Mullet be gone...

The long dreaded first haircut experience ended up being such a breeze.  B sat in my lap and traded in his redneck long rat-tail/mullet for a more age appropriate fo-hawk.  He looks like such a big boy now.

XOXO - Mark & Kay

Merry Christmas!!!

XOXO - Mark & Kay

17 Months...

One week until Santa arrives, and we get to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  We are so excited to spend time with loved ones and see what B does with all the boxes under the tree.  We spend the last month on the go go go. Here are two fun highlights...

Brendan was a baby divided on Thanksgiving  at the TCU/UT football game. He cheered for everything and didn't understand what all the fuss was about.  He and his best bud Noah just laughed, clapped and cheered at everything.

However, Mommy has bragging rights on TCUs football team until they meet again next fall.

We visited the Gaylord Texan for the first time this year to kick off out Christmas season.  B met Santa (not a big fan), a creepy elf, toy soldiers. Shrek and the penguins. We froze and had cold noses in ICE! where B ran around like a penguin to look at all the amazing ice sculptures of his favorite Madagascar characters. We spent a day at Ft. Worth Zoo, and we finally found a Brendan sign (not an easy task).  Mommy hasn't been to that zoo since college (won't mention how long ago that was).  B loved feeding the parakeets and goat the most.  We even visited TCU and stocked up on some new horned frog gear. It was a perfect weekend and can't wait to go back year after year.

XOXO - Mark & Kay

30 Days of Thanksgiving

Over the last 30 days I, like many others, completed a list of 30 things that I am thankful for.  Some days the items were serious other days they were just plain silly, but all of them I am thankful for.  What are you thankful for?

1. I am thankful to be part of an amazing church family.  I am thankful that God has become the center of our family and marriage.  I am thankful He shows us true happiness when we put Him first in our lives.
2. I am thankful for my husband who works so hard to provide for our family even when it takes him on business trips away from us.  I am thankful that he accepts and loves me even with all my craziness.
3. I am thankful for our beautiful little boy who fills my heart with love and joy and teaches me new lessons in life everyday.
4. I am thankful for our extended family of parents, grandparents, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins.  Even though we may not see each other as often enough we are full of love for one another.
5. I am thankful for naps.  With our busy little boy, those few hours of quiet time each day allow me downtime to rest too or time to get work done.
6. I am thankful to live in a country that we have the right to vote on our elected officials.  In so many nations around the world people would be killed for voicing agreement/disagreement with who is in office.  We are blessed to have the freedom of choice and speech.
7. I am thankful for Little Gym, the things B learns each week and the great friends he and I both are making.
8. Today I am thankful for having my big brother as a guardian angel. I am thankful for 34 years he spend here with us; even when we were at odds he always had my back. Happy 41st Birthday Jonny, I miss you everyday!!!
9. I am thankful for our friends, both new and old.  I love when I haven't talked to a friend in a while and when we do, we pick up like no time has passed at all.
10. I am thankful for taking family Christmas card pictures with out any major incidences besides Brendan not wanting to sit still for a moment. Action shots for sure this year.
11. I am thankful for the sacrifices that our military have made throughout history and currently are for the safety and protection of our great nation.  I am thankful to the families that sacrifice their fathers, mothers, brothers, children, sisters supporting them when they are away for long periods and for those that have lost loved ones.
12. I am thankful for the cooler weather that has finally arrived.  I am thankful that we have a warm home to snuggle up in.
13. I am thankful for technology like Facebook that allows me to catch up, follow, poke, share tid-bits of our daily lives with friends and family.  I am thankful for FB allowing me to reconnect with childhood friends.
14. I am thankful for date night with Mark to see Paul McCartney.  Even at 70 years old that man can rock it out!
15. I am thankful for my crock-pot.  I am thankful for the endless recipes that I find to make mealtime quick and easy on Pintrest.  I am thankful for the bountiful food that we are able to eat; when so many live on as little as a cup of rice & beans a day.
16. I am thankful for Fridays, when Mark is home from traveling and we get to have a weekend full of family time without interruption from work (most of the time).
17. I am thankful for the past 16 months of motherhood. Time goes by too quickly, but B is 16 months now.  I thank God everyday for the blessing that he is to our lives.
18. I am thankful for Sunday afternoon visits with Grandpa.  I am thankful that B will know how lucky he is to have such loving grandparents
19. I am thankful for Mondays at the park with B.  He loves the duckies, and I am thankful that he get to enjoy feeding them.
20. I am thankful for the roof over our heads and that it give us comfort/ safety and shelter from the outside world.
21. I am thankful that I do not have to cook Thanksgiving Dinner this year.  I am thankful I do not have to mess with a raw turkey and all that it entails.
22. I am thankful for Thanksgiving and all it brings... Turkey, Mashers, Football, the Macy's Parade.
23. I am thankful that TCU beat Texas last night. I am thankful that B was able to enjoy his first college football game with his best buddy.  I am thankful that I get to have bragging rights for the next year about how awesome TCU is.
24. I am not thankful for Black Friday, but I am thankful that I didn't have to shop in any of it.
25. I am thankful that I am able to be a stay at home Mom.
26. I am thankful for having all my Christmas shopping done, except for stocking stuffers. However, wrapping is another issue.
27. I am thankful that I was born and raised in Texas.  I am thankful to be able to raise our little boy in the greatest state in the country.
28. I am thankful for Burts Bee's lip balm.  It truly is the greatest, especially when it has color added to it. 
29. I am thankful for being able to spend this coming weekend in Dallas making memories with B & Mark that we will cherish forever.
30. I am thankful once again for all the many blessings that God has given our family.  May everyone be touched by Him and know that He is the reason why we have so much to be thankful for.

