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!