Already Sharing with Baby Brother

Tonight Dax wanted to feel BB kicking. When he couldn't feel anything, I told him that BB was sleeping. Dax said, "I go get him Keesh and Baby Brother hold her in his fingers." Such a sweet boy!

Dax's School Photo

Dax's first school photo. The photographer only had to take one picture to get this. I can't believe how big he looks!

Dax's First School Program

Dax's school put on a little program where the kids sang some fall-themed songs. Dax was so pleased to see us sitting in the front row with cameras blazing. We were really impressed with how much he participated. We know he loves an audience, but he IS 2, after all. He is really thriving at school.

Happy to see us sitting right up front


Dax's class: Noah, Jack, Daniel, Tyler, Dax & Lilah

Listening to Ms. Susie's instructions

"Come to the Fiesta!"


"Come to the Fiesta!"

Mommy's favorite song "Any Turkey Can Tango"

Halloween & Aggie Game

For Halloween, Dax dressed up as an Aggie football player. Appropriate, as we went to the Texas A&M vs Iowa State game. Walking around campus, we lost count of how many people stopped us so they could take a picture of Dax in his Aggie costume. He really was pretty darn cute.

As usual, we got to the stadium early, but this time General Ashy made sure we got the full pre-game tour. He took us back to the Quad for Step Off, showed us some super-secret back ways to cut thru campus to watch the band march by, and then got us down on the first row of the stadium to watch the Corps march in. Dax was in heaven!

Aunt Kay, Chance, and Chance's friend, Mark were also able to come to the game. What a fun day!

Sadly, Dax skipped his nap and fell asleep in the car on the way home. He almost made it, but the last 15 minutes were too much and he crashed. Hard. We could not wake him up. So, trick-or-treating will have to wait till next year.

General Ashy introduced Dax to this Corpsman as, "Future Corps Member, Dax"


Just before Step Off


Saluting as the Corps marches by


On first row to check out the Corps as they march in


Doing the "Farmers Fight" yell


Sawin' Varsity's horns off with Chance, Mark & Aunt Kay


Fun time with Chance and Aunt Kay


Dax's half-time performance

It's a BOY!

We had our 20 week ultrasound and discovered that we're having another boy! We were a little surprised, as the tech at the 12 week ultrasound said she thought the baby looked "a little girl-y". We knew it was too early then to really tell, but since I was feeling more tired than I had with Dax, we tended to believe her. (Also, the Chinese pregnancy calendar said this baby would be a girl--not that we believed it, but it had been right with Dax--hey, 50-50 shot, right?) The tech's "girl-y" comment, I'm sure, will be used again this poor baby many times during his life, but he is most definitely a "he".

It's a BOY!

Cute, little baby feet

Side view of legs (and feet and Dupa)

Profile

20 week belly pic

Pumpkin Carving

The neighbor kids were selling pumpkins to raise money for a school trip, so Dax picked one out and we carved it up. He was really into this project. He loved digging all the seeds out. He even helped season and roast the seeds. I carved the face while he napped, but he didn't seem to mind.

Carving his first pumpkin


It feels funny


Making sure he gets it all


He loves his pumpkin!

Seben!

While Duane is in Tokyo, I've decided to get control of Dax's wake-up time. We have a new rule: he has to stay in bed until the clock says "7". The first day he woke up at his usual 5:45am; I went in, explained about the "7", and left. He cried for 40 minutes, but fell back asleep until 7:15. I showed him the "7" and told him how proud I was of him. The next day he woke up a little later and cried a little less and again fell back asleep until after 7:15. Same thing the following day: woke up later, cried less, slept until after 7:00. Eventually, he started staying asleep all the way through. It's been great. Now, when he wakes up, he looks at the clock, and yells out, "Mommy! Seben on my clock!" He has tried a couple times to claim that 6:47 means he can get up, so we're working on the difference between "first" and "last". But I have to give him credit for trying. ;)

Future Aggie

Looks like we have another "future Aggie"! Here is Baby flashing a "Gig 'em!" We were really happy that the OB took this pic for us, as he is a Longhorn.

Pumpkin Patch at Sweetberry Farms

We met up with Aunt Hollie and Payton and drove out to Sweetberry Farms in Marble Falls. We like to visit them in the Spring to pick strawberries, but this time of year they turn it in to a pumpkin patch. We let the kids explore and run around, then we enjoyed a picnic lunch and petting the goats. Next year we'll go a little earlier in the season, as the pumpkins were, shall we say, "ripe" and the flies were pretty gross. But, not enough to dampen our spirits.

