Playdate

My buddy Keegan came over the weekend before Christmas and we played with all my toys. It was lots of fun. We even went out to eat together at the burger joint down the way. Good times.

My BFF

Lady and I are best buds now. We have a mutal love for each other. I give her treats and kisses and she lets me lay down on her and pet her gently. Daddy says he sees another Blue Heeler in our future.

Call me Coach

Santa brought me an A&M track suit. I was working it tonight.

Byman Family Christmas

Nana and Pappy gave me this bouncin' Zebra. I abuse this thing. It really makes me happy through.
We did a Byman family gift exchange. Once for real gifts. The second one was a fun- white elephant type exchange that Pappy designed that was even sweeter because it came with cash. I won $20. Momma and Daddy only got $5 each. Suckers.
Here, I show my disinterest in the presents of others. If they aren't for me, I don't care. Oh, and check out my cute outfit- I borrowed it from my buddy Braden. Its one of the last smocked outfits I'll ever get to wear. Momma promised Daddy.
As a special Christmas event, I only ate desserts and stuffing. Here Pappy is feeding me ice cream with chocolate sauce. Yum.
To top off Christmas night, my cousins did a play. It was cute and captured the meaning of Christmas. My cousin Kyle was a sheep named Carlos- we still aren't sure what that was all about but he was quite convincing.

Santa came to town

Santa stopped at our house and left me some great loot. I got a kitchen (to put the food that Tia gave me), lots of sports stuff and even some candy. I could not imagine how these toys got here but was sure happy they are here. I'm still playing with everything.
I even got an inflatable air guitar. Simple pleasures.
Oh, and a tool set. It has tools that work. Awesome. I like to run the drill and use the hammer.
Mimi bought me a cool tunnel. I was a little scared of it at first, but now I'm a pro.
Daddy got stuck in my tunnel. Silly Daddy.

Christmas Eve

We celebrated Christmas Eve at Mimi and Buddy's house. There were lots of presents under and around the tree. Quite a few were for me! I had no idea how this present thing worked but it seemed to play out in my favor.
Veronice and MPTB are staying with Mimi on their Christmas break. They celebrated with us and even posed for a picture acting like they like each other.
I got so many goodies that Daddy had to help me open my presents and keep track of them.
Helichoppers? My favorite.
Once the presents were open I modeled some of the decorations with my Sue Sue.

Driving Miss Amy

I got in to Buddy's truck and decided to drive. I know where the keys go, where the gears are, how to open windows and how to honk the horn. Better watch out for me.
Here, I check my mirrors before taking my Tia on a joyride.
I'm sharing a snack with Tia. Driving makes me hungry. Doesn't my Tia look pretty?

Meant to be?

Nana always says I'm going to be president. We already see the signs...check out the bald eagle outline in my bubble bath!

BTW, this is my first bubble bath in Momma's jacuzzi tub. I love me some jacuzzi jets. They make lots of bubbles.

It is in my genes!

Seriously, I guess clean floor neurosis runs in my Momma's family. Buddy will be so proud! Just last week I was terrified of the vacuum and the dustbuster, but now, I'm a fan. I run the dustbuster until it runs out of juice. The only way I will stop is if you give me chocolate.

Ho, Ho, Ho

I love Santa. As previously mentioned, we even had to buy an inflatable Santa. Here is happy normal Santa.
And here is Santa after a meeting with me and my cousins!

Dog in a blanket

Sometimes, Momma still thinks this dog is pretty cute.

I don't cry all the time...

I have fun sometimes too. I did this for over 15 minutes. Momma got the camera kind of late. It was still funny. At the end, I ran into Momma and Daddy's room and then came out and did an encore.

Just to show you all how happy I am these days- I did a little Christmas dancin' for you guys. We call it Elmo's Christmas Boogie Woogie. It has a lot to do with the elbows and a little to do with the knee bends. I think this dance just might catch on. I could be like that wedding couple, you know the ones from YouTube.

Month 17

This picture about sums it up. I'm 17 months and think I run this place. I really run. Run, run, run. I talk, ALOT. To get ready for Christmas I can say Ho, Ho, Ho and Snowman. I love to look at the lights and I get borderline depressed when the inflatables are not inflated. I even convinced my white light loving Momma to buy a small inflatable santa. Deep down she is a sucker. I LOVE our Christmas tree. I don't touch- I just look. I even stand in awe of it with my hands behind my back. They coolest part- the cho-choo train around it that can fly if I have the controls. I can say No and mean it. I have battled with some sleepless nights and I am going through some sleep training again. That is not that fun. I have really started playing with my neighbors. I can't wait to go outside when Momma gets home everyday. I am addicted to chocolate milk (even when there is not chocolate in it- tricky parents). I can name most of the Sesame Street characters. Elmo is still my favorite but I like Cookie Monster too. I am becoming much better friends with Archie and Lady and I give them both a treat every day. I love my new haircut and so do my folks. I also love cereal. I'm learning to eat it by myself and then I drink/slurp the milk out of the bowl. I'm really getting big. I can't wait for Christmas. See you next month.
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PS- My parents keep talking about this new sibling- I still don't have any idea what they are talking about.

Invasion

My cousins are here! I was a little nervous at first- there are 4 of them...
but by the weekend I was in very good company.

ITZABOY!

Luke is going to have a little BROTHER. He has no idea what this means but we are working on that. Luckily, we have some time! Next up, move to the big boy room.

A few blog edits too- I changed the caption of the blog to celebrate the fact that it has been at least 3 generations since the last set of Byman brothers!

