In just a few short weeks, Will has tripled the number of teeth in his mouth from 2 to 6. Now when Will smiles, his once adorable gummy smiles have now been replaced with a full set of teeth, just like a little monster.
For a while he only had his lower two middle teeth, but just as we were getting used to his "Billy Bob" smile, Will's four top teeth came in. We were afraid that at first, only his upper canine teeth would come in, causing him to look more like a baby vampire than our sweet angel. But, in a turn of events, the middle teeth decided to make a quick break out and caught up to the others, giving him a full and handsome smile.
Will never complained while all his teeth were coming in (at least we didn't notice him complaining), I think mostly because he quickly realized that with more teeth comes better tasting food.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Mardi Gras Mambo!
The catches of the day. (The one on my hip was the best thing I caught all day.)
In mid February, we got to celebrate yet another first with our Little Bean. Yep, that's right Will experienced his first Mardi Gras! Granted, it was a lot tamer and more kid friendly than the previous years, but Ben and I agree it was the best Mardi Gras we've ever had because we got to spend it with our sweet baby.
On Saturday, February 13, we took him to the Lafayette Children's Parade. As the bands rolled by and the floats drove past with beads flying through the air, I don't think he really knew what to make of the situation. He was probably wondering why in the heck everybody was so excited to catch beads worth no more than 50 cents a piece. It was a little chilly and windy that afternoon as well, so he wasn't as enthusiastic as we thought he might be. All in all, it was still a great first experience with him.
On Fat Tuesday, we decided to give it another go and took him to the Lafayette King's Parade, and he seemed to enjoy it much more. As the bands passed he would bounce his head to the beat, and after seeing me raise my hands up and hollering for beads, Will actually followed suit. It was so cute to watch him raise his hands up on his own and scream as the floats went by. I must admit, he was the reason that we caught so many beads. As the men on the floats would see him, they would point at him, then throw us the beads. Several times we had to go into full protection mode as the beads would rain on our little guy. He was just so cute they couldn't resist :) In fact, I think we caught more and better quality beads with him then we have in recent years. It was a blast!
Before we knew it, Mardi Gras was over and Ash Wednesday was here. We took Will to Ash Wednesday Mass in the evening, where he talked the entire time. It was kind of funny that Will didn't quite know what to make of the ashes on our foreheads. He even cried a little at Ben when he tried picking him up. After mass we enjoyed some fried shrimp poboys at one of our favorite restaurants in town. It was a special evening for us to share as a family.
Notice the excitement on Will's face (insert sarcasm here). Please don't criticize his wardrobe. We were running a little late, and didn't have time to get him dressed. He is slightly mismatched, but still as cute as a button.
Still not grasping the concept of the beads.
"I've got my game face on. Bring on the King's Parade!"
Following Momma's lead.
After Ash Wednesday Mass.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Bubbles, Bubbles Everywhere, But Not a Drop to Drink
What's a cheap thing to do to entertain your 10 month old son on a slightly rainy day? Blowing bubbles of course!
For only a dollar or so, we found great enjoyment is seeing Will's exciting reaction to bubbles. He's still too young to blow the bubbles himself, but he's definitely old enough to pop 'em! Krissy or I would create a few hundred bubbles at a time and then hold Will while we chased them around together. Even with the sticky spray from popped bubbles keep getting in his face, he loved it! It's definitely a fun activity we'll be participating in a whole lot more.
Cheap thrills
For only a dollar or so, we found great enjoyment is seeing Will's exciting reaction to bubbles. He's still too young to blow the bubbles himself, but he's definitely old enough to pop 'em! Krissy or I would create a few hundred bubbles at a time and then hold Will while we chased them around together. Even with the sticky spray from popped bubbles keep getting in his face, he loved it! It's definitely a fun activity we'll be participating in a whole lot more.
Cheap thrills
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Mr. Clean
I don't know how, I don't know why, but all of a sudden our little man is obsessed with brooms and mops. A couple of days ago, I put Will in his walker as I typically do so I could get a few things done around the kitchen. He walked himself into the laundry room, grabbed the broom, and started dragging it along the floor alongside his walker as if he was really sweeping the floor.
It all started out innocent enough with just the broom, and since then has developed into an obsession with all of the stick like cleaning tools. Even though the laundry room door is closed most of the time, our guy will ram into it at just the right speed to pop it open on his own. He then proceeds to reach for the broom or mop and bring it out into the kitchen. When he gets bored with one, he rolls right back to the laundry room and grabs another. The cycle continues until the broom, two mops, and swiffer stick are lying across various parts of the kitchen floor.
Once he goes back to the laundry room to find there are no more brooms or mops to pull out he walks over to the ones on the floor and somehow manages to get himself out of his walker and hangs upside down from the walker from one foot, and tries grabbing them off of the floor.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Back in Laffy!
