Happy 8-Month Birthday!!

ADub is 8 months old today!!  This month has been a very busy one from final exams to graduation to job interviews, and I am so grateful that my little dude has been by my side for all of it (okay, so maybe he sat at the hotel while I was in my interviews....but you get it).  ADub, you make me live life in such a wonderful and different way; I want to be an amazing, crazy, and successful mom for you.  Happy Birthday, Baby Dub!!

Accomplishments this month:

• ADub is waving hello and goodbye; oftentimes wacking the individual who is holding him right in the face.  He really should come with a caution sign.
• ADub experienced his first illness with a fever, fussiness, and yes, my friends, even a rash.  The poor guy had roseola.  I look at it as an accomplishment; immune system, keep building your army because we plan to take on the world (baby steps)!
• Last month, I really thought that he was going to crawl, and yet, he didn't.  This month was the month, but no, crawling has still been a stepping stone we just haven't jumped to (or crawled to).  However, he still scoots himself across the room to reach that toy, that Maya tail, or that Mom (who happens to be the sucker who will pick him up).
• We have moved on to more solid food; Cheerios happen to be his favorite.  He attempts to pick them up and transport them to his mouth, but I'm not sure that we've actually landed a single one successfully.
• He has started to learn sign language, but for some reason, he still just screams when he is "finished" eating.  Translation must be a bit off.

Say CHEESE!!!

I celebrated my first Cinco de Mayo.

Pops had a heart attack last year on Cinco de Mayo.  Pretty amazing that wasn't his last, so he could be here for my first.

Don't mind me.  Carry on.  I'm not headed for your donut.

Eating can sometimes be exhausting.  Does this recline?

Maya is trying to learn her ABC's as well.

The Dub boys.

My first high chair sit in.  Don't mind my pajamas out in public; comfort is everything.

AAAHH!!!

SHE DID IT!!!

Celebrating Mother's Day with my mom and my grandma.  They're both pretty classy ladies.

Dad claims this gift would've been something I would have given mom, but honestly, he didn't consult me (or Maya) at all.

What time is it? Pool time!!

Who needs teething toys when plastic bottles do the trick?  Does this diaper make my head look big?

My weekly outing to McAlister's....NOM NOM.

I've got the outfit; now I just need the safari.

My safari today included seeing a squirrel (which Maya proceeded to hunt up a tree), geese, ducks with their ducklings, and some other humans.

FAMILY SELFIE!!!!

Dominating this high chair thing.  The ladies really dig it.

The real problem with America?  Not teaching our children table manners at a young age.  Thank goodness Mom and Dad started early for me.

Maya is actually pulling off that emoticon 

Didn't know it was a real thing, but she proved me wrong.

Some day I'll probably just think Mom is crazy, but for now, she is AWESOME!

Flying solo with my Momma to the great Lonestar state.

I'm pretty sure that the diffuser on that coker should be flaming at 72 degrees and completing the process with a triple axle.

Pool time with Daddy-o.

This was one of Dad's college buddies.  We really didn't know what to think of each other.

I visited my first brewery and my first food truck down in Houston.

These ladies are some of my mom's best buds.  Soon that pretty little lady in the pink will be my girlfriend/cohort/amiga and the little guy in that belly will be my BFF/partner in crime/sidekick.

Pardon my language, but this girl was the shizniz.  She let me dump an entire glass of water all over her.

This picture is a bit of a train wreck.  E-pants got dumped on, and I attempted to grab the mariachi man's guitar.

Flying home.

Future drummer boy....or chef....who knows?

Flirting but wearing a shirt that says "Pals before Gals."  Might want to rethink that one.

The only time I will ever let Mom dress like me.

What would life be without these people (including Maya) following me around??

Happy 7-Month Birthday!!

ADub is 7 months old today!  After my rotation at the coroner's office this past month, I have learned that keeping a baby alive is actually hard work.  We must be doing amazing!  Thank you for staying alive.....and for turning many rough days at rotation into wonderful ones at home.  Happy Birthday, Baby Dub!

