Dallas White Rock Half Marathon

We stayed at Paw Paw and Billie's house in Ft. Worth. While the women were in the kitchen, the men drooled over (literally for me) Paw Paw's new gigantic plasma TV.
On Saturday, we went to lunch at Applebee's to see my mom's friend Michele.
This is what I look like in a high chair at the table. It was my best job ever at a restaurant. They gave me toys and Cheerios, and I was happy!
That night, we went to surprise Tammy at her 30th birthday party. She went to high school with my mommy and daddy in Ohio. Unfortunately, I'm going through my stranger anxiety phase.
But I got used to everyone and was able to have a good time!
Here we are EARLY on race day morning.
Having fun in our jammies
It was FREEZING!!! This is the first time I've been in my real stroller. We didn't bring the jogging stroller because it was supposed to rain all day and it has no protection.
I needed my rain and wind cover.
There goes Mommy into the crowd at the starting line!

Daddy and I were off to meet her along the course. We found her three times! In the car, out of the car. In the car, out of the car!She's coming! She's coming!
She couldn't resist stopping to say "hi"! We're not apart very often!!
She made it to the end!
Time to get warm and relax in the car before the trip home! What a weekend!

On a Mission to Find the Perfect Christmas Card Photo

We tried in front of the tree...too dark...We tried a green background...not qute right...
...smiling, but not it yet...
We went for the tried and true couch background...too silly...
...cute, but not the one...
...not gonna work...
After dozens of shots, we got it at last!

Getting Ready for Christmas

We went on a steam engine train ride in Jefferson, TX to see Christmas lights.

We went out to dinner afterwards, and I got to show off my Christmas pajamas for the first time!
Daddy put up lights the next day.
This is where I hung out while my folks put up the lights. It was way too warm to be Christmas-y!

I've done a pretty good job of staying away from the tree and presents, but Mommy caught me at a weak moment. The lights are just so pretty that I had to pull on them!

I've learned that I better not be too naughty!! They say I'll really like this guy someday!

We went with Angela to see the Paris Christmas Parade.

Daddy thought it was pretty funny that the floats were pulled by giant tractors!

Here's Daddy and I at the end of the parade.

Odds & Ends

My tub has been moved from the counter to the big boy tub. Now I can splash all I want too.
I'm "army crawling" all over the house now and getting into everything. Some things are OK for me to get into...

...and others are NOT!The tile is my new favorite place. My parents are worried that I'll bonk my head, but I'm tough!

Finger Foods

I'm entering the world of feeding myself. I started with bananas, but they were too slimy and I couldn't pick them up. So, I tried toast next...that's what I'm eating in this picture. It was much better! Cheerios are OK too.
Maverick is the true benefactor of finger foods!
Mommy didn't really know what a teething biscuit was, but she wasn't impressed. It was toooo messy! I'm not even teething yet, so she's going to wait a while before I have another one.

Thanksgiving

All ready for Turkey Day.
That was my fancy bib for during the big dinner. I really ate beforehand. Can you see what I'm eating???

TURKEY!!
I spent my first Thanksgiving with my cousin Carter from St. Louis--I guess technically he's my second cousin!
Here we are reading with Mommy.Here's everyone I spent the big day with. That's Mommy's cousin Dan and his wife Alyssa on the right. They're Carter's mommy and daddy.

Mommy's 30th Birthday

It all started a little early at our weekly Monday Night Football gathering...the girls were all dressed in black! Mommy was able to blow out ALL 30 candles!
They gave her some funny gag gifts to make her feel old.
And just like at Daddy's 30th, the balloons were my favorite part!
On the real day, Daddy and I gave her our special gift. It's an apron that says, "I LOVE MY MOMMY." It has pictures of me eating all over it.
She fed me lunch with it on. I was messy as usual, but Mommy was NOT! Yea!
Daddy thought he would be funny and wear all black. (Really he just wanted an excuse to wear all of his Ironman Finisher stuff!!!)I wore a shirt that says, "My Mommy is only 30", so I'm her favorite!

8 Months