normal bone in his body after all.

New Little Friend

I just wanted to post a picture of my newest friend, little David Cummins. What a sweetheart! He even makes those newborn puppy noises! :)

Just so no one gets confused, the bump under him still contains our little girl. Hopefully she won't show up for another few weeks or so!

Below are some of the pictures from today's ultrasound. We got to watch her suck on her tiny fingers! The little girl looks great and position, placenta, amniotic fluid, etc. are all normal. She's estimated to be about 4 pounds and 7 ounces now, which is a tad small but still within normal limits. The doctor commented on her long legs in proportion to her little body. The previous ultrasonographer brought this up as well at the 20 week ultrasound. Jerret considers this worrisome from a Dad's point of view. :) Her head is now down and lower, which explains all of the discomfort I have been having lately. The OB didn't have any great ideas to relieve the pressure other than some exercises I am already doing, but oh well. It's just one more of those minor things that are totally worth enduring when you consider the amazing miracle you are participating in when you are pregnant. We also did confirm the previous result that she IS a girl. The OB's comment on the ultrasound printout: "Definitely a girl". Yay!

This is a profile of the left side with her hand just in front of her chin


In this one, same angle, but she has her hand in her mouth

Congrats to the Cummins family (some of you know momma as "Laura, my Texas friend")! She gave birth to little David yesterday! I will get to meet him tomorrow when I drop off mommy's CBS book and lunch. I can't wait! How fun - a little window into our very near future! They are both doing very well - praise God for that one! On Labor Day, no less!
Note to all of my female friends of childbearing age: If you call me and give me your symptoms and ask if I think you are in labor and I say "I don't think so. You could go to the hospital just to put your mind to rest that you are not, etc., etc." -- Go anyway! You may just have a baby in your hands 2 hours later! Hey - I'm no Dr. I just read lots of books by them. Which obviously isn't an adequate substitute...

Also congrats to the Mason family, who we just found out are expecting their 2nd! Joanna and I are trying to maintain the theme of being pregnant at the same time. :) Guess that's what happens in a friendship of, what, 24 years or so? Wow.

Here are some pictures of the time we spent at Grandma's house on Labor Day (unlike the Cummins Family, we didn't take the opportunity play on the day's nomenclature).

Getting a tour of the land with Grandma


Borrowing cousin John's pony


Stripped down and running through the sprinklers

Here are just a couple recent pictures. We are really excited about the cooler weather we've had lately (especially the cooler nights). Our Colorado bones aren't yet accustomed to the Texas heat! It was a long summer! Jerret got back from a short business trip just in time for Labor Day weekend, so we are hoping to be able to at least spend a bit of time with him before the workweek starts again. The pictures below were taken just before we left for Bruce's first day at "preschool" (Mom's Day Out for his age). I tried to take one with him wearing his backpack (he loves it and wears it around proudly), but with his lunch, napmat, diapers, etc. in it, it was too heavy for him! Since he kept tumbling backward with it on, I decided to let it go. I guess we'll either have to wait until he grows or get a smaller version. It can just ride on the stroller on the way there for now.

Ready to go

Collecting a few rocks so we don't show up empty-handed

"Okay, I got some! Let's go!"

And just for fun... (I know, I know - I have more productive stuff to do as well)








This guy's blog is a riot.






Warning - contains inappropriate language and humor may be lost on non-WOW players.

Although we've had some recent illness (J escaped it this time) and I've been slowing down quite a bit, the family is doing great! After recent routine doctor appointments, we found out that both Bruce and his little sister are developing normally. Bruce went to the dentist for the first time and had a normal oral exam. His dentist felt everything was great, even though it doesn't look like there's room for any more teeth in that little mouth! His 15 month doctor appointment went well and his doctor said "Well, he won't be the fattest kid in class. But who wants to be that kid?". His doctor's a little on the weird side. Bruce is developing within normal limits and right on his growth curve, but on the thin side of the curve. His mom and dad were too, so I guess he didn't fall far from the tree. He took his vaccines like a champ (always does). His baby sister is growing normally and was still head-up at my OB appointment last week. Since then however, my contractions have lessened and she either dropped or is just in a much more comfortable position. I also can't locate her head on the top of my belly anymore, so that's a good sign. She is as active as ever and we are eagerly preparing for her arrival. My next routine ultrasound is scheduled for the week after next. This one will confirm her position and hopefully her gender as well! We'll let you know how it goes. Jerret is working a lot, which is an answer to prayer since his recent lay off, but we miss having him around as much. I am so grateful for his hard work, though! He takes such good care of us.