I know many of you are saying, "Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?" I know, so are we, and in fact, everything has happened so quickly that we don't even have answers for those questions.
What we can tell you is what happened over the last couple months. At the end of the year, someone purchased the condo we were renting in Alexandria, and we were forced to relocate. We searched and searched for nearly two months, looking at rentals houses, condos, and apartments, but everything in town was just way too expensive or way too crummy for us to even consider bringing Will into. Eventually, through a friend of mine at work, we found a place 15 minutes south of Alexandria in the small town of Woodworth.
If you're looking for Woodworth on a map, you won't find much. It's basically one of those single red light along a highway kind of places. It's quiet, and it's only reason for existence besides being a country alternative to Alexandria is that it is adjacent to both the Indian Creek Reservoir and Kisatchie National Forest, both of which offer wonderful recreational opportunities.
So, at the end of the year, we packed up our belongings and moved to a cabin in Woodworth. Yes, I said cabin, and when I say cabin, I mean a Little House on the Prairie, oldest structure in town kind of dwelling. It was cute, affordable, and owned by two of the sweetest people we met in Cenla (Central Louisiana), John and Judy McLure. Our first week in Woodworth was a cold one! Due to the fact thath this home is so old, it wasn't quite up to the task of keeping us warm... at least not little Will. When the temperatures dropped to the mid-teens for several days, Krissy and Will bolted for Lafayette and left me by myself for a cold 5 days.
Our Little House on the Prairie.
"It's cold in these old houses."
While I was in Woodworth, I received a call from Art Hawkins, a man I met randomly on the golf course in Lafayette during Thanksgiving break. Art and his father-in-law were placed with me, my Dad and my Grandpa to fill a fivesome. As I talked with Art, he told me that he was the Scout Executive for the Evangeline Area Council Boy Scouts of America, headquarted in Lafayette. What perked my interest in his job, seeing as I wasn't a Boy Scout, was the mention of a project they were hoping to land that focused on developing the Atchafalaya Basin as a Scout recreational opportunity. Knowing that my current employer, Moore Planning Group (MPG), had once worked on a master plan for the Basin, I was very curious about how I could get MPG involved with the Scouts.
Back to Woodworth. So, I'm sitting alone in the cabin, in the cold without cable, and I get a call from Art. He wants to interview me, and potentially offer me a job as the leader of the Atchafalay Basin Scout Program. I was very suprised at the opportunity and went down one weekend to meet with Art and the Council President. Though Art liked what MPG had to offer the Scouts, he was more interested in hiring a single person with recreational planning experience to run the the program. Thanks to my time with Design Workshop in Asheville, and the project experience I had in designing recreational packages, along with my newfound strategic implementation knowledge from MPG, the Evangeline Area Council offered me a full-time position that needed me to start in one week.
Making the difficult decision to leave a great job and amazing friends in Alexandria, the Pierces left Cenla, after spending only 9 days (4 for Krissy and Will) in our new place in Woodworth, to head back home to Lafayette. I began my job Friday, January 15th and will immediately start working on the planning for the Council's Centennial Celebration of the Boy Scouts of America which will take place on February 20th. Not a lot of time and from what I've been told, a lot to do! It should be exciting!
So here we are, back in the town that our families are in, and the place where we grew up. It's been 10 years since we permanently lived in Lafayette (if you count the 5 years at LSU and time in Asheville and Alexandria) and we're ready to experience the city as adults and a family. Welcome home.
"Brace yourself Lafayette, I'm here to stay!!!"
What we can tell you is what happened over the last couple months. At the end of the year, someone purchased the condo we were renting in Alexandria, and we were forced to relocate. We searched and searched for nearly two months, looking at rentals houses, condos, and apartments, but everything in town was just way too expensive or way too crummy for us to even consider bringing Will into. Eventually, through a friend of mine at work, we found a place 15 minutes south of Alexandria in the small town of Woodworth.
If you're looking for Woodworth on a map, you won't find much. It's basically one of those single red light along a highway kind of places. It's quiet, and it's only reason for existence besides being a country alternative to Alexandria is that it is adjacent to both the Indian Creek Reservoir and Kisatchie National Forest, both of which offer wonderful recreational opportunities.
So, at the end of the year, we packed up our belongings and moved to a cabin in Woodworth. Yes, I said cabin, and when I say cabin, I mean a Little House on the Prairie, oldest structure in town kind of dwelling. It was cute, affordable, and owned by two of the sweetest people we met in Cenla (Central Louisiana), John and Judy McLure. Our first week in Woodworth was a cold one! Due to the fact thath this home is so old, it wasn't quite up to the task of keeping us warm... at least not little Will. When the temperatures dropped to the mid-teens for several days, Krissy and Will bolted for Lafayette and left me by myself for a cold 5 days.
