Pops and Mimi and an early birthday celebration!

This past weekend, Pops and Mimi came for a visit and for an early birthday celebration with Pearce!  Pops is leaving for Rwanda on the 25th for a medical mission trip!  They came with two big presents and Pearce had no trouble ripping into the paper...and then trying to eat some of that paper.  He opened his presents Friday night and then Daddy put them together and Pearce was ready to play all day Saturday with his new toys!  He got a little play center that has a slide, basketball and goal, and a baseball and bat!  Perfect for him to crawl all over.  He also got the cutest little zebra ride-on toy.  He didn't quite know how to move it at first, but now he totally has the hang of it! 

Pearce loves to clap now....and every time he does clap, we all say, "Yaaaay!"  It is so cute!

How cute are these??

Daddy showed Pearce how to sit on Mr. Zebra and move his legs to make Mr. Zebra go.

Pearce loved going up and down the slide!

Pops loved taking Pearce on a wagon ride around the block.  The whole time Pearce was just squealing and yelling and having the best time!

Saturday night Chris cooked us a great dinner, but the main attraction was Pearce eating his cake!  He was starting to get tired, so we put a hold on dinner prep and just went ahead and gave Pearce his cake.  I got 5 different slices of cake at the store for all of us.  Pearce's was white cake with sprinkles and I put a little number 1 candle on his cake.  We were trying to get a good picture of Pearce with the candle lit, but I was so afraid of him putting his hand on the candle, so then I just blew out the candle and gave him the cake....TOTALLY forgot to sing Happy Birthday to Pearce!!!!!!!  I feel awful about that!  I guess we can say this was a practice run, but ugh!!!  Oh well, he LOVED his cake and we all loved watching him play with it and take bites and smile and clap!

The adoring grandparents!!

After this, Mimi cleaned up and Pearce went straight to the tub!  We had such a fun time with Pops and Mimi as always.  Thank you so much for a great weekend and for spoiling our baby boy!  Pops, we hope you have a great time in Africa...can't wait to see all of your pics!  During his trip, Pops is going to go on a day trip to see the mountain gorillas!  I can't wait to hear all about that!  I hope you see a mama and baby gorilla!  We love you Pops and Mimi!!!!

11 months old!

Pearce, you turned 11 months old on Christmas Day!  You were just getting over a really bad cold and you still weren't your happy self.  The pictures below definitely show that!  You also do NOT like to put your birthday hat on anymore.  What are we going to do about that when you have your party?  Although you were not feeling good, I still think these pictures are adorable!  I think you still look so cute even when you cry!

Here are some things I want to remember about your 10th month:

*You crawled non-stop and are very fast!  You especially like it when I "chase" you.  I'll say, "I'm gonna get you" and you immediately start crawling as fast as you can, then stop and look for me....then crawl some more.  It's so fun!

*You began pulling up to a standing position and cruising around furniture!

*You baby-talk all the time.  You say dada, but I can't get you to say mama on command :)

*You know the word "cookie."  When I ask you if you want a cookie (Mum-Mum rice cookie), you smile and start kicking your legs!

*You LOVE all dogs!

*You weighed 21 lbs., 2 oz.

*28.5 inches

*You wore a size 3 diaper, but size 4 at night because you were leaking.

*Size 12 month clothes.

*You began eating chunkier foods and LOVE to eat.  You began feeding yourself pretty well.  You especially love peas.

*You still took 7 ounces of formula at a time, but I noticed you did not drink as much formula as in past months because of you eating "real" food.

*You still took 2 2-hour naps a day.  I almost always have to wake you from your afternoon nap.  

*You still sleep with your two blankies and suck on the corners.

*My favorite of all is that you started giving me hugs.  When I get you up from your naps, you will wrap your arms around my neck and I'll just hug you and say "I love you" and you will lay your head on me and hug me!  You don't do it all the time, but when you do, I just love it!!!! 

*You did begin throwing little fits.  You always want to crawl to the dog bowls and play in the water.  If I say no and pick you up, you will start kicking your legs and cry.  If you're sitting on the floor and we say no about something, you'll put your head down and cry.  Daddy and I get a kick out of it sometimes because you can get soooo upset.  But, thankfully, it doesn't last long and doesn't take much to get you happy again :) 

Pearce, Daddy and I just feel so lucky to have you.  You are at such a fun age right now where you actually play and know what you want....and don't want :)  You are really starting to understand what we say.  You don't always like it when we say no to you, but it is very easy to re-direct you.  You are the best thing that has ever happened to us.  You make life so much fun!  We love you so much little guy and can't wait to see what your 11th month brings!!

Baby's First Christmas...Round 3!

We had such a fun Christmas in Dallas!  Although Pearce was sick with the WORST cold ever for the first part of it.  He was pretty pitiful and very whiny, but he rallied and still had a great time.  We went to Dallas on the 23rd and stayed with Ashley and Wayne.  They had all been sick too, so I didn't worry too much about him passing it on to them :)  On Christmas Eve, we went to Mama and Papa's house for chili and presents.  Mama and Papa got Pearce the cutest little red wagon!  He really loved being pulled in it.  Nathan and Charlotte had fun in it too.  Auntie Ashy and Uncle Wayne got Pearce a walker and boy, does he love it!  It was so funny that he totally knew what to do and had so much fun "walking" around.  He also got gift card to Toys R Us, so we'll go pick some more things out for him.  It was fun watching all the kids open their presents!  I took a TON of pictures, so here they are!

Every one's presents....I think the kids were drooling over this!

Sisters!

Chris and Wayne LOVED their presents from my parents :)

Christmas Day, we woke up and watched Nathan, Charlotte, and Pearce open their presents.  Santa was very good to Nathan and Charlotte....they racked up on fun presents!  Santa filled Pearce's stocking with some fun little toys and his favorite cookies.  He also got a few toys from Mommy and Daddy.  Charlotte loved helping Pearce open his presents!

Everyone came over to Ashley's for lunch.  Then it started snowing!  By the end of the day, we got about 4 inches of snow!  It was so fun for the little kids to go out and play in it.

Chris and I have been dying to let Pearce try a lemon....just to see the face he would make :)

He went back for more!

We had to take Pearce out to see his firs snow.  He had no idea what it was, but it was fun.  He sat by the back door and watched Nathan throw snow balls at the window :)

The 26th was Chris' birthday, so we went to my parents house and had a big birthday dinner for him.  My dad cooked the best kabobs and my mom made Chris his requested birthday dessert...bread pudding!  Chris went home on the 27th to do some work, but Pearce and I stayed a few extra days with Mama and Papa.  Thankfully, by this time, Pearce was pretty much back to his happy self.  Pearce and Papa always love to play ball.  Pearce also had fun crawling and climbing and pulling up on their dog, Cookie.  Cookie is such a good sport about that.  Mom and I had fun going to two movies and just running around together.  We had such a fun time in Dallas.  Pearce is beyond lucky to have such a loving family who just think every single thing he does is amazing :)  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!