Big Boy

This big boy has started eating solids and it is A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E.



The first few nights I would describe as "force feeding", but then all of a sudden he started opening his mouth as the spoon approached, then swallowed like he knew what to do all along!

I totally teared up and was a little embarrassed and didn't want Brian to see me ... but I looked over and Brian was crying too! Ha ... our baby is just growing up too fast!

Cold cold cold in Texas

It got cold in Texas. Like cold I've never felt before. It was bone-chilling.

So ... I had to keep Beckham warm at night ... we had to improvise and turn his leg warmers into arm warmers. And yes he slept with mittens. It was THAT cold.

My Birthday

@ Dinner with my friends for my birthday! So fun!

Tristan McGuire Bond

We have a new baby in our family! He was born January 15, 2011 and is a sweet heart!

I haven't gotten to meet him yet ... but I get to soon! \

Here are some pictures of my little {hairy} nephew.

Uncle Lane

On January 5th my uncle passed away. He was an incredible man. He lived such a humble life and was loved by everyone. I was really troubled by his death because of the way he died, it is the first time I've lost someone so close to me, the thought of his family without him ... but all in all I've definitely relied on my testimony of the Plan of Salvation and felt great comfort in that.

(I cannot create a link .. so you can view the news articcle my copy/pasting this address - http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_southeast_valley/mesa/mesa-man-dies-in-freak-accident)

He turns 62 tomorrow. Lane was so full of life. He was hilarious and always made the goofiest faces, cracked the silliest jokes, teased me ... was a ton of fun! He made an effort to come visit my family at least once a week all growing up. We loved Lane and were extremely close to him. My cousins are more like brothers and sisters to me! We have the best relationship.

I had the opportunity to go "home home" (Arizona) for his funeral. You know what is great about the Gospel? The fact that we know we are going to be with Lane again and that he is SO happy where he is at now. Knowing this made the weekend more of a celebration than a sad occasion. We celebrated his life. Ate at his favorite restaurant. Did a temple session in his honor. Laughed and told fun stories. Had family meals like old times. It was great! His funeral is beautiful. The stories shared were so fun. The spirit was so strong.

I have missed my cousins so much and it was SO fun to see them. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Hallows cousins!

(Allison I stole your collage!)

Christmas ...... in February??

This post literally took like 10 hours because my blogger is doing some crazy things! So all the pictures are out of order and I did not care to spend anymore time to organize them. Oh well!

We had an awesome time in Utah for Christmas. This year we spent it with Brian's family. We did so much fun stuff and enjoyed being around all of our family soo much! We also got to see my family shortly ... loved that!


Erika & B


I realized I have like ZERO pictures with my boy


Grandma Great with Beckham - she is adorable with him!


Wrapping paper was a hit with b!


A "secret Santa" provided provocative panties for all the ladies. Never a dull moment with my BIL Devin around.


The cousins (minus Parker) in their Christmas jams.


Brian received the "First Gift of Christmas" - happens each year. It was a "Pimp Goblet" that is currently being displayed on our end table. Last month my visiting teacher was clearly embarrassed to see it.


Santa was WAY WAY too good to us this year.


Skyping with Carrie, Taft, and Parker in Germany on Christmas morning.


Ashlyn was Mary in Grandma Great's nativity on Christmas Eve. This was my first year going to this with Brian's family and I LOVED it. Really. A great reminder of why we celebrate Christmas.


Ashlyn riding in on the donkey (she chose her dad to be the donkey).


Me.Sister Ari.BIL Danny.


Mimi & Beckham


Gammy.Sister Ari.Baby Tristan.BIL Danny


Me.Beckham.Tio Reed.Goppy


Grandpa & b


Brian & I got a date night to watch my third boyfriend Jimmer (after Brian and then Beckham) play some basketball.


Cousin Taylor & Beckham ... I love Taylor's rosy cheeks after playing in the snow! I think she looks sooo cute right here!


Cousins Tay & Ash playing in the snow.


On our way to UTAH for Christmas!!!

New Employee

Brian wants to hire Beckham as his new DeWALT representative ... I think they'd make some good money!