All of the activities Bruce and I are involved in are starting after our break for summer. Bruce will be going to MDO at a new preschool this year. Although we were all very attached to the previous one, this one is closer and will be much more convenient for all of us. We are also looking forward to CBS and MOPS starting within the next couple weeks as well.

We have been working hard on easing the transition to big brother for Bruce. He is fully aware that he's been number one thus far and a little sister may be a rude awakening for him! This is early to do some of these transitions, but at least they won't come by surprise when his sister gets here. We have been focusing on helping him become more independent, which I think we will all be thankful for in a couple months (or less). He has started sleeping in a toddler bed rather than his crib (which he could almost climb out of anyway). I thought this was going to be a nightmare, but it's not actually as bad as I thought it would be. He is now comfortable sleeping in it and is content most mornings to play in his room until we get up. When he first saw his firetruck bed in his room, he was ecstatic. It was love at first sight and he climbed all over it for the next hour or so. My first thought was that it was WAY to exciting for him to sleep in, but he does actually sleep in it. Who would've thought?

Climbing all over the new fancy bed

It turns out that this bed can double for a place to sleep after all!

One of those pictures you have to take because you (and your child's future spouse) will think they are priceless someday. No, that's a potty seat, not a hat. He was rather proud of his discovery of this alternate use, though.

He loves to find sticks for Willow to tear apart. He thinks it's hilarious!




He saw a huge bug, but it went under the leaves. After looking for it for a while, he says "bye-bye" to it.





This is just a video to show how he plays and talks his jargon constantly. It isn't the best sample, but they always have such perfect video moments when the camera's not on, you know?

Here are just a couple pictures from our time at the park today. The spray park water was off. The hours have temporarily changed due to the drought, but Bruce didn't seem to mind. He loves to use his climbing skills on the slides, stairs, and benches. He even found a puddle left around one of the spray fountains and had almost as much fun playing in it as he does in the fountains themselves. Go figure. We did end up leaving shortly after he split the inside of his mouth by spinning one of the spinny seats right into his face. It was very sad. We can chalk that one up as the injury of the day! The only sure thing is that there will be a new one tomorrow. He hurts himself all the time in his many adventures, but does recover (and luckily heal) quickly.

Bruce improvising

Unofficial neighborhood watch team

A few people have asked what I look like during this pregnancy. I found that weird until I thought back to when I was pregnant with Bruce and we agonizingly documented every second of the pregnancy, right down to monthly belly pictures for comparison. Sorry, couldn't help it - we were so excited and enamored with the whole process we had to share every minute. When I brought this up to Jerret, we realized that we don't really have any pictures of me pregnant this time, except pictures I am in with Bruce. It seems like the only way to get a photo op in our family or on the blog is to stand next to Bruce or hold him or be in the background. Our focus has really changed this time around! I hope this isn't a sign of things to come - our girl being the overlooked middle child. In reality though, there is also no way I can spend the better part of her newborn days documenting her every expression since there's a toddler in the picture this time. Sigh. I know the second child will bring an entirely new set of wonderful, yet exclusive parenting experiences. I am a little apprehensive but at the same time, I can't wait! Anyway, here is a belly pic for those of you who are curious. Maybe we'll post another one or two before the big day.

30 Week Belly Pic



Big boy sleeping in his big bed

Bruce was playing in the yard while I was outside working in the garden this morning. In addition to making an unsightly mess of himself while playing in the dirt with Willow, he caught a bug on his own! It was a huge Junebug, which isn't difficult since they are the slowest bugs and aren't the smartest, but a bug nonetheless. It held onto his thumb and he was very proud of it. He repeatedly showed it to me and examined it up close. When he was done holding it, he let it go unharmed. Here are some pictures of the catch.

"Look, mom! I caught a bug!"

"Now how do I get it off?"

No, he's not always covered with dirt and yes, he does have clothes. I know. I never thought I would let my kid run around looking like that, either. Guess you just never can tell!