Pre-Easter Fun!

On Friday I went to the mall with Tommy and on a whim I was curious to see what he'd think of the Easter bunny. I held him while walking over and pointing to him. Tommy smiled, then laughed when the bunny waved to him. So I set him on his lap quickly, (forgetting his shoes) and had her snap a photo. He did well until he looked up at the bunny while in his lap, then it was over! I think it turned out pretty cute!

Tommy went on his first Easter egg hunt (one he could do by himself) at the local High School last Saturday. He had fun picking up the eggs but he had even more fun throwing the eggs back out of the basket!

On a mission!

Unfortunately there were only kid tattoos in the eggs....so disappointing for the parents who were expecting to eat the candy...that's what those other parents were saying anyway ;)

I threw a couple of eggs around our backyard after his nap that day. he picked them all up again, only this time, there were graham crackers, and yes, even a peep inside!

One bite into his first peep...

The sugar-rush face!

Tuesday-march 30

Tommy said three words today! We were at the zoo getting our membership and I put the water bottle on top of the desk as I was filling out paper work. Tommy pointed to it and said "Wa Wa". He has never said this before so that was really cute! After coming home from the zoo, Tommy still couldn't get enough of being outside. On our way down the hall, to go on a walk, he saw the Jesus picture in our entry way and said, "Jesus!" Ok, it didn't sound exactly like the word, but it was pretty close. I was so proud!

THEN, on our walk, our Keller Newspaper was on the grass. There was a picture of a girl and he pointed to her head and said, "Baby" pretty darn clear. He's growing up so fast!

Another week gone by...

On Friday we played outside. It was a beautiful day!

These were some pics from last week. He realized he could bounce the gym ball if he pounded it hard enough.

So handsome!

We take so many pics throughout the day!

Loves to say the word "BOP"

And 'Wow"

One of Tommy's favorite toys is the computer mouse. He loves to slide it across the desk, make it click and use the scroll button, (while sitting in the office chair, after pushing me out of it, mind you.)

Before Tommy went to bed he played peek-a-boo with me while I was doing laundry. He started to put his fingers under the door and thought it was hilarious if I grabbed them!

Almost everything becomes a toy for Tommy in our house. Yay for paper towels!

And almost everything is turned into a phone in Tommy's hand. This is his precious jibber-jabber.

Getting ready for Easter egg hunting!

He's a big fan of spaghetti!Can you tell?

Anything long goes around his neck now-a-days. Probably not such a good thing....

He loves peas right now!

On Saturday morning he had some applesauce for breakfast. I don't know why he was making this face but I thought it was too funny.

And we can't let it go without saying how proud we are, well Matt is, for Duke making it to the Final Four!

Happy 30th Birthday Matt!

First I must say how much I have been touched by comments on here, facebook, and email in response to my last post. I feel so much love and support and I can't thank you all enough. I am so blessed to be surrounded by wonderful family and friends. Thank you!

Now...Matt turned the big 3-0 on Monday! We celebrated that weekend by going to Cabelas (looking at guns that we finally agreed on getting). We had lunch there which was pretty good and Tommy really liked the aquarium. It was so cold that day and ended up snowing, so we didn't do much else :( So much for the first day of spring!

When Matt came home from work we surprised him with cake and gifts. He got a new wallet and white dress shirt. Tommy quickly got into the cake!

Grandma sent him a package also, filled with goodies, a book, and a gift card. Tommy was interested in the scone mix.

Then we headed to Matt's favorite restaurant, Salt Grass. I love this pic of them staring at eachother and taking a bite of bread! We had yummy steak while Tommy was throwing rice, sweet potato, and bread pieces on the floor. Our waiter tips have increased in the last year ;)

We came home and had cake and icecream. Oh, I didn't get a pic but Matt also got a Blu-Ray player that he hooked up that night. No, I didn't get the PS3 which is what he would have LOVED but I just don't see any benefit to video games. Especially when an MBA degree is in the works. Sorry honey!

Tommy enjoyed a bit of cake too!

Happy Birthday daddy! We love you!

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I don't know what to call this post....

Today’s lesson in Young Women’s was Father’s Blessings. I wasn’t teaching today, but was grateful to have heard it. My father died yesterday, a man I really knew nothing about. He had Leukemia and was receiving a new treatment that allowed him to come in less often. The treatment caused hemorrhaging in his brain, making him brain dead on Friday. He died Saturday morning.
When I heard the news, I didn’t know what to think or what to feel. I put on my Facebook wall, "How should you feel when someone dies, who should have been a part of your life, but chose not to be?" He was never a part of my life which was his choice and always has been. As I’ve had time to ponder, cry, and talk about it, these are a few of my thoughts. I have ‘numbed’ myself on the fact I didn’t grow up with a dad. I didn’t dwell on it and haven’t really harbored ill feelings. I just chose not to think about it or feel sorry about it. I have had a good life without him. I have been surrounded by good examples growing up, my uncles, home teachers, etc…. and now my step-dad Roy, and my father-in-law, Doug.
And most importantly, I have a loving Heavenly Father. He has always been there for me. I truly see him as my Father, perhaps in a stronger or different sense than others. I see him as one who cares about everything that I’m going through and knows everything that I need. In High school I would talk to him about everything on my mind, just as a teenager would to her friends and family. On “Father’s Day” every year, I would think about my relationship with my Heavenly Father and I would grow closer to him.

With that being said, there has always been a place in the back of my mind that was hoping my father would come back and have a desire to be a part of my life- that I would know he actually cared about me. Knowing he is gone means this will never happen, and that has been a challenging thing to face. I understand that it is his choice and that it has hurt him the most. He has missed out on so many wonderful things. But I am still sad for missed opportunities. I am sad for his wife and her family. What an awful thing to go through.

