Small Success - August 27

Here we go! Been a couple weeks since I did this, but I think we are back on track now!

1 - Started to work out again this week. I keep using the excuse that I have Nate and can't workout, so I've decided to do some of the downloadable workouts on our digital cable. They seem fun and I can vary 'em every day.

2 - Got my gift for my newest godson (who will be baptized Labor Day weekend) already so I can have it blessed for him this weekend!

3 - I woke up with no problem at 4:45 am Tuesday morning to take my sister to the airport. Now if I could only get up to work out in the morning... :-)

For more small successes - click here.

the graduate

Well, 4 years ago we moved Tessa into the dorm...


And now she's a member of a great group of people - the Association of Former Students of Texas A&M University! She graduated in a great (and short) ceremony last week (1 day shy of my 11 year graduation anniversary). Our brother Ted came to town from New Mexico, to experience the nice heat in Aggieland and Austin (and get some good Chuy's too!).





We have been blessed to have her live with us for the summer as she interned at St. Edward's University. She's enjoyed living with us soo much, that she has decided to stay on for a year as she works with AmeriCorps VISTA here in Austin (at that other university in town). She leaves for training this week, so we'll learn more soon on exactly what she will be doing.

Tessa, we are so very proud of you! Nate is blessed to have you as a godmother and I'm happy to have some long overdue sister time (the last time we lived together she was 7 and I was 17). Any suggestions for our monthly sister night outs?

A new soul...

It is in sadness that I write this, but heaven welcomed a new soul this week. I only recently found out that I was pregnant, and yesterday it was confirmed that the Lord welcomed our little one into heaven. Both Ryan and I had a feeling it was a boy, so we have named the little one Luke David.

We will miss you little Luke, and hope you are enjoying heaven with your brother and sisters!

Philip Gabriel, pray for us.
Mary Isabelle, pray for us.
Lucy Grace, pray for us.
Luke David, pray for us.

Small Successes - August 6

Here we go, week 2:

1 - Took the day off on my birthday and enjoyed it!

2 - Got through my first week of swim lessons with Nate.

3 - Had coffee tonight with a friend, which happened almost spontaneously. It was long overdue for us to get together and chat and had a great time. It's amazing how much you can chat when you don't have kids interrupting or having to chase 'em around!

I'm the mother of a teen-monther!

Yup, Nate is 13 months old now! Oh, the teen months. I wonder how they will be!

Month 13 has been full of changes - no commando crawl anymore - just "big boy" crawl. We also love the cabinets (and they aren't all child-proofed yet), and have begun standing on our own (15 seconds is the record to beat). We stopped breastfeeding this month (although Nate loves to check my tummy, to make sure it is still there). Tessa says it is to check to see if we have a bellybutton and are human! Nate is a fan of whole milk, and will finish 2 gallons before the 3 of us finish 1! We have been able to see tons of family, including almost all my cousins and aunts and uncles at the Thibodeau Family reunion on Oregon (that will warrant its own post). Nate decided on that trip that he didn't like babyfood anymore - so all we eat is tablefood.

Let's see...what else? How about a few of his favorites?
appliance - vacuum cleaner and washing machine
food - watermelon (whole pieces!)
music - anything with a beat (and dances alone)
chore - swiffering the floor
favorite activity - clapping and putting hands over his head (like Aggie freshman wildcat)

And some pics!

today...

I'm having a great birthday. Nate spent time with friends at the baby-sitting co-op, lunch with my hubby (who brought flowers), a napping son so I can check my email, swimming lessons in a hour and dinner of my choice. Could the day be any better?