I have a silly baby with an orange nose.

 Orange is quite the popular color these days, or so they say.  I never was really that into orange, that is until my baby's nose turned orange.  LOL  It's the jarred baby food!  The only carrots and/or sweet potato he's eaten lately have been from Gerber in a baby food jar, which we are staying away from.  Hopefully we can get this all cleared up soon, though I know it's harmless.  Pictures even enhance the orangeyness (yep, made that word up) of it all.  But you have to admit it, orange nose and all, that's one cute baby!  Here he is on the morning of Halloween, orange nose galore.  ;)

Hey!  Get away from there!  And where is your mother?!!?

11 Months Old!

I can't believe you're 11 months old!  You've done so much this past month.  You took your very first steps!!  You still won't take more than a couple of steps at a time, but you'll get the hang of it eventually.  We're so proud of you!  You're going through a biting phase; that's not so fun.  It hurts.  Sometimes a lot, lol.  :)  We still love you, though.  Funny, if I tell you not to bite something, you get angry and just throw it.  Hahahaha  You also started to wave this month, however, I still can't get you to clap.  You prefer to just move your hands up and down rather than together.  Whatever floats your boat, little man.  Whatever floats your boat...;) 

We took a stroll down the Bayfront recently for his birthday photos.  I debated on whether I should wait to post these now or when he was a year old.  But since I took them now, it made sense to post them according to his age in the photographs (at 11 months rather than 12). 

 One of my favs, if not my favorite.  It's just a perfect shot.  

 Very serious, lol.  And though he isn't smiling or even looking at the camera, there's something I like about this picture.  

Oh, that face!  He's just so excited!!

 I can't decide which photo I love more of this set.  They're both so adorable.  

 I was experimenting with different filters, and I just LOVE this one. 

Crew is 10 Months!

 EEEEK!  Double digit months now.  I can't believe we're already planning your first birthday party.  This past month went by so fast!  You now have four teeth (two top, two bottom), you climb on EVERYTHING, you love to eat, and I can see now that you're understanding things that we say or ask you to do.  You also love to boogie to any beat, especially Pharrell's "Happy".  Even when I sing to you, you think it's a good idea to shake your tush.  Hey, I agree!  I got some mad singing skillz!  (not really y'all)

Nine Months Old! Wha?!?

 This boy just turned nine months!  Let's see, this past month he finally started sitting up without the support of his hands.  That very same day, he decided to stand up too.  He's now cautiously walking along furniture, but he falls and bumps his head regularly.  He's got a new bruise everyday, it seems.  Yikes!  He loves using myself or Arthur as his personal jungle gym, and I love it.  I love that we're able to interact with him more.  And this little dude loves to "read" books.  It's so adorable how excited he gets when it's story time.  He's got his two bottom teeth, and he's working on the two top right now.  Teething is no fun!  Now to get this boy to learn to clap his hands...:)

 He's such a little stud-muffin

 I love this picture especially!  It's the look of pure joy, love it.

 It's kind of hard to see it in the picture, but the poor kid had broken out a bit on his face after eating some Gerber snacks.  Unfortunately, he gets his allergies from his mother.  Sorry, Crew.

 You can see he still drools....A LOT.  Hahahaha

 Crew loves the camera!

 And he's also standing up and walking along furniture now.  What a big boy!

Awwwwww

Chloe

When it comes down to it, I don't really know what to say or how to say it.  How do I really express my feelings when it comes to losing the dog that I've cared for for over 15 years?  Ultimately, the decision had to be made to humanely have her euthanized.  The decision was made exactly a week ago today and she was put down this past Saturday.  She really was one of my best friends, and it was about a year ago when her health began to decline.  Honestly, I can't remember the last time I saw her run, play with her toys, bark, or even wag her tail.  Sadly, she had left me long ago it seems.  I've been missing her for quite some time now.  I couldn't say for a certainty that I was 100% convinced that putting her down was the right thing to do.  Though the decision had been made, I kept second guessing myself, wondering if I was robbing her of life.  I knew she wasn't happy though.  I took her out that Friday to potty, as I always do, when she started acting as if she had something stuck in her mouth.  I reached down to help her out, when she bit me.  Hard.  Never in over 15 years had she bitten me.  I cried...a lot.  Not because it hurt (though it did) or even that it had hurt my feelings.  I cried because I knew she was hurt and still hurting enough to have bitten me.  That wasn't like her, and I knew then that we'd made the right decision, afterall.  She had had enough.  That was the day she also stopped eating altogether.  That week she'd started eating less and less, till she'd only eat snacks and cheese.  Friday, she wouldn't take anything.  And by Saturday morning, she was having difficulties breathing, so my husband and I hurried to get her to the vet.  Though there was a sense of relief and peace when she took that last breath, of course it was painful to witness her slip away.  I'll never forget holding her, telling her what a good dog she was, that I loved her, and that I'd see her again one day.  I hope that she knows what she meant to me (and Arthur, too).  I look forward to the day that I am reunited with her once again.   For now, I imagine she's just as happy as can be, doing all of the things she hasn't been able to lately.  We love you, Chloe, forever.

New Photos

 Just taking pictures of my little dude.  I just got a new outfit for him the other day, so I had to take pictures of him in it.  :)  Calvin Klein for babies is probably my favorite brand.  The fabric is so soft and comfy, you can't go wrong with it.  The little hat is actually my sister's; it's too dang cute!  I can't believe that in less than a week, he'll be 8 months old.  Yikers! 

My First Christmas!

This little number was a Christmas gift given to us when our son was about a month old.  It's cute for sure, but wowzas, it's HUGE!  Honestly, I don't think there is a single child under one year of age that could wear this.  Here is our boy, now seven months old, trying it on for size.  Nope, he's still swimming in it, lol.  When we first saw this, we couldn't stop laughing.  It was a well-meaning gift and so sweet of her to get this for Crew, but we'll never forget the laughs it gave us.  Maybe he can wear this for his 3rd Christmas; I'll just use a permanent marker and cross out the "1st" in front of the word Christmas. Or wait, there is such a thing as Christmas in July, right?!  :)

Crew's First Time at the Pool

 While my sister's family was visiting, we decided to spend an afternoon at the Aransas Pass Aquatic Center.  This place is pretty awesome; we all had lots of fun!  And...this was a first for our little guy.  He really seemed to enjoy watching the ripples on the water and splashing his little hands and feet in it.  It was pretty stinkin' cute!  :)  I just love having the whole family together; it's always so sad when Holly, Joey, and kids have to head back home.  I sure wish we lived closer to eachother.  I think even Crew shed a tear or two when the family left.  Either that or he was hungry, I forget.  Enjoy the photos from our day at the pool!  I think we should make this a summer tradition.  And I somehow managed to miss getting a photo of Cali and Joey.  Sorry guys!  :(