Christmas in Kansas!

This Christmas, Tristan and I were able to go to Kansas with parents to visit my mom's side of the family. Sadly, Nate couldn't come with us due to his job, but he was happy we were able to go. After almost 8 hours in the car with a 9 month old, we made it there! We had eighteen adults, a 7 year old, 3 year old, 2 year old, and three under the age of one in one house! It was chaotic, but lots of fun at the same time. Here are some pictures of our stay there:


The three babies with their mommies! On left is my sister with Cooper (9 months old). Middle is me with Tristan (9 1/2 months old). On right, is my cousin-in-law with Laine (8 months old).


Trying to get a good picture of Grandma with her great-grandchildren (hard with three babies!)


Take twenty. A little better even though there aren't many smiles...they were all tired by this point...


Two of the grandmothers (my mom with Tristan on the left) trying to get their grandbabies to sleep -- it didn't quite work :)


Grandmas with their grandbabies -- don't they look proud?!


My Aunt Kaye with Tristan and Laine -- her great-nephew and great-niece.


Random picture of Tristan doing his thing...he was called "Wild Man" by the end of the weekend. Ignore the wet shirt -- he's drooling a lot right now :)


My cousin Rachel with Tristan -- he looks a little tired, but he's just fooling you!

Had a great time with the family -- can't wait for next year!

Tristan's Best Friend

At one of my baby showers, a friend gave me a huge teddy bear, which we have used to monitor Tristan's monthly growth. Now, Tristan absolutely LOVES this bear :) He loves for the bear to lay on top of him. He'll just peek out his head and kick his feet. It is so funny watching him with this bear. He is just a funny child!


Here I am!


I love this bear so much!


Oh, I'm so exhausted!


Do I look like a redneck baby?

Peaceful Being Outside

The past week has been somewhat of a challenge for our little guy, Tristan. Nathan moved to Austin this past Monday to start training for his new job, and Trist and I are staying with my parents until the school semester is over, in which I can resign from my teaching job. I don't think Tristan understands where his dad is, and he may be having some separation anxiety. Twice I've had to rock him to sleep for a nap, which I haven't had to do that in several months...two mornings so far, he's woken up at 5:00ish, crying pitifully, so he ended up sleeping on me for about another hour...and he's woken up twice about 10:30 pm for no reason and won't go back to sleep without me rocking him. On top of all that, he wants me, me, me all the time. A little needy, I would say. But, anyways, one place he is always happy is outside. So, today, we decided to play some outside and he just had the best time. He REALLY wanted to touch the barbed-wire fence, but I would stop him. That didn't stop him, however -- he would just try try again :) I have a very strong-willed child...but I wouldn't trade him for the world!

eight months and a troublemaker...

Tristan is now eight months old and moving like crazy! He is one active boy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I may say that I wish he was a little more laid-back, but honestly, he is so much fun the way he is! So curious and so funny! He loves to play games, such as chase (me crawling behind him), and he loves to crawl over and through things, as the pictures will show. He also has a strong personality, something he didn't get from his mom! He is also now learning how to make different noises with his mouth, other than just babbling, and just thinks that is the coolest thing. He loves to eat! He has tried (homemade): bananas, sweet potatoes, carrots, pears, avocado, split peas, and pinto beans. He has also tried baby puffs, which he enjoys although he gags himself quite often. We've tried cheerios, but after a choking scare, we are holding off on those for a while. Anyways, I can't believe he is only four months away from being one!!!


This is his eight month picture with the bear.


Tristan, once again, got himself stuck under a chair. He wasn't happy at all and I actually had a hard time getting him unstuck! Nate said he looked like a gymnast in training :)


Playing with the laundry hamper.


Having fun climbing between the night stand and the chair.


Nate said he looks like a jedi here. My son...the jedi.


cutie :)!!!


Before looking at me, he laid there forever...just so content...have no idea why.


He's my boy!!!

Going to the Zoo!

So, Tristan had his first trip to the zoo! His Aunt Sarah also came along. It was a beautiful day and the temperature was perfect. He was very good the whole time even though I'm not sure he was really too interested in the animals. I'm sure that will all change once he gets a little older!

We're on our way to the zoo!


Dad and Tristan looking at all the birds.


He thought the snakes were pretty cool...


...and the lizards...


...and the fish.


He especially liked the goats!


By this time, he was getting pretty tired (although the only afternoon nap he actually took was the 15 minutes home and then was a very active happy baby until past 7:00 that night!)


