Halloween

First of all, we started out the week with this (the giant bruise on his forehead):

Bryce and Daddy had a wrestling accident. To be fair, they were playing on the mat like they were suppose to, they just got too close to the edge and so, too close to the tile.

And this is Bryce's favorite past time. It's all part of the Captain Destructo act.

And this is an old favorite. Peek-a-boo. Except Bryce says, "Hi-ya!" instead of "Peek-a-boo."

I gave Bryce his first hair cut. I almost cried. I'm not even kidding. But it looks much better now - less mullet-like.

And finally, Bryce was a cowboy for Halloween. We just trick or treated our block. Can I say how much I love our neighborhood, though? The neighbors we've already met had special little treats for Bryce and some had goodies for us, too. And for Christmas, the Ladies of Walton (that's our street) get together for a holiday brunch. How Leave it to Beaver is that? I love it!

Check out Matt's new car behind Bryce!

Fun fact about our neighborhood: Matt met another neighbor the other day and he bought his house 39 years ago for $39,000. Nuts!

And lastly, Bryce had his first corn dog (and subsequently, his first hot dog). They were $.50 at Sonic Halloween night. He liked it.

Strong Pumpkin

Bryce's new favorite word? Strong. New favorite song? Jesus Loves Me. His favorite part is "...they are weak but He is STRONG!" It's too cute.

In other news, we went to a pumpkin patch when my mom came to visit a couple of weeks ago. Bryce got 'pumpkin' on the first try. Ask him to say it today and I'm not really sure what he's saying. Anyway, we decorated a pumpkin, planted some seeds in a cup of dirt and called it a day.

It seems, like most children, he now has his own language. I understand about 25% of it. For instance, when someone or something disappears from view, Bryce puts his hands up and says, "Dado?" I'm pretty sure it means, "Where did that go?"

He also still loves his 'BaBa'. He carries it around everywhere and has recently started asking for it at mealtime. Fortunately for BaBa, I don't oblige.

Bryce also got to spend some time with his cousin, Nicholas, recently. They hugged and kissed and we took pictures for the high school graduation slideshow.

Bryce and Matt participated in their first dodgeball tournament.

And the one show that he'll sit through and watch? A farm animal video. He's a Beasley after all.

For more pictures, see our Shutterfly page (link on the right).

My Stars!

Our boy walked yesterday! More than 3 steps!! One minute he was standing, holding onto the couch, the next minute, he was letting go and toddling toward me. Crazy! I called Matt into the room to make sure I wasn't crazy and Bryce walked several times back and forth between us, at one point turning to dive into the pillows on the floor. Here's the video!!

Terrible

I've been terrible at taking pictures lately and even worse at blogging. I feel like Bryce still does something new everyday and I can't keep up.

New trick #1: Climbing in cabinets

Anyway, for those who are wondering, he's not walking yet. We're trying to encourage him but I think he's really content to speed-crawl. I just keep telling myself he'll get there eventually. Because he will.

New trick #2: Climbing on the dishwasher

He's showing some signs of readiness, though and the other night we got him to take a couple of steps from Matt to me. Afterwards, he refused to stand when either of us were near him. He's funny, that kid.

New trick #3: Being ridiculously attached to his blanket

Anyway, Matt is in school full swing which means he goes to work, comes home, eats dinner, plays with Bryce, bathes Bryce, and then studies till bedtime. Fun, huh?

New trick #4: Riding on toys all by himself

Bryce also really likes his wagon. Generally, I use it to haul him around the yard when I'm out there because he's too heavy for me to carry for long. It works great when I'm taking trash out to the cans. I just put Bryce in one end and the trash bags in the other. Bryce thinks he's getting a special treat and I don't have to carry anything.

New trick #5: Not yanking his hat off the moment it touches his head.

The Brummitts, our friends from Prague, visited this month and Bryce was thrilled to have a constant playmate. They rocked in his chair.

New trick #6: Getting on and off his rocking chair.

Swam in the pool.

Sorry, I didn't get a photo of them together. I think these cheeks suffice.

And rode in the wagon.

Abby also came for a visit and shared her bed and toys.

New trick #7 : Playing nice with Abby

New trick #8: Riding his toys. Sometimes backward.

New trick #9: Perfecting his Captain Destructo act

Here's a couple of videos of Bryce doing funny things (they're funny to us, anyway).

New trick #10: Finally pulling his weight with the housework

New trick #11: Blowing his nose

New trick #12: Kisses/licking

In the blink of an eye...

My boy turned one. Really. It's like he was born, I blinked, and he was six months old. Then I blinked again and he was one. Now he' sitting on the floor beside me trying to figure out how to simultaneously open my purse and disassemble the door. Since I haven't updated in a while (forever) I thought I'd catch you up on some of the things Bryce has learned (with some random pictures to keep you reading):

1. Stats: weight: 22 lbs, 1 oz (50th percentile); height: 30.5 inches (85th percentile)

2. He says, "Mama", "Daddy", "Mammy" (for MaMaw), "Abby" (the dog), "baby", "puppy" ("puh-puh"), and some strange version of "airplane" which sounds like something between "Abby" and "apple".

3. He's still not walking or standing alone but he's balancing on his knees and letting go for brief moments while standing so it won't be long.

4. He's eating everything in sight and drinking from a straw.

5. He makes sounds for the puppy, lion, monkey, cow and horse.

6. He's pointing and trying really hard to whistle. And can stick his tongue out on command.

7. He can tell you where your nose it but not his own.

8. He understands "no" but doesn't always obey.

9. He loves swimming in his baby pool and riding horses and toys.

10. He loves giving hugs and blowing kisses. And he still flirts with all the ladies.

A big thanks to all (five) of you who kept checking back. Hopefully, now that life has slowed down a bit, you'll be seeing more regular posts. If you'd like to see the ridiculous amount of pictures we took at his birthday, click here.

So you don't hate us forever...

Here's a little teaser of what's to come when I finally get around to writing a respectable post:

I have more before and after photos and quite a few of our (almost 1!) little boy. Before I can write said post, however, here's my to do list:

• Finish painting the trim in the formal living/dining room
• Touch up the wall paint in the formal living/dining room
• Prime/paint baseboards for the rest of the house
• Clean the house
• Plan Bryce's 1st birthday party
• Do something with our embarrassing yard - hopefully trim some more hedges
• Schedule our blinds to be installed
• Help Bryce get over another cold (in July ?!?)
• Finish unpacking our clothes
• Organize the study
• Mail out graduation cards (2 months late)

Thank you for your patience...

Before and After

Just in case you hadn't heard yet, we're home owners!!! It was a long process but we finally closed on the house and have now begun the demo work and reconstruction. I thought you'd like to see a few before and after shots of the work so far:

Here's the breakfast room:

Before: and After:

The dining room:

Before: and After:

The front living room:

Before: and After:

The family room:

Before:

and After:

And if any of you have ever worked with terrazzo, you'll appreciate this:

Here's what Bryce has been up to:

Pulling up and cruising on everything.

And eating lots of yummy food.

As you read this, the paint and tile are being finished and we're packing to move this weekend! Woohoo! Finally a home for the Beasleys!