Standing

We have a stubborn little man who hasn't been interested in walking or standing. Joe and I are working with him to get him to start standing more. He gets so frustrated, drops to his booty and starts crawling.

Joey: 15 Months

Our 19 pound, 3 ounce, 30 1/2 inch long little man is 15 months and busier than ever!

Joey is talking more than before. He's saying yea, wow and bye. He thinks it's hilarious to growl (grrr) when knocking over blocks or being goofy.

When we sing itsy bitsy spider, Joey's starting to do the finger movements and says itsy. He gets so excited and claps and says yea when the song is over.

Still not ready to walk, our little man is a super fast crawler. He puts his foot down and makes us think he's going to stand up and run around, but no go. He's also into sitting and scooting now.

Joey's turned into a bit of a picky eater. He thinks he could survive off bananas, fish sticks and chicken nuggets alone. We do what we can to trick him into eating other foods and sometimes it works. We'll keep trying. :)

Poor little guy's been sick for a few days, so don't mind the red nose in the photo.

White Christmas

It's snowing! We are having a white Christmas in Dallas and it's beautiful! It started snowing today around 1:30 this afternoon and kept going for about five or six hours.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Priest family!

Christmas morning

Joey has been feeling a little under the weather for the past couple of days, so he wasn't his usual chipper self this morning. He smiled a little here and there when he saw what Santa brought him and unwrapped the rest of his presents.

They put me in a walker!

While in Houston, we put Joey in a walker to see what he would do. He was much more interested in the turn signal buttons on the steering wheel of the thing than actually walking.

Babies, babies everywhere!

Babies everywhere at the Priest Christmas - such sweet cousins!

Joey loves John

Joey and I headed to Houston this weekend for the Priest family Christmas. I was amazed to see how much Joey loves John. I expected him to maybe relate a little more to baby Eli and baby Adley, but he just wanted to see what John was doing.

Bear

We did a ton of Christmas shopping today and snuck into Helzberg to get my wedding ring repaired. While I was talking with one sales clerk, another was showing Joey the Make A Wish bear. The kiddo fell in love and started to cry when we took it away. Needless to say, we came home with a bear. Good thing proceeds go to a good cause!

Visiting Santa

This year's visit with Santa had its high points and its low points. There was no line, no crowd, little wait - SCORE! Joey was a little unsure of Santa this year though. Only three shots between the tears. The other two were a look of terror on his face. It's a good thing Santa had a book, which Joey was alright with.

Hanging in East Texas

Joey got to hang out with his grandparents, Uncle Ben and cousin Eli this weekend in East Texas. As you can see, Grandma couldn't get enough snuggles with these sweet babies.



Grandpa calls this his "low" chair



Sharing Cookie Monster with Eli - I think he likes it!

Family photos

We took advantage of our trip to East Texas this weekend by taking family photos. It's just so beautiful out there, we couldn't resist.

Here are a few of the good ones. I feel one making it onto this year's Christmas card!

Inside the built-in

One of Joey's new favorite places is inside the built-in. He likes to pull everything out, crawl in and bang his toys on it. It's a good thing it's anchored in!

Joey: 14 Months

Joey is 14 months! The scale is reading around 18 pounds 9 (for the third month in a row), but I swear he feels heavier.

This kiddo is quite content with crawling, doesn't seem to be interested in walking yet. He is a talker! He's switched up mama and says mommy (emphasis on the "ee"), he's said daddy once or twice, but switches it to de-da more often than not. It's pretty cute. He's also said thank you and please. He will mimic just about any sound we make.

Joey loves music and singing. He claps and dances and will sometimes try to sing along. His favorite nursery rhymes are Itsy Bitsy Spider and Old McDonald.

His love for Elmo still continues. He also loves his little people figures. Anything "hand" sized seems to be particularly appealing. He also continues to enjoy his books, pulling them out on his own and enjoys being read to.

The photo ops are getting particularly difficult. This month, he was very interested in picking the chalk board up and throwing it at me. So with slim pickins, enjoy.

Busy Weekend

What a weekend! Joe worked like crazy, the life of a career in retail, and Joey and I avoided anything that resembled a store. At least until late this afternoon. Instead, I spent the long weekend hanging with my favorite little guy and doing some spring cleaning.