Accomplishments this month:

• Chompers.  A total of three.  Two lower front and one upper front tooth.  It's been touch-and-go there with the pain, but we've made it this far.  Only 17 more to go.....BUT who's counting?
• We used to pretend to suck out of a straw from Mommy's drink, but now it's for real.  The kid has figured out how to retrieve liquid using a straw.  He's no pretender.
• We are getting on hands and knees but then failing to actually crawl.  Any day now, my friend, any day.
• Laughter is inevitable when it comes to the tickle game.  "Nose, ears, RIBS!!!"  "Eyes, mouth, BELLY!!!"
• It's called gravity.  Anything that leaves your hand will drop to the floor.  Then of course, it will return by any sucker who chooses to pick it back up; this is not gravity.  
• He loves giving hugs, grabbing onto skin you never knew you had (neck skin??), and giving big wet, open-mouthed kisses.
• ADub talks all the time.  God knows what he's saying.  No really, I have no clue what he's saying.  Sometimes I feel left out.
• It turns out, screaming will get you what you want....most of the time.  I mean who likes a screamer?  
• His favorite book right now is "Giraffes Can't Dance" by Giles Andraea and his favorite song remains "Ophelia" by the Lumineers.

And now for the photo shoot:

Hanging with Daddy-o at McAlister's.  One of my favorite places to (not) eat.

Walks are amazing, especially when I am carried or rolled, because you see, I can't walk yet.

Mommy selfie.  She's pretty cool.

X-rated.....but come on, look how cute those cheeks are!  FYI, diaper changes have become a fight with the little dude wanting to roll over.  It's actually very difficult to change a diaper while in the prone position.

More Mommy selfies.

Sometimes going to sleep is the hardest thing in the world (the first world).

There might be multiple teeth piercing and slicing through my fleshy gums right now, but I am still fairly happy.

We celebrated Daddy's birthday!

Prepping this guy to be a grandpa someday.

Our first Jeep ride.  This is what "thrilled" looks like.

Impressing the hot babes.

Great Grandma B makes me laugh....and laugh and laugh.

Hanging out with Aunt E and clearly loving it.

Ellie the Elephant stuck on Mommy's head.

It might go in there, but it certainly fits in my mouth.

Who says you need to spend hundreds of dollars on toys when you've got kitchen utensils and cardboard boxes (please refrain from plastic bags....they really can suffocate a child).

Blue outfit, blue passy, blue eyes, blue hat.  Catch a theme?

Butt Check:  CLEAN

Check out my new kicks Aunt Sharkwhisperer got me.

Seriously, any rough day can be made better with this big, yet so little, smile.

Did you know that it is extremely difficult for a 3 year old and a 7 month old......

.....to cooperate at the same time?

PDub's 30th Birthday!

     My handsome, loving, and wonderful (yet sometimes frustrating) husband turns 30 today.  Yes, the big 3-0, the dirty 30, 30 years strong, the triple X, 30 and flirty....Okay, I'm finished.  I have been his girl for about 12 years of his life now, and boy, has it been the best adventure!

     From graduating high school to having our first child, we have been together for so many chapters of our lives.  We have traveled the world together, lived in so many awesome places, and experienced life hand-in-hand (even if the distance between us has been far).  In the time that I have known you, you have grown into an intelligent, caring, often hilarious, responsible person, kicking butt in all that you do from working at ExxonMobil to being a father to ADub to hunting squirrels with Maya.  You give life your all, and it makes me want to do the same everyday.  I am so lucky to have you as my sidekick (and that you turn 30 before me).  Happy Birthday, snookums!

He takes belly rubs to the next level.

He's kind of an amazing father.

He warms our hearts and makes us clean (at least Adub....and sometimes Maya).

My best friend, my husband, my soul mate.

Now for a little PDub throwback.....