Halloween

Halloween week for us was a bit crazy!  We closed on our new home on Monday, spent all day Tuesday moving, went back to work on Wednesday and then Halloween was on Thursday.  Regardless, we had a great time with friends and my parents. 
One of William's friends from day care (who's mom was a Kappa at Tech with me) invited us over to trick or treat.  The weather was nice and her neighborhood was perfect for the kids and all our wagons.  I feel so blessed to have this group of girls and their kiddos in our life.  Although William isn't in daycare with them any more we still have music class, Sunday dinner, birthday parties and a million other reasons to get together.

• Nana and Papa came along to trick or treat too!
• Playing with Willie Nelson's guitar.
• Cutest pumpkin in the patch!
• Look at that pitiful face....begging me to save him from the madness. :)
• Laughing at his favorite little strawberry.
• The gang!
• William tried his first sucker.  YUM. 

Pumpkin Patch

I guess since November is about to be gone I should post some pumpkin pictures! 

Checking out the pumpkins after music class

I feel like a broken record....I'm behind on blogging (and everything else in life)!  By the time we made it to the pumpkin patch it was the weekend before we moved (super busy) and nearly all the pumpkins were gone (and I'd already packed my nice camera lens).  I swear I'm going to have my stuff together next year! 
Regardless, we got a few cute ones.  Gordon was busy doing something house related so no daddy/son pictures this year.

William loved the pumpkins and wanted to pick them all up!  Such a difference from last year.  It's crazy how much they change in such a short amount of time. 

 

Happy Fall Y'all!!!!

Wreck 'Em Tech

Well, this picture pretty much sums up William's experience at his first football game!  EXCITED!  Tech may have lost but we made so many great memories.  William is a lucky little boy.  His first football game was at the Cowboys Stadium, in a suite, watching our favorite Red Raiders.  Priceless. 

I have to brag on my fabulous parents for a minute....they really are the best!  When William got super sick last week my sweet mom didn't even think twice about coming to help us out.  She is such a life saver, she's so good with William and we all love her so much.  Then there's my daddy.  I hinted that this would be a fun game to go to (and a good meeting point for all of us) and the next day he had the suite arranged.  They spoil all of us.  BIG hug to both of them for always being so thoughtful, helpful and loving us so much.  The three of us are blessed to be able to call them ours.

Thankfully, William was feeling much better by Saturday!  We got to see Uncle D, Aunt Skye and a few of my high school friends. William had so much fun running around, playing with his Uncle D and of course watching all the action on the field.  He thought it was hilarious when we were cheering during the touchdowns.  By halftime baby boy was getting sleepy so we laid his trusty nap mat in the closet....yes, the closet (it's big and quiet)....put some toddler Pandora on and baby boy passed out!  He slept the entire second half! 

• Ready to eat some yummy mac 'n cheese
• Fascinated!
• Our little family
• Checking things out....Aunt Skye taking some pics
• Hanging with Uncle D
• Dustin and Skye
• With my momma and her sweet friend, Rhonda.
• My honey

We may have lost the football game but we had a wonderful night and we still love our RED RAIDERS.  We will always be fans and cheer on Texas Tech.  Win or Lose.  It's our Alma Mater.  It's where I met my husband and who's now child's father.  :)   Wreck 'Em Tech!!

Saying Goodbye Is Hard

The hardest part of moving hasn't been the physical and mental exhaustion......it's been the emotional aspect of it all.  Leaving our first home was sad but what's been the hardest is changing William's daycare.  On November 1st Gordon and I picked William up at Big Little School for the last time.  When we got out of the car I broke down.  This was the place William had been going to since he was just 4 months old.  Every single person that worked at BLS loved our baby.

I had gotten to know many of the parents, William had made so many great friends and I trusted them 110% to take care of our baby boy.  After pulling myself together we walked to the playground to find William.  As always, Ms. Dayana was loving on him, giving him hugs and kisses.  When she saw us walking up tears starting running down her face.  I started crying again.  As we walked away other teachers were running up to us with tears in their eyes to give William a goodbye hug.  To say we will miss them is an understatement.  Each of them will hold a special placed in our hearts forever. 

From his sweet class! 

Everyone at BLS loved our baby boy so much!  It will be hard to find teachers with so much love and kindness.  His "old teachers" text us weekly to check on our little buddy.  I pray every night that we've made the right decision moving William closer to our new home and Texas Children's Hospital.  We picked a new school that my best friend went to as a child (25 years ago) and both of her children attended for the past 5 years.  I feel confident that they will take good care of him!  I'm the kind of mom that just wants others to love my child.  We have many years ahead of us for homework and science projects!  For now, at 18 months old, I'm just looking for a loving, happy environment that helps W with his social skills.

Room C was such a fun and happy place that is full of wonderful memories!

Week 1 at the new school went pretty well!  But unfortunately, baby boy is already sick with the "new" germs he's being exposed to.  (more on that later)  So, right now Gordon and I are just trying to keep our heads above the water.  The unpacking is a very slow process but it'll all get done eventually.  :)   We will try again next week to get into "the swing of things".  Since William is pretty sick he won't be going back to daycare the rest of the week.  My FABULOUS mother is flying down (as I type) to help us out.  She's going to watch baby boy Thursday and Friday so this momma can go back to work. 