   XOXO - Mark & Kay

16 Months...

We interrupt your fall festivities for a little update on our Little Man.  B is morphing into a toddler/little boy; it still amazes me how much he learns/grows everyday.  

• We spend a weekend with almost the whole Mehrens clan, walked in memory of Uncle Jack in the Defeat ALS Walk (super cool to be down on a baseball field walking laps) and B met Buccee (his new best friend, lol... for those of you who know about Buccee's)
• No more bottles for B.  He kicked the habit a few weeks ago all by himself.
• Brendan went with me to vote and he actually is the one who hit the button to cast our vote.  Some of his choices won, but some did not.  
• Grandpa watched B this past week while Mark and I enjoyed a much needed date night at the  Paul McCartney concert (that man can still rock).  B did amazing right up until we got home and he woke up to have a party in his crib for a few hours. (I was one tired Mommy the next morning)
• Our little talker is discovering new words everyday... well, words that we can understand.
• Molar #2 has broken through; poor little man has started to take his paci again because it hurts.  

Holidays here we come... Thanksgiving, Football, Decorating, Santa, Wrapping Gifts, Christmas Parties... With the cooler weather I'm getting more and more excited about the holidays!

 XOXO - Mark & Kay

Trick or Treat

Happy Halloween! Our little Top Gun Pilot had a blast on Halloween this year.  B was excited to get dressed up, and his call sign was Viper according to Daddy.  We walked/rolled around Trick or Treating with two of his little friends, their parents and big brothers. With five kiddos and six adults we were a sight to see going from house to house.  B's favorite house was where there were dogs and he kept saying "Doggie & Puppies".  So he didn't get why people kept putting candy in his bucket, but he did say "peez", "tanks" and "welum" aka Your Welcome (such a little southern gentleman already). 

 

 

XOXO - Mark & Kay

Pumpkins and Toddlers

Once again we ventured out for the annual pumpkin patch trip.  This year was far more successful than last year's Pumpkin Smumkin. B was running all over the place and picking every size pumpkin he could find.  Only problem this year is he was running around so much that I could not get him to sit still for very many shots, so action shots it is (lol). Toddlers and posing do not go hand in hand for photo shoots...

XOXO - Mark & Kay

15 Months...

So this month flew by... Seriously, I'm not sure how it has been a month since my last post.

• 15 Month checkup is later this week, so I will update with official stats then. UPDATE: B did awesome w/ his shots at well baby check-up.  He is now: 33.25" (98%) and 23 lbs (54%).  Tall and slender as always...
• Brendan has been on the move constantly.  I guess that is why the month flew by because I have been chasing a running child. B no longer likes to just walk, he likes to RUN.  We went to feed the ducks at the lake and he got so excited running after them yelling "hi" that I had to scoop him up before he ran straight into the water.  He hasn't learned how to put on the brakes yet...
• Down to a night time bottle only now and it seems that B is trying to drop that bottle too. I almost cried.  I told him that he had to stop growing up so fast and he told me "no"...  
• Talking, talking and more talking... B can chat to you about anything and everything.  The problem is that we only understand about a quarter if what he is saying (if that).  I think that his toys understand him, because when he decides to party in his crib late at night he looks like he is having a full conversation with them.
• If B wants something, he will grab you, push you, place your hand on and/or somehow guide you over to whatever it is that he MUST have right now.
• On our last road trip, we broke down and got a DVD player for my car.  I didn't want to do it, but it saved our sanity since B didn't feel like being in the car for more than 45 min (not good on a 3 hour trip).  Brendan spaced out to Bug's Life and we never heard a peep from the back seat.  Oh thank you DVD player, you are my new best friend for all the road trips planned this fall.
• Teething alert..... Molars are making their way in, one has already broken through.  Well at least we had a break from teething for a month (lol). PS: Molar teething not so much fun.
• New obsessions... "tickle tickle", ”meow" all animals are cats evidently, reading (well flipping pages quickly), kicking his big blue ball, and saying "hi" to any animal (real or fake)...