Growing up I knew what I wanted. I would have an eternal marriage. I would have a husband who loves me and our family. I would have a husband who honorably holds the priesthood and is worthy to provide blessings for me and my children. How grateful I am for Matt. He is everything I hoped for in a husband and Tommy will always have him to look up to as his father. He truly is a Dad. I see how much love he has for Tommy and that’s been one of my absolute greatest joys.
I am sorry I will never have a relationship with my biological father, but am so very thankful my children will always have one with theirs.

Don't Mess with Tommy

So check out this little stud. It's funny what facial expressions (and stances) the camera gets! Matt said, "It looks like he's about to beat someone up for kicking his stroller." I laughed out loud at that because I think he's right.

Tommy is doing much better. Yay, for antibiotics! He's getting a bit stir crazy so we go outside as much as we can, weather allowing.
I haven't been checking Tommy's teeth much because it's such a battle, but the other day, he had his mouth open wide, and they're popping through all over the place!
He is so much more confident about walking, even more than last week. When he would fall down he would usually crawl to where ever he was going. Now he stands back up and keeps walking! He just likes to walk too. He'll go to the end of the room and turn around, almost pacing. Too cute...

Bonk!

This facial expression is priceless. I was making cinnamon roll dough and he was amazed as the machine kneaded it.

This was really cute. I put a small watermelon next to him and throughout the shopping trip he was trying so hard to lift it. He had to have thought it was a ball for him to play with.

Not getting his way....again.

Wrong Again...

This is the second time in 2 1/2 months that I thought Tommy was teething and it turns out to be ear infections- in BOTH ears. I feel so bad for him. The doctor said I brought him in at the right time because too soon and they wouldn't have seen anything. But I still feel awful. He was up all of last night again but this time he was really grabbing at his ears, and with the Tylenol not helping, I knew then what it was. He is on antibiotics again but will hopefully feel better soon. On the flip side, I bought him some strawberries after the doctor's appointment. You think he likes them? ;)

1st molars here and the humidifier, saline drops, long nights continue....

Last Wednesday I saw Tommy's first molars in his upper right side. I hadn't noticed a big difference in his temperament except a little fussiness at night.

But more are coming and this time there is a BIG difference in his temperament. He has a runny nose, congestion, and is biting everything, while wanting to be held all the time. He really likes to chew on wet washcloths, at least for a couple minutes. I also put chunks of apple in his mesh teether and that works for a bit. It's the sleep that's been the worst. The last couple nights have been a challenge, but last night was the LONGEST night we've had in a long time. After finally getting him to sleep in the rocking chair (moving and fussing for awhile) I couldn't put him down without him waking up crying. I even tried putting him in our bed and he wouldn't have it. He'll fall asleep in the chair again, but constantly wake up in pain. Poor little guy. Tylenol seems to be doing nothing! Hopefully they'll pop through soon, that's what I have to keep telling myself!

Almost 14 Months!

We've had a full week with forts, family, and basketball!

Tommy is almost 14 months old!

*He can now down a 4 piece chicken nugget meal from Chick-Fil-A, as well as most of the fruit cup

*He walks really well but sometimes gets pretty wobbly, looking like he had something to drink

*He is getting better at repeating what you say...uh oh....;)

*Loves to say 'bubble' and says it everytime he sees our computer, because we have them as our screensaver

*He now gives you an 'offended' look face if you say no or prevent him from doing something (pics below)

*He LOVES being outside! All we have to say is 'bye bye' and he bolts to the door, waving.

Daddy came home and built this for Tommy. Can you tell he had fun?

During our family home evening, Tommy would look at the scriptures, point, and put his head down towards the pages, then jibber jabber as if he was reading...really cute!

this is a blurry pic of his offended face!

Just after story time at the library, he wanted to get down outside.

Offended again...

Tommy and I were going stir crazy when my friend Sarah said she was going to the park on Friday and invited anyone who wanted to come. I knew Tommy would love the ducks and the playground. AND it was a beautiful day!

This big duck came pretty close and was quacking pretty loud so we didn't stay long. Tommy eventually started trying to eat the old bread I was giving him to feed the ducks.

Walking along...

Tommy with his cute friend Isabelle!

This playground was 'ship' themed. He was steering.

Watching Sarah's cute girl go down the slide. She was making him laugh as she went!

Isabelle's mom, Natalie was kind enough to take some pics for me. He loved the slide and gave a little chuckle when he got down to the bottom.

Friday night, we were lucky enough to go to the Mavericks game and sit in Bell's suite with his co-workers. I love basketball and it worked out great that Mimi and Papa had come for the weekend, so they watched Tommy. The food was really good and the Mavs won! All in all a great date night! (First real one in over a year!)

Tommy has an addiction to driving. He thinks he's driving anyway and cries when he really has to get in his car seat!

Mimi and Papa stayed at hotel because Matt's brother Autrey was staying with us. He is interviewing for jobs down here and hopefully it works out! Tommy would love to have baby Dylan as a nearby playmate! So....the hotel had pool which Tommy really enjoyed! He was a little tired and was on a jabbering quite loudly, well just one word, "Baaa", over and over again. I don't know why.He's just silly...

Matt would blow bubbles in the water and Tommy would grab his hair and push his head down, meaning 'again!'

Splashing away

Hanging out at the hotel

On Sunday, after Mimi and Papa left, Tommy was really bored. He kept taking our fingers and pulling us towards the door, wanting to go outside. It was sprinkling, but I gave in anyway. It's hard to say no to that face and those blue eyes!

His driving addiction denied...

Checking the mail.

And that was our week. Always more exciting when family comes!