LOOK WHO'S TALKING

What a little munchkin he is! Thomas turned fourteen months on the 28th, much to my dismay. I know I say this all the time, but time flies! He is so much fun right now. Always busy and on the go...running usually. He loves being outdoors and chasing Maggie all around the yard.

It has been so interesting to see his little personality emerging. He is sometimes so silly and then sometimes so serious...who knows what time will tell. He does has a temper and is feircly independent most of the time. He can also be the sweetest cuddle bug too...I love rocking him to sleep at night. I know those days will soon be over but I am enjoying every minute of him still being my "baby"!

All of the sudden in the past week, Thomas has begun saying new words every day. I figured I needed to write them down somewhere before I forget and since the poor thing has no baby book, the next best thing is the blog. The following is a list of words we hear on a regular basis:

• Dada and Momma (since around ten months) - He says dada all day long...it must be so sweet to be so loved!
• Bye and Bye Bye
• Papa (Papa Jim) and Nana - We are still working on Grandaddy and Meme
• Hap for happy - He loves the song "If Your Happy and You Know It"... and Happy Birthday
• Up - Finally! I have been working on this one for a long time. It's so nice for him to be prompted and sometimes on his own to say up when he wants us to hold him instead of fussing or whining.
• Ruff - we love dogs and our neighbors dogs bark a lot, so he is used to hearing that sound
• Moo - usually sounds more like ooo
• Dottle for bottle
• No - can't forget that one...he now points his finger when he says it. Wonder where he sees that?
• This probably doesn't count since I have not heard it since, but the other night at Moes Jenny and I swore he said pear and cookie...plain as day. Must have been a fluke!

I think that's about all. Thomas beginning to communicate is so fascinating to me. I can truly say that after working with so many children with autsim who struggle to get even their needs and wants known, each spoken word is like music to my ears. In the classroom each thing we did even down to how the room was arranged was in an attempt to elicit communication. Thomas' desire to communicate with those around him (even if it is to scream at us) is a blessing beyond belief...thank you Lord for our healthy baby boy!

One of my friends recently posted some pictures of her little girl on her blog and gave a "hats off" to all photographers, saying that it was nearly impossible to get any good shots of her. She actually did get some cute ones. So, here is the proof that even photographers have trouble taking pictures of their own kids! They are always worse for mommy even if she happens to be a children's photographer.

These are some pictures from an attempted photo shoot a couple weekends ago at my parent's house in Birmingham. He was either running, looking down, climbing, giving blank stares or as you can see, SCREAMING! What a mess. I am dreading shooting his twelve month sitting (now that he is almost fourteen months). Thank goodness for friends without children who love your child and whom your child adores, who always help make them smile.....so my "hats off" goes to Julie Henthorne. She has not missed one "formal" sitting since he was born and is my saving grace. Without her I would have no milestone pictures for my walls.

So Julie, are you ready????

What's For Dinner?

I'm sure most of you know, trying to prepare meals with a toddler in mind can get rather hard at times. They can be so finicky, loving something one day and the next day throwing all of it on the floor. I'm always excited when we can eat as a family and I don't have to make something special for Thomas. I cooked spaghetti for dinner tonight and as you can tell, Thomas thought it was devine! It was his first time to have it and I was pretty sure he would love it, since he adores lasagna. He's going to be just like me....be happy eating pasta every day! I promise the sauce really wasn't orange, but it sure looks that way in the pics.

Who Needs Shoes Anyway?

I love bare baby feet! I love how the really fat ones have dimples under each toe. There is something so Southern and sweet about them. They make any outfit, especially Sunday's best. Don't you agree? Actually, I am aware that I am probably in the minority on this subject. Ever since the weather turned cold and especially since Thomas began walking, everyone and their brother has asked me, "Where are his shoes?" When I reply that we don't own a pair, I get gasps, fingers in my face and a whole lot of "That boy needs some shoes!"

This past weekend my grandmother asked, "Brooke, do you take him to church like that?" She almost choked on her cheese straw when I adamantly stated, "That's the best place to go without shoes....what shoes would even look right with his sweet Sunday clothes?" Needless to say, she along with most the rest of the world (excluding the Montgomery style makers) strongly disagree. So, after being harassed by the fam in Birmingham this past weekend and coming to the realization that Thomas' stubbed toes will never heal if he keeps going up brick steps without them, I caved. I decided I would buy a pair of sweet white sandals, only to wear at the park of course.

