Thanksgiving

Though this post is several months overdue...and Santa pics were posted first....I've now uploaded all the pics from the old SD Card and can now properly edit this post!  

This year- we spent Thanksgiving in San Antonio and the entire Branch clan came to town. All 30 something of them. It was so special for Granddaddy to have everyone here in town. 

Today I'm thankful for:

*My husband: who loves and supports me even when I'm not so easy to live with. He is an amazing father which is just icing on the cake.

* My son: He taught me the meaning of unconditional love. Who knew love could run so deep?!?

* My Church: We developed great friendships with couples in the same stage of life- and that has made all the difference.

* Great Parents and in laws. I've heard so many horror stories lately, and I'm thankful to have such wonderful role models! 

* Good health. Besides the common flu- we've been fairly lucky this year.

* Recovery. Granddaddy is recovering slowly but surely

* Great job. a few months back I was fretting. what was I going to do now that I had a little one? I was so torn about leaving him vs. going back to school. I prayed and prayed and prayed and God has been there every step of the way. though it has taken several months, the pieces are all starting to line up. 

* Awesome childcare. Part of the reason I fretted so much about going back to school was the childcare situation. I HATED leaving him in daycare. Hated. God answered prayers though. Not in the way I thought he would, but the new situation has worked out perfectly. He stays with a lady from church. She is retired, the mother of 5 boys, and lives in my neighborhood. She and her husband LOVE Wyatt. I am so thankful he is in loving hands while I'm away a few days a week. He is happy and that means so am I.

* A home: though at times I feel the walls are closing in...this house gives us everything we need.

* A clean house: which means- I have to do it- but I'm always thankful for the sanity a clean house and clean laundry brings.

* Cake. Love me some cake.

* Working vehicles. (I'm almost afraid to type that in case I jinx it!)

* coffee. Enough said.

 going searching for cows

Tractor rides

Skeet shoot

the whole crew

Big boy tractor rides

Amber waves of grain

Sittin' with Santa

We all know I'm not about to stand in line for hours  to spend $40 on a 5x7 crappy photo at the mall. I blame  it on my fear of public meltdowns, but really- I'm just too cheap. But...our church had a Santa visit so I jumped at the opportunity for a free shot! Wyatt was totally non-plussed. He didn't scream though! He was feeling a little crummy in the morning and immediately after the Santa shots, he had a blow out. So we left. I am thankful it didn't happen any sooner! 

10 months

I feel like Wyatt learns something new everyday. I pick him up, and he's discovered a new toy, new tree, new something. Right now- he's very interested in animals- doggies especially. He doesn't really understand how to pet them. He mostly just grabs onto their fur.

At 10 months, Wyatt:
* LOVES to be outside
* plays with dump trucks
* is learning to sit still for books. his favorite are books with farm animals
* has 6 teeth
* still doesn't have much hair
* Touches your face when he's sleepy
* Like a lullaby before bed
*wakes up happy in the morning
* loves pasta and will eat as much as you'll let him
* favorite veggie is squash/zucchini
* Likes to feed himself (with hand...no utensils yet)
* is curious about everything and understands the world via taste
* wants to be wherever everyone else is
* Has giggle fits when he's very tired
* likes to "walk" with assistance
* does not like to wear shoes
*babbles as is he's actually talking to you
* kicks his legs when he's happy

We sure are smitten with our little man. He's growing up so fast, and is more fun everyday. While the newborn phase has a certain sweetness of it's own, I love the emergence of personality in this stage. 

Trick or Trunk

Trick or trunk is the best way to go trick or treating! Wyatt goes to bed around 7-730 every night and he does not like to be kept waiting. So- Saturday we joined our friends at church for Trick or Trunk instead. Our trunk was a barnyard, complete with it's very own duck! 

Wyatt was happy to gnaw on a piece of taffy (in the wrapper of course).  

Ben dressed up as a rock star and was at the car next to us. Wyatt was fascinated with the whole ambiance. 