Our Little House on the Prairie.
"It's cold in these old houses."
While I was in Woodworth, I received a call from Art Hawkins, a man I met randomly on the golf course in Lafayette during Thanksgiving break. Art and his father-in-law were placed with me, my Dad and my Grandpa to fill a fivesome. As I talked with Art, he told me that he was the Scout Executive for the Evangeline Area Council Boy Scouts of America, headquarted in Lafayette. What perked my interest in his job, seeing as I wasn't a Boy Scout, was the mention of a project they were hoping to land that focused on developing the Atchafalaya Basin as a Scout recreational opportunity. Knowing that my current employer, Moore Planning Group (MPG), had once worked on a master plan for the Basin, I was very curious about how I could get MPG involved with the Scouts.
Back to Woodworth. So, I'm sitting alone in the cabin, in the cold without cable, and I get a call from Art. He wants to interview me, and potentially offer me a job as the leader of the Atchafalay Basin Scout Program. I was very suprised at the opportunity and went down one weekend to meet with Art and the Council President. Though Art liked what MPG had to offer the Scouts, he was more interested in hiring a single person with recreational planning experience to run the the program. Thanks to my time with Design Workshop in Asheville, and the project experience I had in designing recreational packages, along with my newfound strategic implementation knowledge from MPG, the Evangeline Area Council offered me a full-time position that needed me to start in one week.
Making the difficult decision to leave a great job and amazing friends in Alexandria, the Pierces left Cenla, after spending only 9 days (4 for Krissy and Will) in our new place in Woodworth, to head back home to Lafayette. I began my job Friday, January 15th and will immediately start working on the planning for the Council's Centennial Celebration of the Boy Scouts of America which will take place on February 20th. Not a lot of time and from what I've been told, a lot to do! It should be exciting!
So here we are, back in the town that our families are in, and the place where we grew up. It's been 10 years since we permanently lived in Lafayette (if you count the 5 years at LSU and time in Asheville and Alexandria) and we're ready to experience the city as adults and a family. Welcome home.
"Brace yourself Lafayette, I'm here to stay!!!"
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Our First Family Christmas
As mentioned in our previous post, the anticipation and excitement for Christmas was almost more than we could bear, but let me tell you, our first Christmas as a family of three was quite possibly better than we could have ever imagined.
The festivities began Christmas Eve, when we went to Christmas Eve Mass at St. Pius with my family. Will was decked out in his red Christmas sweater, and sat quietly through the entire service. He was particularly fascinated by the intensity of the packed church singing "Emmanuel," and even hummed along a little. By Communion time, he sucked down a bottle, and made sure to put on his best smile as we walked down the aisle, as if he knew he was on display.
After the beautiful Christmas Mass, we headed over to the Pierce's for a tasty Christmas dinner, and opening of Will's gifts. Will opened his presents with a little help from the adults and made the cutest little faces as he opened them as if he was really surprised by what he got. I think his favorite gift he opened that night was an alphabet train. He especially enjoyed the blocks it came with. In fact he was so enamored by them, as he (we) opened his other gifts, he would look at them, then crawl right back to his blocks.
After a fun night of opening presents, Ben and I went home, put our little guy in his oh so cute Santa pajamas, and began our first family tradition that we plan to continue throughout the years. I held Will as his daddy read him "Elmo's Night Before Christmas." He loved it! Of course, as he gets older we will read "Twas the Night Before Christmas," but I figured Elmo was more age appropriate this year :)
After the story was over, our sweet boy nodded off to sleep and Santa's preparations began. I must say Santa did a great job and worked into the wee hours of the evening, as I could no longer keep my eyes open.
Before we knew it, 5:30am had come and Will decided that would be a great time to wake up. For a baby who usually sleeps until 9:00am, it's as if he knew it was a special day! So, we got up, and headed over to the Hoover house to spend Christmas morning with my family. Considering there are 12 people in the fam, you can imagine the wrapped boxes everywhere and Will was delighted by all of the "climbing toys." I think his favorite gift Christmas morning was his Learning Farm, which Santa brought him, however the wrapping paper and empty boxes ran a close second.
After a long morning, we loaded Little Bean up again and headed back over to Grammy and Grandpa's for the adults to open presents and for Will to finish his up. He loved everything he got, but was still obsessed with those blocks and the train. Sweet boy played his little heart out all afternoon, and got some quality time with Aunt Carrie to boot!
As the day wore on, we were on the move again, and headed to my house for Christmas dinner, which as most of you know, is Thanksgiving all over again, but with even more pumpkin pies! Will particularly enjoyed the mashed potatoes with gravy and green bean casserole! After dinner, we played with all of our new toys, and then called it a day as 5:30am was long ago.