Everything in the house was picked up, rearranged, dusted, moved...cleaned. I took this opportunity to disinfect Joey's toys and mess with the built-in. I also realized we'd talked about it, but never really given a peak at it. It's built, and except for some much needed decorating, complete. It houses Joey's toys, along with a few other items. For now, it will probably stay as it is, until he gets a little older and understands he can't pull everything out of it he sees.

The built-in, minus Joey's toys

The toys that go in the bottom shelves

Sweet Tooth

Joey has a sweet tooth (like his daddy). Anything chocolate or sweet and he's all over it! I snapped some pictures of his Thanksgiving feasting, but didn't get any video, so today I gave him a piece of brownie.

Haapy Thanksgiving!

We spent today at Joe's sister Melanie's house with the Priest fam. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time catching up with family.

Ashlee showing Joey a balloon turkey

Uncle Joe with sweet baby Adley

Joey with turkey, dressing, cranberries, potatoes, peas and carrots - couldn't get enough!

His second helping!

And he finished it off with some chocolate pie - yum!

How 'Bout them Cowboys!

Joe and I had the pleasure of going to the Cowboys/Browns game. While it wasn't pretty, it was a win and we had a blast!

Great picture, except for the photo bomb - it's a good thing we know him

Can't stop talking long enough to smile

Finally, this one will work

Dump Truck

Joey was playing with the dump truck tonight. Pushing it around, playing with the man and the rock.

Cooler weather

I love that the weather is getting a little cooler. We had a cold front come in last night, so I enjoyed dressing Joey in some warm weather gear for the day.

Touchdown!

We've been trying for what feels like weeks to capture Joey saying touchdown while doing the arm signal. Like with most things, as soon as we pull out the phone he stops.

He starts to do it, then gets mad in the first one.

 

He's having more fun playing with his footballs in the second one.

 

New kicks

How cute are Joey's new shoes! While visiting daddy at work yesterday, he lit up when he saw the Elmo shoes. How could we say no? =)

Visiting Daddy

Joey and I headed off to visit daddy at work today.

He is a much happier kiddo with the new carseat. He's still rear-facing, but can see out the window and is at a much more comfortable angle. It's a lot easier on us to load and unload him from the car too. He's been in it for about a month now, but this is the first pic. =)

30 Days of Thanks - Part 2

I enjoyed doing the 30 Days of Thanks so much last year, I decided to do it again this year. I can't guarantee there won't be duplicates because I'm not going to go back and see what I wrote last year until the end of the month - I want each thought to come from the heart.

