Giving Thanks

I feel so blessed to be where I am today.  I have a happy, healthy baby and a wonderful husband.  I can't believe Bryce is already 5 months.  Time is flying.  I'm trying to soak it all in, but it seems harder now that I've been going into work.  My dad came to stay with us for a few weeks to take his turn watching Bryce so I could go into work.  I'm getting closer, but still didn't finish writing.  If only I had put in more effort a year ago. Guess hindsight is 20/20.  I think since the last time I posted I had a manuscript published (Nelson manuscript) and am trying to complete one last experiment for another that needs to be resubmitted.   Ryan had made it through the first stage of Q school, but not the second unfortunately.  So he will be back playing on a mini tour again

Bryce has started a new trick-sticking out his tongue!  Of course my dad taught him.  One night Bryce and I were going back and forth sticking out our tongues and luckily we caught part of it on video.  Enjoy!

Bryce now likes to drop toys now and watches us pick them up.  Caught Ryan playing with Bryce after we cleaned him up after dinner.

Bryce was  little monkey for Halloween.  Quite a cutie if I do say so myself.

We all went to a Halloween party.  Bryce is posing with Sara and Joanie.  I won't show you Ryan and my slacker costumes (Ryan as a pro golfer and I as a cowgirl)

 So while my Dad was in town we headed down to Galveston to see the Bike Rally.  We fashioned Bryce a bit of hearing protection, but I'm not sure how well it helped.  I was worried at first because Bryce cried a few times when the bikes reved their engines near us, but after a short while he settled in and actually slept a bit.  His Jack Daniels bandanna was quite a hit with the bikers.

So Bryce is desperately trying to crawl, here he is sticking his butt in the air as a tripod.

Trying oatmeal for the first time.  Not liking it as much as rice cereal.

Again showing how close he is to crawling.  Right now he is able to turn in circles and scoot backwards.

So we had a bout of constipation, therefore we started Bryce on prune juice and pureed prunes.  The first try was a bit tough, but he learned to like them and thankfully has pooped...and pooped and pooped some more.  Bryce has now has sweet potatoes and carrots too, both of which he likes.  Hopefully he won't end up as picky as Ryan.

I love his big eyes!  Will they stay blue?

In the last few weeks we have been transitioning Bryce from the cradle in our room (the one my Dad made) into a crib in his room.  He has been doing great taking his naps in there.  Just realized I haven't posted photos of his room, so I'll try and get those up next post.

Kisses! 

Thanks Grandpa Steve for coming to babysit for a few weeks. 

Finally, I had to add the Merry Christmas shot.  We got this adorable outfit from Declan, but realized the last time I cleaned out Bryce's dresser that it likely won't fit at Christmas.  So I put it on him prematurely so we could get a few shots.  So at 4.5 months old and 2.5 months early, Bryce is taking his first Christmas photos!