XOXO - Mark & Kay

14 Months...

Busy, Busy month around here chasing around B.  He gets into everything, as seen from from a few pics from the month (such a curious little man)...

 

• B is not only a walker, but he is quickly becoming a runner/skipper (lol). He loves the freedom he has to toddle around EVERYWHERE especially out to the mailbox holding our hand, playing all over the yard & deck, being chased ("I'm gunna get you...") and following his "Oh-when" (poor Owen is taking a beating lately.)
• We had our first trip to the ER for B a few weeks ago. He spiked a super high fever pretty fast and seemed to be having trouble breathing... Very scary stuff... But, after a long Friday night of lots of test and a scared/tired/sick little man... Docs found that it was JUST a really bad virus. Seems it was going around because the next night one of B buddies scared his Mommy/Daddy with same thing.
• We are down to two bottles now at nap and bedtime, and trying to eliminate the nap one is my goal this next month...  Here's hoping...
• B has always been such a little talker, but this month we have heard some funny things come out of his mouth.
• "Da-dee deed-it" aka Daddy did it - after Mark did something B did not like
• "Oh Tooooods" aka Oh Toodles - after Mark said he would need a Mousekatool to protect his privates from head butts
• "Bubbles" - in Little Gym when Miss Ashley was blowing bubbles
• "Oh No" - heard often when B trips, slides off sofa or knows he is going to hear NO
• "No No Oh-When" - this is heard a lot with Bossy B telling Owen not to do things
• Animal sounds are favs too: barking, roaring, meowing, mooing...
• We started back for fall semester and Little Gym, and almost all of B's class from spring returned, especially his best buddy Noah...  They will not sit still and listen to Miss Ashley, but they have a blast running around for an hour.  B just wanders off during circle time, and goes to play with anything he is not supposed to play with.  (water fountain, doors, other parents...)
• Obsessions of the month: trash cans and getting trash out of them, closing ALL doors, the refrigerator, the dishwasher, climbing on/off/into anything, still in love with the blinds, pulling Owen's tail...

Here's to another fun month full of new adventures and one tired Mommy.

 XOXO - Mark & Kay

House Divided

We are officially a house divided with TCU joining the Big XII.  So now B is learning how to cheer on both teams every weekend.  Of course he will become toddler divided when TCU and UT play on Thanksgiving.

FROG FIGHT!!!

HOOK 'EM!!!

XOXO - Mark & Kay

13 Months...

Once again another month was filled with all sorts of new sights, sounds, discoveries and accomplishments. Biggest of them all, we no longer have a baby... Brendan is officially a toddler...

We had a great month with our first trip to the River and some fun Family Play Days including a trip to Aquarium.  With Labor Day around the corner cooler weather just may be ahead too, so we can really play all day outside without overheating (lol).

 

•  B officially became a walker a few weeks ago.  He still prefers crawling, but every day he is walking more and more and more... So fun to watch him look like a drunk stumbling about (lol)...
• There are now 8 pearly whites in B's little mouth. Maybe we'll get a break from teething for a little while before the next set comes along.
• Always the ladies man B has began blowing kisses to all the girls/ladies he meets.  It's funny if you don't kiss back at him, because he get louder and louder until you do.
• Obsessions of the month: Opening & closing the doggie gate to Owen's room, climbing, finding Horsie and closing any open door he finds.

Until Next Month...

XOXO - Mark & Kay

The Comal

Gotta love the river if you are from Texas. Well, maybe not, but our family sure does...  A weekend of family, friends, food, tubing, relaxing, having a great time and building a lifetime of memories is what this annual family trip is all about.

Here are just a few thoughts from B on what he thought of his first trip. 
 

"Road Trip!!! I had lots of fun being chauffeured across Texas."

"Enough with unpacking people, get me to the water! I'm ready..."

  "Wow, the river is really cold, I mean really cold. Next year I want floaties like the bigger kids and my own tube!"

"Ok, is it nap time yet? I'm pooped from all that splashing around.  I thought you said I could relax all weekend?"

"Yay, I had a great time, especially with my cousins, and met some really cool new people. I can't wait to go again next year."

Until next time...