My friend Kirby (the Children's Ministry Director) filled up a wagon with candy to pass out. Wyatt was her little passenger most of the evening. He LOVES to ride around outside!

Tonight, Halloween, Wyatt was in bed by 6:30. We had a few trick or treaters, but not many. Many next year- we'll get out and about- but for now- I'm happy with a sleeping baby. 

9 months

I meant to publish this a month ago! We're not at 10 months! stay tuned for a 10 month post.

We had Wyatt's 9 month visit last week. We are weighing in at 22 lbs!

At 9 months you:
* have 4 teeth- 2 top- and 2 bottom. They were NOT fun coming in. This process also broke your excellent sleeping habits and now we're up 2 times each night. You usually go back to sleep quickly after the first waking- but you will ONLY go back to sleep if nursed on the 2nd. Mommy is too tired to fight you after 6 weeks of this sleep pattern. You win.
* Crawl all over the place and speed crawl when you're excited.
* can pull up, stand in place, and "walk" between furniture. Or around it. (As long as you're holding on).
* Still love Praise Baby. It's 30 minutes of automatic "free" time for mommy.
* Like to play in Mommy's hair accessories tub while she gets ready every morning.
* Squeal and giggle when tossed in the air.
* Go for dump truck rides with Daddy in  your Tonka truck. Though- you may not fit in it for much longer.
* Are in 12-18 month clothes but have stabilized in growth
* Are interested in table food more and more. If you can feed it to yourself- you are much happier.
* Do not like fruit with the exception of bananas.
* Take two long naps (Thank goodness!) if we are home. 1.5 in the am, 2 in the afternoon. Things get ugly if you don't get at least one long nap.
* LOVE bath time. You're favorite game in the tub now is to throw things off the edge into the water. You giggle/squeal when it makes the splash.
* Are a Momma's boy. For real.
* Love being outside.

Punkin' patch!

It was beautiful out today so we went to the pumpkin patch. Well- we went to the church parking lot down the street that sells pumpkins. He's only 9 months old so I think we achieved the desired effect. He was actually more interested in the big trucks driving by- the kid loves trucks.

Wyatt enjoyed climbing and crawling all over the pumpkins.

And trying to pick up piece of hay straw on the ground

Attempting to eat his findings...

Mommy regulating...

and back again for more!

As long as we're outside...this kid is a happy camper!

Life's a Beach

Last week we all headed down to Port Aransas for vacation. Wyatt started cutting two more teeth on the eve of our travel. Sounds about right. My Mom and Dad joined us this time around which really helped! Another few sets of hands to wrestle, entertain, confine this little one are always welcome.




He loved being outside for hours on end each day and the weather actually cooperated by not getting too hot any day.

Mom and Dad watched him a few nights so Byron and I could get out and have a date. We ate out, talked, and caught a movie. It was wonderful to reconnect and just be together. But most nights- we put the baby to bed and had dinner at the condo together. We all played/fished hard all day and it was nice to just sit and relax.

The first time on the beach, Wyatt took off crawling toward the breakers. No fear. He ate LOTS of sand. Handfuls!

Snapping beans on the backporch with Loli

playing in the waves

Fishing with Pop

Our canopy tent was great! It gives us a nice shady home base. 

Wyatt played pretty close to the tent when not in the waves

So serious.

Byron fished everyday. He even tries to catch his own bait in the surf. 

Wyatt wasn't too interested in building sandcastles. He was more interested in playing with sticks he found on the beach. 

Every morning after first playing the water, we went for a nice long walk. Wyatt took his morning nap like this everyday - which gave Mommy some wonderful reading time on the beach. I'll take what I can get. Even if it's only 45 minutes. 

The Last catch of the week.....spanish mackerel.

We are so blessed to have great church friends, and wonderful family to make memories with! This trip was much more fun with the little guy. More work- but more fun. Just being 5 months older made such a difference. He can play more on his own and I didn't have to hold him the entire time! Though- he's very mobile- which meant I had to be much more vigilant about watching him. I look forward to more memories with him on the beach!