repeating, requesting

Lewis has made the adjustment to school. He really seems to enjoy going, and he also seems to enjoy when I pick him up. I'm still struggling to adjust to our earlier schedule, but so far, so good.


He has been playing a ton with a little playground we got him, and it seems pretty appropriate. He makes the boy and girl go down the slide and swing, but they also spend a lot of time running around and standing on their heads. It was on clearance at Toys R Us and we had a feeling he would love it. So glad we made this purchase!



He's also done some random requesting the last week or so. Mostly he walks around repeating phrases he's heard us say, or lines from his videos, but on a walk the other day he stopped and said "pick up?" and I said, "No way!" because I was pushing Owen in the stroller and we had a ways to go. Then he requested "potato chip" for dinner one night. He even asked me to change a diaper the other day, which has never happened. So he's making some strides.


Here's some video from our bedtime ritual.

Owen's 14 month skills

Owen continues to make progress. It's hard to believe he is already 14 months old! I know the average age for walking is 15 months, and he could make it by then, but for now he's doing great. In the last week or so he has started pulling up on everything. With Lewis, we always thought our furniture wasn't good for pulling up or whatever, but Owen has proved us wrong! He pulls up on all kinds of things, and looks to see if we noticed and expresses how proud he is of himself. The bounce and spin zebra has proved to be a favorite item to pull up on, but Owen isn't picky and will try on anything. He's still army crawling most of the time, but will crawl for a few feet on his knees, but seems to prefer his usual way better. Here's a couple videos.





Owen has also developed an interest in body parts, and things in general and what they are called. He can touch his head, belly and ear at our request. He also knows some things around his high chair like the wall, window, chair and bib. He's making some good sounds now, but no words yet. He is such a happy boy, and a true joy to us.....and lots of other people too. :)

Lewis starts preschool

Yesterday was Lewis' official first day of school at Parker Bennett. He seems to be liking it just fine, and is talking incessantly when he comes home, some of which I'm sure he's repeating from what is going on there. Unfortunately, he doesn't have the conversation skills to tell me anything about it, so we're just trusting that things are going well since he seems eager to go each day. And the feedback we're getting is good so far too.

Here's Lewis just before we left yesterday. He had his last bite of breakfast in his cheek.


Lewis just outside his class.


Lewis' teacher welcomes him in.

Owen on video

Owen's been learning some things lately...stacking rings, stacking blocks, and he's starting to cruise a little bit, and has even pulled up a couple times on his own. His army crawl has gotten so fast it's scary. He's like a little snake. Anyway, here's some highlights.

wedding highlights

Here are the photo highlights from Adam + Rebecca's wedding, which took place in the Texas Ghost Town of Shady Grove, TX just outside Austin on August 8, 2009.



It was hot, and it was vintage. It was also fun!


The Dereks.


Adam and Justin.

Rebecca getting ready to throw the bouquet.


Rebecca and Adam, preparing to make a run for it.


Derek and Justin, and one of the awesome fans that was a wedding keepsake (designed by Adam Moore).


Topp joins them.

It was a lovely setting. The building next to the church had been destroyed by a tornado not long before the wedding.


Rebecca's creative work.


The remaining Foxhole members after Adam left the reception.

adam + rebecca wedding in video

Okay, back to the wedding update. I took some video clips during the ceremony, and it seemed like a nice way to give a "summary" for those who missed it, and a fun way to re-live it if you were there.

The groom just before the ceremony



The bride says "I do" (she had to wait a minute for a good opportunity).



The hymn (these people could sing)



Awkward Kiss (that's what the program called it)



The throwing of the garter

finally mama!!

Taking a break from the Texas report to bring the good news--someone is calling me 'mama'-- (finally!) and his name is Lewis. After having two boys, I used to joke that I just wanted someone to call me 'mama' but it seemed like it would never happen. When Lewis started talking a couple of months ago, I pushed for him to say it, but he began calling me 'maha.' Not exactly right, but it was better than nothing!

Then yesterday I asked him to say it and it came out right. Now he will call me correctly when asked, and when the mood hits just right. This video shows him getting it, and then spelling Lewis.

everything's bigger in texas

Justin and I made the long journey to Texas last week to attend the wedding of Adam Moore and Rebecca Pennington. Because it was such a memorable occasion we will likely have at least one post devoted to that event. It was somewhat convenient for me to get to see some family on the way there. My mom grew up in Dallas, and we made trips annually when we were kids. But it had been 3 years since I'd been, and it was great to see my Aunt Jan in Winnsboro, TX along with my cousin Leslie, her husband Mark, and their son Morgan (my second cousin). She took us to dinner at the Double C Steakhouse in Winnsboro, and it was probably the best steak we'd ever eaten.


We stayed at her house that first night, and got to stop by my Grandma's house (who is no longer with us) the next morning. It seems the folks who bought her house are putting in a pool. They have a ton of land, but decided to put the pool right by the road so I had to take some pictures.

On Thursday, we drove to Ft. Worth and passed Six Flags over Texas (which brought back fond memories from my youth)


and met up with my Aunt Marrion and my cousin Matt and some of his friends. We had lunch at Riscky's Barbecue. It was fantastic! And it was a really neat place at the Stockyards in Ft. Worth. We wished we were closer and could see these fun people more often.

Me and Justin at the Stockyards.


My cousin Matt and his girlfriend, Emmarie.


After all of this we drove to Austin in time for a late dinner with the other groomsmen. More wedding posts to come.