I'm that kind of Mom

Sometimes I get the "mom guilt" when I don't feel like I'm "on the ground" playing with my kids enough.  I really have good intentions but usually am intercepted by a crying baby or hunger pains from another child.  Let it be noted (especially to my children) that when we all look back on this silly blog of mine, I made y'all a fort and it was AWESOME!!! Hopefully it will save us all thousands of dollars in future therapy.

 

Celebrating George!!

I've learned from previous "one year old" party experiences to always keep a first birthday cheap and low key because most likely your little one couldn't care less about the whole thing. This was the case with Sadie, Jack and now our little George. However, we couldn't go the day with out celebrating him so we invited all his friends over for cake and ice cream. It was a school night so we knew it would be short and sweet....just like our little George:-).

We made a birthday banner with his monthly pictures from birth to 12 months. 

And fished out the infamous birthday hat I've made all my babies wear.  It was G's turn.

Not a fan....

NOT AT ALL!!! 

 From all the noise, people, and all eyes on him, G couldn't handle it anymore.

So...we took the silly hat off (mom got her picture) and let him eat cake.  He was the third to hate the hat but the first to eat the cake.  George loved it!!  We've never had a baby eat his/her own cake before.

Way to go George!!

I love this picture because it's so "George."  I love that there is chaos all around him (there were at least 20 kids laughing and screaming) and to comfort himself during this crazy moment, he stuck his fingers in his mouth and just observed.  

He got pretty messy so we took off his shirt and G got what he wanted most for his birthday...

........his Mom:-).  

Love my little half naked Georgie Porge.

Once released G used his sugar high to show Miles all his new one year old super powers.  Miles looks concerned.

He should be....

After he sumo wrestled his buddy to the ground (something he does every time he's around him) G showed everyone his most super-est of powers....

STANDING!!!

Like a good half naked host should...G walked his guests out and said goodbye. 

Then we opened his gifts.  Very excited about his Babar car, new clothes and wrapping paper...of course.  I love this little man so much.  We couldn't bear to take down his picture banner.  I love walking into the kitchen and being greeted by such adorableness:-)  Happy Birthday George.  YOU ARE LOVED!!!

He's ONE!!

LITTLE GEORGE IS ONE YEAR OLD.
SO MUCH FUN TO KISS AND HOLD.
MONTH BY MONTH HE'S GROWN AND GROWN.
OH HOW FAST THIS YEAR HAS FLOWN!!

I knew there was a reason I would need all those pictures I took every month of George.  I sent out the above card to our family and friends.  I love looking at how he has changed over the coarse of the year.  I also love how he smiles behind the fingers in his mouth.

Oh George!!!  I just love him so much.  He is such a smart, outgoing, energetic, and brave little guy.  It's takes a lot to keep up with him but I'm glad he has such great coordination and autonomy. 

He stands on his own at this point and loves to empty any drawer that's left open.  We've had to put rubber bands around all the kitchen cabinets to keep him from breaking the fragile things.    He also loves to fish through the garbage so that's usually stowed away whenever he's roaming around.  I often notice it's quiet for a moment and find he's upstairs playing in Jack's room or with the train tracks.  He loves it when I chase him up the stairs and gives me the biggest grins when I ask him where he's going.  He also thinks it's really funny to look at me with a marble, rock, or something he SHOULDN'T have in his mouth centimeters away clutched in his fingers with the most devious look on his face.  The more I tell him "no....don't put that in your mouth George" the funnier and more appealing the rock, marble or even a wrapped tampon seems.  I've had to fish WAY too many miniature objects from this little guy's mouth. 

We also have to keep the bathroom doors closed because G is absolutely fascinated with water. He's always roaming into my bathroom to turn on the bath water.  I've caught him trying to climb in before so this door is always shut unless I'm in there with him.   I've never had a baby so interested in sticking his hands in the toilet before.  I've caught him on numerous occasions playing with Jack's or Sadie's toilet upstairs.  This is usually after Sadie begs me from upstairs to take G out of his crib and then once granted, she takes him out, and totally forgets about him.  I know I shouldn't depend on my 6 year old to watch G but I know there's no way she would allow Jack to play in the toilets.  She watches his every move just in case an opportunity arises to "tattle tell" on him.  These toilet escapades usually involve un-flushed toilets with George splashing around in his sibling's yellow urine.  He loves to bathe and knows how to get a fast bath whenever he wants one;-). 

Mostly pretty wild when he's awake, but on a good day....this happens and I have a snuggly, warm, little blobby G next to my heart.  Heaven!!
These cold months we've been wrapping him in a Texas blanket the Longs gave us way before we knew we would eventually be Texans.  He's our Texas baby and because it's an awesome blanket he can't get out of....we wrap him in it every night.  He can be having a huge fit and crying like crazy and whenever I start wrapping him up and give him his "bah" blanket, his fingers immediately find his mouth, the eyes droop and he becomes a lifeless blob in my arms.

