Christmas and what we've been up to around here...

Things have been busy busy around here - Porter had surgery (minor), Zach and I both had strep throat, Porter had his first ear infection (and ruptured ear drum!), I finished out the semester of teaching, Zach has been studying and looking into new fun options for his career... and I am pregnant again (18 weeks)! Wowzah - so that's why there has been no blogging.

I can't really even begin to say how wonderfully fun and relaxing this Christmas was - We were home and just rested, cooked, played and enjoyed each other's company. It has been a sweet time that is coming to a close all too quick... but I don't think we will ever forget this Christmas. It was a real joy. I am thankful for so so many things.

Enough words. Here are some pics. Love you all and hope to be back to more regular posts in the new year.

jumping bean

somebody loves trying to jump. he did this for about 10 minutes... kept falling down... laughing... getting distracted by other toys... and then back to more jumping. when we got the camera, we were on the tail end of jumpalooza, but we at least caught a little of it.

row row row your boat

p has always loved row row row your boat... the book and just singing the song in general. here he is a couple days ago singing to himself in the back seat. the first verse is the one everyone knows... the second verse is 'rock rock rock your boat, gently to the shore... if you see a lion, don't forget to ROAR.'

he loves to roar.

little cheeseburger

porter had a great time trick or treating. he wasn't totally sure of the concept... he tried to go into a couple of houses and mostly just liked walking down the street and riding in the wagon... but all in all it was a huge success. he was holding a package of m&m's and i (so naive) thought 'gosh, he's never had one of those - he probably won't try to eat one.' ha! wrong. i turned around, he had ripped into the bag and was downing those m&m's as fast as he could. apparently porter loves chocolate :) who deosn't? the last picture shows that little bit of blue drool... the proof. a mouth full of the good stuff.

Sawyer Sneak

We love Jeremy and Meagan and are so so happy they moved to Austin along with their growing 6 month old boy, Sawyer. He is quite a ham - learning to sit up - chewing on most anything (including park benches) - and giving lots of smiles and laughs. Man, Porter being 6 months doesn't seem that long ago - but it was a year ago! It all happens so fast - so glad to be able to freeze a little snippet for you guys.




i love a good stink eye. its one of porter's signature moves.






just lounging.




this might be one of my favorite pictures of all time - he means business.





So sweet! Thanks for sharing your man with me!

He's getting big!

Mr. independent likes to come home from school and go immediately outside and play in the backyard. Apparently being inside is for losers - He only likes to be outside these days and gets quite upset when its time call it a night. He loves blowing bubbles, putting spoons in bowls - and anywhere else in the house he can find to put them - taking on and off lids, carrying bags around the house and saying 'bye bye' like he's leaving the house, and is amazing us everyday as he tries to repeat all our words. And, his hair is getting quite long - and no, im not planning on cutting it... yet. He has 3 new teeth and a few more making their way. He loves doing things on his own - walking and not being carried - using his own spoon - and has just, for the first time in his life, started hating his bath. He's turning into a real BOY. Stinky and always ready for an adventure. One funny thing about the bath - when we can get him to take one - is that when the water is draining out he immediately lays down in the water (I know, it scared the life out of me the first time he did it)... And we realized it because he likes to listen to the water drain down - while his ear is under. He will lay on his back and listen if both ears can be under and as soon as the water is too low, he slips onto his side and listens with the one ear. He really amazes me with the things he notices and the kinds of things he likes... almost everyday I find myself saying -can you believe he just did that? Curious little boy. We love him.

P man

So few pics of the man on here lately... here are a few from the last time we were home in Houston. Yes, he scraped his head - again! He is all over the place - lovin life.

madeline mini

This weekend I met one of my fellow LISD art teachers at Mayfield Park for a mini session of her darling 9 month old. Her name is Madeline, she has red hair, and she's not afraid to stand up in a bucket or dig her knees into the wet grass. Aja, thanks so much for sharing your little one with me. She was a delight!