This baby goat liked Dax


"Come on, Payton! Let's go check out those pumpkins!"


I got some!


He and Payton amassed quite a collection


Surveying their work

St. Elias Mediterranean Fest

Every year St. Elias Eastern Orthodox Church puts on a Mediterranean Festival. It's the best place to get authentic Greek food. The weather was perfect and we had a lot of fun soaking up the festival atmosphere.

At the fest with Grandma


He tried (and loved!) all the food


Some of the yumminess


By the end, he was tired, but he could have watched the dancing all night

Snoozing

This is how/where Dax took his nap today. Comfy, no?

18 Week Belly Pic

Texas A&M vs Oklahoma State Football Game

Watching the Corps march in before the game--one of Dax's favorite things to do


Reveille stopped right by us and Dax got to pet her


Good, old-fashioned, family fun


My boys!


"Whoop!" with General Ashy


Dax became fast friends with the girls a couple rows down

"Enchanted" Dancing

Dax loves the movie, "Enchanted;" he calls it the "pretty princess dvd." Here is his version of one of his favorite dance numbers in the movie.

Trikes in the Park with Payton

We met Aunt Hollie and Payton at Butler Park downtown so the kids could ride their trikes. They had a great time chasing each other around. Thanks, Aunt Hollie for the pics.

On Payton's trike


Ready to go!


Showing Payton his firetruck "tatoo" from Benjamin's party yesterday

Date Weekend

The Aggies are starting a new series against Arkansas and they're playing the games at Cowboys' Stadium. Dax stayed with Grandma while we headed up to Dallas. Our dear friend, Kateri, was in Austin for ACL Music Fest, so she let us stay at her place near the SMU campus. We had such a nice date weekend--it really is great to spend uninterrupted, quality time with the person you love. We enjoyed eating at all the nearby restaurants: especially the upscale French bistro that reminded us of our honeymoon. We also liked walking thru the neighborhood to a cafe for breakfast. The stadium was amazing. The 65 yard-long jumbotron really was as impressive as everyone made it out to be. The Aggies had some good plays, but alas, ran out of time. It will be a good series, though, and Duane and I are looking forward to the yearly trips to Dallas.

At Cowboys' Stadium


The infamous Jumbotron


Dax and Grandma got to go to Benjamin's birthday party. There was a real firetruck at the party! Dax loved it! Until it was time to get OUT of the truck and get together for the group picture. Then, he got a little upset. But, the tears were short-lived and the good times continued.

NOT happy about having to get OUT of the firetruck for this picture


Dax and Benjamin working (conspiring?) together

Ear Infection

Dax hardly slept at all Saturday night and was running a fever. We kept him medicated with Tylenol/Motrin and took him to Dr. Petropoulos first thing this morning. Double ear infection with a ruptured right ear drum. Poor little guy! He just never slows down to tell us anything is wrong, until it is major! Since he had an allergic reaction (rash) to the amoxicillan for his last ear infection, we're trying Omnicef this time. Seems to be working.

At the Dr's office, wearing a mask, until they could confirm it wasn't swine flu--I was impressed he kept it (mostly) on

Proud, or not

We're spending the weekend with the Grays. Friday night we got to watch Chance's football game (he's a starter, and only a sophomore!). We even got to join the "Spirit Line" on the field to welcome the team. It sure brought back some memories! We're so proud of Chance--he's a great player with a great attitude.

When we're at Annette's, Dax usually sleeps in the upstairs game room, in a pop-up tent that he loves. Last night, Duane put Dax to bed. Dax did great, very cooperative for the whole process (he's been giving me trouble with this the past couple weeks while Duane was in Tokyo). Naturally, Duane took it as a sign of his superb parenting skills and self-admittedly was feeling pretty proud. After not hearing anything from Dax for 30 minutes after tucking him in (and assuming Dax was sound asleep), Duane decided to go back upstairs to our room to put something away. As he quietly walked passed the game room, he noticed something out of the corner of his eye thru the French doors. He turned to look and saw a completely nekkid Dax run across the room. When Duane called out to Dax, the boy obliged by coming right back to the door...and pressing his entire nekkid body up against said glass door, spread-eagle fashion. How Duane kept from laughing out loud I'll never know. But, he wasn't quite as proud as he had been before.

Another DeRouen

Dax is going to be a big brother!

First "belly pic" at 12 weeks