Huston - Oct/Nov 2013

Huston this picture sums you up.  You are adorable, silly, stylish and crazy.  I'm combining your Oct/Nov posts (forgive me this once!).

You are really enjoying school and have learned all of your letters, count to 19ish, and are getting pretty good at writing your name.  Every word you hear you ask, "what's kind of letter does "X" start with?"  You are also learning to sign your letters which I think is awesome.  Unfortunatley I can't really help you with that.  Peer pressure has set in.  You are now very aware of how cool your outfit is.  You've even linked the direct correlation between your shirt and who will be your best friend that day.  Usually you are hoping for Garrett.  Toddler songs are also now cool.  I tried playing them for you for a few years now and you had no interest, but now that they do them at school they are acceptable.  This means I hear lots of interesting wording of "Old McDonald", "Bingo", "This Old Man" and many others.  My favorite part of all this is that you picked up the phase "my fair lady" and often call me that.  I think it fits quite nicely.

You are still in an eating rut and there are only a few things that are "tasty".  You are officially off of a sippy cup though and although that means lots of spills, you are doing really good at it.

Physically you are getting tall and skinny with a belly.  Your dimples are really showing now and you do this cute little mouth slant when you talk.  Baths aren't quite as fun as they used to be, so it takes some convincing to get you clean these days.

You've experienced your first loss.  Your Beta fish, Ernie, went to fishie heaven.  You thought about it for a second and then decided he went to be with Holly, Nama's dog.  That was that.

The phrase "wasn't me" has started, immediately followed by "i not lie."  "i not did it."  This is not good.  You also took a toy home from daycare in your backpack.  Lots of life lessons learned this month, but I have to give you credit.....once I explain why it's wrong it sticks with you and you repeat it back.  Over and over.

Although you enjoyed the farm life while we stayed with Papa and Memaw for a couple months, we are finally in our own house in Stillwater.  You are rediscovering your old toys and getting into a routine again. 

We've been to a whirlwind of birthday parties.  First we went to Gavins.  You love that cousin of yours.  Then we had Nolan's party and Gavin stayed over.  The next days was cousin Macie's party.  Needless to say when mine was the same weekend, I think you thought I made it up and you and Gavin laughed at me.

Here are some snapshots from the last two months.  Love you buddy.

crazy hair day

superman

trick or treat at dedas

dress up with brother

cousin sleepover

cousin gavin

Nolan - ONE YEAR

Baby boy, how are you a year old already? You are such a cute and happy boy and I just can't love on you enough.  But, don't get me wrong you do have an ornery side too.  You are learning how to tell us what you want with hand gestures and grunts.  You love to clap and point and have learned how to say goodbye with a crazy arm wave.  If you want my attention you will grab my chin and make me look at you.  You'll also turn your head to the side and get right in my face and say "eh?".  One of your favorite things to do is to headbutt.  Most of the time it doesn't hurt to badly, but others you will have little red spots on your head from doing it so hard.  You also love to give kisses.  Open mouthed, humming kisses.  And if I don't watch you it ends with you biting my lips.

You have some crazy fuzzy hair in the back that will not lie down.  Everyone is still trying to figure out if it's going to be red, blonde or brown.  Your little mouth is full of nine teeth and you are getting better at letting me brush your teeth.  You still have no interest in walking, but cruise and crawl pretty much anywhere you want to go.

We had a great time at your 1st birthday party surrounded by family and friends.  After fighting some ear infections you got better just in time and were a happy boy all day long.  You weren't that into the cake, but devoured the pizza for dinner.  I cannot keep you full.  Your favorite part was playing with tape, but now that all the excitement is over you are playing with all the toys you got.

It has been a great first year and it is so much fun to see your personality and looks develop.  You are going to be such a sweet, loving, funny and handsome boy.  xoxox



Trick or Treat

Boys, we had a great Halloween. We started with a Fall Festival at your daycare and then later that week went Trick or Treating in Chandler with Cooper Gibson. Huston, your costume evolved from dinosaur to Spiderman Santa to Superman. I don't think anyone was too suprised.

The Dino Brothers

My cutie patootie

H with his class

School Fall Festival

Nolan and Conner

Inspecting their goods

candy!