As we lay in bed to reflect on the day, and remembering the true reason for the season, I was overwhelmed by the fact that Will is not only loved by us but also loved so much by both our families. Even more, I couldn't help but think about just how special it was for us as a new family and how truly blessed and lucky we feel to have been given this precious gift from God.
It was so much fun to share this very special first Christmas with Will and starting new traditions that hopefully one day he will share with his kids. We look forward to the many more firsts to come in our little families future!
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
"I hope Santa fills this thing to the brim!"
Can we say excited?
Well rested Momma.
Tired Dad.
Santa's little helper.
Christmas morning at Grammy and Grandpa's.
The festivities began Christmas Eve, when we went to Christmas Eve Mass at St. Pius with my family. Will was decked out in his red Christmas sweater, and sat quietly through the entire service. He was particularly fascinated by the intensity of the packed church singing "Emmanuel," and even hummed along a little. By Communion time, he sucked down a bottle, and made sure to put on his best smile as we walked down the aisle, as if he knew he was on display.
After the beautiful Christmas Mass, we headed over to the Pierce's for a tasty Christmas dinner, and opening of Will's gifts. Will opened his presents with a little help from the adults and made the cutest little faces as he opened them as if he was really surprised by what he got. I think his favorite gift he opened that night was an alphabet train. He especially enjoyed the blocks it came with. In fact he was so enamored by them, as he (we) opened his other gifts, he would look at them, then crawl right back to his blocks.
After a fun night of opening presents, Ben and I went home, put our little guy in his oh so cute Santa pajamas, and began our first family tradition that we plan to continue throughout the years. I held Will as his daddy read him "Elmo's Night Before Christmas." He loved it! Of course, as he gets older we will read "Twas the Night Before Christmas," but I figured Elmo was more age appropriate this year :)
After the story was over, our sweet boy nodded off to sleep and Santa's preparations began. I must say Santa did a great job and worked into the wee hours of the evening, as I could no longer keep my eyes open.
Before we knew it, 5:30am had come and Will decided that would be a great time to wake up. For a baby who usually sleeps until 9:00am, it's as if he knew it was a special day! So, we got up, and headed over to the Hoover house to spend Christmas morning with my family. Considering there are 12 people in the fam, you can imagine the wrapped boxes everywhere and Will was delighted by all of the "climbing toys." I think his favorite gift Christmas morning was his Learning Farm, which Santa brought him, however the wrapping paper and empty boxes ran a close second.
After a long morning, we loaded Little Bean up again and headed back over to Grammy and Grandpa's for the adults to open presents and for Will to finish his up. He loved everything he got, but was still obsessed with those blocks and the train. Sweet boy played his little heart out all afternoon, and got some quality time with Aunt Carrie to boot!
As the day wore on, we were on the move again, and headed to my house for Christmas dinner, which as most of you know, is Thanksgiving all over again, but with even more pumpkin pies! Will particularly enjoyed the mashed potatoes with gravy and green bean casserole! After dinner, we played with all of our new toys, and then called it a day as 5:30am was long ago.
As we lay in bed to reflect on the day, and remembering the true reason for the season, I was overwhelmed by the fact that Will is not only loved by us but also loved so much by both our families. Even more, I couldn't help but think about just how special it was for us as a new family and how truly blessed and lucky we feel to have been given this precious gift from God.
It was so much fun to share this very special first Christmas with Will and starting new traditions that hopefully one day he will share with his kids. We look forward to the many more firsts to come in our little families future!
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
"I hope Santa fills this thing to the brim!"
Can we say excited?
Well rested Momma.
Tired Dad.
Christmas aftermath at the Hoover's.
Santa's little helper.
Christmas morning at Grammy and Grandpa's.
The gunner and his ammunition runner.
Playing with Santa's toys.
Monday, December 21, 2009
The Excitement is Building!
We put Will in his Christmas pajamas for tree decorating.
Even in the midst of packing up and having to be out of our place by December 31st, Ben and I are so excited about getting to spend our first Christmas with our sweet baby boy. It's only 4 days away now and we can barely stand it. I have already given him some of his presents over the past few weeks because I couldn't wait any longer, and have finally bought his last gift today. I must stop now or else we will be sleeping in the boxes that his toys come in :)
Since we are in the process of moving, we are going to spend Christmas down in Lafayette. However we did still get the tree up in the beginning of December and it has been interesting to us that Will has not really attempted to tear it down. (Unlike every other thing we have around the house.) He has however found joy in tearing the Christmas presents open so I have wrapped and rewrapped a few. What a fun Christmas morning it will be.
We are looking forward to introducing Will to both Ben's and my Christmas traditions we had growing up and especially look forward to starting our own, new Christmas traditions as a little family. Oh so exciting!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL!
Me and Little Bean at the Alexandria Christmas Parade.
I love my little family.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
