Somebody had a great first day at school!

When I left him he was screaming "ma ma" but when I picked him up he
didn't want to leave.

King of the Castle

The boy in the bubble!

We braved the indoor play park at Memorial City

Wow! This was even a little overwhelming for me.

Speedster!

Well keeping up with Cib has become a full time job! He is on the move!

Most days he goes by and all I see is a flash of strawberry blond curls!


There is the important discovery of the door handles - yikes!

More and more of this! Seven steps this week before he fell!

And every once in a while he stops for a quick snack.


And he LOVES to explore all the cabinets! Yes, those are child locks you see sticking out of the inside of my cabinet - no match for Mr. Bits!
He did stop long enough to help with his first 'Mommy and Me Homework' sent from school!

Then there are the more rare and precious moments...


Cib loves to look 'side' at the kit cats.


Happy Weekend All!

First Day of School

Yesterday was a big day!

We made chocolate chip short bread for Cib's new teachers.

Cib's first day of school was a 'Mommy and me' playdate with all the other students and mothers.

Cib instantly made friends. There are only 2 girls in his class of 28!
So there were lots of truck sounds and rough housing.
(Not all coming on the same day of course. Each day there will be 8 in his class)

Next it was out to Richmond, TX for Granny Nanny's Birthday lunch!
Cib made a big splash with all her friends - lots of ooouu and aaahh'ing.

On our way home Cib slept for about 20 minutes and felt that was sufficient for the day's nap.

So, in efforts to entertain the delirious 1 year old we discovered sun glasses!

It took a couple tries to get it just right...


Oh - look mom, I got it!

Wait Mom! What is that fun thing you are holding?!

Ah, and a ham is born!
I am sure me doing the hokie pokie in my bath robe had nothing to do with all the laughter.

All in all, it was a very happy day and maybe a hint of 'He's growing up too fast' pangs.
I love you Cibbers and Bits! Thank you for always making me smile!

After a llloonnnggg day of fun...

It was sleepy time for Mr. Bits and Mommy too!

Happy Birthday Granny Nanny!!

All of our pictures for the time being are taken while Cib is confined
to the car seat or high chair- it's the only time u can catch him!!

My friend Missy is doing a poll on her blog and so I am helping by telling folks - What to say to a friend who are dealing with infertility...

After a long journey through infertility I have some how become the go to girl in my circle of friends for infertility issues. I know more about my own personal biological clock than well...most peeps. (I wont go into the gory details)

This journey has also brought me many many friends in the same boat. We are like an underground sisterhood of woman who are bound together by longing, pain and (hopefully) joy.

I am going to start by telling you what NOT to say to someone dealing with infertility.
1) "It just isnt God's timing." - well thank you friend. That is obvious and only makes us want to spew on you a whole vile of 'you just dont get it!'

2) "When you stop trying or adopt, you will get pregnant" also in the same vein, "Now that you have had a baby successfully with IVF you will get pregnant on your own" - This is just not true and just not helpful.

3) "Have you tried ______" - we have tried it all honey! We have tried standing on our heads and doing it side ways. we have tried herbs, acupuncture, etc.

4) And this is the worse for us and you - "I am pregnant!" - I cant even explain it. We are, of course, excited and would never wish our pain on you. It is not your fault that you can reproduce by just standing near your spouse. With that said, when you get pregnant, please be kind. Dont only talk about your great news endlessly and please please dont take us to a sit down dinner where we are supposed to force down tears for an entire meal of being excited. Please know we feel HORRIBLE about these thoughts/feelings and we can not help them. They are second nature to us and something we are ashamed of.

5)"Just adopt!" - For those of my friends who have adopted. Let me first say you never 'just adopt'. It is a long process of it's own. Also it does not automatically take away our desire to be pregnant. We are women, it is like saying - just turn off every female hard wire God made you with.

With all that said. There is nothing you can say. Infertility is painful, heart breaking and still, after a baby of my own, brings tears to my eyes. Even though I have a baby (which I praise God for everyday) it doesnt mean the fertility journey is over. Seek to try and understand the process. To get pregnant, just get pregnant it takes months of injections, thousands of dollars and an emotional roller coaster. (Even for baby #2)

When you deal with infertility you are mourning. Treat your friends who are struggling with infertility like a friend who is mourning a death. Listen, Listen, Listen and Pray Pray Pray. That is all you can do. You can't fix us or change our current path. God in his wisdom is allowing us to bear this cross for His glory. Give us encouraging words from scripture and hold us when we cry.

