Wood Family Christmas

My side of the family has started having dinners every other Friday night at different houses. It has been wonderful! It gets us all out of the rut of everyday life and just laugh with each other. There is a lot of storytelling of the past and laughing about the way we were when we were younger. Most of my cousins and I have children now and so they play with each other. I hope that one day they have the same fond memories that all of us have of playing together and growing up amongst a close and loving extended family.

The dinner was at our house this year and we also had a gift exchange to celebrate Christmas. Here are a few of the pictures that we took.

All of those not relaxing on the couch were, of course, in the kitchen near the grub

Natalie and Avery

Natalie trying to teach Avery the art of gift opening for her first Christmas

Levi checking out his new train

Ethan opening his present from Levi

Thanksgiving at the Farm

This year we spent Thanksgiving out at my Uncle Bubba's place in Bellville. The entire Wood family was there along with way too much food. We all had a good time catching up with one another and stuffing our faces. There were four-wheelers that were part of the entertainment. Mommy and Ethan"Are you really gonna let this kid drive??""Am I really gonna let this big kid drive??"Levi all suited up and ready to go!

Daddy tossing around the football with Eric

Ethan and Papa Ron

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween! We had a great time at my cousin Robyn's house this year. Ethan went as a monkey. It was very fitting since all he wants to eat are bananas these days. He was an awesome trick or treater grabbing mommy's favorite candy out of the bowl (Reese's PB cups)! Avery is my cousin Natalie's daughter and she was a duck this year. Here are some of the many pics that we took.

Avery and EthanMaking off with Mommy's candyMommy's Little Monkey

On the move

Ethan is officially on the move! He took his first steps for Grandma and it only took a little time until he was walking everywhere!!! Here is some video of those first moments.

Ethan's First Birthday

Well, my baby boy is a year old now. We had a great birthday party with friends and family. Thank goodness Hurricane Gustav didn't attend. Ethan is learning new things every day. We are just holding our breath waiting for him to take those first steps. Thank you to everyone that was able to help us celebrate and fill our living room with more toys!!! For those who couldn't be there: we missed you and here are some pictures of the wonderful day.

The cake

Mmmmm...cake

Mommy and the birthday boy

Ethan and his cousin Levi

Natalie and Avery

Practicing our walking skills

Hanging out in the pool

Mommy's Big Boy

I know, I know...it has been forever since I posted anything. Well here is a quick update:

Ethan is now 9 months old and growing right before my eyes. He can "talk" all day long, do the army crawl, clap, stand holding on to something and almost associate the word mama with me. He has his two bottom teeth now and we are working on chewing food. At the end of May, he had to get tubes in his ears due to a 2 month long ear infection. Everything went perfect that day and we will find out this week if there is any infection or fluid left in there. Other than that, he is a happy, healthy growing boy that I can't get enough of. Keep the end of August open for our first birthday!!!!

Mother's Day 2008

Memorial Day

My baby boy

On the move

Bouncy Boy

Ethan is over 6 months old now, and my how he has grown. His bouncer is the greatest invention ever!!! He can bounce forever if we let him. Lately he has been rolling all over the living room, talking jibberish, and eating semi-solid foods (baby food). He loves the bananas the best so far. Peaches have not gotten a rave review. Mommy and Daddy made it through the first vacation without their little guy. It was tough, but we managed to enjoy ourselves in Jamaica.

Getting bigger by the minute

Ethan is now 5 months old and growing like a weed!! He is perfecting his rolling over skills, bouncing like there is no tomorrow, and learning how to make different sounds. We are getting a glimpse of what teething is like, but it is manageable (for now). Mommy's little man My first pair of Crocs
How you doin'?

Avery Rose

Avery graced us with her presence on January 15th. Her mommy is my cousin Natalie and her husband Eric. She was 6 pounds 14 ounces and 19.25 inches. Welcome to the world, Avery.

Look, Mom, I found my.....

...tongue!!!

Ethan has recently discovered his tongue, and it is hanging out all day long!!! I was trying to take pictures for his scrapbook and kept getting his tongue in almost every picture. I guess these are the things that you can't help but laugh at and we will continue to laugh at when we are looking at his scrapbook many, many years from now.

Just Chillin'

Thomas caught this moment one evening while Ethan was laying there watching tv with his arms behind his head. I guess I have trained him well and he knows when to grab the camera!!