 

XOXO - Mark & Kay

12 Months...

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY!!!!!

What an amazing year this has been being parents for the first time. It is so hard to believe at this time last year, Mark and I met our little man for the first time in a whirlwind week long emotional trip to Arizona.  I tear up thinking how long we waited and prayed for him and will always thank God for the blessing that he has given us. A special thank you for everyone that had any part in making Brendan's adoption a dream come true.  Okay, I'm going to start crying thinking about it, so I'll get on with the regular update on B.

• Official One Year Stats: 30.25" tall (65%) and 22 lbs 5 oz. (70%).  He is a big boy for sure, such a change from the tiny 6 lbs 3 oz he was at birth...
• Although Brendan is not officially walking on his own, he is quickly becoming the one step then  sit down king.  We have made it up to three steps, and Mommy of course cried; what am I going to do when he really takes off (lol).
• We moved B into his big boy car seat, he wasn't so sure about it at first, but now he loves how much more room he has.  Should make road trips so much easier now that he isn't squished.
• B is talking more and more and more everyday. His favorite words right now are "yeah", "tha" (as in what's that), "hey" (as in hey, look at me) and "mo" (as in give me more food).  He also has some fun new sounds: a growl, mooing, "bok bok" (as in chicken sound), panting like Owen, kissy sounds, and a whole bunch more.
• Nap what nap?  B is trying hard to drop down to one nap, so trying to adjust to the new schedule has been a challenge over the last few weeks. (mommy feels like she has a newborn again). Hey hey, why complain though when he sleeps from around 7-7 every night?
• Tooth #4 & 5 made their arrivals.  It appears that 3 more are coming up too.  Before long B will be chomping steak with Daddy...
• Obsessions of the month: trying to walk up stairs like a big boy, his pots-n-pans cabinet (bang bang bang) and his new Red Wagon.

Brendan is a cute, active, silly, determined, giggly, stubborn, very wiggly, mischievous, sweet, busy, happy, squealing, talking, raspberry blowing, creative, goofy, cuddly, strong willed, almost walking perfect baby boy!!!!  Being parents has been everything we had ever dreamed it would be and so so so much more.  We love Brendan more than we could have ever imagined, and we can not wait to see what's to come for him.

XOXO - Mark & Kay

Thanks for Rolling By...

Brendan's Little Red Wagon First Birthday Party was a huge success this past weekend.  Thank you to all our friends and family (esp those from out of town) that came to celebrate our little boys First Birthday!!!  Mark and I continue to pinch ourselves first, that we are blessed to be parents and second, that we are surrounded by so many amazing people.  Brendan had a great time playing with all the kiddos, eating BBQ and even the start of eating his cake, right up till his hands got dirty and he flung frosting everywhere (lol).  I know he won't remember his special day, but Mommy & Daddy will forever cherish it.

XOXO - Mark & Kay

11 Months...

Another amazing month with our busy little B. With school out and summer in full swing we kept busy with several parties, barbecues and outings with some friends.

• Tooth #3 has broken through.  One would expect it to be one of the top middle ones, but oh no...  B has cut the top left next to middle, with three more tops ones on the way any day.  He looks like a little vampire right now (lol)...
• B & I visited the Zoo with some friends and he smiled and jabbered to everyone and everything.  He got most excited about the very very large Iguana (not my favorite) and a lioness that was roaring at him.  I think she wanted his sippy cup since it was sooooo HOT. 
• Brendan is mastering the art of mimicking our facial expressions...  He likes to blow raspberries, stick out his tongue, fake yawn, giggles, make click sounds, raises an eyebrow, makes kissy face, you name it he tries it.
• B got in a big pool for the very first time.  He LOVED it. He wanted to try and blow bubbles in water like he does in the tub every night. It was too cute. Once again, Daddy has brought up having a pool.  I of course, said the baby pool is good enough for now.
• Still no real walking, just cruising and crawling.  He is slowly letting go of things and gaining confidence to stand alone. Everyday he ventures a bit closer and watch out when it does, B will be on the go more than ever.
• We had a big awards ceremony at Little Gym, and Brendan showed Daddy all the cool things that he had learned.  Every little one received a blue ribbon; it was fun to see how far the babies had all come since Jan/Feb.
• Obsessions of the month: cabinets (opening & closing), Roomba, blinds and cords.  He is keeping my on my toes for sure.

It is so hard to imagine that Brendan is about to be a year old.  Time goes by way too fast.  Before I know it we will be watching him start school... (I cry just thinking about it)  For now I can't wait for his First Birthday Party and all the activities we have planned this next month!!!

XOXO - Mark & Kay