Tempting Fate

I went to breakfast with Santa at my school. I said "Ho, Ho, Ho" and enjoyed my pancakes. I even liked standing in line waiting, But when it came time for the big photo op I freaked. Momma thinks I was more scared of Ms. Claus than Sanata so she is not even posting those pictures. Maybe next year I'll be able to handle these character pictures.

Bye Bye Baby Mullet

My first haircut. It was time. The curls didn't curl consistently. The little bit on top hung down in points over my forehead. I looked silly in the bathtub with my hair halfway down my back. So my momma and daddy gave in and let me get my hairs cut. I took the plunge at Frenchy's barber shop in Bellaire. Home of the $8 cut.
I was not such a fan of this haircutting thing. You should seen the chair they put you in and the noise those clippers make. No thanks.
Seriously momma, I hate this hair cut thing. And who is the goof ball you have cutting my hair. He needs his own haircut. Why couldn't Frenchy do it.
Thank goodness that is over- do NOT tip that guy.
Final result. Super cute little boy haircut. And don't worry, I was rewarded with a puppy dog (not real).

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Whoop to the Aggies win on Friday! Welcome to Aggieland Coach Sherman.
Farmers Fight.
My buddy Jake and I celebrated post Aggie victory. He is 2 1/2 and had so much to show me, including how to play pool balls (billiards for you grown ups).
I also visited with my buddy Cade Runyan. Here I invaded his bedroom, his toys and even his bed. He was less than thrilled with my presence but I'm sure we will be great pals one day soon.

Someone pay attention to me

Momma and Daddy were having a grown up conversation and I felt neglected so I moved a lot of my toys, even the heavy ones, to Momma's chair to try to get some attention. It worked. Out came the camera. Victory.

Enough 2nd child guilt already

An update from Baby Weekly regarding pregnancy at 16-17 weeks:

Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and he's around 5 inches long. He can move his joints, and his skeleton — until now rubbery cartilage — is starting to harden to bone. His sense of hearing is also developing. The umbilical cord, his lifeline to the placenta, is growing stronger and thicker.

This refers to the babe as a boy- we can neither confirm or deny but will find out soon and keep you posted. Now that this is a family blog, Momma will keep the belly shots to a minimum (if she puts them up at all). She appreciates your applause to that one. Momma hasn't felt the baby move yet but it should be any day now. So far, all tests and reports are good! If only she would stop talking about how dern tired she is.

Excuses, Excuses and some Exciting News

Sorry we haven't posted lately. Momma was out of town in Vegas and I have been really nasty sick. I had fevers of 101, 102 and 100 coupled with an emphsyma (sp?) like cough and funky cold. The doctor called it croup. I called it misery. I'm feeling better now. FINALLY. So on for the big news...
I'M GOING TO BE A BIG BROTHER!!!
Yep, I have no idea what that means, but I am going to be a big brother in May 2008. I know it has something to do with Momma getting a bigger tummy and being very TIRED all the time. She is not so nauseous anymore so already things are looking up.
So, we will keep you all posted on the baby's progress (and Momma's).

Homebound

Croup and 103 fevers make a boy delerious and a Mimi creative. We made a new choo-choo train out of my diaper box and a leash. This morning it was a dining car.
I filled the train with my monkey toys and pulled the monkey express around the house too.
I was so tired of staying home I started to dress in Momma's sweatshirts and roam around begging for something to do.

16 months- What a difference a year makes....

Check out the difference between this year and last year at the pumpkin patch!!

I am now 16 months old. I am into EVERYTHING. I am really testing my limits. Really. I throw fits but I also am very lovey to my momma and daddy. I give big kisses, I blow kisses and I still love to find your tummy. I also wrestle with momma and daddy too. I try not to bite but you have do to what you have to do to pin your opponent. I can climb in and out of a lot of stuff now- momma's bathtub, my wagon, the car. I like to pretend to drive Daddy's car. I like to slide. I love the big park down the street. I also loved Halloween. It was fun to dress up and pass out candy. I love going outside and playing with my neighbors. I have also discovered bubbles in my bathtub. I like those so much I give Mr. Bubble a big kiss most nights. I also love hot chocolate milk. That is some good stuff. I am trying to kick the paci habit for good but because I was sick I have taken 3 steps backward. My fits tire out momma, daddy and mimi but they are really hoping that it is just a phase. I'm still into my airplanes but I also love trains. I like to make trains out of everything. I like to say choo-choo too. I am GREAT with school now but I missed a full week while I was sick. I can't wait to go back for my Thanksgiving party this week. I also can't wait to see my cousins Sammy and Kyle - they are coming on Thursday. Oh, and I have no idea that a new baby is in my future. I am not sure when I will figure that out but we will keep you posted! See you in month 17!
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Dewberry Farms

I was fever free on Saturday so on Sunday I went to Dewberry Farms with Momma, Farrell, Keegan, Stacy, Jackson, Barry and Aunt Marsha. The pics are out of order, but you'll get the gist. Barry saved me from running into the water to swim with the ducks. We played, and played and played. I was so tired (and dirty) when we left. I slept the entire way home.
These big bouncy balls were on the playground. I could pull two at a time.
Aunt Marsha will you help me take some of this sand back to my sand/water table that has never had sand?
Sliding is FUN.
Tractor riding is for kids bigger than me!
OK, this is the first picture. I was all ready for the farm.
Here's my pals. They were farm ready too (and yes, we do all look like we took a little snooze on the way to the farm).
Keegan looks at the photog when the pictures are being taken so his pumpkin picture made it up on my blog!
This picture would have been better if that GRANDE mammal was still propped up against the fence begging us for food.
This is the closest you get to a good pumpkin patch picture of me because I don't look at the camera anymore.