O.M.G.

Where have I been you ask??

.Utah for Christmas. {Pictures later}
.Back home to Austin for a low key New Years Eve.
.Arizona for my sweet Uncle Lane's funeral. {Pictures later}
.A nephew was born... Tristan McGuire Bond!! {Pictures later}
.Battling RSV and Bronchiolitis with Beckham. Battle OVER.
.Taking care of Brian who keeps getting the flu/bad cold.
.Celebrated my BIRTHDAY!
.Lots of Young Women activities and Personal Progress.
.Watching my baby boy grow up WAY TOO FAST! {Pictures later}
.Job searching like cRAzY!
.Tanning .. because that's what B got me for my birthday .. FABULOUS gift.

Here's a picture to hold you off a little longer ...

What Shall We Give?

I found this video on lds.org and thought it was a beautiful message. At the end I was surprised to see Brian's grandma in it! Ward members often help her with her yard work and I guess they were filmed doing it.

I am so looking forward to Christmas. This time of the year is so different from any other time. It causes me to reflect on my life and all of my blessings. I have so much to be thankful for, foremost my Savior, Jesus Christ. I am thankful for his birth, his life, his forgiveness, his resurrection. I believe in him and his healing power. I hope your Christmas is full of family and good memories and that you feel the spirit of Christ.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was great for us here in Tejas! I only took one picture over the entire weekend --- which was jam packed! Gah! I'm the worst! So Brian suggested to make the post about our weekend interesting by saying what I am thankful for ...

I'm thankful for friends who throw Pie Parties and allow me to make a "Berrie to Die for Pie".


I'm thankful for Turkey Bowls on Thanksgiving morning that make husbands very happy.

I'm thankful for Beckham. And I'm thankful he helped me do my Thanksgiving cooking even if it did slooooww things down a bit.


I'm thankful for friends here in Texas that were thoughtful enough to invite us over for a Thanksgiving feast.

I'm thankful for said feast and for conversation & laughs with said friends.

I'm thankful for FUN times during a girls' night of Black Friday shopping.

I'm thankful that Beckham voluntarily slept until TEN so I could get a few zzZZzZ after shopping until 5am. (Spent $200 on items that would have totaled $475!!!)

I'm thankful for competition that makes life exciting -- BYU vs. Utah.

I'm not thankful for the outcome of said game, but we had fun watching it with friends.

I'm thankful for family - whom we missed tremendously and SO look forward to seeing in just THREE weeks. Is Christmas really that close??

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Pies

Been makin some pies lately ... here are some pictures of the lovelies.
They may not look beautiful ... but they tasted beautiful.

Caramel Apple Pie



Classic Pecan Pie



Pink Lemonade Pie

Beckham plays in his crib for like 20 minutes before he naps .. then he crashes!

This kid is so dang happy!

NEW E*TRADE Baby -- Time Out

I laugh out loud every time I see these commercials.
This one, "Time out", might be the best one.
There are two version and both are hilarious!

4 Months!

This little guy is 4 months today!!

He weighs 14 pounds (50th percentile)
Is 26 inches long (40th percentile)
Smiles & Squeals like it is nobody's business
Quit sleeping through the night :(
Flirts with all the ladies old & young at church
Eats/Sucks on everything he can get in his mouth

Love him!!

Bumbo & Rice Cereal

Today was a big day for Beckham.

He got a new chair .. more like a throne. I've been begging Brian to let me get him a Bumbo (off of craigslist for $15!!!) & finally convinced him that:
a. $15 is not that much money
b. $15 is especially not that much money if the item retails for $50
c. it could easily be stored out of site and thus out of mind

Beckham also ate rice cereal for the first time today! We were excited about this and so we taped it. I have a bajillion videos we've taken of him and I want to post them on here for the Grandparents sake because I can't figure out how to email them (I've tried zipping them)... but I refrain because I don't want to be a psycho-obsessive mother. So occasionally there will be a video of my boy and you will just have to suck it up.

Bumbo = success
Rice Cereal = well see the video below. Oh & please don't judge me by my nastiness ... Brian has the flu and so I took that as an excuse to not get ready.