Trick or Treating at Dedas

Nolan - 11 months

Nolan, how can you be 11 months old?  Next month we will be celebrating your first birthday!  You are getting to be such a fast little boy.  On your knees!  You will not walk.  No matter what.

You have so much just experiencing life.  I love watching you look and play with things to figure them out.  You love moving your arms, clapping, eating your feet, making sounds.  When Huston is practicing his ABC's, you even pitch in with some noises that sounds just like the letters....in the right spots!  It's kind of amazing.

You are still a great eater and will eat anything we give you.  And you love ice.  Love it.

Now that mommy is going back to work, we had to start you in daycare.  It was so hard on me anyway, but you did not adjust well at first and it killed me.  The first week you cried and cried and the teachers said you had a hard time.  We moved you to a different room and you are doing so much better.

1st day of daycare

 I love you so much baby boy.  I can't even tell you how happy you make us. 

Huston - September 2013

H - I am constantly amazed at how much you learn on a daily basis.  Your brain is a little sponge and you have such a funny unique way of looking at things.

You have been loving your time in Oklahoma and being surrounded by family.  We had a playdate with your cousin Gavin the other day and you guys quickly became best buds.  Then fought.  Then buds again.

We went to Frontier City and you sure loved the "tornado" which is basically the bucket seats that spin around really fast.  You kept talking about how you couldn't hold your head up.  We played some arcade games, met Gavin for lunch, you got a haircut and then soft yogurt.  It was a great mommy/son day.

You are loving life on the farm and are Papa's official gate opener, okra picker and Kubota passenger.

You think a bandaid is the cure for all cuts, bumps and bruises.  You call windmills windshields.  You call dark clouds "dirty".  You love the word "much".  "That is so much short", "That is so much dirty".

You absolutley lov Pre-K.  I look forward to picking you up and hearing about your day.  You have made a BFF, Christopher, and he taught you how to rap.  I got to school early one day and watched you at recess and you and your friends would just run and run and then throw yourselves on the ground laughing.  It makes me so happy to see you having so much fun.

We went to see the Short's the last couple weekends and you found your artistic side when Alanda and Madi brought out the paint.  I think you are officially hooked.  You also performed some of your vocal and dance moves for us.

Your Dad and I are so proud of you.  You are a sweet, caring, smart and very handsome boy.  Love you so much.

Nolan - 10 months

Nolan, you are becoming such a little character.  Everyone who sees you talks about how cute and happy you are.  You are ALWAYS smiling.  And clucking your tongue.  And blabbering.

You are mastering peek-a-boo, sloppy kisses and grabbing momma's nose.  Papa's dog, Dog, is your best friend.  You also love Papa's beef jerky and picking things out of his overall pockets.

Daddy has called you "creepy" for awhile now.  You have officially earned the name.  You will crawl so fast right by us and then pop up like a little prairie dog.  Always creeping up on us.

You did have a rough week or two.  You got a cold, started teething and got an upset tummy all at once.  My happy boy was so sad and it was hard to not be able to help you feel better.  Luckily that is all behind us now and you are back to my happy happy boy.  Although you are still teething....and are chewing on everything....mostly your fingers.

We love you so much little guy and you just get cuter every day!

Huston Goes to School

 

Huston with Mrs. Sullivan

One very excited little boy has started Pre-K!  When I brought up the idea of school I was somewhat expecting "I want to stay home with you momma".  Nope.  You jumped on it.  And then asked me daily from enrollment to the first day when you could go.  Lesson learned, do not tell you until the day before we are going to start something new....  

We went to Meet the Teacher night and you got to meet Mrs. Sullivan.  You played a little shy, but the smile never left your face.  We checked out your classroom, saw where you would have lunch and then found your locker.  What are the odds that you would share a locker with a boy named Nolan from the morning class?

On the first day of school we carefully picked out your outfit and of course, you promptly spilled something on your shorts, so we had to change you about 5 mintues before it was time to leave.  We got to the school a little early and had to wait outside.  Your excitement started to fade as we waited and I started getting nervous that you would want to back out. 

But when they opened up those doors, you pulled me in and we washed your hands and got in the lunch line.  You got your tray and picked a place to sit and told me, "You can go now momma."  Then, "Stay and eat."  I said, "No, big boys eat at school by themselves."  "Ok, go momma.  Bye."

