9 Months

My Little Man is 9 months old. I don't know why this one is so shocking for me! I think some of it is because it's Christmas and I'm all gooey about everything. maybe it's because it feels so close to one year. Or that it's the same amount of time I got to carry him around with me all day. I'm not sure. I'm just crazy in love with him these days!
He's been sick a lot this month. Double ear infections, rashes, nose junk. He will have been to the doctor three times this month after his check up today. One was after a frantic phone call from Nana saying he'd swallowed an ornament hook (all's fine now)...
He is SO boy. He climbs and eats everything. He opens every cabinet or drawer he can get to. He heads straight for plugs and cords every chance he gets. He also loves being outside, especially if the dogs are out. He's still very mellow, but has started to tune up when he doesn't get what he wants or when I leave him.
He eats anything we put in front of him (see Christmas card pictures coming soon). No more spoon feeding!! He seems so big sitting at the table feeding himself and drinking out of his sippy cup. Man I could just sugar him all day long. He feels the same way about me. Just saying. My hair has constant gunk in it because he is always rubbing his hands and face into it.
We are quickly approaching the one year mark and it has been such a trip!

Tucker

Last week was a crazy week. I'm not talking about the packed schedule or the Christmas hubbub. Our dog Buddy ( aka Devil Dog) got out on Wednesday. It was pretty close to dusk, we only had a few minutes to look before it was pitch black. Chris was really bummed because miraculously, this crazy dog has turned out to be pretty sweet and one heck of a bird dog. We put in the hard 4 years and now we weren't going to reap the benefits- what!! Thankfully, a kind family in our neighborhood found him that night and liked (?) him! They saw one of our signs on Friday and called us. Thank you Lord!

It's a good thing that he was rescued because on Friday, Dad and Chris headed out to East Texas to pick up a new puppy for Buddy to hunt with. He's a 14 week old German short haired pointer. After much arguing, I mean discussing, we named him Tucker. He's such a sweet dog! The only time he whines or barks is if Buddy leaves him. He can already retrieve (Chris is excited) and is getting in his first hunting trip this week. We'll keep you posted on how it goes. Better pictures to come later.

Pioneer Woman

I heart the Pioneer Woman. Our love story started with an amazing shrimp pasta and has continued for almost 2 years.

Many of you know who I am talking about! Her name is Ree Drummond and she write a blog about her life on a ranch in Oklahoma. She talks about her everyday life mostly, but then she treats us with a recipe here and there.

This past week she was signing her new cookbook in Dallas, so Mom, Emily and I braved the monsoon to see her. Unfortunately, we were one of 700 others that did the same thing. Mom and I hung on for a while, but realized that i was going to be into the wee morning hours before we got the pleasure of meeting her. We headed back home, but not after getting a free t-shirt! Emily was brave enough to stay and nice enough to have her sign our books. It really was a fun evening, even though we didn't make it all the way!

Headed to VA

We left out early the Sunday morning before Thanksgiving to go see Allison and Anthony in Virginia Beach. Mom and Dad joined us later that night. Man I needed some beach time!
We were so blessed to have an extra seat next to me on the flight so Cooper had some space and I had some sanity!

We went straight from the airport to SEAFOOD and SWEET TEA!

Caroline loving on Coop at lunch on Monday, probably right as our car was being towed... that's another story

After the towing craziness, we headed over to our favorite local bakery. Caroline was extra excited because Mom's nickname for her is "Sugar Plum"

Oh yes

Coop hyped up on sugar

Jamestown

We started off Tuesday heading down to Jamestown. The weather was just plain nasty, but none of us had been before, so we wanted to check it out. I think every child in Virginia under 10 was there, but we still enjoying seeing it.

Chris and Coop

Me and Coop

Caroline on the ship

Papa and Coop

Dad preaching on the horrors of sin

This is what we walked in all day

After we left the reconstructed Jamestown, we went a few miles away to the recently discovered actual Jamestown fort site.

Caroline with Pocahontas

The Old Church

John Smith

After Jamestown, we took Chris over to Colonial Williamsburg. I was excited to show it to him because we've been talking about it for so long! The weather was really drizzly and cold, so we didn't spend as much time as we normally do, but we hit all of the high spots!

They were just beginning to decorate for Christmas. They use all natural decorations and try to make them just as they would have in Colonial times. They were really beautiful and I was inspired to try to mimic on this year. We'll see if that happens...

Caroline was such a trooper!

George Washington's pew box at the church

Fun at the House

Wednesday we spent most of the day preparing for our big day on Thursday. We ate lunch with Eric and Edie Thomas- A blast!!- and then spent the day at home. Allison prepared a fabulous dinner and invited some friends over to join us. Here are a few shots from the day...

Coconut cupcakes!
We had to come up with a way to our this tables', uhh... anatomy.

Thankful

It's not hard to be thankful when you are able to spend your Thanksgiving Day on the beach with the people you love most! The day was beautiful, the food was divine and the fellowship was sweet.

Caroline found these huge leaves at Williamsburg and insisted that they be used as placemats

After we finished the meal, we headed outside for a fire and walk on the beach.