Spring is coming!

Thank goodness it has started to warm up and we see the sunshine. We've been fighting much sickness in the Spell household, but it seems we've started to turn a corner.

Little Man is growing so fast. Around Christmas, he started sitting on his own and army crawling around a bit. By mid-January he was a pro at crawling and pulling up on everything in sight. We had a few visitors over the last month. We've started some toilet training, and are about to start baby boot camp with the sleep.

Ryan's favorite things:

1. Nursing -- this child eats, eats, eats! No bottles, No Cups.
2. Solids -- anything :) He loves any vegetables, fruits, meats, yogurt.
3. Jackson -- LIGHTS up anytime he sees his puppy.
4. Mom & Dad -- he loves to play with us and rarely cuddles anymore.

Ryan doesn't like these:

1. Naps
2. Bedtime
3. Breathing Treatments

Today was his 9 month checkup. He was 19 lbs 14 oz. (used to be more, before he got sick) and 29 inches. That is 50% and 75% respectively. The dr. seemed quite concerned that he wasn't sleeping through the night and asked if we had tried to "cry it out". We have and after a week of the little guy crying for 2+ hours each night, I went back to nursing him. So on the doc's recommendation -- we're going to try again!

I really want to get more disciplined about posting and taking pictures. We have some exciting stuff coming up including family pictures in the bluebonnets in April, Ryan's first Easter, Jeremy's birthday, and some much needed get away time for Jeremy.

The girls in our Sunday Bible Study also have a retreat coming up, but unless the little guy takes a bottle or cup I will be in Houston instead.

I don't have any pictures this time, but I'm going to try to compile some into a big picture post soon.

Wow! This was completely random :)

Beautiful Weekend, Wonderful Friends

This weekend was one of the best that we've had in a long time. Friday we got to hang out with all of our High Altitude friends at our annual Christmas party. So wonderful to visit with all of those people that I rarely get to sit down to dinner with. By the way, we also are the proud owners of some pretty awesome White Elephant gifts. Beware if you are on our gift list, you may be getting a new place setting for your table that is heavily advertised with Cialis. (The hostess is a pharmaceutical rep).

Saturday we went out with David and Lisa and their sweet kids to try to get some cute pics for our Christmas cards this year. Lisa does a bit of photography on the side, similar to what we do over at Spell Photography (which our website is in some major need of some updates).

Here is one of my favorites from the day, although I won't be sharing our Christmas card photo -- you'll just have to receive that one in the mail!


For me this is just a perfect portrait of what our life is right now. Just hanging out, not the perfect, put together family, just trying to keep it together one minute at a time :)

And Ryan is becoming a daddy's boy more and more. He loves seeing Jeremy walk into the room. This pictures says it all:
Hmm... it looks like Daddy is a bit smitten, as well.

But more than Jeremy or I, Ryan lights up when he sees Jackson. It is his puppy already. Check out how ready he is to walk the dog :)

Sunday we went out to the same location and did some work for Spell Photography, with some friends who have to be the most photogenic people of all time! Ty and Amanda are the proud owners of my favorite store of all time, Restyle.

The weather was great this weekend, and a perfect opportunity to get out and document some awesome times in our lives.

So I Haven't Given Up

I took a long break, mostly because I kept waiting to get pictures off of Jeremy's camera. I still don't have the pictures. Let's see if I can back track over the last couple of months. I'll add in pics when I get them.

We did alot of travelling in September and October. I managed to visit my family with just Ryan and I, the following week we all went to Mississippi, including the dog. WHO ATE ANT POISON. Ugh. What a trip back to Texas, having to stop for the dog. Again. and. Again.

Then, to celebrate my birthday, I had my wisdom teeth removed. Jeremy's mom came and helped for a few days.

We got all healed up from that, and hit the road again for a trip to Arkansas to visit with Jeremy's sister, her husband, and their little girl. What a drive back :( I'm pretty sure Ryan cried 8 out of the 9 hour drive. Even the state trooper who stopped us for speeding had mercy after hearing the wails.

The following weekend, I was helping host a sweet friend's baby shower in Dallas. What a blessing their little one already is.

And then Halloween -- Ryan dressed up as the Pillsbury Doughboy. It was absolutely perfect. We visited a local Farmer's Market who had a little photo op pumpkin patch.

Then came November .... Parent Commitment Ceremony, Jeremy's knee surgery, and Thanksgiving. Wow -- quite the busy few months. And now it is officially Decemeber. And I hope to resume posting more often again.

Checking In

This is basically a post to promise that I have not slipped back into once a month post mentality. We have just had much going on these past 2 weeks. Which means when life settles down, oh, next year, we might just have some blogging going on. Kidding.

Highlights of the past week:

Trip to East Texas

First Cowboys Game

Oral Surgeon Appointments

Puppy Neutering

Visiting with Jeremy's Parents

On the Agenda:

Oral Surgery

Birthday

Small Group

Mississippi

Dinner 8's

Best Friend's Baby Shower

You know, the usual stuff :)

We literally have something if not 2 things going on every day for the next 2 weeks. I'll post recaps and pictures soon!

Until then I'll leave you with this:

It Melts My Heart

This is the heart of the man I love.

http://somethingseventual.blogspot.com/2010/09/only-once.html

Such a sweet and tender post!

Ryan is Reaching!

I know I've already posted today, but Ryan is getting very intentional about reaching out and batting at the toys on his play yard. I thought I would share a quick video to document this milestone :)

If you notice -- he's using his left hand. I wonder if we have a lefty?

Welcome, September!

10 Reasons why this September is a big month in our family.

1) We celebrate 5 birthdays in our family! Including mine :)

2) The Cowboys regular season kicks off.

3) Jeremy's cousin is getting married; and we will be attempting our first roadtrip to attend.

4) Ryan is 3 months old this month.

5) Fall is coming, and the temperatures will be dropping.

6) This marks the month Jeremy and I first started dating in 2005.

7) Ryan will be seeing ALL 4 of his great grandmothers this month!

8) Hatch green chile festival at Chuy's.

9) Small Group is back into full swing.

10) Did I mention the Cowboys kick off their regular season? This is huge, therefore worth making the list twice :)


Hope everyone is having a great start to their September!