The Last 6 Months

We Love our Beautiful Baby

Ethan's Rendition of Ebby

This is a picture that my seven year old nephew drew of Ebby during church. Isn't it SO good. There are so many things I love about this picture. Ebby's name (Eddy), the blue pacifier, his argyle sweater (which he was really wearing) and his shoes. But I particulary like the rattle and tic-tac-toe game.

What's Up

I'm so sorry I haven't posted anything in a while. Andrew, Ebby and I went to Southern California for Thanksgiving and celebrated Christmas with the wonderful Beesley family. We had SO much fun. Unfortunately we all got a little sick when we came home. I guess we never should have left. ;) We didn't get as sick as Grandma Sharon (thank goodness) but it was enough to make us all a little too lazy.
In about a week and a half we're going to Utah for Christmas with the awesome Nielsen family. I can hardly wait to see my family again. I'm sad that I won't be seeing everyone but I'll be seeing about half of them. That's really good with a family our size. Oh, I can't wait.
I'm trying to make a video of the pictures I took and of Ebby but I'm not as computer savvy as Andrew - and we don't have a program yet that will do it. Until then, here's a video of Ebby at Disneyland. He was so excited and happy. He didn't sleep all day. Which was ok with me only because he was so happy.

This past week was Ebby's first week with real food. If rice cereal could be called real. Which it can't, of course. He was completely disinterested when I (Andrew) first tried to feed him, but he did much better with Joy on his second attempt. He's still dissatisfied with the taste, but we think that's the taste of the water rather than the cereal. Although, given the blandness of the cereal, it may not be the taste of the water after all.
Ebby is also starting to try to talk, moving his mouth and tongue to mimick us as we chatter away to him in half-comprehensible sentences. It is the awesomest thing ever, not least of all because he hasn't quite figured out yet that talking requires you to move air past your vocal cords. So half the time he's 'talking' no sound comes out, and he ends up looking like a dubbed movie character. Nothing quite like watching a live-action version of the 'Meet the Robinsons' Asian film spoof.

Take That!

So the fact that Ebby didn't have any type of mobile to play with was driving me crazy. So, lucky me, I found one for like 5 bucks. Yeah! Unfortunately Ebby doesn't like playing with it the "proper way". Oh well, at least he's playing with it, right?

Boo!

Happy Halloween

Ebby's first Halloween was great! Both Andrew and I are pretty dead. We have another D&D session this Friday that I'm trying to get ready for (19 miniatures!) and Andrew has another test on Friday. Yeah and Yuck. Anyway, so we're really tired and we're not going to write a lot. Suffice it to say Ebby looked great as a bee - as you can see. I was a peasant whatever and Andrew was a doctor. Since he's not a doctor yet we figured it was still allowed.

Pictures

And here's some pictures.

We're back!

It seems like every day is full of one type of stress or another. It's some school deadline, test or assignment, or doctor appointments, or computer crashing or blinds breaking ... you get the picture. The recent computer problems are the reason for the lack of posts, sorry. But it's fixed and I'm back to fill the blog with pictures of Ebby (since he's the one y'all really want to see). So here we go.

Oh to be Outside

Ebby really wanted to go out side a couple of days ago. Every time Andrew took him by the window Ebby would reach out to try and look at the sky. We took the hint and when for a walk. We couldn't get him to look away from the sky. We couldn't - but the cars could.

Spare Time?

I feel so bad that I haven't published anything in a while. There's tons of stuff I'd like to put up but I haven't had the time. Taking care of Ebby and trying to keep the house picked up takes up almost all of my time, but I'd like to show you all what I've done with the rest of my time.

Andrew has always wanted to play Dungeon's and Dragon's and we finally know enough people who want to play to make it possible. I knew that the game used miniatures but I had no idea there would be so many. As far as size goes some of them are two inches tall but most are only an inch. I've done about 50 so far. And that's not even enough for half the game. It's a good thing each encounter is long and we only meet every couple of weeks. I really LOVE painting and Andrew really LOVES playing so this has turned out to be a pretty sweet set-up. And I really like playing too. Surprised anyone?
Click on a picture to see the detail work close up.

Grabbin' Arms

Ebby is grabbing things now! He also has a well-developed need to put everything he can grab into his mouth. It's so fun to hear him playing with a rattle (or rattle-like object) while we're driving somewhere.
He's also even more interactive, cooing and chirping and hooting at us when we talk to him. My favorite experiences so far have been hearing him coo along with music in the car. It's priceless.

Smiles and Sleeps

It's amazing how full and wonderful life is now that Ebby is a part of it. I find that I wake up every morning (and a few times at night - still) happy to be with Ebby and excited to see what he'll do and learn.
Andrew and I are trying to get Ebby on a more predictable schedule and so are in a kind of 'transition schedule'. Poor Ebby. It's been hard on him but we know it will be better for him in the long run. Last night's 5 am wake-up might have had something to do with our new schedule but I'm not sure. It was very wierd. Ebby wanted to be sleeping but was too excited to be awake. When I came into his room he was crying really hard but the second he saw me he was laughing and giggling. It was so cute I had to pick him up. He immediately started crying again. So, I put him down and he giggled until he realized I was going to go back to bed. Then he started really crying. When I finally got him back to sleep he slipped into the deepest sleep I've ever seen him sleep. Weird.
So, our lives are full of cute moments and lovable cuddles. I believe Ebby's hair is coming back. He looks at us a LOT more and he actually smiles at us. He's also a lot more vocal. He really likes saying "Mmmm - Mm - Mmmm." And he's starting to reach for objects. Life is perfect.