I walked out but hung around a little bit and watched you from behind a pillar.  You picked up your pizza, looked at it funny and then set it down and drank your milk.  I did not cry.  I came very close, but did not cry.  I can't believe my baby boy is in the public school system!

I was so anxious to pick you up and got to school way too early, but it was so worth it to see you come out that door with a big ol' smile on your face.  We had a Sonic cherry Sprite waiting on you with 4 extra cherries.  You told me a little about your day and then said "Mommmm, I don't want to tell you right now."



Mrs. Sullivan told me that the second day of school you asked her, "Why did you change clothes?"  She said she didn't want to wear dirty clothes to school.  The third day you said with a big grin... "Hey, you changed clothes again!"  I guess you don't think teachers change clothes and probably think they live at the school.  I love it.

Each day you jump out of the car with a quick kiss blown at me and run to the door.  When I pick you up you tell me a few things, mostly what you ate and if you talked to your friend Christopher that day.  I hear you singing little songs and practicing letter sounds and it just makes me so excited for your future!

Huston - August 2013

Puzzle crazy

Huston, you went and turned 4 on me!  It's been a big year for you, you started Pre-K, you got a little brother and you mastered the potty. 

Your memory is so sharp and you remind me of stories I've completely forgotten and can remember lines from TV shows and songs.  Once one sticks in your head, you will say it over and over and over.  You are using really big words and take people by suprise when one rolls off of your tongue.  You also have some pretty funny phrases. 

Some of my favorites:
"When I was little"
"Last time" (this can mean yesterday, 3 years ago or 5 min ago)
"Can't think why" (can't understand)
"What the heck"
"I can't know how"

And if someone calls you a term of endearment, like "Darling" you get very upset and say "My name is Huston!"

You are becoming a better eater and even started trying meat.  You found that you love love love cherries.

We went to Oklahoma and you have found your love for the farm life.  You follow Papa around everywhere and have become his sidekick.  You open gates, "drive" the Kubota, feed the cows, move dirt and anything else he needs.  You've also talked Papa into playing with your toys, singing ABC's and even the conga line.  You also love Nana's dog Gracie and have become obsessed with puzzles.

We had a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle birthday and then went on a mommy/son date.  You completely melted my heart and said "Thank you for my birthday mama."  It makes me so proud that you are becoming such a sweet and respectful boy.

You are a very independent boy.  You want to do everything by yourself.  You walk into school all by yourself and if we get there early you like to get out and wait by the door "all by yourself".  You shine when you get to be the "line" leader or "weather" guy in class.  You are just growing up so fast!  But I love every minute of it.

Nolan - 9 Months

19.7 lbs (27%)
29.5 inches (79%)

Nolan 9 months flew by.  You are changing so much and although I love watching you learn and grow, it's sad to watch my baby disappear.

You are full on crawling and into everything possible. You have found the path to brother's room and you sneak in there every chance you get to play with the cool toys.  I think you are going to pass baby toys right by, because you are so interested in what he likes to play with.

Everywhere you go, your tongue is hanging out.  That mixed with the crawling makes you look a little bit like a puppy dog.  Somehow you already have six teeth.  This is good though because you eat everything in sight and scoot the food to your very front teeth and chew with this funny little look on your face.

You still will not sleep through the night for me.  You take short little naps and pop your head up every so often like you are afraid you are missing something.  Daddy has found a knack for rocking you to sleep in his recliner, so you are learning baseball by osmosis.

You are very curious and check out the tiniest details on things.  No doorstop is safe, you cannot leave them alone.  And you love to stick your chubby little fingers in the VCR.  But mostly, you love to play with cords.  Yes, I rarely get to sit down.

This month you went to OK to visit family and had your first plane ride!  You are a good little traveler and absolutely loved all the attention.  You also found your love for dogs because both Memaw and Papa and Nana's house have them.

Baby boy we love you so much and you make us smile every day.

Huston - July 2013

My cuddler

Huston, this is the last month you will be three years old.  We are gearing up for the big birthday party next month....but you are still torn between several themes.  It will be TMNT, Cars, Imagination Movers or Angry Birds.  I think I'm just going to have to take you to Party City and see what you grab and work from there.