He has all four teeth coming in on top so there's been a lot of crying, ear pulling and snot from this little guy lately.  My favorite it how he uses whoever is holding him as a human tissue by rubbing his nose all over their left shoulder.  It's awesome!!  With the crankiness comes the many times he'll stand up at my legs and moan "ma ma...ma ma" until I pick him up.  He gets very jealous of Jack when we're snuggling and will always crawl over to us and demand a snuggle too.  He is hilarious when he wants more food and will slam his hand on his highchair demanding more.  He's definitely more into finger foods than being fed.  He will also fling food across the room if he's not interested. He still has "jazz hands" while he eats which totally cracks us all up.  He never stops moving in that highchair and his hands are always waving in the air. 
He likes eating on his own but we still have to try and get him to eat which is always a HUGE struggle because we have to make sure he's entertained by a book, puzzle, or blocks while we sneak bites of food into his mouth.  I've decided that feeding children is by far the worst part of parenting.  If we didn't have to feed them, it would be a breeze!! 

I took him in for a well check and realized he wasn't "well" at all!  He had a double ear infection and what looked like pink eye too.  I guess he was crying and pulling on his ears for a reason:-( Poor little guy. 

Got down to our last bag of "liquid gold" and he is officially drinking formula, coconut and/or rice milk with a squirt of flax seed oil to keep him plump:-)

 Still loves to be outside and will kick his legs with excitement when we walk toward the door. 

Same reaction occurs anytime he sees a doggy.  He'll laugh when they jump up and lick his toes.

He's started doing a lot of fun tricks for us like slam dunking balls into Jack's basketball hoop, dancing in the shopping cart by shaking his head and wiggling his little body, waving, clapping rolling a ball and stacking blocks.  He loves to feed me his finger foods and eagerly awaits my mouth to open wide.  He's also started using a fork with his strawberries.  This kid could eat a whole crate of strawberries and blueberries in one sitting.  He also loves to play with marbles as he watches them roll through tubes and plastic slides but usually ends up with a marble in his mouth so the game is cut short.  I love his willingness to seek out adventures and although cautious, is such an amazing little explorer.  We are enjoying little  George so much in this family.  SO glad we've had this wonderful year to get to know such a heavenly little being.  I look forward to many more!  Love my little Georgie!!!

Yeeehaaaaww!!

Texas ain't Texas without a hoedown every once in a while.  I was told to "dress the part" and decided you can't get more "western" than head-to-toe denim. 

We all drove out for some line dancing and had some Texas BBQ first (I was shunned for getting a quesadilla...it sounded WAY too good).

What we thought was line dancing ended up being a really loud cowboy attempting classic rock.  It was pretty good, but REALLY hard to dance to, so we checked out and headed to Buc-ees!

About a 1/4 mile of gas pumps.  Only in Texas.

The whole reason I'm posting about this ENORMOUS gas station is because not only is everything bigger in Texas but because it's so huge, their candy section was harboring a treat I have been searching for since 2003.

Ever since I left Spain I haven't been able to find my favorite licorice treats that they seem to only make for Spaniards.  I'd walk into every and any specialty candy store in hopes that they would carry this delicious Spanish treat I was totally addicted to while living there. 

I almost cried when I saw them.  I saw the massive isle of candy.  I wished, I hoped, and my dreams were realized!!!  The reaction of this picture from my mission buddies on FB was priceless.  I should send each of them a pack.  Hooray for Buc-ees.  Who wouldn't have thought I'd find them in Texas. 

 

ALL VEGANS BEWARE!

You can't get more Texas than this!  I love when Chase has to schmooze clients, he takes them out for some BBQ.  Normally a fire pit with numerous pounds of roasting meat would be offensive to some but only because they haven't tasted it yet:-)   

A SunBEAM!!

This dapper dan is out of nursery and heading into the Sunbeams class. 

He and all his buddies look so cute sitting in their chairs.  He loves that Sadie sits right behind him.  I also love that he comes home singing all these sweet little primary songs. 

Such awesome little buddies!!

Happy New Year!!

We were very much looking forward to another New Year's bash at the Baumeister's.  We got a babysitter this time and partied it up. 

 

I'm so glad Chase likes to dance as much as I do!

A little sweaty from too much fun and dancing. 

Happy birthday Janae!!  What a fun way to celebrate!!

MUCH later that day we headed over to the bowling alley with the Applegates and some good old PTerry's for dinner.  I hate to brag but because of my "granny rolling skills" I beat everyone (even Chase who has a goofy roll of his own:-)