1. I am thankful to be a mom. Joey has changed me in ways I never thought imaginable. I love that little boy more than I knew my heart was capable of loving.
2. I am thankful for my husband. Joe is truly a great person and partner in life and I am grateful God brought him into my life.
3. I am thankful for our home. Not only is it shelter, but the blood, sweat and tears we have put into this place makes me proud of it. I couldn't think of a better place to begin raising our family.
4. I am thankful for Joe's new job. He is a much happier person and is able to spend more time at home with his family.
5. I am thankful we found Miss Toni. Joey loves going to daycare and playing with the kids everyday and I feel comfortable and confident when we drop him off. We found a great fit for our family and I am grateful to have someone so great watch my baby boy when we can't.
6. I am thankful to live in a nation where we have the right to vote and choose the leader of our country. No matter who wins, we all have the ability to have our voice heard.
7. I am thankful for our family near and far. We may not get to spend as much time with them as we'd like. But I love each of you and miss you all dearly. 
8. I am thankful for technology and can't imagine life without television, computer, phone...sounds terrible, but it's amazing how much we rely on these things. 
9. I am thankful for weekends! Although I've always loved them, I cherish them more now than I ever did. Spending time with Joe and Joey is my favorite thing ever! 
10. I am thankful for football season. While our teams aren't doing the best this year, it's one of my favorite parts of fall - which is my favorite season, by far.
11. I am thankful that Joey's last tooth cut! He has five teeth now and after six weeks of teething, we may finally have some relief and a happy little man. 
12. I am thankful for cooler weather. Although it's a little harder to get out of bed, it's great snuggling weather.
13. I am thankful for our fur babies. Though they don't get as much attention as they did a couple of years ago, they were my first babies and I will always hold a special place in my heart for each of them. I love the moments when Joey's in bed for the night and they come in for a snuggle.  
14. I am thankful for amazing friends. It seems the closest are the furthest away, but I love and miss each of you dearly. 
15. I am thankful for my DVR. I love television and love that I don't have to choose, I can have it all - and without commercials. 
16. I love the time Joey and I have together in the mornings. We have our routine, but he is the sweetest thing in the morning. I love that while getting ready for work, we laugh and play and spend time together. I couldn't think of a happier, better way to start the day.
17. I am thankful for fun filled days running errands and spending time with my sweet baby boy. 
18. I am thankful for being able to go to the Cowboys/Browns game today - we had a blast!
19. I am thankful for short work weeks and being able to wear jeans all week.
20. I am thankful for bath time fun with Joey. He loves his bath - loves to sing, dance and play with his toys. I cherish moments like these each and every day.
21. I am thankful to have a 4 1/2 day weekend! I love holiday weekends, especially the really long ones.
22. I am thankful to have my husband home for Thanksgiving (first one in six years) and to be able to spend the day with family. I am also thankful for Skype. Without it, I wouldn't have been able to "see" my family today.
23. I am thankful for Black Friday sales - especially the Internet kind. I have never been one to be out in the crowds fighting for a deal, now I can do it from the comfort of my couch.
24. I am thankful for lazy Saturdays.
25. I am thankful that not only can my husband cook, but he enjoys to. It's nice to share that duty and enjoy his cooking.
26. I am thankful for my washer and dryer. Less than a year old and I am still in love with them. No one should enjoy laundry this much. I'm sure the novelty will eventually wear off, but for now I'm still smitten.
27. I am thankful for patience. Sometimes it wears a little thin, especially when it comes to work. This week I've had to have a lot of it.
28. I am thankful Joey loves to sleep. He loves his naps and going to bed at night. He will sometimes even ask for it by saying ni-night.
29. I am thankful I've gotten a jump-start on my holiday shopping. Hopefully this year Christmas won't sneak up on me.
30. I missed posting this on Veteran's Day, but I'm thankful for our troops. The sacrifices they make (and that of their families) to fight for the freedom of our nation is amazing.
31. I am thankful tomorrow is December - let the Christmas season begin!

Joey: 13 Months

A few days late, but we decided to continue Joey's monthly milestones posts past his first year! With the teething and sick baby, I'm a little late on this one.

Just one month past a year and I can't believe how much our little man changes each month. We have quite the talker on our hands! He says touchdown, what's that, yea and has said thank you a couple of times. Lots of babble out of this little guy. No change on the standing/walking. This kiddo is quite content crawling around everywhere.

I weighed Joey on our scale at home and it's reading 18 pounds, which is the same as last month.

Joey is much more in tune with what's going on around him and pays attention and mimics more than ever. His love affair with the cats has continued and has a new found love for Elmo. He has little Elmo and Cookie Monster figures that his LOVES. Joey is a busy little bee and loves to play and read books.

The bottle is completely gone, haven't seen it in about a month, but the pacifier is a different story. He is quite attached, though we try to only give it to him at bedtime. I have a feeling that will be a huge pain to break him of.

Joey is full-on solid foods and is eating things like biscuits, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, fish sticks, grilled cheese, mac & cheese, spaghetti, etc. in addition to the fruits and veggies that we give him regularly. He is starting to show favoritism - favorites including bananas, blueberries, chicken nuggets and fish sticks. He seems to think that he doesn't need vegetables, but we're not quite convinced of that. My good little veggies eater is changing his mind, but I won't give up.

Since Joey is over a year old, we've decided to change up the photo a little - enjoy!

Home sick

Joey's home sick today. :( Just a high fever - he's got something viral that has to run its course. So while he naps, why not blog?

Decisions, decisions - Pedialyte or Milk?

Kitties make him feel a little better

A little tail grab before she runs away

Not feeling so great. A little Sesame Street before heading to the pediatrician.

Joey loves berries!

Joey's palette has broadened. He's upgraded his love for berries to include raspberries and blackberries. This kid can't get enough!