I'm ready for my close up!

Loving A&M

Yesterday as I was dropping off Andrew at school we saw one of Andrew's old professors. He took one look at Andrew and then briskly walked over to the car and said, "Hi, Joy. How are you doing? And how's Ebby?" I couldn't believe it. He not only remembered Andrew but Ebby and I as well - and we've never met each other. Everyone is so nice here. I love it.

Wonderful Sounds of Ebby

Not only is Ebby making eye contact and smiling at us more often, he's also become much more outspoken. Granted, none of it is intelligible, but it sure is cute!

Walking!?

Ebby's defiantly in a hurry to be up and moving around. He's still a good sleeper and a great baby. But we've noticed that when he is awake he prefers to be vertical. He likes being carried around but he really likes sitting up or better yet standing. Andrew took it one step further in this video.

Finding his Thumb

Ebby's still in the process of finding his thumb but it's the cutest thing when he does. What's even cuter is that he doesn't know what to do with his fingers when he is sucking his thumb. They're either in his eye or up his nose.

At Ben's Wedding

Balding Baby

When did this happen? We thought that Ebby was getting new hair around his forhead and temples but we sat down and really looked at him and found that he now has big bald spots. Not only that but the places that he does have hair are a lot thinner. Sorry Ebby but it just looks odd. Cute but odd.

Cool Trick Ebby

Last night I was working on my computer and had Ebby on the floor next to me. When I looked down I noticed that he was tightening his abs like he wanted to come up to me. So I reached down to help him sit up. I was surprised when he popped up into a standing position. We tried reenacting it for the camera. I know Ebby's too young to really stand and stuff but wow what a pleasant surprise.

Our Trip to Utah

So, Ebby and I stayed in Utah for about a week. Which gave us some time (not nearly enough) to see friends and family. I didn't get a picture of everyone I wanted and I can't post even half of the ones I have. So, if you don't see your picture please know that we still love you there just isn't enough room.

Ebby loved seeing his Grandma Sharon, Grandpa Bud, Grandma Jessie, and Grandma Donna and Grandpa Ken (no picture available). At least I'm sure he would have told me that if he could speak. We only had one day with them but hopefully that will change next time we're in Utah.

We also got to eat dinner with Aunt Jess and Uncle Jared at Tucanos. We'd really love to do that again.

Ben's wedding was absolutely beautiful! I was really tired but loved every minute of it. I'll try and post more of the wedding pictures when I get them from my family. I wish we didn't have to leave my family. I can not wait for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Tona, Tona, Tona!

Tona just spent about ten days with us. We loved every minute. From tie-dying t-shirts and onsies to shopping, to coloring, to just 'vegging'. It worked out really well. Not only did I get a fantastic babysitter but I also got to go home on the same flight with her for my brother Ben's wedding. I was so nervous to fly with Ebby and without Andrew (he flew out the day before the wedding) but Tona eased all my nerves. Like she always does. Go Tona!

This is actually a picture of Tona at Ben's Wedding in Utah but the other pictures of her just don't do her justice. Isn't she gorgeous?

Tona spent a lot of her time staying up with Ebby in the middle of the night. She can come stay with us any time!

Yes, like all who come to visit, we took Tona to Freebirds. It might actually be the best burrito place in the world.

We love you Tona and loved having you with us. Come back soon, please.

A Few Pictures

I don't have a ton of time to write about these pictures but I wanted to post something. I'll come back later and edit. Most of these are of Ebby and his cousin, Ellie. Ellie is six months old and Ebby is two months.

Tie-Dying

My wonderful little sister Tona is visiting us this week. We've done a bunch of fun things one of which is tie-dying. I'll update some more fun pictures and stuff later but I couldn't wait to post these. Along with our shirts we dyed a onesie for Ebby. I absolutely love the back side. We went to the grocery store and it was like Ebby was wearing a big sign that said "Comment Please". It was so much fun.

Fun and Smiles

Whoa, it's been a while.

Ebby is becoming so much more interactive. We've posted these videos and picture so you can enjoy him too.

Ebby is still such an awesome sweet baby but he's been having night terrors. He'll just start screaming in the middle of the night. Usually by the time I get up and run to his crib he's sleeping again so I don't think they effect him as much as they effect me.

Andrew's started school again. We miss him already. But it's important. It also feels good to know that progress is being made for our future. He works so hard to provide for us. It's really reassuring.

We love you all and miss you. Have fun.

The Nostrifier

I always wondered why the lord gave me a big nose. Now I know why.

Balding yet Awesome!

We styled his hair for the first time today. He has some rockin' curls. Too bad he's losing his hair.