Barrett's new *tricks*

Here's what Barrett's been up to the past few days
...keeping me very busy!

Crawling~Just started doing this yesterday and he can move FAST!

Standing up~Took this video this morning. He loves to pull up to everything. We've got some major baby-proofing to do!

Talking to Bear~I took this video last week (August 5th)

Letters to my Little Bear-Twelfth Edition

Dear sweet Barrett,

It's Tuesday morning, August 12, 2008...and we're home together! You're sleeping like an angel in the next room while I write this. It's been awhile since I wrote a letter to you, as things have been a bit busy. Mommy's all done with work now and this is already my 12th day home with you! We've been so busy and have had so much fun already. Mommy left her job just in time because in the last couple of weeks you've done so much!!

Let me get the calendar I write on, so I can remember it all.....

July 20: Went from tummy to sitting up all by yourself

July 21: Sitting and scooting everywhere

July 26: First time I found you sitting up in your crib

July 28: Decided we'd better lower your crib in case you decided to pull up

July 29: Started pulling up to stand on Mommy's legs

July 31: Mommy's last day of work

August 1: Tried carrots-didn't care for them

August 4: First time I found you standing in your crib (we were at Gigi's)

August 5: You crawled about 5 "steps" before going down to your tummy

August 6: PAFT visit. Mrs. Cheryl couldn't believe all you were doing

August 7: Left for your first vacation to Austin, Texas

August 11: Crawled from your crib, through the hall to Mommy in the bathroom

Took lunch to Daddy at his office and visited with everyone there

Went to visit Gigi at her school. You showed her how you crawled and she nearly screamed, she was so excited!

Started cutting your first bottom tooth...last night was rough, poor baby!

See, good thing Mommy writes all this down...you're growing and changing so fast!

Your six month picture with your monkey. He just keeps shrinking!!

You love to read books!

You and Mommy before church.
Standing in your crib...and screaming!

On August 5th, you went with Mommy to VOTE! I was going to ask for your opinion when I was casting my vote, but a nice lady that used to be on the board where I worked wanted to hold you. You were quite a hit with everyone there. We'll be going back again in November!

Since Mommy's been home, we've gone for a walk almost every morning. You love walks and looking around at all the scenery. Yesterday morning, Norah Kate and her mommy went with us. After our rough night last nights, I had to tell Norah's mommy we wouldn't make it today. On August 7th, we left for your first summer vacation. We went to Austin, Texas with Uncle Bobby for the weekend. He had an interview with a Graphic Design firm there, so we decided to go along and have some fun. It took us nine hours to drive there, but you were such a good boy. Mommy sat in the back seat with you, so we played and read books, and you slept a lot too! You sat in a high chair for the first time on our trip and you looked like such a big boy. We brought your pack-n-play for the hotel room and you slept great in it. You were such an easy baby on the trip and Mommy was so proud of you! Here are some pictures...

Your big vacation purchase...Daddy picked out a new hat for you!
You & Mommy in the hotel room
Playing in your bed! Mommy didn't want you crawling on those dirty hotel floors, so you were either in your pack-n-play or sitting with us up on our bed.

At the Oasis, a fun outdoor restaurant on a lake! This is where you sat in your own chair like a big boy for the first time.

Playing with Uncle Bobby while Mommy finished her lunch.
Walking the streets of downtown Austin with Daddy. This was before we bought you your own hat. It was HOT and we didn't want your little head to get burnt, so Daddy let you borrow his hat!

In the car...sucking on your toes!

Today we're going to see Lydia, Norah and Hadley. I'm sure Mommy we'll have some new pictures of that visit soon! I love you Little Bear!

Our trip to the County Fair!

Well, I don't know if you can really call it a "trip." It was still 104 degrees on Sunday evening when we got there, so it was more like out of the car, fly through the animals, and back in the car. Our county fair has carnival rides, 4-H exhibits, animals, demolition derby and food! We really haven't been in the last several years...it always too darn hot! Well, it was just as hot this year, but it was important to me to take Barrett down for his first fair experience. I know he didn't have a clue where he was or what was going on, and he certainly won't remember it...but I've got the pictures.

I'm sure Justin thought I was nuts, dragging our baby out in 100+ degree weather to see some farm animals...but if so, he never showed it or said it! He just went along with it like the good husband and father he is! You see, Justin and I had our first "date" at the fair in August 1995! I say "date," because neither of us could drive, so we were just dropped off there and spent the evening walking through the mainway with our friends, barely speaking. Ahh..young love!

So, Sunday night all we wanted was to see the 4-H exhibits (photography, art, vegetables, etc) and animals that were in the shaded buildings! Barrett's favorite (who am I kidding...he didn't have a clue) were the cows! He laughs at me when we read his farm animal book and I say "the cow says moooo." So of course every animal we saw (chicken, goat, sheep, cow) I would say "the ______says ____." And it was me mooing that made him laugh the most, therefore, I came to the conclusion that the cows were his favorite! Enjoy a few of our pictures! There's not very much action this year, but I'm sure our 2009 county fair pictures will be good for a laugh...I can imagine Barrett running everywhere trying to stick his fingers in all the animal cages! Oh my!!