The next day, my mom and I went to Sikes Children's Shoe Store in Birmingham and Thomas was sized in a size five. We then proceeded to try every sandal in the shop...nothing fit! I mean nothing! Not even the ugliest pair of shoes that sqeaked everytime he took a step (who would invent those) fit his short and fat little feet. He was in-between sizes in most shoes or they just did not fit at all. So after even the sales lady had given up and walked away, I grabbed a pair of navy blue crocs and thirteen dollars later...that boy had him a pair of shoes. Not the cutest by far and he needs to grow into them, but they will work for those extreme times.

So the next time you see a sweet pair of baby feet, just think of me and my short and fat barefooted little baby boy. I can hear my grandmother now..."Well how tacky Brooke!"

Sweeter Than Cake

This is where I found Thomas this morning while I was loading the dishwasher. Joanna had recently returned the cake platter from Prather's Christening. I put it in the dining room and had forgot it was even there. Thomas found it however, and thought it was so funny to climb up on top to sit, while banging his golf ball on it. He is all boy and always into something! I couldn't resist posting these pics...he sure is sweeter on top than any cake could ever be!

I've Been Tagged

I have been tagged with a “who are you?” game. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people, posts their names, and then leaves a comment on their blogs, letting them know they've been tagged. So here goes!

What was I Doing Ten Years Ago?

I was in the spring semester of my first year in college. Michael and I were dating and he was in B'ham finishing his senior year in highschool. I was probably counting the days until summer break because I missed him terribly that year! I lived with a highschool friend, Liz Stewart in Dowdell Hall, on the quad. We had no air conditioning and it was SO HOT! Roaches were everywhere...it was quite a site! We had great suite-mates, who I was very close to...Andrea and Amy. No worries, no cares, no mortage...those were the days!

Five THings on My To-Do List Today:

1. Go to Sam's for diapers, paper towels and toilet paper
2. Laundry, laundry and more laundry (it is always on my to-do list)
3. Reorganize the drawers in the kitchen since Thomas' favorite thing is to go through them all about three hundred times a day. He continues to go for the ones with the nails and picture hangers in them....yes, you can say that I missed the chapter about baby proofing your home way before the baby becomes mobile!
4. Do my Beth Moore bible study homework for the day...she is an awesome teacher and I learn something new about our amazing Savior each day from her study
5. Cut up chicken for our dinner tonight...Cream of Chicken Bake...YUM YUM!

Five Snacks I Enjoy:

1. Funguns - they really are quite tasty, try them sometime....then brush your teeth before speaking to anyone
2. Any kind of hard candy, Sprees, Starburst, etc.
3. Baked Lays
4. Oranges
5. McDonalds french fries

Five Things I Would Do if I Were a Billionaire:

1. Give to those less fortunate
2. Save for our retirement, for our children's future, and invest
3. Pay off all debt, and while I am at it, pay cash for a vacation home or two
4. Donate to DAN (Defeat Autism Now!)
5. Give to our church

Five Bad Habits:

1. I drink way too many Cokes and not near enough water
2. I am a little bit of a procrastinator...I think I actually work better this way...I bet every procrastinator says that!
3. I hardly ever make up my bed. That is such a shame because it is so pretty when it's made up and my husband loves getting into a crisp bed at night...sorry Michael
4. Wearing clothes that are way to old and way out of style (I need your help Ali)
5. Not telling those I love how much they mean to me enough!!!

Five Places I Have Lived:

1. Russellville, Alabama - was born and lived until my third B'Day
2. Birmingham, Alabama - lived from three until college
3. Auburn - college until present
4. Washington, D.C. - interned for Sentaor Shelby for a summer...I actually lived with friends in Fairfax, Virginia and we rode the metro in everyday

Five Jobs I've Had or Have:

1. Receptionist for a hair salon in highschool ("26 Dexter Hair and Nail Salon, How may I help You?")
2. Nanny in college
3. Special Education Teacher
4. Autism Consultant for the State
5. Mommy - by far the hardest and most rewarding!

I Want To Know More About (a nice way of saying, "Your Tagged!")

1. Ashley Bennett
2. Ashleigh Thompson
3. Molly Foster
4. Julie Westra
5. Holly Muncie

HAPPY EASTER!

What a whirlwind of a day! We had a wonderful day with lots of family and friends. Michael and I had fun watching Thomas enjoy all the Easter festivites. Brother George preached a wonderful sermon (as usual), we had a fabulous lunch with both sets of grandparents and then headed to Montgomery to visit with more family!

Although this is really Thomas' second easter, it felt like his first since last year he was only a few weeks old. Being a parent helps me to really appreciate the awesome fact that God gave his only son for you and me.....what a truly amazing gift!!!!! Here are a few pictures from our day. Hope you enjoy!