I do want to thank my friends who, for five years, held my hand, dried my tears and loved me despite the war going on inside. If not for you my God sent ones, we would not have withstood the storm. And more importantly to those who didnt support and might not have always been there - thank you for apologizing when you realized it. It means a lot to us.

What a wonderful weekend of....nothing.

This weekend was the FIRST in our new home when we had no real plans. It was amazing! Friday night we had a few friends over for poker and chili, although Austin did lose, it was great fun! Saturday when Cib went down for his morning nap, Austin and I went back to bed...we have never done this and it was incredible. I have read half a book this weekend, watched a movie with my husband, surfed the internet - just a lot of much needed nothingness.

Today we went to Austin for a shower for Cib's Aunt Lindsey and Baby Caroline. It was really fun! It was great to see all those tiny things in pink! Cant wait to meet and start spoiling my niece! (As I feel quite certain I will end up with a house full of men) On our way back to Houston we stopped at my most favorite kolache place EVER - Hruska's Store & Bakery (http://hruskas-bakery.com/) and had a much over due, 3 years over due, kolache fix. Then finishing up the weekend with Mexican food with our sweet friends Ben, Cara and Baby Ella. We are popping in a Soprano's DVD now...ahhhh....happy weekend all!

I swear we were watching him!

We forgot to close the bathroom door -oops! We were greated by toliet
paper and a toliet water soaked Bits- gross!

Nana's chicken speghetti still a winner!!

Look mom- no hands.

While we are still mastering walking, Cib has got standing down pat.

Finally! Teeth!

Cib is now the proud owner of two very cute bottom teeth!!! I honestly wondered if he would ever get them...but alas - here they are!

He is also still taking three or four steps before realizing he is not holding on to anything and promptly sitting down. We are proud all the same!

Ah, Baby Fever is a little scary!

First let me update everyone on my family situation. My grandfather's surgery is next Thursday. Thank you for your prayers and will def keep you all updated!

I am currently dealing with a strong bout of baby fever. Those tiny hands and gurgles and smells. (well not all their smells, but most) But then as I begin to feel myself become all tingly with hormones I find my thoughts screeching to a hault and thinking - What?! How can I handle two? Cib is a full time job. How do mom's do two? How will I have time to bond with a second baby while battling a head strong toddler? Babies are expensive! What if my next baby has colic or doesnt sleep through the night or any of the other text book issues babies have that mine (and I do thank the Lord every day) did not. Cib was an excellent baby! Never hardly cried, slept through the night by two and half months, ate like a champ...easy, easy, easy. Then after I finish all my normal scary thoughts I go to the really scary thoughts. What if IVF doesnt work next time? What if I allow myself too far down the path of wanting and expecting another child and it doesnt happen? Ugh...

How are you suppose to know when the time is right? Babies are amazing. Being pregnant (for me) was amazing. I felt incredible when I was pregnant! But it seems like anytime second babies come up I am met with a lot of 'just waits'. Just wait until Cib is potty trained. Just wait until you get through the holidays. Just wait till everyone else in the family has had their moment of glory. Just wait....but for what? What magical thing will happen? Will all the endless amount of drama that is my family suddenly cease? I think not...

For now, all I can do is pray. Pray for clarity of God's perfect timing. Pray for patience until that timing comes. Pray for the amazing privilege of being a mommy to another child. Just pray, instead of just wait is my current stance.

Whew, what a weekend!

This has been a sad couple days. My Papaw Templeton (Dad's Dad) passed away Saturday afternoon. He suffered from a narrowing of the spine for years as well as an acute loss of memory both past and present. Yesterday we made the trek to Lendona, Texas to remember my papaw. He was a veteran in the Korean war but mostly, to me, he was a quiet and sweet man. He played checkers with me for hours as a child. I always wanted to go first and be red, imagine that, he would patiently remind me that 'Smoke comes before fire' and if I wanted to be first I need to be black. I am not sure why this has stuck with me. Maybe because I struggle daily with inpatience. I feel Papaw was, in his own way, trying to teach me how to be patient. Yesterday I left a red checker with him. I will truly miss him.

My other papaw - mom's dad - is headed to Dallas today for a doctor's appt and possibly surgery. His left aortic arch is blocked at 80% and 90% in his right carotid artery. Please pray for him and my grandmother, Shirrell and Barbara as they are understandly scared. Pray for peace for our family, accuracy and complete success for the doctors involved and a quick recover for my grandfather. These are amazing people in my life. Both incredibly giving and loving.

Thanks for your prayers friends!