Tristan with Aunt Sarah


The happy fam :)

Moving and Blessings

Moving and Blessings. Strange title but it belongs together...at least in our case. Some people may wonder how moving and moving and moving again can be a blessing, but if you look at it like we do, everytime we have moved, it is because a place has been provided for us. In 5 1/2 years of marriage, and by this Christmas, we will have moved nine times, two being overseas and dealing with another language. Some of the moves have only been two or so months, but short-term or not, preparing for the move is just as cumbersome as any other of our moves. And then in another two years, we will move once again, hopefully to a more permanent place. I'm looking forward to that day! A place to call our own...makes my heart warm thinking about it :)

Anyways, about blessings. Again and again and again, we have been so blessed with where we have lived. In 5 1/2 years, we have had to pay one year of rent, and that was our first year of marriage. Either Nate's job at camp provided housing, our overseas housing was provided for us, people and churches have provided housing for us since being back overseas, etc... For the first time since we've been married, we are currently looking for a place to live when we move to Austin. It's hard and frustrating to find an apartment when you live so far away and you can't drive around and look. However, I told Nate last night, I have no anxiety about finding an apartment because our Father will provide for us as He always has. I asked Nate last night why he thinks that Father has provided for us again and again, and his answer was that it is because our Father is faithful to His children and He has promised to provide for us.

Our Father is good. He promises to be and He never breaks His promises.

The Blanket Game

I was going through some of Tristan's videos today and found this one. It is (or was) his favorite game -- the blanket game. He thought it was the best game in the world :) Enjoy!

Seven Months Old!

Seven months old...already! We are finally at a place where we have better internet connection so hopefully I'll be updating my blog better, instead of just monthly updates. But, seven months old...his first birthday will be here before we know it! So much has happened this last month:

- Tristan is crawling when he wants to -- he often defaults back to army crawling. He is also go up stairs now! He is on the move -- 24/7 -- unless he is sleeping/napping (oh, those are good times for mom!).
- He loves loves loves the outdoors! He likes to play in the grass, try to eat the leaves, chase the dogs around (not our dogs, our parents' dogs), take walks in the stroller, and just get dirty like a boy should!
- I tried to weigh him on the scale today and according to that, he is around 16 1/2 lbs now, although he feels heavier than that!
- He enjoys eating solid foods -- sometimes he gets a little impatient :)
- He wears some 6-9 months, some 9 months, and some 12 months clothes (mainly for the length).
- He is on the go constantly, but doesn't like to be on the go by himself. He is starting that "needy" stage where someone always needs to be around.
- He is a "drama king" -- he reacts to "pain" much more than he probably should :)
- He is Mr. Personality Plus -- loves to smile, laugh, talk, etc.
- He's a handful and very exhausting, but he is such a joy!


His 7 month picture. Mimi had to hold him still so I could get a picture!


A better picture to show his size now.


A shirt a friend made him -- so true!


Grandparents were happy that he was!


I love to stand -- makes me a big boy!


Yep, I got myself stuck...and mom wouldn't help me out until she took a picture of me! I'm not really hurting...I was just smiling a second ago!


Playing while mom was trying to pack up the house. He wasn't a big help, if you could imagine!


Playing outside with Mom!


Precious!

Sixth Month Update...finally!

Someday when I actually get good internet, I'll start blogging more. Hopefully that will be soon! Anyways, thought I would finally put up some recent pictures of Tristan now that he is six months old. During this past week, he has been pulling up on his hands and knees, looking like he is about to crawl, but then falls back on his tummy and does his super-scooting :) He goes where he wants to go! He has also started "talking" more and he's learned that he has a tongue -- sticking it out and making lots of noises with it. It's really cute to watch and hear -- funny how something like that can be so precious :) Oh, and he is actually going down to sleep at night AND naps without having to be rocked!! Some crying...maybe 2 minutes worth...but it's finally happened! Just like the doctor told me -- "He'll figure it out on his own in his own time". It's funny though -- I'm already missing rocking him! He actually woke up screaming last night at 10:00 (not sure why), so I was quick to pick him up and rock him -- I'll take the opportunity when I can! Anyways...enjoy the pictures!


His sixth month picture with the bear.


His new favorite thing to eat...paper...yuck...


He's precious...but also emotional...can you tell?!


The swing + outside = happy Tristan (for a while...)


He woke up the other morning like this -- one arm in, one arm out. I just don't ask. And yes, he did have an "accident" -- time to go up in diaper size!


He's just so happy!


In "jail" but happy :)