Things are a little stressful right now but we are beyond blessed!  Blessed to have such supportive families and blessed to be as healthy as we are.  When I'm feeling defeated I remember how good God has been to us. 



Enjoying our new neighborhood!  It's so peaceful and quiet.  :)

18 months

18 months old

Weight- 20 lbs 3 ounces (up 2 lbs 3 ounces in 3 months) ~10% on preemie chart and 6% on regular
Height- 30.5 inches (up 1.25 inch in 3 months) ~48% on preemie and 2% on regular
Head Circumference- 19.9 inches (same) ~15% on preemie and 86% on regular

Eating- William is a really good eater.  He's not a giant fan of vegetables and what he likes changes from week to week.  Since he was moved up to the toddler room we've started feeding him breakfast at home (since I don't nurse him in the mornings anymore).  Breakfast usually consists of whole wheat waffles (which he LOVES) and fruit.  We even tried egg a couple times and he's done great.  No reaction!  He has two snacks at school and lunch around noon.  He isn't a fan of ground turkey meat but does like ground beef.  Carrots are his favorite vege and grapes, blueberries and bananas are his favorite fruit.  If it was up to William he'd eat pasta (or some type of carb) for every meal! 

Sleeping- William is doing great in the sleep department.  He rarely wakes up at night and if he does he puts himself right back to sleep.  After bath time we put William in his PJs and I rock him while he drinks a bottle and I read him a book.  YES, he still gets a goodnight bottle.  We are going to stop this after the big move!  Once he finishes his bottle I just lay him down in his crib and he falls asleep soon after.  It's hard to believe that things are going so smoothly. 
He still takes one nap a day from 1-3. 

Development- William started walking during labor day weekend!  He hasn't slowed down since.  He knows eat, more and done in sign language.  He definitely understands more than he says.  If you ask him to hold your hand he reaches up and does it.  You can tell him to go get you the ball or book and he knows exactly what you're talking about.  He babbles a ton but when he uses words (besides hi, bye, mama, dada) is completely random.  He can say deer, fish, banana and sometimes says what sounds like thank you.  He is a pro at climbing up the stairs and even knows how to scootch down like his daddy taught him.  Dr. Freedman says his delayed speech is to be expected with his prematurity.  We'll just continue reading and talking to him a lot.  Otherwise, we were able to answer yes to all the "developmental questions".  William knows at least 2 body parts (belly, nose, eyes), he can run, and climb stairs.

Personality-  William is still super serious and shy when he's around a lot of people or anyone new.  Once you get to know him he is the most loving, silly little boy you'll ever meet.  He loves giving kisses and makes the cutest "kissy face" I've ever seen.  My heart melts every single time.  I couldn't be more in love with our little man and this stage! 

Clothing size- We ran out of size 3 diapers so we've moved up to size 4.  We've finally retired the 9 month PJs and skipped up to 18 months.  They are pretty big on him but they work for sleeping.  Most everything else is 12 month.

Looking at his feet and wondering why his PJs are so long!

Things mommy loves-
His little right arm swings back and forth when he walks.  Cutest. Thing. Ever. 
His "kissy face" is priceless. 
William loves having his hair dried in the mornings when I'm getting myself ready.  I'll sit on the floor and he backs himself up and plops down into my lap.  It's the little things!
When I'm not home Gordon says William walks around the house looking for me and saying, "mama?"  Hearing him say mama makes me smile. 

Mommy stuff- I still haven't spend a night away from William.  We've just been so busy with selling, buying and moving homes.  Now that the holidays are here things will get even busier.  So, G and I are thinking we'll do an adult trip in January!! 

Things WJG loves- He is really loving mac n cheese and is starting to fizzle out on bananas. He used to say, "ohhhhhhhhh" when he'd see me getting one for him. William cracks up laughing when I sneeze and loves pointing at everything he sees when we go on walks (which he now stays awake for).  He loves looking/pointing at the moon and airplanes in the sky.  His favorite book is "Goodnight Moon" and he is no longer scared of the dance 'n play puppy. 

Things WJG doesn't like- He doesn't like when you turn the bath water off and usually cries when it's time to get out.  He's not a fan of hot dogs and seems to be going on a meat eating strike.  I hear that this is pretty normally....and not fun for parents.  Luckily he loves beans, cheese and yogurt so we still get some protein in him. 

Funny Dad Moments- Gordon was giving William a bath the other night and I heard him say, "Let's get your face washed up.  Ladies like a clean face!"  haha.  Teaching William how to pick up the ladies a little early in my opinion.  :)

First time- William visited Kentucky for the first time in September and Canyon Lake for Labor Day weekend.  Most importantly, he is getting his FIRST tooth.  That's right folks, finally!  It started popping through on October 28th.
This past weekend we tried peanut butter for the first time.  The child is in love!  Not only did he not have a reaction but he danced everytime Gordon gave him a bite.  He's definitely our child.

From the Doctor- William got his last Hep A shot and got an A+ on everything from Dr. Freedman. 

Love you lots William!!!