 

You are still my little cuddler and I hope that never changes.  If you've had a long day or are stressed out, you will say "I need cuddles."  And if we happen to be so busy that you aren't getting enough time you will start saying "I need attention!  Attention over here!"

 

We made a visit to the marine center and you became fascinated with starfish.  After a few attempts you finally even held one.

 

You are officially a movie goer.  This month we have seen both Monsters University and Turbo.  You memorize the lines from the trailers and then when you hear them in the movie it gets you so excited!

 

This month we went to California for two weeks for a nice vacation and for Grandpa Dave's 80th birthday.  You loved every minute of it and did not want to come home.  We stayed at Nama and Grandpas and you loved playing in the pool, helping in the garden and watering flowers. 

Eating carrots straight from the garden
 

We were there over the 4th of July and you were so excited to play with the "big kids", Auntie Katie and her friends, and your cousins Abe and Zeke.  You introduced them to everyone and kept calling them cousin.  They are a little older and very very cool.

With cousins Abe and Zeke

 

Swimming with big kids

We went to a parade with Gramma and Poppop and you got to see a hot air balloon and meet Handy Manny.

 

Fireworks were a huge hit this year.  You loved the display and couldn't get enough sparklers.  You were up at 6am for the hot air balloons and played hard all day until you passed out about 11pm.

We also had a beach day at Santa Cruz Boardwalk and Capitola.  Uncle Paul and Nama went with us and you "were a big fan of the ocean".  That's one of your cute new phrases.

Boardwalk rides

Sand Castles

Ocean with Uncle Paul

Your ability to have real conversations now still amazes me.  You will tell us stories in detail about things that happened years ago.  You are starting to use big words like "temperature" and have tons of funny phrases.

"Ohhhh That's gotta hurt!"
"Bookstory" (Bedtime Story)
"Get Dead" (Died)
"I have earrings, I can't quit crying."  (Earrings = tears)
"I want to stay here for a couple little while"

I also heard something half cute/half worrisome.  Your first fib to get a laugh.  Remember those cool cousins Abe & Zeke?  Well, I guess you really wanted to be a part of their conversation and you told this  story "My babysitter took me to the pool and when she wouldn't get in I said, What's the matter are you a baby?  heheheh"  Ya....that never happened.  No babysitter.  No pool.  I realize this happens but it was so strange to watch.

You also are feeling the cliques at the playground.  At the park the other day you were running around with some boys that you didn't know and when I said it was time to go you got upset and said, "No I want to stay with my friends!".  One of the little boys said, "We aren't your friends....".  I think it hurt me way more than it hurt you, you didn't even acknowledge it.  But my heart just ached that you will have to go through that kind of stuff.  And probably soon.

You are also already experiencing losing friends....two of your good buddies are moving away this month. Marley is moving to Alaska and Ryver to Colorado. You and Marley hit it off day one and you think Ryver is so cool but we don't see him as much.

Fearless Five - Huston, Marley, David, Michael and Daisy

You do have a new best friend.  His name is Nolan.  You two are having so much fun together.  Now that he can crawl, he follows you everywhere and you guys just giggle and giggle. He's even learning how to play a version of hide and seek with you and you thinks it's hysterical.  If you are gone for too long I have to hunt you down because you are usually up to no good.  We are going to have our hands full for sure!

Room invasion

Result of disappearance, soap in hair for "crazy hair"

Your Dad and I think you are going to really be into music.  You can keep a beat and drum on everything.  You also already have music preferences and can remember the words to songs.  We regularly get music requests from you.  I've noticed you really like the 80's right now. 

We had a family day in Seattle last weekend and went to a pirate store, Pikes Place Market and the Crab Pot.  You love the ferry.

Ferris Wheel

Ferry ride

Pushing brother

Viking hat

A couple weird quirks....you are obsessed with veins and moles and ask about them often.  You turn your pillow over randomly "because it's itchy", you like to hide things and then ask "Have you seen my....." and my favorite, you will stop on a dime because you need cuddles or your back scratched and you do not want to do anything until you get those.

One little (because I don't want to embarrass you) but you are finally in big boy undies!  And you are super cute in them.

Love you buddy....more than you will ever know.